Category: In the Garden

Benefits of Riparian Buffers Along Waterways

Apr 14, 2022 | In the Garden, Ponds, Water

Approximately 6% of South Carolina is covered by water, with 30,000 miles of rivers and streams carving through the state’s rolling hillside, pastoral farmland, historic cities, and saltmarsh-laced...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – April 13, 2022

Apr 13, 2022 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Crops are generally looking good in the area. Strawberries are coming to harvest with good volumes. Keep scouting for spider mites and thrips. Thrips were found...

Tomatoes in Containers

Apr 12, 2022 | In the Garden

Gardeners across the U.S. are in varying stages of preparing their vegetable gardens. Most will choose to include tomatoes in their plans. According to garden.org, tomatoes are the number one...

Two Little-known Native Irises

Apr 11, 2022 | In the Garden

Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata, is a beautiful native iris that grows in the woods all over the Piedmont. The eight-inch, sword-shaped leaves arch towards the outside of the spreading clump....

An Ecology of Spring Wildflowers

Apr 7, 2022 | In the Garden

Spring wildflowers are garden stars in the wooded area of South Carolina Botanical Garden’s Natural Heritage Trail from February to May. The spring herbaceous layer is exceptionally diverse in...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – April 4, 20222

Apr 6, 2022 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “It finally feels like spring in the fields. The strawberry crop is really behind schedule this year. Most farms have plants with 3-4 crowns on them.  In most...

Burgundy Spice Sweetshrub

Apr 5, 2022 | In the Garden

This year, the newest shrub addition to my garden is a Burgundy Spice sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus var purpureus ‘Burgundy Spice’). When I spotted it across the nursery, it was as if a big neon...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report March 28, 2022

Mar 31, 2022 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “The first of this season’s strawberries are coming to market with good quality. Growers still need to be very mindful of spider mites. Populations are around in the...

Let’s Go Wild!

Mar 29, 2022 | In the Garden

I read a recent article in Forbes magazine introducing a new book, Wild: The Naturalistic Garden by Noel Kingsbury. It nudged me to share a gardening concept that I have grown more passionate about...

To Shear or Not to Shear

Mar 28, 2022 | In the Garden

Shearing hedges into cubes, globes, and squares is a form of architectural pruning that balances appearance with shrub health. This balancing act is most evident in the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden in...

Farming Foundations Online Farming School

Mar 24, 2022 | In the Garden

Do you want to start farming but don’t know where to start? Would you like to grow vegetable crops to sell at a local farmer’s market? Would you like to develop a farming side hustle?...

SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – March 21, 2022

Mar 23, 2022 | In the Garden

Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Starting with strawberries, spider mites are increasing in the area with eggs and adults warranting treatment. Strawberry crops are very susceptible to mite damage...