We are all familiar with stress coping mechanisms like deep breathing, exercise, and quality sleep. But did you know that eating habits can have an impact on stress and anxiety as well? Research shows that there are some foods that can help lower cortisol levels, which is the hormone in our bodies that is predominantly […] The post National Stress Awareness Month: Foods to Reduce Stress and Anxiety appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Bluestars are in the genus Amsonia. There are at least twenty-two known species, and most are native to the Eastern United States. All are in the Apocynaceae (Dogbane) family, so named because the milky sap is slightly toxic to dogs. Due to the unpleasant taste of the sap, Bluestars are deer- and rabbit-resistant. There are […] The post Bluestar appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below. Statewide Jhessye Moore-Thomas As the end of the first year of the Climate-Smart Grown in SC program is approaching, leafy greens growers are preparing for verification visits. Here is a field that is enrolled in all three program practices, which include using cover […] The post SC Fruit and Vegetable Field Report – April 22, 2024 appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Anybody who has spent time in the woods or other wild surroundings is familiar with ticks, those blood-sucking arachnids that seek out creatures, including we humans, on which to feed. Most of us also know that ticks are carriers of numerous diseases, the most known being Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. However, many […] The post Tick Talk appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

“April is the Kindest Month. April gets you out of your head and out working in the garden.” ~Marty Rubin~ The post April 22 Week 4 Garden Photos appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

The best time of day to irrigate is the subject of some debate. One group suggests that early morning is the best time, while another group claims that afternoon is the best. Very few people consider night irrigation a viable alternative due to concerns of increased disease pressure. In all practicality, disease is only increased […] The post Landscape Irrigation Management Part 5: Irrigation Time of Day appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Winter Irrigation Winter landscape irrigation has long been considered an oxymoron in the Southeast. A good portion of South Carolina’s 48 to 52 inches of annual rainfall finds its way to Earth during this time. Plant growth is slowed considerably (if the plant is not dormant), and temperatures are cool. Plant water needs during this […] The post Landscape Irrigation Management Part 4: Winter Irrigation & Winterizing appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Quite a bit of information about water use is known about agronomic crops such as tomatoes, cotton, and peaches. Most of this information was determined from research that compared crop yields (and other factors) to the amount of water applied. However, many landscape plants need more information on water use. We don’t know if “plant […] The post Landscape Irrigation Management Part 3: How Much Water? appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Irrigation mismanagement occurs simply because few people know when to begin irrigating. Some wait until plants begin to wilt before adding water, while others are convinced that watering frequently benefits the plants. There are several ways to determine if the landscape needs water. 1. Use a Screwdriver Walk around the landscape once or twice a […] The post Landscape Irrigation Management Part 2: Determining When to Irrigate appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more

Many in the Southeast view irrigation as a “quick fix” for problems encountered during a hot, dry summer. It is a simple way to get water to wilting plants and keep them alive until rainfall returns. Others see irrigation as providing all the water a plant may need daily. Neither of these views will provide […] The post Landscape Irrigation Management Part 1: Water in the Landscape appeared first on Home & Garden Information Center ..read more