Veronica Lorson Fowler

Help migratory hummingbirds by providing a variety of nectar-rich flowers, hummingbird feeders, suitable habitat, and by gardening as organically as possible

It’s been a late, cold spring, but there’s still plenty of planting to be done now. And with the last average frost date being mid-May in the Cedar Rapids area, the busiest time of planting in the area is just around the corner.

The three major nutrients in fertilizer are N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus), and K (potassium), always listed in that order.

Wall planters are a clever way to work plants into your home decor.

Pollinators like a variety of plants that provide shelter, nectar and pollen as well as specific foliage for caterpillars to devour.

Create your own herb garden to get you through a few more months.

Succulents come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And they thrive on neglect.

Insecticides, whether they are organic or not, kill insects. Lots and lots of insects. All pesticides are fairly indiscriminate -- they kill beneficial insects, including bees, right along with problem insects.

Mini pumpkins sprawl just a few feet. They also mature in just three months or so, perfect for northern states like Iowa.

This summer, the monarch was officially designated as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While there are many reasons why, gardeners can do their part by helping these beloved butterflies by planting monarch loving plants in their yards.

If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time and money on your garden. But just as with a house, the most important money and energy you can spend is on the foundation. And the foundation of a garden is the soil.

What to do with all this newfound sun in your landscape?

The best reason to use fewer chemicals is because it’s the smart thing to do for our health and the health of the planet.

No matter what type of hedge you have, it likely will benefit from at least one pruning a year. Pruning helps keep hedges tidy-looking, thicker and can help control size.

Most trees and shrubs don’t have leaves, so you can more easily see their structure. And since pruning stimulates new growth, you’ll be giving them a boost going into their spring growth spurt.