You hear these terms – “the dead of winter” and “dead to the world”, but what do they really mean? In most cases, they’re exaggerations or synonyms for other situations; in this case, really cold weather with no end in sight and really, really tired. In the plant world, the question of “is this plant…
Author: johnfech
John Fech is a horticulturist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. The author of 2 books and over 200 popular and trade journal articles, he focuses his time on teaching effective landscape maintenance techniques, water conservation, diagnosing turf and ornamental problems and encouraging effective bilingual communication in the green industry. He works extensively with the media to extend the message of landscape sustainability, making over 100 television and radio appearances each year.
Put That Gift Card to Good Use
*Take an inventory of what you have in the garden tool and supplies room. Chances are that you have some fertilizer leftover, but just how much? And what kind? How about essentials such as hand pruners, hoses and fertilizer spreaders? Take a close look – are they in good shape or are there missing/broken parts….
Roses – Prepping For Winter
Everyone loves a rose, whether it’s a gift for a birthday or an accent plant in the landscape. Here in eastern Nebraska, roses need a little care getting them ready to endure a typical winter…whatever may come our way. Each type of rose has its own set of prepping steps: Hybrid Tea Roses – Usually…
Evergreen Shrub Protection in Winter
This is winter in Nebraska. Winter in Nebraska is by definition “variable”. Long term residents seemingly are always telling newcomers that it’s colder this year or wetter this year or dryer this year or more up and down this year. To sum, this is winter in Nebraska…variable. As a result of variable conditions, especially…
Poinsettias on Your Desktop
There is no plant more associated with Christmas than the poinsettia. The good news is that the number of cultivars keeps expanding each year. Colors and shapes are available to fit any situation or décor. Big ones are great for church or bank lobbies…but small ones make a big difference in the enjoyment of the…
New Turf in Late Fall
After the scourges of summer, many of us replanted or renovated the turf around homes and throughout the landscape. As the winter sets in, there are a few steps to take to increase the odds of survival and regrowth next spring. Perhaps the most important “to do” is to keep the soil moist…not soggy…
Winterize Garden Tools
Garden tools are important – they make the job easier, and they’re not inexpensive. If you’ve been gardening for a while, or even just taking care of the lawn and a few perennials, you’ve probably accumulated a collection of several important pieces. A few minutes of care will pay dividends. No matter the tool…
Yellow Needles on Pines
Holy cow! Look at my pine tree – it has lots of yellow needles on it! Is that a problem? What’s wrong? These are common questions/comments that we get at this time of year. In terms of the question of “is that a problem?”, it depends on where the needles are and which type of…
Post Frost Weed Control
So, it frosted. In some areas, it was a hard frost with temperatures down in the 26 degree F range, and in others, plus/minus 30 degrees. At this point in October, the question is: Is it a good idea to apply a post emergence herbicide to the lawn, considering the recent frost? The answer? It…
Late Fall Fertilizer Timing
For the past 5 years or so, our recommendation has been to lightly fertilize turfgrass stands in the Halloween timeframe to bolster root growth heading into winter. That recommendation still stands, however, due to recent extended periods of cool, wet weather, we’re encouraging that an adjustment be made for this year. Instead of strict adherence…