Frequently Asked Questions
Pouring boiling water on weeds can be used especially in situations where other plants are not nearby, such as in cracks in patios or sidewalks. Boiling water will act as a contact "herbicide", killing only the portion of the plant it...
A new planting site is best for any new tree.
The site of a removed tree is not ideal for planting a new tree
While planting a new tree in the exact same spot as a tree that was removed is possible, it is not advised. ...
Stressful growing conditions typically are the reason for untimely bloom.
Occasionally, spring-blooming shrubs and trees, like lilac, crabapple, or forsythia, will bloom out of season during the fall months....
A weed is any plant growing out of place.
A weed is simply a plant out of place. By this definition, any plant could be a weed if growing in a location where it is not wanted.
There...
Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves.
Cool-...
Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves.
Plants...
Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves. They are great...
Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves. They are great...
Annuals are a great way to add variety and color to the landscape and containers. As temperatures cool in late summer into fall, many of the summer annuals like marigolds, coleus and impatiens are looking “tired”. These annuals can be replaced by...
Wrap Trunks of Young Trees
During the winter months when food is scarce, rabbits and other rodents will chew and strip bark from woody plants. Protecting woody trees and shrubs, especially young plants, from browsing is important. Wrap...
Good fall clean-up is beneficial for containers and garden beds where annuals are grown to help prevent disease and pest issues as well as reduce unwanted reseeding of some annual species in future growing seasons.
Plant Cool-Season...
Many of our houseplants enjoy a “summer vacation” spending the warm summer months outside in a full or part shade location. If you placed some of your indoor plants outside for the summer, you will need to move them back indoors before...
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest.
Much has been written about the allelopathic properties of black walnut. When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of...
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest.
Much has been written about the allelopathic properties of black walnut. When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of...
When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of other plants, it is called allelopathy.
Black walnut is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest that produces an allelopathic compound called juglone which is...
Hand Pulling
Mechanical control of weeds through hand pulling and cultivation as well as the use of mulches and other cultural control methods to suppress weed growth are all effective organic options for weed management.
...
There are several cultural or management techniques the gardener can use to reduce weeds in the vegetable garden.
- Watering Directly
- Proper Plant Spacing
- Tilling (stale seedbed technique)
- Cover Crops...
Many home gardeners choose to avoid the use of herbicides in vegetable gardens since they are growing edible crops. In certain situations, however, a gardener can use herbicides to supplement other weed control strategies.
Pre-...
Mulches control weeds by preventing the germination of weed seeds. Established weeds should be destroyed prior to the application of the mulch.
Excellent mulches for vegetable gardens include:
- Grass clippings...
Control of weeds in the vegetable garden is important. These unwanted plants are strong competitors for available water, nutrients, and sunlight and can reduce yields when not controlled. Reduced air circulation created by tall weeds...
Cool season vegetables prefer cool daytime temperatures, while warm season vegetables prefer warmer daytime temperatures. Cool season vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, and lettuce will tolerate light frost whereas warm season...
There are a number of vegetables that are relatively easy to grow. Peppers, bush beans, leafy greens, and even tomatoes often make the easy to grow vegetable lists. Be sure to select vegetables that you are most likely to eat as you...
Yes, many vegetables can be grown in small plots or in containers. Consider selecting more compact or dwarf varieties of vegetables for these situations.
Vegetables That Can Be Successfully Grown in Containers or Small Plots...
Before filling raised beds, remove the grass sod, if possible, and work up the existing soil with a rototiller or spade. Add a few inches of the soil mix, then incorporate it into the existing soil. Continue to add and incorporate...
Raised beds provide several advantages over conventional garden areas. Wet, poorly drained sites can be improved by constructing raised beds. A properly prepared raised bed increases drainage, thereby promoting plant growth and increasing crop...
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