Raised garden beds are a popular choice for many gardeners due to their ease of maintenance and potential benefits. These beds are freestanding structures constructed above ground level, which can be easily installed and maintained. The benefits of raised garden beds include improved curb appeal, protection of flowers, plants, and shrubs, and the ability to grow vegetables in a low or easy maintenance manner.
Maintaining a garden bed involves several critical activities, including weeding, pruning, and soil cultivation. To prevent weeds, add mulch or plant groundcover, and remove them by hand or with a tool. Slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) are used to make low-maintenance garden beds, as they avoid overgrowth or sustain grass growth, resulting in less weeding.
Regular garden maintenance covers the overall health, appearance, and practical use of your landscape, including lawn mowing and edging, weeding, trimming, and pruning, and clearing up of leaves, especially in autumn. Beds should be spade edged by hand in spring and refreshed every 8-10 weeks. They should also be weeded on a monthly basis to extend the life of your flower bed.
Watering is essential for plant growth, and a correctly applied layer of mulch can help smother weeds and reduce water evaporation rates. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your garden bed remains healthy and beautiful for years to come.
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What is the definition of a garden?
A garden is defined as a plot of land utilized for the cultivation of herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables, frequently in containers such as window boxes. In addition, the term may be used to describe a public space designated for leisure and recreation, often featuring vegetation such as plants and trees.
How long is a garden bed?
Raised beds are garden plots above ground level that can be created by mounding soil into a bed six to eight inches high without side supports or by building a frame from wood, plastic planks, or other materials. These beds are typically small enough for gardeners to walk around outside the bed and tend to all the plants without stepping into the garden bed. The practice of using raised beds dates back to medieval times when farmers used wattle fences to contain their gardens.
In the 18th century, Parisian market gardeners grew vegetables in raised beds using horse manure as fertilizer. The concept gained popularity in the early 1970s when gardeners built raised beds with freestanding frames to encourage higher crop yields on smaller house lots.
Raised beds offer more control over soil quality and better drainage, allowing for more dense planting, less plant damage, convenient access for gardeners with limited mobility, easy maintenance, a longer growing season, and can be converted to a cold frame by covering with hoops for frost protection. They also work well in limited spaces, as they don’t need a large plot of land for a bountiful harvest.
What does it mean to maintain a garden?
Garden maintenance involves keeping plots clean and free of weeds and debris during the growing season. Planned maintenance involves a planned action, while Operation and Maintenance (O&M) refers to all activities required to operate, maintain, and monitor the effectiveness of the RA as specified in the SOW or EPA-approved O&M Plan. Software maintenance involves modifying software after delivery to correct faults, improve performance, or adapt to a changed environment, but does not include customization or configuration.
What is a fancy word for gardening?
During Amazon’s Prime Day, you may find deals on new gardening tools and equipment. A colleague and I have been experimenting with Lettuce Grow, a hydroponic gardening farm stand that works both outdoors and indoors. The stand is thriving with herbs, lettuces, and vegetables. There’s hope in gardening, as seedlings rise from the ground to provide food and beauty, and knowing that they’ve been doing so for thousands of years.
What is the meaning of lawn maintenance?
Lawn maintenance is the process of keeping your lawn and outdoor property clean and manicured year-round. It includes mowing, watering, weeding, border edging, cleaning, spring cleanup, summer pruning, and fall cleanup. Additional attention is required to maintain a lush and healthy lawn. This service differs from lawn care and landscaping services in terms of their focus on preparing the lawn for spring and maintaining its health.
What is the meaning of garden maintenance?
Rosewood Garden Services offers a comprehensive garden maintenance package that includes lawn mowing, weeding, trimming, pruning, and leaf clearing. The package also includes fruit tree and bush pruning, cutting of large hedges, planting seasonal bedding plants and bulbs, top dressing and mulching, lawn treatments, and repairs. The maintenance package is tailored to each client’s needs, with some clients preferring to mow their own grass, while others prefer Rosewood to handle all other tasks.
Why is it called a garden bed?
The term “bed” has roots in gardening, with the Teutonic word “bhedh” meaning to dig. Resting places for animals and people were once dug out of the ground, which inspired modern flower beds. The English term “garden bed” has been used since AD 1000, and “to bed out” plants was common in garden manuals 600 years later. Shakespeare’s “bed of roses” symbolizes comfort for roses. The word “litter” is related to the French word “lit” for bed and the English verb “to lie”, and was used in the 1300s for nobles.
What is the concept of a garden?
A garden is a planned outdoor space for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and nature. It can incorporate both natural and artificial materials, and can have design features such as statuary, follies, pergolas, trellises, stumperies, dry creek beds, and water features. Some gardens are for ornamental purposes only, while others produce food crops. Food-producing gardens are smaller scale, more labor-intensive, and have a purpose of enjoyment rather than selling.
Flower gardens combine plants of different heights, colors, textures, and fragrances to create interest and delight the senses. The most common form today is a residential or public garden, but the term has traditionally been a more general one. Western gardens are almost universally based on plants, with the term “garden” often referring to enclosure. Some traditional types of eastern gardens, such as Zen gardens, use plants sparsely or not at all. Landscape gardens, such as the English landscape gardens, may omit flowers altogether.
