.Check bedding plants and remove old flower heads to prolong the blooming period. Also, pinch mums for bushier plants.

.Make another planting of vegetables, such as sweet corn and snap beans.

.Thin out vegetable plantings; for instance, beets and lettuce. Read seed label for spacing requirements.

.Feed roses every month until early August with 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 per plant.

.Prune off new growth on your evergreens, if necessary, to maintain shape and size.

.Spray fruit trees continually as scheduled. Read and follow label]]>

It is important to remember that vegetables are usually at their best quality and price at the peak of their season. Purchasing produce when in season also ensures its freshness.

Always check the]]>

La gran mayoría de aquellos que son afectados por problemas de fertilidad, abortos naturales, partos prematuros, y enfermedades congénitas son personas de bajos ingresos y comunidades de color. Muchas de estas comunidades están localizadas en barrios que están cerca de vertederos de químicos, plantas de energía, y otras instalaciones que contaminan la comida, el agua, y el aire.

Por ejemplo, las mujeres asiáticas estadounidenses]]>

Since that first Earth Day 40 years ago, we have made immense progress – from the landmark legislation of the 1970s, the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, to the conservation of America’s precious landscapes.

And since taking office, my Administration has worked to build on this progress. We have made a historic]]> So, most of my April has been pruning off, trying to repair injured plants and cleaning up my flower beds. Pruning makes them healthier and able to repair themselves for this year’s growing season.

That’s why I am so happy I have a compost pile; one, to have great organic material to add in planting holes to help new plants get a boost for growing, and second, to have a place to put my pruned pieces and other old plant debris. I am recycling this]]> The Helpline is a free and valuable gardening resource for the residents of Sussex County.

Master Gardeners are able to provide information and help on a wide variety of gardening topics including: lawns, vegetable gardens, perennial gardens, shrubs and insects. The Helpline will be open from April 15, 2010 through October 15, 2010.

Master Gardeners will be manning the phones from 10:00 a.m. to Noon and from 1 to 3 p.m., Monday through]]>

These are used as travel lanes and cause damage to grass and other plants by disturbing and sometimes destroying roots, tubers and bulb systems.

Moles create the tunnels in search for food, which consists of mature insects, snail larvae, spiders, small vertebrates, grubs, and earthworms. The last two are their favorite foods. Because they eat]]> The First Half of April:

Feed shrubs and roses -- read label directions for special instructions.

Take a soil sample to determine the exact amount of nutrition the soil needs to grow and produce flowers and vegetables.

Mow lawn if grass is over 2-1/2 inches tall. The ideal mowing height is two inches. Closer cutting weakens the lawn and opens it to invasion by crabgrass and other weeds.

Allowing the lawn to grow too tall gives it a ragged appearance, may create problems with accumulated clippings, and will]]>

When you have old seed packs, you have to ask yourself, “Should I plant these, throw them out or test them for quality and germination rate?” My answer would be to test them. I remember my dad testing seeds in our kitchen before he would make any decisions on their fate.

To do a germination test, count out 10 to 20 seeds. Then]]> One early spring crop that the old]]>

Not sure when to start your seeds? The seed pack will tell you this, too. It says, “Start 8 weeks before setting out in the garden.” Grab your calendar and count backwards. That is the date or week you should start your seeds.

Many types of containers (peat pots, peat pellets, plastic trays,]]>

A quick look at the economics of climate change reveals why. Most climate economists believe that unregulated emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose significant risks. But the economic costs of many of the strategies for]]>

The heat source of the cold frame is the sun. When the sun shines, this]]>

Forcing flowering shrubs to bloom indoors is easy. The following rules will make it easier:

The branches will bloom easier and quicker if you cut and bring them]]>

The amount of water a plant requires depends on the type of plant, soil and lighting conditions, environmental temperatures and the humidity in your home, as well as the plant’s growth cycle. During the plant’s active growth period, it absorbs more]]> For the First Half of the Month:

.Order seeds through catalogs to take advantage of early-bird discounts.

