Hypertufa troughs are earthy and natural containers that look great in gardens of every style. Today’s hypertufa troughs are modeled after ancient stone vessels that were used by farmers in England and the Orient to hold water and feed for livestock. As farmers replaced stone with more modern materials, the old stone feeders became popular as planters. As they became scarce, and pricey, people began to make their own. But a hypertufa trough is a worthy container in its own right, and should not be considered a poor substitute for the real thing.

Attracting birds to your garden calls for more than feeders and feed. Of the 167 birds on my “spotted in my yard” list, only 29 came to feeders. Native habitat attracted the rest.

Clematis stands high on my list of favorite plants. I have designed and built a number of supporting posts just so I can add this beautiful plant to the garden in areas where other supports don’t exist. I don’t just build them for myself, I’ve also built posts for my friends. In total, I’ve created about a dozen posts, and while each one is different, the basics of building them are the same.

I know you won’t believe this, especially if you have moles tunneling through your landscape, but moles are actually somewhat beneficial in the landscape. They are probably tearing up your lawn in order to achieve this, but they do help with soil management and the control of undesirable grubs and insects.

Ah, the mixture of foliage and flora as a harbinger of spring.

Rabbits are notoriously difficult to remove from an area – just ask Mr. McGregor. The story of Peter Rabbit has long delighted young children and elicited sympathetic sighs from gardeners. What can a poor gardener do to rid himself of this cotton-tailed pestilence?

Winter is prime time for seed catalogs. While others are watching the Super Bowl, I’m usually knee deep in catalogs, obsessively planning for spring. When choosing varieties, I definitely look for organic seed, and here’s why.

Have you noticed your obedient plant rebelling into a doughnut shape with an empty hole in the middle? Has ‘Rozanne’ lost her vigor, with less and less flare each year? Are your spring tulips a carpet of green instead of red? Or maybe your friends are dying for a piece of your lungwort? While most flower gardens start out lush and colorful early in the season, late summer and fall often yield a less desirable look. Don’t be afraid to chop on your plants, you won’t hurt them. A little deadheading and dividing can go a long way in the perennial garden.

A little green thumb and a pair of pruners can go a long way in yielding a high quality harvest both in the veggie patch and fruit orchard. Pruning fruits and vegetables can be very beneficial in directing energy away from other plant parts towards the fruiting buds, leading to a more bountiful garden.

Gardeners often forget the magic of how quickly shrubs can fill an empty space in the landscape. While controlling size is the most common need for pruning, other reasons include encouraging bounties of bloom, artistic shaping such as when designing topiaries, and removal of dead and diseased wood.

Pruning is one of the best ways to give waning trees more vigor. Alternatively, it is one of the easiest ways to send a healthy tree into decline. Knowing how to make the right pruning cuts is a skill that takes practice and involves a lot of science too!

After a long day working in your garden, there should be a special spot where you can stop and enjoy your labors. Whether it’s a small whimsical bench tucked in along a little garden path or a swing for two, seating in your garden can extend your enjoyment of your garden tremendously.