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American Hazelnut is a great native shrub for wildlife

July 17, 2016 By Jim 22 Comments

American Hazelnut

Today, lets talk about a shrub I doubt you have found in the garden center, nurseries or other stores you usually buy your plants in, the American Hazelnut. That does not mean you shouldn't be adding it to your landscape. Especially if you are trying to create a garden sanctuary not only for you, but also for the wildlife we share our land with. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plant recommendations Tagged With: Bush, Edible, native, shrub

How to prune cane type shrubs simply

April 11, 2014 By Jim 1 Comment

Pruning debris from the redtwig dogwood.

When you look at your landscape is it nicely arranged with all the plants in proportion? Or do you see a few plants that have grown out of hand and have started their quest for world domination in your yard? If it is the 2nd, it is likely some of those that have grown a little too well are cane type shrubs. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gardening, Pruning Tagged With: cane grower, overgrown, redtwig dogwood, shrub

Birds nest spruce is a versatile shrub that’s not for the birds

August 24, 2013 By Jim 17 Comments

Most landscapes have either too much evergreen foliage (i.e. Blue Colorado Spruce taking up the whole front yard) or too little (perennial gardens). So what's a gardener to do? How about instead of adding big spruce and pine trees that get too big, we add more evergreen shrubs to the landscape. In a previous post, I answered a reader’s question about selecting an evergreen shrub to put as a foundation plant. In that post, I mentioned one of my favorite easy care plants. The birds nest spruce … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plant recommendations Tagged With: birds nest, conifer, Evergreen, shrub, spruce

Tree like shrubs to soften vertical house line

February 17, 2013 By Jim 1 Comment

Small understory tree or shrub, the cranberry bush viburnum (Viburnum trilobum)

I recently received the following question from Julee on my Ask Me a Question page:  "I'm wondering what kind of large shrubs may be pruned to have a  more tree-like appearance, and tolerate only dappled sunlight…."  She wants a tree like shrub to soften the vertical line on a corner of her house.  It needs to be hardy to zone 4 and not get too big. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Plant recommendations, Supports Wildlife & Biodiversity Tagged With: pagoda dogwood, Rhododendron, shrub, viburnum

What is the best evergreen shrub for your foundation?

September 12, 2012 By Jim 3 Comments

BEST EVERGREEN SHRUB? I was recently asked the following question by a visitor to the garden:  “What would be the best evergreen shrub for under my kitchen window in full sun?  I don’t want an arborvitae that turns brown in the winter or an Alberta spruce.  I want something that stays green.” … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Evergreen, Plant recommendations Tagged With: bird's nest spruce, boxwood, enci mugo pine, Evergreen, foundation, green velvet boxwood, shrub, winter

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