Every winter, I hear customers complaining about long gray winter days and bored kids. There are some fun indoor gardening activities you can use to occupy your kids, as well as teaching them a little something about gardening, and maybe even getting them to “know” their vegetables a little more. And, even better, they’re fun … Read more
A Real Pain in the Grass! It’s a good phrase, don’t you think? And it’s true! Crabgrass is the number one weed in lawns here in Virginia. It is now mid-February, and now is the best time to be thinking about applying a pre-emergence herbicide to control crabgrass. To be successful in controlling the growth … Read more
Rosmarinus officinalis is native to the Mediterranean. It’s a member of the Lamiaceae family, which includes oregano, basil, thyme, and mint. Wild rosemary can be found growing on the rocky cliffs along the coasts of France, Italy, Greece, and Spain. The name of Rosemary originates from the Latin word rosmarinus, meaning “dew of the sea”. … Read more
Whether you’re stealing a kiss beneath it or hanging a sprig in the doorway for good luck, mistletoe is one of the season’s most iconic holiday plants. Here’s everything you didn’t know you needed to know about this holiday classic. What is Mistletoe? The botanical name for mistletoe is Phoradendron, which means tree thief. While … Read more
We all know that water is a precious natural resource and an essential component of our lives and landscapes. Without it, nothing on Earth would survive. Did you know that less than 1% of all the water in the world is available as fresh, clean water? With that in mind, it’s important to remember how … Read more
WHAT TO DO ABOUT LICHEN ON MY SHRUBS AND TREES First, in doing some research for this blog, I found writing this blog more educational for me than I originally thought it would be. Over the years, I have talked to many customers who wanted to know what these grey-looking barnacles growing on their dogwood … Read more
Why did I select Gold Mop Cypress to highlight in October? Gold Mop looks great in any landscape. Gold Mop is a great evergreen that can be used to accent an area or be used for a small screening plant. Plant Gold Mop where you want color and texture, especially when it’s near other shrubs … Read more
I know fall is just around the corner when the bearded iris rhizomes arrive in the store—and guess what? They just got here. That means the season is changing (fall officially begins one month from this coming Thursday, to be exact), and it’s time to start planting for next spring’s show-stopping blooms. A Bit of … Read more
This Wednesday, August 8th, is National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. Yes, really. Zucchini does seem to be the one vegetable of which I often have an overabundance. So what can I do with it? Creative Ways to Cook & Share Zucchini While I don’t “sneak” it onto my neighbor’s porch, I … Read more
I’ve had several customers this week asking about growing pumpkins—and when to plant for a Halloween harvest. So here’s some information about pumpkins… Fun Facts About Pumpkins Pumpkins are members of the cucurbit family—that means they are related to squash, cucumbers, and melons. They were a food crop cultivated by Native Americans long before the … Read more
