Who are the pollinators and why are they important? Bees: Bees are the best pollinators in the Eastern United States and their tireless work benefits the reproduction of a myraid of crops essential to human existence such as alfalfa, melons, soybeans and tomatoes. Not all bees are created equal and most of us are familiar with the colonies of honey bees that have provided agricultural pollination in America for decades. These honey bees were first imported to America for decades. These honey bees were first imported to America from Europe more than 400 years ago. In addition to these celebrity-type imported workaholics, there are nearly 4000 species of less well known native ground and twig nesting bees in the US! Some of these native bees form colonies but others maintain a solitary life of tireless servitude that results in the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts for the benefit of us all. Native bees currently pollinate many commercially important food crops and their numbers can be increased if their nesting habitat, nectar and water needs are known are are provided by the average homeowner. More on bees tomorrow...

What is Compost Tea? | The Dwarf Fruit Trees Blog

Great information on different ways to make compost tea. What is Compost Tea? The Dwarf Fruit Trees Blog

What should I be doing in my garden for November?

YouTube - dervaes's Channel

Take a look at this video. Urban Homesteaders, a hmegrown revolution. YouTube - dervaes's Channel

all about KIDS: A Lady Who Did an Awesome Work in Processing Organic Trash

all about KIDS: A Lady Who Did an Awesome Work in Processing Organic Trash

Working with dahlias

Dahlias are among the most beautiful and most exotic residents of any garden. The large blooms of the dahlia are impossible to ignore, and they stand out in any garden in which they are planted. The sturdy, large blooms of the dahlia are available in a variety of colors, and in sizes ranging from as small as an inch to as large as a foot. In addition, the flowers themselves come in a variety of shapes. Some dahlia blooms are shaped like baseballs, while others curve back on themselves to where they nearly touch their stems. Dahlias are known as sun loving plants, and they definitely do better with sufficient sunlight. Gardeners recommend providing dahlias with at least a half day of sunlight every day. In addition, dahlias need enough water to thrive, and most varieties require from one to two inches of rain, from either rainfall or artificial watering, every week. In addition, dahlias need a good rich soil with plenty of organic material, a regular pruning schedule, a good insecticide to protect them from beetles and grasshoppers and possibly staking as the plants grow ever taller. In addition, dahlias should be fed with a quality low nitrogen fertilizer as needed. Dahlias are actually grown from a tuber, a bulb like structure, and dahlias are actually classified as bulb plants. It is best to plant dahlias near the beginning of June, and those dahlias will usually bloom around October. Dahlias can be planted earlier in the season as well, and those dahlias will provide late summer blossoms. Dahlias should be dug up after the first frost of the year. After being dug up, the dahlias should be divided and stored for the winter. Doing so will allow the gardener to replant the dahlia tuber the following year. Dahlias come in a great many varieties, but one of the most popular varieties is the David George. The David George variety of dahlia features a bloom of deep red color and medium size. Other popular dahlia varieties include the Bonaventure, featuring large bronze colored flowers, and the Allie Yellow, with features a tiny yellow bloom. In addition to staples like orchids and roses, dahlias are often seen at flower shows, and many gardeners grow dahlias purely for these competitions. A prize dahlia can certainly be the star of any flower show, due to their striking beauty and large size.

Pest-Free Garden

Pest-Free Garden Tips and short cuts.

How to Grow Four Berry Fruits

How to Grow Four Berry Fruits

LearningHerbs Blog

LearningHerbs Blog

Garden checklist for June

Hi, I haven't posted in awhile. Just too busy getting my garden in shape. Here is the checklist for June.

• Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings can be planted outside now in NJ.
• Continue planting warm weather crops such as vegetables, herbs and flowers.
• Mulch bedding and vegetable gardens to a 3 inch depth to maintain even moisture and to control weeds.
• Fertilize rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas immediately after flowering. Now is the time to prune these, if needed.
• Check plants for insects and control as needed. All insects are not necessarily harmful. check with your local agricultural extension for help in identification and control.
• Dig and divide spring perennials after flowering.
• If you move houseplants outdoors, be sure their containers have drainage holes.
• If spring rain is deficient, water new landscape plants to 1 inch per week.
• Check for black spot and powdery mildew on roses and treat accordingly.
• Japanese beetles can be picked by hand and drowned in soapy water.

