Author Archives: Meghan Shinn

Planting Trees This Fall? Important Vole Tip

September 16, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Fall is optimum tree- and shrub-planting time. Planting instructions usually end with the advice to water the new tree or shrub well and then apply an even layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture and regulate soil temperatures. This is …

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Sugar Shack Buttonbush: Flowers, Foliage and Form

September 16, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love Sugar Shcak buttonbush for its curious round summer flowers, ornamental red fruit and bright fall foliage. Its bare stems and branches are attractive in winter. This adaptable US-native shrub is the perfect size for today’s small yards …

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Hover Flies and Syrphid Flies Are Garden Friends

September 9, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

If you’ve noticed what looks like a hairless bee hovering in midair over the flowers in your garden, you were probably spotting a hover, or syrphid, fly. These insects resemble bees, though they are flies. They are helpful to garden …

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Plant Doublefile Viburnum for Spring Flowers and Fall Foliage

September 9, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love doublefile viburnumn, or Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’, for its showy spring flowers and its red to purple fall foliage. This beautiful garden shrub also has a very nice branch structure.

When Dividing Plants in Late Summer or Fall, Think Big

September 2, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

An easy way to increase the number of plants in your garden is to divide its mature perennials. Plant division entails digging up a sizable plant and splitting it into two or more smaller individuals, each complete with roots, stems …

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Plumleaf Azalea Blooms Bright Orange in Late Summer

September 2, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) for its bright orange flowers and the fact that it blooms in late summer. This azalea is a native species that feeds hummingbirds.

The Best Containers in Which to Save Garden Seeds

August 26, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

When choosing containers for storing seeds you collect from your garden’s plants, go for ones that will keep the seeds dry. Dryness is the key to successful seed storage. You should also be able to easily mark the containers with …

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Coneflowers You Can Count On

August 12, 2014 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Echinacea coneflowers continue to command popularity, with fanciful new varieties appearing every year. One complaint, though, is that they don’t always seem to do well in subsequent seasons.

Author Archives: Meghan Shinn

Planting Trees This Fall? Important Vole Tip

Sugar Shack Buttonbush: Flowers, Foliage and Form

Hover Flies and Syrphid Flies Are Garden Friends

Plant Doublefile Viburnum for Spring Flowers and Fall Foliage

When Dividing Plants in Late Summer or Fall, Think Big

Plumleaf Azalea Blooms Bright Orange in Late Summer

The Best Containers in Which to Save Garden Seeds

Culver’s Root Provides Tall Flowers Through Summer

Why You Need a Nursery Bed Near Your Garden

Gallery Matisse Is a Bold, Bright-colored, Compact Dahlia

Coneflowers You Can Count On