Dennis’ 7 Dees Gardening Digest
Welcome to our Gardening Blog—your go-to resource for garden design tips, plant care advice, and seasonal inspiration.
Written by industry experts, our articles cover everything from indoor and outdoor plant selection to landscaping trends and timely gardening tasks. Check back often for fresh updates to help your outdoor space thrive year-round! We also offer FREE classes and paid workshops to help you succeed in your garden, landscape, and home.
How to Care for Hanging Baskets
Hanging baskets of flowers are just the right thing to add to your porch for instant pizzazz! If properly maintained, they can offer months of color and...
Why Gardens with Annuals & Perennials Look Better
If you want your garden to look full, dynamic, and colorful all Summer, the secret is to plant a combination of both Perennials and Annuals! Perennials are...
How to Use Vines in the Garden
Vines bring elegant charm, dimension, and even fragrance to outdoor spaces like walkways and patios. You can grow vines over arbors and up trellises,...
Tips for Sustainable Gardening
Any gardener can take simple steps to improve the sustainability of their outdoor space. Being a sustainable gardener is an ongoing process, not a final...
How to Create a Terrarium
A terrarium is a beautiful miniature landscape with a climate of its own, like a tiny greenhouse! Terrariums encapsulate the beauty and balance of nature by...
How to Grow a Cut Flower Garden for DIY Bouquets
A bouquet of fresh-cut flowers can brighten up any room in the house. Growing your own flowers for cutting is budget-friendly, sustainable, and extremely...
How to Design a Traditional Landscape
Traditional landscapes are ordered and respectable. In the Dennis’ 7 Dees Traditional Landscape Design Guide, we detail the principles of traditional design,...
Growing Hedges 101: A Gardener’s Guide to Lush, Living Fences
Hedges, with their timeless charm and practical advantages, have long been esteemed features in landscape design. These verdant barriers not only delineate...
The Best Spring Flowering Trees for PNW Gardens
Countless flowers appear at once, exploding out of thin, bare branches. The grey lines of dormant limbs that crisscross the cloudy sky suddenly release...
Classic Flowering Shrubs for a Contemporary Garden
Familiar garden favorites get a new lease on life as modern plant breeders introduce dwarf and easy-care varieties along with improved color options of...
7 Benefits of Planting Fruit in Your Garden
Planting fruit in your garden isn’t just about harvesting delicious berries and fresh fruit—it’s about creating a thriving, beautiful, and rewarding outdoor...
The Best Roses of 2024
Enjoy a curated list of our favorite new and long-standing roses for fragrance, color, cut flowers, pollinators, and low-maintenance gardening!The best roses...
Winter Storm Recovery Tips for the Garden
Winter storms can wreak havoc on gardens and on the morale of gardeners who are eagerly waiting for Spring. Ice storms and cold temperatures can damage new...
7 Underappreciated Houseplants
Thanks to their meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, everyone now knows that bringing plants into your house is the perfect way to reinvigorate an...
Houseplant Trends of 2024
As the calendar turns over to a fresh year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the past and look to the future for something new. When it comes to indoor...
Preparing Plants for Winter Weather
While cold temperatures are to be expected, even welcomed, there are a few key strategies that gardeners can employ to make sure cold temperatures don’t do...
Gardening Trends for 2024
A new year of gardening is upon us! We couldn’t be more excited to watch the gardening trends of 2024 come alive in landscapes, gardens, and balconies across...
2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Every Kind of Gardener
Looking for the perfect last-minute gifts for gardeners in your life? The 2023 Holiday Gift Guide from Dennis' 7 Dees is here! We've hand-selected unique,...
Tips for Decorating With a Living Christmas Tree
Bring some extra magic to your Holiday décor by incorporating a living Christmas tree! Not only do living trees let you enjoy a new plant in your home before...
December in the Garden
Even as attention shifts to holiday happenings and indoor events, our generally mild December weather means that we can still enjoy time outside tending to...
3 Ways to Refresh Your Porch Pots With Holiday Greenery
The Christmas tree is lit, the Paperwhites are potted, and the wreath and garlands are hung, but before your guests arrive, don’t forget to address the...
Indoor Holiday Plants from Amaryllis to Zygocactus: Everything You Need to Know
When it comes to decorating your home or grabbing a quick gift, flowering indoor plants provide long-lasting color and convenience with a wide selection to...
