Sometimes a tree becomes a hazard This is the time of year I prefer to take down any trees that have died or become a hazard in the garden. I say “prefer” because sometimes you don’t have the luxury of waiting. I experienced this last year when a large tree lodged over as a result of heavy rains and saturated soil conditions. The main reason I like to wait for winter, if possible, is most of the landscape around the base of the trees is dormant and is less likely to be damaged by falling...

Nothing in a nursery catalog catches my attention more than the word “new.” This term is usually applied to a plant that is new to the U.S. market, either as a new release from breeders, a wild plant recently brought into cultivation, or a plant already established on the overseas markets. And, more often than not, a much higher price is almost always a given for new introductions. Some plants like Hosta, Iris and daylilies (Hemerocallis) come gradually down in price...