Few pests annoy me more than voles. They suck down seedlings overnight, leaving no evidence that a plant had stood there unless you count the two-inch hole in the soil. Or they just devour the roots, so that I pull up a carrot top to find nothing attached or walk through the garden to see …
You’ve likely seen those evil ant-looking insects with wicked pincers at the tip of their abdomen in your house and heard creepy stories as a child of them crawling in people’s ears. Yet despite their terrible reputation and intimidating appearance, earwigs rarely cause problems either in the home or in the garden. If you do …
It’s bad enough when they show up in your house, but the real damage occurs when stink bugs begin munching away at the plants in your garden. If you think you have a stink bug infestation, read on to learn how to confirm their presence and how to get rid of stink bugs in the …
I’ve always disliked mowing, knowing that my mower uses gasoline and disrupts the wildlife in my backyard. But recently, I read a statistic that truly made me want to turn in that noisy machine for good: using a gas-powered mower for one hour produces the same amount of pollution as driving a car 300 miles. …
Right in the middle of National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, on June 16, we celebrate a day specifically dedicated to leafy greens and all their munchable cousins: National Fresh Veggies Day. June is the perfect time to celebrate fresh vegetables, as our gardens begin to transition from spring to summer produce, and farmers’ markets …
A symbol of love and a classic garden flower, the red rose is celebrated on June 12 each year. This is a fitting date for observing Red Rose Day, for not only are many roses in full bloom right now, but the rose is also the birth flower of June. People also value this flower …
You tuck cucumber vines into the soil while dreaming of the fresh, crunchy fruits and tart pickles to come. And then one day you walk into the garden to find holey, sickly plants in place of the lush foliage you expect. Upon closer inspection, you might notice the tiny insects infesting your beloved plants: cucumber …
Gardening is so much more than a hobby. It can provide us with food, beautify our outdoor and indoor spaces, improve our mental health, and even serve as a form of exercise. On June 6, we specifically celebrate this last benefit by observing National Gardening Exercise Day – and why shouldn’t we? Gardening is way …
Here we are at the end of the alphabet! Many of the zesty flowers that start with Z come from tropical areas, yet nearly all of them can find a home in your garden with the proper care. Let’s dive in and finish off our colorful exploration of alphabetical flowering plants with zeal. Annual Flowers …
Although the history of the day is unknown, apparently someone decided that we all need a reminder to water our flowers, because May 30 is National Water a Flower Day! Celebrate National Water a Flower Day We all know that watering is good for the plants, but did you know that it provides benefits to …