With the good comes some bad, and with all gardens, come some pests. The (unhelpful) insect variety, of course, but also animal pests — such as deer, voles, squirrels and rabbits — that have appetites for your flowers, vegetables, shrubs and trees. Many gardeners have discouraged visits from animal pests by applying the Plantskydd solution to their plants. "Plantskydd … [Read more...] about How an organic animal repellent can protect plants
Tips for gardeners
How to care for garden tools
Hard-working — and often abused — garden tools such as pruners (also known as secateurs) need some pampering to be rejuvenated and at the ready for next time around, especially before being put away for the winter. A thorough cleaning and sharpening now will ensure the pruning you do next spring is performed smoothly and easily, without damage to your plants. Think of it as a … [Read more...] about How to care for garden tools
Dos and don’ts of dormant oils
Dormant oils were originally developed centuries ago to combat stubborn scale and mite infestations on fruit trees. At first, these oils were heavy and poorly refined, making them unsafe to use on woody plants after they had broken winter dormancy. Nowadays, horticultural oils are lightweight and highly refined (and can even be used at diluted rates during the summer), so the … [Read more...] about Dos and don’ts of dormant oils
Pest guide: 10 pests to worry about
As I readied my fork to eat a homegrown salad with edible flowers, a few aphids paraded into sight. Less worried about eating them than I was about my gardener-colleagues knowing I had an aphid infestation, I discreetly picked off aphids as I ate. And I made a mental note: aphids like nasturtiums. Because my flower garden is not a display garden and I’m not a commercial market … [Read more...] about Pest guide: 10 pests to worry about
Allergy-free gardening
If you wheeze and sneeze when you set foot in the garden, just think about sex — plant sex, that is. “What people don’t realize is that many plants are either male or female,” says Tom Ogren, pollen expert and author of Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping (Ten Speed Press, 2000). “Male plants produce huge amounts of pollen, the biggest … [Read more...] about Allergy-free gardening
