http://www.marconews.com/news/news/columnists/eileen-ward/?partner=RSSmarconews.com Stories: Eileen Warden-usnews/columnists/eileen-wardhttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/apr/26/rains-are-good-they-bring-pest/?partner=RSSThe recent rains may have been enough to be somewhat of a relief for our parched lawns. While this rain will help to slow the damage caused by the drought it is also going to cause a population of chinch bugs to hatch and begin feeding along the borders of the damaged, brown areas. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:49:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-307401-734619news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Rains are good, but they bring a pestmarconews.comrains-are-good-they-bring-pesturn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-307401-734619Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/apr/12/bougainvillea-bloom/?partner=RSSWhen the bougainvillea is in bloom, everyone wants to know what the beautiful flowering plants seen all over the island are. This plant is without a doubt one of our most bright and colorful tropical plants. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-306125-734605news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMARCO ISLANDGardening: Bougainvillea in bloommarconews.combougainvillea-bloomurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-306125-734605Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/apr/06/gardening-water-we-need-feed-our-lawns/?partner=RSSIt’s spring and we need rain. This much needed water would help to refresh our drought stricken lawns and gardens. It would also activate the fertilizer applied this spring which will add strength to help them better survive the rest of the dry season. In spite of future rainstorms our sandy soil puts us right back into drought conditions within a few days when the temperatures are in the 90s and the wind is blowing during the day. Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-305590-734599news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: The water we need to feed our lawnsmarconews.comgardening-water-we-need-feed-our-lawnsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-305590-734599Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/mar/30/gardening-preparing-summer-growing-season/?partner=RSSAfter our colder winter months it is time to start thinking about pruning the shrubs in the yard to remove any cold damage or just to renovate, reduce size and prepare them for the summer growing season. We were lucky this year and did not have much serious cold weather or damage to our more tropical plants. It is never a good idea to heavily shear shrubs during the colder winter months and so when spring arrives it is a good time to get everything back into shape. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:26:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-304924-734592news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Preparing for summer growing seasonmarconews.comgardening-preparing-summer-growing-seasonurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-304924-734592Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/mar/22/many-methods-manage-pests-less-pesticide/?partner=RSSThe harmful effects of pesticides and other toxins on our environment are increasingly in the news. Because of our tropical climate we have more pests and diseases than most areas and therefore use more pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers. A lot of the time unnecessarily. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:26:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-304161-734584news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Many methods to manage pests, less pesticidemarconews.commany-methods-manage-pests-less-pesticideurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-304161-734584Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/mar/15/fruit-our-labors/?partner=RSSSo many fruit trees are flowering and setting fruit right now. Citrus, mango, avacado, pineapple, and many more. Two of my favorites are the jaboticaba and surinam cherry. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-303415-734577news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: The fruit of our laborsmarconews.comfruit-our-laborsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-303415-734577Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/mar/08/there-are-poisonous-plants-marco/?partner=RSSMany shrubs and trees we plant in our landscapes can be poisonous to humans and animals. Some are toxic if ingested and others may be irritating to the skin. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-302754-734570news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FL Gardening: There are poisonous plants on Marcomarconews.comthere-are-poisonous-plants-marcourn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-302754-734570Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/mar/01/winter-recovery-calls-fertilization/?partner=RSSMarch has arrived. It is time to fertilize lawns, plants and trees. While this was a very warm winter some are very cold and this fertilization helps plants recover from any cold damage done in the winter months. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:03:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-302118-734563news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Winter recovery calls for fertilizationmarconews.comwinter-recovery-calls-fertilizationurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-302118-734563Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/23/spring-harkens-hot-and-dry-ahead/?partner=RSSMarch is here. It is usually the start of our dry season but, unfortunately, we have been in a dry season for a while. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:34:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-301390-734556news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Spring harkens hot and dry aheadmarconews.comspring-harkens-hot-and-dry-aheadurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-301390-734556Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/16/gardening-do-you-have-snails-or-cutworms/?partner=RSS It is nice to see the flower beds full of annuals like impatiens, begonias and petunias in yards around the island. Unfortunately, some voracious flower eaters are also delighted to see the flowers. If you have holes in the flower petals and leaves or it looks like someone stepped on them chances are you have snails and/or cutworms. Both are very active eating and thoroughly enjoying all of the annuals that have been planted. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:59:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300762-734549news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Do you have snails or cutwormsmarconews.comgardening-do-you-have-snails-or-cutwormsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300762-734549Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/10/hissssss-teria-over-snakes/?partner=RSSSnakes and alligators are two of the most feared species we live with on the edge of the Everglades. According to National Geographic News, Florida has unfortunately developed an established population of three large, alien constrictors or snakes. