Proper landscaping can significantly reduce the energy needed to maintain a comfortable home or office. Fall is not officially here until Tuesday, September 22. However, the FALL PLANTING SEASON begins now with the start of September. August gave us some much-needed rainfall. Toward the end of August, we had some cooler days. Yes, we will … Read more
Don’t be discouraged as August’s heat and dryness take their toll on your flower beds. This happens to most of us. At least this August has given us some much-needed rainfall. I know that on August 16th I got nearly 5 inches of rain. The last week of August we cooled down. This scenario couldn’t … Read more
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ORNAMENTAL GRASSES August is a great month to admire the beauty of ornamental grasses. All the different varieties are in plum right now. Ornamental grasses are a common landscape staple, often gracing neighborhood landscapes, anchoring large garden beds, and commonly used in shopping center landscape borders. There are so many … Read more
ADDING LIVING DÉCOR TO A DORM ROOM It’s early in August, but many parents are preparing to pack their kids for college. Many kids are leaving home for the first time and will spend their first year of college living in a dorm room. We all know how small and cramped a dorm room can … Read more
IT’S NOW AUGUST: THE LAST FULL SUMMER MONTH Yes, August can be tough for gardening, mainly because of the heat, high humidity, and dryness that make being outside and working in the garden a little unbearable. But don’t fret, as August is also the GATEWAY TO FALL, and the all-important FALL IS FOR PLANTING season comes … Read more
NOW IS THE TIME WHAT IS A SOIL TEST? Simply put, a soil test is a soil management tool used to assess your soil’s fertility. In a soil test, elements such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and others are chemically extracted from the soil and then measured for their plant availability. The right balance of … Read more
WHO’S READY TO KILL SOME BUGS? Recently, the Richmond area has recorded its first sighting of the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly. The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect native to China and Vietnam that experts say threatens natural ecosystems and agriculture. SLF often congregate in huge numbers on the trucks of trees in the evening. … Read more
CELEBRATING BLUEBERRIES IN JULY You may not know that July is NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH. The National American Blueberry Council founded National Blueberry Month and is officially recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture since 2003. Blueberries have been a part of Native American diets for thousands of years for both food consumption and for … Read more
JULY CAN BE A CHALLENGING MONTH FOR GARDENERS One main reason for July being a challenging month is the weather. July can be one of the hottest and driest months of the year. Realizing this possibility, be prepared to give your plants and gardens a little extra attention and TLC. Before I get into the … Read more
LET’S GO CONE CRAZY!!! In honor of June being NATIONAL PERENNIAL GARDEN MONTH, I decided to highlight one of my favorite perennials – ECHINACEA. If you are looking to add some flowering perennials to your sunny landscape this summer, be sure to consider adding coneflower to your list of plants. Coneflowers get their common name … Read more
