By: Andrew Obloy Our native plants are amazing. They are here for a reason, and we should use them as much as we can in our own landscapes. That being said, not all non-natives should get a bad rap. For many, the word invasive feels synonymous with non-native. I will always encourage the use of native plants in your own garden, but I don’t think we should look at all […]
By: Gabrielle Phillips Benefits of adding more native plants to your garden. Climate change, it is a hot topic. Some say if we don’t do anything to remedy the issue the earth is going to kick us off into outer space and we will be sucked into a black hole. I am not actually sure if anyone said this nor do I believe that will happen but, I do believe […]
By: Gabrielle Phillips The days begin to get longer and hotter, sweat seems to be a regular part of our wardrobe and the lush foliage of our landscape is in full effect. Flowers are in bloom everywhere and if you have a vegetable garden you maybe harvesting fresh tomatoes, herbs, and squash for your dinner. The summer brings us a feeling of abundance due to the great amount of growth […]
By: Karl Deibert Friends, foes and tasty treats… Our world hosts an untold number of species and nowhere is that more evident than within the kingdom of fungi. To date, we’ve described around 5 percent of the estimated 2.2 million species. Throughout most of our horticultural history mushrooms, molds, and other fungi have been viewed as no more than garden pests and boy, were we wrong. The vast majority of […]
By: Gabrielle Phillips One of the loveliest seasonal changes the mid-Atlantic region experiences is the transition from winter to spring. The deep freeze and blanket of snow began to melt away, the sun starts to beam its rays for a longer period and the beautiful, soft, and delicate blossoms of springtime start to emerge from the thawing earth. These little signs of spring bring a symbolism of renewal and lots […]
Written By: Elena Roman The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is undoubtedly one of the most witnessed wildlife we interact with in our American existence. Come fall, as vegetation dwindles, depleting food sources in wooded areas, deer are forced to search for food in places they otherwise would feel insecure (as you can probably notice by your mauled or nonexistent Hostas). More recently, this shift has become particularly evident as deer […]
Written By: Elena Roman There can be many obstacles in the process of establishing a new garden, or even in the maintenance of an existing garden. The usual suspects being weeds, improper soil pH and/or drainage, irrigation, and pests. Among the most pervasive and stubborn of obstacles we encounter as gardeners are invasive plants; they compromise our designs, and more importantly, the health of our foundational native ecosystems that support […]
By: Alex Stallings There is nothing more satisfying than cooking with fresh herbs from your own garden. Not to mention, the best thing about herbs is that you don’t need a lot of space to grow them. This makes herb gardens attractive to all types of growers, whether you are working with an acre or a window box. Herbs are perfect for container gardening, as this allows them to be […]
By: Justin Spittal If you’re anything like me right now you’re stuck at home, trying to keep a presence at work, accepting your new home-school teacher accreditation, and keeping the house from constantly looking like you left your windows open during a hurricane. Your friends and co-workers without school age kids are getting those home projects finally done that they’ve been sitting on for the past 5 years. Either that, […]
By David Zimmerman The garden season has officially started! For sure, you or your neighbors are getting ready to lay down a fresh layer of mulch on the garden beds. Almost everyone who has a landscape starts the season with this laborious task, but does anyone know why? In this article, I will dive deep into the mulch pile and demystify the science and proper practice of good mulching – […]
