ArcaMax

I remember the day quite well. I went to my Rotary Club meeting and returned to my office in the garden. I casually glanced into the garden as I entered the building. I noticed a sizable group of nature lovers gathered around looking through their binoculars. I asked inside if anyone knew what they were looking at. The answer was a great purple ...Read more

Q: My house is being invaded by ladybugs. Why are they coming indoors when there is nothing in here for them? How do I get rid of them?

A: There are several thousand species of ladybugs, or lady beetles or ladybirds, as they may be called, depending on where you live and what your mom called them. Some are what horticulturists call beneficial ...Read more

Four years ago, an ornamental sweet potato shook up the green industry. It was named after Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology. If you remember from junior high, this lady had snakes for hair.

My take on this is that whenever the green industry names a new plant after Medusa, it turns out to be special. Now four years and 29 awards later, ...Read more

Have you seen yellow flowering plants along the side of the road or in people's gardens? They are probably goldenrods. Last week, I talked about the hidden green flowers of ragweed that are the culprits behind hay fever. I mentioned that goldenrods often get the blame, so let's talk about goldenrods.

Are they a wildflower or a weed? Many people...Read more

If you have been on the fence about trying one of the Art & Sol Mangave varieties at your home, Moonglow will seal the deal. Moonglow is one of four selections that will make their debut in 2026 and bring the collection to 10.

If you are on the fence, I see that as a good thing because at least you have heard of Mangave, that totally new plant ...Read more

Ragweeds are in the Ambrosia genus in the aster family. There are about 50 species of ragweed. Most grow in the desert areas of the American Southwest and Mexico. Some species have been spread around the world, where they are now invasive species. The common name is based on the fact that the leaves may look ragged. The genus name of Ambrosia ...Read more

Crème Brulee looks to be like a rare colored dessert for the landscape in 2026. It is the newest selection in the Heart to Heart series of caladiums. I've been wanting to get my hands on some bulbs, and now I look a little like the Yorkie that chased down the car. As in, what do I do with it?

Heart to Heart Crème Brulee caladium is promoted ...Read more

Q: How do I prepare my small flower bed for winter? I have a few black-eyed Susans that look pretty scary right now. Do I cut the tops off or what? I have some dead-looking petunias. Should I just pull them up and fill in the area with new soil or mulch?

A: Fall is often a better time to prepare flower and vegetable garden beds for new crops ...Read more

The Garden Guy fell in love with Luscious Basket Tangeglow lantana last year after seeing it in recipes at Young’s Plant Farm Annual Garden Tour in Auburn, Alabama. The colors were so incredible. Like the name suggests, it is a Tangerine that seems to be glowing. Proven winners officially call it Peach, Orange and Yellow.

You might wonder if ...Read more

Q: There is a mossy growth on the lower portion of the tree trunks in our neighborhood. It grows in circles and is in a variety of colors. Is it harmful to our trees?

A: You are describing an interesting plant called a lichen. Lichens are actually a combination of a fungus and algae. The fungus needs the algae's photosynthesis ability to ...Read more

Coast to Coast in a Flash has made the summer one of the most beautiful in memory. Of course, I’m The Garden Guy and I am talking about plants, not a hasty trip from Columbus, Georgia, to Carmel, California. Though the latter certainly sounds fun.

Coast to Coast is one of the most beautiful hosta varieties in the Shadowlaand series. In fact, ...Read more

Q: I took your advice and tried some new vegetables in my garden this year. I have several colors of tomatoes that are not red. I am new to gardening, so how do I tell when the various colors of tomatoes are ripe?

A: Even though everyone thinks they know how to pick red tomatoes, I would guess that many people pick them at the wrong time. ...Read more

Next year you will get a great opportunity to Jazz Up your baskets, containers and boxes with a new Supertunia Vista petunia.

Mention Supertunia Vista petunias and the first to come to mind is the obvious, Bubblegum. I remember years ago giving presentations for Mississippi State University and showing the new Supertunia Vista Bubblegum and ...Read more

Q: Our HOA is sponsoring a plant swap in a few weeks. People can dig up plants in their gardens or divide houseplants. Do you have any tips for the proper way to prepare the plants?

A: Let's take the plant groups one at a time. First, the outdoor perennials: Most perennials rarely need dividing, but for many perennials, the fall is a good time ...Read more

This was a leap year for several of my Luminary tall garden phlox in more ways than one, as I’ll explain shortly.

For those newbies to the world of perennials, we always explain that in year one, they sleep. This means they are there and will bloom, but they are getting those roots established. Year two they creep, meaning they put on some ...Read more

Q: The leaves on my newly planted oak tree have numerous holes, and the edges of the leaf are missing. I do not see any insects, but I am worried about the tree. Most of the tree is like this.

A: Oaks are pretty tolerant of many insect pests. Holes in the leaf can be caused by insects or by diseases such as anthracnose that kill areas of the ...Read more

Logic would tell you that if you put the magic in pink lemonade, you can do it to grapefruit too. That’s just what happened, and the horticultural blogosphere is rumbling with excitement.

Superbells' Magic Pink Lemonade calibrachoa has been out for a couple of years and has won awards like Perfect Score, Top Performer. Director’s Select ...Read more

Time sure flies when you aren't looking. I started writing a weekly newspaper column on landscaping, gardening and wildlife 35 years ago this week. I think I have helped a lot of people with their problems. How can I help you?

Q: My gladiolus bulbs have not bloomed well this year. Any ideas on what I did wrong?

A: These bulbs are usually a ...Read more

One of the best things about being involved in plant trials is being proven wrong. People who are evaluating plants at the university level, garden writers and even industry pros are all guilty of judging a plant the day we take it out of the box or off the truck. A lot of those judgments are on aesthetics or beauty.

I’ll skip writing a ...Read more

Q: I have a significant amount of blue rug junipers in my landscape. Every spring, there is a large amount of twig blight that I have to trim. I have been doing this for over 20 years, and it is getting old. Is there a fungicide I can use to address this condition?

A: I have always liked blue rug juniper. It has a nice color and only grows 6-12...Read more