What is the best definition of gardening?
Gardening is the practice of arranging and maintaining a plot of land for the cultivation of plants like flowers, herbs, or vegetables. It can be seen as both an art and a science, involving principles and techniques of plant cultivation. Due to the unique conditions of plants, cultivation techniques are derived from plant physiology, chemistry, and botany, with the planter’s experience modifying them.
Although the principles are universal, the practice requires adaptation to local conditions. The history of garden development can be found in the article garden and landscape design: Historical development.
What is a synonym for garden bed?
The ground is prepared for the planting of seeds, which may be referred to as a seedbed, flowerbed, flower bed, or plant bed.
How do I maintain my garden?
To ensure the continued health of a garden, it is essential to adhere to a set of recommended care practices. These include regular assessment of plant vitality, appropriate irrigation, soil conditioning, cleaning and maintenance of gardening tools, implementation of plant maintenance procedures, eradication of weeds, protection from animal intrusion, and the use of supports for plants.
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That is what I do but I use my own back yard and people who do not have a yard buys all the material for making the 4 foot by 24 foot garden bed. I’m disable due to Parkinson, Money is tight could not afford to make the garden beds myself. They get half the planting place I get the other half. All they have to do is come and pick up the veggies when they are ready. I have them picked and everything ready for them.. I got 8 beds in my back yard. 3 of them the people moved away and I stop wanting vegies.
You actually came out puplicly what most business people would be thinking but totally afraid to say incase they lose clients, great honesty by you, usually on this site you get the loud mouth potty idiots with 100k plus subscribers talking total rubbish but for once someone on here is telling the truth about real life business experiences and what really happens when your successful and when you fuck up, keep up the good work!!
First of all i turned several of my landscape buddies onto your website, they love it! But i have a question ive been landscape cor about a 2 years not really down for the mow blow and go scene anymore. Whats your outlook on constructing raised garden begs irrigation and all! And then giving the option to maintain them cor the clients? Could this work?
Ok so you left lawn service your second year realising its not producing much profit. was it 20 dollar mows per house? Weekly or bi weekly? How was your route structured. And after going full landscaping what jobs produce the most money. Tree trimming, shrub pruning? Bed work, rock, gravel, mulch or bark installation?
Does anyone else remember awhile back when Laura was filming and quite unexpectedly a tree branch fell behind her? She became rightly concerned about a branch falling on Benjamin (this was before Samantha) or on Aaron or herself. It seemed like in no time and that tree was gone. This article reminded me of that experience, we don’t want any tree surprises!
I live in southwest Ohio and I am also in zone 6. It is hard to believe we are both in the same zone because my summer temps have been low 90s, but our humidity seldom drops below 40 and on most days, like today, it is 70 percent. It is hard to breathe and I fight mosquitoes in the early morning to get my garden chores finished. Thank you for the temperature comparisons between your climate and mine.
I know you would much rather be adding beautiful flowers and building up your gardens than the mundane maintenance that has to be done, and you may think we would rather watch that as well, but truth be told, these types of articles are equally inspiring and motivating to watch. Thank you for sharing these tasks, they make me eager to get my gardens cleaned up!
I leave your playlists on while I am work because I like to think my dog associates them with all the mornings we spent together during the pandemic when I was working from home. Now that I am in the office again I noticed that she is calmer on the surveillance cameras when YouTube is playing. I have YouTube premium so I like knowing that my watch time is contributing to a website I support and not some cheesy 8 hours of dog TV content farm. 🐾❤️
yes humidity does make a huge difference. I’m in CT and its been in the high 90’s with 70% humidity – yesterday the ‘feel like’ temp was 104 with the humidity! its awful. I’ve never experienced high heat without humidity but I’m guessing it has its own challenges too! love you guys, everything looks beautiful as always!
We had to have an Ash removed in early Spring as it was near our road and thankfully our town removed it and ground the stump as well! This Spring it has been heartbreaking to see how many Ash trees in Western and Central New York where the Emerald Ash borer infestation has taken out huge numbers of trees! We have many mature Maples and Honey Locust still! Very thankful for the shade they give to enjoy on our 90 degree days!
Yes, even over here on the East Coast, mid-Atlantic, closer to the mountains, we have been in the nineties, with humidity. It’s rough, but I am out in the garden. Getting ready to go out, always wait for Laura’s article, then out I go, and once sun is up from behind ridge, I follow the shade around the garden. Grateful for our mature trees, though, we also have lost some. But ever positive, I plant more. All have a great day!!!
