The two most common water pests are the backswimmer and the water boatman. The water boatman is oval-shaped and does not bite. It feeds on algae and other vegetation growing in the pool, particularly in the traps, filters and drains. This is also … [Read more...]
Sprouting onions and scarred tomatoes: How to tell whether fading produce is still safe to eat
Fresh fruits and vegetables can do some alarming things. They can crack open and change colors, sport tiny — or really big — scars, and even start trying to make new produce, right there on your kitchen counter. “When in doubt, throw it out,” you … [Read more...]
Home Fruit Plantings: Elderberries
Because of their tartness and relative seediness, elderberries are rarely eaten fresh. However, they offer a low-cost, low-maintenance fruit crop from which a delightful jelly or pie can be produced. MORE SOURCE: … [Read more...]
Dogwood Borers
The client sent photos of a pink dogwood tree with bark peeling from ground up. The photo showed extensive bark loss well up the tree. The client wanted to know what caused the problem and how to take care of the tree. Dogwood borer … [Read more...]
KILLING TREE STUMPS
Did you know that many tree stumps will not die - they just fade away. Stumps that will not die exist in many yards and gardens in our area. It just doesn’t seem fair that when you go to all the trouble of cutting down a tree, often a big one, it … [Read more...]
Microgreens in Pots
Anyone who has picked up a gardening magazine lately has seen that the latest gardening rage is pollinator gardens. You probably know that you do not have to have a garden spot to help support our native pollinators and the moth and butterfly … [Read more...]
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
Ornamental grasses and grass-like plants are valued in home landscapes for their hardiness, ease of care, dramatic appearance, and the wide variety of colors, textures, and sizes available. More: … [Read more...]
What weed is it? Putting names to pesky plants
I KNOW A LOT OF PLANTS BY THEIR PROPER NAMES, but when it comes to “weeds,” as we term unwanted garden visitors that seem to just come with the territory, my knowledge really paled until recent years. Lately, on days not conducive to outdoor work, … [Read more...]
Pollinators need more than pollen and nectar to survive and help produce food for people
To survive, pollinators need more than just flowers as sources of pollen and nectar. They also need water, bare ground for nesting, shelter and nesting materials. In natural areas, these items are readily available. But in urban and residential … [Read more...]
10 Beautiful Botanical Gardens in Virginia!
Anywhere you go in Virginia, nature abounds. No matter what county or city you’re visiting, there’s always an opportunity to get back to nature. These 10 botanical gardens make the trip a little easier, and a great deal more beautiful. Read … [Read more...]