In droughty times, many nutrients in the soil are rapidly depleted as plants attempt to adjust to adverse conditions. As we pull soil tests this fall, we find that Potassium is lower than desired on many test results. I want to repeat an article about the necessity for Potassium that I wrote in September 2013:…
We are back in a Category 2 drought situation here in eastern Massachusetts. It’s interesting to study the US map to note where the other areas of drought exist at this website. Pumpkin Brook has an emergency watering service available. We bring the water to you! Our spray trucks have 200 gallon tanks and long hoses…
As a Board Member of NOFA/Massachusetts, I will be participating in their Human Health and Climate Acton Challenge this month. This event combines personal commitment, public education and crowdfunding to raise awareness about how organic practices, especially agriculture, are linked to human health and the climate crisis. Many of our staff members will be participating…
This wonderful national nonprofit is offering a fall Literary Series of webinars on selected Thursday afternoons with garden authors. You’ll enjoy color photos and virtual tours of fine gardens around the country, with a chance for questions and answers. Can’t attend on a Thursday afternoon? Registrants receive a link to a recording after the event…
Identify and finish fall transplanting and dividing work Keep planting trees, shrubs and perennials until the end of the month Plant bulbs when soil cools, starting mid-month Test and amend soil in problem spots Begin cutback of frosted ferns and other perennials that mildew, blacken or drop leaves Let birds enjoy seedheads Pull spent annuals…
The following alert was prepared by staff at the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA): Above normal temperatures in July and August, and months of below normal precipitation led Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides to declare all of the state to be in a “Significant Drought- Level 2”. NRWA water monitoring staff and volunteers are…
Last call for bulbs! We have started our orders, but you can still add your wishes for daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinths and the like until September 15. Please contact Priscilla, phw@seedlingspecialist.com, for these last-minute orders. We’ll be planting bulbs between Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day.
Not only are there invasive plants, we also have invasive animals. If you see a group of worms near the soil surface that move quickly and have milky-white bands, they are probably Snake Worms from Korea and Japan. An annual species, they emerge from cocoons and are fully mature by mid-summer. You may also notice…
I was thrilled to learn recently that the native rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, is returning to the shores of the Charles River! This plant is reclaiming space once taken by the invasive purple loosestrife. Now that the release of a beetle that eats the loosestrife has been successful in our area, native plants like this can return…
Keep up with harvesting vegetables and herbs Pick yourself a bouquet Pull any spent summer crops and sow seeds of spinach, arugula, kale and lettuce for fall harvesting Sow cover crops this month on any bare ground in the vegetable garden Order seed garlic for planting in October Continue to weed and deadhead Keep watering…