Middle South Regional Report

Harvest Rainwater with a Rain Barrel

With much of our region experiencing serious drought and some of the hottest weather still ahead of us, now is the time to look for more ways to conserve water in your landscape. We've had some dramatic thunderstorms roll through our area, with the...
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Resources

Rain Barrel Plans
Rain Gardens

Water Soil Before Fertilizing
Cut Back Perennials for Rebloom
Nurture Roses
Plan Your Late Summer and Fall Garden
Water Tomatoes to Keep Soil Moist

Insect Pest Primer

Insect Control Rule Number 1: Never spray an insecticide until you've identified the culprit! Not all insects are pests -- many are beneficial, most are benign. Don't assume that any insect crawling around on a plant is there to cause trouble. Case in...
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Resources

Constructing a Rain Barrel
Creative Concrete Ornaments for the Garden

Harvest Herbs
Visit the Garden Daily
Harvest and Store Produce
Continue Planting
Rejuvenate Dry Container Gardens

Focus on Fungus: Managing Garden Diseases

Gardeners in our region no doubt welcomed the recent rains. I know I did. But although they provided only a drop in the bucket when it comes to replenishing wells, lakes, and aquifers, the rains did bring something else: garden diseases. Or at least...
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Resources

Plants Favored by Deer
Angelonia

Fertilize Container Plantings
Replace Flagging Annuals
Spend Half Hour a Day Pulling Weeds
Keep Tomatoes Evenly Watered
Avoid Using Sprinklers in Midday Sun

Tips for Terrific Tomatoes

By now you've planted your tomatoes in the garden. Have you thought ahead and set up some sort of training or staking system? Mulched around the bases? It's not too late, but the sooner the better. Tomatoes are often cited as one of the easiest garden...
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Resources

Companion Planting
Apply Water Where You Need It

Keep Seedbeds and Transplants Moist
Control Mosquitoes
Thin Seedlings
Control Slugs
Prune Dianthus

Plant Some Veggies!

If you're new to gardening and are inspired to grow some vegetables, you might be unsure how to begin. Here are some things you'll want to consider. If you want to turn part of your lawn into a small vegetable patch, choose an area in full sun where...
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Resources

NGA's Food Gardening Guide
Donate Extra Produce

Avoid Overfertilizing Plants
Water Deeply
Mulch Containers
Attract Beneficial Insects
Remove Diseased Rose Leaves

Food Gardeners Unite

Like many of you, I take announcements of new "trends" with a grain of salt. One year purple is in, the next season it's orange. One year it's Victorian baroque, the next, minimalism. However, a recent spate of news items caught my eye. It seems that...
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Resources

Take a Garden Tour
Pot Up 6-Pack Transplants

Combine Garden Beds
Plant Summer-Blooming Bulbs
Watch for Cabbage Loopers and Cabbageworms
Encourage Drought Tolerance
Check Roots of Transplants Before Buying

Alternatives to Common Invasive Plants

In my last column I raised the issue of invasive plants, and now I'd like to suggest some noninvasive options for our gardens. Below are some native ground covers, shrubs, trees, perennials, and vines that are attractive and well behaved in the...
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Resources

American Public Gardens Association
Get Ahead of the Weeds

Plant Seeds in Rows
Mow High, Mow Often
Tranplant on Cloudy Days
Prevent Birds from Flying Into Windows
Prune Spring-Flowering Shrubs

Invasive Plants: Buy Now, Pay Later

I was shocked to see mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris ) for sale at a local herb festival last spring. This pernicious perennial meets the definition of a weed in my garden -- a plant growing (and growing and growing) where it's not wanted. A poster child...
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Resources

Safety in the Garden
Natural Gardening in Small Spaces

Plant in Succession
Set Up Trellises
Save on Soil in Large Planters
Spread Corn Gluten Meal
Mulch Wisely

Eco-Friendly Lawns

It's just about time for those dandelion-yellow "Pesticides Applied" signs to sprout in lawns across the country, warning passersby to keep off the grass. (Too bad squirrels, birds, cats, and dogs don't know how to read.) Is it possible to have a...
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Resources

Atlanta Botanical Garden Events
Landscape Plants for Georgia

Add a Berm
Plant Fragrant Herbs Along Paths
Wait to Mow
Label Crowded Daffodil Clumps
Use Native Soil to Backfill

Enjoy Springtime in All its Glory

Isn't this just the best time of year? Against a backdrop of grays and browns, the crayon colors of crocuses and daffodils seem otherworldly. How can such color emerge from seemingly lifeless earth? What alchemy allows soil, water, and air to combine...
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Resources

Protect Hands with Bicycle Gloves
Dr. Entomo's Palace of Exotic Wonders

Remove Strawberry Mulch
Prune Crape Myrtles
Trim Liriope
Plant Asparagus
Leave Spring Bulb Foliage

Get Seeds Off to a Good Start

Whether you are a novice or an old hand at starting your own vegetable and flower seeds indoors, it's helpful to understand the science behind seed germination. Just what does a seed need to germinate and grow into a vigorous, healthy seedling? Once you...
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Resources

New Echinaceas
Aerate Lawns Annually

Begin Dividing Perennials
Harden Off Transplants
Fix Low Spots
Stratify Seeds
Prune Back Ornamental Grasses

Middle South Regional Report

Harvest Rainwater with a Rain Barrel

Resources

Reminders

Insect Pest Primer

Resources

Reminders

Focus on Fungus: Managing Garden Diseases

Resources

Reminders

Tips for Terrific Tomatoes

Resources

Reminders

Plant Some Veggies!

Resources

Reminders

Food Gardeners Unite

Resources

Reminders

Alternatives to Common Invasive Plants

Resources

Reminders

Invasive Plants: Buy Now, Pay Later

Resources

Reminders

Eco-Friendly Lawns

Resources

Reminders

Enjoy Springtime in All its Glory

Resources

Reminders

Get Seeds Off to a Good Start

Resources

Reminders