By Robert Weaver Last summer was a disaster in the vegetable garden, leaving me still longing for the taste of fresh, homegrown veggies. So I’m going to try growing some of my favorites indoors. Lettuce shouldn’t be too difficult, but I suspect tomatoes are going to be more of a challenge. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
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By late September, I am readying my tropical plant collection for the indoors by trimming away dead or damaged growth, checking for insects and spraying, if needed, and inspecting potting soil for slugs and various critters. By Chris Kelley (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener October 2006 issue) It’s time to start dreaming big about your tropical
» Read more[This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener September 2006 issue] By Patrick Geraty Good nutrition continues to be a hot topic these days, with the popularity of organic foods skyrocketing and Americans from every walk of life increasingly sensitive to the specifics of their daily diet. It’s the same in home gardening and lawn care. More hobbyists are
» Read more[This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener September 2006 issue.] By Dr. Steven Cline You hardly think of gardening as an absolute science, but the one place where it helps to know as much as possible is when it comes to your garden soil. After all, if you expect your plants to last a long time, then would
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By Julie Evans Straatmann (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener August 2006 issue) This time of year, most of our gardens are showing the effects of a hot dry summer. No matter how much watering we do, Mother Nature does it best. Many perennials benefit by having a good hair cut to freshen up their appearance. Coreopsis
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By Steffie Littlefield (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener August 2007 issue) Customers and clients often ask, “what’s hot this season?” Well, in St. Louis in August, the weather is what’s HOT!!! So the biggest task during these months is to keep your new plants alive through the “Dog Days of Summer.” If you already know I’m
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By Barbara Perry Lawton (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener June 2007 issue) Pools are loads of fun during our warm—yes, hot summer days. Water games involving lots of splashing are sure to keep children happy. But those hot splashy conditions can make it hard to find plants that are both attractive and tolerant of the poolside
» Read moreBy Pat Bellrose Heavy rain, way below normal temperatures and now extreme prolonged heat! Each year gives us new challenges growing annuals, But this year WOW! If you planted early you probably are experiencing some issues. If you have planted late or have not planted yet your plants are experiencing a different set of issues. So far I have gotten
» Read moreBy Barbara Perry Lawton (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener May 2006 issue.) Traditional gardeners and garden designers often create each garden bed and border with a single focus, with an emphasis on a particular group of plants. As a result, we often have perennial borders, annual beds, rose gardens, herb gardens and other “Johnny-One-Note” gardens. While
» Read more(This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener April 2009 issue.) By Diane Brueckman April 15th will soon be here and you’ll be uncovering your roses. Pruning is an essential part of having good-looking, productive plants. Removing dead and diseased wood not only shapes up your plant, but gives you more and bigger blooms. Pruning is a great way
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