• The lowdown on nematode damage Published 11/20/2009 at 1:35 p.m.

  Plant nematodes are small, simple worms. They are long and slender, 1/100 to 1/8 of an inch long.

• Ficus can get out of hand if neglected Published 10/23/2009 at 4:09 p.m.

  When choosing a plant for a particular landscaping area, the mature height and width of the plant is a very important factor to consider.

• Ficus can get out of hand if neglected Published 10/16/2009 at 2:46 p.m.

  When choosing a plant for a particular landscaping area, the mature height and width of the plant is a very important factor to consider.

• Time to fertilize while it’s warm Published 10/09/2009 at 2:23 p.m.

  It is time to think about fertilizing your shrubs, trees and lawns.

• Cooler weather means less maintenance Published 10/02/2009 at 2:13 p.m.

  Fall is here, and the month of October will bring cooler and dryer weather to our gardens.

• Don’t let your roots rot when it rains Published 09/25/2009 at 4:20 p.m.

  Wow, flooding rains of September with no accompanying winds! We needed the water to replenish our aquifers before people arrive for the season, but our plants would prefer it not come all at once.

• Be on the lookout for grubs and beetles Published 09/18/2009 at 3:53 p.m.

  Grubs are migrating to the surface to begin feeding on lawn roots.

• Let the rain begin and deal with it Published 09/11/2009 at 4:55 p.m.

  You should be careful of what you wish for, you just might get it.

• Let’s all share our little piece of paradise Published 09/04/2009 at 1:50 p.m.

  The flora and fauna of South Florida are quite diverse, made up of microclimate environments called communities.

• Gardening: Simplicity equals good design Published 08/20/2009 at 7:01 p.m. 1 Comment

  When it comes to landscaping, simplicity equals good design and low maintenance. Low maintenance landscapes are designed so that every shrub, tree and flower-bed will all have definite functions. It is best not to over plant and to eliminate as ...

• Gardening: Help your trees weather the storm Published 08/13/2009 at 8:03 p.m.

  With hurricane season upon us, you should know how to minimize wind damage to your landscape. Trees and shrubs can grow too large or unbalanced to be able to withstand windstorms, so it is wise to learn how to prune ...

• Gardening: Who’s feeding on your lawn? The sod webworm Published 08/06/2009 at 7:37 p.m.

  Several kinds of caterpillars may cause damage to all of our turf grasses. These caterpillars are the immature or larval stages of moths.

• Gardening: Are you ready for August? Published 07/30/2009 at 8:36 p.m.

  August is here and temperatures this month will have highs of about 90-95 and lows in the mid-70s. With more than eight inches of rain this is usually one of the wettest and most humid months.

• Gardening: Another DRY summer? Published 07/23/2009 at 7:42 p.m.

  If you are one of the people who say it’s summer so I can turn off my sprinklers, this column’s for you. In spite of the fact that we are in the rainy season, signs of water stress are on ...

• Gardening: Take advantage of the rain; protect from the dry Published 07/16/2009 at 8:28 p.m.

  Second only to August, July is one of the hottest months with high temperatures averaging 90 degrees and lows averaging 75 degrees. We can expect at least eight inches of rain making July usually a very wet month as well.

• Gardening: Woods, natural areas management Published 07/02/2009 at 7:26 p.m. 1 Comment

  I love the woods. I was born and raised in Vermont and Connecticut where the woods were my playground. As the population increases, it has become necessary to set aside natural areas to preserve native plant and animal communities.

• Gardening: It’s the time of the year for summer’s colors to blossom Published 06/25/2009 at 7:51 p.m.

  The winter annuals have faded in this hot weather. It’s time to remove them and think about summer color.

• Gardening: Palm trees Published 06/11/2009 at 8:03 p.m.

  We have many different species of palm trees on Marco Island due to our favorable climate for their growth. They come in many shapes and sizes from large majestic trees to small shrubs. Some have single trunks while others have ...

• Gardening: Worth the wait Published 06/04/2009 at 8:08 p.m.

  The century plant (Agave Americana) is an agave that is native to Mexico but is now found worldwide. The large gray-green leaves are up to six feet long with prickly spines along the edges and a large spike at the ...

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