By Robin Alberti The first year that I tried growing my own garlic, I was surprised to find this thin (about the width of a pencil) light-green stem growing out of the top. It curled around as it grew and even made a flower bud at the end. It reminded me of something out of…

Submitted Help boost your soil with compost and other amendments, to get the most out of your edible or visual garden. Mother Nature provides plenty to grow healthy lawns, gardens and landscapes. But as many homeowners know, some lawns sometimes need a little extra boost to complement nature. Soil sometimes must be amended so plants…

Submitted Hanging items vertically frees up more space in a shed or garage. Despite other intentions, homeowners often turn their garages into storage centers for random, little-used items, leaving little to no room for the tools and even vehicles that actually belong in a garage. Such homeowners may turn to sheds to store their garage…

As Memorial Day approaches many in Central Vermont are getting excited about putting in gardens and planting flowers, ‘tis the season, and after a long cold winter we are all ready for some flowers! The Rutland County Humane Society would like to remind gardeners with pets, however, that there are poisonous plants to watch out…

Biosolids are an organic amendment available to gardeners. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, biosolids are carefully treated and monitored residuals formed at sewage treatment facilities. They may be recycled into fertilizers to stimulate plant growth. Biosolids may help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. Biosolids can be safe to use, but homeowners…

Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide that can be used to combat a host of landscaping pests and diseases. Azadirachtin is an active component in neem oil that can be extracted to repel and kill pests. Studies have shown that neem oil is nearly nontoxic to bees, birds, fish, and wildlife. In addition, neem…

Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor, UVM Effective control of animal pests is possible though your success will depend on your timing, method, and perseverance. A control that works for your neighbor, or that worked for you last year, may not work this time around. You may need to try a variety of methods and devices…

Submitted Curb appeal can set your home apart from others, and improving curb appeal doesn’t have to be expensive. Curb appeal can help a home get noticed in a bustling real estate market. Curb appeal also can contribute to the aesthetics of a neighborhood for residents who plan to stay put, and many homeowners feel…

Some of the most popular gardens are plots designated for cultivating herbs and vegetables. Fresh produce is a great benefit of having a home garden, allowing homeowners to exercise control over which products to use to grow robust, healthy vegetables. Novice gardeners may not know where to begin when it comes to planting their first…

Photo by John Hall Salamanders like this Eastern red-spotted newt will soon be crossing Vermont roadways to reach wetlands where they will breed. You may have already heard the spring peepers or wood frogs calling in your backyard. Or perhaps you’ve noticed salamanders crawling over rocks in a nearby stream. The arrival of spring brings…

Submitted Keeping your lawn an appropriate height, versus very short to cut down on mowings, will help to keep it healthy. Maintaining a lush lawn is a healthy and rewarding hobby that affords homeowners to spend some time outdoors in nature. Lawn enthusiasts can make their hobby even healthier by adopting several eco-friendly lawn care…

Submitted Similar flowers can be arranged into beautiful arrangements — or not. As you can see the arrangement has “bullseye” flowers, but the filler isn’t recessed to show off those main flowers and little or no greenery has been added. This is an example of a badly organized arrangement. The Rutland Garden Club provides a…

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared April to be “National Gardening Month,” and Vermont has much to celebrate. Although garden season gets a later start in Vermont (May or June is more like it!), our state has a vibrant, active, gardening culture. “Vermonters care very deeply about where there food comes from,”…

Submitted Unhealthy trees may need to be removed from a property before they cause significant damage. Perhaps because they can live for so many years, trees have a way of falling down homeowners’ landscaping priority lists. Trees also tend to be big and strong, so it’s no surprise that they often are overlooked in favor…

Submitted With the right tools for the job, a professional can prune your trees safely and efficiently. Bountiful, healthy trees can be beautiful to behold and important contributors to a thriving environment. According to American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization, a tree can absorb as much as 40 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and…