Sunset Western Gardening

PEG TILLERY | Stress-free plants for Northwest gardens

Stress-free plants for Northwest gardens

It would take a whole "Sunset Western Garden Book" to capture all the must-have and fail-proof plants for our area. Here are a few you may want to incorporate into your own gardens. Remember to water new plants regularly their first year until established.

Shrub and flower carpet rose varieties abound, in a wide array of colors, blooming continuously for nearly eight months. These roses are easy-care, rarely or never get black spot and can either be used to fill in areas in a garden or will grow well in containers; they also tolerate yearly, infrequent or no pruning. If they become too leggy just whack them to within six inches of the ground. Spring is the best time to prune.

Try hydrangeas with choices ranging from quite small (H. macrophylla "Pia") to nearly tree-like (H. aspera varieties) climbing to at least 6 feet in height. Hydrangeas provide interest nearly nine months of the year. Local nurseries have many in bloom right now. Hydrangeas also look great nestled in with rhododendrons and azaleas, which I've mentioned in several columns this year.

For gardens with shade, a wonderful selection of ferns and hostas satisfies nearly any taste and color palette. Hostas range in size from tiny to gigantic. Flowers are in shades of white, pink and purple. Leaves are pleated, smooth, variegated, striped and solid. Ferns pair well with hostas and they too come in a wide array of colors and textures. Both evergreen and deciduous ferns ranging from diminutive and miniature to 3 to 4 feet tall add to the myriad choices available.

For gardeners who feel they can't grow anything successfully, herbs offer complete no-fail opportunities, plus herbs can be eaten. Any mint plant (try chocolate, spearmint, variegated) will bring success. It is very wise to grow mint in containers, unless filling in an area with abandon is the goal. For sunny gardens sage, rosemary and lavender are excellent choices and very easy to grow but once established these three herb plants do need yearly pruning. Avoid pruning back to bare wood without any foliage.

Shrubs and trees

Here are a few larger plants to round out the stress-free plant selection. Once they're established, gardeners can sit back and enjoy them for years and years without pruning or tending; just watering during the dry summer months and while establishing. Pruning involves taking out dead twiglets now and then.

Planting Strawberries? | Amazing Azaleas

Not so much. If you got those strawberries from a supermarket, they’re not natural meaning they have been injected with certain chemicals to make them look and taste better. Go to a nursery and plant a few berry seeds and watch them grow over time. You can easily tell a home grown strawberry from a supermarket’s brand. They also taste better and have a better effect on the body. Hope this helps.

Sunset Western Garden Book

Sunset Western Garden Annual 2004

Sunset western landscaping book

Sunset western garden book

Sunset western garden book