Ken-do Attitude

The hustle and bustle of the winter holidays are behind us, and though there may not seem to be much happening in your garden or landscape, here are some things you can do inside and outside to stay ahead of your spring chore list and plan for a successful garden...

Here’s your list of December gardening tips. Check it twice. • Try to keep your holiday cactus in the coolest possible room. This will help delay the opening of the buds until Christmas. Always feed your plant with Super Bloom when watering while the plant is...

Cold frames can give plants a head start on the seasons and sometimes even extend the season, and are great for starting plants from seeds. A cold frame is nothing more than a bottomless box sunk into the earth and roofed over with glass or plastic. The ideal position...

Leaves are assets to your lawn. Not one should leave your property. However, matted leaves rob the grass of the sunlight it needs as it continues to grow through fall. Grass will continue to grow as long as the soil remains warm, which in our region is at least...

To rid your houseplants summering outdoors of whiteflies before bringing them indoors, use moth crystals, because in my experience, insecticidal soap will not work! In the evening, drape a clear plastic bag over the whitefly infested plant, and place a small Styrofoam...

August is in many ways a transitional month. Many perennials are still blooming and need care, but other plants such as herbs are due for harvest and seed collection. Harvesting, drying seeds, herbs Harvest seeds that are ripe but not so ripe the seed heads drop or...

Let’s start with a few quick summer tips: When geranium flowers wither, pinch off the flower with your fingernail about an inch below the blossom. A few days later, tug out the dried, brownish stem at the top. A replacement stem and flower will grow quickly because...

Summer weather has finally arrived and if you’re like me, you’re eager to get outside more and get work done. With a lot more people getting into gardening, see my recommendations for watering vegetables. The grass is growing fast as ever but that doesn’t mean it...

A lot has changed in the last two months, but plants are still growing and will need your attention. Here are some tips for cutting, pruning and maintaining some common plants for spring. Harvesting Roses • Harvest roses early, before the sun bakes them (before 10...

Boxwood Twig Blight! The fungus Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum first presents itself as leaf spot followed by rapid browning and leaf drop starting on the lower branches and moving upward in the canopy. The fungus can remain in fallen leaves, so be sure to rake up...