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In many seed catalogs you'll find a number of heirloom vegetable varieties.
Be careful when you add products to your garden soil
When you walk through a nursery or garden center, you may find a bewildering variety of soil additive products along with the fertilizers for sale. What do the additives do? Are they needed?
It's not so hard to grow peanuts
Some Tri-City gardeners may have been surprised that a local farmer was successful growing peanuts last year.
Don't overlook summer bulbs
It won't be long (I hope) before we'll be seeing the cheery flowers of crocus announcing that spring is on its way, but even on mild and sunny winter days I find it hard to ponder the coming gardening season.
Some plants are simply just ugly
From time to time I mention the design industry's color trends for the coming year because it influences the color of flowers and plants that will be available.
Holiday cacti provide color during winter
Christmas cactus is an old-fashioned houseplant that's still popular with gardeners today. Christmas cactus is only one of the types of similar-looking holiday cacti. There is a Thanksgiving cactus, a Christmas cactus and an Easter cactus. These closely related cousins are different species of the Schlumbergera and Hatiora genera of cactus.
Use some of that garbage to garden inside this winter
It's been a long time since I've talked about "garbage gardening," but our weather's halt of all outdoor gardening activities has me snuggled up indoors waiting out a potentially long, cold winter.
Don't waste water with drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is 30 percent to 40 percent more efficient than sprinkler irrigation.
Firs, pine just fine, but scratch the spruce
Aren't they all pines? What's the difference? I've been known to be fussy when it comes to picking out a Christmas tree.
Keep your Christmas tree fresh
Whatever your favorite type of tree, here are some tips on selecting a fresh one and keeping it in good condition as long as possible:
Pitch in and plant a tree to help your town go green
It's not easy being green for our urban communities.
Broaden your hydrangea horizons and go hardy
It's nice to see a resurgent interest in flowering shrubs.
It takes lots of work to get blue blooms
From time to time I get calls from gardeners about growing hydrangeas.
Don't gamble with garden this winter
Every year about this time I check the long-range winter forecast for the Pacific Northwest.
Try growing a substitute for cranberries
The Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner -- the time of year when cranberries make their appearance at the dinner table.
Don't be a victim of fertilizer myths
It's not unusual at this time of year to read about the need to use special "winterizing" fertilizer.
Dig in to tasty winter squash
Not long ago I visited the Pasco farmers market and bought a large Blue Hubbard squash.
Spruces living in our area need a lot of care
There are many lovely spruces available for home landscapes.
Fall's not a time to slack off
You would think fall is a slower time of year in the garden.
Turn an acorn into an oak tree
Fall is my favorite season.
A new fruit pest has been trapped locally
I have talked about it before, but a fruit insect pest is on the brink of becoming a problem here, and has been detected in Benton County.
Yellow jackets can be a picnic pest
Trying to have a relaxing picnic at this time of year can be downright dangerous because of the foraging yellow jackets.
Keep color blooming in fall
The end of the summer may be near, but that doesn't mean the end of garden flowers.
Get rid of nasty perennials in lawn
Our summer tends to be hard on cool-season lawn grasses.
Overheated lawns need some first aid
After a long stretch of hot weather, weedy grasses and other problems are sticking out like sore thumbs in many lawns.
Don't let plants scorch in the heat
Days and weeks of intense summer heat and sun cause trees, shrubs and other plants to loose large amounts of water through the pores, called "stomata," in their leaves. This loss of water from the leaves is a process called transpiration.
Tiny thrips bother flowers in garden
They're tiny, seldom-noticed little pests, but thrips seem to be plaguing flowers in area gardens.
Predacious ground beetles are helpful bugs
If you pick up a flower pot set on the ground, it's not unusual to find all sorts of nocturnal creatures hiding beneath it during the day.
Don't let your garden succumb to heat woes
Whew is it hot!
Diligence pays off in weed control
Weeds have developed successful strategies for survival.
