Diagnosing plant decline


Wed. Jun. 20, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Diagnosing plant decline

I think the toughest part of gardening is trying to figure out why a plant isn’t thriving!

Is it an insect, is it a disease, are my plants getting the nutrients they need.  Enough water, too much water? Maybe this particular plant doesn’t like afternoon sun or one day you’re looking down on something that makes you go “eeewww, what’s that?”

Here are some questions that a Master Gardener might ask of you to find  … [Continue reading]

Gypsy Moths


Tue. Jun. 19, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Gypsy Moths

The Gypsy moth is an invasive, leaf-eating insect that feeds on about 300 types of trees and shrubs in North America.

When their populations are high, gypsy moth caterpillars can strip an entire neighborhood or forest of leaves in May and June.

Repeated defoliations may weaken trees and leave them susceptible to other insects and diseases. Adult gypsy moths do not feed, but the adult females lay thousands of eggs which are easily transported to new  … [Continue reading]

Perennial planting tips


Fri. Jun. 15, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show:  Perennial planting tips

Yes, there is a pun in the title…

Sometimes we forget that not everyone knows how to do things we’ve done for years.  In that spirit, today is about perennial planting tips.

When planting containers:

  • Right Plant, Right Place (I know we talked about this but always a good thing to reinforce)
  • In container planting, mix perlite with your potting soil to lighten it and allow better drainage
  • plant your purchase at the level it
 … [Continue reading]

Transporting your plant purchases


Thu. Jun. 14, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Transporting your plant purchases

There’s nothing like wind to whip the moisture out of plants leaves!  Motorcyclists and dogs may love it the wind in their hair/fur, but plants… not quite so much!

While a plant loves a new home out of a pot, it takes them time to adjust (just like most humans!).  So they’re already a bit weakened, add the loss of moisture and being beat up by wind, and they’re a little traumatized.  Here are  … [Continue reading]

Plant sale mania


Wed. Jun. 13, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Plant sale mania

It’s plant sale time at many area garden centers.  Oh, those glorious buys you can get!  Just remember, they’re only a deal if they grow.  Make sure you’re getting healthy stock.  If possible, loosen the plant and hold it by the stem very close to the soil line, pull it out of the pot and look at the roots.  Check that they’re not yellow or mushy.  The last thing you want is root rot! … [Continue reading]

Controlling late blight on tomatoes


Tue. Jun. 12, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Controlling late blight on tomatoes

Last year many folks lost much of their homegrown tomatoes due to a nasty disease called Late Blight.  Will last year’s disease affect this year? Not likely, the pathogen doesn’t survive our winter. It’s generally brought in from elsewhere.  It can only survive on potato culls or tomato fruit that are sheltered in soil or a warm compost pile.

Late blight is caused by a water mold and needs high levels of  … [Continue reading]

June vegetable garden tips


Mon. Jun. 11, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 minute Garden Bite radio show:  June vegetable garden tips

June is an exciting month for vegetable gardeners!  We’ve got our warm season plants in the ground and we’ve already been munching on salad greens!  

You still have a week to get those tomatoes, peppers and herbs in the ground. And start successive plantings of beets, peas and shorter season crops.  

Also fans of broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts can plant them in June for a Fall harvest.  Below is a picture of  … [Continue reading]

Soil and compost selection


Fri. Jun. 8, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Soil and compost selection

So you’re standing in the garden center thinking, hmmm, what compost or soil should I buy.  Finished compost is a deep, dark brown, almost black, no clumps or chunks. It will feel slightly damp and should have a sweet, fresh, earthy smell, even if it smells a little barnyardy, don’t worry.

If it smells like rotten eggs, it was not finished composting when put in the bag.  WALK AWAY…..

If you see red worms  … [Continue reading]

Annuals for punctuation


Thu. Jun. 7, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Annuals for punctuation

Punctuate your landscape by stuffing some annuals in with your perennials!  Annuals make great transitions for filling in those “holes” in our perennial gardens.

As the tulips and daffodils fade, don’t pull them out, just put some pretty annuals around them!  Either right in the ground or in pots.

The ‘Wave’ petunias are some of my favorites for sun.  They fill in very nicely, offer a wide variety of colors and generally don’t get as  … [Continue reading]

Wild Parsnip


Wed. Jun. 6, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Wild parsnip

This is the month to deal with this nasty “bite back” invasive.

Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa).  This invasive plant’s poisonous sap, when combined with sunlight, creates a chemical reaction called phytophotodermatitis and is so corrosive that it can cause second degree burns.  And sweat makes it absorb quicker!

The Dept. of Natural Resources recommends wearing full protection including gloves, long sleeves and long pants to prevent irritation.   This is a great news story by my friend,  … [Continue reading]