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
Looks Fishy to Me: Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer
As long as you don’t spill any on yourself, Neptune’s Harvest Organic Fertilizer is a phenomenal product that encourages strong growth of your favorite plants. Why you don’t want to spill any on you? Well, it’s somewhat smelly and can be tricky to wash off. That’s the only downside to using Neptune’s Harvest in your garden. The upside? Their products will not biologically damage your soil and, instead, promote the ... read more
A.D.I.O.S.: The Answer to Organic Weed Control?
We would like to introduce you to a new organic weed control product that was approved for use in the United States and is now available for sale. A.D.I.O.S. (Advanced Development in Organic Solutions) developed by Herbanatur is approved for organic use by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), is EPA Exempt and is available now through Great Garden Supply! Environmentally-friendly weed control has been a huge problem facing lawn care ... read more
Divas Do Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Organizing a Small Space Garden
There are so many different ways to garden if space is limited. You can grow vertically, in a container, indoors, or on a windowsill. The options are endless! As I am completely new to the whole idea of gardening, and being “outdoorsy” in general, I wanted to find the simplest small space gardening idea that is not overpowering and actually enjoyable. Raised bed gardening was my answer. When I tell you ... read more
Keep Deer From Eating your Efforts!
I don’t know about you, but I love seeing the deer creep out of the woods and into my yard that first chilly morning in the fall. Usually I’ll see them in groups of 3 or 4; never just a single deer and they walk so carefully and majestically across the lawn. What I don’t love is the damage they cause to the plants and shrubs I have planted and ... 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
Tick Tubes; prevent ticks in your yard this summer
“Mom, what is this bug on me?” Words that can paralyze a parent in fear. It’s bad enough when they descend upon your pets each year, but when ticks target your family, anxiety can reach new heights. Aside from the well known Lyme disease, researchers from Tufts & Yale have discovered a new bacterial illness transmitted by ticks. Reported on by the New England journal of medicine, this adds to the list ... read more
Is Your Lawn Looking a Little Bit Brown? Thatch May Be the Problem
I like having a green lawn. I do. It makes me happy to walk barefoot outside and feel the soft blades of grass between my toes. You know what I don’t like? What my lawn looks like right now, in the middle of April, when it should be coming back to life. Hay. Harsh, horrible, hard hay with little blades of green peeking through here and there. Makes me sad ... read more
Does your yard resemble a swamp? EZDrain has your solution!
For the last several spring seasons, I’ve joked on Facebook about needing Noah and his Ark to come save me from my backyard. I clearly remember Mother’s Day of 2006, being out with my mother and sister and getting the phone call from my husband (in a very apologetic voice) that we had 6 inches of water throughout our basement and could I possibly return home. Our sump pump had ... read more