Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a North American tree steeped in Indigenous culture throughout its range within deciduous woodlands of the northeast and southeast United States. Continued: … [Read more...]
Overwintering Tender Plants by Brittnay Haag
Looking to save a little money on plants next spring? Have a plant that is special to you? Finally found the perfect shade of pink annual plant and want to keep it for next year? Now is the time to take action- bring your plants indoors before the … [Read more...]
Plant Bulbs in the Fall for a Spring Celebration
For a beautiful spring display, you should plan to plant bulbs in fall. Find out how to select, plant and care for bulbs in your garden. Read more: … [Read more...]
Chelsea chop
The Chelsea chop (so called because it is usually carried out at the end of May, coinciding with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show) is a pruning method by which you limit the size and control the flowering season of many herbaceous plants. Read more: … [Read more...]
Seed Saving Basics
Have you wondered whether you can replant seeds from your garden? Here is basic information to help you get started with saving seeds. Read More: … [Read more...]
Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia
A potentially very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and a variety of other crops, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, was detected in Frederick County, Virginia, on Jan. 10, 2018. It is important to look for … [Read more...]
Gardening Guided by Phenology
For many centuries, farmers took their signs for planting times from nature. Today, we call this study of cyclic biological occurrences phenology. Here are some examples of phenology used by farmers and horticulturists. Read More: … [Read more...]
Managing the Japanese Beetle:
A Homeowner’s Handbook
Both as adults and as grubs (the larval stage), Japanese beetles are destructive plant pests. Adults feed on the foliage and fruits of several hundredspecies of fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and field and vegetable crops. Read More: … [Read more...]
Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Date
Selecting appropriate planting dates is a critical component of successful vegetable gardening. Vegetables vary widely in their preferred growing conditions and tolerance to temperature extremes, both cold and hot. Understanding the local frost-free … [Read more...]
What to do about woodchucks
The woodchuck (a.k.a. groundhog) is often caught between being a celebrity and a villain. One day we rely on their shadow to forecast the seasons; the next we grumble as they make a meal of our carefully planted garden vegetables. Continued: … [Read more...]