Our Favorite Festive Gift Ideas for Hosts
Gathering together in the Winter months is one of the best ways to bring cheer into the darker days. Share your gratitude to your host for opening their home...
Growing Amaryllis Bulbs for Holiday Blooms
Nothing makes a statement quite like the timeless beauty of an Amaryllis in bloom. While the Holidays bring some lovely bulbs and flowering indoor plants like...
November Gardening Checklist
In November the pace slows down and we start to put our gardens to bed in preparation for Winter. Don’t neglect important tasks like pruning, planting Fall...
October Gardening Checklist
October is the month to fully and unabashedly embrace Fall! Celebrate the changing of seasons by bringing some Fall color to your pots, pumpkins to your...
Designer Tips for Stunning Modern Landscapes
Known for his novel approach of blending contemporary aesthetics with natural elements, Residential Landscape Designer Eric Hagberg shares some of his insider...
September Gardening Checklist
As Summer fades, we welcome the changes that September brings to our stores and in our gardens. Late-season Summer blooms and brilliant, fresh Fall colors are...
7 Underappreciated Sun Plants for the Garden
Sunny gardens can grow and accommodate a truly vast range of plants. Every year new and exciting varieties of full sun plants are introduced to gardeners,...
7 Underappreciated Shade Plants for the Garden
Shady gardens can pose a challenge to even the most creative gardeners. With limited light, sun-loving plants that make buckets of blooms or delicious fruits...
August in the Garden
Whether you leave town in August or have a stay-cation planned at home, there is still a lot of Summer left to enjoy! Add fresh color to give early-season...
A Guide to Drought-Tolerant Plants
Designing a garden that can withstand periods of heat and drought begins with proper plant selection. By choosing plants that have adapted to low-water...
Xeriscaping: Gardening with Less Water
With increasingly hot weather becoming a staple of Pacific Northwest Summers, there’s never been a better time to explore landscaping styles, like...
July Gardening Checklist
Hot days and warm nights make July a great time for outdoor living, so spend some quality time outside and don’t forget to water! Hanging baskets, containers,...
How to Determine a Commercial Landscaping Budget
Determining the appropriate budget for landscaping your commercial property is a crucial decision. Experts generally recommend allocating between 25 and 35...
June Gardening Checklist
This month, vibrant colors and abundant growth set the stage for a delightful outdoor experience. With longer days and warmer temperatures, June invites us to...
Creating a Habitat for Solitary Bees in Your Garden
Create a bee habitat in your backyard and raise solitary bees! Often overlooked in favor of their more famous counterparts like honey bees, solitary bees play...
Supporting Beneficial Insects in Your Garden
In any well-balanced ecosystem, there are pests and there are natural enemies, or beneficial insects. For this reason, some pests must be present in the...
May Gardening Checklist
May brings us an abundance of beautiful flowers and fresh, vigorous growth—the garden is really starting to hit its stride! Our early Spring work is finally...
Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
Over 50 years ago in 1970, the first-ever Earth Day was organized. The years leading up to 1970 saw America producing large amounts of fossil fuels, sludge,...
Gardening With Native Plants
The Pacific Northwest is home to an incredible diversity of native plants—over 3,600 species in Oregon and more than 2,300 in Washington alone. From colorful...
April in the Garden
April offers us some of the best gardening days of the entire year right alongside some of the most disheartening weather. Progress made during a warm...
Air Plants: Unique Houseplants that Grow Without Soil
Air plants are eye-catchingly adorable and are low-maintenance and pet-safe—perfect for anyone looking for a unique yet forgiving houseplant that does not...
The Whys & Hows of Mulch
Mulching over the tops of new or existing beds in your landscape is one of the best investments you can make for the health of your garden. Find out more...
March in the Garden
March is the first month of Spring and the last month of Winter, often shifting between these two seasons at the drop of a hat. As new life emerges from the...
Anniversary & Valentine’s Day Gifts Inspired by Your Love Story
Love is a many-splendored thing and worth marking with intention. Whether you want to demonstrate your love for your partner, your closest friend, or a dear...
The Perfect Rose for Every Garden Style
Roses are the quintessential garden plant, captivating us with their luscious petals and their intoxicating fragrance. Roses available today have a wealth of...
February in the Garden
The month of February delivers unpredictable weather, but fortunately there are always plenty of sun breaks! Be ready to jump in the garden when conditions...
Dennis’ 7 Dees in the News
Throughout the years, many of our talented employees have been featured in the news for their outstanding achievements and contributions to our community and...
