Q: My neighbor has a plum tree near our yard. This year, I have discovered about a dozen plum tree sprouts in my flower beds and lawn. Is there a way to control them, short of removing his tree? Digging them out is leaving holes in the grass and beds. A: First, you need to…
How to Plant a Window Box
Window boxes give gardeners an affordable outlet to do what they love most: experiment. Known as one of the first living walls, window boxes have been a longtime favorite of gardeners. They continue to be a popular landscape element today, and often stand in for front yards at homes that open to the sidewalk. Although…
Don’t Use Gravel in Flowerpots
Q: I bought a half-barrel to use as a planter, but it doesn’t have drainage holes. Do I need holes in the pot, or can I just add some gravel to the bottom for drainage? A: If you think you might use the pot for some other purpose in the future that will need to…
When to Treat Your Lawn for Grubs—and Why You Might Not Need To
Q: I was wondering about grubs because my neighbor said his yard had lots of grubs last fall. When should we start to treat them? A: How bad were the grubs in his lawn last year? Most people are caught up in the craze of killing every grub, when, in fact, most grubs do very…
Lettuce, Before and After Solstice
The summer solstice is in the rearview mirror. Even though the hottest days are before us, the longest days have passed. If you haven’t planted your tomatoes or melons yet, you might not bother. The plants will grow like steroid abusers, but there isn’t time for the fruit to ripen. Or maybe you’ll get one…
Xeriscaping—a more sustainable gardening solution
To have and maintain a lush green yard and garden there are many things to consider, fertilizer, herbicides, pests, and most importantly, water. Watering your plants and yard can be the single most expensive part of having a yard or garden. But in some places watering can be the hardest one to maintain. In many areas…
Watering methods for your indoor or outdoor gardens
While being an active gardener is fun, life can get in the way of active gardening life. Understandably, you can get busy, and sometimes something as simple as watering your garden can be forgotten. Even if you have drought-tolerant plants or a garden that needs little tending too, watering is still vital to plant…
When and How to Thin Fruit Trees
Q: We moved into this house two years ago. We were told there was a 3-year-old apple tree in the backyard. Last year, there was no fruit, but this year, the tree has thousands of small apples. First, is this normal? One year of no fruit and the next with too much? Second, will the…
Weathering Life’s Storms by Rooting Children in a Garden
It was a comfortable August day years ago when my mom herded my sister and me out the back door and into the garden. Working my way through knee-high weeds wasn’t the ideal summer activity for a grade-schooler like myself, but the three of us kept at it, finally stopping to lie in the grass…
DIY Gardening Tips, Tricks, and Recipes
Is there anything more gratifying than a beautiful garden when you just happen to be the gardener? But one trip to the garden center to pick up soil amendment, weed cloth, and weedkiller can pretty much zap all of that joy with its hefty price tag. That’s why I love today’s tips and tricks—including, back…
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