The Christian Science Monitor

07.02.09

Working among bean plants when they’re wet from rain or dew helps spread anthracnose, a fungus. If you see spots on your beans or on the leaves, that’s the cause. Pick off affected parts and remove them far from the garden.

01.12.09

When you walk on a wet or frozen lawn, that compacts the soil. What difference does that make? Air and water have trouble penetrating compacted soil. So do plant roots (including grass). And it can cause drainage problems.

12.23.08

Holiday plants and indoor greenery will stay fresh and in good shape longer if you lower the thermostat. The cooler they are, the longer they last.

12.21.08

When outdoor temperatures fall below freezing, houseplants that are on windowsills shouldn’t be up against the glass. If they are, leaves that touch a cold window may freeze. If you have nowhere else to put the plant, try Bubble Wrap between the plant and the glass. Or, at night, place cardboard between the two so that the plant isn’t damaged.

11.05.08

If you’ve had problems with squirrels and other rodents digging up your spring-flowering bulbs, try daffodils, which they won’t eat.

10.06.08

Homeowners tend to get enthusiastic about lawn care in spring. But fall is the best time to reseed the lawn if it needs it and to fertilize it. If you fertilize your grass only once a year, do it in autumn.

10.05.08

Get a head start on next spring’s new flower or vegetable beds by spending part of a cool fall weekend to dig up the soil.

10.02.08

Many gardeners like to leave the seedheads on coneflowers, daisies, and other perennials in fall instead of cutting down the flower stalks. Those seeds will attract goldfinches, whose acrobatic antics as they consume them will fill you with delight.

09.28.08

Most gardeners wait till the very last minute before frost threatens to transfer houseplants that have spent the summer outdoors. But the plants will acclimate sooner — with fewer yellowing and dropped leaves — if they make the trip indoors when the temperatures outdoors and inside are about the same.

09.25.08

If you buy potted mums to go in the yard in autumn and you’d like them to survive winter, avoid planting them in spots where the drainage is poor or they’re exposed to lots of wind.

09.23.08

Fall is an excellent time to plant lily bulbs. They dry out easily, though, so plant as soon as you’ve bought them.

09.19.08

Want more fall flowers than just chrysanthemums? Ask at a local nursery if these flowers are suitable for your climate: asters, boltonia, Japanese anemone, Joe-pye weed, hybrid goldenrod (there are many new ones that stay small), toadlily, and turtlehead (Chelone).  All are perennials  that will return each year to bright your yard year after year.

09.18.08

Garden insecticides and herbicides — even organic ones — lose their effectiveness after about two years. So it’s a good idea to write the purchase date on all labels and discard the products when your community has a household hazardous waste disposal day. Don’t just toss them in the trash.

09.17.08

Fall is the time to scatter annual poppy seeds over an empty flower bed. No need to cover or dig them in. They’ll germinate  in autumn and bloom next spring. Then save next year’s seeds and do it all over again. It couldn’t be easier.

09.15.08

Each time you water your houseplants – even the big floor plants — give the container a quarter turn clockwise. That way, each side of the plant gets an equal amount of light over a month and you avoid the plant getting out of balance and growing toward the light.