THE BLOG
(From January/February 2021, Northern Gardener) By Don Engebretson If you have magnolias in your landscape, there are two things I know about you: You adore these fabulous spring-blooming trees and would be heartbroken if you lost them. That’s why it’s important you learn about magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum) and how to detect and treat an…
Read MoreEverything about tomatoes speaks of summer—their tart flavor, juicy texture, ripe, red color—oh, the joy! But before northern gardeners get to the first big, fat slice of tomato, they must plant, prune, water and care for their tomatoes. Over its 150 years of publishing garden information, tomatoes have been a frequent—sometimes controversial—topic. Here are some…
Read MoreJessica Walliser, author of the excellent Plant Partners: Science-based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden (Storey Publishing, 2020) and several other books on gardens and bugs, recently published a second edition of her book, Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control (Cool Springs Press, 2022). Walliser is one of…
Read MoreFor shady spots in northern gardens, begonias are a favorite choice. They grow well with just a bit of sun, come in a wide range of bloom colors, leaf types and sizes and are relatively easy to grow. So Many Begonias The genus Begonia includes more than 2,000 species and thousands more cultivars. Home gardeners…
Read More“New York’s a concrete jungle so I bought fresh flowers every week and started flower arranging,” says new MSHS member Amber Senn. No matter where she has lived, she’s found a way to express her passion for gardening. Amber grew up in Minnesota, gardening alongside her mother. “I complained about the work most of my…
Read MoreEnjoy valuable northern gardening tips all year long—join the hort!