Need some help in the garden? Tony Tomeo is here for you
Are you looking to start a garden, upgrade your garden or maybe you need help with a complete overhaul. Our columnist Tony Tomeo has the knowledge that you need to make your neighbors, friends and family green with envy. See a new column online, or in print every week.
(16) updates to this series since Updated
Forests lack gardeners. In the wild, there is no one to rake fallen leaves or blow them away. Foliage falls from trees and onto the ground, wh…
Fertilizer, in simple terms, helps plants grow. It provides a bit more of what growing plants crave. In some situations, it compensates for nu…
Early spring bloom is best. That is simply how the schedule of the majority of flowers works. The priority of flowers is pollination. Pollinat…
Weather has no thermostat. There is no automation. It is naturally variable. Weather is constantly changing like, well . . . the weather. We t…
Broccoli grows slowly from seed. Whether it goes directly into the garden, or into flats for later transplant, broccoli seed should get sown b…
Spring bulbs lack immediate gratification. They will, of course, justify their habitation of the garden as they bloom next spring. For now, th…
Many who enjoy gardening appreciate fragrant flowers. Many grow particular flowers specifically for their fragrance. Yet, not many consider wh…
Seed that is available in hardware stores and nurseries came from somewhere. Plants just like those that such seed grows into produced it. Som…
California native plants are logical options for the gardens and landscapes of California. It is only natural. They are already happy with the…
Those who enjoy gardening where winter weather is harsh likely know what sun scald is. It happens late in winter, if exposed bark warms enough…
With few exceptions, plants dislike confinement of their roots. They prefer to be in the ground where they can disperse roots freely. Housepla…
Bedding plants that go into the garden in spring are generally warm season or summer annuals. They should perform through summer until the wea…
Vegetation make people feel closer to nature. It is, after all, what most of us expect to see out in the wild. Most vegetation that is observe…
None of the most problematic rodents here hibernate completely. Only ground squirrels hibernate, but they are rare, and tend to avoid home gar…
Weeding is not much fun. Some of us might enjoy the relaxing monotony of productive weeding. Realistically though, most of us would prefer to …
For centuries, fruit trees have been bred to produce unnaturally abundant and unnaturally big fruit. That has worked out well for those who en…
Dividing overgrown perennials rejuvenates them, and may enhance their bloom for the following season. Dividing is also a reliable technique for propagation.
Every tree generates some degree of mess. Some deciduous trees make one big mess annually. Some evergreens constantly make small messes throughout the year.
As overrated as they are, planters are useful for their portability, as well as for confinement of invasive plants. Obviously, houseplants grow in planters.
As deciduous trees that were colorful earlier in autumn defoliate, colorful berries remain later into winter, at least until devoured by birds and wildlife.
There should be no shame in cut Christmas trees. They are actually more sustainable and environmentally responsible than unnaturally living Christmas trees.
Pruning is much less stressful during winter dormancy, than it would be while plants are more vascularly active, during warmer weather of spring and summer.
Deciduous fruit trees need aggressive but specialized pruning while dormant through winter. Otherwise, they eventually get overwhelmed with their own fruit!
Bare root stock starts to arrive in local nurseries as soon as Christmas trees relinquish their space. This is the time of year to get them into the garden.
Pot plants, such as poinsettia, florist chrysanthemum, miniature rose and Easter lily, are forced into optimal performance, but then may not be sustainable.
Winter is citrus season. Mandarin oranges and tangerines have been ready for a while already. Other less perishable citrus fruits can last for a few months.