Marie Roper
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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Marie Roper
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Thornless Hawthorn Trees
Thornless Hawthorn Trees. Valuable landscape trees, hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) have one major drawback: thorns. The 1- to 3-inch thorns on most hawthorns can inflict nasty scratches. This makes them useful as barrier hedges but difficult to use as landscape trees, which is a shame since they're lovely trees. Several thornless varieties are available that are more gardener-friendly.
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Problems With Otto Luyken Laurel
Problems With Otto Luyken Laurel. Cherry laurel cultivar Prunus laurocerasus "Otto Luyken" is a medium-sized, evergreen shrub often used as foundation plantings and hedges in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zones 6 through 8. The leaves point upward and are dark green on top and pale underneath. In late spring, the plants are covered in fragrant, white flowers. Otto Luyken grows well in sun or shade, and presents only a few problems for gardeners.
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When To Prune A Fothergilla
When to Prune a Fothergilla. With their brilliant fall color and fragrant, bottlebrush flowers, fothergillas (Fothergilla spp.) make graceful additions to sunny or partially-shaded gardens. These native shrubs are useful as foundation plants, in shrub borders and when massed. Related to witch hazels, they combine well in home landscapes with azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as Japanese andromeda.
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Siberian Elm As A Fast Growing Hedge
Siberian Elm As a Fast Growing Hedge. Hardy and fast growing, Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) is sometimes marketed as a quick hedge. There are advantages and disadvantages to every plant, but gardeners should think twice before planting Siberian elm.
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Trees Safe For Septic Systems
Trees Safe for Septic Systems. Landscaping over a septic system is a challenge for many homeowners. Anything planted near a septic system needs to have shallow roots so that the drain tiles aren't clogged. Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends few trees for planting near septic systems, and suggests planting them between the drain lines or at the end of the drain field. Loosening and amending the soil well before planting, and preparing an area as wide as the expected root zone of the tree will encourage the roots to stay within that area.
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The Differences Between Golden Pothos And Heartleaf Philodendron
The Differences Between Golden Pothos and Heartleaf Philodendron
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When To Pick Jalapenos
When to Pick Jalapenos. Knowing when fruit and vegetables are at their peak of ripeness can be a challenge for home gardeners. This is especially true with crops such as peppers that don't change dramatically when ripe. The signs that jalapenos are ready to pick are subtle but distinct.
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10 Best Perennials For Missouri
10 Best Perennials for Missouri. Winters in Missouri average as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, so wise gardeners choose tough perennials. Plants must be hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 5 to survive Missouri's harsh winters.
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What Is The Difference Between A Black & Honeylocust?
What Is the Difference Between a Black & Honeylocust?. Both members of the pea family, black locusts and honeylocusts are native trees found throughout the continental United States, except for Washington and Oregon, where only black locusts are native. These tall, airy trees have a number of differences, some of which affect their suitability as landscape specimens for home gardeners.
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