Q: We planted a new vegetable garden with a lot of different vegetable seeds. We killed the existing lawn grass by scraping the plants off, and we did some digging to loosen the soil. We covered the garden with 2 to 4 inches of bark mulch from the city to keep out the weeds. The…
How to Grow and Harvest Strawberries
Q: We bought some strawberry plants at the big-box store and planted them. They seem to be growing just fine. I did some reading about the strawberry variety we bought, and some of the sources said to cut off all of the flowers this year. The plants are supposed to grow more strawberries next year….
Clearing Confusion on GMOs and GEOs
Q: As a Master Gardener, I’m disheartened your article on pest control is promoting GMO plants as a means of pest control for home gardens. A: As a former instructor of Master Gardeners, I am disheartened that you are confused about genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Sometimes, people argue about a controversial topic without knowing…
6 Tips to Save Money in the Yard and Garden
Budget landscaping and yard care doesn’t mean cutting corners; it means making the most of your tools and existing plants. Follow these six easy-to-implement tips to save money on your great outdoors. Remember: Seeds are Cheaper Than Plants Many vegetables are easy to grow from seed, and a $2 seed packet is a lot cheaper…
Saving and Sharing Seeds
“There is no joy in possession without sharing.” — Erasmus Williamsburg, Va., artist Ashley Seutter (nom de plume, Sally St. Rose) has been gardening for the last several years on her small plot of land as well as organizing a neighborhood community garden. She dries seeds each fall and saves them for spring planting. But…
Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Q: Can you help me remember the difference between annuals and perennials? For some reason, I have it in my mind that a perennial is a plant that I have to keep planting and an annual is a one that replaces itself annually. I know that is wrong, but how do I remember it correctly?…
Do Trees Need to Be Painted?
Q: I am planting some 6- to 10-foot-tall fruit trees and a couple of small shade trees. Is there really a benefit to painting the tree trunks or wrapping them in that spiral wrap stuff? A: How many trees do you see in nature that are painted or wrapped? Tree trunks don’t normally need to…
Growing Gardeners: It’s Moving Day!
When it comes to transplanting your seedlings to the garden or an outdoor container from indoor pots, there isn’t a definitive answer on the best timing. It’s not how tall the plant is that determines its readiness for transplanting. The general rule of thumb is that your seedling should have four or more complete leaves,…
How to Make Kokedama, Japanese Moss Balls
“Koke” is Japanese for “moss.” And “dama” is possibly the translation for “ball,” or it could be “tama” and maybe mean “marble.” Even though there may be something lost in translation, “kokedama” is now considered to mean “moss ball.” In Japan, it has been a popular gardening style, similar to bonsai, and it is becoming…
Growing Gardeners: Get to Know Your Soil
If you have been following along in our Growing Gardeners series, your seedlings should be healthy, with strong stems and multiple leaves. But before we can transplant them outside, we have to prepare their new home. You know how important it is to have strong, healthy seedlings reaching for the sun. Too often, though, gardeners…
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