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This simple salad of fresh tomatoes and sweet corn will breathe new life into a summer dinner or backyard barbecue. What You’ll Need: 6 ears corn, husked and cleaned 3 large tomatoes, diced 1 large onion, diced 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons white vinegar salt and pepper to taste Step by Step: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook corn in boiling water for 7 to 10 minutes, or …
It’s not something that you want to think about, but winter will be here a lot sooner than we would like and now is the time to start thinking about getting your roses ready for winter. Do not prune your roses now. That should be done in the spring. Do not fertilize past the first week of September. You want the plant to put most of its energy into the roots, not producing flowers. You need to protect the graft, …
Have you ever wondered how roses get their names? The process of having a rose named is actually very simple. The real difficulty is in hybridizing a rose that’s worthy of naming! A very popular older Hybrid tea, the ‘Peace’ rose was introduced right after the end of World War 2. It was actually sheer coincidence that Berlin fell and a truce was declared on the same day as the naming of the ‘Peace’ rose. In naming the rose, this …
Cleaning your bird houses is essential for good bird health and safety. Dirty bird houses can harbor rodents, insects, feather mites, fungus and bacteria that can spread disease to the birds. Ideally, a bird house should be cleaned after all babies have grown and left the home. Remove all old nesting material and scrape out any feces or clumped matter. This material should be disposed of in a plastic bag to prevent spreading any parasites it might harbor. Scrub the …
How would you like to turn your kitchen scraps into amazing nutrient rich soil that surpasses anything you can buy from a store? It’s pretty simple and easy if you use worm power. That’s right – I said worms! Worm composting (Vermicomposting) is a clean and odorless way to transform food waste into a rich fertilizer. Not only can these red wigglers create the most nutrient rich soil, they will also help you reduce the trash you produce and keep things out …
It’s Good for Your Plants Dividing perennials is an easy, inexpensive, reliable way to propagate you favorite plants. In fact, lots of varieties of perennials benefit from division, resulting in several young, actively growing and blooming plants out of an overgrown clump. It’s a good idea to spend a little time before you start the task and decide where the divisions are going. Take advantage of the opportunity to amend the soil before you plant you divisions. Can any perennial …
I would like to share a few tips I have learned along the way as well as some products I strongly recommend for growing good, healthy roses. Gardening Tips: When I am in the growing season I keep a garden calendar. I keep a record of fertilizing, spraying and watering. When I do my spring pruning around tax time, I use Elmer’s wood glue to seal the end of the canes to prevent cane borers. I add some food coloring …
Have you ever wondered what happens to the plastic containers that you return to Wenke Greenhouses in our recycle box in the corner of the parking lot? I’m happy to tell you about the recycling program that has really had a positive impact. East Jordan is a supplier for us and they have a facility in South Haven that takes all that plastic and makes it new again. East Jordan plans to recycle 12 million pounds this year. That’s a …
Indoor plants bring welcome warm touches of life to enclosed, stuffy rooms and soothe us with their visual impact. If you’d like to add a touch of “green” to your home, here are some beautiful plants that will fit right in with the rest of your Christmas decorations and brighten the holidays. Whether purchased for yourself or as gifts for teachers, special friends, or someone who can’t get out much anymore, the colorful blooms sing silent songs of joy. Use …
There are literally hundreds of types of roses that you can grow in your garden. With such a selection to choose from, it can be extremely difficult to choose the rose that’s right for you. The best thing to do is to prioritize what is most important to you. For some people, color is a top priority. For others, it is the variety of the rose. While for me, I choose my roses by fragrance. I love a great smelling …
