Articles by Dr. Francis Gouin

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 8/17/17

Prepare Your Fall Garden

Our second season is at hand

The vegetable gardening season is only half over. Now that you’ve harvested your beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower and onions, it is time to plant beans, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce and peas.
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; , Home and Garden Guide; , Gardening; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 3/30/17

Make the Most of the Spring Growing Season

Three months of The Bay Gardener’s advice on planting, pruning and lawn care

~ April ~

Grow a No-Till Garden
Start your garden as soon as you can work the soil, certainly in April if not already in March.
Do not spade. Save your back and your soil by planting no-till.
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; , Gardening; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 3/23/17

Maryland’s Tree for All Seasons

Please don’t crape murder it

I find crape myrtle 10 times more attractive than white birch trees, which we in New Hampshire consider a weed but Marylanders insist on trying to grow against the odds. It is a waste of time and money to plant white birch in southern Maryland because the summers are too hot and the winters do not provide sufficient cold to satisfy the tree’s dormancy needs. We have the ideal climate to grow crape myrtle, a tree (or shrub) that adds so much to any landscape.
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; , Fall Fix-Up Guide; , Gardening; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 10/13/16

Steps to a Healthy Lawn

Fall’s the time to get to work

Warm days and cool nights, combined with shorter daylight hours, are what the doctor ordered for the favorite grasses of Chesapeake Country: bluegrass and fescues. They’re called cool-season grasses because they germinate, produce roots and lap up nutrients once summer’s heat shuts down. So now’s the time to get to work on next year’s perfect lawn.

Test Your Soil
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; , Gardening; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 11/26/15

A Fire-Safe Christmas Tree

Here’s how to keep your tree fresh, green and safe

A freshly cut Christmas tree that is properly cared for is a fire-safe Christmas tree.
Every year, many house fires are caused by Christmas trees. Avoid such a tragedy by following a few simple rules.
The freshest cut Christmas tree is the one you cut yourself. Thus the advantage of tree farms where you can make selecting and cutting your Christmas tree a family affair.
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Article - Fall Fix-Up Guide; , Gardening; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 10/1/15

Want to Grow a Bay-Friendly Lawn?

Now’s the time to get to work so it’s lush and green come spring

Feeling less than pride and joy in your lawn?
Fall is the best time to lay the foundation for a rich, green, weed-free grass come spring.

1. Test Your Soil
How’s your lawn doing?
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Article - Fishing; , News; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 7/16/15

Out of the Garden and Onto the Water

Fishing with the Charlotte Hall Vets

The Bay Gardener took a day off from gardening to go fishing with 15 heroes and four staffers from the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. The Lothian Ruritan Club sponsored the fishing trip.
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 7/10/14

Mites KO Knockout Roses

How to fight back

Popular as Knockout roses are, they are not immune to viruses. They are susceptible to witches broom and to rose rosette, which is becoming a frequent problem. Rose rosette is spread by infested pruners and by a microscopic eriophyid mite.
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; , Gardening; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 6/12/14

Give Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurels a Head Start

Pluck off wilted flowers

For more abundant flowers on your rhododendrons and mountain laurels next year, deadhead this year’s flowers as soon as they wilt. By preventing the flowers from setting seeds, you’ll stimulate the branches to flush new growth from waiting latent buds. This is especially true if the bushes are growing in full sun.
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Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; , Gardening; , Green Living; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 1/16/14

No Need to Stop at One

Propagate a jungle of African violets using my foolproof method

Beyond their good looks and winter bloom, African violets have another charm. They’re so easy to propagate in the home that they raise your self-esteem. Here’s my foolproof method:
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Articles by Dr. Francis Gouin

~ April ~

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