I’m still hanging on to the hope that the maple by the Hartley will bounce back. It’s a huge tree and I believe with enough time it will bounce back. As long as there is a bit of life in it, even if you lose branches, I think it will survive. You are good people and I imagine we are all wishing it to survive. I think that’s powerful enough, just hang in there with it. Best wishes from, UK🌺❤️🌸
Oh my 20 percent humidity is so unbelievable I would so love that!! I got up went out with my coffee and thought it was a lil fall like ..cloud cover but when I checked it was 74 percent humidity which felt so much better than 84 percent humidity it lightly sprinkled so I could plant 4 plants weed etc so in the yard for 4 1/2 hours it was great no sun!!! Lol the life of gardening here on gulf coast😂 wow Laura isn’t so great after doing choir list one feels so accomplished!! How I felt today but so much more weeding & maintenance for me yet to do!!! Hope for the same weather here in pensacola fl tomorrow!!! Thanks so much for all your share with us!!! GOOD THE BAD THE UGLY… YOUR LANDSCAPE HOWEVER IS ALWAYS AN INSPIRING STUNNING Sight to behold!! It’s so Awesome how much You & Aaron get done as a team!!!!👍🥰
Good morning. It is 6:30am here in Memphis TN with 74 degrees and 95% humidity already . Going to be high of 94 today but feels so much worse than the 106 last week because of the humidity today It feels gross outside already 😞 it has been a tough gardening year with the crazy weather. I love starting my day with GA and have learned so much from this website.
I just came in from my garden. Grabbed some ice tea to rest & watch your article. I really like perusal your maintenance articles. I learn so much. We are hot here too, but it has been unusually cooler for us. Only 93 degrees today and our normal is 104 degrees. Like you, we have low humidity, 0% today. I have portable beach umbrellas with pointed bottoms that I pop up & stick in the ground to shade my hydrangeas (I have 5) when they look stressed after only a few hours of morning sun. They do wonderful with this method.
I understand the problems with old and struggling trees. We bought our 1910 house in 2002 and have spent a lot on arborists to help limp the huge old silver maples along. This year we finally had the last two taken down, as they were dying more every year. It was very sad to see them go(our oldest daughter was married under them), but it was time. We planted a sycamore about 5 years ago to take their place, eventually.
I’m trying to find out how to properly remove branches from a couple trees to allow more sunlight to filter down. I can’t find anything so far other than standard pruning. The trees are precious so I want to have the thinning done properly. Laura, if you know anything about this I’d love to see a article,
Yes, another welcome reminder to get after trimming my fruitless mulberry tree here in CA, zone 9b. It’s hanging low and I park near it so I know it’s time when I have to duck! You are such a great “motivational speaker” getting me to have confidence to tackle jobs I might not otherwise try. Thank you.
Can you do a article on your favorite trees? Why you like them, how to care for them amd some info on them? For example I’m super interested in that golden rain tree! Are thoes pods good for dried arrangements too? Do they look good after dried and stay together? Could be a nice sit down article for you when it’s really hot 🔥
This is how God works. I was planning to put a raised bed with hostas around my magnolia tree (which is beautiful). Me and my husband went and looked at bricks. Just this morning I was thinking I don’t think that a good idea. Because of water issues. And then here you are, telling me not to do it!!! That is how the Lord works. So thank you very much. I appreciate you and Aaron. You guys are awesome. Everywhere I go I tell people about you and recommend they follow you. Ps we live in Mid-Michigan. We have had hot weather all summer with very little rain. And also humidity. Which is weird with no rain.
My daughter lives in Western OR and the temperatures on that side of the state are weirdly similar to your temperatures on the Eastern side over in Ontario. She had a few plants just curl up and die while she was visiting me last week. A garden refresh is in order! Thank you for this article! I will share it with her! She is new to gardening but is learning so much from you!
I feel your distress over the heat. Here in Virginia we had a couple days of reasonable humidity and temperatures in the 80’s, heaven. It is back in the 90’s now with high humidity. I am in quite a state of perspiration and disarray just walking out the door! I keep reminding myself, cooler days are coming. Beautiful tree. Love that your articles cover so many different kinds of plants in the garden, styles and areas. Love every article. This is where I come for motivation and inspiration. You are a jewel.
Hello Laura & Aaron. I love your articles, love to see the growth in your gardens here during the middle of growing season. I have a question, what happened with the Galaxy (?) Urns. You planted the Proven winners recipe In May; I would love to get an update. Also, what ever happened with your Mom’s butterfly garden, and the honeysuckle you planted last year in October 2021 when Creekside Nursery was visiting and upgrading your greenhouse? Finally, how is the pineapple? I love when you update us on your different projects. Your garden is glorious and brings this apartment dweller such joy. Keep cool and please continue the wonderful work.
Aha! Now I know the name of that gorgeous tree I see you walking under in many of your articles: a Golden Rain Tree! I love that tree with it’s multi-trunk base and just the beauty of the tree overall. If I’m remembering correctly, here in the central Midwest, ash trees (and elms) aren’t even allowed to be sold or planted due to the EAB problem, but gosh, your mature one really is so beautiful and yes, if it can be maintained and managed like you all have, I’m glad you’re keeping it. And I learn so much perusal you prune your plants and trees, so thank you and have a good one.
