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Your fall landscape: readers come up with timely tips

A good idea bears repeating. That’s certainly true when it comes to ideas that can save you time and effort around your landscape. A reader recently contacted me via e-mail and asked me about a tip from a reader that appeared in a previous column. I’m happy to repeat it, below, along with a few other timely fall tips that you might have missed in years past. Too wet to mow? A reader named Gerry wrote to me with this handy idea. If you need to give the lawn one last mow, but the grass is wet from a recent rainfall, don't give up too soon! Get a length of rope or garden hose and stretch it...

Get Your Yard Ready for Fall - Ten Must Do Gardening Tips

The days may be getting shorter and chillier, but there’s still plenty to do in and around your landscape! In fact, investing a little sweat-equity now can make next spring easier and more enjoyable, in many cases. Here's a few quick reminders about things you should to do before calling it quits on your outdoor areas for the winter. Lawn Don’t put the mower away just yet. Take a look at your lawn and if it’s looking just a little rough, give it one last trim. Does it need a pick me up? Maybe it's time to aerate, especially if you plan to overseed with a winter rye. Leaves Get out the leaf-...

Pruning shrubs will keep them healthy and safe

One of the major causes of anxiety among amateur landscapers is the subject of pruning shrubs. After all, you’ve invested a fair amount of time and money in them, and now you’re expected to cut chunks out of them?! Eeeek! If it puts you mind at rest, think of pruning more along the lines of giving your shrubs a haircut, rather than performing major surgery. If nothing else, it sounds a lot less drastic. I am always happy to provide personal answers to your specific questions about pruning (or any other landscape issue). Meanwhile, here are some brief answers to common pruning questions. Why...

"Easy care" plants for the horticulturally challenged!

"I have a brown thumb," a reader of this column recently moaned. She meant that she had the opposite of a "green thumb," a description we often apply to people who seem to have a knack of growing just about anything successfully. Our "brown thumb" reader went on to say that she seemed to have no luck at all when it comes to keeping plants alive and thriving. This luckless lady was one of several who have asked me for some tips on foolproof trees, shrubs and plants that even THEY are unlikely to kill! Today, I'll tell you about some of my favorites that are...

"Roses are red..." and so are these trees!

When St. Valentine's Day is on the calendar, it seems that everything you see is colored red! Every billboard, every store display... even neck ties and sweaters. And of course, it's traditional to buy our loved ones a single red rose, or even an entire bouquet. Nothing wrong with that. It's very romantic. However, within a few days, even the freshest roses will wither and die, and that might not be the message you intended to convey! So here's my idea for a gift that has a little more permanence. Sure, give your sweetie some roses (and it wouldn't hurt to include chocolates, dinner...

Thinking green adds beauty, saves money

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, what color immediately springs to mind? The answer of course is green! For many of us, that date is also when we’re beginning to see “green” reclaiming our landscape that has languished in shades of gray and brown throughout the winter. For those of us who love the outdoors – whether we’re gardeners, landscapers, hikers or cross-country bikers – the sight of that new green is a welcome one and a harbinger of sunnier days ahead. St. Paddy’s Day is the ideal time to “think green.” There are so many ways that “green” can enhance our lives and improve our...

A planting primer for trees and shrubs

Perhaps you visit a garden center or look at an online catalog and see various intriguing plants but hesitate to make the buying decision because you’re not sure about the correct planting procedure. Today, we’ll look at three ways you can buy plants (from the little guys up to the most majestic of trees) and have a quick primer on how to plant each type. Potted plants Usually, it’s the smaller plants that you can buy in pots, but you’ll sometimes find larger shrubs sold that way, and the planting procedure is the same for all of them. First of all, dig a hole approximately twice the width...

Add pathways to your landscape and save your lawn!

Recently, a reader asked me what to do about some well worn patches across her lawn. It seems that her family continues to "beat a path" across a particular area, despite her gentle requests, more forceful suggestions and downright threats! I started to think of various types of tough, resistant grass or ground cover. And then it struck me. Why fight it? Go with the flow! There is probably a very good reason why her family continue to take this particular route. Maybe it's the most convenient way to reach the garage, the shed that houses the bikes and lawnmower or the basketball net...

An all-natural snake repellent? This one has many benefits!

In a recent "Plant Man" column, a reader asked for suggestions to rid his landscape of snakes without having to kill them. One reader responded with a fascinating (and non-toxic) idea that you'll find in this week's column, below. You can now purchase Snake Repellent that is safe for use around pets and people. But first, let's look at some recent questions from readers. QUESTION: "I have two 3 1/2 month old Bradford Pears. They're part of new construction. About two weeks ago, the leaves started turning yellow and falling off. It's been consistent ever...

Analyzing Your Soil

Testing your soil is the smart way to start and maintain your garden. Only by knowing the nutrient levels in your soil can you determine what you need to add to your garden in order to maximize growth. Your AccuGrow Soil Test Kit results will give you the necessary information to make the correct fertilizer selections throughout the gardening season. Knowledge of nutrient levels in your soil gives you an incredibly useful tool. Think of this information as you would any other necessary gardening tool and use it in achieving your goal of a successful garden. What type of soil your garden...

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