Gardening

close-up of basket of dirty garden tools

Keep your tools in tip-top shape

October 18, 2023

As we pack our gardens up for the year, caring for your tools now will keep them in great shape for years to come. Before you pack your tools away for the winter, you’ll want to give them a good cleaning first. Use a wire brush to remove soil and debris. Rust can be removed with sandpaper...

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two hands working with tweezers inside a round terrarium

DIY bottle terrariums make great projects, gifts

October 9, 2023

Over the Garden Fence

Fall is now in full swing with temperatures reaching down to the 30s at night and Halloween just around the corner. As we prepare our landscapes and gardens for a long winter’s nap, don’t let those seasonal blues get an early start. Why not start a plant project with your family or to give to a...

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Prolong the shelf-life of garden-fresh produce with good harvest habits

August 21, 2023

Over the Garden Fence

The fruits of our summer labors have been ripening with more fruits and vegetables ready for harvest. Overplanting is a common problem and it is a struggle to get the longest life out of the harvest. Most of us end up with more produce than we can use. Neighbors, friends, coworkers, food pantries...

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Reap the benefits of intergenerational gardening

July 31, 2023

Over the Garden Fence

Gardening, like many life skills we learn as we grow up, is generally cultivated from our families, whether with our parents, grandparents, guardians, neighbors, or community group. Gardening is a life skill because it allows you to grow food for yourself and your family and incorporates many...

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Planting and protecting strawberries

June 30, 2023

Over the Garden Fence

Summer is the prime time to enjoy the sweet treat of strawberries (Fragaria species). While we’re approaching the Fourth of July, believe it or not, there is still time now to plant them for future enjoyment. Plan your patch June-bearing strawberries provide one large crop of bigger berries and...

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black 20-inch container with berry plant

Save money and space with container-grown fruits

June 20, 2022

Over the Garden Fence

Small space gardening doesn’t mean sacrificing flavors. With rising prices people are looking to reduce their grocery bills while getting fresh produce. Fresh fruit can be container-grown for your family in a limited space, such as a balcony, patio, or small backyard. The key is to look for dwarf...

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Early spring tasks before the growing season begins

March 14, 2022

It's that time of year. Ready, set… and wait. The winter snows are all gone and recent snows are not going to last long as we have more and more days above freezing temperatures. There is a general feeling that we should be outside doing “something” in the yard. While we continue to...

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Treat the itch to start gardening too early

February 14, 2022

Are you one of those gardeners who always gets the “itch” to start gardening too early each year? Don’t worry. There are some preventative steps to take to delay the early onset of Gardenitis: Start by taking deep breaths and think back on all the good things that happened last year in your...

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Want continuous blooms in your yard?

January 31, 2022

How do you get a flower garden to be in bloom all summer or even longer? The simple answer is – by planning for it. Know your space Even if you do not have that long, deep bed seen in the gardening books or on Pinterest, you can accomplish your flowering goals. When beds are big and deep, you...

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Do a little 2022 garden planning

January 3, 2022

Now that you have cleared off the coffee table and the kitchen counter from the holiday catalogs, the next pile will be gardening solicitations and more catalogs. Historically, this time of year was when gardeners ordered to get the hard-to-find seeds, perennial plants, and certain...

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