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News Filed Under Lawn and Garden

A field of grass.
September 23, 2022 - Filed Under: Turfgrass and Lawn Management, Weed Control for Lawn and Garden

As we all know, good things require time and effort. That same concept applies to having an award-winning yard. You’re probably thinking, “Winter is around the corner. Why should I be worried about my lawn now?” A great spring and summer lawn is made possible by the work you devote to it during the fall. 

Tiny yellow blooms line arching branches.
September 19, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

One of the sights I look forward to each year is goldenrod in full bloom. Beginning in late August and peaking about the third week of September, goldenrods seem to be along the roadsides of every highway and in in every natural area and field. The masses of bright yellow are gorgeous, and it’s hard for me to consider the goldenrod as a weed.

A garden flag stands in the landscape.
September 12, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

If you are a sports fan -- or even if aren’t but don’t want to let that secret out -- one way to show off your allegiance is in the garden. There may not be a better way to combine interests than through a creative display that can include blooms, foliage and even garden art.

golden rain tree
September 8, 2022 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Landscape Management, Landscape Plants and Trees Diseases

Pruning is one of the least understood gardening tasks and for good reason – it’s confusing. When, how, and if you should prune depends on the type of plant or tree you have and your goal for the plant. Check out these pruning tasks for the last one-third of the year.

Red blooms and buds cover a plant.
September 5, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

September and October have many home gardeners wondering what to do with their landscapes for the next couple of months. Summer annuals are nearly worn out, and the weather is still too warm for winter color to be established. I have found fall mums to be an ideal bridge crop.

A man uses small tools to work on a tree.
September 1, 2022 - Filed Under: Landscape Plants and Trees Diseases, Forest Pests

A few sassafras trees across Mississippi have started to show signs of dieback, and Mississippi State University is asking for help in identifying affected trees. The trees are suspected of having laurel wilt, a disease caused by a fungus that has already proven deadly to the state’s redbay trees. The fungus is carried by the redbay ambrosia beetle, an invasive species native to Asia.

A fly on a window with homes in the background.
August 29, 2022 - Filed Under: Pests

There are not very many things quite as annoying as a pesky house fly in your home. House flies will buzz inside anytime a door or window is opened. Airconditioning, modern sewage management, and the lack of livestock near our homes means most people don’t see large numbers of flies in their homes these days. Think about how bad they were back in the day before proper window screening existed! But there are times when flies will occasionally get inside and certain settings that can increase the fly population around your home. 

One hummingbird hovers near a red hanging feeder while a second perches on it.
August 29, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Over the weekend, we had a most welcome visitor return to my home garden and landscape after an absence of several months. Our first hummingbird of the fall season arrived, and this was an indicator of lots of activity in the next few weeks. I get excited to see the first fall hummingbirds because it means they’re going to start gathering all along the Gulf Coast in preparation for their fall migration.

A cluster of flowers has white edges and red centers.
August 22, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Even though we’re still in a very warm August, now is the time to start thinking about fall color. It can be a garden challenge trying to maintain a variety of color in the coming cool-season landscape. In my opinion, dianthus is one good choice to help keep your garden interesting, and it is an easy choice for that extra splash of cool-season color.

A butterfly rests on a cluster of white blooms.
August 15, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

As the time nears for summer to turn to fall and temperatures drop, I get excited thinking about the changes this will bring to the landscape. Depending on where you garden in Mississippi, September, October and November can be filled with some of the brightest colors of the year.

Closeup of an armyworm
August 10, 2022 - Filed Under: Insects-Crop Pests, Insects, Insects-Home Lawns, Pests, Turfgrass and Lawn Management

If you’re a homeowner who loves your bermudagrass lawn, be on the lookout for fall armyworms. These caterpillars can eat voraciously, devouring yards within just a day or two. These pests show up every year from late summer to early fall, and you never know exactly when or how many there will be.

Ruffled yellow flowers bloom on a branch.
August 8, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

After last week’s discussion of growing sunflowers in the fall season, I was inspired to consider what is involved in growing yellow flowers all year in most Mississippi gardens and landscapes. Obviously, different plants need to be selected for the different seasons, so I’ve put together a list of yellow flowers that you can enjoy through the year.

A field is covered with blooming sunflowers.
August 2, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

I think sunflowers fall into the category of sunny, summer royalty. One of the most striking sunflower sights I have ever seen was while driving through North and South Dakota on the way to Sturgis and Bike Week. There were miles and miles -- acres and acres -- of yellow sunflowers blooming for as far as the eye could see.

August 1, 2022 - Filed Under: Leadership, Master Gardener, Lawn and Garden

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Dates for the fall 2022 session of the Master Gardener course have been set.

Registration for the asynchronous online seminars will be open from August 15 to September 12. The sessions will be available from October 3 to December 2. Once registration opens, it can be accessed at http://msuext.ms/mg.

rosemary, basil, and dill collage
July 28, 2022 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Herb Gardens

Many herbs are easy to grow in the garden or in containers. Rosemary, basil, and dill are mainstays in my garden because I like to use them while cooking in my kitchen.

Dirt covers three colors of freshly picked carrots.
July 25, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Vegetable Gardens

Simply walking out the front door each day, we’re reminded that it is a blistering hot summer season. But believe it or not, now is the time to start planning and getting ready for the fall vegetable garden. We’re only 36 days from the meteorological start of the fall gardening season.

Small, red tomatoes hang in a cluster on a vine.
July 18, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

As the host of Southern Gardening, I promote primarily ornamental landscape and garden plants through newspaper articles, TV segments and social media posts. So I find it interesting that most of the questions I receive revolve around the vegetable garden.

Three photos of butterflies in a collage.
July 14, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens, Insects-Home Lawns

Butterflies are a fan-favorite insect among many people. Not only are they pleasing to watch, they also play a vital role in our environment. Butterflies are pollinators, meaning they move pollen from one flower to another, fertilizing plants so they can reproduce. They’re both beautiful AND beneficial! 

Small pink and white blooms are on a green background.
July 11, 2022 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

One of my most enjoyable garden experiences involves plants that just randomly pop up in various places in my home garden and landscape. Some gardeners call these weeds, but many others call them volunteers. I love my plant volunteers, and I let them grow in some unexpected places around my landscape.

Purple petunias.
July 8, 2022 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens

Petunias are great summer annuals to have in your landscape. They offer beautiful blooms that can withstand the Mississippi heat and thrive up until the first cold snap of the winter. Get the most out of your petunias by properly deadheading them! Deadheading the wilted or dead blooms only encourages new blooms to grow and keeps them looking great for several months.

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