.Leave mulch on perennials continually; unfortunately, there are probably more cold days ahead.

.Prune ornamental plants like oak, yew, pine, juniper, and arborvitae to shape. Remove dead or unattractive parts of the tree such as branches and crotches that have crossed and sprouts or suckers growing at or near the base of the trunk. Also, remove branches broken due to winter winds and storms.

.Remove honeysuckle and other weedy]]>

When winter storms result in icy conditions, de-icers are sometimes used to help relieve some of the dangerous effects. However, precautions must be noted prior to their use.

De-icing salt, rock salt or sodium chloride is very effective in making our ice-covered roads and sidewalks safer on which to travel.]]>

Los GEI son el propulsor primordial del cambio climático,]]>

A gift certificate from a local garden center or your favorite gardening supply catalog.

A gift certificate for a massage at a local spa for those aches and pains after a day in the garden.

A gift certificate for a hand massage]]>

Tagging will hold it for you until you return a few days before Christmas to cut it down and take it home to decorate.

For those of you who may be interested, here are some common varieties of Christmas trees grown and sold in Delaware and guidelines to help you select the perfect tree.

• White pines have silvery blue-green needles that are soft to the touch. ]]>

First Week

• Collect pinecones, old bird nests, any remaining seed heads, etc. to be used in making wreaths and other holiday decorations.

• Spray seed heads and dried flowers with hair spray to keep them intact.

• Clean and sanitize (mixture of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water can be used) emptied seed flats before storing so that they will be ready when needed in the early spring.

• Make herbal presents like herb vinegars and/or potpourri for the holidays.

• Select your tree early and tag it while visiting your]]> If you also bring in wood to burn in your fireplace or woodstove, you may have noticed a few insects emerging from the wood. They are living in wood or just under the bark where they are over-wintering. As the split wood becomes room temperature, insects are]]> The average American discards about 4.6 pounds of trash, also known as solid waste, every day. This trash goes mostly to landfills, where it is compacted and buried. Twenty-eight percent of solid waste, or 64 million tons, is recovered and recycled or composted; 15 percent, or 34 million]]> Y es que, al parecer, unas redes genéticas que poseen las moscas de frutas son similares a las que tienen los humanos. Dichas redes de genes son claves en la conducta de estos seres vivos cuando beben más de la cuenta.

El estudio, realizado por investigadores de la Universidad de]]> “As public policy trends toward ever-increasing renewable portfolio standards at the state and federal]]> For the First Week of November:

• Plant remainder of spring flowering bulbs.

• Pull up diseased-free annuals and add to compost pile along with leaves and leftover garden material.

• Cut back and mulch perennials. Mulching will insulate them from the winter cold, and cutting them back will give them a tidy appearance.

• Dig up dahlias, caladiums, gladiolus, etc. Wash away soil; dry, label and place in a bag or box; and cover with sphagnum, moss, saw dust, or perlite. Store in a cool,]]> People from Energy Star suggest...

1- Change a light

Replace your live most frequently use light fixtures or the bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR qualified lights, and save more than $65 a year in energy costs. ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescen bulbs.

2- Get with the program

The average household spends nearly $2,000 a year on energy bills -nearly half on]]> People from Energy Star suggest...

1- Give it a rest.

Use the ENERGY STAR power management settings on your comuter and monitor so the go into power save mode when not in use. Also use a power strip as a central "turn off" point when you are using equipment to completely disconnect the power supply.

2-Unplug it.

Unplug electronics such as cell phones and laptops once they are charged. Adapters plugged into outlets use]]> This important preliminary and economical test (only $7.50 from the University of Delaware Soil Testing Lab and it can be purchased at your nearest Extension Office)]]> Los resultados del estudio aparecerán en la edición del 21 de octubre de la publicación Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Pero, en resumen, la conclusión es ésta: escuchar a hurtadillas o “chismosear” las conversaciones de canto entre dos gorriones adultos parece ser el evento clave]]> The results of their study will appear on the October edition of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. In summary, however, it can be said that eavesdropping on the singing conversations between two adult sparrows appears to be a key event in song learning.

