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
-
Enjoying Flowers At Night: Top Plants For A Night Garden
Creating a night garden can offer a unique and mysterious venue for your next evening get together. Enjoy flowers at night with these night garden plants.
By Susan Albert
-
Vines For The Southern Region: Growing Vines In Texas And Nearby States
Vines for the southern region can add a splash of color or foliage to an otherwise dull vertical space. Click here for a list of South Central vines.
By Susan Albert
-
Safely Watering Seeds: How To Keep Seeds From Washing Away
If the seeds are not watered properly, they can wash away, be driven too deep, and overwatered or underwatered. Learn to water them safely here.
By Susan Albert
-
Zygopetalum Orchid Care - How To Grow Zygopetalum Orchids
If you’ve heard of Zygopetalum orchids, you may be wondering how to grow one. If you’ve never heard of one, your interest may now be piqued. Click here for info on Zygopetalum orchids and their care.
By Susan Albert
-
Cocktail Garden Containers: Growing Ingredients For Drinks And Cocktails
If you’re limited on space, the easiest way to plant a cocktail garden is in containers. Click this article for tips on cocktail gardening in pots.
By Susan Albert
-
Tornado Proof Gardening – How To Protect Your Garden From A Tornado
By choosing wind-resistant trees and taking proper care of those trees will go a long way toward garden tornado protection. Advance warning of an approaching tornado may also allow time to remove potential airborne items. Click here to view other tornado proofing ideas.
By Susan Albert
-
What Do Micro Prairies Do: How To Grow A Micro Prairie
By building a micro prairie full of native plants and grasses, you can provide food and shelter for native insects and pollinators. Learn more here.
By Susan Albert
-
South Central Fruit Trees – Growing Fruit Trees In The South
Growing fruit trees in the home garden is an increasingly popular hobby in the South. For tips on choosing fruit trees for South Central states, click here.
By Susan Albert
-
Memorial Day Garden Party – Planning A Memorial Day Garden Cookout
A backyard Memorial Day garden cookout offers a great kickoff to the summer season. Here are tips on how to get the party started.
By Susan Albert
-
Sloped Rain Garden Alternatives: Planting A Rain Garden On A Hill
When planning a rain garden, it’s important to determine whether or not it is a good fit for your landscape. In the case of a hill or steep slope, a rain garden may not be the ideal solution. Click here to learn more.
By Susan Albert
-
Is My Compost Finished: How Long Does Compost Take To Mature
Composting is one way many gardeners recycle garden waste. While seasoned composters know from experience when their compost is ready for use, newcomers to composting may need some direction. Click this article for help in learning “when is compost done?”.
By Susan Albert
-
Identifying Snakes In Southern Regions – Common Snakes In South Central States
Learning to identify snakes in your area can prevent undue fear and unnecessary eradication of environmentally beneficial snakes. Click this article to learn about some of the more commonly seen southern snake varieties in and around the home landscape.
By Susan Albert
-
South Central Pollinators: Native Pollinators In Texas And Surrounding States
All bees are threatened by pesticide use, loss of habitat, and disease. Local gardeners can help by incorporating pollen and nectar-producing trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials into their gardens. Learn about native pollinators in Texas and surrounding states in this article.
By Susan Albert
-
Wintry Terrarium Ideas: How To Make A Mini Holiday Terrarium
A winter scene terrarium or Christmas terrarium ornaments with live plants make pleasing, long-lasting gifts, especially if a gardener is on your list. Read on for more.
By Susan Albert
-
Blue Lips Plant Info: Tips For Growing Blue Lips Plants
Looking for something attractive, yet low maintenance for partially shaded areas of the landscape or container garden? You can’t go wrong with planting blue lips flowers. Once you see them in full bloom, you’ll quickly become a fan. Click here to learn more.
By Susan Albert
-
Heat Tolerant Tomato Plants – Tomato Growing Tips For South Central States
Vegetable gardeners in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana are quick to share tomato growing tips they learned from the School of Hard Knocks. Click on the following article to learn more about tomato growing in southern regions like this.
By Susan Albert
-
Bilko Chinese Cabbage: Tips For Growing Bilko Cabbages
Napa cabbage is the best-known variety of the Chinese cabbages with large, full-size heads and good disease resistance. The oblong heads have pale green, crinkly outer leaves with creamy yellow inside. The Bilko cabbage variety is a good type of Napa to grow. Learn more here.
By Susan Albert
-
Greek And Roman Gardens: How To Grow An Ancient Inspired Garden
With the hectic pace of today’s world, thinking about the ancient Greek and Roman gardens instantly brings about a soothing, relaxing feeling. Elements of classical garden design can be easily incorporated into anyone’s garden. Click here for some ideas.
By Susan Albert