Gardening

Q. There is lots of Spanish moss growing in our trees. Is it true that the moss can kill the trees? A. What would Florida be without Spanish moss draping from the trees? While it looks like it could be causing harm, the truth is Spanish moss takes...

  "Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Fantastic Yard" by Amanda Thompson (Storey Publishing, 161 pages, $16.95). A garden book for the age of graphic novels, in which wiseacre wordplay and cartoony illustrations make basic knowledge about...

"We have been decorating with natural materials for years since my husband is an avid gardener and our back yard has a large variety of plants to use for cuttings," says Amy Zigar of Poquoson. "Everything we trimmed in the yard I could see it used as...

Whether it’s to help beautify their neighborhoods, foster a sense of community or to grow their own vegetables and fruits, more Americans are starting local community gardens. According to the latest U.S. government statistics, more than 23...

I have a 35-year-old indoor hibiscus. The plant is thriving again after having had a traumatic year. In the summer of 2011, I moved it outside for the first time and was extremely pleased with its profusion of blooms. Then it got quite cold, so I...

Brookings - This fall, many livestock producers veterinarian Jim Stangle works with have to be creative when it comes to finding forage for their cattle. The drought left them with reduced hay supplies and little to no winter grazing. To help ensure...

Santa knows that I really look forward to receiving unusual gardening tools as Christmas gifts. Every year, though, it's becoming more difficult for Santa to find ones that I don't already have. By the way, even though I enjoy getting tools as gifts, my...

My neighbor told me that I have a lot of buckthorn in my garden and that I should remove it. The plants are healthy, and I do not understand why this would be a good idea. — Janice Holt, Kenilworth   The buckthorn growing in your garden is a...

Gardening? In November? December? Yes, there is still plenty you can do to nurture your need to toil in the soil and get your garden ready for its winter rest. First, plant something. If you start amaryllis or paperwhites bulbs now, they should be...

Hampton Grows, a gardening organization partnering with the Hampton Clean City Commission to encourage community gardening, has plans to give your empty toilet paper rolls a second life if you will take the time and effort to donate them.  You can drop...

The New Year is traditionally a time for reflection. What do we hope to achieve in our lives and lifestyles, our work, or at play with our families in 2013? And how do we best achieve it? Gardeners are not immune from such soul-searching. Gardens in...

Is your green thumb itching to try something new? Do you love to learn and share what you know? Then you could be a master gardener.  Master gardeners are volunteer educators. They teach people safe, effective gardening techniques through plant clinics,...