August is traditionally the time of year when garden prep is over and harvesting season begins. Knowing when and how to harvest will make both the garden and gardeners more productive and satisfying. This time of year could be considered the Superbowl for vegetable gardens. In New England, this means tomatoes, eggplant and peppers are ripening. Enjoy these early days before the yields become overwhelming. As opposed to the rest of the country that has been suffering record droughts and heat, the Boston area has made out pretty well this year for produce. It has been a little warmer than …

  At this point in the season, the garden growth should be in full swing, but mother nature often throws a wrench into the best laid plans: weeds. And don't be fooled. Every gardener has to deal with this overgrown annoyance. Some are just better and more diligent than others. There are many great and often easy solutions to this problem. Read on. The Mulch Mat One simple method that can accomplish a few goals in one step is to add a thick, two to three inch layer of organic mulch (50 percent peat moss) around plants. If the coating is thick enough, the plants won't be able to pop through and…

  Once the busy spring and summer flower seasons have passed, many nurseries and garden centers are still stocked up on garden enhancements, such as wrought iron decorations and pottery planters. Additionally, these items are often marked down to clear inventories for the next year. So, visiting the nurseries and garden centers often in the middle of the summer can be a great opportunity to fill spots in the home landscape that have not lived up to expectations. Some great accessories include trellises, birdbaths and larger pottery or plastic pots. Trellises Trellises are often made of wood …

  Many homeowners may feel that the term lazy days of summer best describes a gardener's job for the month of July. At the height of the season, the yard is typically lush and full of blooms or has dried up waiting for next year's bounty. The good news is, it's not too late to get those hands dirty and plant items that will deliver lovely flowers to be enjoyed now and for the rest of the season, or even next year! Perennials There are many plants available at local garden centers that are appropriate and organically suitable to plant now. Late blooming perennials, such as Day Lilies and many …

  Many home gardeners may not immediately think of growing blueberries in the backyard, but this delicious and nutritious fruit is an ideal addition to a home landscape and will provide weeks of mid-summer treats. At the Nursery To have a successful blueberry crop, typically more than one type of cultivated blueberry plant is needed growing in the yard. It is a good idea if the flowering time of these plants overlaps, so don’t go for a very early and very late season crop, but rather one of these and at least one that is a main-season variety. This way they can be adequately pollinated and …

  The garden can suffer and benefit from all sorts of wildlife visitors. Insects such as bees and butterflies are critical to vegetation pollination, but the caterpillars that will someday become those butterflies can do significant damage to plants in the meantime. Plenty of other insects will also harm plants, and outside of chemical treatments, there is very little that can be done to discourage them. The easiest and most environmentally-friendly option is typically insecticidal soap. This is sold in a spray bottle and has a chemical in it referred to as 'potassium salts of fatty acids.' …

  While it is early in the harvest season, one local delectable fruit to enjoy right now is the strawberry. Whether they are grown in home garden, freshly picked, bought at the local farm or purchased the old fashioned way at the grocery store, at this time of year they are delicious, juicy and a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. Pick Your Own For those looking for freshly harvested and enjoy the experience of picking strawberries directly off their vines, there are a few quality farms that offer pick your own strawberries and provide a fun event the entire family can enjoy. Just to name a…

A number of variable come into play when it comes to maintaining a garden, but a vital component that the gardener does have some control over is water. Mother Nature does help in this area, however, few gardens can get by on natural rainwater alone. While many towns impose water bans during the summer, it is important to know how to best manage water resources and to efficiently garden around the water supply. Choosing Plants When it comes to the landscaping around the home, consider native and drought-tolerant plants. Native plants are suited to the extremes of this area and are suited to …

  Now that all the plants are in the ground and summer is well under way with everything growing lush very quickly, here are a few notes to keep in mind: Weeding Weeding: it's a necessary evil of gardening. Weeds are of course an invasive or unintentional plant that competes for nutrients and space with desirable plants. The number one key to easy weeding is to do it early and often. Just scratching the surface around a nice plant every once in a while will keep weeds that are germinating at bay. The growth of these pesky plants are hindered when starting with a clean bed, but many times …

  It's Memorial Day Weekend, and what better way to celebrate than by planting a Victory garden to produce fresh vegetables all season long for the kitchen, grill, and maybe even the neighbors! The trick to the home vegetable garden is not really in the growing. The secret lies in the variables surrounding the growing process. It is the what, where and how often of the garden that makes a difference. Location The first key to success is choosing the space. Many growing guides will explain, for example, that tomatoes require at least 5-6 hours of light a day. This amount is a real minimum. The…

  The sun is predicted to shine this weekend after another long stretch of cool, rainy, cloudy days, and gardening enthusiasts have waited patiently all spring to get those perennials in the ground. But wait, it's Mother's Day Sunday and now comes the big question: the mall or the garden center? The answer? Flowers are a wonderful gift for that special lady and why not give her something that will grow and bloom year after year? This Mother's Day, think of Mom’s garden and the power of a lasting gift. There are many beautiful perennial plants, shrubs and vines available now that will send …

  Starting a vegetable garden is one of the most exciting times of spring. With dreams of heirloom tomatoes fresh from the vine and buckets of zucchini flooding the kitchen, gardeners new and old may think they need to impatiently wait out in May to prepare their patch of vegetable heaven. While it is still too cold to be putting many summer crops in the ground, many plant varieties actually thrive in cooler temperatures. With all the work that can go into tilling and turning over a garden, it is gratifying to get something into the earth early. So, after calculating and reserving space for …

  Changes in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map If you have ever browsed through a gardening book, you may have noticed a plant zone map. This feature can be used to determine what plants will thrive in your specific part of the country. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shifted its zone map for plant hardiness for this area adjusting it a half zone warmer. Depending on very local conditions, this puts almost everyone reading this article in Zone 6. This translates that plants can survive throughout the winter with temperatures as low as -15 to 0 degrees F. New England's Fickle Springs…

This year, plants and shrubs weren't nestled under snow banks, they did, however, have to deal with other winter elements and now is the time to help them recover. It is time to begin cleaning and prepping for that spring and summer garden.     Rake, Rake, Rake   There may not have been a lot of precipitation this winter, but it was certainly very windy and cold and this is the ideal weekend to rake away the winter trash, leaves , brush and sticks that could be hindering young sprouts.   Separate Perennials   You may start to see some early perennial shoots popping out to greet the warmer …