Every garden has its drama queens and aster flowers certainly know how to put on a show. I’ve seen asters thrive gloriously and I’ve watched them struggle when paired with the wrong neighbors. So I’m going to share what plants actually work with asters, and which ones should be kept far away, based on real …
After spending countless hours coaxing my shade garden into bloom, I’ve learned one thing for sure – impatiens can be both a delight and a drama queen in the garden. Those vibrant splashes of color that brighten up shady corners are actually pretty particular about their neighbors. Last summer I watched my carefully planned border …
Poppies are stunning and fantastic to grow but surprisingly fussy about their neighbors. They’re actually quite particular about who they share their garden bed with. Last spring I planted a gorgeous mixed border with poppies as the star attraction, only to watch half of them struggle while others thrived. After some frustrated research and plenty …
After spending countless spring mornings admiring neighborhood tulip displays, I finally decided to plant my own tulip garden five years ago. But I was in for a bit of a shock – it wasn’t as simple as digging holes and dropping bulbs! Tulips can be quite particular about their garden companions. That planting scheme you …
Every time I see a struggling lavender plant, I can usually trace the problem back to one thing – bad neighbors. After years of growing these gorgeous purple beauties (and killing quite a few along the way), I’ve learned that lavender can be pretty picky about its garden companions. The following are the plants you …
Marigolds may look cheerful and innocent but they aren’t as easygoing as their appearance suggest. Sure, these vibrant flowers seem like they’d play nice with anything, but I’ve killed enough plants to know better. With that in mind I’m going to give you some companion planting wisdom that actually works, straight from my own gardening …
I’ve had many years of gardening and in that time I’ve seen what works with roses – and boy have I seen what absolutely doesn’t. So I’m going to share what plants to keep away from your precious roses, straight from my own garden disasters and successes. Understanding Roses Roses are the high-maintenance celebrities of …
After spending many years rehabilitating neglected lilac bushes and planting new ones in all sorts of garden configurations I’ve learned what works – and what spectacularly fails – when it comes to companion planting with lilacs. These are what NOT to plant with lilacs, straight from my own garden disasters and triumphs. Understanding Lilacs Lilacs …
I’ve been growing hostas for over a decade now, and they’ve taught me more lessons about gardening partnerships than my last three relationships combined. They may seem easy going at first glance but they can be surprisingly picky about their garden companions. After years of watching my hostas thrive, struggle and sometimes flat-out give up …
I’ve spent years growing lilies in everything from tiny balcony containers to sprawling garden beds. And I’ve killed enough lily plants to start my own compost business. So let me save you the heartache and share what NOT to plant with these dramatic bloomers. Understanding Lilies The first time I planted lilies I stuck them …