Gardening

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Irresponsible bark harvesting can kill trees

One of my colleagues showed me this photo taken last summer of birch trees with large pieces of bark stripped from them. The trees were near Goose Lake.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

Local events for gardeners

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JEFF LOWENFELS

Try some really exotic sprout projects

It never fails. Write about growing sprouts and the following week, readers want to know how to grow other things found at the stores where they bought their sprout seeds.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Dark months are a great time to grow edible sprouts

This is a most frustrating time for gardeners who have an urge to grow something from seed and eat it. After all it is the dead of winter. Or the beginning of the dead of winter. This can be especially irritating for the younger gardeners who don't often take a fancy to houseplants, which can at least distract an adult.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Take stock of what did well this year

Outdoor chores are done and the garden is put to bed. Now is a good time to look back over the summer and take stock. Was there anything in particular that did really well for you this year?

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

TALK DIRT TO ME

Weed Warrior wins look-alike contest

A round of applause for Weed Warrior Troy Zaumseil, co-founder of CANWIN (Citizens Against Noxious Weeds Invading the North) who stood out over several strong contestants in the final round of the Todd Palin look-alike contest held over five weeks at Blues Central in Anchorage.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

JEFF LOWENFELS

Time to fill bird feeders, catch action on webcam

The loyal reader knows I am a big proponent of attracting birds to the yard during all seasons, not just summer. Well now is the time to get those feeders out to attract birds during the winter. Rick Sinnott and Fish and Game have given us the "all is clear."

TALK DIRT TO ME

Thankful for one last fall cleanup

At a meeting of TREErific last Wednesday night, the gathering opened with a question having to do with the upcoming holiday: "What are you thankful for?"

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

JEFF LOWENFELS

Vegetables will thrive in cool winter temperatures

The questions never stop. That's good. It shows that gardening as a hobby does not take a break when cold weather hits.

JEFF LOWENFELS

Now is time to worry about your indoor plants

Like clockwork, when a layer of snow forms, I get questions about diseased plants. All of a sudden houseplants have spotty leaves, white powders, rotting roots and tiny insects.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Larch trees really shine in the fall

Lately I've been noticing the larches. As the leaves on the birch and the cherry and the other deciduous trees flutter to the ground, the golden larches stand their ground gloriously.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

TALK DIRT TO ME

Seed exchange worth drive to Palmer

If you didn't go, you missed out on a truly wonderful experience Saturday by not taking the easy drive to downtown Palmer for the Valley garden clubs' seed exchange and lunch at the Red Beet Cafe.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

JEFF LOWENFELS

A coleus by any other name would look as sweet

My father was colorblind. This would seem to be a show-stopper for someone as dedicated to plants as Dad was. Nonetheless, one of his favorite groups of plants was the colorful Coleus blumei.

TALK DIRT TO ME

Whatever works: Clean garden now or wait for spring

Talk about timing! I spent last week at home taking in, cutting down, cleaning up and generally putting the garden to bed.

Gardening Blog: Talk Dirt To Me

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

JEFF LOWENFELS

Blanket of snow is a poor man's fertilizer

Termination dust, a quaint Alaska phrase that used to be applied to that first snow and therefore the end of the construction season, now really only applies to gardeners by signaling the end of the outdoor growing season. For the next nine months snow acts like a concrete barrier to our favorite pastime until warm weather crashes into it.

Local events for gardeners

Plants, tips, clubs, meetings

JEFF LOWENFELS

Set up lights to see your indoor plants through winter

Well, it is time to go inside, and by that I mean it is time for houseplants to go inside. Have you even looked at your houseplants this summer? You need to pay attention to them now so they will get you through another Alaska winter.