Gardening With Sal

 The Pros, the Cons, and Some First Hand Experiences 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | September 9, 2026 This is another very interesting gardening topic. Not a hot-button issue — but one that usually generates a lot of good discussion. There are many reasons both for, and against growing vertically — and it really boils down to where, and how you want to grow your garden.

 The Natural Way to Reset Your Soil 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | September 7, 2026 Solarization is often used to clear off and sanitize a section of ground.  Its benefits include the removal of just about all living organisms in the first few inches or so of soil. The downside — it removes all living organisms in the first few inches or so of soil.

 The One We Never Notice, but Couldn't Exist Without 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | September 2, 2026 There's a lot we can talk about with this one: - That hawk cruising overhead, searching for an unsuspecting critter.  - That bluebird hunting for a grub.  - The ladybug ambushing an aphid or  - A plant's roots stretching through the soil for water and nutrients.

 Not All Plants Explode With Growth 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | August 23, 2026 There's an old saying, "The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap." The first time I heard that, I remember raising my eyebrows and wondering just what that meant. After working in the yard and tending the gardens all this time, I've learned exactly what it means. 

 And Why More Water Isn't Always Best 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | August 21, 2026 I know — that's an easy one — THE HEAT! Yes, that's definitely one that causes it, but have you ever wondered why? I mean is it the equivalent of a plant sweating and shading its eyes, or is it something more?

Give Those Pampered Starts a Fighting Chance 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | August 17, 2026 You've spent over a week waiting for your seeds to germinate, then another three weeks nursing them in a controlled environment, getting them to grow to a decent size. Now you're ready to drop them in the ground, or in those pots, and watch them explode with growth. 

 The Pest You Know Is There, But You Can't See 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | August 14, 2026 Leaf-miner Damage Yep, that graphic says it all — a white squiggly line that meanders across the surface of the leaf. That bug is eating its way through the leaf, but it's on the inside so there's no way to get to it — or is there? There really is a quick fix for them, but let's start off with talking about just what they are.

 The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth 💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | August 10, 2026 I've been writing posts for this blog for about seven months now. I initially started it to document my own garden. The trials, errors, successes, failures, and everything in between of planning, setting up, and actually implementing a successful garden.

 And Everything In Between 🐜 Garden Critters | by Guy Saldiveri | August 7, 2026 Just about everyone is familiar with the one on the left. Ladybugs are one of the most beloved insects to have in the garden. Many folks actually order them just to release them into the yard with hopes they'll hang out and provide some beneficial pest control.

  Brassicas & Alliums Rising, Nightshades Falling 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 31, 2026 Hey, if the Almanac can read the cards, why not me? I know, it's the end of July, we're in the hottest days of summer, and the old guy is talking about fall.  Gardening is one hobby where it pays to think a little ahead. Cooler weather crops take a while to grow, and if you want to harvest a crop before the first freeze arrives, you actually need to get started by mid- to late August, especially if you're working with seeds.  Many fall crops in the brassica family (like broccoli and cabbage) can take a light frost or two, but a hard freeze without protection will definitely cause some damage. There are others like garlic, though, that actually need the cold weather to properly form bulbs — it's called Vernalization.  Onions are another vegetable that winters over very well. They usually get planted in the September/October time frame, grow throughout the winter and...

Just A Few Things I wish I had Known  💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | July 29, 2026, Updated August 11, 2026 First off, welcome! I'm not sure you know what you actually just signed up for, but welcome to the world of gardening. I know, a little cynical, right? It wasn't meant to be — just speaking from experience. Gardening can be one of the most rewarding and the most frustrating hobbies you could have picked.  Between the rain, the heat, the bugs, the frosts, the finicky plants, the bugs, the lousy soil, and—if I didn't mention them—THE BUGS, lol, there is a lot to learn and a lot to deal with. And with all of that, I can honestly say, I wouldn't give it up for nuthin! And that's the truth. The rewards really do outweigh the frustrations.  There are years where nothing seems to go right, everything you plant just wilts or runs away from you. Then there are years when you just can't seem to do anything wrong. Those are the best ones! I wanted to write this one ...

 The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and What in the World is That! 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 23, 2026 Hickory Horned Devil On the surface, this one might seem a little odd on a gardening blog. But I have to tell ya, I've seen some really weird stuff on the way to just pulling up some weeds… Take this first guy here. Can you imagine going out to prune a branch, only to find this staring back at you?

 The Ins, Outs, and Upside Downs of the What's, Where's, and Why's 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 20, 2026 WOW, that title block was a mouthful all by itself. 😊 But I have to say, it really brings the point home — especially when the topic is where and how you have your roots roaming.

 Organic is Natural, But So Are Belladonna and Arsenic 💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | July 18, 2026 For some reason there's a perpetual belief that because something is labeled "Organic" it's completely safe. Because this is such an entrenched and widespread belief, I think it's time to set the record straight.

Clearing the Brush and Getting to the Root of the Matter 🌿 Garden Talk | 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | July 12, 2026 Hold on to your leaves—we're getting ready to tackle the Holy Grail—the Trifecta of products that take care of just about every pest your garden can experience—or so we're told... If you've been gardening for more than ten minutes, I'd lay odds that you've already heard about these three. Search almost any garden problem online and you'll find one—or all three—recommended as the answer.

 The Part No One Tells the Beginner 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 09, 2026 One thing that hits home when I look back at the design, setup, and implementation of my garden is the cost. A couple of other things hit me as well:  - Someone showing me a small basket of their $100 tomatoes.  - The Master Gardener course question that asked if having a backyard garden was cost-effective—and any answer but 'no' was wrong.

How to Tell Them Apart 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | June 30, 2026 Male Squash Flower "Is this a male or female flower?" That's a question that pops up in the community all the time — and not just from new gardeners.  High school biology was a long time ago for many of us, and if your memory is like mine — well, let's just say I'm glad I remember where the kitchen is. 😉

 An Over-the-Fence Look at How Plants Actually Work 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | June 28, 2026 The Reasoning Behind the Read It's been a VERY long time since the biology classes I took in high school. To be completely honest, I've probably forgotten at least 95% of what was taught.  I enjoy writing these types of articles for various reasons, but the main one is that they serve as an amazing refresher course for me. 

If Plants Really Repelled Insects, Orkin Would Be Out of Business 🌿 Garden Talk | By Guy Saldiveri | June 18, 2026 You've seen the memes. You've seen the marketing in the garden departments. You have friends who swear that planting this with that keeps that from this. Believe the hype? Nope, not me — never have and never will. 

 The Pest That Makes Me Want To Break Out the Blowtorch 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | June 12, 2026   Spider mite infestation From June thru September, a Deep South garden is nothing short of a full-blown bug fest.  It seems like every pest imaginable shows up during that stretch — spider mites are no exception.