Yard & Garden

Popular, easy-to-grow options include the following. For more ideas, visit Butterfly Gardening. 

• Bee balm, Monarda didyma
• Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
• Blanket flower, Gaillardia aristata
• Coreopsis, Coreopsis spp.
• New England Aster, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
• Speedwell, Veronica spicata
• Tall Sedum, Sedum spectabile

After overwintering as eggs inside the female’s old bag, a new generation of insects begins hatching in late May and early June. The exact hatching period is determined by temperature, so cooler than normal spring temperatures may delay their emergence. Not all insects hatch out at exactly the same time; hatching is staggered over the course of a 2-3 weeks. 

Don't jump the gun and apply an insecticide before insects have hatched out. It's also a good idea to wait for 2-3 weeks after the first emergence, so that all insects will have hatched at the time of application and can be controlled with just one insecticide application. 

Typically, plan to apply an insecticide to control this year’s small larvae in mid to late June. Bacillus thuringiensis, BT, is available at nurseries and garden centers as Dipel or Thuricide. It’s very effective at controlling the insects without damaging other beneficial insects. It also has very low toxicity to birds and mammals.

Bagworms

Spring fever is hard for gardeners to resist, but remember planting when soil is still cold will reduce transplant survival. Unseasonably warm temperatures in February or March are common now, but the chance of normal spring frosts before late April is practically guaranteed. Make sure the soil is warm enough for vigorous plant growth before putting anything in the ground. You can check soil temperatures or buy a soil thermometer and measure your own soil temps at a 4-inch depth.  

Find the average last frost dates for your location from the National Weather Service. 

Bedding plants purchased from greenhouses or garden centers should not be planted directly into the garden. Suddenly exposing them to intense sun and strong winds often results in leaf damage or plant death. Bedding plants should be "hardened off" or acclimated to outdoor growing conditions before transplanting into the garden.

Start the hardening off process by initially placing the plants outside in a shady, protected site for a few hours at a time. Gradually, over the course of 7-10 days, expose the plants to more sun and wind, and leave them outside for longer periods. Closely watch the plants throughout the hardening off process for signs of wilting, leaf scorch or cold damage.

Potting soil can quickly dry out on warm, sunny days resulting in plants left too dry which wilt and die. Thoroughly water the transplants when the soil surface is dry to the touch.

Bring transplants indoors overnight if there is a possibility of frost. Frost tolerant seedlings, such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, can remain outdoors. After 7 to 10 days of hardening, the bedding plants should be ready for planting.

Hardening Off Transplants

Care of New Bedding Plants

Consumers sometimes complain that tomatoes purchased in grocery stores lack flavor or have tough skin. Although nurseries and garden centers can provide only a limited number of different tomato cultivars, home gardeners willing to grow their own tomato transplants can choose from among hundreds of tomato cultivars, selecting those with the color, texture, size, and taste they prefer. Although rumored, there is no direct link between fruit acidity and color. Yellow tomatoes, which many home gardeners believe have lower acidity, actually have a normal acidity level but also a higher sugar content, which changes the flavor

Certain tomato cultivars have been developed for special uses such as stuffing (Pink Stuffer, Yellow Stuffer, Striped Cavern) or longer storage (Burpee’s Long Keeper).

Very dwarf cultivars adapted for growth in pots or other containers also are available. Most of these “patio” cultivars have cherry-sized fruit, like Pixie II and Orange Pixie, although a few, like Bush Steak, Patio, and Patio Princess, produce regular-sized fruit.

Choose disease resistant cultivars and be sure you understand whether the plant will grow into a bush (determinate) or a long vine (indeterminate). 

A great place to start selecting this year’s tomato cultivars is the All-American Selections program; disease resistance is one of the main criteria for choosing each year’s winners. Visit all-americaselections.org, specifically the “Tomato Winner” pages. Filter plants by their growth habit – determinate, indeterminate and semi-determinate – and check out their disease resistance under the “In the Garden” section of each plant’s description. Many great disease resistant cultivars are available for purchase as seed through mail-order catalogs.

Selecting Tomatoes for the Home Garden

According to the Humane Society of the United States, over 69 million or 54% of American households own a dog and 85% of those pet owners view their dogs as family members or companions. So naturally dog owners want their landscapes to be a safe place for their companions.

To keep your landscape healthy and safe, follow these tips. 

1. Maintain a healthy lawn.
2. Use non-toxic plants. 
3. Choose non-toxic products. 
4. Use corn gluten meal as a preemergent herbicide. 

For more details, refer to Dog Friendly Landscapes and Plants and Household Products Toxic to Pets.