If you want healthy food, experts say to eat what's local, organic and in-season. Those foods benefit the planet too, because they are less taxing on the soil and they don't travel as far. It doesn't get more local, organic and in-season than a backyard vegetable garden. At this time of ...
Shoveling in single-digit temperatures after the colossal winter storm this weekend, I dumped mounds of snow onto my garden beds, knowing it would protect my trees, shrubs and dormant perennials. When the ground repeatedly freezes and thaws, as it does over winter in cold climates, that can squeeze roots, seeds, bulbs, tubers and rhizomes right out of the earth. Once exposed, they can be killed off by cold, drying winds. But snow cover provides a heavy blanket of winter mulch that insulates the soil, prevents heat from escaping and keeps soil temperatures from seesawing. And as it ...
Winter in Pennsylvania, when temperatures drop and darkness falls around 5 p.m., is not my favorite season. But as a gardener, I have to acknowledge that it has its benefits, because some of the most beautiful flowering plants wouldn’t flower at all without experiencing prolonged darkness ...
If you grow houseplants, you probably know that sinking feeling you get when you notice the almost imperceivable movement of a dot, fine webbing between a leaf and its stem, or a leaf that just looks off. You thought (hoped!) the moment would never come, but the pests have moved in, and ...
People grow houseplants for all kinds of reasons. They provide a connection to nature and can make a room feel more inviting. They’re also pretty. And if pretty is what you’re after, I’ve got some lookers for you. Some of the most striking houseplants are succulents with unusual ...
METRO — Spring is home renovation season, and no area of a home is off limits. That includes home exteriors, particularly in regard to landscaping. Lawn and garden centers draw crowds on spring weekends, as homeowners are anxious to get out in the yard after spending more time indoors over the winter. Plants and trees provide a simple and unique way to transform the look and feel of a property. As homeowners ponder what can be done to freshen up their landscapes, they can consider these benefits of incorporating new plants and trees into their properties. — Add some pops of ...
