Recent hot weather has perhaps lulled us into forgetting that fall is upon us. But, soon, that first frost shall arrive. For gardeners who are prepared, an early frost does not need to halt the gardening season. The first frost or two is often followed by several weeks of good garden-growing weather. Gardeners can take advantage of these extra gardening weeks by protecting their plants through early light frosts. Plants vary in their susceptibility to […]

Fall is such an appropriate name for the season — leaves are falling with or without changing color! And it seems to be getting an early start this year, as many landscape plants have started their annual ritual of changing colors and dropping leaves. Certainly, some of the reason why plants display fall colors has to do with the genetic makeup of the plant. That doesn’t change from year to year. But the timing and […]

If you’re looking for something new to add to next year’s garden, All-America Selections (AAS) has chosen five new flowers and three vegetables for 2004. These new cultivars have been judged superior in their class based on their performance in test gardens all over the country. Two new Celosia cultivars head this year’s list of winners. ‘Fresh Look Yellow’ is a low-maintenance, colorful addition to the bedding garden, sporting large, golden-yellow plumes that reach up […]

Composting is a great way to recycle the plant debris in your garden, including both crops and weeds. It’s easy to do–nature does it on its own all the time. But with proper management, you can help nature move along a little faster, if needed.   Compost returns some nutrients back to the soil, but the main benefit is in the improved soil structure. Adding organic matter, such as compost, will increase soil aeration and […]

While gardeners may still have several more weeks to enjoy what’s left of the growing season, it will soon be time to put our gardens to bed for winter. Flowers and vegetables whose foliage has begun to brown and shrivel should generally be removed before winter. Removing the spent foliage is an excellent way to reduce the chance for fungi and insect pests to over winter. Herbaceous perennials should be cut back to just above […]

Just when the colors of summer flowers are fading, late-blooming perennials are ready to take center stage. In addition to the usual fare of coneflowers, mums and ornamental grasses, many lesser-known characters are ready to perform. Agastache foeniculum, also known as Blue Giant Hyssop, packs 4-5 inch long dense spikes of bright blue flowers on 3 foot tall, upright plants. Butterflies and hummingbirds love this plant, as do bees. Japanese Anemone (Anemone x hybrida) offers […]

This year brought a bumper crop of new garden plant introductions. Ten ornamental garden plants and two garden vegetables have been awarded the prestigious honor of All America Selections (AAS) for 2003. These new cultivars have been judged as superior in their class based on their performance in test gardens all over the country.   Carnation ‘Can Can Scarlet’ was selected for its fragrance and versatility as a bedding plant, as well as a cut […]