The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program will be writing a bi-monthly column for the Portager entitled “Rooted Ramblings.” Look for our column every other Friday.
Oh Spring. Trying our patience every day as we ride a roller coaster of temperatures. Not only that but we...
This is the time of year when you walk through your yard or through the woods and spot those lovely plants that show their beautiful blooms for just a brief time in the spring. You can’t help but smile when you see these ephemerals popping through the leaves.
If you don’t know an invasive weed called Lesser Celandine, count your blessings, but keep reading in case you do find it in your yard or garden.
There is nothing quite like the taste of a home-grown tomato – vine ripened and bursting with flavor. This could be the reason that tomatoes are one of the most popular plants you will find in any backyard garden.
Every summer about this time, Japanese beetles descend upon our communities and begin to skeletonize leaves, flowers and fruits of many different plants.
This time of year, many growers are cursing the overly prolific weeds. However, some master gardeners view weeds as an opportunity to ingest highly nutritious greens, flowers, seeds, and roots.
Every gardener wants to use the best practices for a healthy garden. When we look at a landscape that is in balance, we see diverse variety, a lot of color, and randomness. Pollinators hum, birds sing. We may notice some, but not much, damage. Mixing plants in vegetable gardens helps mimic natural ecosystems, addressing common gardening issues like weeds, insect damage, and moisture retention.
The joys of summer, walks in the woods, trips to the park, camping, but wait— what are those plants? And now I have an itchy rash! Poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak: these are three of the common poisonous plants which can cause rashes when we encounter them in the woods and at home.
Although we can’t wave a magic wand and change our weather, by gardening smartly we can continue to have resilient and flourishing gardens no matter what the weather may bring.
Have you noticed the displays of bulb packages in home stores and garden centers? We see Tulips, Daffodils, and more. Now is a perfect time to prepare your bed and plant those bulbs. It may be hard to imagine as we head deep into fall colors and harvests, but these bulbs will bring you joy when very little is growing. Here are some tips to get started:
By Michelle Smith, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer Fall is often a bittersweet time for gardeners. As we enjoy the...