I’ve had so many customers come in recently with tomatoes in their hands because they have a problem with the fruit. If you’re growing tomatoes, here is a list of what you may find, the cause, and how to mitigate the problem. Blossom End Rot Blossom end rot is water-soaked lesions at the bottom of … Read more
One of the big “catch-phrases” you hear a lot is “sustainable” gardening. What is sustainable gardening exactly? The goal of sustainable gardening is to leave the environment in the same or in better shape than it already was—and to try to use as few products as possible to keep it that way Remember water is … Read more
Whether you’re a brand new gardener or you’ve gardened for many years, knowing the garden terms below will help you be a better gardener and get superior results. Why? Because knowing these terms helps you understand how to create the best growing conditions. Knowing these terms also helps you ask better questions when talking with … Read more
If you’re like me, you had your houseplants outside back in May. I know they love the fresh air circulation, better light, and great humidity—it reminds them of “home.” I love seeing all the bright green new growth and it’s nice not to have to pick up yellow leaves from the living room floor where … Read more
Okay, so you’ve got all your veggies planted. Now what? There are still some things to be done to ensure you get the harvest you want: Don’t Let Weeds Get Ahead of You With all the rain we’ve had recently, weeds have already begun to pop up even in my raised beds and pots. Get … Read more
As I tiptoed through various gardening groups on Facebook these past few days, I saw several people asking how to kill ants in the yard. So I thought I’d remind us all to what they actually do. (Besides march across our kitchen counters, climb all over our deck furniture, and leave anthills in the middle … Read more
This past Saturday, June 13th, was National Weed Your Garden Day. One of the most important things we can do as a gardener is to keep weeds out of our vegetable and flower beds. Too many weeds can crowd plant roots and force them to compete for water and nutrients. When a plant is “fighting”, … Read more
Last week, my blog was about feeding the butterfly babies (caterpillars). Now we want to attract the grown-ups. Good Butterfly Attracting Perennials The following is a list of good butterfly-attracting perennials, although there are lots of others. Note: Because butterflies prefer sunny areas, most of their preferred nectar flowers are also sun-lovers. Alliums Asters Bee … Read more
Caterpillars to Butterflies – How to Make the Magic Happen in Your Garden I had a customer, with a packet of milkweed seeds in her hand, ask me how to get rid of the caterpillars that ate these every year. My first reaction was amusement—I was sure she was joking. She wasn’t. I then looked … Read more
This Friday, May 30th, is National Water a Flower Day. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Or maybe it isn’t. Improper watering is probably the number one killer of houseplants—and garden plants, too. We’re so concerned about keeping plants watered, that we often forget they also need air. Yes, plants do breathe! Let Your Plants Breathe … Read more
