With spring right around the corner and seed catalogs pouring in, many gardeners are anxious to get their hands in the soil, myself included.

This is the “wheel bug.” While it resembles something out of a horror movie, it is actually one of the “good’ insects. The semi-circle crest of this bug resembles half of a cog wheel, hence the name. It is a member of the Assassin bug family and they feed on soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars, moths, aphids, and leafhoppers.

Do not pick them up, they can bite. Just leave them alone and let them feed on some of our nuisance insect pests.

Judging by the weed pressure in my garden, the growing season is in full force!

Roses have a long and vibrant history and have even been recognized as a status symbol.

If you enjoy those sweet tender vegetables of spring, then you get another opportunity to enjoy them during the cooler temperatures of fall. The catch is that you have to plant them now during the month of August.

Why does a fall crop need to be planted in August? Daylight and temperature.

Spring has sprung, the weather is gorgeous, and everyone wants to get outside. However, social distancing measures prevent many of us from being in public spaces. We can’t gather with others, but we still care about our families and our community. What a perfect time to revisit the victory garden and give a whole new meaning to the word VICTORY.

If you love having vases full of fresh flowers around the house, but not the price tag cut flower gardening is for you! A little planning now will have your home full of unique floral arrangements all summer long.

First off, what is a cut flower? A cut flower is simply any flower or flower bud that is cut from the plant and used decoratively in fresh or dried vase displays, wreaths and garlands.

One of the secrets to getting fruit out of your home orchard year after year is annual pruning during the dormant season. This early-spring task can increase fruit quality, reduce the occurrence of diseases and improve tree health in the long-term, but many people are nervous about pruning or too heavy-handed with the clippers.

This spring has provided ample opportunity for DIY projects so here’s one more to add to the list.

Hydroponics continues to be a popular topic in the horticulture industry, but usually it is on a very large greenhouse scale.  

Why is it so popular? Well, it's because your plants can grow 30% to 40% faster. And it is just pretty darn cool.

Did you know that you can build a hydroponic system at home?

This particular system you can build is a passive hydroponic system, meaning that nutrients, which are in a fluid solution, are drawn up and absorbed by the growing medium — a wick or some other device — and passed through contact to the roots.

I have been composting yard and organic material for a while now. However, when I have just a few food scraps, sometimes it can be inconvenient either to carry them outside to the compost pile, or to save to do later.

Deciding to add options to my repertoire, I thought I'd give worm composting, called vermicomposting, a try. Laziness and thinking of impending winter was part of my impetus to try indoor composting, I admit, but also I was just curious about it!