By Claire Jones
Gardening here in the mid-Atlantic the past couple of summers has been more challenging than previous years because of our increased and prolonged heat 'domes' where we have hit the triple digits for multiple days in a row. Excessive heat can affect all the plants in your garden adversely and can negatively impact growth, development, …
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Gardeners with perennial flower gardens might already have a go-to method for readying their beds for fall and winter, but there are new ecological friendly ways to clean up your plot that are more in tune with nature. Chop and Drop is exactly what it sounds like. You chop (or cut) dead plant material, then …
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Bird House Gourds, Lagenaria siceraria, a type of tropical squash native to northern Africa, have been on my radar for a few years and finally I decided to bite the bullet and grow them last season. Using my large cattle fence arbor, which usually supports cucs, cherry tomatoes, and beans, I knew I would have …
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In the Mid-Atlantic region where I live, we have had quite a bit of rain and the resulting emergence of weeds overnight has been overwhelming. I see the weeds pop up in open mulched areas as well as close to the base of established plants (hard to get to) and between pavers. Weeding can be …
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For a hearty vegetable casserole that makes awesome leftovers, try this Primavera Casserole. I am getting lots of fresh spinach, asparagus, and herbs from the garden this spring and was looking for a way to combine them. Primavera simply means spring time and I use a lot of spring ready vegetables. The vegetables are interchangeable …
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The Chelsea Chop is not a knife technique, ax throw, or dance move. A gardener term, the Chelsea Chop is a  pruning technique used on herbaceous perennials where you trim back the actively growing plant growth by 1/3 to 1/2 of its height, typically done in late spring, when the Chelsea Flower show is held. …
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Using several types of raised beds over my gardening career- all wood- I was excited to discover and start using the new modular metal ones available at Vego Garden. Wooden raised beds work fine for a while, but will ultimately deteriorate over time. So, I was interested in trying something more lasting with these food-safe …
Continue reading "Gardening with Vego Garden Raised Beds – Transforming Your Backyard Oasis"
Honeywort has been on my radar for years as a bee flower power-house. I have grown it for about 10 years and people who see it in my garden are intrigued as they have never seen it before. I have only ever seen it grown in the UK, but it is quite easy to …
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Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is an early blooming, perennial bulb in the Lily Family (Liliaceae) native to southeastern Europe. Not a true Hyacinth, the common name comes from the resemblance of the clusters of the small, bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers to upside-down clusters of grapes. Grape hyacinth is hardy in zones 3-9. Common Bulbs Many people dismiss …
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Do you want to mow your lawn less, plus provide nectar sources for pollinators and reduce your environmental imprint? Then, change your lawn to a 'flawn'! Reducing or Eliminating Your Lawn Turf grass lawns are an American tradition. Everyone who has any kind of yard or property aspires to having a perfect green manicured carpet. …
Continue reading "Converting a Lawn to Flawn- A Flowering Lawn"
Ok, drumroll here....I think I can say that Hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus) hybrid Lenten Rose, are my favorite perennial plant. A plant that is becoming known by non-gardeners as well as garden enthusiasts, Hellebores or commonly known as Lenten roses, is a plant that is worth seeking out. What other plant resists deer, neglect, likes shade-even …
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Sunny yellow blooms fringed with a fringed ruff poking through snow is my first sign that spring has sprung. Eranthis hyamalis, or Winter Aconite, in the buttercup family, is a spring ephemeral, which means that it is a short-lived plant above ground with a burst of blooms, then disappears, remaining under ground until next winter. …
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