“clean-up” articles are my favourite. For some reason, it’s really relaxing perusal others to do chores. Good reminder about checking for insects too. I don’t have (so far) spider mites, but I was wondering if Laura has any articles about aphids. For some reason, I get aphids on my young plum tree every year. I don’t want to spray it in the middle of the summer, so I just try to hose it down (every singly new shoots separately!), but I would love to see if there is anything I can do to prevent the infestation before it happens.
Due to the temps in the 90’s and the high humidity I am an early riser. I am in the gardens by 6am trying to get as much done before sunrise. Our humidity has no time schedule as I am still dripping after a few minutes. I grow mostly Daylilies, (I have hundreds in numerous beds) you can cut them down to the ground after blooming and they will come back fresh, green and lush. I also take all the leaf cuttings and allow them to dry and then put it thru my mulcher. It makes great ground cover and looks good as it ages. Love perusal you each morning !!!
Gosh feels so good to clean and tidy up the garden doesn’t?. I did mine yesterday zone 9b FL. I’m not sure if anyone saw when Laura cleaning the daylilies and I thought there was a bunny underneath but it was Russell. lol! so cute 😻Seems like your weather is similar to part of California hot and dry that is why we moved to FL in 2019. Here FL in my location we are currently in the high 90’s low 75’s with humidity at 73%. Stay cool you all!
Hey Laura, I live in Northern Victoria in Australia. I love perusal what you do as our climates are very similar. Obviously we are in the middle of winter right now, but it is a balmy 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), and I’m sitting outside, looking at my 50 year old claret ash, which is showing the same signs as yours. When it was planted, there were no pests to worry it. I believe it will slowly die off if not given treatment.
I was wondering if you have a routine for your flowering crab trees in terms of fertilizing and spraying to avoid any crab tree scab. Do you ever have issues with leaf spot and curl toward the end of summer? We have two Spring Snow trees….one is gorgeous and the other seems to be struggling a bit. Any advice or tips ? Thank you for all you do to help and encourage us. ( I am in N.H a zone 5.)
Laura! Your website gives me so much energy and vigor! You and Aaron have renewed my love of gardening. It is so healthy and rewarding to work on my yard. Thank you so much! My day can’t get started without “Hey Guys!” If I need motivation, I turn on an episode and then suddenly feel like “gettin at it” and work in the garden. P.S. I am battling Spider Mites too, and its bad. My plan is hose water spray, soap spray, Neem Oil and repeat. Sadly I had to rip out a huge gorgeous dahlia. 🙁
It’s always jarring to plants and humans when there is such a change in temperature and humidity, especially going from a cool spring with above average rainfall to unusually high temperatures. I’ve lost so many plants this year 😢 It’s always so motivating to see your maintenance articles – everything looks so nice afterwards and I’m inspired to give my plants some TLC! Looking forward to fall … 🍂
SUCH good info regarding obvious watering pattern changes around your ash tree. With everyone tearing out their lawns per water restrictions many don’t think about the affect on established trees in the now barren lawn area. Our water district DOES allow base “watering of established trees” but that’s literally in the fine print of exceptions, in tiny type. It gets me sad that they don’t promote keeping them alive, when their shade is so important for wildlife and us. “Plant a tree!”
Yes, the heat seems to be brutal this year. I’ve got some stressed shrubs and trees that I’m following the sun around with pato umbrellas! I’m glad you’re saving your ash tree. It’s beautiful. What are you spraying it with and when? I know it’s hot to be out there working in the yard but it can be so rewarding. Ya’ll stay cool and remember to hydrate. 😎
Hi Laura! Terri here, from Jacksonville, Florida! You all inspired me to transform my entire back property into a kitchen garden. I’ve incorporated a chicken motif, as we’re planning on installing a chicken coop this Spring. I wanted to find out where you purchased your chicken statue, in the front of your coop, as seen in this article? Thank you so much for having an excellent garden website. We enjoy your articles with coffee, before we start our day each morning.
Great clean up. Looks way better. Yep our humidity as soon as you walk out the door it hits you like a ton of bricks. Humidity is wicked. When you spray yourself with water just to stay cool the water from the spray doesn’t even go away you just stay wet.🤦🏻♀️😂. Great job on the tree but you look so hot. Thank you so very much for sharing this with us.🌹🌹🌹
Laura, So true about the humidity!! Here in the South East, even in the mornings it shows anywhere from 70% to 86% humidity! With real feel temperatures over 100°. It definitely gets unbearable and difficult to get anything productive accomplished outside. Even inside can be a chore. AC units struggle to keep pace and you don’t want them to overwork, as it will cause units to start to ice up and stop functioning. Always SOOOOOO jelly of you being able to wear make-up, have your hair down, wear jeans and long-sleeved shirts!! Lol. I have to wear tank tops of sorts. Because the humidity is so bad, even the short sleeve t-shirts will stick or embed themselves to your arms. Which is constricting to arm and shoulder movements. Make-up will melt and slide off your face quickly lol. My hair is thick and I have to wear it pulled back and up. After a few outside chores, when I come inside and take my hair down, it is completely soaked! Years ago, I grossed out one of my daughters. When I took my hair down, I can literally wring the sweat out of it! Hahaha 😆 Stay cool, and continue to work within the shady areas.
