There about We all know that homegrown vegetables and fruit are tastier, healthier and are much cheaper than store-bought ones. Here at Gulf Coast Gardening we answer questions about what varieties do well here? When’s the best time to plant them? Where and how to plant them and when do we fertilize them? How much sun and water do they need? What seeds can you plant outdoors? What plants need to be started indoors. How long to harvest? Agricultural universities like Texas A&M, LSU, Florida A&M, Mississippi State, and Alabama A&M, as well as other colleges and universities along the

A noted French theologian once said that “man is the living layer of earth.” He was referring to the spiritual realm, I’m sure. Because there is another “living layer of earth” right below our feet – the soil. That’s because good soil is alive with millions, billions, trillions – countless mega trillions of living creatures which are born, live, procreate and die every second. A teaspoon of good soil would contain millions of living creatures, while a shovel-full would hold billions. An acre would contain more living organisms than there are starts in our galaxy… perhaps in the entire universe.

There are so many beautiful native plants along the Gulf Coast. They were here before humans set foot on this continent. Most of them need little or no care, can exist on rainfall alone, and have adjusted to our heat. They help enrich the soil and also help bring air and water down into ground, help to foster beneficial microbes and, in general, help other plants grow. Our native pollinators prefer native plants. The monarch butterfly, for instance, will lay her eggs only on native milkweed. The hatched larvae will then eat the leaves of the milkweed to, form chrysalises,

Learn how to avoid lawn diseases and pest infestations in your lawn. Develop sound lawn practices that will give you a healthy lawn for years to come. Easy and inexpensive methods, less work and less worry exist. Learn about them now. Also, follow our easy LAWN CARE GUIDE for a green and lush grass carpet around your home. We cover how and when to water and when to fertilize your lawn and landscape. Also, learn about landscaping ideas that can provide you with an enjoyable outdoor place to entertain, read, relax, and sip a cool drink. Related articles

There are hundreds of native bee species living along the Gulf Coast. That’s in addition to imported honey bees. Scientists are finding that native bees are more important than honeybees in pollinating native plants. Butterflies, beetles, wasps, and many other insects act as pollinators, as do some birds (hummingbirds for instance) and some mammals (bats), Then there are the pests. The tomato hornworns, cabbage loopers, sod webworms, chinch bugs, stink bugs, thrips, grasshoppers, mites, aphids, and many more that take advantage of your vegetables, ornamentals and lawns. Finally there are the predators: predatory insects like assassin bugs, lacewings, praying mantids,

Here you will find month-to-month guides on what to do and when to do it for vegetables, fruit, native and adapted plants, trees, soil care, trees and lawns. Print them out and put them in your garden shed, your garage, or in your garden records book. You will also find articles on what chores are needed in each month, what tools you need, and how and when when to use them. ‘ Related articles