Savvy Gardening

Fall planter ideas: Autumn palettes and plant suggestions

By the end of the summer, my ornamental containers are often starting to look a little worse for wear. I’ll usually start to think about fall planter ideas around the end of August or early September as potted mums and other autumn plants start to appear in stores. Some years I’m literally plunking a potted mum into my urn and calling it a day. Others I like to get creative and include a medley of annuals, perennials, or both into my outdoor display.

The harlequin cabbage bug: Identification and organic controls

Written by Jessica Walliser

The first time I saw a harlequin cabbage bug in my vegetable garden, I nearly admired it before I realized what it was doing to my kale and cauliflower plants. While this pest is common in the southern U.S., it’s a relative newcomer here in Pennsylvania. It was a pest I had never encountered until about 5 years ago. In this article, I’ll share information about identifying the harlequin cabbage bug (also called the harlequin bug) and fill you in on some organic control measures I’ve found to be effective.
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Vegetable garden clean up: 12 must-do tasks before winter arrives

Written by Niki Jabbour

Vegetable garden clean up advice has varied widely from decade to decade. There was a time when gardening resources routinely suggested clearing away every last speck of garden debris at the end of the season. But things have changed, and these days, the guidance around vegetable garden clean up is a little more nuanced. In some instances you should remove all dead plants from certain areas. But, in other spots, fall cleanup should be minimal. Taking care of your garden tools and adding organic matter to the soil are also important aspects of vegetable garden clean up that can help to make next year’s crops even better. In this article you’ll discover 12 tasks to do in your vegetable garden before winter arrives.

When is corn ready to harvest? Signs to watch for and how to pick

Written by Jessica Walliser

When is corn ready to harvest and how can you be sure to get your timing right are easily the two most common things growers ask. As a former organic market farmer and current backyard grower, I’ve grown corn in patches both large and small over the years, and I often grow corn in containers. I’ve learned how important it is to know when corn is ready to harvest and how to make the harvest correctly. In this article, I’ll review the signs to watch for so you can pick your homegrown corn at the peak of flavor and freshness.
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When to cut back coneflowers—and when to leave them alone

Written by Niki Jabbour

Coneflowers are incredibly popular perennials and for good reason. They’re native to North America, support many species of pollinators and birds, and are long-flowering, pest-resistant, and drought-tolerant. Plus, the beautiful flowers come in a wide range of colors including purple, pink, red, white, orange, and yellow. Knowing when to cut back coneflowers is essential to triggering more blooms, controlling plant energy, and feeding and sheltering wildlife. In this article you’ll learn three options for when to prune coneflowers, how to do it right, and when to leave them alone.

How to grow wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Written by Tara Nolan

There comes a point mid-summer where the edges of my local bike paths and rail trails are awash in mauve. Wild bergamot is in bloom and lilac-colored clouds mingle with other wildflowers. I grow it in my garden, too, because I love the unique, starburst-like blooms. Those tubular flowers are magnets for valuable pollinators. In this article, I’ll share more reasons to add this easy-to-grow native perennial to your garden.
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