Garden Help Desk

March Gardening

CHRIS PESCHEMar 10, '24

We all know this winter has been long and drawn out. You’re probably more than ready to get going on gardening. Be patient and do not work in your planting beds if the soil is wet! Working wet soil causes compaction and closes vital air pockets. The hard work you...

Force Winter Branches to Enjoy a Burst of Spring

Kim EllsonFeb 22, '24

Forcing branches allows us to enjoy a burst of color and brighten up our homes in the middle of winter with materials from our own garden. We all keenly await the arrival of spring in those cold and dark winter months, and although we cannot change the seasons, we can...

January Gardening

CHRIS PESCHEJan 28, '24

Create a garden calendar for 2023. Make note of new plantings, pest or disease problems, successes or failures. You’ll find it not only fun but very useful for future reference. Include photos of before and after. When the winter wind whips you can enjoy thoughts of spring greenery! Get into...

Poinsettias - Care, Maintenance and Re-Blooming

CHRIS PESCHEDec 12, '23

  HISTORYPoinsettia, also known as the Christmas plant, remains one of the most popular holiday flowers. With the introduction of long-lasting cultivars, the popularity of the poinsettia has increased significantly. It was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U. S. ambassador to Mexico who...

Tags: Reference, winter

November Gardening Tasks

CHRIS PESCHENov 9, '23

EVERGREENS Keep watering your evergreens until the ground freezes. Evergreens can dry out during the winter. Apply WILT STOP by Bonide which is a natural nontoxic product derived from the resin of pine trees. WILT STOP forms a soft, clear, flexible film on treated plants. This film protects plants from...