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To control weeds in your garden, late summer and early fall is the best time to make a difference

As late summer fades into early autumn, garden care shifts from active harvesting to preparation and planning for the next growing season. Weeds can feel like an overwhelming management task as the summer species burst into flower and spread seeds. However, late summer and early fall is the single best time for weed control that lasts year-round. What gardeners do at this time of year will determine how clean, productive and manageable their garden beds will be when spring arrives. As a professor of horticulture who is involved in teaching gardening skills to commercial gardeners and ...

My summer with a reel mower

I decided to go old school this summer and purchase a reel mower. Yep, the old-fashioned mower that uses rotating blades and your own energy to cut the lawn. I have been preparing my garden and landscape for aging-in-place and in the process, I’ve reduced the size of my lawn, leaving more ...

A guide to choosing mums for the fall garden — beyond the classic cushion

September marks the beginning of the great summer-to-fall garden transition and, although most summer plants still have life left in them, many gardeners are turning their attention to the iconic chrysanthemum. The majority of mums sold in pre-planted containers at the garden center are ...

Growing Tips: Timing matters in the garden

Recently while having lunch with a friend, I was reminded of the importance of timing when it comes to garden chores. It was August and my friend told me she had just paid someone to prune her trees and shrubs. I cringed. Here in central Pennsylvania, the best time to prune most trees and ...

These plants add color to gardens and pots when summer flowers fade

The hanging planter on my porch has seen better days. And by better days, I mean the summer annuals have dried to a brown crisp that likely has the neighbors wondering if the Addams Family has moved in. I like to believe the extreme heat did them in, but I know neglect has also played a ...