About Jeff Rugg

Jeff Rugg

Jeff Rugg

With degrees in science, zoology, horticulture and landscape architecture Rugg uses his many interests to help others learn about nature. He has managed garden centers in Texas and Illinois and owned a water garden and wild bird nature store.

He is currently an employee of Pond Supplies of America. His articles and photographs have appeared in Pond Keeper, Water Garden Magazine, Landscape Architect and Specifier News, Landscape Contractor Magazine, Ponds USA, American Nurseryman and other publications. He is currently an Illinois Certified Nurseryman and Registered Landscape Architect.

...

Cozy Up With Great Gardening Books Dec 03, 2025

Winter came to my yard right after Thanksgiving with lots of snow and lots of cold. What do gardeners do in the winter? We read about gardens and gardening, of course. With Christmas gift-giving in full swing, many people wonder what to get the garde... Read More

...

I Am Craving Cranberries Nov 26, 2025

Many of my favorite foods were discovered in the Americas: corn, potatoes, chocolate, vanilla and cranberries, to name a few. My favorite cranberry recipe is simple. Drop one whole, unpeeled orange, a bag of cranberries and a couple of handfuls of wa... Read More

...

Christmas Gift Ideas Part 1 Nov 19, 2025

It is that time of year again: time to find a Christmas present for the gardener or the wildlife enthusiast in the family. That may or may not be the same person. Ask any gardener if they want hummingbirds in their garden. They will all say yes. Many... Read More

...

Cold-Damaged Plants Nov 12, 2025

Q: My landscape looked terrible this summer. It is only a year old, and many of the larger shrubs and evergreens don't have big root systems yet. There isn't a lot of topsoil, and the plants dried out too often over the summer. Even with some fall ra... Read More