Northern & Central Midwest
June, 2009
Regional Report
National News - From NGA Editors
Hosta of the Year
American Hosta Growers Association has selected Earth Angel as the Hosta of the Year for 2009. Earth Angel is one of the largest variegated hosta varieties available. Hardy in USDA zones 2 to...
New Kitchen Scrap Composter
Composting kitchen scraps is a great way to reduce landfill waste and create organic matter for your garden. But what if you dont have room, or the desire, to create an outdoor composting system?...
Reduce Dandelions in Lawns with Leaf Mulch
Dandelions are the scourge of many gardeners. Other than using harmful herbicides, the only sure fire way to eliminate them from lawns is to hand weed. However, recent research at Michigan State...
Updated Drip Irrigation Book
Water conservation is a big issue in many communities across the country. One way to water your plants without wasting this precious resource is to use drip irrigation. If drip irrigation seems...
In the Garden
Ornamental Onions Will Leave You Breathless
Some of my favorite perennial plants are the ornamental onions. Also called flowering onions, these beautiful plants offer a sculptural quality to the garden that isn't found in many other plants. They range from majestic five-foot tall Gigantic onion...
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Resources
Books
Sqyare Foot Gardening I've always been a fan of Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Gardening book, but now he's made it...
Favorite or New Plant
'Gage's Shadow' Perilla 'Gage's Shadow' perilla is another Proven Winner, and for good reason. This is a hybrid between...
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Regional Reminders
- Harvest Herbs
- Take Houseplants Outdoors
- Protect Squash, Cukes from Pests
- Start a Compost Pile
- Deadhead Perennials
