Pinch your flowers. This is but one of a few ways to direct their grow, depending on whether you want a few large flowers or a spray of small flowers. In my latest blog post, I excerpt information from my book THE PRUNING BOOK to cover how various types of pruning can let you direct growth of your flower plants:
What could be more pleasant than standing in place gently showering your plants on a hot day while, in your other hand, you’re holding some drink for yourself? Win, win. But are the plants really getting their thirst quenched? Probably not. That’s what this week’s blog post is about: How to tell if you’ve really watered your plants enough.
After a few years of gardening, I thought I had nailed down dates for various plantings, grafting, etc. But plants tell me that the climate has changed. The good advice I offered in my 1991 book “A Northeast Gardener’s Year” is still useful if dates are slightly shifted. More about this in my latest blog post:
Organic fertilizers are best for plant and soil, but only if they’re chosen wisely. I go into this in my latest blog post with . . . hint, hint . . . putting some bulk into your (plants’ diet. Read all about it here:
Gardens, especially vegetable gardens, need fences and gates. Why not make them something nice to look at. Which I did, and detail construction of my rustic gate and surrounding arbor in this latest blog post:
Some vegetables growing the flower garden! Why not? A number of them look good enough to put on a show shoulder to shoulder with marigolds, roses, and delphiniums in the flower garden. Here’s a sampling of a few tasty, pretty vegetables; they are highlighted and pictured in my latest blog post:
Newly planted trees are in the ground and have been growing. Now is a good time to do some pruning which will help direct growth so the tree is strong and beautiful as it ages. For how and where to prune, check out my latest blog post:
Fruit trees are supposed to bear fruit, right. Don’t tolerate otherwise. But do everything you can to let them with choosing (plant), helping pollinators do their job, etc., etc. Read all the details in this week’s blog post:
Fertilizing. NPK. Organic vs synthetic. What’s it all about? I write about this in my latest blog post and then dramatically simplify it with one down to earth recommendation. Read about it here:
Tree peonies are rarely planted, but wow, their blossoms are awesome. And they’re not at all difficult to grow. Check out all (well, not all, but enough for getting started) with tree peonies on this latest blog post:
