One of the more interesting parts of my job happens to be that I am constantly learning new information from research that is conducted at land grant universities. As might be expected, I am closely associated with our local land grant university here at Auburn. But all states have land grant universities and conduct agricultural research.

With the use of the Internet, it has become so simple to access our sister universities’ extension fact sheets on a wide variety of topics. I regularly use and provide clients information from Georgia, Clemson, Mississippi State, N.C. State, Florida and LSU. All of these are the land grant universities for their states. The reason I use their information in addition to ours is that all these states have similar climate conditions to Alabama. Some may actually be further along on some topics than we are. The recent discovery of the kudzu bug in Georgia and South Carolina came several years ago before they were discovered in Alabama last year. Consequently, both those two agriculture research universities in those states are further ahead with information development on this particular topic.

We have many invasive species that cause lots of problems in Alabama. Things we are all familiar with, such as fire ants, kudzu, privet, gypsy moths, Japanese beetles, feral hogs — the list is long for invasive species. Many were purposely introduced, but some, like the chestnut blight and Formosan termites, made their way into our area accidentally on their own. We have a limited number of USDA color photo handbooks on invasive plant species in the Southeast. They are available from our office in Opelika at 600 S. Seventh St.

Japanese beetles are back

I’m not sure how the Japanese beetles got into the United States, but they have been a pest of the North and East for years. We really didn’t have too much of a problem with Japanese beetles in Lee County until about 10 or 15 years ago. Now, they are everywhere, and they have begun to emerge from the soil this past week. Japanese beetles have become a regular pest to invade Lee County each year about this time.

Hand-collecting beetles may not be the most effective method of control, but it can be used when beetles are less numerous. Simply drop the beetles into a solution of soapy water where they will drown. A hand-held vacuum cleaner can also be used to remove beetles.

Avoid traps to catch beetles. In most home landscapes, using one or more traps may do more harm than good. Traps attract more beetles into the area, many of which do not make it to the traps.

Carbaryl, such as registered formulation of Sevin, can be used by homeowners as well as by commercial applicators. If you use carbaryl for beetles or other insect pests, be sure to check for spider mites. A mite “explosion” on plants with a few mites often occurs after an initial use of carbaryl. Other insecticides available for controlling Japanese beetles include acephate, cyfluthrin, imidacloprid and bifenthrin. Use products according to label directions.

ANR 1250, “Japanese Beetles,” is available online from our website www.aces.edu or from the Lee County Extension Office in Opelika.

Canning Workshop

Lee County Extension is offering a Home Canning Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon June 19 at the Lee County Extension Office, 600 S. Seventh St. in Opelika. The telephone number is 334-749-3353.

Participants will have the opportunity to process tomatoes while learning water-bath-only canning techniques, and jelly-making.

The cost for the program is $8 per person, which includes supplies used during the workshop. Space is limited to 15 participants. Pre-registration and payment is due by 4 p.m. June 14.

If you have a dial gauge canner, please bring it with you. We will be testing it for accuracy, and the test is free.

Organic Vegetable Production Meeting and Tour

An Organic Vegetable Production Meeting and Tour will be hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension from 9 to 11:30 a.m. June 21. The meeting and tour will be at Randle Farms on 9215 Lee Road 54 in Auburn. The topics to be discussed are vegetable production practices, irrigation, cover crops organic certification process and organic insect pest management. Pre-registration and payment is required by June 19 at the Lee County Extension Office. The cost is $5 per person.

Master Gardener Helpline

The Master Gardener Helpline is available for anyone in the state of Alabama for your gardening questions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday through August. The number is 1-877-252-GROW (4769), and the call is toll-free.

Farmers Markets

Local farmers markets are open. On Tuesdays, Opelika’s Main Street Market on the Courthouse Square is open from 3 to 6 p.m. On Thursdays, The Market at Ag Heritage Park on the corner of Lem Morrison and South Donahue drives is open from 3 to 6 p.m. On Saturdays, the market at Sikes Pet Farm Supply on East Glenn Avenue in Auburn is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chuck Browne is Lee County’s Cooperative Extension System coordinator and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News. Contact him at 334-749-3353 or cbrowne@aces.edu.

