Tomatoes are finally in their happy place in terms of sunshine and warmth, and in response are really putting on a growth spurt. Champion II and Genuwine (Brandywine x Costoluto Genovese) are both indeterminate types being grown this year, both trained on a string and maintained to a single stem....
Straw bale gardening has been an interesting project. After reading several books on the topic, I decided I was ready to try my hand at growing "something" in straw bales. My design was simple; four straw bales side by side, set on a weed mat of layered newspapers in the back driveway. Placement is...
Bird feeders, though wonderful for feeding and bringing feathered friends in close, require regular maintenance to maintain the health of visiting birds and visual appeal of the garden. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, feeders should be hand cleaned about once every two weeks with soap...
Dogs and turf don't always mix, especially in small confined areas. For homeowners, pets (mostly dogs) are the most frequent cause of uneven patches of succulent dark green growth and/or brown areas. And although the exact mechanism of how urine injures turf is not completely understood, its damage...
Had it been the middle of summer, the weather we all just experienced the last weekend of January would have been downright cold and worthy of a sweater. But temperatures in the mid to upper 60's in the middle of winter just begs for short sleeves and working in the yard…at least for this spring...
While taking down outdoor holiday decorations recently, I noticed daffodils popping up throughout the Jungle. My first thought was "that's not good" before moving on to selfish aggravation that my daffodil display would most likely be less than spectacular this spring due to probable freeze injury...
Growing giant vegetables usually takes some extra effort, but sometimes Mother Nature provides just the right conditions for some crops to exceed normal growth expectations. Take turnips for example. Normally, turnip are harvested as they reach the size of a tennis ball or slightly larger up until...
I'm wondering if there has ever been a study on the impact gardens like the Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) have on plant sales? This thought recently occurred following UPS delivering my 'Spotty Dotty' mayapple from Forestfarm at Pacifica (http://www....
There may be a few holdouts, but for the most part the bearded iris season is over. But don't' get in too much of a hurry to dig and divide just yet. Iris needs four to six weeks following flowering for new rhizomes to fully develop before digging and dividing. In the event you are looking to buy...
Garden "thug" (aggressive spreaders) control has been a big spring focus in the Jungle—meaning I have been spending a lot of time ripping out extra plants. Once you get a thug, you never want another one. From experience, it is important to follow a few steps to avoid thugism in your garden....
