Maintenance by Ruth S. Foster Dirty Little Secret About Continuous Bloom of Perennials IThe secret is they don't. There is this myth about perennials returning each year and producing a sequence of bloom that continues all season long. Well, it's just not so. more The Illusion of Neatness In this world there are Neatnicks and Messynicks. more Labor Saving Gardening Tips Ruth offers some simple strategies to make your garden care less labor intensive when good help is hard to find. more Why Plants Die It's like trying to explain why babies cry. Many things may be wrong, but knowing which are causes and which are effects is complex. The current plant theory is that plant health starts with healthy roots. more De-Icing Slippery Walks When the Christmas goose is finally all eaten, icy paths are not far behind. It helps to know all the alternatives to prevent slipping, sliding, and accidents. more Tips for New Trees, Shrubs, and Sod A few helpful tips for planting and maintaining your landscape. more Maintaining Common Flowers A few helpful tips and tricks for maintaining the garden favorites: Petunias, Geraniums, Impatiens... more Raking Leaves Who hasn't dragged endless bags of them from one place to another, again and again? To reduce this nagging yard work, first decide which leaves have to go and which can be left where they fall. more Choosing a Sprinkler System for Your Lawn If you think you've had it with hauling hoses to cope with drought, maybe you think it's time to consider a sprinkler system, especially if your precious green lawn is often tan and spotty from lack of water. more Beware of Invasive Vines! If you have bare ground but don't want more lawn (and it's high maintenance), evergreen ground covers are very good but think carefully which variety is best for you. more Simplify the Garden Outdoors A few time and labor saving tips to simplify your outdoor gardens. more Sounds in the Garden Fountains, babbling brooks and birds that sing are not the only sounds in the garden. More insidious ones come from the motors on the tools we use. more