Try some alternatives to arborvitae
Keep annual flowers happy
Dirt on summer lawns
Some trees aren't worth shade
Watch out for garden, yard trends
You can raise a new crop of gardeners
Peat moss isn't the end-all for potting
Keep these plants away from garden
'Good neighbors' control fruit pests
Don't underestimate value of native topsoil
Homegrown blueberries take a little extra work
Today's new flowering shrubs will put Grandma's to shame
Bermuda grass still a wily adversary
Try big magnolias in your yard this spring
Stop the tree topping insanity
Planning attack against crabgrass can be tricky
Consider one of my top 10 trees for your landscape
Tools available to grow green thumb knowledge
Get royal with your garden
With proper planning, wisteria can provide beautiful blooms
Take care when pruning trees
Ride the Wave with petunias
Kale, cabbage 'veggies of year'
Try out something old that's also new
Grape research benefits entire country
Regain acid in garden
Keep your trees upright
Potted plants keep giving
You can avoid carpet beetles
A walk on old tires could be good for trees
Try a camellia in your garden
Growers preparing poinsettia plants for holiday decorating
Growers preparing poinsettia plants for holiday decorating
Consider using natural fertilizers for your yard
Weigh yard service options
Don't be a sucker for hype
Horsechestnut trees provide a lot of shade - and a lot of nuts
Leaves can help your yard
Pick fresh fruit at just the right time
Your yard needs care even in the cold
For spring color, plant bulbs now
Get rid of unwanted visitors in your lawn
It's hard to grow tomatoes
Take chunks out of your lawn for its health
Give other dogwoods a shot in your yard
Watch out for sun damage on your plants
Firefly garden light is pretty day and night
Earwigs are ugly pests in garden and at home
Get your garden watered 'just right'
Consider an alternative for your lawn
Mushrooms should be leaving your yard
Be careful with arborvitae
Don't overlook beautiful peonies for your garden
Early fruit falling is just 'June drop'
Some award-winning perennials a good bet
Be careful to use Roundup safely
Container gardens a good place to play
Claims often too good to be true
Old way isn't the right way to plant trees
Give garden a wake-up call
What's in the bottle? Pesticides for home gardeners
Don't let Internet rumor bug you
Wait a while before applying oils
Welcome spring with tulips
Anxious gardeners ready for spring
Flower show to kick off spring
Seed catalogs offer options for gardens
Go with All-America picks for your garden
Add some spice to your garden with pepper varieties
Let them grow - don't give trees an extreme haircut
And now for something completely different - in the garden
You, too, can learn great lessons from Master Gardeners
Agricultural research has everyday uses
Try some bulbs to get winter blooms
Don't give trees blankets during winter
Even if you want to, don't ignore weeds
There's much to add interest to winter landscapes
There are still plenty of things to do around the house
Russian-olive isn't out to make many friends
Insects use many methods to cope with cold weather
A few steps will get lawn, garden ready for winter
Prepare forsythia now so they can announce spring
Get children involved in planting bulbs for a beautiful lesson
Mushrooms pests in lawns but good for environment
Prepare a spring present by planting bulbs in fall
Strange-looking diseases can be spooky in the garden
Bees work hard for gardens
Fall means pests are looking for winter homes
Ailing arborvitae likely a victim of root rot - not pests
Keep your lawn green by fertilizing on holidays
Canadian gardens offer great ideas for new shrubs
August the best time of year to remove weeds in grass
Knowing when to water half the battle in dry climate
Shade trees worth wait to bring summertime cool
Fighting bug infestation requires vigilant gardener
Mid-Columbia gardeners having trouble with tomatoes
Mildew doesn't need it wet to attack plants
Birch trees require extra care to thrive in our area
Proven Winners a sure bet to diversify your garden
Plants need water year-round, not just when it's hot
Bees are intriguing but don't be fooled by impostors
Here's the dirt on what works in landscaping
New homes may run into trouble with pre-landscaped yards
Keep an eye out for insect pests on roses
Don't fret - diazinon substitutes are available
Exotic plants create a home garden paradise
Exotic plants create a home garden paradise
Garden mail showcases latest garden products
Garden vertically with climbing vines
Don't compromise the health of trees with needless topping
2005 garden trends shift focus to outside decor
Be wary of 'fantastic' claims of new garden products
Growing roses? Ponder these questions
Think about lawns, insecticides as weather warms
Pests can make growing fruit trees a fruitless effort
New year brings crop of new vegetables
New flower varieties recognized
National Garden Bureau lets melon have its year
Have a garden plan before you buy, plant perennials
Plant quarantines can frustrate gardeners
It's time to prune shrubs, but think before you snip
Taste the difference of popular heirloom tomatoes
Shop for garden gadgets when it's chilly outside
Member of the legume family has a broad history
Master Gardeners carry wealth of information
Lessons learned from questions asked
Everyone can benefit from answers to students' questions
Root fungi help keep soil, plants healthy
Using up leftovers can help in cold-weather gardening
Get pesky 'rug bugs' out of your cupboard to free house
Bark can make all the difference when picking out a tree
With Thanksgiving just weeks away, let's talk squash
Planning helps avoid winter plant damage
Getting to the root of gardening myths takes some digging
Certain trees help boost fall color in Mid-Columbia
USDA agency focuses on ag research, problems
A little work now will prevent lawn headaches
Gardeners have much to do before weather cools
© 2008 Tri-City Herald, Associated Press and other wire services.
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