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In spite of what textbooks may tell you about pruning, we do the bulk of our deciduous pruning in the winter months, when the plants are dormant, in order to take some of the workload off the hectic spring months of the year. It's also much easier to see the framework and plan the appropriate cuts when there is no foliage on the plants. We're able to get away with this on the West Coast due to our fairly temperate climate, and it really does help tremendously to have all our roses and hydrangeas sorted before the surge of spring growth makes...

And we'd like to encourage you to add a fork to your garden kit! During the month of December, purchase one of these combinations of 'Fork & Spade' or 'Fork & Trowel' and you'll get a little something extra from us! Click on any of the pictures for more details! Here are some of the many ways we use forks: 1. For weeding, especially perennial weeds that will regenerate from a small piece of root (think bindweed, japanese anemone, goutweed), because it doesn't chop them into little pieces the way a spade does. 2. For loosening compacted soils or mat-forming weeds...

I photographed these fantastic looking creations at Sissinghurst Castle Garden in the UK several years ago. Their intricate and impressive rose pruning techniques were like nothing I'd seen before.

This is one of those lost horticultural arts for me and I was astounded to see these beautifully sculptural shapes that almost look animated, as though they might dance right out of the beds.