Some Indiana gardeners get the mid-summer “blahs”, and our plants are no different. Summer annuals may look leggy with smaller flowers, and perennials may have too many seed heads. Flowering shrubs may be dotted with brown, dead flowers. All these “blahs” can be easily fixed.   The benefits of deadheading  Annuals like cosmos and zinnia benefit… Continue reading.

Take a walk with me as we explore native spring wildflowers that are perfect for most of our gardens, small or large. Here are three ready to present their spring show. Wild geraniums  Hardy wild geraniums can be found in the wild and are named to differentiate them from hybrid geraniums. The flower varies with… Continue reading.

When I worked at a large independent garden center in Indianapolis, customers sometimes came in this time of year wanting to buy spring bulbs to plant. Staffers would have to tell them that the spring bulbs they saw blooming now were planted in fall.  Not all is lost, however. Fortunately, garden centers and home improvement… Continue reading.

By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp Buying a Christmas tree is on the holiday to-do list of many of us. There are several ways to get “O Tannenbaum” in the house. Some people shop at a tree lot like a church, a nursery, a garden center, or a tree farm. Some may wander their woods for… Continue reading.

By Jo Ellen Myers Sharp Enhance your garden with scents from these aromatic plants I have a small urban yard, and I’m picky about the plants I put there. Because space is limited, I look for fragrant plants. Here are some of my favorites. ANNUALS Flowering tobacco I especially like Nicotiana alata and N. sylvestris,… Continue reading.

By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp If you have never grown a vegetable in a garden or a pot, now is the time. Here are three that are easy and yummy. BAUER OAKLEAF LETTUCE Bauer oakleaf lettuce, a 2022 All-America Selection, grows in a tight rosette head that is as beautiful as it is delicious. The… Continue reading.

By Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp January is the month of resolutions, although most are short-lived — like no more ice cream after 7 p.m. Making resolutions for your outdoor landscape can be much easier. Here are a few resolutions that can make a significant impact in the coming year. Remove an invasive plant from your… Continue reading.

Gardeners are nothing if not hopeful. How many of us say “I’ll try that next year,” or “Next year will be better for fill in the blank.” Whether you want to add some new vegetables to your garden or plant a few spring-flowering bulbs, here are 10 things you can do now to make next… Continue reading.

Q: Do you know what this plant is? — Shelley Oberwetter, Culver, Indiana A: It would be helpful to know the context of where this plant is located: Is it something you planted in a garden? Or did you find it growing “wild”? Do you notice a strong odor when handling the foliage, said to… Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner Most gardeners would agree that tomatoes are the most popular crop for home growing. But what gardeners can’t agree on is what tomato is considered the best, since taste is such a personal matter. The diversity of cultivars available makes it easy for anyone to grow tomatoes even if all you… Continue reading.

If you’ve ever had to work on a tree leaf collection, no doubt you included a leaf from Indiana’s state tree. Also known as tulip poplar, yellow poplar, or tulip tree, the tuliptree is actually not a poplar at all. It is a member of the magnolia family known botanically as Liriodendron tulipifera. The tuliptree… Continue reading.

Q: Does the length of the sweet potato vine affect the yield? I have some 6 feet long. Should these be cut back to about 3 feet? — Allan McKinley, Borden A: Cutting back sweet potato vines is not generally recommended. Healthy vigorous vines generally should improve yield. Although overabundance of nitrogen can promote foliage… Continue reading.