Growing tomatoes is a rite of summer. The taste of a home grown tomato with fresh basil and some olive oil is something I look forward to every year. What I dread every year is tomato diseases. I never know how the weather and sometimes my soil will affect the plants. There is no shortage of diseases that can hit your plants. The leaves, the fruit when its green, the fruit when it''''s red, the stem, the roots all parts of the plant can be attacked by som...

It is not too often that you get to sit down over a cup of tea and talk about mosquitoes. However, that is just what I got to do with Kristin Anderson of Kaz, the maker of the Mosquito Vacuum. This product really attacks mosquitoes by understanding the science behind them. You will no doubt find this conversation very interesting and informative. I know I learned a lot about these annoying bugs I never knew before.Rhododendron might be one the ...

Mosquitoes are a nasty but inevitable part of being outside in warm weather. There are lots of products out there that can help protect you and your family against these biting and potentially dangerous insects. The Mosquito Vacuum should be a part of a multipronged approach to fighting mosquitoes. There are other things you can do as well such as: Use insect spray and insect repellent face wipes. ...

My favorite white azalea is Delaware Valley White. It is a wonderful plant that gets to be 4-5ft tall, loves part sun but will live in full sun and even mostly shade. It is hardy to zone 6 but I recommend planting it in a sheltered location in zone 6 in case you have a cold winter. You can even try it in zone 5 if you plant it close to the house and out of the winter winds.&nbs...

June is a great month for gardens and gardeners. There is an abundance of flowers and even vegetables to bring indoors. The lawn is still green as we start the month and the plants are growing rapidly in the strong summer sunshine. Drought can be a problem this month so water early in the morning if things look dry. Do not water in the sunshine because you can burn the leaves of tender vegetation. You will see brown spots whe...

Rose of Sharon, (Hibiscus syriacus.) is a great summer flower shrub hardy from zones 5 and higher. Although naturally a multi-stemmed shrub, rose of sharon can be trained through pruning (in late winter) to have simply one main trunk; thus some people refer to it as rose of sharon "tree." It's easiest to give rose of sharon its desired shape by pruning it accordingly during its first two seasons. It can also be trained for espalier. When pruning, use sharp pruners ...

According the University of Maine Extension web site, "Pruning is a vital part of maintaining a healthy raspberry planting. This practice greatly inhibits the spread of raspberry diseases and improves fruit quality and yield. During the summer months, regularly remove all new canes that emerge outside the desired plant row width of 12 to 18 inches. This improves light penetration and air circulation for the canes in the middle row that will fruit next year. Also r...

Looking for early spring color? There is a great tuber/corm that will spread year after year and dazzle you with warm rich yellow color early in spring. Winter aconites or Eranthis appear almost overnight, providing a very welcome splash of colour in late winter, often flowering with snowdrops. They have an underground corm, from which the yellow wild flowers and characteristic "frill" of leaves emerge, sometimes as early as Christmas in the southern zones....

Do you ever look at your lawn and wish the grass were thicker but don't want to start from square one digging up the entire yard? If you have some grass, but your lawn is a bit thin overseeding might be just right for you. Overseeding involves putting down grass seed to augment thin areas. You can actually overseed at any time as long as the seed does not dry out. However, spring and fall are your best bets for success. I have actually thrown seed down in the w...

On of my favorite early flowering shrubs or small tree is a hamamelis. These spectacular specimens flower in late winter and give winter weary folks their first taste of spring when winter is far from over. Many years I have had my hamamelis flowering in late January! These plants are easy to grow prefering sunshine and moist soil. They look nicest against some evergreens as it will set off the blooms nicely in the late winter. If you are thinking that these ...

April brings no shortage of things to do outside in the yard. The list may seem overwhelming but take it a few steps at a time and your garden and lawn will be sure to grow all season long. Now is the time to prune roses. The exception is the rambler rose. They bloom on last year's wood so leave them alone until after they flower. Plant new roses now. This is a great time to put in a new rose bush so it is well establis...

Rooting materials Clean, coarse, construction-grade sand is suitable for rooting many cuttings. It is also excellent mixed with an equal volume of peat moss. Vermiculite is a lightweight material used for rooting. It holds water well and promotes fine root growth. Perlite is another excellent propagation material. It is lightweight and ...

On a recent trip to Tanzania I was able to discover the wonderful Acacia tree. Standing tall with a wonderful umbrella shape these trees are especially beautiful when seen along against the sky at dusk and dawn. These trees do flower during the start of the rainy season and have a subtle but wonderful fresh scent. Watch as I show you a small part of the Serengeti plain.Rooting materials Cle...

