Tuberous begonias are often unsatisfactory in the Middle West because they stop flowering too soon. In an effort to provide a cool, shady place, many gardeners plant them where light intensity is too low in the morning or evening. Since they are sensitive to day length, they cease blooming as days grow shorter about mid-August. […]

Even as colorful a country as Ecuador where there’s so much else to see, a garden-lover can’t help ferreting out interesting flower scenes. I didn’t have to look far my first day in Quito. It was July 14, Bastille Day, and great floral offerings were being prepared for the French Embassy. As I wandered into […]

Autumn is just around the corner – and the big fall push of gardening jobs begins. Why not get an early start during the tranquil days of August? It will lessen the list later. Where the weather permits color from annuals from December to March, it’s imperative to start the plants now from seed. Or, […]

Throughout the country August brings hot and sticky weather. With it, too, comes the full enjoyment and bounty of vegetables and flowers tended so carefully during the spring and early summer. Pick Faded Blooms To insure prolific bloom on annuals, keep removing faded blooms. If allowed to remain, blooming will decrease, as the strength goes […]

Question: We just moved to Southern California and are excited to get started in our backyard landscape. At this time of the year (August) what do we plant, prune, fertilize and mulch? Shannon, Oceanside, California Answer: Shannon, the time (August) we remind Southland gardeners that this is the month for sowing sweet peas and garden […]

Irrigation and pest control get top billing on the gardeners’ schedules in July and August, especially east of the Coast and Cascade Ranges. Along the coastline up into southern Alaska there is more humidity and some rainfall but the burden of watering, even in those areas, is largely up to the home owner. Cool night […]

This is a month (July) of varied garden activities. There are always some odd planting jobs, and garden maintenance goes on, even in hot, dry weather. But mostly we should try to relax and enjoy the many lovely shrubs that come into flower this month. Blooming in July are bottlebrush, hypericum, Florida jasmine, plumb ago, […]

Throughout most of the Southwest rainfall this past season has again been far below normal; snowfall in the Sierras has been scant, so some areas may face a curtailed supply of water for gardens. But prudent use and proper conservation can stretch the available supply so that your garden will not suffer. Apply ample mulches […]

Question: What plants can we take cuttings of now (July) and start rooting them. I do not have a greenhouse but want to learn more on how to start my own plants and maybe sell some plants occasionally. Deb, Danville, Virginia Answer: Deb, many woody plants can be rooted easily. Although this is usually left […]

Question: Is July a bad time to prune our maple and dogwood trees? How far back should we prune our Wisteria shoots? Audrey, Phoenixville, PA Answer: Audrey, the practice of summer pruning has long been used. This is the best time to prune trees that would bleed if pruned earlier. Maples, dogwood, birch, yellow wood […]