Lawn, Gardening & Pests News

Mulch is any material used to cover, protect and enhance the soil around growing plants. Having a good layer of mulch on the garden provides a multitude of benefits for growing vegetation.  

This summer (2025), a new invasive insect was detected in Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties of West Virginia. This pest is called the box tree moth and has the potential to kill boxwood plants. This insect pest is native to East Asia and was detected in New York in 2021. If you see the box tree moth or its damage on boxwood plants, please reported to the West Virginia Department of Agriculture at (304) 558-2212 or bugbusters@wvda.us.

Watering your garden is a simple but important task. 

Crop rotation is an important agricultural practice you should implement in your home garden. It has been used on farms and gardens for centuries to reduce damage from insects, limit crop diseases and manage soil fertility.  

Water is a very important component to a successful garden, but like all other aspects of growing plants, too much water can be detrimental.  

Everyone wants a beautiful lawn or a healthy garden throughout the season. To achieve that goal, one must follow several practices, such as preparing the planting site, providing adequate water, and applying fertilizers and lime following soil test recommendations.  

Soil organic matter consists of the remains of plants and animals in varying stages of decomposition. Organic matter can fall into one of three types: plant residues and living microbial biomass; active organic matter, otherwise known as detritus; or stable soil organic matter, otherwise known as humus. The living microbial biomass and detritus contribute to the fertility of the soil and the release of nutrients from decomposition. Humus is the end result of decomposition and is considered stable organic matter. This contributes to the structure, tillage, cation exchange capacity and dark color of the soil. 

The foundation to a healthy garden starts underground – in the soil. Soil is a living natural resource, one that requires care to keep plants healthy and thriving. Soil health is measured by a few indicators, all of which work together to create a flourishing garden. 

I have many fond memories of growing up on our family farm in Hardy County. Each spring, my dad would plow a large area behind the house for the garden and my mom would carefully select and buy the plants. Then, when the heat of the day had subsided, we would all head out to plant. My uncle would assist in our efforts by planting beautiful zinnias, that to this day, are my very favorite flower. It truly was a family affair at the farm.