Dry summers are not that unusual in the Midwest, but this year’s weather pattern was a bit unusual in that much of the state experienced above normal precipitation in spring and early summer. But most areas found the flow of water shut off in mid to late summer. Many plants will be displaying their fall colors and dropping leaves in the next few weeks, but this is a critical time for plants to rehydrate themselves […]
Rosie Lerner, Purdue Consumer Horticulture Specialist Released September 24, 1998 One of the toughest things about growing your own grapes is beating the birds to the harvest! Could it be that the birds know something we don’t? Netting can be placed over a grape arbor to keep the birds away from the fruits. But don’t be too hasty in cutting the fruits to one-up the birds. Make sure your grapes are ripe before you harvest. […]
Ah, the beauty of Mother Nature’s palette coming to life in the fall color of our forest and landscape plants. For some, this marvel is overshadowed by the chores of raking and disposing of fall leaves. What’s needed here is an attitude adjustment! Autumn leaves don’t have to become trash. On the contrary, they easily can be turned into valuable soil-enhancing organic matter. For many urban dwellers, who already have their yard waste picked up […]
Ah, the beauty of Mother Nature’s palette coming to life in the fall color of our forest and landscape plants. For some, this marvel is overshadowed by the chores of raking and disposing of fall leaves. What’s needed here is an attitude adjustment! Autumn leaves don’t have to become trash. On the contrary, they easily can be turned into valuable soil-enhancing organic matter. For many urban dwellers, who already have their yard waste picked up […]
If you’re looking for a plant that is winter hardy throughout the Midwest, excels under shady conditions and has fabulous foliage as well as attractive flowers, then Hosta is the plant for you. Also known as plantain lily, Hosta performs best in partial to full shade, although some have been able to survive full sun conditions if given a cool environment with plenty of moisture. The leaves will tend to burn or turn sickly yellow […]
Summer is not the preferred time to prune landscape trees and shrubs, but it is a great time to prune many annual flowers. Plants such as petunias, impatiens, zinnias and marigolds tend to get leggy and produce fewer blooms by mid summer. Pinching these plants back about halfway will encourage more branching and, in turn, more flowers. The plants may look a bit raggedy initially after being cut back, but with a little water and […]
Nothing beats vegetables picked fresh from the garden! But to ensure the best quality, flavor and appearance, proper harvesting at the right stage is essential. Once you harvest, proper storage will help maintain that home-grown freshness. It helps to group vegetables by similarity of storage requirements: Cold And Moist (32-40 F, 90-95 percent relative humidity) Beets-Begin harvest when beet is 1 inch in diameter. Beet tops at this time make excellent tender greens. Begin main […]
Homeowners assessing tree damage caused by recent storms will want to make a few important decisions soon. Small trees with minor damage can probably be taken care of by the homeowner, but large, mature trees likely will need the help of a professional tree service. It can be hard to decide whether trees with severe damage should be completely removed. Homeowners often are reluctant to cut down a tree, either because of sentimental attachment or […]
You’re an eager home gardener who has lovingly nurtured a tomato patch from seed to fruit. But alas, just as your mouth waters for the first ripening gems, a black, leathery spot appears at the base of the fruit. Blossom end-rot is thankfully a frustrating disorder and not a disease of the fruit. The black scar tissue is caused by a deficiency of calcium in the developing fruit, usually brought on by extreme fluctuations in […]
The recent Arctic blast that visited our area made for a rather dramatic leaf fall in many neighborhoods. With large quantities of leaves blowing around their yards, some people may be tempted to resort to the old-fashioned and effective method of burning. However, in addition to being illegal in many areas, leaf burning leads to air pollution and is a health and fire hazard. The smoke from burning leaves contains a number of toxic and/or […]