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Common name: Snow-in-summer, Mouse ear, Silver carpet, Chickweed Latin name: Cerastium tomentosum Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: 6-8″ high by 1-2′ wide; can be invasive USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10 (short-lived in Zones 8-10) Cultural needs: Full sun (light shade in hot Zones), well-drained, moderately rich soil, water well after soil dries somewhat Snow-in-summer is an […]
Common name: Tricolor stonecrop Latin name: Sedum spurium ‘Tricolor’ Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: 1-6″ high by 12″ wide and spreading USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-11 Cultural needs: Poor, moderate to dry, well-drained soil; sun (for pink color) to light shade With parents native to Iran, Tricolor stonecrop is the type of rugged plant that laughs […]
Water plants for the garden railway Ah, summer! It’s hot enough for iced tea and watermelon. You’re sitting by your little pond, enjoying the rhythmic chimes of rushing water from your railway’s beautiful falls. Through the haze your eyes rest on a serene lake; you’re imagining that anticipated fishing trip. Mountains reflected in cool, clear […]
Common name: Axilflower, Magic Carpet Yellow, Baby Jump Up Latin name: Mecardonia x ‘Magic Carpet Yellow’, M. x ‘Gold Dust’, and M. x ‘Gold Flake’ Plant type: Annual USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11, or grown as an annual Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun Plant size: 4″ high x 6-12″ […]
Common name: Coral bark Japanese maple Latin name: Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’ (syn. A.p. ‘Senkaki’) Plant size: 15-20′ high by 15-20′ wide, unpruned USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 Plant type: shrubs and small trees Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; full sun to part shade One of the most popular, semi-dwarf Japanese […]
Common name: Bearberry, kinnikinnick Latin name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Plant type: Groundcover Plant size: 6″ high spreading to 3′ or more USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-7 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, acidic soil; part shade or full sun Common bearberry is native to the US and Canada (as well as other continents) and is found in damp, […]
White Pygmy cypress Latin name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘White Pygmy’ Common name: White Pygmy cypress Plant type: Dwarf conifer Growth rate: 12″ x 14″ wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8 Cultural needs: Sun to part shade, rich soil, moderate water White Pygmy is one of the smallest dwarf conifers available, usually growing only to a foot tall […]
Trailing ice plant Common name: Trailing ice plant, Cooper’s ice plant Latin name: Delosperma cooperi USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9 Cultural needs: Well-drained soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 3-inches high by 3-feet wide Sometimes called hardy ice plant or purple ice plant, this low succulent is not to be confused with the […]
Lingonberry or mountain cranberry Common name: Lingonberry, mountain cranberry Latin name: Vaccinium vitis-idaea Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-6 Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, very acidic soil, full sun to partial shade Plant size: 4-12″, depending on variety and culture Hello, Zone 2 gardeners! This naturalized Scandinavian import is hardy to -50°F! Mountaincranberry, […]
The most important secret to repel bugs and insects from the garden is to grow the healthiest plants possible. Most pests tend to attack plants that are stressed in some way, so by keeping your garden stress free, you may avoid the pest issue altogether. Proper soil preparation, good watering techniques, and spring cleaning are […]
There are as many suggested ways to repel deer and rabbits as there are baby bunnies in my neighborhood. Physical barriers (fences) are probably the only sure-fire way to keep critters out of your railroad, but are expensive, often impractical, and usually unsightly. Next in order of effectiveness is to use plants that are less […]
Top Point white cedar tree Common name: Top Point white cedar Latin name: Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Top Point’ Plant type: dwarf conifer Plant size: 4-5′ at maturity USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: Moist or average, slightly acidic soil; full sun Classics among railway forest trees are the many, dwarf varieties of Chamaecyparis thyoides, the native […]
