Happy Labor Day. For many of us, it's the last three-day weekend before the kids go back to school. This year, instead of honoring your industriousness by trying to get everything done that you put off all summer, acknowledge all you have accomplished by taking a rest. Enjoy all the labor you've put into your garden by grabbing a book and taking a seat in the garden.

What? You don't have any seating in your garden. Well then, no rest for you. It's time to create that reclusive place to sit and relax, so you're ready for next year.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2007) licensed to About.com, Inc.

Take the Day Off and Sit. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 01:33:25.

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Fall can be such a sigh of relief. If you're thrilled when the heat lets up, just think how your plants feel. There's no central air conditioning for the garden. Plants seem to put on one final hurrah in the fall, both in jubilant colors and refreshed foliage.

If you don't have the time or the room to spiff up the garden beds with fall beauties, you can still enjoy the season with your containers. These are my picks for the Top 8 Plants for Fall Containers. Need more inspiration? Kerry Michaels show us some stunning examples in her photo gallery of fall container ideas. Best of all, you don't even need to go out and buy a lot of new plants. Forget the mums and put your humble lamb's ears on display.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Showing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.

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One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

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Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

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September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

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Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

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Fall can be such a sigh of relief. If you're thrilled when the heat lets up, just think how your plants feel. There's no central air conditioning for the garden. Plants seem to put on one final hurrah in the fall, both in jubilant colors and refreshed foliage.

If you don't have the time or the room to spiff up the garden beds with fall beauties, you can still enjoy the season with your containers. These are my picks for the Top 8 Plants for Fall Containers. Need more inspiration? Kerry Michaels show us some stunning examples in her photo gallery of fall container ideas. Best of all, you don't even need to go out and buy a lot of new plants. Forget the mums and put your humble lamb's ears on display.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Showing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Fall can be such a sigh of relief. If you're thrilled when the heat lets up, just think how your plants feel. There's no central air conditioning for the garden. Plants seem to put on one final hurrah in the fall, both in jubilant colors and refreshed foliage.

If you don't have the time or the room to spiff up the garden beds with fall beauties, you can still enjoy the season with your containers. These are my picks for the Top 8 Plants for Fall Containers. Need more inspiration? Kerry Michaels show us some stunning examples in her photo gallery of fall container ideas. Best of all, you don't even need to go out and buy a lot of new plants. Forget the mums and put your humble lamb's ears on display.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Showing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Fall can be such a sigh of relief. If you're thrilled when the heat lets up, just think how your plants feel. There's no central air conditioning for the garden. Plants seem to put on one final hurrah in the fall, both in jubilant colors and refreshed foliage.

If you don't have the time or the room to spiff up the garden beds with fall beauties, you can still enjoy the season with your containers. These are my picks for the Top 8 Plants for Fall Containers. Need more inspiration? Kerry Michaels show us some stunning examples in her photo gallery of fall container ideas. Best of all, you don't even need to go out and buy a lot of new plants. Forget the mums and put your humble lamb's ears on display.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Showing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

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Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Fall can be such a sigh of relief. If you're thrilled when the heat lets up, just think how your plants feel. There's no central air conditioning for the garden. Plants seem to put on one final hurrah in the fall, both in jubilant colors and refreshed foliage.

If you don't have the time or the room to spiff up the garden beds with fall beauties, you can still enjoy the season with your containers. These are my picks for the Top 8 Plants for Fall Containers. Need more inspiration? Kerry Michaels show us some stunning examples in her photo gallery of fall container ideas. Best of all, you don't even need to go out and buy a lot of new plants. Forget the mums and put your humble lamb's ears on display.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Showing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Fall can be such a sigh of relief. If you're thrilled when the heat lets up, just think how your plants feel. There's no central air conditioning for the garden. Plants seem to put on one final hurrah in the fall, both in jubilant colors and refreshed foliage.

If you don't have the time or the room to spiff up the garden beds with fall beauties, you can still enjoy the season with your containers. These are my picks for the Top 8 Plants for Fall Containers. Need more inspiration? Kerry Michaels show us some stunning examples in her photo gallery of fall container ideas. Best of all, you don't even need to go out and buy a lot of new plants. Forget the mums and put your humble lamb's ears on display.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Showing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

One of the great pleasures of summer is the abundance of fresh herbs and their fragrance as you pick them. For many of us, summer is just about over. But there is one herb that truly loves the chill of fall, rosemary.

Rosemary isn't hardy outdoors in cold climates. It can take a slight frost, but not a chilly, snowy winter. You'll need to move it indoors at some point, unless you live in Zones 8 or higher. But for now, let your rosemary luxuriate in the fall air.

If you don't have a rosemary plant, why not? It's such a luxurious indulgence for so little money or effort. You really should try growing rosemary.

Photo: fantax / stock.xchng

Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Frost happens, even when you least expect it. Sometimes it's a relief, to finally be able to put your garden to bed. Sometimes it's a freak occurrence and you'd like to keep your plants going a little longer, or you're panicking because you just put them out and wish you hadn't.