♦ ♦ ♦

Chuck Browne speaks to Kiwanis Club of Opelika

Chuck Browne, Lee County Extension coordinator, recently spoke to the members of the Kiwanis Club of Opelika at a regular meeting at Saugahatchee Country Club. He was assisted by Kirsten Holt, 4H regional extension agent. They talked about the benefits of gardening with children, explaining how to start children gardening and methods to help them progress as they age. Club member Charles Whatley arranged the program. Shown, from left, are club president Boles Pegues, Browne and Holt.

Are you doing most of your own lawn work? A survey by the National Gardening Association finds Americans are tightening their belts and taking things into their own hands when it comes to lawn maintenance.

Looking to keep your lawn well manicured, without slicing through a lot of green? Consumer Reports put more than 100 mowers thru their paces, mowing more than 18 acres this year alone, at its Florida test site. Testers spent six sweaty weeks –mowing, mulching, side-discharging, weighing bagged clippings, and even getting down on their hands and knees to judge how evenly a mower cuts.

When it was all over, Consumer Reports found the least expensive mowers didn’t always make the cut. Among them, a $130 mower from Murray; it has an engine that lacks oomph, only discharges from the side – no bagging or mulching — and worse yet — you have to assemble it yourself.

“And keep your wrenches handy. To change the cutting height, you’re going to have to take off each wheel. Most mowers allow you to simply do that by adjusting a lever,” said Peter Sawchuck of Consumer Reports.

A $140 weed eater is another one you have to build. And while a $240 Brute comes assembled – as the least expensive, self-propelled mower tested — its mediocre performance makes it no bargain. Plus it began rusting after a few weeks of routine cleaning.

“If you don’t mind using a little muscle, we rated two push mowers that cost even less ‘Best Buys,'” said Sawchuck.

They are a $195 Murray 11A-A23K and a $200 Troy-Bilt TB-110. Both of these top-performers have premium engines and let you easily adjust cutting height.

Want to use less muscle mowing your lawn? Consider a single-speed, self-propelled mower. Consumer Reports found several good options from Toro for around $300 – including the top-rated Toro 20370.

Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union. Both Consumer Reports and Consumers Union are not-for-profit organizations that accept no advertising. Neither has any commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor on this site.

(All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2011. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

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On a beautiful June afternoon, there’s no place I’d rather be than my garden. If you want to create an outdoor space that revives and inspires you, here are three tips for turning your garden into an oasis.

I’m no gardener, so two very dear friends of mine took pity on me several years ago and turned the patch of weeds that surrounded my home into Eden. Through the years, Gloria and Lynda, who are master gardeners, have taught me a lot about creating lovely and livable outdoor spaces. Thanks to their guidance, I’ve learned what every garden needs:

1. Plantings suited for your space and skills:

The key to success is to know your space and know yourself, then create a garden that suits both. For my garden, that meant giving up on fussy, finicky plants that need a lot of care and opting for shade lovers that have an irrepressible desire to live, despite all odds. Lynda and Gloria rimmed my beds with shrubs that give me four-season color, then under-planted them with hearty perennials like hostas.

Adding a sprinkler system ensured that my plants would be watered on a regular basis — something I could never remember to do on my own.

The only annuals you’ll find in my garden are in a few intriguing pots and urns. I used to plant an array of flower-filled pots and put them all over my porch. Unfortunately, I felt like a slave to those things, and by July, they looked awful. Zero in on just a few annuals, and your garden will be beautiful and carefree.

2. A place to rest and reflect:

What good is a garden if you can’t go out there and enjoy it? After a long day at work, I can’t wait to flop into a comfy chair in my garden, put my feet up and let myself unwind. If that’s your style, too, then add a few seating areas to your yard.

And for a little drama, add some height. Try stacking a wrought-iron side table on top of a wrought-iron coffee table to create a two-tiered structure. The top level is a perfect spot to put an iron urn filled with a gorgeous hydrangea.

A small table and chairs on the front porch make a perfect place to drink your morning coffee, or enjoy a glass of wine after work. For entertaining, take the party out back, where a large, round concrete table can be the center of a courtyard, deck or patio.

3. Intriguing focal points:

Outdoor rooms must have a few arresting focal points. These well-chosen treasures will give your garden beds character and provide a place for your eye to rest as you drink in the whole scene. In my garden, I’ve used different types of artwork. One of my favorites is concrete statuary. I nestled a petite seat right into one bed, providing a hideaway under the green canopy. Other focal points could include iron urns, birdbaths, trellises and fountains.

