http://marconews.com/news/features/gardening/marconews.com Stories: Gardeningen-usfeatures/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/03/gardening-gardening-gadgets-will-make-your-life-ea/When you think of gardening, you reach for the usual tools like pruning shears, rake or shovel and head for the yard. While these basics will always be the staples in the gardening shed, there are a number of useful and unusual gadgets out there to make gardening chores easier and more fun to do. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/03/gardening-gardening-gadgets-will-make-your-life-ea/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/25/gardening-fertilizing-during-rain-season/Summer has officially arrived. July is one of the hottest months with high temperatures averaging 90 degrees and lows averaging 75 degrees. The rains are here in earnest. We can expect at least 8 inches of rain making July also a very wet month. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:39:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/25/gardening-fertilizing-during-rain-season/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/gardening-disease-control-your-backyard/Ganoderma Butt Rot is a widespread palm disease affecting trees all over Marco Island and the southeastern United States. This disease has been found in about 40 or 50 species but it is thought that all species are probably susceptible. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:12:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/18/gardening-disease-control-your-backyard/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/12/gardening-long-live-ornamental-shrubs/Tropical ornamental shrubs are an important element in the home landscapes of South Florida. Some have brightly colored leaves or flowers much of the year. Almost all are evergreen, meaning they keep their leaves year round. Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:41:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/12/gardening-long-live-ornamental-shrubs/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/05/gardening-diagnosing-brown-spots/The summer rains of June have begun! Our gardens are about to grow at incredible speeds as they come out of the stressful dry spring months. Lawns, shrubs, trees and weeds will seem to grow at uncontrollable rates. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:29:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/05/gardening-diagnosing-brown-spots/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/29/gardening-simple-landscaping-floral-elegance/When it comes to landscaping, simplicity equals good design and low maintenance. Low maintenance landscapes are designed so that every shrub, tree and flower-bed will all have definite functions. It is best not to over plant and to eliminate as many frills and flower beds as possible. Fewer, well placed gardens help reduce landscape maintenance. Thu, 29 May 2008 21:16:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/29/gardening-simple-landscaping-floral-elegance/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/30/gardening-trees-age-be-born-again/I have a lot of people ask me at this time of year what is wrong with their mahogany or gumbo limbo trees as they are losing their leaves. I often compare the Florida spring to the northern fall season. Many of our trees are deciduous in the months of April and May. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:17:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/30/gardening-trees-age-be-born-again/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/24/gardening-annuals-versus-perennials-you-win/While we had some very beneficial rains recently, the weather forecasts call for no rain for the next week. We have already entered into drought conditions again. With our water pressure problems beginning to worsen, the lawns are drying up in large numbers. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:45:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/24/gardening-annuals-versus-perennials-you-win/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/17/gardening-nutritional-deficiencies-guide/As we get further in the summer season heavy rains can flush nutrients from the soil. Following is a guide to help you with the symptoms of various nutritional deficiencies you might see. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:04:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/17/gardening-nutritional-deficiencies-guide/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/10/gardening-water-less-often-and-survive-drought/Wow! Two rainy days last week. This much-needed water will help to refresh our drought-stricken lawns and gardens. It will also activate the fertilizer applied this spring which will add strength to help them better survive the rest of the dry season. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:05:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/10/gardening-water-less-often-and-survive-drought/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/03/gardening-root-your-plants-they-might-survive/In 2004 and 2005 our plants went through five hurricanes without respite in between to recover. Plants burned by wind and salt had just started re-budding only to be burned again and again. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:53:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/apr/03/gardening-root-your-plants-they-might-survive/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/26/gardening-propagate-bliss/Learning how to propagate plants is an exciting way to share your plants with others. Plants can be propagated by sexual or asexual means. Sexual propagation is starting plants from seed. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:19:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/26/gardening-propagate-bliss/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/19/gardening-blooming-colors/When the bougainvillea is in bloom everyone wants to know what the beautiful flowering plants at the Jolley Bridge are. This plant is without a doubt one of our most bright and colorful tropical plants. While they will flower somewhat all year, the height of the flowering season is now through late spring. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:26:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/19/gardening-blooming-colors/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/12/gardening-careful-pruning/One of the spring chores I spoke about last week was cutting back shrubs. Now and through the summer months is the time to do any major pruning or cutting back of shrubs and trees. With the fast, summer growth rate nearly upon us the plants will regrow and look beautiful for next fall season. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:46:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/12/gardening-careful-pruning/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/05/gardening-did-your-chores-now-you-can-relax/March is here. It is usually the start of our dry season but, unfortunately, we have been in a dry season since this time last year. Spring time can be very hard on our lawns and shrubs as the temperatures will begin to rise and we will become increasingly dry. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:04:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/mar/05/gardening-did-your-chores-now-you-can-relax/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/feb/27/gardening-hibiscus-high-maintenance-plant/Hibiscus is believed to be native to China and was introduced to Florida by way of the South Pacific and Hawaii. Most varieties have flowers that last one day. The blossoms open early in the morning and wilt late afternoon. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:02:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/feb/27/gardening-hibiscus-high-maintenance-plant/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/feb/20/gardening-care-beautiful-lawn/Proper mowing of your lawn can kill weeds and chinch bugs, cure disease, save water and provide fertilizer. However, improper mowing can be harmful. Mowing is stressful to grass because it is meant to grow tall, mature and make seeds. Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:28:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/feb/20/gardening-care-beautiful-lawn/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/feb/13/gardening-pesticides-dangerous-not-only-insects/The harmful effects of pesticides and other toxins on our environment are increasingly talked about in the news. Because of our tropical climate we have more pests and diseases than most areas and therefore use more pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:30:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/feb/13/gardening-pesticides-dangerous-not-only-insects/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jan/31/gardening-scoop-native-versus-exotic-plants/There is a growing interest in using more native plants in our landscapes. Native plants arrived here centuries ago, before the Spanish, via wind or birds and managed to survive and thrive together. Exotics were introduced later and continue to be introduced today by people. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:41:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jan/31/gardening-scoop-native-versus-exotic-plants/features/gardeninghttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jan/23/gardening-free-certification-project-greenscapes/Project Greenscapes is a statewide program developed for landscape professionals on “Best Management Practices” or BMP. This program relates to lawn fertilization, pesticide use, irrigation practices and plant selection to reduce pollution and conserve water. Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:56:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jan/23/gardening-free-certification-project-greenscapes/features/gardening