I love growing root crops. The foliage only provides hints at what is happening in the soil as you tend to the plants throughout the season, leaving the harvest a surprise. I have laughed out loud in the garden upon unearthing a sweet potato the size of my face. Of course, this can lead to …
Serena Manickam
I recently planted a bed of fall broccoli, collards, and kale, carefully covering the young transplants with row cover to keep out cabbage worms. But when I removed the cover to water the plants a day or two later, a few leaves and even an entire kale plant had been cut clean through the stems. …
Sometimes a striking weed will capture our interest, and instead of yanking it out by the roots, we decide to let it grow for the sake of beauty or to see what it becomes. I do this with wild violets, valuing their delicate purple blossoms in spring as well as their medicinal and culinary uses. …
Occasionally when working in my garden I will feel a tickle or the sting of an ant bite on my leg and look down to realize I’m standing on an ant nest swarming with tiny black specks. I’ve also noticed larger black ants congregating on the undersides of my sunflower leaves. But are they harmful? …
Although commonly known for being indoor pests, mice can be a nuisance in the garden, too! But they can climb just about anything, swim, jump a foot in the air, and squeeze through any opening larger than a quarter of an inch – so how do you keep them out of your vegetable patch? We’ll …
Rodents can cause havoc in the garden, leaving unsightly tunnels and hills, munching on crops, and uprooting plants. But with so many different types of rodents, including moles, voles, chipmunks, white-footed mice, and house mice, it’s essential to correctly identify the pest to control it effectively. This article will help you learn the difference between …
Blister beetles hurt not only your plants but also your skin, and they can even harm livestock! Learn how to get rid of blister beetles in the garden to protect your crops, animals, and self. How to Get Rid of Blister Beetles in the Garden How to identify blister beetles Blister beetles have long, narrow …
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. …
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 …
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 …