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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South Central Wildlife Guide: Identifying Wildlife In The South Central U.S.
Wildlife in South Central states brings a mixture of game animals, game birds, and other mammals. However, gardeners living in urban areas are likely to see more common animals like squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. Learn more about animals native to South Central U.S. here.
By Susan Albert
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Winter In South Central States: Winter Gardening Tips For South Central Region
Winter may be a time for plants to take a rest, but not so for gardeners. There are plenty of winter chores to do beginning in the fall. And if you live in the South Central region in winter, there may be even more you can do. Click here for more information.
By Susan Albert
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Gardening In The South: Top Plants For South Central Gardens
Gardening in the south can be a challenge where the summers are exceptionally warm, such as in South Central U.S. Add to that humidity or excessive dryness and plants may suffer. However, many plants can withstand heat, humidity, and drought. Learn more here.
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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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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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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South Central Gardening: When To Plant Fall Crops For South Central U.S.
Fall planting in southern states can yield crops well past the frost date. Many cool-season vegetables are frost hardy, and harvests can be extended with the use of cold frames and row covers. Learn more about planting fall crops for South Central U.S. regions in this article.
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