EARTH DAY IS SATURDAY, APRIL 22 The theme for Earth Day 2023 is Invest in our Planet. I think this theme says it all. The whole purpose of Earth Day is to raise awareness of what we can do to protect our environment and natural resources for generations to come. Never think that anything you … Read more
GOOD OR BAD? IT DEPENDS Lately, homeowners have been coming into the garden center to talk about moss they have discovered growing in their lawns. Most want to know why and what they can do to eliminate the moss. Some other homeowners are OK with having a moss-covered yard. Here are some primary reasons why … Read more
WHAT A GREAT MONTH FOR GARDENERS The month of March was challenging. March was warm in the beginning and then turned colder during the middle of the month. The last 10 days of March were back to normal for March. But, on a more positive note—March kept up with giving us weekly rainfall, which was … Read more
SHOULD WE BE RECOMMENDING PLANTING BOXWOODS IN OUR LANDSCAPE? Should we be planting boxwoods knowing that boxwood blight is prevalent in Central Virginia? My answer to customers who ask this question is YES, but with a different mindset when choosing boxwood varieties. There is no question that people need to be concerned about boxwood blight … Read more
RUDBECKIA AMERICAN GOLD RUSH Rudbeckia is more commonly called Black-Eyed Susan. The Perennial Plant Association chooses a perennial to honor each year that is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, requires low maintenance, have multi-season interests, and is relatively pest and disease free. To me, this variety of Black Eyed Susan fits the … Read more
ARE YOU READY TO START PLANTING? Here we are in mid-March. Up to this point, our winter has been the perfect storm. We have experienced a mild winter with just a few frigid days. And we have had weekly rainfall. Our ground soil is moist and warm for this time of year. So many of … Read more
HOW EARTHWORMS BENEFIT OUR SOIL Some people are freaked out when they see earthworms. Earthworms aren’t everybody’s favorite. I get that. But having earthworms in your soil is an excellent sign in many ways. Earthworms provide many benefits to healthy, productive soils, and wise gardeners do everything they can to maintain healthy populations of earthworms … Read more
ARE YOU READY FOR SPRING? So far, Mother Nature has been very kind to us this winter. I have been following the weather very closely since the beginning of January. We had our sixth warmest January on record. We had weekly rainfall in January and February, keeping our soil moist and our rivers and reservoirs … Read more
PAWPAW TREE IS BECOMING A FAVORITE UNDERSTORY TREE TO PLANT IN VIRGINIA Pawpaw, or Asimina triloba, is considered a native tree by the Virginia Native Plant Society. The fruit of the pawpaw was consumed by both Native Americans and early European settlers. At least two U.S. Presidents enjoyed pawpaw fruit. George Washington reportedly enjoyed them … Read more
The reason I chose Aloe Vera as my houseplant highlight is simple. Aloe Vera is popular with homeowners and relatively easy to grow. One reason for its popularity is its medicinal use. Aloe Vera plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Cleopatra is reputed to have used Aloe gel in her … Read more
