All About Asian Jumping Worms Jumping Worms and the soil they create Have you noticed that some of your garden bed soil looks like coffee grounds? Do large worms jump out of the soil when you’re simply digging a small hole or pulling a weed? If you can answer at least one of these questions,…
White oak leaves Recently I was asked to identify an oak at the edge of a woodland where a new house had been built. This was a woods tree, with whitish bark somewhat resembling a hickory tree: clearly a white oak. Another clue was the rounded lobes on the leaves. The Latin name for white…
Fall color of blueberry bush We’ll be doing some important work this month for those of you with blueberries (lowbush and highbush) in the landscape. These plants fruit best in a soil that is acidic, yet require Calcium to produce well! A bit of a conundrum that we often solve by testing the soil and…
Deer Browse One item you may need to consider is winter deer protection. A few years ago we learned that in fall and winter, the enzymes in a deer’s stomach change so the animal can digest woody plants and evergreens in particular! With ever more deer per square mile in our region, deer fencing is…
Priscilla’s Garden To-Do List for November into December Clean up debris in the vegetable garden promptly to reduce hiding places for insect pests and diseases Cut back perennials that have no wildlife value (i.e. hostas, daylilies, Shasta daisy, catmint, lady’s mantle, etc), remembering to leave basal rosettes of foxgloves, heucheras, and hollyhocks to generate new…
Q: What will happen to my bulbs if a late snow comes after they’ve sent up new growth, or worse, if they’re already blooming? A: Bulbs are surprisingly resilient and can tolerate cold temperatures well. Emerging bulb tips or stems will simply stop growing and wait for better weather conditions. While snow may knock blooming bulbs over temporarily, they…
Watch for emerging color on witch hazel buds which can bloom in late winter, even with snow on the ground Maple sap will start to flow when days are above freezing and night temperatures dip below freezing Check yourself for ticks after time outdoors, as ticks are active whenever temperatures rise above 32 degrees Continue…
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…
Looking for something different to do outdoors while still getting in a walk? Tower Hill Botanic Garden has opened a new winter display featuring creative use of colorful knitted or crocheted artworks on woody plants and garden structures. This is called Yarnbombing or Yarnstorming. Timed tickets are required for entry, with admission to this outdoor show included…
Reese makes a deep root application of compost tea. Photo by Lee Gadway. Did you know that Pumpkin Brook offers Plant Health Care using all-organic materials? Our department manager, Reese Crotteau, is working this month on new contracts for the coming season. In February, you can prepay, receive a small discount with our thanks, and…