Row covers are a quick and easy way to extend your growing season by a couple of weeks. Row Covers, sometimes referred to as Floating Row Covers, are lightweight spun bonded synthetic fabrics that are laid over plants for protection against pests and temperatures. They are light enough to rest on the plants and allow light, water and even fertilizer to get through. In general, they add about 2-4 degrees F. protection. Depending of the weight of the fabric, you could keep your plants growing even when nighttime temps dip down into the mid-20s.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 01:02:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

September gardening can mean cool, crisp nights or hot, hazy, Indian summer days. Either way, there's no time to rest. Short season gardens need to be put to bed. Warmer zones are starting a whole new growing season. Even the southern hemisphere is back in the gardening groove. So here are some monthly gardening tips to get you back out in the garden this September.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

September in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:01:51.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

• Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly?
• What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:59:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

• Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly?
• What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:59:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

• Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly?
• What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:59:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's time to pull the bird feeders out and make sure they're ready for the winter. The first thing you need to do is make sure they're clean. You don't want your best efforts to make the birds sick. According to About.com's wild bird expert, Melissa Mayntz, dirty feeders can harbor bacteria, mold and other diseases that can cause major problems.

While most of us have many plants with seeds and berries for the birds to munch on in the fall and winter, not to mention plenty of branches for shelter, bird feeders keep a garden alive, when there's little else growing. So get those feeders ready and stock up on seed that will attract some life into your garden, with advice from Melissa.

• Cleaning Bird Feeders
• Bird Feeding Myths
• Saving Money on Bird Seed
• Best Winter Foods for Birds

Photo: © Marie Iannotti.

For the Birds originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 01:25:45.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

• Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly?
• What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:59:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Whether you are reviewing the overgrown jumble of you garden at its peak or just gearing up for spring, there always seems to be a plant or two that just will not behave. Either something you planted and now regret, something the birds dropped off or a thug, pushing its way in.

Vines are a great example. Too often, when we need a vine, we go for the quickest climbers. However quick climbers can also be aggressive plants, in general. Case in point, the lovely Trumpet Vine. You can never have just one Trumpet Vine; it pokes its head up everywhere. So, first cure: How to get rid of Trumpet Vine.

Then there are the literally invasive plants, like Oriental Bittersweet. Several plants go by the common name of bittersweet and a couple of them deserve it. Although beautiful, Oriental Bittersweet is destructive. Think twice about giving it free rein in your garden. How to get rid of Bittersweet.

And finally, the most annoying vines of all, poison ivy and oak. These weeds seem to be getting hardier and smarter about spreading. They are a great reason for wearing gloves in the garden. How to get rid of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

I know this is only the tip of the iceberg. What do you regret planting? And I also know there are times and places where fast growing vines are just the ticket and I would be curious to hear How you use vines, in your garden.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Getting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.

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There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

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The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

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Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

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I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

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It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

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It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

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Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

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I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

• Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly?
• What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:59:52.

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Most gardeners are familiar with the spiky blue anise hyssop. Lovely as it is, there are a lot more Agastache out there, in a variety of colors and scents, like this incredible 'Licorice Mint Hyssop'. What they all share is a hardy disposition, drought tolerance and a long season of bloom. If you've been having a summer like mine, you can use of the heat lovers you can plant.

Freda Cameron celebrated this months Garden Bloggers Bloom Day with photos of the glorious agastache in her North Carolina garden. And over at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bob Hyland gives us his Agastache A List. Take a peek at Agastache and then keep an eye out for the different varieties available in your local nurseries. They're beautiful additions to almost any garden.

By the way, it's pronounced ag-ah-STAK-ee.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc..

Featured Plant: Agastache originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 01:01:30.

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There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's an age old conundrum for so many vegetables. After waiting all season for the fruits of your labor, they disappoint you with bitterness, sourness, toughness or some other uncorrectable malfeasance.

In the case of bitter cucumbers, the culprit it usually stress, and we've had enough of that this summer. Long periods of hot temperatures are the most common cause. There's not much you can do to control the hear, but keeping your cucumbers well watered will help offset the bitterness.

Another factor in bitter cucumbers is lean soil. Cucumbers are heavy feeders and a soil rich in organic matter will go a long way toward producing less stressed, better tasting cukes. If your soil is less than ideal, give your cucumbers a little food every 4-6 weeks.

And finally, look for varieties that are well suited to your area and site and that list non-bitterness as an attribute.

Photo: shannahsin / stock.xchng.

Why are My Cucumbers Bitter? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:01:20.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Mums have taken over the gardens. It is amazing the way they suddenly start popping up here and there, until finally every house you pass has its blanket of burgundy, yellow and orange at the front entrance. Mums must be very easy to force, because you don't see other fall flowers lining the nursery shelves come fall, all set to bloom. It's nice that the nurseries did all the pinching and growing for us, while we were busy with our summer blooming plants.

We're probably spoiled. Fall blooming flowers take a great deal of patience, not to mention a great deal of room for the many months they do nothing more than sit there waiting their turn. So it is nice to be able to freshen up your garden with very little effort on your own part. Half the time gardeners don't even take the plants out of the pots.

