Take softwood cuttings of shrubs such as buddleia, weigela, rose-of-sharon and roses. Place them in pots of moist sand or potting soil, then cover them with a plastic bag, glass jar or large plastic pop bottle, creating a mini-greenhouse. When…
Some late spring/early summer perennials such as golden marguerite, some shasta daisies and artemisia ‘flop open’ or lay down. Cut them down to the crown when the bloom period is over. If this action is done early enough in the…
Periodically pinch basil if you don’t harvest it weekly. Pinching keeps it from flowering and ensure you have a full, bushy-looking plant. Mint, oregano, and savory can also be pinched to promote bushier growth.
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Pull weeds as they grow and use mulch in your flower beds to prevent them from sprouting. If you can’t pull them all, at least cut off their tops to prevent them from seeding; this will mean fewer weeds next…
As your bearded iris finish blooming, remove the flower stalk close to the foliage. Don’t cut the foliage into a fan shape. The foliage is needed for the photosynthesis process to build up strength for next year’s blooms. Remove the…
For maximum productivity, employ successive sowing. Early season lettuce, mixed greens, spinach, turnips, beets and radishes can be sown every 2-3 weeks for a constant supply. As the weather warms up, replace the early crops with others. For example, once…
Delphiniums, lilies and even big flowering peonies, have a tendency to flop over and require support. It’s best to provide it as early as possible, before the plant becomes too big. Simple bamboo or plastic-coated metal stakes and grids are…