When you are outside, look around to assess the damage to trees and shrubs caused by the heavy snow and rabbit damage. The biggest mistake is cutting at the point of the damage and leaving the rest of the stump.…
Damage to Trees and Shrubs
Category: Gardening & Landscape
Do you love any plants that are weeds?
Do you love any plants that are weeds? The definition of a weed is a plant growing out of place. A very long time ago, I planted a wildflower mix which did well for the first two years. Then the…
Outside Herb Garden
Think this year about planting an outside herb garden. It can be part of your garden or flowerbed or in grouped containers on your deck accessible for home cooking. Anyplace with more sun than shade is good. You can buy…
Garden Catalogs
Sunday I looked out the window and saw the ground in the southwest corner of the garden. Granted the rest of the garden is covered with 2 feet of snow, but there is a promise that spring will come. Time…
Growing Seeds Indoors
Growing seeds indoors isn’t hard; it’s keeping them alive that can be challenging. You can save a lot of money by growing seeds depending on how large your planting beds are, but only if they live and turn into robust plants.…
Time to Think about Spring Lawn Care
Now is the time to think about spring lawn care. First, rake up the dead grass under the growing grass. This is called thatch and if it is ½ thick or greater, you want to remove it to allow better…
Hard to Grow Vegetables
If you are a first-time gardener, these are some hard to grow vegetables to think twice about. Celery takes up a lot of water compared to other crops. Also, it likes cooler spring temperatures to properly mature. Some people blanch…
Think About Your Garden this Year
Go time to start thinking about what you want to grow in your garden this summer. Now is the time to order seeds because of a limited supply from the growers last year because of the heat and drought. I…
Proven Winner Shrubs
Some new “Proven Winner” shrubs, trees, and grasses for the year 2023 include: Sunjoy Orange Pillar Barberry boost neon orange foliage growing to a maximum of 4 feet with a 3-foot spread. Like with other barberries they have a lot…
Deadly Nightshade
This plant is popping up in gardens and people are wondering if it is a ground cherry. This weed is called deadly nightshade and has toxic berries. The berries are sweet; however, it does not take many to get sick.…
Inside Bugs Are Coming This Fall
Inside bugs are coming this fall to your home. It will be getting time for the outside bugs like spiders, ants, boxelder bugs, and others in being inside bugs. Many will be on your lawn to start with. So, keep…
Hot Weather is Slowing Down Fruit Production
The hot weather is slowing down fruit production in the garden dramatically. My summer squash (which I planted a dozen hills) usually produces more than I certainly can use. The plants now produce maybe one fruit every few days, which…
Field Bindweed
All of us know what field bindweed is and this is the time of year it shows its white to pinkish flowers all over. I planted the garden on a field bindweed & thistle patch ten years ago and with…
Honeysuckle Shrub
It is a honeysuckle shrub. There have been a lot of questions last week about a shrub being found in areas that were not noticed before. This time of year you can tell by the “choke cherry” sized seed capsules.…
Flowering Tobacco
Most people know the flowering tobacco annual flowers. You can find them at the greenhouses or order the seed online. Easy to grow, coming in many colors: white, lavender, red, and shades in between. I plant the variety Nicotiana alata,…