When the Mercury rises, please don’t forget about your plants. This is especially true for any woody plant that was installed in the past three years and any perennial, annual, or vegetable planted this spring. Linked is my handy reference chart linking air temperature to watering frequency. In short, the higher the temperature, the more frequently we water.…
This Asian dogwood comes into bloom in early June. It is resistant to many pests and diseases, including the anthracnose virus that has impacted our native white and pink dogwood trees. The bark of its trunk features exfoliated patches that provide year-round interest. Heart-shaped, dark green leaves are tough enough to withstand the summer heat. There are many…
Did you know that when the soil or air reaches certain temperatures, this triggers egg hatch on many insect pest species? Damaging larvae emerge to feed on our plants. Cottony camellia scale is a soft white scale that sucks sap from the leaves of many common landscape plants. Although it is most often seen on hollies, it…
Sometimes nature comes a little too close when there is disturbed ground. One of the common invaders is Japanese knotweed. This shrubby plant in the knotweed or buckwheat family was imported in the late 1800s as an ornamental curiosity and became a rampant escapee in our area. You may have seen it lining roadsides or stream banks. It spreads…
That is, as soon as the snow and ice are about out of the way! Aim to finish before new buds emerge in March. Begin by cutting out all dead canes to the base of the plant. These are very visible during this dormant season and will have a different color and lighter feel than live canes.…
We began our compost tea program back in 2007. At that time, the study of soil microorganisms (or soil biology) was just becoming mainstream through the work of Dr. Elaine Ingham. She found that almost any soil can have its biology boosted through the addition of an actively aerated compost tea. Compromised soils, especially with compaction following construction,…
Our skilled staff loves to garden at home. Organic vegetable gardens are familiar territory. We’re happy to help you design a raised bed structure, pick a site and build it, fill with nutrient-dense soil mix, and plan the plantings! Tricky topics that are familiar to us include: when to sow seeds vs. planting seedlings, designing a fencing system to…
Small fruits are best pruned during the dormant season, and blueberries are no exception. This dormant period runs from November to early April, well before leaves appear. However, with the mild weather so far this winter season, we suggest getting down to blueberry pruning now. Here are a few tips: Prune only on a clear…
So far, we have cut back most perennials, installed shrub protectors against falling ice and snow from roofs, put up deer fencing, and are applying anti-desiccant and deer repellents to vulnerable shrubs. Once the ground freezes, we will be finishing up a few final garden chores: Protecting tender rose crowns with cones of compost Covering…
I was all set to write an article about alternatives to the Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus), and to highlight why this is an important issue for your own yard. Instead, I found that someone else had already written this article! So, please read on. I was especially interested in Emily DeBolt’s comparison of foliage color on specific native…