Don’t circle trees with stuff.

Jan 4, 2017 | Don't DO ThaT

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason Don’t circle trees with stuff. I don’t know where this practice started, the Midwest I suppose, perhaps Hopkins, or Edina. People see that tree out in their yard and they just can’t leave...

Don’t use rock as a ground cover around trees and shrubs.

Jan 4, 2017 | Don't DO ThaT

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason Don’t use rock as a ground cover around trees and shrubs. Half-inch to two-inch rock – often touted under the name “decorative rock” – is the worst possible choice for covering the ground...

Don’t design straight lines into the landscape.

Jan 4, 2017 | Don't DO ThaT

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason Don’t design straight lines into the landscape. Nothing creates a boring landscape more surely than use of the straight line. Be it in the shape of our flowerbeds, the planting of flowers within...

Don’t cut live branches off evergreen trees!

Jan 4, 2017 | Don't DO ThaT

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason Don’t cut live branches off evergreen trees! Get in you car, right now, and drive around your neighborhood. Between fifty and seventy percent of the pines, spruce, fir and other evergreen trees you...

Don’t fertilize perennials, trees, or shrubs after August 15th.

Jan 4, 2017 | Don't DO ThaT

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason Don’t fertilize perennials, trees, or shrubs after August 15th. After becoming accustomed to fertilizing around our yards and gardens we sometimes forget that we are growing different kinds of...

Don’t cut little circles into your lawn and plant flowers in them.

Jan 4, 2017 | Don't DO ThaT

RENEGADE GARDENER™ The lone voice of horticultural reason Don’t cut little circles into your lawn and plant flowers in them. This practice is a component of what I call the creeping landscape, where the homeowners “landscape” their acreage bit...