Garden Gate May/June 2021

Whatever is happening in your garden (or life), container gardening gives you a chance for a fresh start every year. Sometimes all a patio or entry needs is a few different plants for a completely different vibe. Containers also offer a little order when the larger garden seems a bit much. When I’m feeling overwhelmed by the demands of a busy career and family responsibilities, the job of picking a few dead flowers from the pot of petunias outside my kitchen door seems like a manageable task and lures me outdoors. From there, I see that the beets are sprouting and could use a little water, then I notice the fascinating leaf miner trails in the columbine leaves and that a cherry tomato has reseeded in the front yard flower bed. Before…

Gerbera Daisy Tips You can’t beat gerbera daisies for big impact. Keep them going all summer with our growing guide. GardenGateMagazine.com/articles/flowers-plants/plant-guide/ Talk & Tour YouTube Video Series In this popular new series you’ll get to see more of our favorite gardens and hear great advice straight from the gardeners themselves. Youtube.com/gardengatemagazine Deadheading Guide Cutting back spent flowers can encourage rebloom, stop aggressive reseeding and tidy up your garden. Let us show you what, how and why for dozens of your favorite perennials. GardenGateMagazine.com/articles/how-to/prune/…

If you have a variety of garden gloves, keep them organized with this space-efficient hack: Tie clothespins down a length of sturdy cotton string or twine, and hang it in your shed or garage. Clip the gloves onto the clothespins and be sure that the string hangs low enough for you to easily clip and unclip gloves when you need them. Giuliana Ciampol, NY Makings for a metal fence Debbie Lacy Anderson, MO Classic iron fencing is durable but can have a hefty price tag. Debbie perused many garage sales to find a more affordable alternative: metal headboards. First, she spray-painted the headboards her preferred color scheme (with a purple painted gate for a pop of color), then she pounded metal fence posts into the ground along the perimeter of her garden and attached…

Harlequin bug Murgantia histrionica These bright red-and-black bugs are about ½ inch long and are found in gardens in the southern half of the United States. You might spot a couple tidy rows of black-and-white-striped eggs on the undersides of the foliage of plants in the cabbage family, such as cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata), or the annual spider flower (Cleome hassleriana). The eggs hatch into small, round gray nymphs with pale green markings and red eyes. Generally, two to four generations appear in one year. Damage Adult harlequin bugs feed on the sap of foliage, causing white stippling to appear, leaves to brown and fall, and, in instances of heavy infestation, can kill the plants. Control Because these bugs tend to congregate, you can use a control method called…

From shady garden borders to the flowers in your wedding bouquet, hydrangeas have a timeless appeal. And with good reason: These shrubs come in a variety of sizes and shapes and have huge, gorgeous blooms. Even better, you can grow them in sun or shade. Hydrangeas are a good choice to anchor a border. They can be planted as a hedge to define a space or form a backdrop for a colorful perennial bed. Compact varieties can even be grown in containers. Although they’re often loaded with neutral white blooms, you can find great shades of blue, pink, or chartreuse to combine with any color flower or foliage. HOW TO GROW HYDRANGEAS No matter where you plant hydrangeas, be sure to keep them well hydrated. They like rich, moist soil that drains.…

MATERIALS & TOOLS • 1×8 board cut into two 15-in. lengths for the legs• 1×6 plywood cut into two 12-in. lengths for the center panels• 8 corner braces (1½× /8 zinc plated; screws are included in the package)• Grill grate (12-in. diameter)• Exterior paint and paint brush• Drill and /8-in. drill bit You don’t need to be a skilled woodworker to build this simple plant stand. It’s a great way to add some height to a container grouping on your patio or elevate a pot off the floor indoors. All you need to construct it are the materials listed below. Follow the instructions along with the illustration below and in a few hours, you’ll have this stylish plant stand. The base is 15 inches tall, 7 inches wide and 7 3/4 inches deep,…