Our native wildflowers are still putting on a show, in addition to provisioning late season pollinators and butterflies searching for fuel to carry them through the winter. Some of those creatures hibernate right here, others are taking wing and … [Read more...]
Build a DIY Cold Frame Using An Old Window
One of the projects that I knew I wanted to include in my book, Raised Bed Revolution, was a cold frame. I had seen some neat DIY cold frame examples through garden visits over the years, great cold frame kits through various retailers and … [Read more...]
Five Root Crops to Plant Now for a Fall Harvest
Root vegetables are sweetest and juiciest when harvested in cool weather. Many root vegetables are considered “cool weather” crops—they grow lush and juicy when daytime temperatures are in the seventies, but barely muddle through hot weather. … [Read more...]
Don Davis: Get your fall gardens going
Summer gardens are winding down and fall gardens are starting up. September is a busy month if you want homegrown food, a tidy yard and lush indoor greenery. MORE SOURCE: … [Read more...]
Living with Black Bears in Virginia
Black bears and human populations commonly coexist in many parts of North America. Black bears occur throughout most of the Commonwealth, and residential areas of Virginia are encroaching into forested lands and habitats commonly used by wildlife as … [Read more...]
EFFECTIVE DEER FENCES Dr. Leonard Perry, Horticulture Professor Emeritus University of Vermont
If you've tried various forms of sight, sound, taste, and touch repellents for deer, yet still have them feeding on your choice garden plants, perhaps it's time to consider a fence. Just because you have a fence doesn't mean it will be effective at … [Read more...]
Herbs: September Tips
• Pot up chives, parsley, and other herbs, and bring them into the house to extend the growing season. • To ensure a good crop of big bulbs next fall, plant garlic cloves this fall. Be sure to cover the garlic plot with a layer of organic … [Read more...]
Purple Eye Leaf Spot on Maples
The client called in with a concern about a leaf spot on maple leaves. The Virginia Tech Plant Diagnostic Lab identified the leaf spot as purple-bordered (or purple eye) leaf spot (Phyllosticta minima). This is a very common disease of maples … [Read more...]
How to deal with fall webworms
The signs of fall are all around us: shorter days, cooler temperatures, pumpkin-spiced foods and an abundance of silky nests in hardwood trees and shrubs. That last sign is the often-unwelcomed indication that the fall webworm has arrived. The … [Read more...]
I Found a Caterpillar. What Will it Turn Into?
Did you find a caterpillar outside, and you're wondering what kind of butterfly or moth it will turn into? Would you like to raise it to an adult? Find out the name of your caterpillar, what it eats, and what it turns into with the help of this quick … [Read more...]