Weed Identification: Know Thine Enemy
Saturday June 30, 2012
Weeds can be tenacious foes, reminding us of the truth of the maxim, "Know thine enemy." Proper weed identification can be the gateway to knowledge that has been compiled over ... Read More
What Are Your Favorite Examples of Murphy's Law?
Thursday June 28, 2012
Murphy didn't exempt gardeners and their activities from his infamous "law." Do you ever encounter examples of Murphy's Law when you're out in the yard, working? I'm talking about instances ... Read More
Russian Sage: Not Your Garden-Variety Sage
Monday June 25, 2012
Are you sage (i.e., wise) about sage? Today I want to present some distinctions between different types of sage to help beginners who may be confused by the myriad of ... Read More
Using Landscape Fabric to Fight Weeds
Sunday June 24, 2012
Landscape fabric is used for weed control, a central element in achieving low-maintenance landscaping. You don't feel like pulling creeping charlie (picture) out of a planting bed when you could ... Read More
Yes, You Can Fertilize a Tree Too Much
Saturday June 23, 2012
Unless you've been trained in the sciences, the process of fertilizing plants is probably something of a mystery to you. Regardless of whether the fertilizer in question is "natural" or ... Read More
Yellow Dock: How One Weed Can Counteract Another
Friday June 22, 2012
Ever noticed the weed that puts out the tall brown spike in fall, such as the one pictured here? That's the dried flower-head of yellow dock
Dog Urine on Lawns?
Thursday June 21, 2012
Do you have a problem with dog urine causing brown spots on the lawn? Many homeowners report lawn damage from dog urine -- whether they own dogs or not! Here ... Read More
Diablo Ninebark
Wednesday June 20, 2012
'Diablo' ninebark is a flowering shrub with reddish-purple foliage. The origin of the common name "ninebark" is rather convoluted. Various shades of brown are revealed as the bark peels, layer ... Read More
How to Prune Red Maple Trees
Tuesday June 19, 2012
One of the readers of About.com's Forestry site emailed Guide, Steve Nix with a problem. "I have a red maple that I believe may need pruning," says the reader. "I'm ... Read More
Meadow Vole Control
Monday June 18, 2012
When readers see the word, "voles" in writings on landscaping, sometimes their first impression is that the author has made a typo. They think that the discussion is really about ... Read More
Focus on Focal Points
Sunday June 17, 2012
What's the point behind focal points? Well, an effective focal point can direct the eye to a particular area -- perhaps a front entry or the entrance to a ... Read More
Bougainvillea Plants
Saturday June 16, 2012
Bougainvillea plants are great for that "Mediterranean look." But they will need periodic pruning, so they're not necessarily low-maintenance. Nor are they cold-tolerant. Folks in warm climates may be ... Read More
Outdoor Living Spaces
Friday June 15, 2012
Most homeowners enjoy spending time out in the yard during the summer. But is your yard as livable as it could be? If not, learn how to extend the ... Read More
Why Spittle Bugs "Spit" on Plants
Wednesday June 13, 2012
Like many children, as a kid I was drawn to the anomalies of the plant world -- not anything that required scientific training to identify, but just oddities that anyone ... Read More
Pleaching Laburnum Trees
Tuesday June 12, 2012
"Pleaching creates an effect of a living arch or tunnel," says Don Burke, creator of a Web site on Australian landscape design. Since he used golden chain trees (Laburnum) as ... Read More
Pictures of White Flowers
Monday June 11, 2012
Being of a neutral color, white flowers are useful in landscape design, as they allow for transition between stronger hues. White flowers will, of course, combine well with blooms of ... Read More
American vs. Chinese Elm Trees
Sunday June 10, 2012
Many of you have probably steered clear of planting American elm trees in your yards, due to their susceptibility to Dutch elm disease. But did you know that alternatives do ... Read More
Ornamental Grasses Deer Tend Not to Eat
Friday June 8, 2012
I'm not sure what I like most about ornamental grasses -- there are so many great attributes from which to choose! Let me say this much right away, though: what ... Read More
Confessions of a Plant Lover: Why Benedict Arnold Lost Out to May Apple
Thursday June 7, 2012
My wife and I have fond memories of a historic site we toured once in upstate New York: the site of the Battle of Saratoga, which occurred during the American ... Read More
Announcement: New Online Landscaping Course
Wednesday June 6, 2012
Have you ever taken one of my courses? If so, you know they're free and that the lessons show up daily in your email inbox. My new one is called ... Read More
Landscaping Tips You Can Take to the Bank
Tuesday June 5, 2012
Those of us who have been close to the land for many years tend to accumulate lots of little tips that save money, save time, and save our sanity. We ... Read More
Garden Tours: DOs and DON'Ts
Monday June 4, 2012
Going on garden tours is a wonderful way to learn more about plants. And if the guests are well-behaved, the experience can be mutually gratifying. Imagine yourself as host to ... Read More
Stars of the Yard For June, 2012
Sunday June 3, 2012
In last month's report, I said that I was holding back on telling you about a few of my stars: There were so many potential nominees, it seemed like overkill ... Read More
Magnolia Tree Care
Saturday June 2, 2012
Have questions about magnolia tree care? Here's an introductory Q&A to help you. For instance, have you had trouble getting your buds to open? There are several potential culprits, including ... Read More
June To-Do List for the Yard
Friday June 1, 2012
About.com's Gardening Guide has a watchword for June, and it is "vigilance." One thing we need to be vigilant about is the potential for pest damage. For example, inform yourself ... Read More