Don’t throw in the trowel

By on Oct 18, 2018 in Fall |

Hard frost last night. We had it coming after a long and warm growing season. But it’s not the end. Like I say in my book a success is not the end a failure is not the end. It’s the beginning of something new. Don’t throw in the trowel. This may be the end of the “growing” season but it is not the end of the “gardening” season. The soil is still warm and roots will remain active in that soil. With little stress on the top of the plant as it shuts down for winter and sends food reserves into the root system, it’s a great time to move plants. Have a plant that has overgrown it’s space? Want to rearrange your “hort-folio?” This is a great time to move a plant or put a new one in the ground. One of my favorite things to do in late October is establish new planting beds for next year. But who wants to dig up sod or rent a...

Fall has a colorful personality

By on Oct 8, 2018 in Fall |

I like Autumn for planting….that makes me the Fall guy.

By on Sep 10, 2018 in Fall |

People ask me…..Rick why do you always say Fall is one of your favorite times of year to garden? Well first…. I like Autumn….that makes me the fall guy. But a more important reason is it is one of the most efficient and effective times of the year to plant. It’s also a time for pretty mums, adorable pansies and colorful foliage. Cute. That’s why they call it Awwwtumn. 13 reasons why Fall is for planting: 1. Plants in Fall put their efforts into establishment (roots) instead of a focus on top growth (spring) 2. In Fall the soil is warm compared to spring making it easier to work with….and again great for root establishment. 3. You can effectively feed woody plants in Fall. Even though air temperatures drop the soil stays warm often all the way to Christmas! Hoe Hoe Hoe. The plant can take in the fertilizer and will get next spring off on the right foot! 4. We generally get plenty of...

Into the wild brew yonder

By on Aug 31, 2018 in Wet your plants! |

As a horticulturist there is no “brew-print” for what question may come along from time to time. This past week I was asked for garden uses for stale or flat beer. At a “lagerhead” I thought if in doubt throw it out. Then I realized I take these questions on a “case by case” basis so with this request I should “hop” to it. I do after all live in a town called Beer City and this subject matter may not be an isolated concern. After all my commentary might create a buzz. We all know the age-old practice of wasting beer on slugs. A dish of stale beer is placed with the lip at soil level and slugs with no self-discipline whatsoever will blindly crawl in, lose their car keys and drown happy. We also know that beer has been around for ages dating back to Mesopotamia otherwise known as ancient Iraq. They didn’t drink it watching football or...

Lawn live the King

By on Aug 10, 2018 in Lawn-gevity |

Lawns are a way of taming nature in an age when urban dwellers are distant from nature and live in developments with association rules where they cut the trees down and name the streets after them. Lawns are a means homeowners can map their territory. Now understand I said map and not mark. Some animals mark via bio evacuation or scent or auditory squawk which is unacceptable in the human urban neighborhood kingdom. Lawns are instead territorial mapping of a sociographical plot, habitual use becomes the home range, where horticultural prowess is put on display for all to see in the spirit of competition, borders established and instead of confrontational becomes more so an act of avoidance if you’re not into your neighbors. The lawn is an extension of themselves and will be defended if necessary. The call to arms is “get off my lawn” in the modern day colonist vernacular of each...