Urban Gardening

Studying river ecology has its rewards on a hot day.

Getting Teens Involved in Greening

Many readers have written to me asking how to get teens involved in gardening. This challenge is very near and dear to my heart because for years I coordinated environmental science programs for youth at the ... more »


Baffles on the trunks of fruit trees can prevent raccoons from reaching the goods.

Living With Urban Wildlife Pests

Judging from the messages in my e-mail box, urban gardens are under siege. Food crops are being decimated, flowers are being attacked from the roots to the buds, shrubs are being chewed, and even containers are ... more »




Grasshoppers will snack on most any plant.

Grasshoppers Top My Most-Wanted List

Grasshoppers used to remind me of youthful summer days spent wandering through the fields of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Now when I see one, my mind conjures up images of ravaging locusts spreading chaos throughout the land. Of all the garden pests I've dealt with, the grasshopper is the ... more »



Q & A

Question: I live in Lake Forest, Illinois, and last year a few of my annual flower beds had terrible whitefly infestations ... more »

  

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William Moss
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'Golden Splendor' lilies need tall stakes.

Gardening Tips

  1. Get supports (cages, stakes, bamboo poles, etc.) and Velcro tape ready to hold the lush summer growth of top-heavy or weak-stemmed plants like tomatoes, lilies, monkhoods, delphiniums, and dahlias.

  2. Fertilize your annual flowers and veggies. Fertilizers with high percentages of phosphorus (the middle number in NPK) promote flowering. Organic gardeners can use minerals, compost, and compost tea.

  3. Volunteer to help maintain gardens at a school, church, or retirement community. Summer is when they need the most help with maintenance and watering, and it's a great opportunity to beautify your community and make new friends.