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Joys of the garden

Joys of the garden

It’s the end of summer. Time to just relax and enjoy your garden. Here are some photos and quotes to remind you of what gardens bring to our lives.           Share this...
Dealing with powdery mildew

Dealing with powdery mildew

Late summer in western Washington provides ideal conditions for powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is common on a wide range of plants, including annuals, perennials, food crops and ornamental shrubs. To help you manage it, we are updating a post on powdery mildew from...
Managing lace bugs

Managing lace bugs

Plants that are drought stressed are more susceptible to insect pests and diseases. As we discussed in last week’s post about drought stress in trees, stressed plants often emit distress signals that many damaging insects pick up on. We are seeing signs of lace...
Flowers for late summer and fall color

Flowers for late summer and fall color

Many gardens look spent and tired in August. The early perennials have bloomed and faded, and many annuals have died back. But late summer and fall can be a great time for vibrant, colorful flowers. Here are some ideas for flowers that will bloom from now into fall....
How to deal with spider mites

How to deal with spider mites

  Have you noticed damage on some of your plants in this hot, dry weather? It could be spider mites. Mites are common pests in landscapes and gardens. Spider mites damage plants by sucking juice from the underside of leaves. Unfortunately, they are often not...
Sea kelp helps plants thrive

Sea kelp helps plants thrive

We love sea kelp. Sea kelp has been found to improve growth and color of plants and to enhance flowering in some species of plants. Sea kelp benefits plants because it: Contains trace elements that are deficient in most garden soils\ Supplies potassium, an essential...
Summer is a great time for pruning

Summer is a great time for pruning

Summer is a great time to prune your trees and shrubs. The plants have gone through their big spring push. They are preparing for the summer heat and producing buds for next year’s spring growth. This spring has been as close to perfect growing conditions as we...
Plant flowers for pollinators

Plant flowers for pollinators

One of the best things you can do to honor National Pollinator Week, June 20-26, is to plant wildflowers, flowering shrubs and native plants in your garden. Bees, butterflies and other pollinators use nectar as their primary food source. Choose plants that bloom at...
Video tips: measuring how much water

Video tips: measuring how much water

How do you know how much water your lawn and landscape are getting? This video shows easy ways to tell if your plants are receiving too much or too little water. Use rain sensors and rain gauges to find out how much rain your landscape received. Use tuna cans to...
Plants that tolerate drought are winners

Plants that tolerate drought are winners

It’s been hot in the Seattle area–already. Will we have another extremely hot and dry summer like last year? Last year was outside the norm, but climate change is likely to mean more heat and less water in the summer. How much will you want to water your...
How to water for a healthy lawn

How to water for a healthy lawn

It’s going to be hot for the next several days. Time to think about watering your lawn. Did you know that HOW you water your lawn affects its overall health? This video has tips for smart watering to help you grow a lush, healthy lawn. It explains both how to...
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