It’s raking time!
I remember when my parents used to make my little brother and I rake the yard as kids. We would gather all the dead leaves from under the tall sycamores into little piles, then scrape and push all the little piles together until we had one gigantic mound of leaves. Then we would jump into [...]
Autumn is Upon Us!
The last day of summer has passed, but fall is finally here!
Beautiful foliage, pumpkin picking, mums in full bloom. Every gardener delights in the harvest season. Since the warm weather is coming to an end, the next few weeks Ask Ivy will concentrate on how to winterize your plants. I will be sharing steps to [...]
Gardenia Growing
Q: I have a gardenia topiary in a North facing window in my house. Some of the leaves are turning brown and some of the branches are wilting. Why? Please help!
A: Ah, gardenias. The famous white bloom Billie Holiday wore in her hair. Popular in the Southern US, these plants are native to Asia and [...]
Petunia Problems
Q: I think I over watered my petunias. They look like they died, can I bring them back?
A: This classic gardeners favorite doesn’t require much water, so it is likely you have given them more than they could handle. The soil in which you grow petunias should be very well drained. If planting them in [...]
A Picture Tour of My Urban Vegetable Garden
Even though I live in the city, I like to have fresh, organic produce on hand. I also like to know that my yard space is being put to good use. I used about a third of my fenced in back yard to create a veggie garden that I’m very proud of. The space is [...]
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Wanted: Garden Enemies
Have you seen this critter?
This is a common grasshopper. These guys are native to the US. Just a few of them is no big deal, but a swarm of them can wipe out a whole Summer’s worth of work. Grasshoppers have many natural enemies. Help harbor the predators, keep the pests to a minimum.
Don’t throw [...]
Outdoor Thirsty Light?
Q: Can the Thirsty Light be used outdoors?
A: Yes it can, reader! There are several methods you can use. The best one to employ will probably be the quick check method. On a day you are prepared to water, just take your TL and go around to your flowers and trees. Turn it on and [...]
Reader Mail: Spent Daisy Blooms
Q: My daisies are spent and all that remains are the dead flower heads. Should I cut these off, or leave them?
A: You should snip the dead heads. Daisies are perennials , and will come back next year. Whenever you have a flower or plant that is done blooming, you should cut off the dead [...]
Reader Mail!-
For Ivy,
I am getting ready to buy large plants for an outdoor patio. The patio gets
sun from around 9:00 to 3:00. I then want to be able to bring them indoors
for the winter. Any recommendations for types?
-Musing in Massachusetts
Dear Musing,
Congratulations, it sounds like you have a full sun patio! Lots of gardeners struggle with lack [...]
Composting 101
You may be spending dough on store bought fertilizer for your plants while throwing away valuable bits of it every day. I have seen the beauty of decomposing organic material, readers! It’s so easy and beneficial to compost, I don’t know why I never did it before. The steps are simple and you can go [...]