When I was a boy, I would spend a few weeks each summer with my family in southwest Virginia.  Part of that time was spent with one of my uncles on his farm.  “Putting up hay,” driving tractors,  and driving big trucks was entertainment to me.  What I did not realize then was that it meant income to my uncle.  Farming has changed over the years, but what has not changed is the need to sell the product.  Here are some examples of how we can enjoy local produce. Farmers’ markets have increased in popularity in the last few years. …

I have mentioned in previous columns a very common phrase in gardening don’t guess; soil test.  When gardeners speak – or in my case – write the phrase, it is in reference to a laboratory analysis.  The lab results measure the nutrients in the soil, their availability to the plant, the soil pH (measure of acidity), and organic matter.  What this test does not reveal is the soil’s texture. What is soil texture?  It is the amount of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter in the soil and how it is distributed.  Soils in our area are generally well-weathered fragments…

Hello, everyone, and happy belated Independence Day. July 4 is the mid-point of gardening season, too, as gardeners typically enjoy their hobby from April through October. By now, the early blooming plants are spent and the mid-season blooming plants are thriving. Half-way does not mean cruising to the finish line. Now is the time to give your landscape the mid-season jolt that can provide benefit for many weeks to come. Summer annuals require a little TLC at this time so they continue to produce the blooms which make them so attractive. Remove spent blooms and cut back weak stems. Fertilize…

Odocoileus virginianus – or the white-tailed deer as it is commonly known – will certainly cause people to stop and gaze at its activities. Many will comment on its beauty and grab their cell phone for pictures. Now put that same deer in your garden or manicured landscape, and your opinion may change. For over a decade, I have established my landscape while cohabitating with these guys. Here are a few lessons I have learned, as well as some cooperative extension research results that may serve you. Start with planting deer-resistant plants. I planted a few hostas when I first…

It is not often that gardeners deal with as much rain as we have this spring. May was a record month for rain in our area, the most since 1889. No one can control the rain, but there are things we can do to ensure our landscape survives the saturation. Do not mow your grass when the soil is saturated. Before you mow, walk across your lawn. If you hear your soggy footsteps, it is best to wait. Mowing soggy ground will likely leave ruts in the turf and can even rip the grass from the surface. Mowing when there…

I have a new item for your garden this year “bling.” Bling is generally defined as a flashy object worn by people. We have all seen bling, and some of you reading this even have bling in your closet! Besides the belts and the jewelry, what about the reading glasses that go with nothing but just look cool? Bland landscapes across central Virginia need excitement, and here are a few ideas that can make your corner of the world just a bit brighter. Decorative garden stakes give options for breaking up bland walls and fences. Garden stakes can resemble realistic…

Do you think about your landscape around your house like a compass? The sun rises in the eastern part of your property, passes through the southern part and settles on the western part of your property. The rising and setting points will change slightly each day and will only be at due east and due west two days each year, the spring and fall equinoxes. Using the compass theory helps gardeners to avoid the common problem of the wrong plant in the wrong place. For plants that require part sun, consider planting them where the morning or eastern sun exposure…

Everyone needs a companion, even your tomatoes. No, I am not suggesting spending quality time with your plants. Companion Planting is combining two or more plants in the same area so one or all benefit from the other. These benefits include: shade, ground cover to reduce erosion, improving the soil quality, and pest management by repelling unwanted bugs and attracting beneficial insects. A classic example of companion planting is the three sisters used by ancient American Indians. The three sisters are corn, pole beans, and squash. The corn plant needs large amounts of nitrogen. The pole beans climb the corn…

Of the many gems we have in the Richmond Metro area, Maymont may be the crown jewel. Maymont is a 100 acre Victorian era estate that was gifted from James and Sallie Dooley to the city of Richmond upon Sally’s death in 1925. Maymont is ranked in the top 25 public gardens in North America. It has 12 distinct gardens, some of which are Dooley originals. I had the pleasure of spending part of an afternoon recently at Maymont speaking with Peggy Singlemann, Director of Horticulture, as well as the host of WCVE’s Virginia Home Grown. Peggy is passionate about…

So, you want fresh vegetables but you do not have the space, you live alone, or you have limited time? I have a solution to your garden dilemma, containers. Yes, the same containers gardeners use for ornamentals can also be used for vegetables. Remember, whether it is a tomato or a petunia, it is still a plant and both have the same basic needs: oxygen, water, light, heat, and nutrients. Plant breeders and seed companies are developing varieties specifically for containers so do your research before purchasing. Vegetable gardening in containers can help gardeners overcome soil borne diseases and poor…