Good Morning all. I can’t even imagine that kind of heat. Well, I can, but I just don’t go in it any more. My heart aches for all who are suffering through it. I remember years ago my spouse saved my life, from heat as I was about to pass out in a parking lot. We were at the kayaking Ocoee Rodeo in Tennessee. It was 90 something and 100% humidity. It took me a few days to recover. I just can’t do that kind of heat. Stay hydrated and Stay safe. Enjoy your day. xo
i love maintenance articles… too hot here for much work so it’s good to see someone getting jobs done, lol… we are used to dryer climate with heat as well, so the last 2 weeks with the humidity influx we’ve had have turned us into garden wimps! ugh! how did i survive growing up in south texas?? lol.. socal has spoiled me!! love love love those big ole trees… the trunks sure have a story to tell, don’t they? good luck with the spider mites.. aphids are our nemesis here, ugh… those and budworm, gotta stay on top of it… hope you got some refreshing tea after your workout.. and Aaron, the grass looks fabulous!!! 🙂 ❤ thanks for the article!! 🙂 ❤
Loved today’s article regarding pruning, dead heading plants, etc. It would be very helpful to also show the proper way to prune as that segment of the article was speeded up and therefore we weren’t able to see exactly where on a branch you’re suppose to trim, ie. The Red Bud trees. Can you just cut the ends off or should they be trimmed at a certain place?? Same with flowering plants. 🌳 🌸 😊
After 3 years of keeping an eye on my Purple Ash tree, it finally became necessary to have it removed. The Emerald Ash Borer damage was too much to leave it. I had a professional tree service cut it down and they ground out the stump and cut off the big roots. I’m in Ontario, Canada and our Ash trees got hit hard….all varieties. I’ve turned that part of my garden into a rock and pot area. I miss the tree but I love the new look.
I’m on the same boat on the spider mites, I have them on my Dahlias, I did the same started with Captain Jacks, I’m about to change to something else since I’ve used it 3 sprays in a row. Can I save my tubers after this infestation? I’m thinking of spraying with neem when I lift and clean the tubers off and dry too store in the fall.
Hello from the other side of the pond, thank you very much you are a great example, very inspirational. Love the work you are doing, the progress, love it all. Will you have a shop on the property? Or like a preforming spot, for flower artists like you could come and present their works? Also will you have a July garden tour?
I love learning about taking care of trees. I really like trees, and get really sad when I loose my favorites. Even if they’re not mine anymore. I grew up with a beautiful weeping white birch on our farm near you. I had been away for many years when my family had some changes around there and someone forgot about making sure it got watered and it died. That was several years ago, and I’m still sad. 5 years ago I sold my house in Boise. Last summer I went by there and found the people haven’t been taking care of the yard. The blue spruce and the hawthorn have been cut down and the Japanese maple and crimson king maple are very neglected and drying up 😢😢😢
Good morning Laura great pruning today but yes of course I’m one of those who live in the South with awful humidity.. I’m from Wilmington NC and it’s been unbearable to be outside… You’re very lucky not to have our humidity.. Anyway, sorry about your rose bush, I know you hated to cut it but it’ll bounce back.. Have a great week!!
I feel for anybody out there that is gardening in lots of heat and humidity. We are having a lot of humidity here in UK. And not good to do gardening in. As you just do the simple thing like trim back a few plants and sweat just pours of you. So l feel for anyone that has the humidity. Like UK is at minute. What a good job you did today Laura everywhere looks great. Even more after the tidy up.
Here in northern Ontario zone 5 we have 50 and up humidity plus 80s to 90s heat ya it’s sticky ..my question is can you show us the maple tree that u planted the big one that’s having issues please.love your articles lots of information even thou I work at a greenhouse I still learn more about plants from you .thank you
Very hot and humid in St. Louis. I have lost many plants because we had heat warnings for a week then 12 inches of rain in one day? Now heat warning again. I am going to give everything a chance to come back next spring so I won’t pull anything yet. Yes. I’m off to the garden center to see what other goodies I can find. That’s what we do right?
It will be over 100*F here today. 10am and it’s 82*F but feels like 88*F. I go out in the mornings and evenings. Trying to keep things watered. Spending a lot of time drowning Japanese beetles. They’ve been a major problem in our area this year. Planning my fall garden and starting seeds. The peas are up, need to get spinach, kale, and the like going.
Enjoy all your articles. I take myriad of notes! Speaking of the bores, I now realize a few of my trees have them… I thought maybe the holes were from woodpeckers. Duh! (Probably going after THE BORES INFECTING THE TREE!) 😳 Am I zone 7B, Atlanta,GA. The heat and humidity are unbearable. Thank you for recognizing that in this article. I am originally from California and it is just so different! “It’s a dry heat”… is really a thing! 😂😂 Love your articles and rewatch many of them! Thanks for all the knowledge you share. It’s made a huge impact on me and my gardens.
