Ornamental Gardens

Learn how to cultivate beautiful ornamental gardens and how to troubleshoot common pests, diseases, and growing problems!

A close-up shot of several tools and equipment placed in a garden area, showcasing proper august lawn care

Ornamental Gardens

August Lawn Care: What to Do Now

Our lawn is a key player in summer activities, and by now, it may be showing the wear and tear of the season. To maintain healthy grass and prepare for fall, gardening expert Katherine Rowe outlines August turf care tips.

A close-up shot of a person's hand in the process of trimming blue colored cluster of flowers, showcasing how to deadhead flowers now

Flowers

11 Flowers You Should Deadhead Right Now

Deadheading is a productive August garden task that prompts the next flush of flowers in repeat bloomers. This month is the last opportunity for many of us to clip faded blooms for a final round of color before frost, and before encouraging reseeding. Gardener Katharine Rowe outlines the top flowers to deadhead now and why it benefits the selection.

A lush clover lawn filled with dense green trifoliate leaves and clusters of small, round white flowers scattered across the soft, low-growing foliage.

Ornamental Gardens

How to Plant a Clover Lawn in 7 Easy Steps

Alternative lawns are all the rage! They’re great for lawn lovers who don’t want to have to fertilize, water, and mow grass so often. Clover lawns are superb, as they feed pollinators, are drought-tolerant, and fix nitrogen in the soil. Learn how to plant one yourself with these seven easy steps.

A vibrant display of large, rounded flower clusters in shades of purple and blue with green foliage on a thriving shrub that can be planted in August.

Shrubs

15 Shrubs You Can Plant in August

Late summer is a good time for planting shrubs to get them established before the winter cold sets in. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to talk about some of the beautiful shrubs that are great for August planting.

Clusters of small, fragrant pink and white flowers bloom among deep green leaves.

Shrubs

13 Unusual Alternatives to Boring Shrubs

With a mix of dynamic shrubs, no landscape need be boring. Even adding one or a few unusual selections tailors the aesthetic and boosts curb appeal, not to mention pollinator and wildlife support. Join gardening expert Katherine Rowe in unusual shrubs to set the garden apart.

Upright clumps of green lance-shaped leaves topped with large clusters of star-shaped pink blooms, often part of perennials cut back in August to encourage healthier regrowth.

Ornamental Gardens

11 Perennials to Cut Back in August

Late summer is prime for some perennials to get a refresh. With August cutback, we may get another round of flowers, manage for shape, keep the look fresh, and limit the spread of diseases. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe looks at certain perennials that benefit from a light touch this month.

A close-up shows tall, spiky purple flower stalks, common among native midwest perennials, with numerous small blossoms emerging from a bed of green foliage and blurred yellow flowers in the background.

Ornamental Gardens

13 Beautiful Native Perennials for the Midwest

The Midwestern U.S. is a hotbed for native perennials that offer ecological services and multi-season appeal with high color, texture, and the energetic buzz of pollinators. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores superlative native perennials to incorporate into Midwest gardens for a well-rounded garden system.

A dense cluster of vibrant purple daisy-like flowers, each with a bright yellow center, showcases New England wildflowers.

Flowers

11 Beautiful New England Wildflowers

The beautiful wildflowers of New England offer a colorful and diverse display through the growing season. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some of the hardy plants that support local pollinators and thrive in a variety of habitats from woodlands to coastal areas.

Tall conical drought-tolerant arborvitae alternatives with gently drooping branches and soft, bluish-green needles arranged in dense whorls.

Trees

7 Drought-Tolerant Arborvitae Alternatives for Dry Climates

Arborvitae are versatile across garden scales with year-round appeal, although their reliance on regular moisture makes them a challenge in dry conditions. With native conifers and their cultivars, options abound for durable evergreens in a range of sizes, colors, and shapes. Gardening expert Katheirne Rowe explores arborvitae stand-ins for high-performance in low-water sites.

Southern perennial flowers, including yellow daisy-like blooms with distinct brown centers and irregular petals, are interspersed with green leaves and other less defined yellow flowers.

Flowers

13 Best Low-Maintenance Perennial Flowers for Southern Gardeners

Low-maintenance perennials are the foundation of easy, sustainable gardening. For Southern gardeners, they weather the hot and often humid summers gracefully, without requiring you to spend hours in the heat tending to them. Join Florida gardener Melissa Strauss for a look at some beautiful, low-maintenance perennials for your Southern garden.