Ken-do Attitude

February is a month where the weather can vary widely. Even though it may still be cold, damp, snowy and sometimes miserable outdoors, occasionally Mother Nature will bless us with a day or two of sunshine, which inspires us to go outside and work in the yard. Pruning...

A new year has begun and though it’s not the heart of the gardening season, there’s work to be done to get the best out of your plants this year. Here are 10 suggestions for care of your plants inside and out. • When the flowers on Christmas Cactus fade, pinch off the...

For many of us, it’s not Christmastime until the tree is in the house with decorations and ornaments. If you fall into that category, you’re probably itching to go out and select the perfect live tree for your space, if you haven’t already worked it into you...

The cold weather is setting in, but many plants still need attention to last through the winter. Even more than plants, tools and plant-care products should be stored properly to prevent damage or loss. It’s just as important to have those tools ready in the spring,...

Fall is settling in on us and that means it’s time for amending the soil for some plants to feed them into the new year and promote their next bloom. Start with poinsettias and roses then move on to the Christmas cactus and acid-loving plants. At the end of the month,...

For the first week of September for your gardening chores, remember to not prune any spring-flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, azalea, camellia, holly, lilac, rhododendron, Spirea, and viburnum. They are within three weeks of completing bud formation for next year’s...

Set up stink bug traps in your yard. These traps will lure stink bugs with an attractant that is odor-free to humans, before they enter your home or damage your vegetable or fruit gardens. A light can be purchased separately to be added to the trap for indoor use....

Remember, lawns and established plantings need at least one inch of rain every week. If it does not rain, then one slow watering is best. Watering in the morning (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.) is best to prevent fungus and scorching. If you live in an area with sandy soils, such...

Grass clippings left on the lawn are returned to an elemental state by microorganisms in the soil and recycled as nutrients. A quarter-inch layer of clippings is good; more is not. Clippings build when overdoses of pesticides kill the soil microorganisms, and when...