The old adage “less is more” is definitely true when it comes to decorating with outdoor art. It’s essential to keep the number of pieces you feature in your garden to a bare minimum. Otherwise, your garden runs the risk of looking like a graveyard or an amusement park. Pick just a few pieces that capture your heart, then subtly weave them into your landscape.

This column has been adapted from Mary Carol Garrity’s blog at www.nellhills.com. She can be reached at marycarol@nellhills.com.

 

It seems this spring has been an endless parade of blossoms and color, but we’re just headed into the garden tour season. Mark your calendars and make time to peek behind walls and fences for ideas for your yard.

The

10th Annual Whittier-Mapleton Garden Tour is Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., showcasing eight outstanding gardens in the historic Mapleton Hill neighborhood. Tucked away from view, these remarkable sanctuaries aren’t open at any other time of year. Exotic plants, 140-year-old trees, terraced landscapes, roses in the finest shades, stunning stonework, and fountains will inspire your own gardening ideas, making your day memorable. Mature estate gardens, cutting edge water wise gardens and stylish small gardens will delight you with their diversity on this self-guided walking tour.

Proceeds benefit the Whittier International School. Tickets are $15 for adults and teens, kids 12 and younger free (no dogs please), available at the West End Gardener, Sturtz Copeland, Pharmaca at Alpine and Pearl streets, the Flower Bin (in Longmont), Harlequin’s Gardens, Frederic Ian, Pedal to Properties, and the Bar Method. Day-of-event sales at: the Boulder Farmers’ market, the former Mapleton Elementary School at the corner of 9th and Mapleton; 402 and 702 Pine St., all in Boulder. For more information, visit whittiergardentour.com.

The Old Town Lafayette Garden Tour is 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. June 16. The tour is held conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists’ exhibit at pARTiculars gallery, 401 S. Public Road in Lafayette, where a public reception takes place from 4-6 p.m. after the tour. The tour includes chicken coops, an urban farm, townhouse gardening and a 40-year-old rose garden. Tickets are $10 and available at pARTiculars; Lafayette Florist, 600 S. Public Road; and City Hall, 1290 S. Public Road. Tickets will also be sold at the garden on 109 E. Cleveland St. on the day of the tour.

The Junior League of Fort Collins is sponsoring its 30th Annual Terrace and Garden Tour, June 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. As the group’s major fundraiser of the year, the seven-garden tour supports programs such as ABLEWomen, Lincoln Center Children’s Imagination Series, PSD Snack Program, Done-In-A-Day Projects, and Kids in the Kitchen.

Tickets are $30, and can be purchased on-line at jlfortcollins.org. Click on the icon.

Longmont Symphony Orchestra Guild’s 35th Annual Festival of Flowers Garden Tour takes visitors through four outstanding gardens June 15 and 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Support the orchestra while enjoying the blooms. For more information, see longmontsymphony.org. Click on link at the bottom of the page.

The 9th Annual Loveland Garden Tour June 23, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. showcases private gardens in southwest Loveland. Oooo and ahhh your way through lovely gardens, then bid during the silent auction on one of the Adirondack chairs decorated by local artisans. Proceeds from the tour benefit programs of Loveland Youth Gardeners, serving at-risk and special needs youth and low-income residents in Loveland.

Tickets are $15 (children 10 and under free). To purchase tickets, visit Earle’s Loveland Floral Gifts, Gateway Garden Home Center, Loveland Garden Center, Rabbit Shadow Greenhouse, Rowe’s Flowers Gifts in Loveland. In Fort Collins, find tickets at Bath Garden Center Nursery, Fort Collins Nursery, Wild birds Unlimited, and Gulley Greenhouse. For more information call 970-669-7182 or check lovelandyouthgardeners.org.

Head south to the Water Wise Wonders Garden Tour, hosted by the Jefferson County Colorado Master Gardeners, June 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’ve been busily planning a showcase of xeric tips and square foot gardening in beautiful gardens in Jefferson County. Tickets are $12, $10 for seniors and children under 12 are free. Stop in at the Jefferson County Extension Office at 15200 W. 6th Ave. in Golden for tickets, or call 303-271-6620. Tickets also available the day of the event at any tour garden location. Cash and checks only; for more information check out jeffcogardener.blogspot.com.

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The typical American family of four can use 400 gallons of water per day, with approximately 30 percent of that water devoted to outdoor uses, primarily outdoor watering. With the warmer days of summer just around the corner, now — while temperatures are cool and gardening is a pleasure — is the perfect time to think about some landscaping steps you and your family can take to conserve water.

