Choosing and Caring For Your Christmas Tree
‘Tis the season to be jolly! Nothing gets me into the holiday spirit faster than going to cut down our Christmas Tree. We typically go the long weekend after Thanksgiving and thanks to a few rules we have learned to follow, our tree stays green and healthy for the entire month. Selecting Your Tree Whether you are cutting your tree down or picking one that’s already been cut, you’ll want ... read more
From the Garden: Pumpkin-Inspired Recipes
Fall is here and with it the smell of pumpkin-spiced lattes wafting through my office. I’ll give up bathing suits, flip flops and barbecues at the beach for turtlenecks, tall boots and tailgating at the football game because of the delicious flavors available when the temperature drops a bit. At the top of the list? The availability of pumpkins. If pumpkins grow in your garden or you buy them from ... read more
Is a Raised Garden Bed Right for you? Why you should consider one for your garden.
The idea of gardening conjures up all sorts of colorfully imaginative and creative endeavors involving ones yard. In a sort of romantic battle of Man/Woman vs earth, ultimate victory is achieved as the soil gives up the plentiful harvest which has been so carefully cultivated and cared for over several months (hard fought, sweat inducing, dirt-under-the-nails-months) with such love and attention to detail. The culmination of it all is seen as ... read more
Mycorrhizae? Myca-What?
mycorrhizae (m-k-r-z) - Noun; The symbiotic association of the mycelium of a fungus with the roots of a seed plant Hmmm…this definition doesn’t help me too much and the word fungus scares me. While at my local independent garden center I noticed this word on several of their products which leads me to believe I should be using it in my garden. Why do some products have mycorrhizae and some don’t? Better ... read more
Lawn and Garden Checklist: May
Yay, it’s May! Let’s hope the old adage “April showers bring May flowers” holds true. There is nothing more beautiful than a green lawn and a garden in full bloom. Stay on track to a successful gardening season ahead with this basic guide. GENERAL MAINTENANCE * Right now, lawns and gardens should receive about an inch of water per week. * Mulch under your plants to ... read more
Change the color of your Hydrangea
Pink, or Blue? We aren’t talking about babies although wouldn’t it be interesting to be able to control whether or not you had a boy or a girl simply by changing one thing that you eat? Hydrangea plants have the ability to change their color to vary between shades of pink and blue depending on the pH of the soil they reside in. Specifically, it’s the Hydrangea macrophylla or serrata ... read more
How to Prune; The where, why & when
Generally speaking, the excitement and rejuvenation of spring often brings with it some daunting tasks you may not feel qualified to tackle. If you are anything like me, the thought of pruning usually carries with it visions of mangled plant life and good intentions gone bad. Having said that, it needn’t be so confusing. With a little information and the right tools you too can master this all-important garden project. We’ve assembled ... read more