If you have fruit trees in your garden, then you may already be aware of the importance of winter cold for the development of blooms and fruit. Some fruit varieties like apples, cherries, peaches, and blueberries all need a certain number of hours of temperatures below 45 F to prepare the trees to bloom in the spring. Surprisingly, other trees you might not think of as fruit trees also need a period of cold conditions to produce a good crop, including pecans and olives.… Continue reading this article “Chill out! Winter cold and chill hours for fruit”
Month: January 2023
Another “drainage solution” that makes problems worse
I received an email this week from an arborist colleague who had been sent an “engineering solution” which claims to help with rooting issues in clayey soils or areas where root area is reduced. There was a spiffy diagram accompanying this which I’ve reproduced below.
I could dissect this for you and point out all the problems right now, but instead I’d rather supply you with some factual information and let you apply it to this “engineering solution.”… Continue reading this article “Another “drainage solution” that makes problems worse”
Home Greenhouses Pt. 2: Regulations & Restrictions
Last month I dipped into some of the considerations of owning or building a home greenhouse, having just “inherited” a greenhouse with my new house. The questions and comments were numerous, so I decided to continue on discussing considerations for home greenhouse ownership and operation. There will likely be a few more articles down the line….so strap in.
This time around, I thought I’d talk about something that we hate to talk about, but is important to understand: rules and restrictions around what you can and can’t do, especially if you live in an urban area or municipality. … Continue reading this article “Home Greenhouses Pt. 2: Regulations & Restrictions”
Companion plants, they are not what you think!
Companion plants! Great, what a good idea. When you first hear the term and think about the concept it sounds great but there is a lot to not like about it. The term “companion plants” implies that these plants are partners and they “enjoy” each other’s company. The term is an anthropomorphism or overlaying of human qualities on non-human organisms. A more appropriate term may be plant associates or plant associations, a term taken from plant ecology, which has more basis for use.… Continue reading this article “Companion plants, they are not what you think!”