How to Grow Anything: Make Your Trees and Shrubs Thrive

Discover the many possibilities for framing your landscape with trees and shrubs. Ms. Myers provides you with ideas for landscapes of different sizes, and also shows you the importance of taking into consideration everything from flowers and fruit to texture and mature size when choosing trees and shrubs for your unique patch of land.

When used in the right way, trees and shrubs can perform a variety of useful functions. Learn how to tap into the power of this living framework to help you conserve energy, manage storm water, reduce pollution, create privacy, and mark your property lines - all while providing a rich, visually interesting landscape.

Many of us don't live under ideal growing conditions. Here, Ms. Myers shows you ways to adapt your trees and shrubs to compensate for challenging conditions. First, explore the different types of shade and learn some ideal plantings for each. Then, learn how to recognize and deal with both flooding challenges and drought challenges.

Once you've got an idea for your landscape, it's time to shop! Where are the best places to buy trees and shrubs? How do you spot a healthy and structurally sound tree? How should you care for your new purchases until it's planting time? Get all the answers here.

Just as important as choosing the right tree or shrub is planting it correctly. Here, Ms. Myers takes you step by step through the planting process. Learn how to dig the best holes, whether or not to stake your trees, when to fertilize (the answer may surprise you), proper watering methods, and more.

Now, focus on how to maintain the health of your plantings in spring and summer. First, explore the science behind water's impact on new plantings and ways to water more effectively. Then, get insider tips on mulching techniques that can protect trunks and stems. Finally, learn how to properly transplant trees or shrubs that have outgrown their space.

Using evergreens, new plantings, and borderline hardy plants, explore how to manage leaves with less stress; how to insulate plantings for winter with mulch, cloth, and more; how to make repellents to protect plants from animals; and how to mitigate the effects of salt damage.

Pruning is an important part of keeping young trees beautiful and healthy. View many live demonstrations of this essential (and often overlooked) gardening task. By the end, you will know the tools, timing, techniques and tips for effective tree pruning for all times of the year.

Turn now to the art of pruning shrubs. Watching Ms. Myers demonstrate in the field and the studio, you'll learn the best times to prune different types of shrubs; different pruning methods, including thinning cuts and rejuvenation pruning; why shearing isn't always the best option for shrubs; and answers to commonly asked pruning questions.

What happens when your trees and shrubs fail to flourish? Welcome to the world of plant diagnostics. Ms. Myers shows you how to diagnose common growth problems with popular types of plants - just like an expert gardener. Along the way, you'll learn how to spot symptoms for everything from blight and dieback to chlorosis and invasive pests.

Learn how to implement a recovery plan to bring your landscape back to health from various threats. Is the problem actually worth treating? What kinds of insect traps should you use (and avoid)? How can adjusting the surrounding environment help? And why are black walnut trees often such a big problem?

Conclude this series with a look at some fun (and challenging) ways to enhance the ornamental appeal and space efficiency of trees and shrubs. Learn pruning methods that help create tunnels or help plantings grow flat against walls or fences; tips for shearing plants into interesting shapes; and growing trees and shrubs in containers, or from cuttings and seeds.