Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers

Visit any garden center, grocery store or farmers’ market this time of year and you’ll be tempted with all kinds of herbs and vegetables to plant.

The monarch butterfly population in the eastern United States has declined sharply — an estimated 80% loss since the 1990s. Among the factors contributing to the decline: Loss of habitat, exposure to pesticides and extreme weather.

Herbs are a fantastic addition to any home or patio garden. The plants can be sprinkled throughout your native or edible garden,  utilized as stunning ornamentals along a pathway or kept potted on a windowsill or patio ready to be added fresh to any dish or drink.

Did you know that stormwater runoff is the greatest source of water pollution in urban areas? During heavy rain, water flows from rooftops, down driveways, and across parking lots and streets. As stormwater flows, it picks up many types of pollutants!

North Carolina is experiencing climate change: warmer temperatures (especially at night), more frequent extreme rainfall and a rise in sea level, scientists have found. Farmers and gardeners must change their methods of growing plants, both to help plants grow in changing conditions and to avoid harming the environment.

If you have a live cut tree in your home, you may be wondering how much longer it should stay up. Does it matter when it was cut? Not as much as you may think!

Although fall is known as the best time for planting, it’s important to take care of some tasks you might find less fun. Namely, weeding.

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PlantFest – a plant sale and garden festival – will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 1020 US Hwy 70 West, Hillsborough (across from the DMV office). If you like plants or want to learn more about gardening, we hope you’ll join us!

For people who garden, probably our most go-to tool is our secateurs, commonly called one-handed pruning shears or just “hand pruners.”