Protecting Evergreens from Ice and Snow Damage
Evergreen trees and shrubs are prone to unsightly damage from winter storms. They can be splayed open like a blooming onion or flattened like a pancake by the weight of heavy snow or ice loads....
Category: In the Garden
Sharing Nature with Children: Garden Sprouts, a Preschool Program
Garden Sprouts is a program I run at the South Carolina Botanical Garden that is designed for preschoolers and caregivers. This class takes place once a week for three months every spring and fall....
Why Is My Lawn Brown But My Neighbor’s Is Green?
South Carolina is a very special place. From the coast to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, South Carolina has a diversity of climates and landscapes. The diversity of climates allows for...
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is often found hanging in American homes as a traditional decoration during the holiday season. Once believed to have magical powers, as well as medicinal properties, the custom in which...
Caring for Your Poinsettia during the Holidays
Nothing says Christmas more than a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Did you know that December 12th is known as National Poinsettia Day? Plant breeders have developed a wide range of colors in...
Holiday Cactus
The holidays are often associated with particular plants such as Poinsettias, Cyclamen, and paperwhites, but my favorite group of plants is the holiday cacti. About 15 years ago, I purchased what I...
How to Make a Boxwood Kissing Ball for the Holidays
Did you know that the tradition of making and hanging a kissing ball dates back to the early Middle Ages? During that time, people used apples or potatoes as a base to create a ball-shaped...
Weed of the Month – Common Cats-ear
Common cats-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) is a perennial weed. Its name comes from the dense hairs that cover the leaves. It looks very similar to dandelions, but its leaves are not as deeply notched....
Pickens, Oconee, Anderson (POA) Master Gardener Program
2020 Master Gardener Training Course registration is OPEN Join Master Gardener Coordinator LayLa Burgess for her spring 2020 Master Gardener class. The class will meet each Monday, January 27...
What to do with all the leaves?
Each autumn, a precious and free resource for gardeners falls from the sky. Many folks choose to bag this excellent source of nutrients and have them hauled away. Leaves are an invaluable source of...
Cool-Season Vegetable Garden Pests
Monitor cool-season crops for pests, such as aphids and various caterpillar species (cabbage loopers, cross-striped cabbageworm, and diamondback moth caterpillars). Properly identifying these pests...
SC Native Plant Certificate Program
The study of native plants, the ecosystems of South Carolina, and sustainable landscaping practices form the focus of the South Carolina Native Plant Certificate Program. A partnership between the...