Non-plastic garden gear can help reduce microplastics in the soil
It’s seed-starting and planting season, and that means it’s likely buying season. This year, consider not only the gardening gear and plants you bring home, but also whether they’re made of, contained in or wrapped in plastic. Those plastic products eventually break down into minuscule particles called microplastics, which can...
Strawberry pots aren’t just for the fruit. Its ‘windows’ make for striking, efficient displays
You’ve seen them — those odd planters that look like buildings with windows and balconies on their sides. Maybe you’ve planted strawberries in them. Or maybe you’ve just never understood them. Typically made of terracotta, the pots are usually tall and urn-shaped, but shorter, wider options are also available. They...
Nobody said vegetable gardens must be in the backyard. Put them out front if it’s sunny
If you’ve dreamed of growing a vegetable garden but your backyard is too shady, is paved or is simply too small, consider the front yard. Planned properly, it will not only provide a nice harvest but might even bring new friends to your gate. Such gardens were commonplace a few...
Chrysanthemums add colorful hues to autumn in Western Pennsylvania
As most flowers lose their color this time of the year, chrysanthemums are just beginning to bloom. The flowers, also known as “mums,” are perfect for fall because they are hardy and can endure some fluctuations in temperature, experts said. You most likely will spot them popping up on front...
Let kids create their own garden, and other tips for instilling a love for growing things
When I was a kid, my friends and I spent long summer days outdoors, picking daisies, observing roly-poly (also known as pill) bugs, holding caterpillars and trying to catch fireflies (lightning bugs). It’s still not hard to entice the under-5 set to make mudpies, smell flowers and eat string beans...
Weeds aren’t just nuisances, they’re messengers. Here’s what they can tell you
Got weeds in your lawn? Me too. And although it’s tempting to reach for a spray bottle, that shouldn’t be our first impulse. Believe it or not, weeds aren’t just freeloaders crashing our garden party. They’re messengers with important information that requires our attention. We just have to learn to...
Some plants cause more suffering than others for gardeners with pollen allergies
For many, the return of the spring garden brings with it a sneezy, itchy, foggy-headed feeling that hits the moment a warm breeze stirs up invisible trouble. I’m fortunate not to suffer much, but my blue car turned a chartreuse shade of yellow last week, and a $32 car wash...
Penguin Court offers native plant sale, plans master naturalist course
Home gardeners looking to add some local color to their flower beds might choose the purple blossoms of tall larkspur or the broad yellow petals of the wood poppy. They’re two of the more than a dozen new species featured in this year’s native plant sale at the Brandywine Conservancy’s...
Aggressive plants effective to some, a nuisance to others as growing season begins
The Capets family of Murrysville has a positive relationship with bamboo, a grass native to the Asian continent that grows tall and spreads quickly. They’ve been using it for more than a decade to screen their front yard from nearby traffic on Sardis Road. And it works well, forming a...
A durable dahlia. A vigorous vinca. Here are 20 new garden plants to watch for this year
Like most gardeners, I have favorite plants I’ve been growing for years and will continue to grow, like fragrant and tasty Big Boy tomatoes, wide Romano-type Italian flat beans, climbing zucchini and Queen Lime Mix zinnias. But I also like to try new plants. So, it’s helpful to know that...
Soaring egg prices are piquing interest in backyard chickens
NEW YORK — Thinking about backyard chickens as egg prices soar? Think hard, especially in light of the bird flu outbreak. Keeping home chickens as a pastime has continued to grow since the pandemic. But if eggs are the goal, remember that it takes planning and investment to raise the...
Too early to prep the garden for spring? Nope
As I write this, snow is falling outside my suburban New York window, and I feel like I just stored my gardening tools and patio umbrella for the season. And yet, with the winter solstice in the rearview mirror, it’s already time to start preparing for spring. Testing Seeds This...
Houseplants that don’t require soil and can be displayed any which way? Look to air plants
If you’re looking for a houseplant that’s as unique as it is low-maintenance, let me introduce you to air plants, members of the Tillandsia genus in the Bromeliad family. I first became acquainted with Tillandsia circa 2007, when I was invited to tour the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at...
