Steve’s ten turf tips for a healthy summer lawn
Of all the plants in our landscape, it seems the one area that needs the most attention is the lawn. Trees and shrubs seem content to live pretty much without our constant attention.
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Pear trees need a pair for pollination
Sustainable landscaping saves time, energy and money
Weeds? The remedy could be in your kitchen
Books and products that add to garden fun
These Hellebore “ladies” arrive early, stay late
Defensive planting deters moles
Plant your way to a private backyard haven
Invite these social climbers into your garden
Holy Mole-y! Reader needs help with burrowing critters
“Alien” slime mold invades mulch!
Planning to dig? Beware of buried utilities!
Divert water on slope to prevent erosion
Colorful plants bring both excitement and tranquility to garden
Shady gardens can be colorful and exciting
Deer resistant plants can keep critters at bay
Even without a partridge, a pear tree can add a special touch of beauty to almost any landscape. But, depending on your needs – ornamental or fruiting - you should do a little research before you plant.
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Is your garden a sustainable landscape? Ideally, it should be. By “sustainable” I mean that it is in balance with the local climate and requires minimal resource inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides and water.
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Drought might be a landscape’s biggest enemy, but sometimes too much rain can bring problems of its own, as this reader found.
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I’ve always thought that cooking enthusiasts and garden lovers have a lot in common. For example, cooks tend to have a shelf full of cookbooks and always seem to have room for “just one more.”
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The height of summer might be an odd time to be thinking of winter but that is just what I was doing the other day. Cheryl and I were looking at some of our Hellebores and I was reminded that these plants are among the very first to bloom each year.
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In a recent column there was a question from a reader who had a problem with moles. I asked for suggestions from other readers and I received a lot of response. If moles are giving you headaches, you might find these ideas helpful.
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During spring and summer we all tend to spend more time enjoying the outdoors part of our home. A lazy lunch on the patio on Sunday, perhaps, or relaxing on the deck with a cool drink as the sun goes down. Maybe an impromptu picnic in the backyard.
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If you have an ugly fence or a bare expanse of wall, a lush, green vine might be the answer you’re looking for.
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Garden pests come in all shapes and sizes. Some have four legs, some have six or even eight legs. Some, with no legs at all, slither on their bellies, while others fly or creepy-crawl.
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A couple of mornings ago, I noticed a strange yellow clump of something had appeared, apparently overnight, in one of our flower beds. It was a bright, almost neon, yellow and very moist and slimy. It looked almost like some kind of alien being!
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If you are planning to go outside as soon as you finish reading this column and start digging a hole in your landscape for that new tree you bought… hold that shovel!
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QUESTION: “I have a 5 foot slope that is about 45 to 60 percent in the shade. I have the hardest time getting anything to “take” there and erosion is a problem. I have tried pachysandra and vinca..."
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This time of year has a special place in my heart. Every season has its own characteristics and I wouldn’t want to change any of them, even the so-called bleak midwinter.
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I am new to gardening and seem to have a tough time getting plants to grow. Most of the area is full shade to partial sun and it does not have the best of drainage either. I do have a big patio that I pot flowers on as well.
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However much you like wildlife, it can be disheartening to see deer and other critters munching away on plants to which you have devoted so much of your time and money.
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