Mums have become disposable plants and that's actually too bad because they're pretty easy to grow and there's greater variety if you grow your own. That's right, there's more to mums than those fall-toned pom-poms. So take a peek at how easy it is to grow mums and then read up on whether these autumn jewels are truly hardy mums that are going to pay a return visit next year.

Photo Courtesy of lauren stout / stock.xchng

They're Back. But are Mums Truly Hardy? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 01:01:02.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

• Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly?
• What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:59:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Most gardeners are familiar with the spiky blue anise hyssop. Lovely as it is, there are a lot more Agastache out there, in a variety of colors and scents, like this incredible 'Licorice Mint Hyssop'. What they all share is a hardy disposition, drought tolerance and a long season of bloom. If you've been having a summer like mine, you can use of the heat lovers you can plant.

Freda Cameron celebrated this months Garden Bloggers Bloom Day with photos of the glorious agastache in her North Carolina garden. And over at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bob Hyland gives us his Agastache A List. Take a peek at Agastache and then keep an eye out for the different varieties available in your local nurseries. They're beautiful additions to almost any garden.

By the way, it's pronounced ag-ah-STAK-ee.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc..

Featured Plant: Agastache originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 01:01:30.

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I've been so busy watching my vegetables for signs of blight and mildew, I didn't notice my climbing rose had almost completely defoliated from black spot. I didn't get around to using my last packet of Messenger this spring and I didn't notice the black spot, until it was too late. Fortuitously, I stumbled on an article that talks about using lime and sulfur spray on rose problems, after the fact. Now I'm wondering if there is enough growing season left for me to bother spraying or if I should just tuck this article away until next year.

The article's author, rose expert Paul Zimmerman, sprays the plants with a mix of 1 tbs. lime/sulfur per gallon of water, waits 15 minutes and washes it off. He says that's enough to kill any spores. I do grow my roses organically, including looking for disease resistant varieties, but sometimes fungus happens. I've tried sulfur before, but if this combo is as quick and effective as Mr. Zimmerman claims, how great is that? And what else will it work on?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Organic Rose Care originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 01:32:18.

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There's no reason your flower garden can't look as spectacular in the fall as it did at the peak of summer. Fall bloomers are often the most spectacular, having had all summer to grow to majestic heights and set tons of buds. Late bloomers, like these Heleniums, may be sleeping beauties most of the season, but they end the garden year with a bang.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Late Blooming Flowers for Fall originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 01:01:07.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The cool night weather has really revived my nasturtium plants. I'd almost forgotten they were there. Now they're the first orange and golds of fall. It's been awhile since I've had to purchase seeds of nasturtium. They're so large, it always seems a shame not to scoop some up and save them to plant next year. They don't even need to be started indoors.

And back by popular demand, here's the recipe for  "Poor Man's Capers". Unlike real capers, which are the flower buds of the caper plant, poor man's capers are made from the nasturtium seeds. You'll need to pick the nasturtium seeds while they're still green and firm. That's about as difficult as the process gets.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Featured Plant of the Week: Nasturtium - From Rich Colors to Poor Man’s Capers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:01:03.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Tuesday I talked about extending your vegetable garden season with cool season vegetables and succession planting. About.com's Herb Garden Guide, Amy Jeanroy, does the same in her herb garden. Amy suggests 4 popular herbs that are happy to grow into the brisk days of fall.

No need to panic if you don't have enough herbs to dry and keep for winter, there's still time to grow more and stock up. But hurry...!

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Fall for Herbs originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 01:00:58.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

I can be pretty patient, when it comes to gardening, but I had pretty much thrown in the towel on bulbs. If it wasn't the deer, it was the voles or the squirrels who mistakenly thought I'd planted a spring banquet for them.

But the bulb catalogs have me tempted and I love to be out in the garden in the fall . So now I toss a handful of gravel into the planting holes to deter the voles, keep the tulips in sheltered pots and focus on deer resistant varieties. Yes, there are a few bulbs that deer don't particularly like. Some, like the blue Glory of the Snow (Chinodoxa forbesii) shown here, can be poisonous. Others, like daffodils and hyacinth, simply taste bad. Whatever the reason, the animals leave them alone long enough for me to enjoy and luxuriate in the first signs of spring. What about you? Any more suggestions?

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

Gardening Question of the Week: What Spinrg Bulbs are Deer Resistant? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:01:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It used to be that every vegetable had its season. Now you can buy most anything all year long. Even so, nothing beats garden fresh. So stretch out the season just a little bit longer. Keep your vegetable garden producing a bounty of vegetables well into the fall and maybe even winter months, if weather permits. A long producing vegetable garden is possible, if you heed some simple, but key gardening rules.

Of course, if you're vegetable gardening in a warm climate, you're just getting started...

Photo: © Marie Iannotti

A Long Producing Vegetable Garden.Extend Your Vegetable Growing Season. originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 01:01:55.