This]]> When the thermometer drops abruptly, do not leave cats or dogs outside. Old, very young and shorthaired pets should never be left outdoors.

Wind chill is more harmful to your pet than temperature. Because it takes a lot of energy to keep]]> Thursday morning Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m., Delaware Air Guard leaders will join base civil engineers and the contractors that performed the installation to ceremoniously activate the three large photovoltaic solar installations to begin producing electricity from the sun.

This is the first photovoltaic solar system in the Delaware Air National Guard, the first on a U.S. military facility in]]> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared October 18-24 Lead Poisoning Prevention Week as part of the agency’s on-going efforts to make families aware of the hazards presented by lead and lead-based paint in the home and in childcare facilities.

Families may have lead around the home without knowing it because it can’t be seen, tasted, or smelled. Because it does not break down naturally, lead can remain a problem until it is removed. Before we]]> Una constante reflexión que a diario se hacen ecologistas es su destrucción. Precisamente porque los procesos de industrialización no han tenido el suficiente cuidado de los recursos que le han extraído. Todos estamos llamados a proteger el planeta.

En Colombia habita una de las comunidades indígenas ancestrales que tiene una visión de qué es la Tierra y las especies que]]> A constant reflection that ecologist make every day is the destruction of nature, precisely because the processes of industrialization have not properly cared for the resources that have been extracted. We should all do our part to protect the planet.

In Colombia, there is an ancient indigenous community with a special]]> La batería, hecha a base de celulosa (componente del papel) es capaz de hacer funcionar luces en un papel de envoltura de regalo que diga “Feliz Cumpleaños”, por ejemplo. Esto forma parte de los inventos e investigaciones que vienen realizando científicos en la Uppsala University, en Suecia, para desarrollar baterías baratas, seguras]]> The battery, made from a cellulose base (paper component), is capable of powering the lights on gift wrap that say “Happy Birthday,” for example. This is just part of the inventions and studies being carried out by scientists at Uppsala]]> The following guide will help you prepare for the approaching winter:

• One reason we give for raising our home thermostat is to protect our health. For most people, however, lowering the temperature will not result in a cold (remember colds are caused by germs).

• By using energy efficiently,]]> The construction of roads and buildings, the rise in population and the high concentration of noise that persists in Bogota have led public policy to focus on caring for and protecting green spaces.

Juan Antonio Nieto, the District Secretary of the Environment,]]> "The difference is obvious. Electricity and gas costs are notably lower. The house was designed to exploit every nook through which light enters in the different seasons of the year," he says.

Bioclimatic architecture strives to the design buildings so that they cause the least]]> The main function of the leaves on trees and shrubs is to produce food for the plants. Photosynthesis is the process through which green plants make carbohydrates by combining energy from the sun, carbon dioxide and water. This photosynthetic process is also responsible for the oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere.

In the fall, leaves on deciduous]]> El Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial y el Instituto Humboldt son]]> "Our nation's forestlands, both public and private, are environmental and economic assets that are in critical need of restoration and]]> The Thanksgiving cactus is also called the crab cactus, claw cactus or yoke cactus. This plant is very similar to the Christmas cactus with a couple of exceptions:

(1) it blooms about two weeks before the Christmas cactus; and (2) the tips on each two to four-inch leaf joints are sharply serrated. It has three-inch long white flowers]]> “Increasing our use of renewable energy helps our economy by creating jobs and helps our environment by keeping pollution out of our water, air and soil,” Markell]]> ·Drive Green – How your drive has a lot to do with fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Jerky and aggressive driving decreases your miles per gallon (MPG) and increases wear and tear on your vehicle. Minimize unnecessary miles by combining errands in one trip.

·Get a]]>