As the dazzling display of spring-flowering bulbs comes to a close, it’s time for a bit of spring cleaning. Now is the time to remove spent blossoms and prevent seed production from stealing needed carbohydrate reserves that can be better saved for next year’s bloom. Even though the foliage that remains is not very attractive and, in some cases, is downright unsightly, resist the urge to cut those green leaves off the plants. The health […]
Although most gardeners aim to bring in a good fruit crop on their plants, there are a few situations where a barren plant is preferred. Some homeowners would love to find a way to keep certain landscape plants from dropping their fruits onto driveways and sidewalks. There are a few methods that can help reduce the amount of fruit production on both ornamental and fruit trees. Hand removal of faded blooms, or young fruits, works […]
While it is too early to plant tomatoes, now is the perfect time to plant lettuce. The key to growing a successful crop is to plant and mature the lettuce in cool weather. Lettuce is an annual plant that will bolt (produce a flower stalk) and become bitter when temperatures stay above 70 F. Iceberg, or more correctly called crisp head type lettuce, used to predominate produce shelves at most grocery stores. Crisp head cultivars […]
Although recent weather may have delayed some of your planting plans, it’s time to spring into action in the garden. Most gardeners will find there are still some chores to finish up from fall and winter. If you applied winter protective mulch to plants such as strawberries and newly planted perennials, be sure to pull that mulch back away from the plants as they emerge. But keep that mulch close by, just in case spring […]
For many gardeners, pruning seems to be the most daunting chore in the home orchard. In an effort to avoid cutting off too much, many of us end up not cutting at all and end up with overgrown trees. Too little pruning can result in overcrowded, unhealthy branches that produce small fruit and/or few of them. On the other hand, severe pruning also can remove much of the crop potential. Not all fruit species grow […]
Many would-be gardeners would love to grow their own vegetables and flowers, but they are not able to due to health reasons. Gardening in the traditional sense requires a strong back and arms to work the soil, plant the crops and harvest the rewards. Weeding, watering and general garden care also may take quite a bit of bending and elbow grease. If your mind says “yes” but your body says “no,” don’t despair. Container gardening […]
If you’re like most overanxious gardeners, you probably started your tomato seeds too early. When tomatoes and other transplants are grown under the relatively low light conditions experienced in most homes, they tend to get long and leggy as they stretch in search of light. Even many store-bought transplants get leggy if we buy them too soon before we can plant them out, or they may be too leggy to begin with. Warm temperatures also […]
They’re back! It’s that time of year when the advertisements in the Sunday supplements promise unbelievable yields, fantastic blooms all summer and trees that grow as tall as a house in one growing season! This weekend saw the return of the old tree tomato ad, the one that resurfaces every couple of years or so. As usual, the seller promises yields up to 60 pounds per plant, and stems that grow to 8 feet tall […]
If fighting weeds in your garden has you in a pickle, you’ll be interested in a USDA research report about using acetic acid (vinegar) as an herbicide. USDA researchers confirmed that acetic acid is effective at killing some common weed species, including Canada thistle, lamb’s-quarters, giant foxtail, velvetleaf and smooth pigweed. Weeds were hand-sprayed with various solutions of vinegar, uniformly coating the leaves. The researchers found that 5- and 10-percent concentrations killed the weeds during […]
Tree topping is an all too common practice among homeowners, particularly when their trees become too tall and pose a possible threat to the house or overhead power lines. Some have the trees topped because they believe, or are led to believe, that topping is a good pruning practice. Obviously, some situations require the removal of large limbs for the sake of safety. But topping is a drastic step and ultimately endangers the tree’s life. […]