Dogs, like people, need to maintain proper dental care. Caring for dog's teeth is something that pet owners have to incorporate into their daily lives much like a dog walk. My own personal experience is that many dogs are reluctant to have their teeth brushed. However, over time they tend to get quite use to it. I clean my dog's teeth at least every other day and I try to do it everyday. The more you clean their teeth, the better their o...

Selection of a training system will help guide how you prune your blueberries. Many fruit gardeners prefer to retain two to three main canes that will anchor the bush's fruit production. Young blueberries are carefully trained to maintain close base at the root crown and an open center to allow sunlight to pass through and allow air movement. Visually observe the blueberry bush. Imagine...

Starting seeds indoors in late winter and early spring can be a very rewarding endeavor.As a gardener, growing your own plants from the time they are just a seed, brings something of an added accomplishment to the hobby. Professionals use heated rooms, mats and moisture trays in order to create the ideal e...

A tall vase of blooming forsythia branches can bring spring inside weeks early. By gathering branches of flowering deciduous shrubs and trees and forcing them to bloom or leaf out early in your home you feel better especially in the bleak early spring months. When temperatures rise above freezing in late January, February and Marchselect and cut branches that have many plump buds. Cut a few more branches than you expect to use because some may not absorb water satisfactorily. Us...

The main reasons for pruning ornamental and shade trees include safety, health, and aesthetics. In addition, pruning can be used to stimulate fruit production and increase the value of timber. Pruning for safety involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage, trimming branches that interfere with lines of sight on streets or driveways, and removing branches that grow into utility lines. Safety pruning can be largely a...

Fall crocus are indeed fall-blooming species of this popular spring-blooming bulb (a corm actually). The fall blooming species include: C. kotschyanus, C. sativus, C. ochroleucus, and C. niveus In general, they are more tender than the typical spring blooming Crocus vernus varieties but if you have the proper garden, they do indeed bloom in the late summer to early fall. While there are other fall blooming crocus grown by collectors, these are the ones m...

Winter can be a bleak time of the year. However, adding several evergreens, some specimens with wonderful bark and form and you can create a 12 month garden that will be the envy of everyone. You might want to check on a few of these plants to create the perfect winter garden. Paperbark Maple (Acer grisium)

Pure maple syrup is made by concentrating the slightly sweet sap of the sugar maple tree. The basics needed for making maple syrup therefore are some sugar maple trees and a method of concentrating the sap into syrup As winter comes to an end, usually in late February or early March, sugarmakers prepare for their annual harvest of the maple trees. The group of maple trees that is used is called sugarbush, or maple orchard. The sugarmaker...

Birds in Your Backyard 101 This article will explain the secrets of successful birdfeeding. Learn about the basic type of feeders, the different types of seed and the wonderful birds that you can attract right outside your door. We will discuss the essentials of shelter, cover and water. We will talk about creating a garden for the birds. We will even share our secrets in controlli...

Want to get your kids to eat their veggies? How about trying to roast some root vegetables for a wonderful treat? You can use all sorts of spices to make them tasty. Save any leftover vegetables and add them to your next pot of soup. 1/2 butternut squash 3 carrots 2 onions 2 parsnips 3 turnips olive oil fresh rosemary or thyme, about 1 Tbs leaves(you can use cayenne pepper, cinnamon, brown sugar, or s...

Have you ever wondered how some of your favorite products are selected to appear in your local nursery or greenhouse? What about why one brand of tractor is used by landscape company A and another brand by landscape company B? Like the fashion industry, the horticultural space has their own fashion shows all around the country. Recently, I got the chance to attend the NE Grows show held at the Convention Center in Boston. The great aspect of these shows is the diver...

Zamioculcas zamiifolia is commonly called the "ZZ plant" in the trade. I find the ZZ to be an exceptional performer in any light. Especially the low light levels where few plants grow well. This plant has very dark green, shiny foliage. In fact you would think that the plant has been shined. The ZZ carries a unique look which allows it to be used as a stand alone specimen but can also ...

February brings some important changes to the garden most notably light. The sun is rapidly growing higher in the sky across the northern hemisphere and by the end of the month will have gained hours of daylight. Plants respond to this increase in light. Houseplants ...

Everyone loves to get fresh cut flowers. When you get them, you want to keep them as long as possible. Here are some great tips to keep those blooms beautiful longer. Flowers keep best when cut with a sharp knife (un-serrated) and plunged immediately into water. Always make a cut on a slant, as it exposes more stem surface area. Also, remove leaves that will be under wate...

Some foods which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed (intention...

Going away from home for a vacation can be a lot of fun. But, if you are like me, you worry about your plants. I have a neighbor who waters my 70 or so plants for me, but I can't expect her to check for bugs as well. So, although I regularly use neem oil, insecticidal soaps and other organic methods, there are times, like going on a long vacation, that I use something called a systemic.&nb...