Posts Tagged ‘A greener view’
A Greener View: Ready for the Thanksgiving Cactus – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer You will see poinsettias soon popping up everywhere this time of year, and if you are tired of them you might want to try the easy-to-grow Thanksgiving cactus. You probably have heard them be called Christmas cacti. There are three species of similar tropical cacti. One blooms in the fall,…
Read MoreA Greener View: Fall Bird Feeders and Bulbs – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Q: For the past month, we have had several hummingbirds using our feeder. It hangs in front of my office window, and I notice them all day long. Yesterday, there was only one. I assume they are leaving for migration. How long should I leave the feeder up? I don’t…
Read MoreA Greener View: Make it so in 2024 – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Hopefully 2024 will be a better year, because every year should be better than the one before. Gardening makes everything better, so let’s talk about how to make gardening better. Make a New Year’s resolution to learn more about gardening. Resolve to take a gardening class with your local extension…
Read MoreA Greener View: A live Christmas Tree and protect shrubs from winter animals – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Question: We were thinking of using a live Christmas tree this year instead of cutting one down. After the New Year, we want to plant it in our yard. Is there anything we should know about how to do this? Answer: There are several evergreen tree species that can be…
Read MoreA Greener View: Mums and bulbs – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Q: I love chrysanthemums. I buy several colors of them each fall. I have tried planting them in the ground but they have never come back in the spring. Any suggestions? A: There are several reasons that they don’t make it through the winter. First, you need to buy a…
Read MoreA Greener View: Fall Landscaper Questions – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Q: My landscaper told me a couple of things that I don’t understand. I think he is just trying to make some money. Is this a good time to fertilize a bluegrass lawn? Is this a good time to apply weed controls in the lawn or flower bed? How low…
Read MoreA Greener View: Your Thanksgiving, Christmas Cactus – Jeff Rugg
You will see poinsettias everywhere this time of year, and if you are tired of them you might want to try the easy-to-grow Thanksgiving cactus. You probably have heard them be called Christmas cacti. There are three species of similar tropical cacti. One blooms in the fall, one in the winter and one in the…
Read MoreA Greener View: Hawk Migration – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer For gardeners in the northern two-thirds of the country, the fall is a time to clean up the leaves, plant a few bulbs and pack things up for the winter. Even in the south, the fall is a good time to reflect on how things looked over the summer and…
Read MoreA Greener View: Fixing a dirty pond – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Question: We share the shoreline of a half-acre pond that is about three feet deep at the maximum. It is filled with gooey algae. The shoreline has some cattails and a few other weeds. There are a few fish, but they seem to die whenever we add algaecides. It is…
Read MoreA Greener View: Fall Gardening – Jeff Rugg
by Jeff Rugg, contributing writer Normally, August weather is hot and dry all across the country. In spite of that, it is still a good month to do many gardening and landscaping tasks. Many vegetable crops produce more and have higher-quality fruit in cool weather, when the plant is not stressed. During the first half…
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