The first time I saw a climbing hydrangea, it was growing its way up the trunk of a majestic oak. I was smitten, and Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris also climbed its way to the No. 1 spot on my ...

Most of us have boundary walls, fences, or garden buildings such as sheds or studios that are in shade for part of the day, and in some cases all day long, especially if your garden faces north or ...

If you live in the city chances are your outdoor space will have at least some areas of shade for all or part of the day. Even those of us with a south-facing space can end up with shaded areas of the ...

Pergolas work great for creating a shady spot to gather in outdoors. These tall structures feature open-topped canopies that can be built over walkways, dining areas, and other outdoor spaces.

Looking to add a new twist to your garden? How about adding a vine or two to add a new dimension? You can choose an annual vine, a perennial vine, or an evergreen vine or climber. A climber will ...

Have a bare fence in the garden that could use some sprucing up? An arbor over the patio that doesn’t get enough shade in the summer? A brick chimney that’s a little stark? Adding some vines might be ...

The afternoon sun gets intense and there is no room for shade trees. I thought about building a trellis for climbing vines for shade to lower my air-conditioning costs. Is this a worthwhile project?

Question: We'd like to fill in our long expanse of yard fencing with climbing vines. We are limited by 40-foot live oaks that cut off the sun but surely something works in the shade and heat! Answer: ...

Elizabeth has worked since 2010 as a writer and consultant covering gardening, permaculture, and sustainable living. She has also written a number of books and e-books on gardens and gardening. Haley ...

Question: We recently added a deck in our backyard which faces west, we live in Circle C (southwest Austin). The afternoon sun is intense so we're looking to plant something along our fence line to ...

Attract hummingbirds to your garden by planting their favorite nectar-rich flowering vines. Grow these vines for hummingbirds.