AMERICAN GARDENER

The eastern cottonwood tree is one of the largest and fastest-growing hardwoods native to North America, instantly recognizable each early summer when its cottony seed fluff drifts through the air like a light snowfall. A dominant presence along rivers and floodplains across much of the continent, this towering shade tree has shaped both natural ecosystems … Read more

The balsam poplar tree is one of North America’s most cold-hardy hardwoods, famous for the sweet, resinous fragrance that fills northern forests each spring as its sticky buds unfurl. Native to a vast stretch of the continent’s boreal regions, this fast-growing tree has long played a role in indigenous medicine, wildlife habitat, and northern forestry. … Read more

The Lombardy poplar tree is one of the most instantly recognizable trees in the landscaping world, known for its narrow, column-like shape that shoots skyward like a green exclamation point. Widely planted across North America and Europe as a fast-growing privacy screen and windbreak, this tall, slender tree has a striking silhouette unlike almost any … Read more

A Silver-Leafed Giant of the Landscape The white poplar tree (Populus alba) is a fast-growing deciduous tree best known for its silvery foliage, pale bark, broad crown, and remarkable ability to produce new shoots from its roots. Native to large parts of Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean region, and temperate Asia, it has also been … Read more

Fast-growing evergreen trees are valuable when you want to establish a landscape quickly. Unlike deciduous trees that lose their foliage during part of the year, evergreen trees can provide year-round color, screening, shade, wind protection, and structure. A rapidly growing evergreen can transform an open yard into a more established-looking landscape in considerably less time … Read more

Wet soil can be one of the more challenging conditions for gardeners. Areas that stay saturated after rain may have poor drainage, a high water table, or naturally heavy soil that holds moisture for long periods. Many popular landscape trees struggle in these conditions because their roots need access to oxygen as well as water. … Read more

Choosing a tree for a small garden can be surprisingly difficult. I have learned that the hardest part is not finding a beautiful tree—it is finding one that will still look right years after planting. A young tree can seem perfectly manageable when it comes home from the nursery, but its mature height, spread, roots, … Read more

Citrus fruits are some of the most widely grown and recognizable fruits in the world. They are valued for their refreshing flavors, aromatic oils, colorful peels, and high culinary versatility. Oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, and grapefruits are the most familiar examples, but the citrus group is much larger than the fruits commonly found in supermarkets. … Read more

Bell peppers are among the most rewarding crops for gardeners who want a high volume of produce from a relatively small growing area. A healthy plant can continue setting flowers and developing fruit over an extended season, particularly when temperatures, nutrition, moisture, and pollination are favorable. However, the amount harvested depends heavily on the variety. … Read more

Sweet peppers are among the most versatile vegetables—or, botanically speaking, fruits—you can grow in a home garden. Unlike hot peppers, sweet pepper varieties contain little to no capsaicin, the compound responsible for the burning sensation associated with chili peppers. Instead, they offer a wide range of flavors, colors, shapes, and textures, from crisp bell peppers … Read more