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...]
Managing the Japanese Beetle:
What Virginians Need to Know About the 2022 Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Expansion
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine will be expanded in July 2022 to include the following cities and counties: Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, … [Read more...]
Viburnum–A Shrub for Many Settings
Viburnums are evergreen or deciduous, depending on the species and the location. Most prefer sun, but some do well in partial shade. Their hardiness is well suited to the cold winters of USDA hardiness zone 7. They are adaptable to a range of soil … [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...]
Pesticides, Pollinators, and Pestilence: Protecting Public Health and Pollinators
Tick and mosquito control provides important public health protection, but can also affect pollinator populations. The effects are often dependent on specific local conditions, such as how close the pesticide application is to places pollinators … [Read more...]
Chiggers
Chiggers are the immature stage of certain mites belonging to the family Trombiculidae. Continued: … [Read more...]
Dealing With Heat Stress: How To Protect Vegetables In Hot Weather
In many parts of the country, gardeners have considerable anxiety when summer temperatures rise, especially when they rise in combination with low rainfall amounts. While some vegetables suffer more than others, all feel some degree of stress with … [Read more...]
Terrariums
A terrarium is a tightly closed, clear glass or plastic container filled with small plants. It also has come to mean an open, transparent container for growing and displaying plants. Terrariums are most useful for small plants that do not adapt well … [Read more...]
Delightful daylilies: Sharpen your shovels then divide and conquer
Everyone’s garden favorite, the daylily, will perform better when divided every three to five years. Read more: … [Read more...]