Soil Tests

You may be asking yourself why do I need a soil test?  I always put the same fertilizer down at this time of year, so why waste the money?  Well, by not spending $15 for a soil test, you may be wasting a lot of money on the wrong fertilizer.  Worse, you may be...

Planning a Landscape

It is 103 degrees outside my window in Texas.  We have another two months of close to 100 degree temperatures to go.  It doesn’t get very bearable outside until October.  It seems an odd time, then, to talk about planning a landscape. What plants work?  Now,...

Preparing a new garden

Starting a new garden can be daunting.  It needn’t be, though.  Take a few simple steps, do them correctly, and you are ready to plant your seeds.  What steps, you ask?  These steps: Chose a site Plan your garden Prepare the Soil Add Organic Matter Irrigation and...

Pesticide safety

Pesticides always seem to be in the news, and they are never portrayed favorably.  While it is certainly true that reducing the amount of pesticides used benefits the environment, some use is necessary if we wish to have food, safe homes, and healthy families.  It is...

Weed Executioner

Weed Executioner. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Gardeners have fought weeds as long as gardeners have planted gardens. All weeds are not created equal, however, and all weed killing products are not created equal. The first choice you must make is whether to use a...