All the Dirt on Gardening

The Flower Garden Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas is holding its annual tour on June 13. Here's their Facebook page for more details about the club - https://www.facebook.com/FGNSofNWA Open 9 am to 4 pm, Fee $12 advance, $15 day of the tour (can be bought at any of the gardens the day of the event) or in advance at any of the Westwood Gardens locations. Willow Park 16582 Willow Dr  Rogers, AR Together We 4702 Rocky Ridge Trail Rogers, AR Bienvenue 1244 Stratton Road Rogers, AR Unexpected Garden 905 N 34th St. Rogers, AR Oden Oasis 2383 Cardinal Dr. Springdale, AR Birdhouse Gardens 2301 Woodland Ave. Springdale, AR Friendship Garden 101 Shoreline Springdale, AR Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks 4703 N Crossover Fayetteville, AR

tree dying from too much rain The drought is officially over in Oklahoma, Texas and surrounding states that have suffered for the past few years with heat and dry soil. All of us lost plants, trees and hope for a while but this month's problem is different: So much rain that the ground and plants can't handle it. We are losing a couple of young fruit trees because their roots cannot get enough oxygen - the water cannot flow away fast enough. Also with the rain, we are having cool temperatures so the kale, peas, parsley, fennel and green beans are enjoying themselves. The tomatoes, basil, sunflowers and other heat loving plants, not so much. Clematis - no sun The Clematis vines are not getting enough sun to produce a full set of blossoms. This is about one-fourth their usual early summer show. Arun flower bud Many of the perennial seedlings I put out over the month have  just sat there; others have died. No sun, cool temperatures, sopping wet soil all have co...

This cool graphic was sent out to subscribers to the Encore Azalea newsletters and would be a great one to print and keep around as a reference because these instructions are accurate for shrubs and trees of almost any type.

One of the most commonly asked questions about gardening is what to do about the areas under trees.  It seems like those shady, dry places around trees bother gardeners who would like to have their gardens pretty to look at from every angle.  Not only is the soil dry under trees since trees quickly drink surface water, the roots are dense and do not allow room for digging. On top of all that, digging around tree roots can damage the health of the tree in the long term. Sometimes we see flower beds planted around trees and that solution can work quite well as long as it is a bed full of perennials and the plants are in the ground rather than in a raised bed. Raised beds planted on top of tree roots can smother the tree’s roots, stunting the growth and shortening the life of the tree. The first rule for healthy plants under trees is to completely avoid annual plants such as begonias and petunias that absorb water and nutrients needed by the tree. Each spring ...

Ruth Stout Here's that video interview with Ruth Stout in which she admits to gardening naked because she just loved the feeling of air on her body. You'll recall that Stout invented no-dig gardening a long time ago. Her potato planting method is legendary! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNU8IJzRHZk&feature=youtu.be potato planting method https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdz_tZsZvKU Her most famous book was Gardening Without Work , "The No-Work Garden Book" in which she tells everything you need to know. Her other titles are "How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back: A New Method of Mulch Gardening", " Company Coming: Six Decades of Hospitality", and " Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy & the Indolent". If you haven't read Stout yet you won't know that her methods have now passed scientific tests and today are being recommended worldwide - about 100 years after she discover them.

Muskogee County Conservation District  PLANT SALE MAY 20-22, 2015 3001 AZALEA PARK DRIVE (corner Shawnee Bypass and Hwy 69) 918-682-8831 NATIVE AND DOMESTIC ORNAMENTALS THORNLESS BLACKBERRY GRAPES (we bought some plants today!) BLUEBERRY PLANTS FRUIT TREES SUPPLIES WILL BE LIMITED

Wildlife  Habitat  Garden Tour & Plant Sale Sat. May 30  9-5 and  Sun. May 31 Noon -5 Rain or Shine.  Begin the tour at any garden    Admission donation $6 Children under 13 Free   Garden Address                                                            Home - 614 N. Fir St. Jenks       Vendor Grogg's Green Barn Jenks Public School - Flycatcher Trail Garden 404 E. F St. Jenks        Vendors Bird Houses by Mark        Jenks FFA Plant Sale        Tulsa Audubon Society Home 8736 S. Evanston Ave. Tuls a      Vendors  Pine Ridge Gardens       WING-IT Wildlife in Need Group in Tulsa Garden 7515 S. Braden Ave. Tulsa       Vendor Wil...