Tag: fall

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Mums are as ubiquitous in Autumn as pumpkins during the fall harvest. You find them everywhere and anywhere from supermarkets, gas stations to the garden center. You need to know mums are incredibly easy…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Many gardeners ask if it is necessary to rake leaves off of lawns or out of the gardens.  Some leaves, such as those from red maple trees, are stunning lying on the ground and…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener October is famous for its autumn colors, and some mountain plants show their bright hues better than others.  I took this photo of a group of my favorite fall companion plants.  I think they…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Autumn leaves are a wonderment of the season. Although dropped leaves make for extra work, I really enjoy the seasonal change.  When most of the leaves have dropped, we pile them high and play…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener It definitely feels like Autumn in the Lain gardens. We haven’t lit the pilot light on the fireplace, but there is a chill in the air every morning. There are a few things I…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Not all trees are created equal when it comes to autumn colors, and this is their season. Autumn is also the ideal planting window for trees and tall shrubs. Increased garden success is had…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Many of us have gardened in places where the soil is rich, its pH perfectly balanced, the climate blessed with consistent rainfall, gentle sun, and plant-coddling humidity.    Mountain soil and climate present the opposites…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Seasoned gardeners seem to have their favorite super-secret homemade garden gadget or brew that “can’t be topped” for controlling pests, fertilizing flowers, or extracting maximum value from their landscapes. However, as these tricks-of-the-trade get…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, there are probably some dried up annuals and disease-ridden roses along the way. No one invests time and money in a flower garden with…

Who Will be the Winner? Ken or the Pumpkin? Ever wonder what’s inside a GIANT pumpkin?  There are rumors of super slim, double thick walls and thousands upon thousands of seeds inside.  The second largest pumpkin in the state of…