Rob Proctor gardener explains the reasons we should be looking for earth friendly, organic garden products for our vegetable gardens, flower gardens and lawns. Find locations to purchase organic gardening products from our site at TheRichlawnCompany.com and search our dealers area.

This invasive perennial vine is blooming now with pinkish white morning glory-like flowers. Dig or pull the plant out of the garden before it sets seeds. If you are persistent, you can control this pesky weed. 

Watch for Hornworms

It’s that time again, when leaves and stems of tomato plants disappear overnight. The tomato hornworm moth has laid her eggs on the tomato plants. Seek out the camouflaged worms and pick them off the plant. Dispose of them in a pail of soapy water. Bt is a bacterial control that can be dusted on the plants or applied as a liquid spray. 

Protect Fruit Trees

Don’t let fruit tree limbs break from the weight of fruit. Prop them up with poles. It also helps to thin the crop by removing some of the unripe fruit. 

Sharpen Mower Blades

If your lawn has a yellowish tan to brown cast shortly after mowing, it’s likely that your lawn mower blade needs sharpening. When was the last time you sharpened or changed the blade? This often overlooked maintenance tip will keep your lawn healthy and looking great.

 Harvest Summer Squash

Keep picking young zucchini and other summer squash frequently. This will keep the plants producing tasty and succulent squash. Leave a zucchini on the plant too long and you’ll end up with a monster that takes energy away from the plant.

Wash Out Fairy Ring

If you have fairy ring spots in your yard, give them a dose of soapy water. Core-aerate all around the fairy ring and then pour a solution of lemon-scented dishwashing detergent into the aeration holes (1/4 cup detergent to 3 gallons of water). This will stop this disease from spreading and allow the grass to fill in.

If you cleaned out your annual pots you can recycle both the old plants and the soil, by either putting them right on your gardens or by putting them in your compost pile.

You can significantly reduce the number of overwintering insect larvae by turning the soil in the flower beds now, especially where geraniums and petunias were grown last year.

Tree wrap is important protection for young trees. The purpose is to keep the tree’s bark temperature consistent. Start wrapping at the bottom and overlap up to the first set of branches. In the Denver metro area wrap the trees in mid November, and remove the wrap about April 1st.

Protect tender shrubs, like rhododendrons, azaleas, hollies, etc. during the winter months from drying winds by providing a barrier made from a frame wrapped in burlap and placed on the north and west sides of each shrub.

Make good use of our winter snow by shoveling the snow on to your lawn, trees, shrubs and perennial beds.

Move houseplants away from heat vents if you have forced air heating. Houseplants will benefir from added humidity. Humidifiers are great, but you can also use a pebble tray. Take an oversized saucer, add pebbles, and fill halfway with water, then place your plant on the pebbles. Add the water evaporates, add more, but don’t let the plant sit in water. Be alert to cold drafts, especially for ficus, philodendron, begonias and gardenias.

Shorter days mean less growth for houseplants. Water only when your plants require it, but use the same amount each time you water. Use fertilizer at half strength every other time you water until mid March. Try to let your plantsreceive as much light as possible during the darker winter days.

Cyclamen are great plants for brightening your home during the holidays. Cyclamen prefer a cool, dry and bright location. The pink, red, white or maroon flowers will continue for weeks.

Holiday cacti are beautiful with red, pink or white flowers. To ensure flowers for Christmas, keep your plant in a room with bright daylight hours and no light after sunset. They prefer cooler rooms about 55 degrees.  Keep the soil on the dry side in November. Flower buds should set and the plants will be in flower by late December.

Amaryllis is the most majestic of all the holiday plants. To have blooms at Christmas, plant Amaryllis bulbs 7-10 weeks earlier. African Amaryllis will bloom in as little as 4 weeks. Choose a pot about 2″ wider than the bulb, and one that is heavy enough to keep from tipping. Fill the pot part way with potting mix. Set the bulb so that the top 1/3 of the bulb will be above the top of the soil when you fill the pot to 1″ below the top edge of the pot. Give the plant about 4 hours of bright light per day. Plant every 2 weeks for a spectacular color show all winter.

Paperwhites are bulbs that can be planter indoors every two weeks for continuous flowering through the holidays. Paperwhites come in white or yellow and are very fragrant.

To bring fragrance in to your home during the holidays don’t forget herbs. Rosemary, lavender and thyme along with many other herbs will add a pleasing aroma to your home. Use the wonderful scent of fresh greens and pine trees to add to the traditional holiday atmosphere.

Make sure there is an opening in the ice in your pond. A pond de-icer will keep an opening so gases can escape and your fish will stay healthy.

If the animal repellents you have been using aren’t working anymore, try switching products. Animals can become accustomed to one scent, and the products lose their effectiveness.