September Yard To-Do List
Friday August 31, 2012
What do I love to do in my September yard here in New England? It's certainly not the items on my September yard to-do list, I'll tell you that! After ... Read More
Obedient Plants, Not-So-Obedient Plants
Wednesday August 29, 2012
Of obedient plants (Physostegia virginiana), Marie Iannotti observes that they derive their name "from the ability of the individual flowers to be bent and remain in position." That makes sense; ... Read More
So You Want to Grow a Cottage Garden?
Monday August 27, 2012
In people's musings about what type of garden design they'd like to have in a yard, the "cottage garden" style is often invoked. But exactly what is it that separates ... Read More
Weeding Your Garden Without Back Strain
Saturday August 25, 2012
The easiest approach to weed control is to prevent weeds from popping up at all in your yard. Impossible? Close to it, yeah. But you can suppress weed growth to ... Read More
Take a Good Look at a Tulip Tree Leaf
Friday August 24, 2012
Although "tulip trees" are so called from the appearance of their flowers, it is their leaves that I find to be of greatest interest. Tulip trees (also nicknamed, "yellow poplars," ... Read More
What Does "Neem" Mean?
Thursday August 23, 2012
Are you seeking an organic pesticide to spray on your landscape plants? Give neem oil a try; I did and was pleased with the results, as I report in this ... Read More
Shade Gardens With White Flowers and Bright Foliage
Wednesday August 22, 2012
"Made in the shade." Most homeowners eager to garden in shade-plagued areas with their favorite plants probably wonder why this phrase has such a positive connotation. They find their garden ... Read More
Plants That Make You Itch
Tuesday August 21, 2012
Everyone knows to be on the lookout when outside for yellow jackets, mosquitoes and the like. Unfortunately, because of the weeds I term the "itchy rash plants," we can't even ... Read More
So You Want to Become a Landscape Designer?
Monday August 20, 2012
You've probably seen them on TV, if you ever watch those home improvement channels. The before and after shots prove that they can work wonders with the materials at their ... Read More
Are Worm Castings Casting a Shadow on Your Lawn?
Sunday August 19, 2012
My wife and I are a somewhat unusual couple, in that we are both wormophiles. We deeply appreciate what worms do for our soil. In fact, whenever we see a ... Read More
Beneficial Garden Bugs
Saturday August 18, 2012
"It's really important to start learning what insects are your allies in the garden and how to attract them," remarks Marie Iannotti. In this blog post, About.com's Gardening Guide links ... Read More
What Bushes Do You Recommend?
Friday August 17, 2012
Bushes (shrubs) are the workhorses in a landscape. While tall trees provide a necessary "backbone" for your yard, they don't offer the flexibility that bushes do. Meanwhile, shorter plants might ... Read More
Goldenrod: Wildflower World's Gold Standard
Thursday August 16, 2012
It's easy to take a wildflower that you've seen all your life for granted. For folks in North America, goldenrod may fall into this category. But North American goldenrod is ... Read More
Meet Joe, the Weed
Wednesday August 15, 2012
"Joe-Pye weed": it's an interesting name, isn't it? Upon hearing the name of this plant, the first question many people will ask is, Is Joe-Pye weed named after a person? ... Read More
Tree Care in Summer
Tuesday August 14, 2012
True, summer may be almost over, but Vanessa Richins' article on tree care in summer is still worth perusing at this time. Why? Because sometimes, it's helpful to be reminded ... Read More
Japanese Beetle Control
Monday August 13, 2012
Japanese beetles and I go way back. As a child growing ornamental gourds, I quickly discovered the need for Japanese beetle control. I remember seeing leaves covered with these pests ... Read More
Colored Mulch: What's Your View?
Sunday August 12, 2012
Sometimes, when you're new to a topic, you have no idea how controversial it can be. Take the use of colored mulch, for example. Sounds like an innocent enough topic, ... Read More
Snitching on Cheatgrass
Saturday August 11, 2012
A surprisingly large number of things can go wrong when dogs and yards meet -- for both the dogs and the yards. Dog damage in yards is palpable; What's less ... Read More
Allergy Sufferers: Identify Your True Enemy
Friday August 10, 2012
The Japanese have a saying that goldenrod could learn from: "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." The bright, beautiful blooms of goldenrod stand out like a sore thumb ... Read More
Projects to Improve Your Yard
Thursday August 9, 2012
"The feeling of accomplishment is glorious when you pull into your driveway and realize that your yard is the best in the neighborhood," remarks the Construction Management School website. But ... Read More
Is Your Concrete Cracked?
Wednesday August 8, 2012
Concrete is tough stuff. If you've ever had to break up an old concrete patio, you'll attest to that fact -- and bemoan it, as you lick your wounds. There's ... Read More
Stars of the Yard for August, 2012
Tuesday August 7, 2012
In my July poll, you selected hydrangea shrubs as your favorite plant for that month. Now it's August, the last fully summertime month. My yard in August doesn't boast quite ... Read More
Blue Hydrangeas
Monday August 6, 2012
Blue flowers are something of a Holy Grail for gardeners. But that's not the only reason why blue hydrangeas fascinate us. Blue morning glories are blue morning glories -- and ... Read More
The Outdoor Room: It's No Place for Roughing It
Sunday August 5, 2012
The "outdoor room" is one of those in-between concepts. Normally, the word, "room" implies an enclosure indoors. Meanwhile, if someone talks about living large in the "great outdoors," the image ... Read More
Are Catmint Plants and Catnip Different?
Saturday August 4, 2012
Many folks probably wonder why cats (well, some cats) love catnip so much. But while whatever chemical reactions occur within the feline body to account for the "catnip high" are ... Read More
Moss Control: A Case for Sherlock Holmes?
Friday August 3, 2012
A growing number of people have become quite fond of moss. But for the rest, it still remains a weed -- something to battle in the lawn. The problem is, ... Read More
A "Blue-Chip Stock" in the Plant World?
Thursday August 2, 2012
I don't know where my landscape would be in August without four particular plant genuses: Phlox, Hydrangea, Hibiscus and Buddleia. These are the flowering staples that carry me into late ... Read More
Ornamental Herbs
Wednesday August 1, 2012
Amy Jeanroy rightly submits the terminology "ornamental herbs" to a bit of scrutiny. After all, depending upon whom you ask, just about any herb could be considered "ornamental" if the ... Read More