Author Archives: dirtynailz

Here’s HerbDoc again with yet another cool gardening idea: For the past two years I have wanted to build another raised bed to adjoin the five which house my herb and old-fashioned perennial flower gardens.  Something always gets in the … Continue reading →

HerbDoc describes an interesting gardening technique: I know everyone is anxious to begin their spring planting, but as anyone who has seriously gardened in Rhode Island knows, it’s not safe to put out tomatoes, peppers or eggplant until Memorial Day.  … Continue reading →

It is now the end of April. The vegetable garden is coming along nicely, and there are actual flowers in the flowerbeds. But for me, the garden is never complete without hummingbirds. It took me a couple of years to … Continue reading →

I remember a little bit about zinnias from when I was a child. My mother, who was not an enthusiastic or particularly competent gardener, planted some in our back yard. I don’t recall any more than that. A couple of … Continue reading →

If you want to better understand growing roses in New England, rosarians and University of Rhode Island Master Gardeners Mike and Angie Chute have written a new book that lays it all out for you. We invited the Chutes to … Continue reading →

It seems that along with the frightening proliferation of over-mulching, there is another supposed time-saver, one which neither saves time in the long run, nor is beneficial to the garden: landscape fabric. (aka landscape cloth, weed barrier) I heard garden … Continue reading →

Here’s HerbDoc once again, with more on seed starting: Once the seedlings start to push through the growing medium, they no longer require bottom heat, but they will need abundant light.  If they don’t get enough light or they are … Continue reading →

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped in at Job Lot (our RI and Mass discount store) to buy my supply of gardening gloves. If I don’t pounce now, they’ll be sold out – at least the ones I prefer … Continue reading →

With parts of Rhode Island still under water from this week’s disastrous flooding, it might be a bit premature to start thinking about preparing our vegetable gardens. Even those lucky people among us who stayed high and dry have some … Continue reading →

Herbdoc dishes some “dirt.” When I first started gardening, the only thing I was concerned about was the pH of the soil.  As everyone who lives in Rhode Island knows, our soil tends to be on the acid side.  I … Continue reading →