What To Do in May and June Avid gardeners find lots to do during May and June as spring melts into summer. The enjoyment of spending time outside watching things grow and listening to the birds can distract us from our spring to-do list. But taking care of business early in the season will result in a more attractive garden and more success through the summer months ahead. The days are getting noticeably longer and warmer as the first flush...
Enthusiastic gardeners begin planning, planting, and preparing for the season to come at the first hint of spring. Some of us may still be planting daffodils in December or January and watch for the first snowdrops to appear as the last bulbs go into the ground. There is very little break during winter. We are always watching the progress of our gardens and exploring sustainable gardening practices. And our hearts remain filled with hope for the seasons to come....
Maybe it will rain, and maybe it won’t. It has been unusually dry in our area for the past several months. Some of the little starts I planted with high hopes in March and April have been struggling to take hold. I need to water large areas of our garden several times a week, as though it were July already. And regular irrigation just isn’t an option for many gardeners. We are relatively fortunate in coastal Virginia because we...
When you’re planning a new garden, do you look for a sunny spot or for a bit of shade? That used to be an easy decision. We all know that plants need good light to grow well. Gardening books used to advise anyone planting a small vegetable garden or flower bed to watch how the sun moves across the sky and how the shadows fall across their yard to select a good sunny spot to break ground. Traditional gardeners...
February is the perfect time of year for frugal gardeners to get a head start on the coming season. Winter’s garden magazines and catalogs offer a preview of new cultivars hitting the market. We weigh the merits of melons, tomatoes, Zinnias and Dahlias, working the mental puzzle of what might fit where. Online marketers become our best garden ‘pen pals’ with daily email temptations. You have probably also noticed how much nursery prices have increased in recent years. I...
Water may be a blessing or a curse. Gardeners usually want abundant rain to nurture their plantings and generally have a back-up irrigation plan for dry spells. Providing the right amount of water for each plant is one of the keys to a gardener’s success. Working With the Water Cycle Just as leaves absorb carbon from the air, so roots absorb water from the soil. The water, and any chemicals or elements dissolved in it, may be stored in...
Q. My crape myrtles have splits on the bark. What is going on? A. Your crape myrtles appear to have sun scald. Crape myrtles, Lagerstroemia indica, are considered a relatively problem-free tree. The Clemson Cooperative Extension website cites the most common problems as powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, aphids, Japanese beetles, sooty mold, and the recently recognized crape myrtle bark scale. Clearly, the photo of your tree shows no indications of any of these diseases and insects. Your tree likely...
Q: I usually apply a pre-emergent herbicide in spring to kill chickweed. Is it OK if I go ahead and apply the pre-emergent now? A. No. The use of a pre-emergent herbicide in winter would be ineffective because the weather is too cold for seeds to germinate. We tend to associate pre-emergents with spring because that is when we apply them to take care of crabgrass and other summer broadleaf weeds. I know for my lawn, applying pre-emergent herbicide is...
The Changing Seasons – Throughout the ages, people have sought not only to derive meaning from seasonal changes but also to explain, interpret, and forecast these events. Predictions of a “bad Winter” or “early Spring” were inferred from biological and environmental indicators and observations such as the first appearance of certain plants, insects, and animals. Cultural Interpretation – This information was interpreted within the context of the society’s culture and religious belief systems. In many of these cultures, ancient festivals, holidays, and...