gardening

Fall is starting off with a drop in temperatures and heavy rains so working in your yard and garden could prove more of a chore over the next couple of weeks.

Local gardeners may still be busy picking the peppers, tomatoes and zucchini started back in June, but now is the time to plant crops that will be ready to harvest throughout the fall and next spring.

We typically refer to it as the Cincinnati Zoo, but its proper name is the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. And while the animals are the main attraction, you might be surprised at how much you can learn by turning your attention to the thousands of plants, trees and shrubs that make up the zoo's various habitats and specialty gardens.

Trees not only add beauty and texture to your landscape, they provide shade for your home, reduce soil erosion and improve air quality. But the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorn beetle, along with other pests and diseases plus several seasons of near-draught conditions, have taken their toll on thousands of trees in our region.

The hot, humid days and heavy rains we’ve had this month have been great for area gardens, but the weather has also been good for the pests that can eat or damage your plants. Uncontrolled, aphids, beetles, spider mites and other insects can wipe out all of the work you put into your garden.

Have you ever wanted to have more than a few flower beds and a lawn in your yard? Would you like to grow more of your own food to have ready access to fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables but didn't think you had the space, or just didn't know where to begin?

More and more backyard gardeners are discovering the benefits of composting, from reducing waste going to landfills to providing rich organic matter for healthier and more productive plants.

Local author Michelle Balz has recently published a comprehensive guide for gardeners, "Composting for a New Generation: Latest Techniques for the Bin and Beyond."

It's been a cold, wet spring so far, but plants are sprouting, flowers are blooming and lawns are turning a deep shade of green. So it's time to decide what to grow and to start preparing garden beds and lawns for warmer weather.

Buying young plants from a greenhouse is a nice shortcut for home gardeners, but with the right selection, proper preparation and a little patience you can successfully start your garden from seeds. And there is a far greater variety of fruit, vegetable and flower seeds available locally and online than the plants you can typically find at your garden center.

One of the best ways to get through the cold, gray days of winter is to think about spring. That comes easier for gardeners, who spend January and February planning and preparing their gardens, buying seeds, cleaning and sharpening tools and taking horticulture classes.

Though we have been experiencing amazingly nice weather lately, temperatures are expected to drop down to the 20s and 30s by late next week and winter may finally settle in. But that doesn't mean you have to stop gardening. There are several ways to extend the outdoor growing season, winter crops that do well in our region and a wide variety of plants you can grow indoors.

The weather was perfect for being outdoors this weekend, it made even raking leaves enjoyable. Which is a good thing, because getting those leaves off your lawn is just one of the many chores to be done before the cold temperatures set in.

Great Dixter in East Sussex, England, was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. Today Great Dixter is listed in England's Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and admired by gardeners from around the world.

It doesn't feel like it yet, but it is officially fall. While the weather here can change overnight, there is still time to make the most of your garden. And fall is a great time to spend the day exploring farmers markets or visiting a local pumpkin patch or two.

While some local gardeners are disappointed in their late-summer harvest, others are gathering more fruit and vegetables than their families can eat. No one likes to see that food go to waste, so if you've already supplied neighbors and friends with all the tomatoes they can use and you can't bring yourself to make one more loaf of zucchini bread, consider preserving your produce for use all through this winter.

Mid-summer is a busy time in the garden, crops planted this spring are ready for harvest and gardeners are putting in vegetables they will be able to enjoy this fall. 

Yesterday was the official start of summer, and we are already experiencing our typical summer weather pattern of hot, humid days and frequent heavy rainstorms. 

We are finally experiencing warmer temperatures and have reached the point where it seems safe to put in even delicate plants and flowers. It's also time to plant peppers, tomatoes, celery and other vegetables.

Now that it seems spring is finally here for good, it's time to see what kind of shape your yard and garden are in, plan what you would like to grow this year, and take steps now that will make caring for your plants, trees and lawns much easier this summer.