Live Event: December 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Narrow spaces frequently call for plants with vertical ambition, challenging gardeners to find specimens that deliver maximum visual impact without claiming excessive ground space. To address this common design dilemma, Fine Gardening is set to host an exclusive live webinar featuring longtime plantsman Mark Dwyer, garden manager of the Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden in Wisconsin. Scheduled for December 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. EDT, the session titled "Great Columnar Trees for the Garden" will survey the absolute best columnar and fastigiate trees suited for growing spaces of every size.
These specialized trees offer a unique structural advantage in landscape design, delivering height, dramatic flair, and architectural punctuation without sprawling too wide or overtaking valuable real estate. Whether a property features a tight urban lot requiring clever vertical screening, a formal alleyway demanding geometric precision, or a landscape in need of a striking focal point, Dwyer’s upcoming presentation aims to provide comprehensive guidance. During the live broadcast, he will share his top selections focusing on exceptional form, reliable performance, and multi-season interest, alongside valuable placement tips designed to help gardeners use these living exclamation points to their best aesthetic effect. This specialized class serves as an ideal opportunity for horticulturists and home gardeners alike to close out the year with big, innovative ideas for small footprints.
Register Today! Join Us Live, December 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m. EDT
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Mark Dwyer brings a wealth of hands-on horticultural expertise to the webinar as the garden manager of the Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden in Wisconsin. In addition to maintaining public healing spaces, Dwyer serves as a regional reporter for the Midwest at FineGardening.com and is a frequent, trusted contributor to numerous prominent horticultural publications and digital gardening websites. His extensive background in practical garden management and regional plant selection ensures that attendees will receive grounded, actionable advice tailored to real-world growing conditions.
For gardeners looking to expand their knowledge base ahead of the December event, several related resources are currently available through Fine Gardening. Enthusiasts can watch the previously recorded Conifer Q&A session hosted by Mark Dwyer, explore his expert recommendations on native shrub alternatives to overused garden plants in the Midwest, or gain full access to a vast library of horticultural insights by subscribing to Fine Gardening All-Access.
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting gardeners with reliable tools and supplies, Fine Gardening also highlights a selection of recommended products for upcoming seasons. Among these offerings is the Organo Republic 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix, designed for both indoor and outdoor planting across North America. Featuring over 16 distinct varieties and 100,000 seeds—including white yarrow, columbine, New England aster, Siberian wallflower, shasta daisy, lance-leaf coreopsis, sweet william, purple coneflower, blanketflower, gayfeather, blue flax, lupine, dwarf evening primrose, mexican hat, prairie coneflower, and black-eyed susan—this mix is formulated to attract essential pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds. Packaged by a small, family-owned business in the USA, the heirloom seeds boast high germination rates and come with detailed online growing guides accessible via QR codes.
To assist gardeners in protecting sensitive plants during colder months, the platform also recommends the Plant Covers Freeze Protection Floating Row Cover. Measuring 10 feet by 30 feet and constructed from a lightweight, breathable 0.9oz/yd² non-woven polypropylene fabric, this protective blanket allows essential sunlight to reach plants while effectively shielding them against frost and freeze damage. The versatile material can also serve as a germination barrier to encourage rapid seedling growth, allowing gardeners to start planting earlier in the spring and extend their overall growing season. It can be secured easily with soil, stones, or staples, draped over garden hoops, or cut down to custom sizes for various horticultural applications.
Additionally, gardeners seeking durable hand tools can look to the Corona Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel. Featuring a blade crafted from carbon steel enhanced through high-temperature quenching, this compact tool boasts superior hardness and an anti-rust coating designed to prevent corrosion and withstand heavy pressure without bending or deformation. Equipped with an ergonomic D-handle made of sturdy fiberglass and a sharp, well-balanced round blade, the mini shovel is engineered to penetrate soil effortlessly and enhance digging efficiency across a variety of landscape tasks.
