Pumpkins, whether you carve them or set them on stairs or a porch, are a great fall decoration. Here’s how to make them last their longest. How To Choose That “Just Right” Pumpkin When you pick out a pumpkin, make sure there are no cuts or gouges in it. These may have already exposed the … Read more
EXPLORING OUR NATIVE PLANT SELECTION My native plant highlight for this month is DOELLINGERIA umbellate, commonly known as the Parasol Whitetop Aster. I picked this native because of its late summer/fall blooming time. This beautiful native plant symbolizes fall here in Central Virginia. Parasol Whitetop is an upright grower with narrow oval leaves and clusters … Read more
Last week, we discussed what to do with indoor plants that have been summering outside. There are also some things you can do now for your outdoor plants. We mentioned pruning and replanting last week. This week, it’s about fall mulching! Is Mulch Needed? Why mulch? Mulch can suppress weeds. It helps to retain moisture … Read more
SEPTEMBER IS THE BEGINNING OF THE “FALL IS FOR PLANTING” SEASON FALL IS FOR PLANTING Yes, it is only the beginning of September. Fall is not officially here until September 22nd. However, in the plant industry, the whole month of September is considered the beginning of fall. Knowing that winter is next, you may ask … Read more
In 1882, a man named Peter J. McGuire, a Union Leader in New York proposed the idea of celebrating American workers. That year, the first Labor Day parade was held, sponsored by the Central Labor Union and Knights of Labor in New York. By 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. Happy belated Labor … Read more
IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR Fall will be here soon and the fall planting season is fast approaching. I mentioned a couple times in recent blogs that August is the month to get ready and plan your planting projects for fall. One big QUESTION that many homeowners ask themselves is “can professional … Read more
Things to Keep in Mind for Your Fall Garden If you are planting fall vegetables, you must fertilize the soil again. Your spring and summer vegetables have taken care of what you put down in the spring. Refresh your soil by putting down a couple of inches of compost, if possible, and using a good … Read more
DO YOUR HOMEWORK IN AUGUST Are you a new homeowner? Or do you want to re-do your existing landscape? Does it look old and worn out? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then August is the time to really ask questions about planting and plants and do plant research about what … Read more
Tomatoes. The quintessential summer vegetable. But wait, it’s not a vegetable at all! Botanically, it’s a fruit! And not just a fruit, but a berry! So here are some other interesting facts about this quintessential summer berry: Tomatoes – the 80,000-Year-Old Treat Tomatoes are truly American, originating in South America over 80,000 years ago. The … Read more
GREAT PLANT IDEAS FOR A DORM ROOM OR NEW OFFICE It’s that time of year when some of you have kids moving back into a dorm room at college. You’ll want to add something green to soften or highlight an area. We all know there is not much room inside the living quarters of a … Read more
