Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
Deer Damage on Evergreens, Mary Stone of Garden Dilemmas

To Prune or Not to Prune

Hello fellow readers, To prune or not to prune, that is the question from Mary of Blairstown (that would be me) and oodles of others who are perplexed and annoyed by the devastating damage from the harsh winter. Plants that normally would be well on their way to showing signs of promi
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an analog thermpmeter stuck in soil

Soil Temperature

Hello fellow readers, I am learning so much from all of you! On Mother’s Day, Pastor Marcia shared that soil temperatures were still too chilly for farmers to plant their crops which related to her sermon on honoring all who nurture. While shopping for plants, I met Phil from Morristo
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Annuals vs. Perennials

Hello fellow readers, We are officially through our risk of frost so it’s time to shop for annuals. Many nurseries sell perennials in flats as well. Bob from Hackettstown was brave enough to ask what the difference between annuals and perennials is. I am certain it is confusing to man
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Shopping for Annuals

Hello fellow readers, Mother’s Day triggers shopping for Annuals as gifts and adding continuous color to our gardens and pots. There’s something fun about being in the frenzy of it all – The hurry to grab a plant cart, drooling over all the colors, and the tendency to load up wi
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Beautiful Brunnera

Hello fellow readers, It’s challenging to talk when your mouth is wide open with a sucking device, dental tools and a set of hands. In fact it can be trying and I wonder if the strategy of encouraging conversation is to keep our mind off their work. Let’s just say I would rather go to
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Stop Garden Volcanoes Mary Stone Garden Dilemmas

Proper Planting & Mulching

Hello fellow readers, One hundred columns ago, we began out garden chat. It’s far more than about digging in the dirt. Gardens relate to all that grows in this garden of life. So for column 101, it seems fitting to reflect on our very first topic; Proper Planting & Mulching.
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Dividing Hosta Mary Stone Garden Dilemmas

Dividing Perennials

Column updated April 1, 2021  Hello fellow readers, Divide and multiply, and while you’re at it, why not move those that may be better living somewhere else. Of course, I am referring to dividing and moving perennials, not family members :^) Sally from Wind Gap asked if spring is a go
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White daffodils wiht yellow centers along a stone path

Easter Blessings

Hello fellow readers, Our world is greening up, and the snowdrops are finally peaking almost a month behind last year. As predicted, the ticks have made a robust comeback after a long winter protected by the snow. Nasty pests I think our creator could have done without, though I suppo
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer, Gardening wiht Dogs, Overseeding Lawns

Overseeding Lawns

Hello Fellow Readers, Remember Ed from Basking Ridge who wrote in about his digger dog?  It seems Dulcie also loves a good game of fetch and Ed wonders how to create a lawn to stand up to speedy turns. His current lawn rolls up, has little root structure and is mostly crabgrass and cl
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Winter Burn Mary Stone of Garden Dilemmas

Preventing Winter Burn

Have you noticed many evergreens look as though they were scorched this winter?  John from Stone Church asked what to do about the brownish-red dry foliage, which is much worse on one side of his young white pines.
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