Summer-blooming bulbs are a great way to add color and scent to your garden. They are easy to grow and best planted when the soil temperature is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Be part of International Compost Awareness Week, May 5-11, and promote the benefits of composting. Explore how composting organic materials can lead to healthier soil and a greener planet. Theme: COMPOST … Nature’s Climate Champion.
Create a bird-friendly oasis in your backyard with our guide to bird bath basics. Attract a diverse range of feathered visitors and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Despite being a land-locked state, Oklahoma has nearly 56,000 miles of shoreline along lakes and ponds which equals about 1,400 square miles of water area. With this much water, it’s vital to the environment to keep it clean.
As the weather begins to warm, gardeners may start noticing some movement in the landscape, and it’s not plants sprouting from the soil. Many garden insect pests become active this time of year, so be on the lookout.
Flower gardening is popular in Oklahoma and roses continue to top the list of the most popular plants grown each year. Some rose varieties are considered to be high maintenance while other species are more carefree for gardeners.
Is there anything that tastes better than a fresh-picked strawberry? Gardeners who are looking forward to savoring that flavor know how rewarding it is to grow strawberries. Because Oklahoma tends to be quite sunny in the summer, strawberries are a good choice for the garden.
Although much of Oklahoma has been experiencing a deep freeze recently, gardeners are gearing up for the growing season by starting seeds indoors. Adequate lighting is a must and can be tricky for gardeners who don’t have access to a greenhouse or sunroom environment. Supplemental lighting is important to get seeds off to a good start.
Manually removing ice and snow is effective and environmentally friendly. The less ice and snow present means less deicing material is needed. However, manual removal isn’t always feasible, so other methods need to be considered. Sand is also environmentally friendly, but while providing traction, it doesn’t melt ice.
For a quarter of a century, the Oklahoma Proven program has helped guide gardeners in making smart decisions regarding which trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals are well adapted to an Oklahoma landscape.
With some 10- to 12-gauge wire, a flower pot, wire cutters, pliers, smaller wire, a little patience and a few other household items, gardeners who enjoy topiaries can make them on a smaller scale to enhance the interior décor of their home.
A prominent smell indicative of the holiday season is evergreens. Decorating with greenery is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Homeowners with evergreens on their property can do a little pruning and turn the greenery into a wreath.
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) and other Ficus species are popular houseplants that are relatively easy to care for, but gardeners may notice they tend to drop a fair number of leaves when moved indoors. Don’t worry about the falling leaves as this is just part of the moving process.
A quick and easy way to add flavor to some of your favorite dishes is to incorporate fresh herbs. Rosemary, thyme, mint, chives, basil, parsley and oregano adapt well to indoor growing conditions.
While trees, shrubs and flowers are the main attraction, lighting can also play a big role in the aesthetics of the landscape. Lighting not only can expand the amount of time homeowners can spend in the landscape, but it also adds an element of home security and safety.
While the obvious elements of a landscape are trees, shrubs and flowers, these elements can serve a dual purpose. Landscaping to attract birds provides year-round enjoyment.
If homeowners are finding an abundance of small branches and twigs on the ground, this is a good indicator that there are visitors in the tree known as twig girdlers.
It won’t be long until it’s time to wrap holiday gifts, but until then, consider wrapping the trunks of the trees in the landscape to boost tree health.
Many people may be thinking about carving pumpkins and what kind of Halloween candy to buy during this time of the year, but gardening enthusiasts know it’s time to get spring-flowering bulbs in the ground before freezing temperatures arrive.
Gardeners won’t find them in dill pickle, barbecue or even pizza flavors in their garden, but the seeds from their sunflower plants still can be a tasty treat.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve talked about the importance of developing a landscape plan and the elements of a landscape. This week I’m going to share information about the principles of design.
In last week’s column, I talked about the importance of having a landscape design plan when building a new home or updating the look of your current residence. Today’s column is geared toward the elements of your design plan.
Whether you’re building a new home or simply want to spruce up the current landscape, it’s important to get a plan in place. The landscape is more than plants – it’s also landforms and man- made structures. Fences, garden bed borders and lighting are just as important as the trees, shrubs and turf.
High temperatures have arrived, and the weather professionals are indicating it may stay that way for a while. While succulents can thrive in this hot weather, it’s vital for gardeners to use the proper precautions when working outside in the heat.
As Smart Irrigation Month ends, some homeowners across the state may have decided their landscape would benefit from the installation of an irrigation system. Before reaching out to your neighbor for help with this process, keep in mind an irrigation system is an investment in the property and should be installed by professionals.
Some people don’t realize how technology can be involved when irrigating a home landscape, especially if they irrigate with a sprinkler hooked to a water hose.
Compost is a term that’s used liberally in the gardening world, but what exactly is it? Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as a plant fertilizer, as well as to improve soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties.
Pollinator numbers have been declining over the past several years so it’s important to raise awareness of the role pollinators play in gardening and what can be done to protect them.
There are a number of benefits to having an insect hotel in the yard, including increasing the natural balance of insects, providing more opportunities to teach children about insects, attracting insects that help control pest insects, attracting more pollinators, using up recycled materials and more.
Gardeners who choose organic and traditional gardening and landscape principles follow the objectives of Earth-Kind landscaping. This helps create a horticultural system that is based on real-world effectiveness and environmentally responsible actions.
Trees not only look good and provide visual interest, but they also provide shade in the summer and can block cold winter winds. Because of these benefits, it’s in a homeowner’s best interest to take proper care of them.
Today, that percentage has dropped to a mere 2%. That means the majority of fresh fruits and vegetables are imported from other states or other countries, which can strain the local food system.
As the weather warms up, many homeowners are focused on the colorful flowers and plants they’ve got planned for their garden and landscape. But the base of any landscape is the turf, and it requires proper maintenance to help avoid problems and reduce the need for pesticides.
Summer truly begins when experiencing the taste of the first vine-ripened tomato. No matter how you slice it, there’s not much else that tastes so good.
Because of the effort put in to plant a garden or install a new landscape, it can be very disheartening to have it succumb to insects, diseases and weeds.
There’s much more to tree care than digging a hole, planting the tree and watering it. To give a tree the best chance at a long and healthy life, training and pruning are essential.
The Black-eyed Susan is a bright yellow plant with a chocolatey brown center that adds some excitement to the landscape and has been selected as the 2023 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.
With Mother Nature sprinkling in some 70-degree days amongst the colder temperatures, gardeners all across Oklahoma are more than ready to get rolling on their gardens. With as much time and effort that gets put into their gardens and landscapes, gardeners want to make sure their efforts are rewarded.
Gardeners who are looking for a long-time investment in the landscape should consider planting asparagus. An asparagus plant can last up to 15 years, so choosing a spot to grow it should be considered carefully.
Although many gardening activities remain on hold for a few more weeks, it is the time of year to get bare-root plants in the ground. Bare-root plants are available now and should be planted between mid-February and mid-April.
What gardener doesn’t like saving time? But some time-saving measures, such as using an herbicide and fertilizer combo, may be good in theory but not a good solution in all situations.
Gardeners may not have a lot going on in the landscape during this time of year but applying dormant oil to fruit trees is a task that needs to be done. Dormant oils control scale insects, aphids and mites that are overwintering on the trees.
Despite it still being coats, hats and gloves weather, there are some outside chores gardeners need to do before spring planting season arrives. Pruning, although not necessary every year, is an important part of tree and shrub health and can improve functionality. It also keeps the landscape looking neat and cared for.
Gardening can be a challenge, even for the most seasoned growers. Fortunately, the Oklahoma Proven plant selections can help make choosing plants for the garden and landscape more successful.
