THE PLANT INDUSTRY LOOKS AT THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS THE BEGINNING OF FALL We like to look at the fall planting season starting on the first of September and going through the end of November. Like the astronomical definition, our fall planting season begins with the autumnal equinox. Equinoxes are the result of … Read more
Lycoris for Perennial Fall Color Lycoris are strong perennials that send up lush foliage in the spring, which then dies down, and they bloom in late summer without foliage—hence the nicknames Surprise Lilies, Magic Lilies, or Naked Ladies. Because they bloom late summer/early fall at the beginning of hurricane season, they are sometimes called Hurricane … Read more
THE FALL PLANTING SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Knowledgeable gardeners know that fall is the best season for planting trees and shrubs. The main reason is that our soil temperature is warm in the fall and our air temperature will be cooler. This combination helps to reduce the stress that plants can face while … Read more
Growing citrus trees indoors is fun and easy, if you have the right conditions. I have a Meyer lemon, a key lime, and two kumquats on my back deck. Nothing like drinking iced tea with your OWN lemon or lime floating in it! Grow Your Own Citrus Pick a window with six or more hours … Read more
AUGUST IS A GOOD MONTH TO THINK ABOUT DIVIDING PERENNIALS Here we are in the “Dogs Days of Summer”. It is hot. It is humid. And, it can be dry. Like us, plants too can struggle under these conditions. But, perennials that are over-crowded can be under more stress. Sometimes dividing perennials is needed in … Read more
Besides getting rid of summer debris, one thing we can do to really improve next spring’s garden is to consider planting a cover crop. Cover crops are sometimes called green manure. They do important things—like help to replenish the soil, keep weeds down over the winter, prevent erosion and many varieties even bloom in early … Read more
Have you been thinking about building a raised garden bed? If so, August is a good month to do so and this will enable you to try it out come this fall. Here is what I suggest to customers who ask me about raised gardening beds: My first question is: What is it that you … Read more
One of the phrases we hear a lot is “sustainable” gardening. So what is sustainable gardening exactly? My definition is to leave my 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. How to Apply to Your Yard … Read more
AUGUST CAN BE A TOUGH MONTH FOR GARDENERS Yes, August can be tough for gardening mainly because of the heat and high humidity that makes being outside and working in the gardens a little unbearable. This may be the main reason to look at August as a planning month for the upcoming fall planting season. … Read more
Last week I wrote about one of my favorite veggies—broccoli. This week I’ll talk about the other fall veggies—and chores we need to think of now. What are you going to do when the tomatoes, squash, and green beans finally give their last? Do you let your garden lie fallow over the winter or do … Read more
