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Complementary colors create bold  Need a pick-me-up for your shade garden? Check out these two combos that will enhance any shady border with color and texture from spring to fall. If your garden gets less than 8 hours of sunlight, it can be challenging to find plants that thrive there. Check out these colorful shade garden combos that add greenery to any dark corner of your yard. Home Garden Bright color for shade gardens Complementary colors create bold contrasts that are sometimes harsh on the eye. But these colors always look good in a shady garden. If you avoid using cool colors in shade because they get lost in the shade, back them up with electric chartreuses of 'Aureola' hakonechloa and 'Sun King' aralia. The purple flowers stand out against the yellow leaves. This combo is perfect for an area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. 'Diana Lavender Mix' dianthus is often sold in packages and small pots with annual flowers , but it is har

 Container plants to make your space  If you find yourself with limited space, poor soil quality, or just want to add beauty to your front porch, container gardens offer a great solution. They allow you to elevate your landscape and work around common gardening difficulties. Although many plants can be grown in containers, some species are better suited to this particular growing environment. Below, we'll highlight the best plants that not only thrive in containers, but also contribute to the aesthetics of your outdoor landscape. 1. Coleus Coleus plants are known for their vibrant foliage in a variety of colors and patterns. They thrive in partial shade and are relatively low maintenance. Coleus is perfect for containers because of its compact size and colorful foliage, which is why it's a great choice for adding visual interest to patios and balconies. 2. Succulent Succulents have thick, fleshy leaves that store water, are drought tolerant and easy to maintain. Su

 The best hydrangea varieties Mobheads and lacecaps and oakleaves, oh! Each of these types of hydrangeas offers large, rugged blooms in easy-care plants that make beautiful additions to your landscape. But there are many varieties that offer different colors, leaves, growth patterns and sizes. And, exciting new genres keep popping up, each one sounding better than the next. When trying to pick the best type of hydrangea for your garden, where do you start? You have come to the right place. This straightforward guide will help you find the best hydrangea for your garden's soil conditions, sun and shade levels, and humidity levels. Hydrangea varieties are best for full sun While many types of hydrangeas thrive in shade, panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are best for growing in full sun. These summer flowering shrubs produce large clusters of white flowers for several weeks. Pale flowers fade to pink or red before drying to brown. In many areas, the flowers on the

 5 Beautiful Flowering Plants - Expert  A lush and colorful garden can look healthy and beautiful when given the right support. Pruning and deadheading plants will encourage new growth, stems and fruit to give the plant the support it needs, increasing the chances of a proud crop. If you're wondering which flowering plants are needed this time of year, some may surprise you. 1. Delphinium The tall stature and bold sparkles of delphinium plants are desirable all summer long. In borders or containers, these cottage garden plants are stunning. To ensure healthy growth, they need support and protection from the elements: 'These are tall, beautiful flower spikes, very vulnerable to wind and heavy rain,' Their hollow, brittle stems will break if not stored. 'Take strong stakes and place them close to the plant, securing the stems gently but firmly,' says Samuel. Part of caring for delphinium plants is providing proper support for this flower during the summer

Hardest House Plants  These are low maintenance. Hard-to-kill houseplants, however, will thrive in your space, even if you don't have a green thumb. Some of us may not have green thumbs, but don't let that stop you from enjoying all the benefits of houseplants. Low-maintenance houseplants not only grow in abundance, but houseplants add living beauty to your space and help purify the air, giving you a boost in both body and spirit. (Keep in mind that some houseplants are toxic to pets or children, so check aspca.org or children's health websites before adding houseplants to your home.) These hardy houseplants thrive on early and very oblivious care. Gardeners. 1. Philodendron Add burgundy or golden yellow to your living space with the broad, waxy leaves of philodendron. Try McCauley's Finale or Prince of Orange varieties for colorful philodendrons. This houseplant can grow quickly, however, so keep it well maintained by trimming back, placing upright varieti

House Plants Regret You may want to avoid houseplants that are finicky, prone to problems, cause allergies, or injure children or pets. The selection of houseplants today is as interesting as the many benefits of having them in your home. Some options are better than others, however, so you should consider avoiding these troublesome houseplants. 1. Fussy Orchids Finicky houseplants are ill-suited to the conditions at hand. Think about a tropical plant that doesn't like dry air in your home, or one that's more sensitive to cold drafts. Orchids are a good example. Phalaenopsis orchids are considered easy-going — and can be maintained if you give them some attention — but getting them to bloom again can be a problem. They are very particular about lighting and drainage, so you can keep orchids alive, but it takes extra effort to get them to bloom again. 2. Demanding Miniature Rose The miniature rose is another example of a plant that can be finicky. It looks great whe

Your summer to-do list Whether you enjoy growing beautiful flowers or fruits and vegetables, this summer garden checklist will help you keep your plants healthy all season long. On hot summer days, there's no shortage of things to do in the garden. With a little planning, you can make better use of your time by prioritizing what needs to be done. Schedule a regular time to complete those tasks on your summer garden checklist so you don't get overwhelmed. 1. Invest in a rain barrel Did you know that 1,000 square feet can harvest 623 gallons of water from 1 inch of rain? The roof? Based on rain barrels, a typical ½-in. Rainfall will fill 50 to 55 gallon barrels as shown above. You can use that rainwater to water the plants in your garden. If you plan to use rain barrel water for home grown vegetables, see more information here. Rain barrels are a great way to reduce the use of municipal treated water. They are also important to our environment because they help reduc

Most difficult perennials to grow 'Some perennials often considered difficult to grow require the right conditions and some patience to fully enjoy their beauty,' 'Some plants I classify as the gold of perennials - they must be successful. Too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry, too much sun or too much shade, and they cannot survive or thrive. 1. Bearded iris Although bearded iris is one of the oldest and most well-known perennials, there are some common problems that can make it challenging to grow. "Root rot is a common problem with bearded iris, caused by planting too deep or where the soil doesn't drain well," says horticulturist Katie Sunderlage. ‘To avoid root rot, it is important to plant the rhizome 1-2 inches below the surface of well-drained soil, adding organic matter if needed. These majestic garden plants are also susceptible to insect and disease problems, particularly leaf spot, iris borer and aphids. Katie continues, 'To prev

 Flowers that do not need Deadheading is the process of cutting off old, faded flowers to refresh the look of perennials and annuals and to encourage these plants to bloom again. While garden favorites like geraniums, dianthus, cosmos and marigolds benefit from deadheading, plenty of popular flowers don't need deadheading. Some plants naturally shed old flowers as they fade, while others self-sow and produce new, free plants for your garden. Find out which plants don't need deadheading and maintain your flower garden with ease. 1. Begonias Pinch back spent begonia flowers will refresh the look of your plants and make them bushier, but it's not really necessary. Most begonias (Begonia spp.) are self-cleaning, meaning they naturally drop their petals after flowering. You don't need to kill these plants to keep producing flowers. 2. Annual lobelia If you've been very busy in your garden this summer, you don't have to worry about dying annual lobelias (