Weed of the Month – Doveweed
Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora) Doveweed is a summer annual broadleaf weed in the dayflower family. It has a low-growing, very grass-like habit and appearance. It produces stolons (creeping...
Category: In the Garden
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report September 20, 2021
Coastal Region Rob Last reports, “Fall cucurbit crops, including cantaloupes and watermelons, are ripening and approaching harvest. Disease pressure from powdery mildew and gummy stem blight...
Ravenel’s Swamp Rattlesnake Master
I just love this plant! I think it’s the color and texture that I find so attractive. The silvery-grey, spiky foliage contrasts with rounded bright blue flower heads. Wherever it is in the...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – September 13, 2021
Coastal Region Zack Snipes reports, “We had a heavy downpour of rain last week, surpassing 2.5 inches in some spots. I am seeing downy mildew in cucumbers and lots of gummy stem blight in...
It’s Shrub and Tree Planting Time… Mind Your Roots!
It is hard to believe it is already mid-September. While many folks get excited about spring in the garden, experienced South Carolina gardeners know that autumn is the sublimest of seasons. Crystal...
Ginger Lily
Want to add a bit of tropical pizazz to your late summer or early fall perennial border? Then ginger lilies (Hedychium species) are your answer. They are not true lilies but distant cousins of...
Fall and Winter Vegetables
Gardening in the winter is somewhat challenging but doable. Many of the greens, some of the root vegetables, and herbs can be planted in the fall and will grow through the winter months. The saying...
SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Update September 7, 2021
Midlands Update Justin Ballew reports, “We’re getting a little dry here in the midlands, and folks have been running irrigation a lot. Last night (9/6), we got a shower at my house, but...
Ornamental grass lovers- your time is at hand!
The Perennial Plant of the Year® for 2022 is a lovely native grass, little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). The Perennial Plant Association designates a plant of the year annually. They choose...
Plan Winter Weed Control Now
It still feels like summer, but it is already time to start thinking about winter weed control. Annual winter weeds germinate late summer through fall and slowly grow during the winter months. They...
Spider Lilies
One of my favorite childhood memories was watching the first spider lily (Lycoris radiata) bloom spikes magically appear in late August or early September in my parents’ garden. It was a sure sign...
Cover Crops in Raised Beds
Raised beds are a common way to grow edible and floral plants when either space is limited, bending down to the surface of the native soil is a challenge, when the present soil is not healthy/...