Peat moss has long been our go-to, store-bought, plant-growing medium, useful for everything from starting seeds to growing potted plants to “lightening” our lousy clay soil. But its widespread use is under fire lately as some argue that gardeners should move away from peat moss altogether for environmental and climate-change reasons. The […]
Some of my favorite times on this planet are when it’s just me and my plants in the yard on a warm, sunny day. Words such as “peaceful,” “fulfilling,” “refreshing,” “rewarding,” and “joy” come to mind to describe these days, which also offer the physical benefit of exercise in the fresh air. […]
Which plants will work best in your yard? One strategy is considering plants that have won awards from various plant-trial and plant-selection programs. Each year, organizations of growers, horticulturists, researchers, and other plant experts bestow awards on top plant performers – some new, some old but just under-used. Here’s a look […]
One of the tricky parts about vegetable gardening is knowing exactly when to plant each crop. Some need to go in the garden early so they’re done and ready by the time the weather gets hot. Others will croak if you plant too soon. Still others have two different planting windows, […]
If you’re interested in native plants, a new chapter of a national native-plant group is taking root in 11 counties around south-central Pennsylvania. The group is known as the “Wild Ones,” and it’s a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit that aims to encourage people to plant more native plants in their yards. The local effort […]
Some gardening jobs can be done most any time. But others need to happen at certain times if you don’t want to, say, freeze your tomatoes by planting them too soon or cut off your hydrangea flowers by pruning them at the wrong time. As we approach another new gardening season, it’ll […]
Let’s catch up this week on some of the latest gardening research that might impact how we grow… A Hedge-Trimming Robot? We already have robots that vacuum our floors, mow our lawns, and even weed our gardens, so is a robot that trims our bushes and hedges next? Researchers in Scotland, the […]
Will this be the year when we can finally get back to traveling again without worrying about omicron variants, antigen tests, quarantines, and last-minute cancellations? I’m hoping. And assuming the best, Lowee’s Group Tours, Collette Vacations, and I have put the finishing touches on our 2022 lineup of garden-themed trips. Things have […]
Cabin-fevered gardeners normally would be gearing up by now to visit the world’s biggest and oldest indoor flower show, which usually takes place in early March just two hours down the turnpike from Harrisburg. But in case you’re wondering why you’re not hearing much about it, the Philadelphia Flower Show for the second […]
Five hydrangeas with new twists, a compact new native Virginia sweetspire, and a “baby brother” to the popular ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae are among the best new trees and shrubs hitting the market for the 2022 growing season. Growers, local garden centers, and other plant experts picked the following dozen woody plants for the […]