Turner Farm

It's officially spring, flowers are in bloom, lawns are just starting to turn a deeper shade of green and the weeds are beginning their mission to take over our yards. But there is still a chance we could experience hard frosts before the warm weather finally settles in.

Whether you're an avid gardener or just want to keep your landscape looking good, there are dozens of simple things you can do that are not only kinder to the environment but will cut-down on the time and money you spend on your yard.

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.

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.

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.

Many people garden to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, others find gardening is a relaxing and enjoyable hobby. It can also be a way to bring people together and build community.

Typically gardeners in our region spend this time of year inside, researching new plants, ordering seeds and planning their spring gardens. 

Farmers and serious gardeners will tell you, growing is hard work. Work that can be wiped out by disease, insects or an unexpected turn in the weather. 

Even though the cold weather has settled in, that doesn't mean you have to stop gardening. 

If your garden yielded a bumper crop this season and you have more fruits and vegetables than you can eat fresh, now is a good time to explore the variety of ways you can preserve them for use all winter long, from cold storage to canning to freezing. 

University of Cincinnati medical students and other health professionals will soon be making regular trips to Greater Cincinnati's largest certified organic farm to learn, in a new state-of-the-art kitchen, how food can be used to prevent disease.

As more people discover the health and financial benefits of growing their own fruits and vegetables, many expand their efforts and increase their produce production. And some consider becoming self-sufficient or farming to generate income. 

We are getting close to the time of year when many people consider turning over their gardens and allowing them to rest until spring. But there is still plenty of growing season left in our region. 

Whether you are growing fruits and vegetables or prefer ornamental flowers in your landscaping, this is the time of year pests can invade and quickly damage or destroy your plants. 

More people are growing their own fruits, vegetables and herbs to provide their families with a steady supply of fresh foods. But some backyard gardeners often find they have an over-abundance of produce. And many of them are discovering the value of small market gardening as an extra source of income, or even as a career.

As consumers become more interested in sustainability and learning about how their food is produced, many city dwellers are going beyond growing their own fruits and vegetables and raising chickens, rabbits and other livestock in their yards.

Over the last several years, an increasing interest in learning more about where our foods come from and a desire to eat healthier have prompted more people living in urban areas to grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Flowers are in bloom, lawns are turning a deep green and spring is in the air. But there is still a chance we could experience hard frosts and even snow before the warm weather finally settles in.

With the recent arctic air and snow, spring seems a long way off, but now is the time to start planning your garden and deciding how to get the best use of your landscape this year.

Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around working with nature, instead of against it, to foster sustainable systems and lifestyles.