Reduce lawn area

If, like many of us these days, you’re trying to reduce your family’s carbon footprint, reducing your lawn area is a good place to start. Maintaining a lawn requires vast amounts of water (during summer months, outdoor watering accounts for more than 50 percent of residential water use) as well as fertilizer, weed-killing chemicals, mowing and loads of your precious time.

Take a look at the existing landscape with an eye for locations where lawn area can be reduced. Once you’ve identified some places to reduce lawn space, here are a few ideas for disposing of the old sod. Stack it up in place, until it decomposes, or chop it up and add it to the compost pile. You also can turn it upside down and leave it as mulch.

Conserve waterby growing natives

So-called Mediterranean gardening is well-suited to our wet winters and dry summers, and native plants work well with this approach.

Besides requiring less water, native plants in the landscape supply shelter and food for native birds and other wildlife. One family you might consider is manzanita (Arcostaphylos), including kinnikinnick, a charming ground cover with small white or pink flowers in the spring, followed by red berries.

Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium) is another good choice that needs little water, along with rosemary (attractive to bees and butterflies) and ceanothus (also called blue blossom). Just be sure the site has enough room for blue blossom, as it can grow quite large. Sedum, torch lily, salvia, sage and yarrow, available in various colors, are other minimal-moisture plant choices.

Use mulch or compostin the landscape

Using compost or mulch is another great strategy to reduce the watering requirements of any landscape. Researchers at Oregon State University’s experiment station in Aurora confirmed that pre-plant compost application increases plant growth and the health of drought-tolerant landscape plants. So, prior to planting new drought-tolerant plants, think about enhancing the site or soil with a good mulch or compost application.

A word about energy consumption

Are there opportunities to help reduce your energy bills by doing some strategic tree planting on your property? Deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the winter) planted on the south, west or east perimeter of a lot can provide welcome shade during the summer but still will allow sunlight during the winter after leaves fall. And their cooling shade will mean less need for running the air conditioning in your home or business.

Other strategies for reducing watering needs

In general, try to keep plants with similar needs in the same locations. Locate plants that require more watering near downspouts or in the shade of your home or office. If there’s a southern exposure on the property, check to see whether there is room to create a rock garden or perhaps a nice space for growing wildflowers, which don’t require frequent watering. Another perk of wildflowers is that they benefit the local ecosystem, including birds and butterflies.

If you opt to retain lawn on your property, ask a nursery or landscaper about environmentally friendly, low-irrigation options that require less watering. Also, many rental companies have machines that aerate lawns by removing small plugs of grass and topsoil. This allows much better water penetration and can reduce water bills by as much as 50 percent.

In addition, control weeds, which can rob moisture from plants and soil, and don’t overfertilize your garden. The excess growth will necessitate extra watering. Also, taller grass helps reduce moisture evaporation, so set your mower high.

You might also consider a drip-irrigation system. Drip irrigation will deliver water directly to plants’ root zones, saving water.

Cynthia Orlando is a certified arborist for the Oregon Department of Forestry.

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Nothing will taste better than a crisp salad fresh from your own garden. And now’s the time to plant! Grow the varieties of vegetables that you and your family like or would like to try.

Start Your Tomatoes And Peppers Indoors:

The first step in growing your own salad garden is to start your early varieties, such as tomatoes and peppers, indoors. Starting seed indoors is simple. Below is a list of the items that you will need (all of which can be found at your local Lowe’s store):

• Plastic grow tray (any tray with short sides to hold water will work)
• Peat pots
• Seed-starting mixture
• Seed packets
• Plastic wrap

Gardening Tips: How to Grow Your Own Salad

Once you have all the needed materials, place your peat pots in the grow tray, and fill them full of the seed starting mixture. Sprinkle 3 – 4 seeds over mixture in each pot. Press in or lightly cover seeds. Water each pot. Cover your entire tray with plastic wrap. Place the tray in a warm spot out of direct sunlight. Make sure that your soil always remains moist.

When your seeds begin to sprout, take the plastic wrap off. Next, pick a sunny spot for your “inside garden” (a kitchen window sill is perfect). Be sure to turn the tray every two days, as your plants will always grow towards the sunlight. Don’t forget to keep your soil moist (but not soggy)!

