Light Requirements
Most bulbs should be planted in a full or part-sun location. Early blooming bulbs are often successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs out. After the bulbs…
Most bulbs should be planted in a full or part-sun location. Early blooming bulbs are often successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs out. After the bulbs…
Most modern tulip varieties bloom well for only 3 or 4 years. However, there are some tulip types (classes) that bloom well over a longer time period.
Darwin hybrid tulips are generally the longest blooming hybrid tulip.…
To insure adequate leaf surface and herbicide absorption, don’t mow the lawn 2 to 3 days before treatment. After treatment, allow 3 to 4 days to pass before mowing. This allows sufficient time for the broadleaf weeds to absorb the…
It is easiest to save seed from varieties of vegetables and plants that are open-pollinated. These seedlings typically resemble the parent plants as long as they are not allowed to cross pollinate…
Shade trees that possess excellent fall foliage include Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra…
Deciduous shrubs that have colorful foliage in fall include,
Locations in partial shade receive 2 to 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Deciduous trees that can be successfully grown in partial shade include:
Martha Washington or regal geraniums (Pelargonium x domesticum) produce beautiful flowers. Unfortunately, cool (50 to 60°F), night temperatures are required for flower formation. Few flowers form during the summer…
The weather in early fall largely determines the intensity and duration of leaf color in those tree species capable of producing good fall color. Best fall color typically develops when days in early fall are sunny and mild and nights are…
Stressful growing conditions typically are the reason for untimely bloom.
Occasionally, spring-blooming shrubs and trees, like lilac, crabapple, magnolia, or forsythia, will bloom out of season during the fall months. This out-of-…
Unfortunately, there is not one standard answer to this question! When trying to determine the primary cause of the problem, several factors need to be given consideration. Remember that dieback does not always occur in the first year. Some…
The browning of the inner foliage is probably due to seasonal needle drop. It’s normal for evergreens (pine, spruce, fir, juniper, arborvitae, etc.) to shed their oldest (innermost) needles in fall. The innermost needles gradually turn yellow or…
A properly prepared and maintained compost pile will generate little, if any, objectionable odors. Unpleasant odors may arise if the compost pile contains excessive amounts of wet plant materials (such as fruit or grass clippings), is kept…
One of our biggest frustrations with moles is the perennial misinformation that an insecticide application to kill grubs will solve the mole problem. This is the “lie that will not die.” Forty years ago, it might have been true that…
Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves.
Plants such…
Unfortunately, fall planted garden mums usually don’t survive the winter even when given winter protection. Flowering mums purchased in late summer or early fall should be regarded as temporary additions to the landscape. Spring is…
For the indoor gardener, a fluorescent light fixture containing two 40 watt tubes (one cool white and one warm white) provides adequate light for houseplants. Plant lights, developed specifically for growing plants indoors, are another…