The fall season is an important transition period of turfgrass growth and development, and the management of your warm- and cool-season grasses at this time of year means a great deal in terms of anticipated success in your lawn the following spring. … [Read more...]
Fall garden clean up with pollinators and other wildlife in mind
As the days get shorter and cooler, the gardening season starts to wind down, and many of us will begin cleaning up our landscapes for the winter. While cutting back dead plants and raking leaves can make for a clean-looking yard, it may not be the … [Read more...]
POWDERY MILDEW
Powdery mildew is the name given to a group of diseases caused by several closely related fungi. Their common symptom is a grayish-white, powdery mat visible on the surface of leaves, stems, and flower petals. There are many hosts, and although this … [Read more...]
Scat secrets: Edmonton study explores role of predator poop in spreading plant seeds
Some of the world's most ferocious predators — natural-born killers such as cougars and bears — are sort of gardeners in disguise, according to a new study from the University of Alberta. Continued: Social … [Read more...]
STATE CHAMPION TREES
Champion trees are titled the largest of their kind. You can see over 25 different Virginia Champion Trees throughout the arboretum, designated by a blue award ribbon. Read more: … [Read more...]
Year of the Gladiolus
Gladiolus are as American as apple pie. Generations of gardeners, from Maine to California, have tucked these summer-blooming bulbs into their gardens in spring and been delighted by the gorgeous flower spikes that appear just a few months … [Read more...]
Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or Iris domestica
Blackberry lily, also referred to as leopard lily and several other common names, is a short-lived perennial native to eastern Russia, China and Japan. The dried rhizome has long been used medicinally in Eastern Asia for a variety of ailments. Read … [Read more...]
Heat and Drought Tolerant Plants
Sandy Feather, extension educator in Allegheny county, has prepared this list of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials that don't just survive but will thrive in our long, hot summers. Read more: … [Read more...]
Powdery mildew in the flower garden
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects many different plants in the flower garden. Continued: … [Read more...]
What is a harmful algal bloom?
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae — simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater — grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds. The human illnesses … [Read more...]