ArcaMax

NEW YORK — Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has incurred the wrath of New York City gardening enthusiasts by saying he’d reverse Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to save lower Manhattan’s Elizabeth Street Garden from being converted into affordable housing.

At the end of a candidate forum hosted by the Hell Gate news site last week...Read more

I thought about titling this column "A Shrub for All Seasons." It would be kind of a verbal take off the "Man for All Seasons." But my shrub goes dormant, so I decided the best description would be "A Shrub for All Reasons." Let me explain.

My sister sent me three photos in early October and asked, "How do you like my Double Play Candy Corn ...Read more

Spider Mites on Houseplants

Q: As I was bringing in one of my houseplants for the winter, I noticed that it has spider mites. I put it in a room by itself and have been spraying it with rubbing alcohol. It seemed to be working, but then the mites came back. What works the best on spider mites?

A: Spider mites are very small and hard to see. It...Read more

The parkway garden sits on a commercial stretch of Glendale's Brand Boulevard. It's a modest patch of native plants, hardly visible from the road.

But this baby plot is the pride and joy of the tight-knit group of green thumbers who tend to it. They gather there every last Sunday of the month for Club Gay Gardens, a garden club catering to ...Read more

It is spring in Australia and New Zealand and looks like it in Columbus, Georgia, thanks to a little planting in early September. One plant that is catching my eye every day is the award-winning Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena.

The last time I gave this plant any press was when magenta was the Pantone Color of the Year. It is a color that ...Read more

Q: We noticed that the bark is starting to fall off one of our trees. The tree was planted about three years ago and has been doing fine. The trunk is about 6 inches across, and the lowest branch is about 6 feet above the ground. We peeled off the loose bark, and it is missing from 2 to 5 feet off the ground, all on one side. What should we do? ...Read more

The past two years, have seen rainstorms that were real gully washers at my house in West Georgia. Consequently, my dry creek area with daylilies saw the rocks moving downhill. But the water movement opened the door for one of the most enjoyable gardening projects in years.

The storms created a winding path for water to relocate to the street. ...Read more

Q: I have been cleaning up my flower beds, and I noticed that there are dozens of small trees sprouting up everywhere. I think they are redbud trees from the neighbor's tree. They range from a couple of inches to a couple of feet tall. I am thinking of digging up as many as I can and using some for bonsai and some to give away or sell at a ...Read more

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