With our long, wet winter stubbornly refusing to completely yield to spring’s warmer, sunnier weather, life in the Pacific Northwest this early spring has been a challenge for those of us who wish to get started gardening. With gradually improving weather, though, now is the time to begin repairing your yard, replacing dead or heavily damaged plants, and bringing new life to your garden. First, now is the time [...]
With the return of rainy, cool weather, autumn is in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest. And while it’s not always the most fun to work outside these days, the fact is, it’s perfect weather for planting and taking care of some important yardwork. So, here’s what’s on my gardening to-do list this month—grab your raincoat! First, it’s time to replace your summer flowers with two types of flowers [...]
As if on cue, September has ushered in the start of autumn. Yes, we technically have about a week left of summer, but after the August heat, September arrived with markedly cooler weather, a slight change in the air and the return of a few rain showers. Now, with fall planting season here, it’s time to take a look at your yard and tackle some autumn projects. September and October [...]
From the football field to a game of chess, a successful player or team anticipates its opponent’s moves and prevents the rival from advancing. In gardening, the same rules apply, and while November isn’t always the most pleasant time for yard work, it’s a crucial time for a few final tasks around the yard and garden to avoid playing catch-up next spring. First, now is the time to put your [...]
By all accounts, autumn has arrived. Although we continue to see unseasonably warm weather, rain has returned, leaves are falling, and plants are beginning to go dormant. Although your mindset for the yard may be one of winding down, here are some easy tasks to accomplish before the season passes you by. 1. October is still a great time to plant shrubs, trees, and perennials as well as colorful, hardy [...]
In the spirit of all things weather-related in 2015, it’s looking like we're starting autumn earlier than normal this year. Sure, September rarely passes without good stretches of nice weather, but after the rain and stormy weather that came at the end of August, you’ve likely seen a lot of your plants starting to show the weariness of a season nearly over. As you gear up for autumn, here are [...]
I love the month of August for many reasons—the upcoming Northwest Washington Fair, late-summer perennials full of color in the garden, and the slight change in the air that signals a new season drawing near. This year, as we anticipate the arrival of autumn (perhaps more eagerly than usual after a long, hot season!), we have much to look forward to. As you seek to revive a summer-weary garden, here [...]
What a summer it’s turning out to be—and there's still plenty of it left! While long-term forecasts can be wildly off, if this summer’s dry weather pattern holds, it may be awhile before we see any worthwhile amount of rain. So, as you take care of your yard and garden, what can you do to keep things green while also being water-wise? First, remember that it’s almost always better to [...]
Just a month ago, I offered a word of caution in getting too excited about spring’s arrival—barely a month into winter, it hardly seemed appropriate to offer tips for spring work around the yard. As February is now more than half over, however, and with nary a sign of real winter weather in the forecast, you’re likely starting to look around the yard for things to do. Here’s my list [...]
