Let the composting process do the work for you Story and Photography by Kristi Cook Of all the amendments one can add to garden soil, compost is the most valuable. Black, earthy compost increases water retention, replenishes nutrients, improves drainage, and can even be used as mulch. Yet, many sources make the process of turning …
How to grow healthy and delicious produce without 8 hours of sunlight By Julie Thompson-Adolf Dreaming of delicious heirloom tomatoes? Pining for perfect peppers? Living with a shady garden presents challenges, particularly if your gardening niche focuses on edibles. As a gardener who prefers peas and pac choi to petunias, I’ve learned to search out …
Add movement to your landscape with these plants that ‘dance’ in the wind Story and Photography by Susan Jasn Admittedly, when almost any type of music starts, I’m hard-pressed to sit still. It’s as if something in my spirit is calling me to move, to dance. But then reality hits: Grace is definitely not my …
7 of the most reliable species for Southern landscapes Story and Photos By Hubert P. Conlon Magnolias (Magnolia spp.) represent a diverse group of magnificent flowering trees and shrubs. Most bear huge showy blooms in purple, red, pink, yellow, white, and every shade in between. Choose from magnolias that are deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen in …
A non-chemical option for alleviating some insect pressure Story and Photos Courtesy of Bob Westerfield As an avid vegetable gardener for more than 30 years, I have grown virtually everything that can be planted in winter and summer gardens. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like things have gotten more complicated when it comes …
Maximize production with intensive gardening Story and Photos by Kristi Cook Perhaps one of the biggest challenges gardeners face is finding enough room to grow all the fruits and veggies on our wish list. Most of us must be content to whittle our selections down in order to provide the best growing conditions possible. Yet, …
Rediscovering an old favorite Story and Photos By Garry McDonald Working on a university campus, I can’t help but notice the changing whims of fashion. Lately, the trend among young men is khaki walking shorts, polo shirts, and white crew socks and white sneakers: exactly what we wore on campus in the early 1980s. Like …
Using natural materials for your landscaping Story and Photos By Diane Beyer More and more gardeners and landscapers are heading “back to the land.” In addition to self-sufficiency, less pesticide use, growing heirloom vegetable varieties, urban homesteading, hardscaping using natural materials is also becoming more popular. Here in the South, where physiographic regions are so …
10 ways to become more water-wise in your landscape 1. Get your soil right before you plant anything – If your soil is too sandy, water will pass through it too rapidly and your plants will be thirsty. If your soil has too much clay, water will go though it too slowly, possibly drowning your …
Simple, elegant, and economical Story and Photos By Nan K. Chase Gravel walkways or paths never go out of style. A well-installed gravel path can last forever, bringing elegance to any garden. Even better, gravel is inexpensive, low maintenance, and available in variety of colors, sizes, and materials. Ancient Romans laid gravel roadways across their …
