Le Monde | April 24, 2009 | 7:53 p.m.(Thrilled to be featured in Le Monde for once...)However, I never advised against planting rhododendrons near the sea—Brittanys coastal climate is ideal for them.Read the full article on LeMonde.fr

Is your lavender looking leggy? Discover proven pruning techniques for lavender, santolina, and rosemary to restore their vigor and beauty.After winter, Mediterranean shrubs like lavender, santolina, and rosemary—regardless of variety—often lose leaves from the base and along much of the branches, l

No May Day celebration is complete without lily of the valley. But once your loved ones potted gift has bloomed, where do you place it next? (The plant, of course!)Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a classic understory plant that thrives in light shade and humus-rich soil with moderate moi

Nitrogen hunger occurs when mulching with materials like leaves, grass clippings, or straw. While mulch offers countless benefits, you might notice yellowing leaves on plants a few days after application. This is nitrogen hunger: soil bacteria decomposing the mulch temporarily rob nitrogen from the

Tomatoes are a beloved fruit vegetable and the worlds most popular garden crop. Available in diverse shapes (round, elongated, pear-shaped, flattened) and vibrant colors (red, pink, yellow, green, brown, orange, white, marbled), they range from a few grams to over one kilogram. Flavor varies by vari

Fertilization is an ongoing practice throughout the year. While basal applications happen primarily in autumn, a spring fertilization is essential when establishing new crops on sunny days.Plants draw essential nutrients from the soil year-round, making natural fertilization key to their health and

A gardeners question: My blue fescues look ugly—how do I prune them?In my years cultivating ornamental grasses, Ive seen this often. For blue fescue, cut back severely close to the ground to remove dead strands. This lets the plant breathe and sprout fresh growth. After a few years, a dry center sig

Its time to refresh your planters, balcony boxes, and flower pots. Your success hinges on selecting the right potting soil.Dont Reuse Last Years SoilToss it out! Never reuse soil from last season.Last years soil in your planters harbors diseases, pests, and other threats that can damage new planting

To garden sustainably and protect the environment, turn to natural alternatives to chemical pesticides. Certain plants serve as green manures—planted directly in holes, used as ground cover, or fermented into sprays and watering solutions.What Are Liquid Manures?Liquid manures, or fermented plant ex

May brings a flurry of essential gardening tasks that keep your garden thriving. Some simply cant wait.Focus now on those April-sown seeds with timely transplanting. For small plants, use buckets; for larger ones, go straight into the ground. Protect them by covering or mulching, as nights can still

A common question from gardeners: My rhubarb is blooming, and I dont know what to do.As experienced growers know, rhubarb flowers should be removed promptly. Cut all flower stalks at the base—they exhaust the plants energy unproductively. Follow up with nitrogen-rich fertilization, like dried blood

In response to Grandma Catous question, tomato sowing can indeed begin in greenhouses this February. For those in colder regions, wait another month until the soil warms sufficiently for ground planting. Sowing too early often means prolonging indoor care, heightening the risk of etiolation in seedl

Pruning roses is a thorny challenge—those sharp spines pose a real danger! Even thick gloves like boxing or baseball ones often fail, as thorns pierce leather, cotton, or latex, nicking your skin.Heres my battle-tested tip from years of hands-on gardening: Hold the pruner in your right hand and grip

Question from a blogger: What do I do with my faded hyacinth?As seasoned horticulturists with years of experience nurturing bulbous plants like tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, and daffodils, we recommend allowing them to rebuild their energy reserves stored in the bulb. Deadhead the spent flowers and k

Reference: Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture CanadaPotato late blight, caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans, originated in Mexico and spread to Europe and North America around 1845. It triggered devastating epidemics and the Irish Potato Famine, where potatoes were a dietary staple. T

Question from a reader: Is lime dangerous, and can we cultivate afterwards?Traditionally, gardeners spread lime on gardens and fields before planting to boost calcium levels and raise soil pH, effectively lowering acidity.With years of hands-on experience in loam soils amended with autumn compost, I

April chill persistsAs seasoned gardeners know, tender plants protected through winter—whether under frost fleece, straw mulch, or with leaves secured by twine—now need to breathe. Fresh shoots risk rotting if kept confined without light. Remove protections as soon as conditions allow, enabling heal

A common question from gardeners: Should roses be pruned when planting them?As an experienced rosarian, I recommend only one type of pruning at planting: trimming the ends of the roots on bare-root roses.I strongly advise against cutting branches. Heres why: Winter pruning wounds dont heal until spr

A gardener asks: What should I do with my wilted Amaryllis?As with any bulbous potted plant after flowering, simply cut back the spent flower stem without touching the leaves. Once outdoor temperatures are mild enough, plant the bulb in the ground—leaves included, even if theyre unsightly—and water

As experienced gardeners know, winter cuttings—also known as dry wood cuttings—offer a reliable way to propagate virtually all deciduous shrubs. No rush to multiply; one mature plant often suffices, but this method ensures easy expansion.Select 20 cm branches with a beveled base. Bundle them, bury 3