Garden Bite with Teri Knight

Last week I talked about how allergy season is growing. Climate change, with it’s warming temperatures earlier in the season has meant that trees are triggered into flowering earlier. Today I want to talk about trees that are less likely to cause the ah-choos. As mentioned, trees are the biggest contributors to allergy season. Learn about them on today's episode. 

Sunday we celebrate Independence Day. But this year, again, is different for Americans. The pandemic is slowed but the scars remain and the call to remind ourselves of our Declaration of Independence: paraphrased, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  As you all know, my pursuit of happiness is in the garden! Diverse plantings means a stronger eco-system. I have several on today's show! 

While my area has been suffering drought, I have a number of hardy perennials that can handle the heat. Likely better than we can! I feel like wilted lettuce. Anyway, hear it all on today's Garden Bite and find pictures and more on my website, gardenbite.com. 

Are your irises rising out of the ground?  They’ve been left alone for years and are now fighting for room!  Generally it's a good idea to divide your iris every 3 to 4 years. Learn the ins and outs of dividing iris, when is the best time to do it, how to do it and find some outstanding bearded iris on my website, gardenbite.com. 

If you have allergies, it’s probably felt like a long season… and it is. Yup, another issue you can associate with climate change. So what's the deal? I explain why our allergies are worse and what plant gets a bad rap for causing the ah-choos! 

Lawns are looking rough and we haven’t even made it to JULY! Kentucky bluegrass, which is what most lawns are, can start turning brown after about 7 days without water. On today's show I have lots of tips to tend to that crunchy lawn. Find more on gardenbite.com too! 

It's a never ending process that I love. And it's work too! Garden bed renewal is something that happens when you purchase a home new to you or you've developed your interest in gardening or you're looking at those overgrown hostas and daylilies and realize you need to divide and conquer. Actually there are a bazillion reasons. Take a peek at my website and see the continuing process and get some ideas yourself. 

A large part of gardening is welcoming the wildlife.  The ruby throated Hummingbird is a little garden jewel that flies about 1500 miles just to land in your backyard. Learn what plants they love best and how to care for those feeders and, please, don't use red dye when making sugar water! It's all on today's Garden Bite

There are two types of weeds for this episode, annuals and perennials. The annual weeds are pretty easy to get rid of, sort of. The perennial weeds are a bit trickier. Find out how to deal with perennial weeds around your precious vegetables on today's Garden Bite!

The toughest part of gardening is trying to figure out why a plant isn’t thriving. Is it an insect, is it a disease, are my plants getting the nutrients they need.  Enough water (this year in particular), or maybe too much water because we’re overcompensating for drought conditions? Find out what an errant weed whacker can do and some great diagnostic tools on today's Garden Bite.