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
Vacationing with Plants
Home, Sweet Home!! Vacations are great, but it’s always nice to pull up in front of your own place and see… UH-OH… flower stalks bent to the ground with thirst? A brown mat of straw for a front lawn? A big decorative pot full of sticks? Wait a minute – with all that vacation prep,… 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! First on the pest-resistant list are Dahlias. They have something to please almost everyone, from 12” tall… 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 Houseplants In The 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 plants’ demise. Repotting houseplants in the winter… 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
Winter-Blooming Plants for the Mid-Atlantic
Winter in the Mid-Atlantic region does not mean your garden has to be lifeless — full of dull greens and browns. Aside from the fabulous bark textures and conifers you can add to your landscape, here are some plants that flower in winter! Winter Aconite Winter Aconite (Eranthis) is a small bulb in bloom now… Read More
Giving Tender Plants Winter Protection
“Bundle up!” We all heard this from our moms when we went out to play in the winter snow and winds. The same advice applies to your tender and newer outdoor plantings. The frigid northern winds and freezing nighttime temps can damage or kill those perennials, shrubs, and trees that are more marginal in our… Read More