Just thought I would check in with everyone. The weather here has been totally off the wall this past couple of months. The last couple of days have had flooding diasters all around us. Forutnately, while we received some crazy inches of rain, we managed to not suffer the flooding of areas very close to us. I know others are having extreme heat, which is headed here starting tomorrow. When Mother Nature gets in these moods, it can have some serious impacts on our gardens, our homes and our lives. So I just wanted to check in with all of you to see how you all are doing. I know not everyone is being impacted by these extreme weather conditions, but for those who are I just wanted you to know that we are thinking about you. If there's anything we can help with, please don't hesitate to reach out. We have members in all 50 states and I'm sure if someone can help they would be happy to.🪴

So I went in Amazon haul the other night and thought I had great deals on some containers and a few other things. I was like wow, only $86. I went to sleep and was going to pay that afternoon. Went to pay and the total is now $203. Moral of the story, don't sleep in deals. But please, if you already don't, go check out Amazon Hauls for deals.

It's that time of year when we see insects move in on our plants. We had a great question come in on squash bugs this week. Here's some tips to help you deal with them before they destroy the fruits of your labor. Squash bugs are one of the few pests that can make even experienced gardeners want to throw in the trowel! 😅 The good news is that container gardeners actually have a few advantages over in-ground gardeners when it comes to controlling them. 🪴 Use your containers to your advantageBecause your plants are elevated and easier to access, make it a habit to inspect the undersides of leaves every few days. Squash bug eggs are usually bronze-colored and laid in clusters. Catching them before they hatch is the easiest way to stay ahead of the problem. 👀 Do a quick "leaf check" while wateringMost of us already check our containers daily for moisture. While you're there, flip over a few leaves. It only takes a minute and can save an entire zucchini plant. 🧼 Hand-pick bugs into soapy waterContainers make this much easier since you're not crawling through a large garden bed. Early morning is the best time when the bugs are moving slowly. 🍂 Remove heavily infested leavesIf one leaf is covered in eggs or young nymphs, don't be afraid to prune it off and toss it in the trash. Sometimes removing one leaf can prevent dozens of future squash bugs. 🌿 Keep containers spaced apartSquash bugs love it when leaves from multiple plants overlap and create a jungle of hiding spots. A little extra airflow between containers can make it easier to spot problems early. 🪵 Check around your containersEven if you're growing in pots, squash bugs often hide under nearby pots, plant stands, potting mats, mulch, boards, or garden decorations during the day. 🎃 Pumpkins and zucchini are favoritesUnfortunately, once they find your zucchini, they often move right on to pumpkins, squash, and gourds. If you grow multiple squash-family plants, inspect all of them—not just the ones showing damage.

Laugh for the day

I wanted to follow up since I shared this soil a few weeks ago. I'm still testing it, but so far I'm impressed with the texture and dark color. It has much less bark than many bagged soils I've used, and it feels rich and compost-heavy. Another gardener I know liked it enough to ask me to check if it was still on sale so she could buy more. I'm continuing to test it through the summer and fall before giving a final review, but so far I'm pleased with it. Unfortunately it's only available in Texas