Crabgrass is a fast-growing, heat-loving annual weed that thrives in thin, compacted, or poorly maintained lawns. It germinates in spring, spreads aggressively in summer, and drops thousands of seeds before dying in fall. The best defense is healthy turf, timely mowing, and targeted pre- and post-emergent treatments. 🌱 What Is Crabgrass? Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) is...
In July, weeds grow aggressively thanks to heat, sun, and rain. Spotting and treating invaders like crabgrass, nutsedge, and creeping Charlie now can prevent them from taking over your lawn or garden. The key is timely ID, targeted removal, and ongoing prevention. What Weeds to Watch Out for in July (And How to Stop Them)...
Adding mulch in July helps lock in soil moisture, smother weeds, and protect plant roots from intense summer heat. It’s a smart mid-season move that improves garden health now and sets you up for an easier fall. Why Mulching in July Might Be the Smartest Thing You Do All Summer Think you’ve missed the window...
Cherry tomatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding garden crops for beginners and pros alike. Start them from seed indoors, give them full sun, support them with a cage or stake, and you’ll enjoy a steady harvest of sweet, bite-sized fruits all summer long. Learn how to grow, harvest, preserve, and use them...
You can absolutely plant flowers in June — but choosing the right varieties is key to getting blooms that thrive, not just survive. Annuals like zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, and sunflowers love the heat, while perennials in containers can still establish if watered well. Avoid cool-season flowers and late-start seeds that won’t mature before frost in...
Yes, you can still plant vegetables in June in the Cleveland area. While it’s too late for early spring crops, June is perfect for heat-loving veggies like beans, squash, cucumbers, and even a second round of greens. With warm soil and longer daylight, it’s prime time for fast-growing, summer-harvest varieties. Introduction Thought you missed your...
It’s not too late to deadhead spring blooms in June! In fact, removing spent flowers now can encourage reblooming, tidy up your garden, and help perennials conserve energy for next season. Is It Too Late to Deadhead Spring Blooms? Introduction Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, columbine, and bleeding hearts often put on a show early—but...
Toads are incredibly beneficial for your garden, acting as natural pest control by eating hundreds of insects daily. Myths like “toads cause warts” are false. Unless you’re dealing with a rare invasive species, keeping toads around is one of the easiest, low-effort ways to protect your plants naturally. Introduction You’re out watering your garden and...
Deadheading — trimming off spent flowers — helps your garden look clean, keeps bulbs and perennials healthy, and sometimes even sparks a second bloom.In Cleveland’s spring climate, regular deadheading also reduces mold, deters pests, and preps plants for strong summer growth. Let’s break down which spring flowers benefit most, how to deadhead each, and when...
Yes — trimming too much can absolutely kill your shrubs.When you remove too many leaves, you strip the plant’s ability to make food, open it to sunburn or winter damage, and cause long-term stress that some species never recover from. The key is understanding plant biology, timing, and technique.At Colin Can Help, we trim based...