Articles by Curtis Adams

Ornamental grasses are valuable landscape features. They provide three- to four-season interest with their distinctive forms, be they upright towers or arching mounds. Their seed heads often persist into winter, providing garden interest as well as …

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), also known as sacred bamboo, is a commonly used landscape shrub native to Asia, from India to Japan. The attractiveness of Nandina is in part its adaptability to a range of conditions, as well as the number of its …

Most commercially available seeds have been selected and bred for easy use. In late winter or early spring, you put them in soil, give them water and some light, and you get new plants. By starting from seed, you can grow many plants that are not read…

Lawns have their place in the American landscape. They are visually uncomplicated and easy on the eyes. As play surfaces, most turfgrass types are able to take some abuse and are relatively easy on the abusers. But it is safe to say we have way more l…

Native annuals and biennials are gaining traction in gardens, as using native trees, shrubs and perennials continues to be a trend. While they live only for a season or two, annuals put their resources into producing large quantities of flowers and se…

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) and their cultivars are landscape standards in temperate-climate zones throughout much of the world. These Asian natives perform well in a variety of growing conditions, from evenly moist, well-drained soils to somewhat …

For all the wonderful things that hosta offers, it does have downsides that limit its use. Hostas are a favorite food for deer, and they often are severely disfigured by slugs and a viral disease. Their large leaves are subject to sunburn if not kept …