So it goes to reason that letting plants grow to their biggest and best is a no-brainer. Often, however, the key to the nicest plants, the showiest flowers, or the biggest vegetables is all in knowing what to remove from the plant and when.Take, for example, flowers. If I have a dahlia plant, I can let the plant happily chug along, producing all of the … Continue reading Growing the biggest and best in the garden
This time of year, most people run their vegetable garden on autopilot. Everything has been planted and the harvests may start to slowly trickle in. While the work in the garden aside from harvesting may not be as intense as preparing and planting the beds, there’s still plenty that can be done. There are some things that you want to be doing and watching for … Continue reading Too much of a good thing: Excess rain causing garden problems
As I drove down the alley behind the house, I realized I had seen the tree before. Five years ago, I answered a call from the McGraths, an elderly couple in Nitro, about some dead limbs in the maple tree in their back yard. There were no other symptoms, so chalking limbs up to storm damage, I told them to have them removed and monitor … Continue reading Losing trees to fungus
The phone rings. I answer. The person on the other end starts complaining about a small furry creature wreaking havoc in their lawn or landscape. They know what it is, or at least they think they do. They think they have moles. They just want me to tell them how to control it. That’s when I have to put the conversation in reverse and start … Continue reading White Grubs, Moles, and Japanese Beetles, Oh My!
Joyce Baker has a hobby you may not have ever considered. Every fall, she raises, tags and releases a few dozen monarch butterflies at her Charleston home. It is a fascinating, not to mention exciting, idea. She talked about her hobby with my Master Gardeners this past week at our annual picnic. I thought that the talk was serendipitous as this coming week is National … Continue reading National Pollinator Week: Pretty pollinators provide beauty and service
Sure, it’s not the most glamorous of garden topics, but mulch is something that can be an important tool for every gardener. The benefits of mulching are numerous, but there are some things you should know to most effectively use mulch. My colleague and fellow garden professor (Facebook.com/TheGardenProfessors) Dr. Linda-Chalker Scott, from Washington State University, is definitely a maven of mulch. It is one of … Continue reading Much ado about mulch
With the sweltering heat and humidity of summer upon us, the havoc of winter may be but just a memory. Many plant problems caused by the devastating cold of winter, however, are still persisting in the garden. Believe it or not, a majority of the calls that I and my fellow extension agents are receiving are all weather related — mostly from winter, but also … Continue reading Winter Damage still causing heartache for home gardeners
Many people who think of a vegetable garden think of a plowed-up patch with rows of plants spread out. While this has been the setup for centuries, gardens these days are taking on a whole new dimension. Unless someone is growing a huge amount of produce, my recommendation is to use more intensive methods to grow more in less space. I, for one, have a … Continue reading Intensive gardening helps get big flavors out of small spaces
Pests and pestilence — this is a theme that runs through most of the calls and emails I receive during the garden season. The usual question is: “What do I spray to kill this?” Sometimes clients are hesitant to spray for pests. Sometimes, though, it seems like they are ready to prepare for all-out warfare. Perhaps the right question to ask is not about what … Continue reading IPM: An ounce of pest prevention is worth a pound of cure
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