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- Planting Trees for Fall Foliage
Fall is a visually stunning season and considering the bleakness of winter that follows, there's every reason to make the most of fall color. About's Landscaping Guide, David Beaulieu, gives us an overview of the best trees to plant for fall color, from the sturdiest to the quintessential to the underrated. Fall's color temperatures and frequent rain fall make it the perfect season for planting trees. And many nurseries are slashing prices to move their inventory. So take a look around and if your yard could use a striking accent tree this season, make a choice from David's list. There's a tree for every need. Photo: © Marie IannottiPlanting Trees for Fall Foliage originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 01:01:23.Permalink | Comment | Email this - Gardening Question of the Week: How Do I Get My Tomatoes to Ripen?
It hasn't been the best year for tomatoes, has it? Spring was slow to heat up. Rain was feast or famine. The only thing most of us could count on was that the humidity would bring some type of fungus problem. If you're fortunate enough to have healthy tomatoes lingering on your vines, I hope they've begun to ripen on their own. Every year there seem to be a stubborn few that just refuse to change color. You'd think we would have aced this problem by now. Deciding when to pick your green tomatoes is a tough call. Here are my tips for keeping your tomato plants healthy into the start of fall and getting those obstinate green tomatoes to finally ripen. Photo: © Marie IannottiGardening Question of the Week: How Do I Get My Tomatoes to Ripen? originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 01:01:42.Permalink | Comment | Email this - New Life for Garden Plants, as Houseplants
It's time to start thinking about moving the houseplants back indoors. If night time temperatures are dipping, you should be thinking about getting your plants used to being inside. Ideally, you want to move them back indoors while the windows are still open. They can make a more gradual transition this way. Once the windows are shut and the heat clicks on, your plants experience the drastic shock of low light and dry air. So start checking them for insects. If they need spraying or repotting, get it done soon. and if the idea of losing your prized fuchsia to frost is beginning to depress you, think about bringing some of your favorite garden plants indoors for the winter. Not every outdoor plant will be happy inside and it can be challenging to provide enough light and humidity to keep them growing (or even alive), but what do you have to lose by trying? Here's a list of likely candidates, for potting up and bringing in. And if your plants are too large to fit in a pot? Well, first of all, good for you. But don't throw in the towel yet. You can always take cuttings and start new plants indoors. Photo: © Marie IannottiNew Life for Garden Plants, as Houseplants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 01:01:36.Permalink | Comment | Email this - Take the Day Off and Sit.
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.Permalink | Comment | Email this - Showing Off Fall Containers
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 IannottiShowing Off Fall Containers originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 01:01:41.Permalink | Comment | Email this - Featured Plant of the Week: Rosemary
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.xchngFeatured Plant of the Week: Rosemary originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 01:01:12.Permalink | Comment | Email this - Gardening Question of the Week: Do Row Covers Protect Plants from Frost Damage?
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 IannottiGardening 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 in the GardenA Regional Gardening Almanac
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 IannottiSeptember 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 - For the Birds
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 - Getting Rid of Problem Plants
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 IannottiGetting Rid of Problem Plants originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 04:51:55.Permalink | Comment | Email this