January Gardening Tasks: Monthly To-Do List
January in the Pacific Northwest is the first full month of winter and is a time of rest and dormancy. Houseplants take center stage this month by providing...
DIY Winter Wreath Instructions
Are you looking for a fun seasonal DIY project to do with family or friends? Add this homemade wreath craft to your yearly holiday party, or pull out your...
How to Support Pollinators in Fall & Winter
A well-planned pollinator garden can help support native bees and other pollinators by providing critical food and habitat during the winter. Many pollinators...
Landscape Lighting: See Your Yard in a Whole New Light
With Daylight Savings coming to an end, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer… cue Lydia Deetz: “My whole life is a dark room. One....
7 Common Houseplant Problems
Tiny gnats in your coffee, yellowing or dropping leaves, crispy or distorted growth…these may all be symptoms of common houseplant problems that are easily...
NALP Award Winning Projects for Landscaping & Interior Plant Design
We’re proud to announce that we’ve won awards from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) for the 28th year in a row! This year, we won...
How to Create a DIY Fall Wreath
Filled with dried flowers, foliage, and seeds from the Summer garden, Autumnal wreaths help capture the season’s change. Hang a Fall wreath on your front door...
Our Favorite Trees, Shrubs & Vines for Fall Color in the Landscape
What's the best part about fall? Some may say it's the pumpkin lattes and comfort food, the cozy scarves and boots, or the crisp air and refreshing rain...
Pruning 101: Tools, Techniques & Timing
When a plant needs pruning, some gardeners blindly whack while others timidly snip, but once you gain the knowledge and confidence, you'll be a proficient...
Attract Hummingbirds With Hardy Fuchsias
Check any list of the best flowers for hummingbirds, and you will see fuchsia near the top. Their brightly colored, dangling flowers have the perfect shape...
Living Arrangements With Indoor Plants
Find new ways to feature your favorite houseplants by creating beautiful indoor arrangements. Assembled for a special occasion or as temporary décor, plants...
Tips for Budgeting Your Landscape Project
Investing in a new landscape for your home is a smart decision. Not only does it boost curb appeal and give you and your family a beautiful and functional...
Summer Harvest Tips & Fall to Winter Vegetable Gardening
Late summer can be a tricky time in the garden—some crops are still producing while others are winding down. Should you keep coaxing those plants along, or...
Growing Succulents Indoors & Outside
Succulents come in all shapes and sizes and are generally grouped into two categories: winter hardy and annual (NOT winter hardy). The world of hardy...
20 Questions & Answers for Extreme Heat Recovery in the Garden
Looking to help your garden with heat recovery for plants? We've received quite a few questions during the recent heatwave about how to revive stressed...
Growing Cacti & Succulents Indoors
Is there a difference between cacti and succulents? Cacti are fleshy plants that store water—therefore, all cacti are succulents. On the other hand, in order...
Solutions for Landscape Drainage Problems
Even though drainage may not be the first thing that comes to mind as your next stunning landscape improvement, perhaps it should be. With an average of 36...
Summer Hanging Basket & Mixed Container Maintenance
Keeping flowerpots and hanging baskets looking fresh and floriferous all season is something many gardeners struggle with. "Hang" in there—we've got you...
How to Grow & Harvest Herbs in the Garden
Fresh, homegrown herbs are easy to grow and an economical way to add a little gourmet to your every day. Learn about selection, care, and growing of herbs,...
Gardening With Nandina (Heavenly Bamboo)
Heavenly Bamboo, a.k.a. Nandina, is a commonly used evergreen shrub for northwest landscapes. It has earned its reputation as low maintenance by being...
How to Grow Edible Plants in Containers
If you’re an urban gardener, container-grown edibles may be your best chance to raise food crops at home. Growing food in containers requires less weeding and...
Elevate Your Landscape With Raised Garden Beds
With visual appeal, convenience, and controlled soil conditions, it’s no surprise that raised garden beds are popular among novice and seasoned gardeners...
Ground Covers, Creepers & Cascading Perennials
Dress up your retaining wall, adorn a pathway, or plant living mulch with these low-growing or mounding perennials. We have featured some of our favorite...
Big Landscaping Ideas for Small Backyards
For those of us who live in the city or on a smaller plot of land, we're constantly looking for landscaping ideas for small backyards. At Dennis’ 7 Dees, one...
How to Refresh a Tired Container Planting
After a few years, most container plantings begin to show signs of decline. The plants start to lose their vigor, while the soil appears hard and compacted,...
