Properly caring for your trees throughout the summer months results in a happy, healthy landscape. Whether it’s tree trimming, pest inspections, or watering trees, summer is the perfect time to follow these six tree care tips. 1. Mulching: If you didn’t get to mulch your trees this spring, it’s not too late. Mulching trees is…
Many of North America’s pollinators, including over 4,000 species of native bees, are facing dramatic population declines due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and various parasites and pathogens. To help these valuable insects, gardeners across the continent are creating pollinator gardens designed to offer these creatures more of the resources they need to survive. What…
Raised bed gardening can’t be beat for its ease and efficiency, not to mention its ability to save gardeners time, space, and money. With little wasted space, raised beds are high-yielding and easy to maintain. The Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening Raised bed gardens don’t require as much effort as in-ground gardens. There’s no sod-stripping…
Even in cold climates, fig growing is easier than you think. Though this fruiting tree (Ficus carica) is native to the Middle East and Asia, it’s fast becoming a popular backyard fruit crop for gardeners across North America. Figs are prized for their succulent, honey-like flavor. How to Grow a Fig Tree Consider the Hardiness…
April showers bring May flowers, but that’s not always the case. Often times May and June bring severe weather and storms that can damage all your hard work. If your blooms are already full and bright, you can harvest them to enjoy indoors and save them from the harsh springtime weather. Start by cutting those…
Everybody knows the feeling– just as your tomatoes are looking great, a hail storm batters them. Weather is certainly one of the greatest factors influencing gardening success, and while we can’t control it, we can mitigate the damage at times by trying one of these methods to protect plants from the effects of extreme weather….
Consumers in the U.S. spend 2 billion dollars on Mother’s Day plants and flowers every year. While fresh flowers are indeed a lovely gift, why not give Mom blooms she can enjoy for months, instead of just days? Living plants make terrific Mother’s Day gifts, and while you may be tempted to simply stop at…
Intrigued by community gardens, but worried about getting in over your head? It can certainly seem daunting and ambitious, but thinking of it as “gardening in community” and taking it just one step at a time may make it easier to get started. Consider these three easy steps to jump start your spring planting: Step…
Or rather, your soil. Whether you’re amending an in-ground area or improving a growing medium for your containers and raised beds, there is no substitute for good soil. And not just good soil, the best soil. Working on your soil may be a little less thrilling than aisles of fresh green plants and racks of…
Companion planting is the intentional partnering of two or more different plants for reasons that extend beyond aesthetics. One popular form of companion planting partners plants with the intent of deterring pest insects. This form of natural pest control is gaining in popularity as gardeners come to discover that including specific plant combinations in the…