Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | October 01, 2019
‘’Gardens are a form of autobiography,” Sydney Eddison — Gardener and Writer (1932-present). Making it through this year’s gardening season is a real accomplishment with all the variability in climatic conditions we had to navigate through. WHEN TO COMPLETE THIS YEAR’S GARDENING SEASON As fall continues through October, we enter into the final phase of our gardening season. Tree leaves... READ MORE >
Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | September 01, 2019
This year has been especially hard on Montcalm area gardeners with all the weather variability they experienced trying to maintain their landscape gardens at a beautiful and productive level.... READ MORE >
Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | July 30, 2019
In part one of May’s Home column on — The Real Dirt on Organic Gardening — we covered the importance of Soil Fertilization. The second major concern of the organic gardener is successfully controlling pests in their gardens.... READ MORE >
Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | June 30, 2019
So far this spring thru early summer, our Montcalm area, along with most of the Midwest, has experienced well above average levels of rain along with cooler than normal temperatures.
To put this into perspective, Fred Springborn, MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, in his June 2019 West-central field crop update called this “a widespread weather disaster.” He goes on to say, “While the planting conditions of the 2019 season are unprecedented, we have had tough years before. Hang in there.”... READ MORE >
Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | May 25, 2019
In my conversations with local gardeners, they are very interested in learning more about organic gardening — what it is and why it is such a popular concept. I would like to describe my common sense approach to understanding organic gardening.... READ MORE >
Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | April 27, 2019
This Spring my Columns will be featuring answers to questions on Gardening topics that are of interest to local gardeners. One popular topic we will begin with is “What is a Rain Garden?”... READ MORE >
Bob Lilenfeld, Montcalm Area Master Gardener | April 21, 2019
No-till gardening is a way to garden without using any tools or machines that can compact, plow or erode the soil. The soil is left undisturbed except where a seed or plant is inserted.... READ MORE >
