Why not to Plant Magnolias and Jacarandas
If you are considering planting a tree, you might want to eliminate southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and jacaranda from your list of choices. There is a bacterial disease that is infecting t...
Category Archives: Trees
Dragon Trees
Plants are full of surprises. You never know what to expect and that’s why to dabble in the dirt is to be humble. Even after years of planting, you are always a beginner in the garden. Everything ...
Growing Plants in Containers
Have you ever had a pet frog, a bird, a hamster, or a goldfish? If so, you have some idea of what caring for a potted plant is all about. Constant vigilance, really. You want to feed it, but not t...
Why Do Trees Live Longer Than Humans?
On Quora, Eoin Kenny asked: “Why do trees live longer than humans?” Let me attempt an answer. Because their roots run deeper than ours. Roots, representing faith, are constantly drawing ...
Bamboo for You
Q: What is the scariest plant? A: BamBOO I know, it’s a corny joke, but what would you say about a plant that can grow as much as three feet in one day (or one inch every forty minutes)? Or culms (...
Street Tree Possibilities
“I have been unable to plant a street tree after the city removed mine about a year and a half ago because I can’t make a decision from the dozens that seem like good choices. Most people in my...
Fall Planting of Deciduous Trees
When it comes to deciduous shrubs and trees, fall and winter are the seasons they get serious about root growth. In places like Southern California, where the ground never freezes, roots never stop ...
Botanical Expeditions with Dan Hinkley
Imagine that you are the director of Heronswood, a fifteen acre botanical garden and, when you come home at the end of the day, you are surrounded by a six and a half acre garden of your own. Both ...
Bananas, Grapefruits, and Oak Tree Beetles
“I have banana trees that bloom and produce fruit of the ‘Ice Cream’ (also known as ‘Blue Java’) variety. I have heard that I should trim the flower off after a single cluster of bananas has formed o...
Flamboyant Tree, Floating Row Cover
During the recent heat wave, something curious happened. A tree that had every reason to burn or at least get mildly singed emerged unscathed. But first let’s mention some horticultural favorites th...