Our Favorite Spring Flowering Shrubs in the Northwest
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and Pieris are considered classic Pacific Northwest landscape plants. Mostly evergreen and spring blooming, they thrive in our acidic...
New & Noteworthy Plants for 2022
Each year the National Garden Bureau selects an annual, perennial, bulb crop, edible, and shrub as "Year of " plants, plus a houseplant for this year. Plants...
Pet-Safe Indoor Plants
As our lives become more urban, tech-based, and harried, we have come to embrace plants and nature as selfless companions to help us relax and beautify our...
Watering Guidelines for Indoor Plants
Proper watering is the key to keeping your houseplants healthy and thriving, but it’s not always as straightforward as it seems. Water amount, watering...
Magnolias for Small Gardens
Magnolia trees come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and flowering types, and many of them are perfect for growing in small, urban gardens. This is an ancient...
Hooray for Heucheras
While most of our landscape plants slumber through the winter, there are a few who thrive during the colder months. For steady, reliable color in the garden,...
7 Vertical Gardening Ideas for Indoor Plants
Looking to maximize your indoor greenery without sacrificing floor space in your home? Growing plants vertically is the perfect solution! From stylish hanging...
The Benefits of Biophilia
Spending a lot of time indoors? With changing seasons and more extreme weather events, many of us are spending more time than ever indoors and somewhat...
The Difference Between Living Walls & Moss Walls
Left: a living wall made of live plants with built-in water system. Right: A moss wall made of preserved plants that are securely attached and do not need...
How to Care for Ferns Indoors
As Pacific Northwesterners, we have a soft spot in our hearts for ferns. When we add them into our homes and dwell amongst their feathery fronds, we can’t...
Improving Soil Health
The single most valuable investment in your home landscape is soil improvement—healthy soil means healthy, productive, beautiful plants! Soil that is healthy...
How to Care for Your Fiddle Leaf Fig
The indoor plant that has dominated style and design trends since houseplants became popular is the Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata). Found in either tree form...
The Power of Plants: Improving Our Wellbeing
Recently house plants have skyrocketed in popularity, finding homes in kitchens, living rooms, offices, and our hearts. Although indoor plants may be...
Common Houseplant Pests & Problems
Whether you have a large collection of houseplants or you are just starting to explore your green thumb, houseplant pests are something you will have to deal...
Alocasia Care Guide
Plants in the alocasia genus are known for their stunningly large leaves that feature an arrowhead shape and gorgeous vein patterns. One of the reasons we...
There’s No Place Like Home
As an owner of Dennis' 7 Dees, Dave Snodgrass takes great pride in his company, and his passion for landscaping and plants is unmatched. A few years ago, he...
The 7 Best Low Maintenance Houseplants
Even the most devoted plant lovers can appreciate a houseplant that thrives without constant care. When life gets busy, low-maintenance indoor plants offer...
Why You Should Start Planning Your Holiday Décor Now
Holiday decorations bring festive cheer to any space, making them especially inviting to visitors and customers. However, installing professional decor and...
How to Care for a Cactus
Cacti may be one of the most underrated and unique plants in the houseplant world. Although often confused with succulents, cacti are completely different...
Front Yard Landscape Renovation
A crumbling brick wall, drainage challenges, and outdated plantings were just not going to do for this Dennis’ 7 Dees landscape designer's home. Since...
Designing With Plants in the Workplace
Access to nature is increasingly critical for employee mental health and overall wellbeing. Within the last decade, workplace design has embraced bringing the...
The Latest Houseplant Trend: Variegated Plants and the Science Behind Them
Like any houseplant trend, variegated plants have plant lovers and connoisseurs going crazy. However, unlike other trends in the past, the love of variegated...
Anthurium Care Guide
A beautiful and eccentric cousin to the philodendron, anthuriums are a favorite plant genus among houseplant collectors for their unique, veined leaves and...
Warm Weather Planting Tips
Here we are in early June and temperatures have already reached over 90 degrees! The excitement of planting may be tempered by the need to keep plants...
Gardening by Moonlight: Ideas for Night Gardens
Summer evenings in the garden can be one of the best ways to end a busy day. There are many reasons to plant a night garden—to unwind after work, decompress...
3 Ways to Use Plants for Social Distancing in the Workplace
As offices start to open and employees begin to re-enter the workplace, social distancing solutions in the office have come to the forefront of businesses'...