April 27, 2019 - Issue #406

[ Read in browser ]

Enter to win a "Habitat Helper" at the National Wildlife Federation!

This pest is found throughout the United States. These large, fat caterpillars feed voraciously on the leaves and fruits of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes.

If you're just starting out in a small backyard or community garden, try growing only a few tomato plants at

Blackberries need full sun. They aren't fussy about soils, although good drainage is important. If the soil has a good amount of humus, so much the better, but average fertility is all they need.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a perennial weed with a strong taproot that can make itself at home almost anywhere. No lawn or garden can escape dandelion seeds that blow on the wind from spring to fall.

No matter where you live, water is a precious resource. Some of us need to conserve more actively than others, but none of us would willingly waste water. So why not plant drought tolerant flowering annuals? In addition to saving on your water bill, you'll spend less time on garden maintenance.

The beauty of wildflowers is they're easy to grow, colorful from spring until fall, they provide color for years with little maintenance, and they attract wildlife such as butterflies and birds to your yard.