It’s January and many of us (including me) have made new year’s resolutions to become more fit and healthy in 2016. Reducing stress, getting more exercise, eating less salt and eating more fresh produce are all great goals. So how can gardening help maintain these goals? Well, an herb garden is a good place to [Continue]
When choosing plant material for your yard or garden, it is important to choose plants that will thrive in your local climate. For example, you wouldn’t want a plant that will die during the cold winter temperatures or a shrub that needs plenty of moisture if you live in a hot, dry area. This is [Continue]
At this time of year we start planning to feed our backyard birds. Before putting last years bird feeders out, it’s a good idea to clean them because this will help keep the garden birds healthy. It’s easiest to clean bird feeders outside, fill a bucket with hot water and add some dish detergent. [Continue]
Frost is a thin layer of ice which forms outside when the temperature is below freezing. The ice will cover everything at ground level and any low-growing plants and shrubs. The ‘first frost date’ is the average date when frost is likely to occur in a region. To find the date for your area, [Continue]
Dividing Hostas is best to be done in late summer during the month of August, or early September. If you divide your hostas in the summer, be sure to keep them well watered for a few weeks after to help absorb the shock of being transplanted. It is also important to allow for three to [Continue]
August is coming to an end, and with it marks the end of summer. The kids are going back to school, teachers are setting up their classrooms and the summer heat will be turning into the lovely cool weather of autumn. With Summer’s end just around the corner, it is important that you prepare [Continue]
The month of June is halfway gone already and it seems like it just started! Here’s your June to-do list to help you makeup for list time! Fruit & Vegetable Gardens Plant your fruit and vegetables that love warm weather (ie. corn, peppers, zucchini and squash, and basil). By planting your bush beans, summer [Continue]
As June arrives, so does the warmer weather! This usually marks the end of the planting season, but it also marks the beginning of some pretty great clearance sales! Be sure to check out your local gardening stores. If you purchase new plants, be sure to add organic matter to your soil so they have [Continue]
Here are some ways to kill weeds using things you might have just laying around your house! Newspaper: By laying down newspaper, it will block out the sunlight and oxygen from reaching the soil which will in turn smother the weeds that have already sprouted and prevent new plants from taking root. To do [Continue]
For your Vegetable and Fruit Garden: Cover the garden beds that will be used for vegetables with black plastic to kill weeds and warm the soil for the weeks leading up to the time of planting. This method is also needed when you are also using the no-till method. Sow more rows of lettuce, carrots [Continue]
