While the old adage “fall is for planting” is well-known, its full potential often goes untapped. Contrary to popular belief, spring isn’t the only ideal season to cultivate your garden. In fact, here in the mid-Atlantic, fall is a prime time to plant a variety of flora, from cool-weather vegetables to evergreen and deciduous trees… Read More
Virginia Flowers That Bloom in May
Perennials are a low-maintenance way to add lasting beauty to your garden. With careful planning, you can enjoy a succession of blooms throughout the growing season. To begin, choose a few perennials from the list below. These are mid to late-spring bloomers that will provide color throughout May, June, and July. May Blooming Perennials For… Read More
Virginia Flowers That Bloom in April
Perennials are a fantastic addition to any garden. Not only do they bloom year after year from one single planting, but with the right choices and a bit of gardening know-how, you can plant perennials that bloom all throughout the season, giving you consistent color each year without having to supplement with annual plantings. To… Read More
Tips on Watering Your Plants
The main reason that plants die is because they are either given too much or too little water. With the poor draining, heavy clay soil in our area it is especially important to improve drainage at planting time to prevent moisture problems. The following tips should help to ensure the success of your plants. Remember… Read More
Summer Flowering Bulbs
Spring is the season to think summer-flowering bulbs—everything from exotically fragrant lilies to ever-blooming shade-loving begonias. There is such a wide variety of sizes, shapes and color from which to choose—and some are even deer and vole resistant! Dahlias (Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder) First on the pest-resistant list are Dahlias. They have something to… Read More
Seed Starting Times
It is this time of year that we start to get the gardening itch. The soil in our gardens, however, is too cold and too wet to be worked. What we can do is get a head start on the growing season by starting seeds indoors. Tomatoes and peppers are the top choices for vegetable… Read More
Pruning Tips For February And March
The winter months are a surprisingly busy time in the garden, with pruning being one of the chores that, if done in the winter months, will pay dividends for the gardener during the rest of the season. Pruning helps plants grow strong and healthy during their growing season. It allows plants to retain their natural… Read More
Repotting Plants in Winter
Winter is a great time to repot houseplants. Plants like to be potted up into larger pots as they grow. Larger containers allow for more soil to nourish the root systems. Plants that have grown in pots for years can become root-bound, which can lead to a plant’s demise. Repotting houseplants in the winter gives… Read More
Indoor Gardening
Indoor gardening or keeping houseplants is a hobby that many outdoor gardeners bewilderingly often do not pursue. Conversely, there are many green thumbs out there who fill their homes and workplaces with plants, yet never touch an outdoor one. With the current trend of blurring of outdoor and indoor living, I’m hoping this strange separation… Read More
How Do You Determine Winter Plant Damage
It’s not unusual for some trees, shrubs, and perennials to look badly damaged, sick, or even dead after the cold winter months. Just because the leaves are brown, droopy, or sickly-looking does not necessarily mean the plant is dead. In some cases, these ugly brown leaves will fall off and sprout new ones. Often, new… Read More