Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Nutsedge can be a very difficult weed to control
Even though August is generally the month when weeds flourish, they seem to have an edge this summer ... Read more
Author: Darrell Blackwelder | Salisbury Post
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Summer heat is here
It’s hard to believe it’s already hot with high temperatures earlier this week. Irrigation is critical for survival ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Poor weed control
A friend of mine complained that a recommended herbicide did not work to get rid of their weed ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Confederate jasmine is a hardy plant for the Piedmont
Implementing vining plants can be very useful in any landscape, pot or outdoor planting providing colorful blooms, texture ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Irrigation is important to keep bedding plants alive
In warm weather, container plants will need water every day just to keep them alive, especially window boxes. ... Read more
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Darrell Blackwelder: Avoiding mulching mistakes
A friend of mine is so excited that her husband purchased her a truckload of fresh, new mulch. ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: How to fix brown patch on lawns
The cool weather and abundant rains during spring weather provides perfect growing conditions for fescue. Unfortunately, as the ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Planting summer annuals
With summer weather arriving, pansies and other winter annuals are beginning to fail. Even though the winter annuals ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Kousa dogwoods have showy flowers that grow well here
Many native flowering dogwood blooms are gone, however there is another interesting dogwood now in full bloom. Kousa ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Applying lime to lawns and landscapes
I had a question last week during a class at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center about the best time to ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Avoid painful gardening
I’m mowing my lawn now two times each week and I seem to always pay for it the ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Pruning hydrangeas in the spring
A few of my hydrangeas were damaged during freezing weather earlier this spring. Many ask when is the ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: People seem to have a love/hate relationship with wisteria
Friends I’ve spoken with seem to have a love/hate relationship with wisteria. Many love the “Old South” look ... Read more
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Darrell Blackwelder: Spring star flowers are in bloom
I was visiting a friend’s home last week and she seemed to be concerned about masses of small, ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Pecans can be difficult
A friend of mine asked me why he would have pecans for some years and none other times. ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Bradford pear seedlings
I had a friend ask me about his Bradford pear this past week. Bradfords across the county are ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Reasons why daffodils do not repeat bloom
Daffodils are now in bloom throughout the county. They are about as colorful as I have seen in ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Preventing winter shrub damage
Warmer and dryer weather has homeowners evaluating their lawns and landscapes. Lawns are starting to turn green; daffodils ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Some camellia japonicas are blooming now
I had a lady email a photo of a beautiful camellia bloom last week. It’s hard to believe ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Lenten roses are blooming now after warm spell
I’ve seen a few daffodil plantings blooming this spring because of our unusual warm weather. There is another ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Is English ivy becoming the new kudzu?
A friend of mine at breakfast told me that he felt English ivy was becoming the new kudzu. ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Caring for house plants in the winter
House plants have a difficult time adapting to a different environment when moved indoors for the winter. Most ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: When is the best time for pruning?
One the most frequently asked gardening question concerns pruning. Many ask if it’s OK to prune any time ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Now is the time to start perusing seed catalogs
Early winter is generally when home gardeners receive a steady supply of seed and gardening supply catalogs. With ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Salt damage to plants
It’s winter and snow and ice are possible. Sidewalks, driveways and entryways are treacherous when covered with ice ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Time for winter chores
The holidays are over and, when weather permits, many will want to get outdoors to their gardening chores. ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Avoiding cold damage
The extreme cold this past week was a wakeup call that winter is indeed here. Fluctuating temperatures can ... Read more
Lifestyle
Darrell Blackwelder: Amaryllis bulbs can be saved to bloom again
A lady at church had a very large amaryllis bulb that was encapsulated in a red, waxy coating. ... Read more