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:21:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300160-734543news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Hissssss-teria over snakesmarconews.comhissssss-teria-over-snakesurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300160-734543Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/02/gardening-learning-how-propagate-plants-exciting-w/?partner=RSSPlants can be propagated by sexual or asexual means. Sexual propagation is starting plants from seed. Multiplying of plants from vegetative plant parts such as shoots, roots and leaves or bulbs and corms is called asexual propagation. Asexual propagation will grow plants with the same characteristics as the parent plant. It is the best method of reproduction when a plant produces seeds which are difficult to germinate. The most common method of asexual propagation is from cuttings. Cuttings can be made from stems, roots and leaves. Cuttings should be taken from healthy plants and placed in a warm, humid environment to encourage root development and prevent them from drying. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:12:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-299330-734535news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Learning how to propagate plants is an exciting way to share your plants with othersmarconews.comgardening-learning-how-propagate-plants-exciting-wurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-299330-734535Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/28/fruit-trees-bear-essentials/?partner=RSSBlossom and fruit drop and fruit splitting are fairly common problems for fruit trees. While losing blossoms and small fruit from your fruit trees can be disturbing it is usually a natural process. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298859-734530news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Fruit trees ... the bear essentialsmarconews.comfruit-trees-bear-essentialsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298859-734530Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/19/gardening-protecting-your-pink-hibiscus/?partner=RSSAs I mentioned in my last column, many pests can feed on hibiscus making this a very high maintenance choice for your landscape. Chewing insects include caterpillars, grasshoppers, snails and slugs, beetles, cut worms and leaf miners. Piercing-sucking insects include scale, mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and thrips. These pests are more of a problem in areas of poor circulation. The grenade scale can be hard to see because it blends with the bark. This soft scale will cause branches to die back. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:56:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298014-734521news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Protecting your pink hibiscus marconews.comgardening-protecting-your-pink-hibiscusurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298014-734521Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/12/hibiscus-has-tremendous-flower-variations/?partner=RSSHibiscus plants are blooming profusely all over Marco right now. This plant seems to love the cold weather. Perhaps it is because the severe cold helps control some of the insects that constantly cause the blossoms to drop. Whatever the reason enjoy the beauty of these glorious flowers. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:04:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297362-734514news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Hibiscus has tremendous flower variationsmarconews.comhibiscus-has-tremendous-flower-variationsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297362-734514Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/29/shift-gears-new-year/?partner=RSSJanuary is here and we will still experience cold temperatures since it is the second coolest month of the year. The average will be in the 65 degree range with highs in the 70s or low 80s and lows in the 40s or 50s. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:37:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-296271-734500news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLShift gears for the new yearmarconews.comshift-gears-new-yearurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-296271-734500Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/22/decorate-those-palms/?partner=RSSChristmas in Florida. The balmy weather, palm trees swaying in the gentle breezes off the Gulf of Mexico with Christmas lights twinkling on their fronds and yards with green grass and colorful flowers. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:54:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-295746-734493news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Decorate those palmsmarconews.comdecorate-those-palmsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-295746-734493Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/15/gardening-education-nonnative-plants/?partner=RSSI have often encouraged Marco Island residents to become better stewards of our land by learning good horticultural practices and how to identify and remove invasive, exotic plants. When nonnative plants spread extensively and displace native plants they become invasive and cause damage to the native ecosystem. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:11:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-295188-734486news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: An education on nonnative plantsmarconews.comgardening-education-nonnative-plantsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-295188-734486Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/08/gardening-your-plants-and-cold/?partner=RSSThe winter cold has not really arrived yet this year! As a northern transplant, I love the cold weather because it always puts me in the holiday spirit. It makes my work a lot easier as well and this is always a welcome break for people in the landscaping business after a long, hot grueling summer of backbreaking work. Unfortunately, we will have to keep mowing and trimming a bit longer while we wait for the lower temperatures to arrive in. Our landscapes have gone into a slight dormancy as the recent lower temperatures have been low enough to cause a slight slowing of growth for tropical and subtropical plants. Tropical plants and annuals do not normally adapt to withstand temperatures below freezing and can be injured when temperatures reach below 50 degrees F. Fortunately, freezing temperatures are rare for South Florida and even more rare on coastal islands like Marco. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:38:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-294470-734479news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Your plants and the coldmarconews.comgardening-your-plants-and-coldurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-294470-734479Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/02/gardening-its-not-snow-its-patch-florida-pusley/?partner=RSSWhat is that weed that reminds us northerners of snow on our lawns? The weed is Florida pusley (Richardia scabra) and is a native to Florida. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-293844-734473news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: It's not snow, it's a patch of Florida pusleymarconews.comgardening-its-not-snow-its-patch-florida-pusleyurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-293844-734473Change0Usable