Happy Gardening

Facebook | Barbara Chick

Facebook Barbara Chick: "Planting Tomatoes" A video on planting tomatoes. Good tips

Have a cutting garden.

Make room for it somewhere, usually off to one side and surrounded by a fence. Here several kinds of flowers can grow in regimented fashion, like rows of vegetables, for abundant cut flowers for indoor and outdoor bouquets. Dahlias, tall, medium and dwarf, can hardly be surpassed for performance. Other easy to grow cut flowers are zinnias, marigolds, calendulas, blue saliva, nicotiana, larkspur, gladiolus, scabiosa, bachelor buttons, china asters and chrysanthemums.

It's time to Divide Chrysanthemums and discard old woody central parts. Protect pansies, phlox and other preferred rabbit food with dried blood or a commercial repellent. Disbud peonies for largest terminal bloom. Support peonies with grow-through types of supports. Wait at last two more weeks before setting out dahlias, tuberous begonias, caladiums.

Hummingbird Migration Maps

Hummingbird Migration Maps

Only 3 more weeks to Mother's day!

Sign up for the Eco Signup for a sweepstakes. One lucky winner will win 3 months of flowers for their Mon--or an important woman in your life. The first month's delivery will arrive for Mother's day.

Algae problem in your birdbath?

This really works! First clean your birdbath with equal parts of vinegar and water. Next pick about 5 0r 6 stems of lavender off you plant and tie together. Now float the bundle in the water. I find this will keep your birth bath clean about 2 weeks.

Keep after those weeds!

Knock down carpets of smaller ones with a hoe and make sure it's sharp, and it will do an impressive job. Otherwise, hand-pull individual ones. You can use boiling water on those stubborn ones between the cracks of your sidewalk. I have also zapped weeds in the cracks by filling a spray botle with white vinegar and a few drops of dish soap and hit the weeds. Just be sure that you do not hit grass or flowers. If the weeds isn't dead in a day, spray it again and that should do it in.

Why landscape your property?

Economic Benefits:

• Homes with attractive landscaping sell quicker-by as much as five to six weeks.
• Landscaping adds an average of 14.* percent to a home's value.
• Landscaping enhances property values, which add to the community's tax base
• As home improvements go, landscaping is an excellent investment. Recovery value at selling time can be 100-200 percent.

Environmental Benefits:

• Trees moderate urban "heat islands!" created by extensive paved areas. Lawns cool a home at the same rate as a one-ton air conditioner. Lawns also trap dust, absorb noise, and provide outdoor living areas for children and adults.
• One tree removes 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air every year and releases about 13 pounds of oxygen-enough for a family of four on a daily basis.
• Plants reduce noise pollution up to 50 percent.
• Plants control runoff and erosion. They allow soil to absorb water, returning it to aquifers, decrease runoff means less urban flooding.
• Lawns slow the spread of wildfires to homes.
• Plants provide food and habitat for wildlife, which contributes to biodiversity and a healthier environment.
• Landscaping creates green space for human rest, recreation and renewal.

Tips courtesy of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Agriculture and Environmental Science Program and the NJ Nursery Landscape Association.

How can you disinfect your pot/cantainers without chlorine bleach

Here is a great tip on cleaning your plant containers, if you want to clean you containers organically instead of using chlorine bleach. Wash containers well in warm soapy water, then rinse them in 2 cups of white distilled vinegar diluted with 4-6 gallons of water and allow them to air-dry. The vinegar can kill pathogens in recycled containers.

Moving a shrub or tree?

Thinking of moving a shrub or small tree to a new location? Early spring is a great time to do this, while the plant is still formant (so it won't be traumatized). Just be sure the soil is workable before undertaking this project. Trim you evergreen hedge before it really starts growing for the year. Remove old stems at their bases. Shorten others that are too long. Shape so that the top of the plant, when viewed from the side is narrower than the base. This not only looks better but is easier to maintain.