Pruning Ornamental Shrubs: When, How and Why

There are several reasons to prune shrubs – to promote flowering, to improve their shape, and to maintain their size, are some of the most common. Pruning is also a topic that raises many questions – with when should I do it, how much should I cut off, and where should I cut, being the most frequently asked. The answer to many of these questions depends on what type of shrub you are pruning and why you want to prune it. The tips below can help you determine when to prune your shrubs and how much to cut off.

Learn more! Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+61

Time to Plant Spring Vegetables!

Now is the time to get serious about planting a spring vegetable garden! Vegetables that produce during the spring months are known as cool season crops, meaning they can tolerate some frost but do not like hot weather and should therefore be planted outside now to harvest before the heat of summer. Many cool season vegetables are currently readily available as seed or plants from local garden centers. These include broccoli, garden peas, carrots, cabbage, and lettuce. Before you plant, be sure to follow these tips to ensure you grow a healthy and bountiful vegetable garden this spring.

Learn more! Read the entire article on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+60

Growing Asparagus

Fresh asparagus is a spring delicacy, especially when it comes from your own garden. Growing asparagus though is quite different from growing most vegetables because asparagus is a perennial plant, meaning it comes back from the same roots year after year. Other vegetables, such as tomatoes, broccoli, corn, and lettuce, are annuals. They must be grown from seed and planted each year. Because it is a perennial, extra effort must be taken to get asparagus plants off to a good start, to ensure long term productivity. In southeastern NC, gardeners can expect at least 10 to 15 years of harvest from a well tended asparagus patch. The following tips will help both novice and expert gardeners to establish and maintain a healthy and productive asparagus bed in their own backyard.

Read more! The entire article is available online here from the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=LAWN+59

Time to Plant Potatoes!

Though it may seem a bit chilly to be planting vegetables, now is actually the correct time to plant Irish potatoes in our area. In general, potatoes are an easy to grow and productive crop for home vegetable gardens. Varieties recommended for our area include 'Kennebec', a white skin variety, 'Pontiac', a red skin, white flesh variety, and 'Yukon Gold' with distinctive yellow flesh. Before you begin though, there are a few things you need to know to ensure a successful harvest.

To learn more, read the whole article, posted on the Pender County Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=news&ci=AGRI+4.