Sustainable Gardening News

What to do now in the Garden

It's fall, so here's what to do with your leaves.
Hot Topics
Help the federal Ag. Department search for the lost ladybugs.
Californians have to take their water very seriously.
I asked for reactions to the controversial notion of banning of leaf-blowers, gas-powered or otherwise, and readers had plenty.
Then there's the hot topic of — outdoor fires, even if they're in those cool-looking firepits all the designers are installing. Maybe not such a good idea after all?
Organic Lawn Care advocate Paul Tukey gives us an update on the National Mall demo site, and the details of switching to organic for a healthier AND better-looking lawn.
The Great Wood Chip Debate attracted comments from at least one nationally recognized experts and possibly more.
There's a bit of controversy in the U.K. over the not-strictly-organic approach of the new host of the popular TV show "Gardener's World".
Creeping perennials as lawn replacement are thoroughly explored, with lots of product reviews.
Hummingbird feeders — can you handle the commitment? Readers recommend their best hummer-attracting plants.
More on going lawnless, this time from California writer Amy Stewart, and readers offer plant suggestions from other regions.

I gave my garden the full sustainability assessment in a hand-out for the DC-area Green House and Garden Tour. Good thing, too — these tour-goers knew their stuff and asked all the right questions.
Here's what's blooming in October, with details about what resources are required to keep these plants alive and looking good.
I followed Ketzel Levine's suggestion and ripped out a heap of English ivy. It's been replaced by the well-behaved and also evergreen Carex.

Extension Service horticulturist and professor Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott is our newest contributor, with these articles up first: The Myth of Tree-Staking, The Myth about Drainage Material in Containers, and The Myth of the Wandering Weedkiller.
All the contributors and their articles so far are compiled right here's, with photos.
The Sustainable Gardening Blog wins "Best Organic Gardening" Award! A big thanks to the Blotanical voters, who also gave the award for Best Design to GardenRant.