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Integrated Pest Management what an intimidating term; that was my thought when I first heard it during my Master Gardener class some ten years ago. Since that time I’ve come to discover that IPM is a very basic approach to controlling pests and diseases in the yard and garden.
I’ve been asked that question many times in the 40 plus years that I’ve been gardening. Non gardeners don’t seem to understand what it is that attracts us to play in the soil and grow “things”.
During the Napoleonic War in the late 1700s, Napoleon's army was malnourished, suffering from scurvy and starvation. The countryside had been stripped of food sources. A way had to be found in which to preserve food and get it to the troops.
We all have them, some more than others. Some we rarely see, some that we can expect every year. Some are very poisonous, some are helpful. No matter what type of gardener you are sooner of later they will show up and you will need to deal with them, WEEDS.
How many times have you walked into your garden and found a freshly sprouted seedling laying on its side, that beautiful newly opened rose bloom you went out to cut totally wasted? You’ve had some unwanted visitors and they’re not doing you any favors. I’ll tell you about some common pests and how to control them to keep your lawn and garden in great shape.
I’ve been gardening for a long time and I don’t think there’s been a year where a new disease or insect hasn’t shown up in my lawn or garden. In this first of a series I’ll give you my top 10 plant diseases that you’re most likely to see.
I’ve been a Master Gardener for 11 years; I’ve been a DG member for 7. During that time I’ve read many posts on Dave’s Garden regarding exactly what a Master Gardener is. I believe there are a lot of misconceptions about the Master Gardener program. I'm going to clue you in on who they are and what they do.
Do you know that the roof area of a 1500 square foot house will catch and run off 900 gallons of water during a 1 inch rainfall? The average yearly rainfall in the area where I live is 27 inches per year. If I were able to catch all of that rain it would amount to over 24,000 gallons. We may not be able to catch it all but I will tell you how to catch part of it for use in your yard and garden.
It seems like every time we pick up a newspaper or turn on the news there is some type of story about water shortages. Double digit water bill increases in urban areas or threats of running out of water in the southeast United States. We all need to do our part in conserving water whether we get it from a municipal water source or from our own wells.
Poor soil? Rocky hard pan slow drainage. No organic materials, nothing will grow? Bad back or other disability? A raised bed may be the answer to your problems; I’ll explain how to build them and where they should be placed.
There’s a lot of valuable information on a seed packet. What does it all mean? How can I use it to my advantage to successfully germinate the seeds inside?
“Other holidays repose in the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future” These words were spoken by J. Sterling Morton 136 years ago and still hold true today to reflect the necessity of planting trees. Mr. Morton was responsible for the founding of Arbor Day in Nebraska, other states followed his lead and soon all of the United States was celebrating this holiday.
The old football adage “The best offense is a good defense” so aptly applies in avoiding diseases in your rose garden. Regular observations and spray programs are the only effective way to prevent diseases before they get started and spread to other plants.
Tired of the same old meat and potatoes? Looking for something to spice up that romantic dinner for that special someone? Just looking for something a little different to dine on? Go out to your flower garden, you may have just what you need, right under your nose.
The All-America Rose Selection (AARS) announced their 2008 winners: a Floribunda and Grandiflora won the honors for the upcoming year. Those of you who like pastel roses will be very happy with the choices.
Researchers have found records of rhubarb being used for medicinal purposes as far back as 2700 B.C. in China. I don’t use it as a medicine but I can tell you that there is no better medicine than a big slice of rhubarb pie and a glass of ice cold milk. I will explore the history and cultivation of this ancient plant and share some of my favorite recipes of what many refer to as the “Pie Plant”.
To commemorate their 75th anniversary, All-America Selections has designated 5 of their past winners as CLASSICS. These selections have withstood the test of time. These plants will be grown at all of the AAS display gardens for public viewing; they are indeed the best of the best.
No matter what type of plants that you grow you have to take the good along with the bad. Certain insects are attracted to roses and to prevent significant damage you need to keep a close eye on your plants. I will give you an overview on the most common insects that attack roses and controls to alleviate them.
