Am just heading out the door for Fairfax, Virginia – part of the greater Northern Virginia metro area, with traffic that scares the pants off of us country mice. I’m doing the Master Gardener training for the Fairfax Master Gardener Association. Their attendance is so huge, they have to split into a morning session (150 people) and an evening session (100+). Two and a half hours of training on “herbaceous plants” twice in one day – that’s a lot of yakking even for yours truly. … Continue reading this article “More Master Gardener Fun!”
Category: Just do it
Proposed phosphate fertilizer ban
Today I received an email alerting members of Washington Friends of Farms and Forests to a proposed ban on phosphate-containing fertilizers in the state of Washington. Here’s part of the text of the email (I’ve removed underlining, bolding, highlighting etc. so this reads as objectively as possible):
“Concerns with the HB 1271 & SB 5194 banning the sale of fertilizer containing phosphorous:
1) The intent section contains scientifically inaccurate statements, creating a false precedent that turf fertilizer is a significant surface water pollutant and is not necessary for a healthy lawn.… Continue reading this article “Proposed phosphate fertilizer ban”
Annual reporting – and you can help!
As many of you know, we Garden Professors justify our existence as faculty members every year through annual reporting. Blogging is one of the newer educational opportunities that most university systems haven’t quite figured out how to measure and evaluate.
So we’re taking matters into our own hands. I’ve created a short survey to assess our effectiveness in outreach education in the blogosphere.
The more feedback we get, the easier it is for us to make the case for continuing this effort. … Continue reading this article “Annual reporting – and you can help!”
Fertilizers, crops and landscapes
Last week Jeff wrote about the dangers of using “balanced” fertilizers, especially in reference to phosphorus content. Comments quickly followed about using fertilizers in many situations – on farms, in container plants, on trees – and so on. One of the latest comments came from Nick and began “I don’t usually recommend fertilizer for perennials or woody plants to consumers. In most cases they aren’t needed.” And this leads into today’s topic.
Many of the horticultural practices we use in our gardens and landscapes have, unfortunately, been derived from agricultural crop production. … Continue reading this article “Fertilizers, crops and landscapes”
“Leave” Them Alone…Adventures in Extension Podcasting
We’re on the topic of communication this week…how can Extension personnel communicate best with their audience/stakeholders. It used to be via racks of Xeroxed “Fact Sheets” at your local Extension office. A few of these are said to still exist, but with states gutting their extension budgets, the costs of printing have become prohibitive. And more critically…where do YOU go for information? A musty file full of handouts? Heck no. Electronic media is tailor-made for extension.… Continue reading this article ““Leave” Them Alone…Adventures in Extension Podcasting”
So what to plant under power lines?
I’m going to add a bit more to Bert’s discussion. Through the efforts of Dr. Eric Wiseman of Urban Forestry at Virginia Tech, we have a
Utility Line Arboretum (ULA). Modeled after Dr. Bonnie Appleton’s original ULA for Virginia at the Hampton Roads research station, Eric’s includes many woody taxa suitable for planting in the vicinity of power lines (see a nice list of Bonnie’s favorite power-line-friendly taxa here).
Eric came to me with his plan in 2006 and we found some space in our Hahn Horticulture Garden to get it going.… Continue reading this article “So what to plant under power lines?”
Water is the answer!
Wildlife week continues! My humble experience with my own gardens past and present, as well as our campus garden, is that the presence of water virtually guarantees the presence of wildlife. One of the National Wildlife Federation’s top requirements for becoming a Certified Wildlife Habitat is “supply water” (another requirement: "$20 fee"). Water is, of course, the beverage of choice for most animals (though I did hear of a squirrel that preferred beer). And some creatures require it as a substrate in which to reproduce (that sounded a bit clinical). … Continue reading this article “Water is the answer!”
When You Gotta Go, Go Green
Here’s a bit of the fact-filled, intrepid reporting we at Garden Professors are pleased to provide.
Just back from a visit/droolfest to Pennsylvania’s "Golden Triangle" of horticulture: Swarthmore’s Scott Arboretum, Chanticleer, and Longwood Gardens.
At closing time on Saturday, I was wandering through the cavernous halls of the Longwood conservatory, looking for either my travel companion John Greenlee (Mr. American Meadow Garden), or the restroom. Found one, then followed the signs to the other…
Whoa.… Continue reading this article “When You Gotta Go, Go Green”
A lawn alternative we can support: Conifers!
As many of the blog readers are aware, I do a lot of writing about conifers. In the process I mingle with members of the American Conifer Society or ‘ACS’ for short -although some wag has suggested that ACS actually stands for Addicted Conifer Syndrome, such is the devotion of these enthusiasts for their beloved conifers. A couple weekends ago I was privileged to attend the first ever ACS ‘Illinois Conifer Rendezvous’ hosted by Rich and Susan Eyre, owners of Foxwillow Pines nursery in Woodstock, IL. … Continue reading this article “A lawn alternative we can support: Conifers!”
Dig it up and give it another chance!
Too often I’ve come across relatively young trees, shrubs, and vines that are surviving, but not thriving. Every year they struggle gamely to put on a few new leaves, grow a few more inches, but something’s fishy and it’s not fertilizer. Today I’m going to try to convince you to give these languishing woody species a second lease on life.
Long-time readers of this blog will remember some of the root horrors I’ve (literally) uncovered in containerized and balled-and-burlapped plants. … Continue reading this article “Dig it up and give it another chance!”