Spruce bark beetles are back with a vengeance. Here’s how to defend your trees.
Jeff Lowenfels: There is a spruce beetle outbreak in Southcentral. Since the beetles don't emerge for a few weeks, we might as well start thinking about the problem.
Jeff Lowenfels: There is a spruce beetle outbreak in Southcentral. Since the beetles don't emerge for a few weeks, we might as well start thinking about the problem.
Jeff Lowenfels: Walking on a wet lawn this time of year compacts the soil, which is a sure way to invite problems that will detract from your lawn's appearance.
Jeff Lowenfels: Can you replant those daffodils that have been blooming indoors? When should you pinch a plant? Here are the answers.
Jeff Lowenfels: We now have enough daylight that you no longer need lights to germinate and grow seedlings. Right at the top of the list for this week as far as I am concerned are tomatoes.
Jeff Lowenfels: I know that my Alaska rule is no seed starting without supplemental lights until April 1, but this is an exception.
Jeff Lowenfels: It is really easy to grow your own raspberries, but there is an important trick.
Jeff Lowenfels: The question of the week is: Can you use compost to start seeds?
Jeff Lowenfels: This is the time of year that snoozing results in losing.
Market Fresh: There has been plenty of wintry whiteness around Southcentral this week. But as the calendar turns to March, at least one local farmer is thinking summer colors.
Jeff Lowenfels: For gardening purposes, it's important to know how much salt is too much when it comes melting ice with plants in the area.
Jeff Lowenfels: Complaints about scale and mites are frequent enough to warrant a check of your collection of houseplants.
Jeff Lowenfels: February is the start of the indoor part of the Alaska gardener's outdoor growing season.
Jeff Lowenfels: If a tuber can be grown in the high altitude of the Andes, it should probably be tested here in Alaska.
Jeff Lowenfels: Even if you're terrible at gardening or aren't able to water plants on a regular basis, you can't go wrong with these.
Jeff Lowenfels: The impact of new-fangled tools is bound to be great once they permeate our horticulture culture.
Jeff Lowenfels: It's easy to find all kinds of interesting seeds online, though it may make you wish you lived where it is warmer and there is a longer growing season.
Jeff Lowenfels: Some of the "rules" or suggestions pertaining to seed catalogs remain the same. Just because you are using the Internet, doesn't mean you can go wild.
Jeff Lowenfels: Gardening is not about politics. However, I allow myself one exception, and that is the last column of the year.
Jeff Lowenfels: Suggestion one: Don't wait so long next year!
Jeff Lowenfels: Rule number one: If you find Jasminum polyanthums for sale, no matter the time of year, buy them all.