http://www.garden.org/regional/report/current/7 en-us http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2847 Midsummer is such a beautiful time, and I would like to share with you some flower combinations I've come across lately that have captured my attention. Perhaps you will be inspired to plant something new for next year. Rose Campion and Phlox The...
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Resources

• Perennial Garden Companions
• Rose Campion

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Reminders

• Stop Pruning
• Weed, Weed, Weed
• Deadhead Lilies
• Harvest Herbs
• Look for Japanese Beetles

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2840 It seems every time I go to a social event, someone corners me to ask what is wrong with one of their trees. Trees are long-lived investments and everyone feels a bit of angst when a tree is ailing. It's impossible to diagnose a problem without seeing...
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Resources

• Tree Diagnosis
• The Meaning of Trees

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Reminders

• Prepare Plants for Your Vacation
• Transplant Oriental Poppies
• Keep Mosquitos at Bay
• Harvest Herbs
• Preventing Disease on Hostas

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2825 We all remember being asked what our favorite color was as a child, and often that initial favorite doesn't change, although as adults we learn to appreciate all the hues and shades of our adored blue or fuchsia. Color is perhaps the most personal...
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Resources

• Gardening Quick 'n Easy
• Companion Plants

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Reminders

• Planting Balled and Burlapped Plants
• Watch for Fireblight
• Keep Mosquitoes Away
• Reduce Tomato Leaf Diseases
• Watch for Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2817 June is rose month across the Midwest, and I have a hard time resisting the beauty all around right now. I don't consider myself a rose person, but the flowers are so exquisite and so sweetly perfumed that I simply lose my head when confronted with a...
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Resources

• The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
• What is Invasive and What to Substitute

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Reminders

• Don't Fret Mushrooms in Mulch
• Control Squash Vine Borers
• Put Out Amaryllis Plants
• Fertilize Containers
• Deadhead Flowers

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2809 My small perennial bed has looked okay over the past few years, but it doesn't knock your socks off. The problem is that when planting time comes around, I never remember exactly which plants are not placed right. By the time they come on strong, it's...
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Resources

• Illinois' Best Plants
• Flower Selection

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Reminders

• Scout for Japanese Beetles
• Trap Earwigs
• Control Mosquitoes
• Replenish Mulch
• Mow Your Lawn Right

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2787 I have a new hobby. I just bought a worm composter for all our kitchen scraps. The family of worms can then produce that wonderful soil amendment -- worm castings. The science of vermiculture (the root "vermi" comes from the Latin word "vermis,"...
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Resources

• The Worm Composting Guide
• The Worm Factory

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Reminders

• Protect Against Cucumber Beetles
• Plant an Evening Garden
• Pick Your Own Strawberries
• Plant Warm-Season Crops
• Put Up a Rain Barrel

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2770 At the risk of starting off on a negative note, I'd like to give some tips on things to avoid in the landscape. Sometimes we just don't realize what we might be doing wrong, and a better understanding of the situation can prevent costly mistakes....
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Resources

• 50th Annual Dearborn Garden Walk
• Bio-Intensive Gardening

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Reminders

• Troubleshoot Poor Bloom on Lilacs
• Watch for Oystershell Scale
• Wait Till Soil Warms to Plant Beans
• Take Care of Lawn
• Watch for Black Spot on Roses

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2751 Why exactly is it necessary to prune evergreens? We've all seen those 40-year-old junipers that have never been touched until they started creeping up above the windows. Then they are sheared so they look absolutely terrible for the rest of their lives....
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Resources

• Slow Food USA
• Pruning DVD

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Reminders

• Don't Trim Bulb Foliage
• Prune Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs
• Watch for Aphids
• Remove Strawberry Flowers
• Plant Trees and Shrubs

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2742 While many tasks in the garden provide a healthy sense of accomplishment, rejuvenating an overgrown shrub makes you feel like an artist. Transforming a rangy, ugly mockorange or dogwood into a thing of beauty is easier than you think. Shrubs that...
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Resources

• The Green Apple Festival
• The Earth Day Network

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Reminders

• Divide Perennials
• Wait to Plant Summer Annuals
• Celebrate Earth Day!
• Uncover Roses Carefully
• Begin Moving Houseplants Outdoors

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2732 I took advantage of a warm day last weekend to clear the debris from my new perennial bed. I couldn't stand it any longer, I just had to see what was coming up. The bulbs are peeking through! There's not much to do in the garden right now, so I've...
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Resources

• Tiny Farm Blog
• Wearable Garden Stool

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Reminders

• Prune Semi-Hardy Shrubs
• Harden Transplants
• Cut Back Ornamental Grasses
• Plant Early Crops
• Support Perennials Early

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]]> http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/2721 It may seem that the cold weather will go on forever, but spring will really be here in a few weeks. In order to keep our spirits up so we're ready for the coming harvest, let's investigate something a little different to make our gardening season even...
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Resources

• The No-Dig Garden
• Cool Dirt Tool

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Reminders

• Spray Woody Plants with Dormant Oil
• Sow Cold-Weather Crops
• Start Summer Tubers Indoors
• Fertilize Houseplants
• Plant Strawberries

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