Susan Albert
It all began with a sunroom that looked out onto a yard of dirt and weeds. No shrubs, flowers, birds, or butterflies. Whoever heard of a sunroom with nothing to watch outside? Susan immediately went to the library (Internet was not in use yet) to look up how to attract butterflies. That was 25 years ago and she’s progressed into an all-out gardening fanatic, obsessed with annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs. A plant “collector” and garden photographer, she can always find room for one more flower in her garden, especially if it attracts wildlife.Before writing articles for Gardening Know How, Susan held a career in communications and, as a freelancer, wrote garden articles for magazines and authored a newspaper gardening column for many years. She also contributed South-Central regional gardening columns for four years to Lowes.com. While living in Oklahoma She served as a master gardener for 17 years. She now lives in Gardner, Kansas, where she’s semi-retired, establishing new garden roots.
Latest articles by Susan Albert
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Southern Pollinator Garden - Growing A Pollinator Garden In The South
Listed here are some of the best pollinator-attracting plants, and tips to create a welcome habitat in a Southern pollinator garden.
By Susan Albert
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Gladioli Mosaic Virus – Managing Symptoms Of Gladiolus Mosaic
Gladiolus blooms are featured in many cutting gardens for mid-summer bouquets. When issues like mosaic occur, this can naturally be alarming. Good cultural control can help prevent mosaic virus in gladiolus. Learn more in this article.
By Susan Albert
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Ornamental Cabbage Care – How To Grow Ornamental Cabbage Plants
Nothing signals fall like brightly colored ornamental cabbage nestled among other autumn staples such as chrysanthemums, pansies, violas and flowering kale. The cool season annual is easy to grow. Just click this article to get started.
By Susan Albert
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Can You Use Old Garden Products – Shelf Life For Pesticides And Herbicides
While it might be tempting to go ahead and use up those old containers of pesticides, experts say if garden products are more than two years old, they might do more harm than good, or just be ineffective. Learn about the shelf life for pesticides here.
By Susan Albert
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Why Butterflies Matter – Benefits Of Butterflies In The Garden
Butterflies bring movement and beauty to a sunny garden. The sight of the delicate, winged creatures flitting from flower to flower delights the young and old. But there’s more to these jeweled insects than meets the eye. Learn how butterflies are beneficial here.
By Susan Albert
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Mosquito Plant Pruning: How To Cut Back Citronella Geranium Plants
Although not as effective as commercially prepared repellents, the mosquito plant is a popular choice for backyard gardens. While this is just one aspect of growing these plants, pruning mosquito geraniums is another. Learn more in this article.
By Susan Albert
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Fall Garden Centerpieces – DIY Fall Décor Centerpiece Ideas
As the summer garden winds down, it’s time to start collecting elements for a DIY fall centerpiece. Here are some ideas to get started.
By Susan Albert
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Koi Fish And Plants – Choosing Plants Koi Won’t Bother
First-time koi pond enthusiasts may have learned the hard way that koi love to browse the plants and roots of pond vegetation. What’s a pond owner to do? Click on the following article to learn more about how to keep plants safe from koi fish.
By Susan Albert
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Gardening Down South: How To Manage Pests In Southern Regions
Managing pests in the south requires vigilance and recognizing good bugs from bad bugs. By keeping an eye on your plants and vegetables, you can catch problems before they become a full-blown infestation. Click here for tips on how to manage pests in southern regions.
By Susan Albert
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Cottage Garden Xeriscaping: Learn About Cottage Gardening In The South
Achieving a xeriscape cottage garden may not be as difficult as you think. Many heat tolerant cottage garden plants require little to no additional irrigation – the hallmark of xeriscaping. Learn more about these plants in this article.
By Susan Albert
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What Is Plant Mutation – Learn About Mutation In Plants
Mutation in plants is a naturally occurring phenomenon that alters the appearance of a plant’s characteristics, most notably in the foliage, flowers, fruit, or stems. Many times, the mutant plants return to normal the next season. Learn more in this article.
By Susan Albert
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How To Dry Flowers From Your Garden –Preserve Blooms For Years Of Enjoyment
Wish you could extend the life of those colorful flowers growing in your garden? You can! Drying flowers is easy to do anytime blossoms are in their prime. Click this article for more information on how to dry flowers from the garden.
By Susan Albert
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Southern Berry Varieties - Berries To Grow In The South
What are some berries for the South that will do well in heat and humidity? Here are some juicy berries to grow in the South.
By Susan Albert
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Fall Seed Harvest – Learn About Seed Harvesting In Autumn
Harvesting seeds in fall is a great way to save money and share seeds with friends. Find tips for collecting fall seeds from plants here.
By Susan Albert
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Planting Seeds In Fall: When To Sow Seeds In Autumn
By selecting plants for your region and planting at the right time in fall, you can get blooms or veggies earlier. Learn more here.
By Susan Albert
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Flame Grass Care - Growing Flame Grass Miscanthus
Flame maiden grass brings movement to the garden with arching stems that change from green to a brilliant orange-red in the fall. Read on for more.
By Susan Albert
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Growing A Hosta In The South - Popular Southern Hostas
When it comes to lightly shaded situations in the garden, the world turns a fanciful eye to Hosta plants. Beloved for their varied and showy foliage, Hosta varieties for the south are limitless.
By Susan Albert
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Is Pothos Pet Friendly - Learn About Pothos Pet Toxicity
Epipremnum aureum is also known as golden pothos, devil’s ivy, and taro vine. No matter its name, pothos and pets don’t mix. Read on for more.
By Susan Albert
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Must Have Florida Plants – Best Plants For Florida Gardening
Florida gardeners are lucky enough to live in a subtropical climate, which means they can enjoy their landscaping efforts practically year-round. Click here for recommendations on must-have Florida plants.
By Susan Albert
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Living Willow Fence Ideas - Tips For Growing A Living Willow Fence
Creating a living willow fence is an easy, inexpensive way to screen a view or divide garden areas. Read on to learn more.
By Susan Albert
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Privacy Wall Ideas – How To Design A Secluded Backyard
You’ve just moved into a new house and you love it, except for the lack of privacy in the backyard. Luckily, creating a DIY privacy wall just takes some imagination.
By Susan Albert
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What Is A Murray Cypress - How To Grow Murray Cypress Trees
‘Murray’ cypress is an evergreen, fast growing shrub for large yards. Click here to learn more about this tree.
By Susan Albert