Author: Darrell Blackwelder | Salisbury Post

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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