Every year for the past 75 years, plant experts from across the country have gotten together to chose the best of the best vegetables and flowers. These choices are known as the All-America Selections®. Here's a look at the selections for 2008.
One plant that all serious gardeners must have is the clematis. It’s beautiful by itself or when used as an accent plant in the garden. I’ll discuss the plant, its care and one of the most asked question regarding the clematis: pruning.
In this final installment on hydrangeas I’ll. Explain how to propagate them as well as protect them from the cold winter weather. You’ll also learn how to preserve those beautiful blooms to use in arrangements.
In this installment I’ll go through how to prune hydrangeas. Before we can do that however you need to know what species that you have. Each variety of hydrangea is pruned in a different manner. I’ll discuss the five most common species, and then we’ll go on to the pruning.
The fourth in my series on community gardens will be more of a pictorial than verbal. The reason being no one in this garden speaks English. These folks are all Korean. They have the seeds, plants and most importantly the knowledge they have brought from their native land. I have made many attempts to find someone to translate for me with no success. I stop and visit this garden several time a season we communicate with a wave and a smile. I guess gardening is a universal language.
The word hydrangea come from the Greek “hydra” meaning water and “angeoa” meaning vessel which refers to this plant's thirst for water and the shape of its seed pod. In this series of articles I’ll discuss the plant's characteristics, fertilization, site location, planting, pruning, winter protection in the colder climes. I’ll also cover the different types and how to adjust your soil pH to suit this group of plants.
This particular garden is a real success story for urban farmers. Founded by 3 Dominican Nuns to teach low income inner city families to grow their own food. This location is actually the second spot this garden has been located. The first piece of property was taken over for the expansion of a mega casino in downtown Detroit.
Most folks are putting away their gardening tools in late fall but don’t be so quick to retire inside for the winter. Did you know that winter is the perfect time to prune most deciduous trees?
Nothing can cheer up a drab winter day as looking out of your window and seeing a parade of brightly colored songbirds at your feeder. I’ll be discussing how to attract them to your yard and more importantly keeping them coming back
In the second part of this series I’ll cover how to choose a rose the basic types and how to plant them. As the old rosarian saying goes “If you put a $50 rose in a $2 hole it will probably die; if you put a $2 rose in a $50 hole it will survive” correct planting is critical in successfully growing roses.
In this series of articles I’ll discuss the different types of roses, how to plant, how to care for them. You’ll learn about disease and insect problems. Fertilization, spraying and general upkeep. You’ll become an expert on America's flower in no time at all.
The second garden in my series on community gardens has a lot of historical significance behind it. It’s located on property that was Henry Ford’s home. His mansion Fairlane is ¼ mile east of the garden. The mansion is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Picture this scenario, the first nice spring day arrives. You’re going to get a head start on your yard work. The garden will be tilled and the grass cut before the day is done. You go to the garage and give the mower a pull, nothing! You pull again, nothing; again you give the cord a jerk, not even a sputter. @#$%&&%^ you scream, “Daddy, Mom says you shouldn’t use that kind of language”, says your son or daughter watching intently near by. This scene could have been avoided if you had taken a little time before putting your power equipment away in the fall
Community gardens come in all shapes and sizes. They each serve their own purpose and they each have their own personality. I want to show you a few of my favorites in this series.
I’ve been an advocate of soil testing for years. I recently did a soil test on one of my rose beds. Boy, did I get a surprise when I opened the envelope.
Several years ago I received an email that I can honestly say changed my life. It was from a local 2nd grade teacher who asked if I would be interested in stopping by ever so often and teach her class about growing “things”. I didn’t realize what I was in for.
They come in all shapes and sizes. Atlantic to Pacific, Canada to Mexico they're the hub of activity on Saturday mornings. From the small heartland communities to New York, Chicago and Los Angles, an American tradition the FARMERS MARKET.
