Lawn, Gardening & Pests News

The most popular garden crop has always been the tomato. And, heritage tomatoes are ingrained in West Virginia’s history.

Growing heritage brambles may seem daunting, but with a little pruning knowledge, it can be easy.  Raspberries, blackberries and all their relatives make for tasty, summer treats.

Soil health is crucial to the health and yield of your garden. Before planting, it’s recommended to have your soil analyzed for nutrients and pH to ensure optimum plant growth.

Successful gardening does not happen immediately. Rather, it’s a step-wise process that requires a mixture of experience, patience and direction. Heritage crops, which have long histories in West Virginia gardens, are an excellent way to start the garden season.

Dear WVU Extension community,

As the season continues and gardens grow, they undergo processes that use nutrients from the soil. Choosing the right type of fertilizer for your garden allows you to replenish lost nutrients and ensure optimum growth.

Depending on where you garden, water may be a limited resource. Or perhaps you wish to be more resource conscious and reduce waste. Regardless, there are strategies for you to use in your garden that can significantly lower your water needs.

Many homeowners can probably remember seeing their grandparents save seeds from the garden to plant the following year. This practice skipped a couple of generations, but now that people are more interested in growing their own food, seed saving is popular once again.

When insect pest control is necessary, try the safest alternatives first. Removing insects by hand or pruning infested plant parts are often the simplest and safest ways to prevent the buildup of pest populations and their damage.