Thanks for the tip on not building a bed under a tree! Makes complete sense! Our house is on a steep hill (at a lake) and we have to have trees for erosion control, and we have some beauties! However I’m afraid for when those trees die, so am trying to think if we should plant additional trees around them to keep up the erosion control, but afraid that will impact the existing trees?
Here in the deep south (South Alabama) we have high humidity at 84%today. Thankfully we are not in the 100°+ every day like we were. Hard to do a lot in that heat. Love your article and appreciate the reminder of the maintenance we need to do. How will you dispose of the rose you cut out that has all the spider mites? Also do you treat your refuse bag? Thank you for making these articles and starting my day with a smile.
The D-shaped holes are adult beetle exit holes. By the time you see the D-shaped holes the larvae have already done their damage in galleries between bark and sapwood The larvae then mature through pupal stage into adults. The adults then create the exit holes, chew notches on leaves, mate, and deposit eggs under the scales of the bark to complete another larval and pupal stage inside the tree. In short, if you see a lot of D-shaped exit holes there are likely many larval galleries that have already weakened the sapwood of the tree.
I have been struggling so hard with my gardens. Three months ago we adopted a newborn girl and gardening in heat with her is just not an option. I have felt like a failure because my window boxes / hanging baskets are crisp and I still have plants in their nursery pots (dead now) sitting in my driveway. Seeing your gardens a little crazy this time of year makes me feel so much better. Life catches up sometimes. Thank you for always showing your real.
down here in Georgia (Atlanta) we’re finally getting some cooler temps (high 80f) – we had our 100+ heat spell way back in June !!! and yes, the humidity is killer – some days, if you have to go out, you don’t even bother to shower goes once you step out of the A/C it’s like a sauna and a lady glistens like a sun-drenched pool of water (aka you sweat like crazy just standing still). Yet, every year we go thru the same weather and every year we survive !!!! Yah, I know it’s hot … but its a wet heat – hahahaha. Y’all be careful and safe out there in your garden … Autumn will be here soon enough …
It was so sad to see the borers take all the Ash here in WI. Many streets in the city were lined with huge old ash that would create a beautiful golden and purple canopy in fall. They tried hard to treat them and keep them but they haven’t made it. It is noticeable now how municipalities are varying tree types as they line the roads, hoping to keep some trees if another pest or disease takes 1 type.
Hi Laura… I have 8 Mandevilla Deplidenia that are growing beautiful. All leaves and vines deep green and healthy, but having one major issue… Almost all the flower buds rot and die either at the early stage or right before opening up. The ones where just about to open seem as if they are very wet on the inside and will get limp and mush out. The young ones will rot at the stem just behind the bloom and fall off. This has just started to happen the past 2-3 weeks. I have not changed anything. They only get rain water from barrels. I use Neptune fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. It is very deluted and typically apply after it rains so fertilizer not hitting dry roots. Very strange the flowers rotting, but plant extremely healthy in appearance.. What do you think the problem is?
Love to watch your article’s and I always learn something to help me in my gardens. I planted 3 birch trees about 4 years ago, the borer beetles are new to our area and killed my beautiful birch trees before I figured out what was going on. I am so sad! What systemic would you recommend for treating borer beetles? We live In southwest Washington state and we have some friends who still have their beautiful birch trees and told them about the beetles.
Those spider mites are so frustrating! I lost a good size little lime hydrangea and a little lime punch this year. They were newly planted last year. Got infested with these pests so bad. I thought the same thing, they were just getting burned from the sun. I had to cut them and defoliated them. Kept them sprayed with a shade cloth over them but definitely the little lime died, little punch is kind of hanging on. I had another little lime that I didn’t completely defoliate I just rubbed the leaves with neem and soapy water for a few weeks. Looks like she’s going to make it. Roses are so tough. I love these maintenance articles gets me motivated to get out there and clean things up except our heat index is going to be 110-115 today in KS. Yucko 🥵😊❤️
You’re lucky you have no humidity I live in Corydon Indiana next to Louisville Kentucky and we have a humidity level as high as the heat level and my garden and flowers are doing very poorly I try to water every afternoon but they kind of just looks spotty and the garden didn’t do anything except for the kale and the carrots
We’re building on 2 acres and many of the Ashes died out and saplings are coming up. I had a tree company out to remove a dead Cottonwood. He told me the EAB has moved out of our area SW Ohio. So the Green Ash trees that are still standing & growing I’m treating every spring. I hope they live but only time will tell.
👋🌞Good Tuesday afternoon, Laura! I wasn’t able to watch this article this morning, as I was educating myself on all of the Candidates for Arizona’s elections, today. Then, I went to vote and ran some errands. FINALLY, I am sitting down to enjoy your hard work and ALWAYS informative article! I rest, you work.😂🤣😂 You got the short end of the stick, in this arrangement… 😉😂🤣😂🤣😂 Are the pods on your rain tree actually the seeds? Or are they just the “flower” the tree puts off? The tree is just a stunning specimen and provides a perfect shade spot to retreat underneath. I spied one of the 🐈 at the end of the chicken building. But, not sure which one he was, as his back was to the camera. 👋Hi Cheddar/Russell. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂Beverly was just dancing her feathered booty all back and forth, while you were sped up trimming, in front of the run… It tickled me and I had to reverse several times, to watch it again. Awwwwe, I am so sorry you had to take the beautiful climbing rose out. I am fairly certain, you will replace it, once you get the spider mite situation under control. DANG spider mites…😡😡😡😡 Whooooa, that root almost got the better of you; good balance! Beautiful and simplistic vase of rain tree pods. They look perfect there!👏👏👏 LOVING Samantha Grace’s swing hanging underneath the Ash tree!
