Latest Posts

female keeled treehopper protecting nymphs on a leaf

Keeled treehoppers, the bugs with bodyguards

If you take some time to look closely at a plant, chances are you’ll see a variety of different insects. Take sunflowers, for example: many different pollinators can be seen visiting the flowers, from bees and wasps to beetles, butterflies, and flies. Other insects can be found feeding on the plant...
Finish this story
person standing in strawberry garden in flood water

Flooded gardens: Safety, cleanup, and recovery

Rain, during summer months, is usually a welcome assist when caring for a vegetable garden. But when there is too much of a good thing, a flooded garden can be devastating. Beyond the physical damage to plants and structures, floodwater can introduce biological and chemical contaminants, making...
Finish this story
Tomato leaf with small brown spots caused by septoria leaf spot

Common tomato diseases in the garden and how to manage them

Tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown vegetables in home gardens. While tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, there are a few diseases you should keep your eye out for. Three of the most common diseases people encounter are early blight, Septoria leaf spot, and anthracnose. All of these...
Finish this story
white flowers of elderberry cluster in an umbel spent flower head is in the background

The wild and wonderful elderberry

Most of the time, I work hard to achieve a desirable outcome in my landscape but, from time to time, a plant comes along that is easy to establish and care for without being too aggressive, is beautiful, and produces food for wildlife and my family…black elderberry is one of those plants....
Finish this story
a thermometer resting against an apple branch with blossoms

Growing Degree Days: A Tool for Smarter Gardening

This past week, right around mid-June, I received my first question about Japanese beetles. Throughout a growing season, plants, insects, diseases, and many other natural processes emerge, develop, and complete their life cycles. How do we know when to expect Japanese beetles to emerge? Or squash...
Finish this story
wool sower gall on an oak tree

Fuzzy growth on oak trees: Wool sower galls

If you spend enough time looking at and working with plants, you'll inevitably come across galls. Galls are abnormal growths and can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including insects (like aphids, flies, wasps) and mites, and occasionally nematodes, fungi, and bacteria. Galls can be...
Finish this story
Garden slug on rock by green plant leaf

Silent, slimy pests of the shade: Slugs

If you have noticed ragged, irregular holes in your hostas or other broad-leaf garden plants, you may be dealing with garden slugs.   These soft-bodied pests can be found in shady, moist gardens, and although small, they can cause significant damage.Identifying SlugsSlugs are members of the...
Finish this story
A drip tape irrigating lettuce

Drip irrigation in the home garden

As demand for water resources and concern for water conservation increase across the U.S., drip irrigation is becoming a popular method to reduce water bills and safeguard water resources. Implementing drip irrigation in a garden or landscape is also a way to streamline watering your plants. With...
Finish this story
Blog Authors
Keywords
Blog Archives
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015