Darrell Blackwelder, Author at Salisbury Post - Page 11 of 18

Farm & Garden

Home & Garden Q&A: Applying fertilizer, controlling poison oak

The weather has been perfect over the past few weeks to work outdoors and many have questions about their lawns and landscapes. Below are a ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, May 3, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Darrell Blackwelder: Peonies

You may have noticed fluffy, colorful flowers in the landscapes around the county. Peonies are now in full bloom with large, colorful flowers. Once planted ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, May 3, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Darrell Blackwelder: Camellia leaf gall is a fungus, but causes little damage

By Darrell Blackwelder For the Salisbury Post There was something a little strange about the camellia sasanqua in our landscape this week. The leaves were ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, April 26, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Darrell Blackwelder: Cedar apple rust

I got an email last week with a couple of photos about cedar trees. The trees had some kind of orange slimy growth and the ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, April 19, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Home and garden Q&A: Controlling caterpillars, ivy

Many are working outdoors in our beautiful spring weather while homebound. Retail garden shops and outlets are bustling with those choosing to take advantage of ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, April 12, 2020 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Blackwelder: Controlling wisteria

Wisteria is used in many landscapes and readily found in local garden centers and nurseries. The plant was introduced to the United States from Japan ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, April 5, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Blackwelder column: Dr. Koontz has passion for orchids

When pediatrician Dr. Wayne Koontz is not caring for children, he’s busy at home taking care of his other responsibly, a vast orchid collection and ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, March 29, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Dandelion: It’s a menace. It’s a menu item. It’s both!

Many of our lawns and landscapes in our area are inundated with a broadleaf weed that never seems to die. Dandelion is a perennial found ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, March 22, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

With warmer weather, it’s mowing season

Fescue lawns are becoming lush and green with warmer spring weather, providing a much-needed green backdrop to the landscape. Mowing will quickly be a weekly ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, March 20, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Clay soil is not a lost cause

A major misconception about clay soils that they’re poor and non-productive. Tight clay soils are difficult to manage; but, with proper modification these soils can ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, March 15, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Mow your Liriope now for healthy new growth

Liriope, monkey grass or border grass is one of the most underutilized landscape plant materials. Mostly used as a border, redefining its use may create ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, March 8, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: What your hydrangea wants you to know about pruning

Your hydrangeas may have been killed back during freezing weather earlier this winter. Let’s hope not! Many ask when is the best time to cut ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, March 1, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Pruning questions come as soon as weather changes

When I’m out and about, pruning advice seems to be the most recurring inquiry from many homeowners. It’s the change of seasons or weather conditions ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, February 28, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Now is a good time to fertilize cool season fescue lawns

After dodging snow and thunderstorms, now is a good time to fertilize cool season fescue lawns. Turf specialists recommend one pound of actual nitrogen per ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, February 23, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Act now to control chickweed and crabgrass

The only thing predicable about our weather is that it’s always unpredictable. Erratic temperature fluctuations and excessive rainfall have created problems with our lawn care ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, February 16, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Hellebores for winter interest

Many daffodil plantings are blooming much earlier this spring because of our unusual warm weather; however, there are other landscape materials providing non-traditional blooms for ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, February 9, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

EPA says RoundUp has little risk

People have stopped and asked me about the use of Roundup because of the continuous television commercials. Below is updated information on the use of ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, February 7, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Darrell Blackwelder: What’s new for landscapes

Nurserymen, landscapers, lawn care specialists and other allied landscape professionals converged in Greensboro last week for a time of horticultural education and displays of plant ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, February 7, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Helping the birds through winter

Cold weather is difficult for most everything outdoors, including our birds. Freezing temperatures greatly reduce song birds and other wildlife’s chance of survival. The key ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, February 2, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: What to remember when selecting a home lawn care company

Commercial lawn care and landscape maintenance has become a thriving business in Rowan County. Since the early 1980s this industry has grown from three landscape ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, January 25, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: The Winter jasmine is out early this year

There is a yellow blooming shrub cascading in a landscape near St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury. The profuse bloomer looks very much like our ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, January 19, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: North Carolina weather confuses the plants

Our recent weather has been confusing to say the least. Cold weather one day, warm the next; with a few days of intermittent downpours thrown ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, January 12, 2020 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Hedges make good neighbors

High-density housing and other situations dictate the use of screens and border plantings of shrubs and trees for added privacy. Informal mass plantings of trees ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, January 10, 2020 12:00 am

Columns

Start your gardening year off right

It’s that time of year when we make resolutions for the upcoming year. Below are a few gardening resolutions all gardeners should consider. Don’t guess, ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, December 29, 2019 12:00 am

Lifestyle

A final holiday crop: After 35 years, Weddingtons end poinsettia production

John Weddington and family gathered last Saturday for a group photo at their poinsettia greenhouse.  This was a very special photo shoot in that it ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, December 15, 2019 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: Making your poinsettia last all holiday season

Poinsettia producers spend almost 5 months producing beautiful holiday plants that provide just a few weeks of enjoyment during the Christmas holidays. Below are tips ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, December 8, 2019 12:00 am

Columns

Darrell Blackwelder: It must be Christmas; the cactus is blooming

The holiday season is officially here, and Christmas cactus are now in full bloom at local garden centers and retail outlets. Christmas cactus (holiday cactus) ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Sunday, December 1, 2019 12:00 am

Farm & Garden

Darrell Blackwelder: Take care of your mower before you put it away

Winter is upon us and use of outdoor power equipment, especially gasoline-powered lawn mowers, has greatly diminished. Proper maintenance at the end of mowing season ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Friday, November 29, 2019 12:00 am

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