Good morning! I noticed your ash tree and over here in the Portland-metro area, we’ve had notifications of the emerald beetle borer that attacks only ash. Has your area of the state been under such threat as well? (And not only is your property amazing– but so is your stamina in this heat! I’ve been cooped up inside with this 90+ heat wave on our side all this time, lol!)
We had mite damage on a bobo hydrangea this year, stunting the leaves and blooms on half the plant. I feel like we got rid of them all but will the leaves continue to look like that year after year or will they go back to normal next year? It is planted beside my driveway under a crape myrtle tree- zone 7B central NC. 😊
Cam you use Neem oil in the ground around the chicken coop area? Will it kill those pests? Think I hate them the most! Although one year there was an abundance of aphids. They were in the birch, aspen; cottonwood, quaking and regular. They were on the plants under the trees as well. All of So. Central Alaska was affected. The trees survived and the fireweed spreads by the roots so most survived.
Laura, speaking of pruning, I have a question about pruning boxwoods. This particular question I haven’t seen asked or answered before. I have a bed that has 3 dogwood trees, a short(ish) hedge of Crimson Fire Loropetalum flanking 7 Yellow Drift Roses. I would LOVE to put a really short boxwood hedge in front of the Loropetalum and Roses. The Loropetalum will eventually get between 3-4 feet tall and the roses get about 30 inches tall. I’d like to keep the boxwood hedge only about 10″ tall. Is this even possible to keep a hedge this short? What I am looking to do is edge this bed in an evergreen (love boxwoods – I have Winter Gem and Sprinters in other areas of my garden). I need something that will stay very low, green and let the roses and Loropetalum show and shine. What do you think of creating a very short hedge like this?
It is interesting. Our town in Iowa has a major infestation with Ash trees. Around our school they are taking our many. I noticed ours in the back yard are dying. Then I heard about the other here. I just hate it. Plus to take out one tree was 2,000,00. Not sure how we will pay for that? ( we have 2 ) So we will see? I always learn from perusal you prune. Thanks Joyce
Hi Laura I garden on the south Coast of South Africa, in summer it gets 35 degrees Celsius and the humidity 85 to 90% its a killer, I literally time my gardening for 5 am in the morning or later at night, but in the day you just don’t dare, go out and we deal with 3 of the worlds most poisonous snakes in our area, Black Mamba, Green mamba and Boomslang oh its treacherous but worth ever drop of perspiration. 😓😓😰😅
I was wondering about humidity there. We (in zone 6a) regularly get 80-90 degrees with high humidity and dew points. It really does make it unbearable for yard work. However, my parents lived in FL for a while and he always said that he did yard work before 10am or it didn’t get done. Humidity or not, 100+ degrees is hot!
I’m one of those that deal with heat and humidity…8:55am in nc we have 80% humidity..the humidity spikes our heat indexes terribly ex. Can be 80f heat index 102…97f heat index 111…it’s been that way for over a month…we are just now hitting our worst heat tho…August is our hottest month, so we chase the shade but sometimes the shade is crazy hot too lol
Ash trees are so beautiful! The Emerald Ash borer is so prevalent here, that we probably won’t have any Ash trees left in 10 years. In my neighborhood, you can see the damage move down the street as dead trees get removed, the borers then move to the next tree which struggles for a few years before it needs removing. It is a shame, because the fall color is so beautiful! Makes me wonder when we will appreciate our native plants and stop risking new invasive species/diseases from things that are beautiful but don’t belong in our areas/countries.
In Kentucky we have had a very bad run of the Emerald Ash Borer for the past several years and many of us have lost several trees due to the damage they have caused. Our neighbor has lost 26 trees in their back yard alone which changes the landscape dramatically when you lose that many trees. Our last two ash trees need to be taken down soon so that we can maintain safety when we’re out in the yard.
Laura, in your cut flower shed have you thought about painting just one wall A different color to give you the ability to take better pictures? Instead of painting the entire four walls. By the way, is there another baby on the way? I’ve been noticing subtle changes here and there and if so I think it’s wonderful, congratulations and if not keep working on it. Y’all will get it right one day. Lol
When you prune a bush, as you did in the west garden a few articles ago, and it became a tree form, can it ever go back to bush form, or does it stop forming lower branches? I’ve pruned some of my limelights and they seem to be growing more upright. I’m wondering if if they’re changing to tree form or will they bush back out?🌺🌺🌺
I live in WI zone 4b. Our season is short but it fluctuates wildly from the 60s to the 90s throughout with periods of excessive humidity. I live in the midst of farm country on the outskirts of a small town. I have a big veggie garden and flowerbeds. I’m wondering if my plants have spider mites. I’ve watched Laura’s article about mites but I don’t see those same signs. How do you tell the difference between regular old spiders and spider mites or is there no difference? I’ve approached my local county extension person with this question and she made a remark about spider mites were for houseplants and acted as though this wasn’t a problem in our region. I didn’t get an answer from her. Yet, many of my plants have spiderwebs in them. I water daily and use the jet setting on my hose to destroy the webs. How do I know if I have a problem or this is nature doing her thing?
