Sustainable Gardening News

In the News

• Join the Campaign to Green the White House — it sure needs it! Plus, here's more about Greening the White House — the Clinton Years, and what exactly Obama has said on the topic.
• All about organic Christmas trees, and a new certification — Naturally Grown — in the NY Times. And here's Fine Gardening on the subject of organic Christmas trees.
• Retailers in Tampa, Fla., might have to take nitrogen-enriched fertilizers off the shelves in the summer, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Great news, and hat tip to the Daily Dirt.
• Community gardens not only provide healthy food, exercise, and green spaces for city residents; new research proves that they also revitalize neighborhoods and increase home values. For more information about this study, go to: Real Estate Economics . Hat tip to the National Gardening Association.
• Via Garden Design Magazine, the greenest mower on the planet — the Neuton!

On the Sustainable Gardening Blog

• How to hasten the demise of a stump explores the options.
• Growing Fruit Trees in the Mid-Atlantic Humidity Belt
• The Satsuma Society by guest essayist Ed Cullen covers the neighborhood celebration of his Satsuma tree.

On GardenRant

• Vermicomposting with the Worm Girl
• How I decide what to research by U. Minnesota horticulturist Jeff Gillman.
• Potting soil — to re-use, to sterilize? All explored here on "The Potting Soil Puzzlement". Turns out almost everyone breaks the rules!
• Science-Based Gardening Making a Comeback? elicited some great comments about amending soil when planting trees, and whether eggshells really deter slugs.
• For indoor gardeners, there's the Top Five Reasons Houseplants Die, and Top Ten Houseplants by our Buffalo correspondent.
• Rick Darke Loves Grasses gives just an introduction to this highly opinionated advocate for both native plants AND ornamental grasses. More coming from Rick soon!

New on Sustainable-Gardening.com

• Our newest contributor is Professor Jeff Gillman of the University of Minnesota Department of Horticulture. He'll be reporting quarterly on Hot Topics in Hort Research. He's also contributed an article about Hardy, Disease-Resistant Roses, and one about No-Till Gardening.
• Professor Linda Chalker-Scott covers the controversial topic of Wood Chips as Mulch.
• How to attract butterflies gives the real dirt about those high-maintenance feeders, and what plants really work.
• Finally, a summary of the delawning projects in my very own Maryland garden.

The Roving Garden Writer/Blogger

• Who says there's nothing for gardeners to do in the winter? Why, in the past month alone I've attended seminars at Scott Arboretum and Brookside Gardens, heard the irrepressible Rick Darke speak at the National Arboretum, toured pointesettia growing facilities at Homestead Gardens, and joined in seasonal festivities at the American Horticultural Society headquarters at River Farm in Northern VIrginia.

On the Home Front

• This month I acquired my very own vermicomposting operation, and my garden was assessed for the possible addition of a rain barrel by AquaBarrel owner Barry Chenkin himself. No decision yet.
• And with some mild days for gardening I'm planting freebie bulbs and raking. Always with the raking — from about 45 deciduous trees.

Visit Sustainable-Gardening.com.

• Click here to subscribe or unsubscribe to this monthly newsletter.
• Email Susan@Sustainable-Gardening.com.