Most of the questions that are coming my way are about weeds growing in the yard and how to get rid of them. Pulling and digging is maybe alright for a small area but getting down to the root, literally is another matter. Most broadleaf weeds multiply . . .
It is agreed that buying certified seed potatoes is best to help avoid any potato diseases or viruses that could be present in regular store-bought potatoes. These viral problems can get established in your garden soil and cause problems to re-occur . . .
St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner so many of you will be looking to buy a shamrock plant, i.e. oxalis plant. Oxalis is grown from tiny bulbuls, which rapidly re-develop underground and continue to grow year after year, making it a perennial. . . .
Ever since December, I have been telling folks not to worry about the warm winter weather. It will get cold soon and all of your plants will be fine. That is still true, we will get extreme cold weather at some point but in the meanwhile, it may be . . .
Growing herbs on the kitchen windowsill is like a dream come true…but can it be done successfully? Recently I had Master Gardener Louise Rennecker, the “Herb Lady” on my radio program, WBOI 89.1 FM who simply says, “No.” . . .
Growing plants inside the home is always difficult but there are many plants that are easier to grow than others. Ones that tolerate little water and little light include Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen Plant), Aspidistra (Cast Iron Plant), Sanseveria . . .
Nothing says Christmas more than the fresh, aromatic smells of live evergreens that decorate your doors and windows, the light post and over-hang roofs as well as inside around the fireplace and on the tables. Wreaths made of a balsam, cedar and white . . .
During the fall months your Christmas cactus will set its buds for flowering around Thanksgiving (sometimes sooner) and this is the crucial time for getting blooms and keeping them from falling off just after you see them form. There are three reasons . . .
While raking up the leaves and other debris this fall, you might want to consider harvesting any nuts that may have fallen from your nut trees. Obviously we don’t all have nut trees, but for those of you who do, it’s not that difficult. . . .
It was just last week we were worried about frost and now we are back into the upper 70’s and 80’s. Now is the time to start planning your strategy for bringing your houseplants inside for the winter. Moving your plants inside early in . . .
This is the time of year when caterpillars make their appearance in some of your flowers and vegetable plants, especially cabbage types that include cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. Many blooming annuals and perennials also come down with a bad case . . .
Surprise Lily, Magic Lily, Resurrection Lily or Naked Lady, whatever you call it, it is the lily that you see in bloom at this time of summer with all stems and no foliage. Lycoris is its genus name and is actually grown from a bulb. This lily can . . .
With the recent lack of rain and extreme drought conditions, it might be necessary to take a look at what you can do to make gardening an easier chore for next year. Many plants are drought resistant (but not drought proof) which simply means that . . .
We know that everyone has a place for one or more combination pots…near the front door, by the garage door or on your patio. In order to have plenty of nice combination pots of varying sizes and colors, we planted plenty this year. I have planted . . .
Out back, behind the fence, we grow perennial yarrow plants for use as cut-flowers in floral arrangements. One year in late May or early June I noticed a foamy substance on my plants and it looked as though someone had spit on the foliage. I couldn’t . . .
This is your final chance to prevent those nasty bacteria spores from splashing up onto the lower leaves of your tomatoes, roses, melons and squash plants, spores that cause spotting and ugly devastation to the lower foliage that then rises all the . . .
It is important to know that most all plants, including those that like full sun are still happier with afternoon shade. Last summer, with the extreme heat was a great example of what can go wrong with nature. The heat here in Indiana was unbearable . . .
Moss in your yard or on the patio bricks, or even on your rooftops happens because of a number of reasons. Excessive shade (especially on the north side of your roof), poor drainage, lack of fertilizer, acid soil pH and soil compaction. In order to . . .
It is agreed that buying certified seed potatoes is best to help avoid any potato diseases or viruses that could be present in regular store-bought potatoes. These viral problems can get established in your garden soil and cause problems to re-occur . . .
We recently removed the thermo-blankets from our perennials that were in storage for the winter season and discovered that the roses still showed plenty of life. They also showed signs of death as well. This is why trimming the rose bushes is so important . . .
I have gotten a tremendous amount of phone calls this past week with all kinds of questions concerning tomato seeds and plants. Unfortunately, it is way too early to be planting tomato seeds. It is never too early to be shopping the seed catalogues . . .
I always tell people not to prune or make cutbacks on basically anything until after Thanksgiving. Well, after Thanksgiving means now…any time the temperatures get cold and remain cold is considered after Thanksgiving. This is when your plants are . . .
(A Geranium/Pansy Story)
During the recent Blizzard of 2011 it struck me that it might be a good idea to melt the fast falling, heavy snow off of the greenhouse roofs before they collapse, as many news stories were reporting on The Weather Channel. . . .
During the short, gloomy days of winter, one wonders if anything could possibly grow and yet, look good enough to actually want it in your home.
Well, the good news is that there are plenty of plants that tolerate these questionable conditions. . . .
It seems wrong to talk of Hibiscus during the month of January but the most asked questions right now revolve around the care of these blooming beauties that are being held for the next spring season. Apparently everyone has taken one into the house . . .
I was lucky in that a friend and fellow plant salesman had several Christmas cactus (Zygo-cactus) plants left over last year after the Christmas season ended. He does not have a greenhouse so he sold them all to me at a bargain price and I re-potted . . .