What happens when you see an insect chewing on your beans? Do you immediately reach for some kind of spray? You really don’t need to do that – as soon as the chewer landed on the plant and began snacking, the bean called for help. It did this by releasing a complex of chemicals called [Continue]
Last year, I told my husband that our vegetable garden was getting too big for me to take care of. Then, over the winter he fell for an infomercial and bought a high-powered blender that combines various greens and fruits into a very healthy drink. He asked me to grow a lot more greens this [Continue]
This summer has been a challenge in the yard and garden. I’ve given supplemental water to plants that I’ve never had to water in 21 years, and I’ve gotten lots of exercise walking between the rain barrels and the garden. There are several strategies you can use to help your garden through the toughest times. [Continue]
Just as a tree attains the majesty for which it is destined, its roots may begin to rise up from beneath the soil. These surface roots are difficult to mow and trim around and may cause a tripping hazard. While some tree species are more likely than others to form surface roots, the reason they [Continue]
Fairy rings are dark green open circles, like hula hoops, that appear on your lawn. The dark ring itself may be a couple inches to two feet wide and the diameter of the ring can be from two feet to fifty feet across. Almost every culture has its own folklore relating to fairy rings. Stories [Continue]
This fall when you’re packing away the shorts and swimsuits, there’s one more thing that you should take care to pack away properly – your garden seeds and tender bulbs. Seed packets are usually stamped with “Packed For” or “Sell By” followed by a date, similar to an expiration date on food products. But just [Continue]
Some gardeners are scrupulous about pulling everything out or cutting everything back before winter comes. Others leave the entire job for spring. The ideal is probably somewhere in between. You should pull up and compost all annual flowers and vegetable plants. As an alternative to adding plant debris to the compost bin, dig big holes [Continue]
We all hope for lush, healthy gardens, but sometimes feel that it is out of our control. It seems that insects and diseases randomly come out of nowhere to attack and kill our plants. But insects and diseases are not the primary cause of plant failure. They may be secondary causes, however, that come in [Continue]
Let me guess – when deer season is over, you don’t give another thought to your prime spot until late summer or early fall of the next year. That’s when you go up there and find out that your shooting lanes are overgrown with tree branches and brush so you start hacking away to clear [Continue]
Like it or not, it’s time to start getting your yard tucked in for winter. There are two main things plants need protection from in winter – rabbits and the weather. Fencing is the only sure way to protect plants from rabbit damage. A roll of chicken wire is inexpensive and easy to cut [Continue]