Perhaps the most challenging landscaping problem is that of what to plant on a steep slope. Slopes require plants that can establish quickly, tolerant of fluctuating soil moisture and potentially poor nutrient availability, and require little care once established. You’re likely looking for small plants for filling this rather tall order! Turf grass is one of the most popular ground covers for keeping soil in place, but mowing on an incline is inconvenient at best […]
Will you be eating sweet potatoes or yams at your Thanksgiving dinner? While many folks use the terms interchangeably, they are distinct. Botanically speaking, the sweet potato is known as Ipomoea batatasand belongs to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). True yams belong to one of several species of Dioscoreain the yam family (Dioscoreace), and their production is limited to tropical climates. So most likely you will be eating sweet potatoes rather than true yams. There […]
Remember when your grandmother talked about putting food “by” for winter? There are several methods of preserving and storing our garden produce for later enjoyment, including freezing, canning and cold storage. The method of choice depends on the specific produce item, as well as more personal factors such as taste preferences, amount of time available and know-how. For busy gardeners, storing produce may provide a relatively easy, quick way to enjoy your harvest in winter […]
Many Indiana gardeners lost landscape plants this year; particularly plants that were already in trouble and perhaps were dealt a fatal blow by summer’s extreme heat and drought. Cooler temperatures and more adequate rainfall can make fall an ideal time to replace or add to your woody plant collection. But keep the following notes in mind. Plants that are most successful for fall planting include most shrubs, crabapple, hackberry, hawthorn, honeylocust, linden, most maples, sycamore, […]
Rain gardens are areas of the landscape designed to catch rainwater long enough to allow it to percolate slowly back into the groundwater rather than run off the soil. Rain gardens help recharge groundwater, improve the water quality of streams and rivers, reduce flooding, and provide cover for wildlife and butterflies. Rain gardens can be just shallow depressions of a few inches or elaborately constructed sites, depending on available space and needs of the site. […]
Collecting seeds from garden plants to plant next year may seem like a good way to save money, but you may be in for a surprise. Some seeds can be saved from year to year with good results, particularly the old-fashioned cultivars. But modern hybrid cultivars rarely breed true from collected seed. To get that disease-resistant tomato or frilly double petunia, two or more plants with desirable characteristics were crossbred. The seed from these hybrid […]
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 […]
One of the toughest things about growing your own grapes is beating the birds to the harvest! So understandably, gardeners can get in a big hurry to cut those beautiful clusters from the vine. But don’t be too hasty in cutting the fruits just to one-up the birds. Make sure your grapes are ripe before you harvest. Although color change is important in determining when to harvest grapes, it should not be the only consideration. […]
One of the toughest things about growing your own grapes is beating the birds to the harvest! So understandably, gardeners can get in a big hurry to cut those beautiful clusters from the vine. But don’t be too hasty in cutting the fruits just to one-up the birds. Make sure your grapes are ripe before you harvest. Although color change is important in determining when to harvest grapes, it should not be the only consideration. […]
Thanksgiving dinners filled with the fragrance of sage-dusted turkey and dressing may be an American tradition, so you may be surprised to find out that the sage plant (Salvia officinalis) is native to the Mediterranean. Today sage is primarily used as a culinary herb, but in older times it was a common medicinal plant. The origin of the salvia name from the Latin salvus, “to save,” and salvere, “to heal,” underscores its medicinal value. Sage […]