When the danger of frost has passed, it is time to transplant your seedlings into the garden. Your seedlings must be “hardened off” before being planted into the ground. Begin this process by setting the tray outside, in shade, for 2-3 hours on the first day. Then, during the next week, set your plants outside a little longer each day and slowly expose them to full sunlight. After the week is over, transplant your seedlings into the garden.

Planting Instructions For Other Salad Ingredients

After all danger of frost has passed, it is time to plant your salad garden. (NOTE: Cucumbers should not be planted until about 2 or 3 weeks after all danger of frost is passed). Be sure to choose a spot that gets plenty of sunlight where the soil drains well after rain (no puddles).

You will need to begin by preparing the soil. It is always a good idea to test your soil since it could be lacking in essential nutrients. Your soil can be tested easily using a soil test kit which can be purchased at your local Lowe’s store. Simply follow the instructions on the kit, and you will know within minutes if your soil needs a boost. Rake the area clear of weeds and sticks before adding any necessary fertilizers. Next, use a shovel to dig the garden– the soil should be loosened down to about 12″.

It’s Time to Plant the Seeds

Use a garden trowel to make your rows. Plant your seeds and cover them according to the spacing directions on the back of the seed packet. IMPORTANT: Do not cover too deeply. Once you plant a packet, rubber band the empty packet to a stick to put at the end of the row so you will know where you planted each variety.

Your salad garden will begin to grow before you know it. Check it every day for new sprouts and blooms. If there has been no rain for a week, water the plants by slowly pouring water around the base of each — enough to soak in where the roots are. Try to keep the leaves dry. Keep an eye out for insects, picking them off as you see them. You should have all the ingredients for a tasty salad in no time!

How can I re-create the beautiful pots of plantings I see at area garden centers? C.L., Tulsa

Container gardening is one of the fastest-growing areas of gardening. It is a perfect starting point for beginners, it’s great for renters or people with limited space, it is manageable for those with limited leisure time, and in many cases, you have the option to move your containers wherever you choose.

Your first consideration will probably be the actual container. It’s important you choose a container with adequate drainage. Waterlogged soil will quickly suffocate roots. Conventional containers such as clay, plastic and wood barrels are always good, but don’t overlook the opportunity to get creative. Anything that can hold soil and allows for drainage can be converted into a planter.

Once you have your container, you’ll want to fill it with a good potting mix. You can choose a commercial mix or make your own. For the best results, you want a mix that drains well, holds moisture and is porous enough to allow good air and water movement. Avoid using soil from your garden; it is usually full of clay and much too heavy for decent drainage.

Choosing your plants is the fun part. Besides just picking your favorites, think about color, size, shape and texture. Will your container be in the sun or shade? Consider the size of your container and choose plants in proper scale – as a general rule, plants should be twice as tall as the visible part of the container. You may decide to do one large plant like an ornamental grass, or you can combine your plants using the thriller, filler and spiller idea.

A thriller is normally placed at the back or the center of your pot, depending upon whether it will be viewed from the front or all sides. Thrillers tend to be the tallest plant in your container or the focal piece. Fillers add mass to your container and should accent your thriller but not overwhelm. Look for interesting foliage or a complementary color. Spillers are placed to trail or spill over the side of your container, softening the edges and adding another layer of visual interest. Whatever plants you choose, always plant those with similar light and watering needs together.

A daily check of your containers, especially in the hottest months, is a must. Containers have a tendency to dry out quickly, and daily watering could be needed. If you did not mix in a slow-release fertilizer in your potting mix, you need to add a water-soluble fertilizer every two to three weeks. Follow product directions to avoid over-fertilizing, which can burn and kill your plants.

From the beginning, Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden has been an overachiever, churning out more peppers, parsley and eggplant than expected, and generating interest that – yes, really – crosses oceans.

Now, the first lady has added a 271-page book to her gardening resume, and Americans can read all about the planting misses that came with the hits, get tips on gardening at home and, Obama hopes, draw some inspiration that just might change their lives. Oh, and if it happens to help her husband’s re-election campaign, that would be nice, too.

Lofty goals for a book about a garden.

In “American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America,” Obama holds out the raised vegetable beds on the South Lawn as “an expression of my hopes” for the nation’s children.

“Just as each seed we plant has the potential to become something extraordinary, so does every child,” she writes.

The $30 book, released Tuesday by Crown Publishers, traces how a city kid from the South Side of Chicago who became a working mother and then a political spouse found herself fretting on that first planting day, March 20, 2009, about whether an L-shaped stretch of soil would prove fertile ground for a national conversation “about the food we eat, the lives we lead and how all of that affects our children.”

The book’s release comes with a flurry of media appearances. She has already been a TV frequent flier to promote her “Let’s Move” campaign to combat childhood obesity: doing pushups with Ellen DeGeneres, playing tug-of-war with Jimmy Fallon in the White House and serving veggie pizza to Jay Leno.

She says she gets asked about the garden wherever she goes, around the world.

“It turned out exactly as I envisioned. It’s a beautiful book, wonderful pictures,” she said in an appearance Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

“It is definitely a passion. Getting the kids in our country to eat healthy,” Obama added. “This book is a way to talk about our journey” to better health, she said.

The book is chock-full of colorful, glossy photos of luscious-looking vegetables, complete with a cover picture in which the first lady’s blouse seems to be color-coordinated with the eggplants in her bulging basket of produce.

Bo, the popular family dog, gets plenty of cameo appearances.

There are maps tracing the growth of the garden in the past three years and stories about community gardens around the country – even a how-to on creating a compost bin.

The book is divided into four sections marking the seasons and includes a complement of recipes for each.

There are inside stories about planting travails that will ring true with any weekend gardener: pumpkins that wouldn’t grow, cantaloupes that tasted blah, blackberry bushes that wouldn’t play nice with the raspberry bushes and an invasion of cucumber beetles, among them. The first lady makes clear she’s not the one doing most of the hoeing and weeding, crediting school kids, White House chefs and grounds crew and enthusiastic volunteers from all over the White House chain of command with providing lots of manpower.

And there are bits of historical trivia woven throughout: John Adams ordered up the first White House garden, but it was never harvested after he lost re-election.

Thomas Jefferson was obsessed with trying to grow a 4-foot-long cucumber. Heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, at 101 now a figure in the John Edwards corruption trial, helped redesign the Rose Garden for President John Kennedy.

There are also bits of personal history: Obama’s father worked as a boy on one of the vegetable trucks that would deliver produce and had a reputation for sneaking pieces of fruit. Her mother’s family had a plot in a neighborhood victory garden on the corner of an alley, and the kids had to eat their vegetables or go to bed without supper.

It is a tradition for first ladies to use books to advance their causes. Hillary Clinton wrote the best-seller “It Takes a Village,” about the importance of community in raising children; and Laura Bush collaborated with daughter Jenna on a picture book about a reluctant reader, with “Read All About It!”

This is Michelle Obama’s first book. She received no advance payment and plans to donate all her proceeds to the National Park Foundation for programs that promote gardening and healthy eating, as well as going toward care for the White House garden.

A quality potting soil will provide good water holding capacity while also providing appropriate drainage.

Soil is where all of the action is. Everything a plant needs is in the soil; it’s the key to nutrient, air, and water absorption. In general, it’s the key to life. Preparing your beds with rich soil almost guarantees amazing garden growth, so it’s important that you spend time cultivating a healthy environment for your yard and houseplants. One of the best ways to boost your soil is to purchase quality potting soil.

Potting soil ranges from low quality dirt, which is exactly what you’re trying to avoid, to high quality, scientifically researched Peat-based mixes. Peat-based mixes are the safest, most convenient and fool-proof soil mixtures available on the market today. When choosing a potting soil, be sure to read the label and look for these key ingredients: Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Reed Sedge Peat, Vermiculite, and Perlite. Choose a brand like Hoffman that mixes all of these elements in its potting soil. Avoid purchasing bags of soil that say things like, “may contain the following,” because there is no guarantee that those key ingredients are in there.

Gardening Tips: Here’s the Scoop on Soil

Consider soils that come with a money-back guarantee so that you can return the merchandise if you are not completely satisfied. Check whether or not the soil has been pH balanced. If there is not a statment on the bag saying that the soil has been “pH adjusted” or “pH balanced”, you may run the risk of buying an acidic or alkaline soil that will damage your houseplant or create an unhealthy environment in your flower beds.

Whether or not you’re working potting soil into your landscape or using it in potting containers for indoor plants, a quality potting soil will provide good water holding capacity while also providing appropriate drainage. This will help defend the plant from irregular waterings and overwatering (the number one killer of houseplants). Quality potting soil also comes with an abundance of organic material so that you can spend less time working in compost and lime and more time talking to your plants.