Gardening & Landscape Articles

Cottage Gardens Settlers in America were limited in their seed choices. Were the best seeds saved from their past garden, or should they trade with a neighbor? Would the European imports grow under new conditions, or did seeds lose viability over the long ocean voyage? Beginning in the late 1700s...

You might be tempted to just toss your tools in the shed and call it a day, but dirty tools are like a bed and breakfast for plant diseases and fungi. By cleaning them now, you're doing your future garden a huge favor. Plus, there's nothing worse than trying to prune with dull shears or dig with a...

Choosing Your Seeds You can winter sow any seeds. The difference is when and how you sow them. Some trees and bushes need two (2) years of cold moist stratification. Some species need to be moist for a period but in warm conditions, and some seeds (paw paws) need to be moist before they go into the...

Lifelong Learning Gardening is a journey of lifelong learning, where every season brings new challenges, discoveries, and opportunities to grow alongside our plants. Fall, in particular, offers us a perfect time to reflect on what we've learned this growing season and prepare thoughtfully for the...

Step 1 - Draing and Winterize Water Systems Now is the perfect time to winterize your irrigation setup. Drain hoses, hose bibs, and any containers holding water to prevent freezing damage. Clean and sanitize your pots so they’re ready for spring planting. These steps will help avoid costly repairs...

Fall Garden Checklist Some tasks that I do in my garden at this time of year are: Prepare the vegetable garden soil for the future garden. I remove any dead or diseased material. (FYI: don’t throw your diseased trimmings into your compost pile, some diseases can overwinter in plant material and re...

Garden Practices I often contemplate my garden practices: Are they healthy for the environment, am I being conservative or wasteful? Should I expand the vegetable garden, or do I have enough? This really is the time to journal my thoughts on the subject of gardening and to review the photos I have...

Trees and Shrubs Prune any dead or damaged branches that may fall or cause further injury to the plants. For safety, call in an arborist for help with large trees. Likewise, avoid pruning near electrical or utility wires. Contact your municipality or utility to handle those situations. Inspect your...

In the Garden Remember to check out the Orleans Community Seed Share, the seed library based at the Orleans County CCE offices in Albion. Speaking of seeds, now is the time to start saving seeds from your favorite edible and ornamental plants. Join us Sept. 20 for Seed Collecting, Part 2 — Wet...

In the Garden Remember to check out the Orleans Community Seed Share, the seed library based at the Orleans County CCE offices in Albion. Speaking of seeds, now is the time to start saving seeds from your favorite edible and ornamental plants. Join us Aug. 16 for Seed Collecting, Part 1 — Dry...