Darrell Blackwelder, Author at Salisbury Post - Page 4 of 18

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Sometimes variegated plants revert to solid colors

Many people choose variegated plant materials in an effort to provide an accent or a bit of color in their landscape. What can be very ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, June 10, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Elderberry blooms are popular for teas, syrups and wine

Along roads in Rowan County the embankments, thickets, marshes and byways are dotted with large, white blooms of elderberry shrubs. Elderberry is a native, deciduous ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, June 3, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Questions about pruning, fescue and disease

The weather has been nearly perfect for work outdoors over the past few days with warm days and cooler nights. Below are a few gardening ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, May 20, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Maintenance tips for container gardens

Container gardens are now extremely popular, especially where traditional flower beds are not possible. There are some maintenance requirements necessary for them to standout in ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, May 20, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Carpenter bees can be difficult to control

Carpenter bees are starting to show up in all areas of Rowan County. The initial activity is often by males buzzing about looking for the ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, May 13, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Irises are in full bloom

Irises are in full bloom with another show of color for our landscapes. Unfortunately, older plantings have self-propagated too much producing more plant than bloom. ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, May 6, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Pink primrose is a biennial that blooms early

Driving through East Spencer the other day I noticed a profusely pink flowering pink plant on the side of the road that closely resembled pink ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, April 29, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Mowing tips for a better lawn

Mowing our lawns is now a regular maintenance tasks for many homeowners with the warm weather promoting rapid growth of cool-season fescue. Often, mistakes while ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, April 22, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Beautiful spring weather brings in gardening questions

Many are working outdoors in our beautiful spring weather as both cultivated and natural wildflowers are in bloom. Retail garden shops and outlets are bustling ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, April 22, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Clematis can be a challenge for home gardeners

It’s spring and bountiful flowers and shrubs are in full bloom, including vines. Clematis is a vine featuring bright and colorful flowers, but can be ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, April 15, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Spring weather prompts questions

Unusual weather coupled with intermittent rainfall has produced many colorful blooms throughout the county. Many trees and shrubs are almost in full show. Unfortunately, many ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, April 1, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Preventing sprayer residue damage

I sprayed the lawn a few weeks ago for winter weeds. The herbicide seemed to work, removing massive amounts of chickweed and other broadleaf winter ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, April 1, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: How to control moles

One of the frequent questions people ask during a gardening talk concerns moles. Controlling moles is not easy; many have accepted these animals as part ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, March 25, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Dandelions: Love ’em or hate ’em

Many of the lawns and landscapes in our area, if not inundated now, will soon be peppered with a broadleaf weed that never seems to ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, March 18, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Yellow jessamine is now in bloom

Yellow jessamine/Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is now in bloom on fences and trees along roadsides throughout North and South Carolina. The state flower of South ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, March 11, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Questions come in as blooming begins

Even though we’re experiencing a taste of warm weather, it is important to remember there may be a chance of frost over the next few ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, March 4, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Daffodils are in bloom all over the county

Daffodils are in bloom all over the county and our entire region. They are about as colorful as I have seen in years. Interestingly enough, ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, March 4, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Hellebores are in bloom across the county

Daffodil plantings are blooming a little earlier this spring because of our unusual warm weather, as well as other landscape materials are also providing non-traditional ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, February 25, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Spring weed control in fescue

It’s hard to believe I had to mow my lawn this week. Unusually warm weather has cool season fescue starting to grow. Unfortunately, it’s also ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, February 18, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Moss problems in lawns

Moss can be a serious problem in cool-season lawns. The overabundance of cool, wet weather along with poor growing conditions such as poor drainage, low ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, February 11, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Broomsedge weeds is good ground cover, but bad for pasture grass

A friend of mine asked me about a weed that was all over the county in pastures and along the roadways. It was a rather ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, February 4, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Above-average temperatures lead to home, gardening questions

February is a transition month when homeowners ponder about their landscape for the upcoming spring. It’s too cold to do outdoor chores, but the periods ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, February 4, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Keeping house plants happy during winter months

House plants have a difficult time adapting to a different environment when moved indoors for the winter. Most house plants were bred and developed from ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, January 14, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Cold damage on shrubs

Unexpected frigid weather has become almost an annual event in our region during the winter months. Leaf and stem damage is almost certain for many ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, January 7, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Chinese privet is an invasive shrub

While making my annual visit to the county tax office, a lady asked me about a shrub she observed on her way to work that ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, January 7, 2023 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: It is possible to keep poinsettias for the next season

One of the questions asked each Christmas holiday is if you keep poinsettias for the next season. These plants can be over-wintered and used next ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, December 24, 2022 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant

When was the last time you were kissed under the mistletoe? The attractive plant is common decoration during the Christmas holidays, inspiring loving behaviors. Mistletoe ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, December 17, 2022 12:00 am

Lifestyle

Darrell Blackwelder: Pretty poinsettias offer an annual holiday plant that’s always popular

By Darrell Blackwelder For the Salisbury Post Poinsettias are undoubtedly a holiday favorite — a standard decoration for our Christmas holiday season. Seniors from Rufty-Holmes Senior Center ... Read more

by Darrell Blackwelder, Saturday, December 10, 2022 12:10 am

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