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The Grumpy Gardener

Pick the Right Magnolia

June 13, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (3)

I just smelled a Southern icon and it wasn’t Elvis. No, it was the sweet perfume wafting from the enormous white blossoms of our native Southern magnolia. Is a magnolia a good choice for planting in your yard? It really depends on how much space you have.

The Grumpy Gardener

4 Great Garden Gifts for Dad

June 9, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (0)

Next Sunday, June 16, is arguably the greatest day in the whole year — Father’s Day. Wouldn’t you like to show Dad how utterly grateful you are for his mere existence? Fortunately, Grumpy is a Dad who gardens, so here is his list of great garden gifts for Dad that Grumpy himself has tested and approved.

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Why Won’t My Dogwood Bloom?

June 5, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (1)

Faithful readers, it is time once again for Grumpy to provide a 100% guaranteed correct answer to one of your most pressing gardening questions. This week’s question deals with a beloved, iconic tree native to the South — flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).

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Interview with a Cicada

June 2, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (2)

By now, you’re aware that a plague of 17-year cicadas in parts of the South is causing many people to go deaf. But why? Today, in a Grumpy Gardener Exclusive Report, I sat down with one of those remarkable insects to find out the reason.

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Why Are My Gardenia’s Leaves Turning Black?

May 30, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (2)

When terrible things happen to your plants, who are you going to call? The all-knowing Grumpy, of course! Who else would know why your gardenia’s leaves are turning black and what you can to fix it?

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3 Great Shrubs for Summer Color — Pomegranate, Loropetalum, Lilac

May 26, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (2)

Do you fear your summer garden will be duller than “The Great Gatsby?” Fear not! Grumpy has selected a trio of colorful shrubs to keep your garden partying from now until fall.

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Plant A Smaller Crepe Myrtle This Year

May 23, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (23)

Why do people murder crepe myrtles? No, it’s not too much Neanderthal DNA. It’s that the variety of crepe myrtle they planted got way too big. Here’s a guide to which crepe myrtles won’t outgrow your house or yard, so you won’t have to chop them grotesquely each year.

The Grumpy Gardener

Don’t Hate My Lawn! 5 Keys to Responsible Lawn Care

May 19, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (2)

Lawn lovers, we are victorious! Last week, we decisively proved that there are very good reasons to cherish our carpets of green! But with great power comes great responsibility. Here are five ways to become an environmentally sensitive lawn owner.

The Grumpy Gardener

Don’t Hate My Lawn! It’s A Good Thing

May 17, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (20)

Other than having the last name “Monsanto,” nothing is more likely to get you reviled in the blogosphere than to say you like lawns. It just isn’t PC, especially on the Left Coast. Grumpy doesn’t care. He LOVES lawns. And if you live where having a lawn makes sense, here is why you should love them too.

The Grumpy Gardener

Mulching 101 — Your Questions Answered

May 12, 2013 | By Steve Bender | Comments (10)

Mulching may sound mundane, and doing it is even mundaner. But mulching the garden is one of the most essential ways to ensure its success, especially with the hot summer ahead. Therefore, let Grumpy guide you through all the in’s and out’s of mulching properly.

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