Hey Laura, first I have to say, I just love your articles, I am a florist here in Clemson, SC and me and my flower farmer talk about you and Aaron like we have been friends for years,. “Oh did you see what Laura did today, don’t you just love her” haha, My question is I was taught that you can’t trim trees when it is over 90 degrees because it puts too much stress on them. Is that something you have heard or you just do it anyway and hope for the best? You do realize we live in the South, which is the gateway to Hell and hotter than a fireball down here.
So I was looking for our humidity levels because I know that’s something that everybody complains about in Alabama and I found a percentage but it was only 20% and I was like well that doesn’t seem right because if so it’s the same as Laura. And then I found out that was the precipitation percentage the humidity is 97% 😳
We have what might be called a Tulip Tree, because when it blooms they look like tulips. It is the messest tree ever. It drops dead branches all year, some up to five inches round, drops dead leaves most of the summer till they are all gone. Question though, we were sitting under the shade of the tree and noticed ants going in and out of the tree, then looking more looks like this 50′ tree is about to split down the middle. What can we do about the ants??
I have a question about removing trees. I was wondering if you have to have a permit to remove the trees? I live in the suburbs of Vancouver B.C. And we need permits to remove trees whose trunks are bigger than 12″ round, and if its a multi trunk you add all the circumferences together. Then we pay a fee, as a promise to replace the tree with two more. After the first year of the new planting you get half your fee back and then the remainder after the second year. I’m envious of how you can just remove trees, and was curious if there were any laws you have to follow. We have a massive pussy willow with multi trunks, it has bore holes everywhere and we feel it’s not safe and would love to remove it, but the cost of permit and new tree fees is just too steep. Keep up the good work, I so enjoy perusal your articles with my morning tea. You make me want to have a bigger property to be able to plant more beautiful things. Have a wonderful day 😊
Had to laugh when you said humidity by you is 20%…….EVERYONE in Wisconsin, on the Lake Michigan shoreline is familiar with the saying “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”. Ugh, gardening in 90 degree heat with 80% humidity has got to be the worst! Pretty much like being in a hot shower all day long. You’re so right about dry heat, but still 109? I guess every region has its plus and minus conditions. Hang in there…..grateful for your consistent postings. 👍
Next time you see spider mites, is there a chance you can get up close with the camera so we can see what it looks like in “real” life? I’ve watched a few articles where you talk about them, but you always do picture cutaways which are great, but it would be interesting to see things in live action too. 🙏🏽
Just an fyi Google is being weird and “suspending” my subscription due to “payment failure” . They want a secondary payment method. I probably will not do that – sorry – I so enjoy this website but have no intention of giving them an additional card to be compromised in the event of a breach. We are only talking a few bucks and Paypal is generally not my first payment choice. Not sure what their game plan is but not mine. :(, Also – the Hartley is beautiful and no matter when you finish (you will never be done) it is a work of art and so worth waiting to get the details right. Don’t be discouraged, everything is lovely!! ❤
THANKS JEHOVAH YHWH BLESS YOU SISTER LAURA BROTHER AARON LIL BENJAMIN SAMANTHA GRACE RUSSELL CHEDDAR MOM SUZAN BROTHER NICK SISTER MONICA LIL SOPHIA BROTHER JOE DADDY BMAN MOM SUE LOYAL LOVE FOREVER HELLO LIL BENJAMIN SAMANTHA GRACE NICELY DONE AMAZING AWE-INSPIRING THANKS Proverbs 22 4 The Result Of Humility; And The Fear Of Jehovah Yhwh; Is Riches, And Glory, And Life Amen *THANKS *LOVE ENDURES ALL THINGS
💖JEHOVAH YHWH BLESS YOU SISTER LAURA, BROTHER AARON, LIL BENJAMIN, BABY SAMANTHA, RUSSELL, CHEDDAR, BROTHER NICK, SISTER MONICA, MOM SUZAN, LIL SOPHIA, AND FAMILY ALWAYS 💖Romans 5: 4. ” Endurance; In Turn; An Approved Condition; The Approved Condition; In Turn; Hope, Amen 💖THANKS GARDEN ANSWER FOR SHARING KNOWLEDGEABLE; WISE INFORMATION ON:.. FLOWER BED MAINTENANCE & TREE PRUNING//GARDEN ANSWER … LOVELY article … EVERYTHING LOOKS LOVELY … THANKS SISTER LAURA, AND BROTHER AARON … NICELY DONE … 💖LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY.