Fall is just around the corner and after the heat of August, I am looking forward to the cooler days to come!  September is the ideal time to prep your garden and ready it for cooler weather.  Below are a few ideas for your fall gardening. Flowers and Shrubs Consider planting pansies, ornamental kale and […]

Is it hot enough for you yet?  The last week of July was brutal!  I could not step outside without breaking into a sweat.  As I look out of my home upon my landscape I marvel at the ability of plants to withstand sustained temperatures above 90 degrees for days on end. When temperatures reach […]

Summer is here and so is the heat, humidity, and sweating!  Questions have been pouring into the office about maintaining a healthy turf during the “dog days” of summer.  Having a healthy lawn helps to combat issues of disease, insects, weeds, and moss. To achieve healthy turf grass, it is imperative to maintain the right […]

It’s time to get excited! Applications for the 2024 Tennessee Extension Master Gardener (TEMG) Program are now available and are being accepted through July 14, 2023. If you possess a passion for learning about horticulture as well as a desire to share that knowledge with others, then this program is for you! The Shelby County […]

After attending the plant sale last month, gardeners are anxious to get their plants in the ground. The questions I have received most often recently surround the preparation of the soil for planting. This is a very important question. Proper planting now will help you avoid problems later.Planting involves much more than just digging a […]

At the Master Gardener Spring Fling event last month, the speakers talked a great deal about pollinators. Many of the audience’s questions were centered around pollination’s biology. Have you ever wondered where fruits and vegetables come from?  Let us see if I can explain. Fruit or vegetable production starts when the plant produces flowers.  Male […]

The 2023 Spring Fling Garden Show and Plant Sale is almost here! This year’s theme is “All Abuzz”. Please join us Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Farmer’s Market Big Red Barn at the Agricenter. Admission and parking are free. The 2023 Spring Fling Garden Show […]

In January, I attended The Birds and Seeds event at Lichterman Nature Center. This community event is a seed swap and giveaway for gardeners who are interested in diversifying their seed collections as well as getting an early start on gathering seeds fortheir gardens. Several gardeners stopped by the “Ask A Master Gardener” table withquestions about such […]

Happy 2023!  Are you ready for another gardening year?  Old Man Winter is here and we will see what he brings.  Recently I have received a number of questions about winter houseplant care.  To ensure your indoor plants survive the winter, there are a few things you need to consider. Monitor how plants you brought […]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! During this Christmas season, many of us are thinking about gifts for loved ones rather than working in the garden. I am here to remind you to remember your garden this holiday season. Here are a few things you can do for your garden during the month […]

When I think of fall, images of corn stalks, mums, pumpkins and scarecrows come to mind. Nothing heralds the coming of autumn like the brilliance and splendor of fall foliage (in addition to the college football season heating up!). Fall also signals the end of another growing season as plants prepare for their long winter […]

It is once again the time of year when I field questions about fall vegetable gardening. As summer turns to autumn, many of the cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, greens, and cauliflower produce their best quality and flavor as temperatures begin to cool. Growing a good, productive fall vegetable garden requires proper planning and […]