Plants
Lilac shrubs bloom in spring and early summer and should be pruned after the blooms have faded. Flowering shrubs. Generally, shrubs that bloom in early spring to early summer flower on old wood and should be pruned in summer, once their flowers have faded. Shrubs that flower in summer to early fall are best pruned in late winter to early spring. See how and when to prune flowering shrubs
Keep your eyes peeled for the following conifers: dwarf mugo pine (Pinus mugo var. pumilio, zones 3 to 7) for a dark-green gumdrop form; blue spruce (Picea pungens, zones 3 to 7) for stunning silvery-blue needles; and more cold-tender ‘Wilma Goldcrest’ Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’, zones 7 to 10) for bright chartreuse foliage on the compact container plant.
Beautiful astilbe has delicate plume-like blossoms that float in partially shaded perennial borders, where it plays well with coral bells (Heuchera spp.), bleeding heart (Dicentra spp.), and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis). Choose among shades that range from creamy white to pink, lavender and burgundy.
Alliums. Most alliums are treated as perennials, as they have a good chance of repeat-blooming in most climates. Bloom size can decrease in a few years, however. Skip deadheading with alliums and allow the flowers to dry on the stalk and the seeds to mature. “Leave alliums be until the globe flower dries and the stem has pushed all energy back into the bulbs for next year,” Hoxie says. Note: Alliums’ large leaves can be difficult to hide as they start to yellow. This can be a reason for planting alliums among shrubs like roses or hydrangea or taller mixed perennial borders with foliage that can conceal the fading allium.
Picture this button-eyed yellow David Austin shrub rose, called ‘Imogen’, growing in front of a stacked stone wall or trained up the sides of a weathered gray archway.
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