Gardening With Sal

Just A Few Things I wish I had Known  💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | July 29, 2026 First off, welcome! I'm not sure you know what you actually just signed up for, but welcome to the world of gardening. I know, a little cynical, right? It wasn't meant to be — just speaking from experience. Gardening can be one of the most rewarding and the most frustrating hobbies you could have picked.  Between the rain, the heat, the bugs, the frosts, the finicky plants, the bugs, the lousy soil, and—if I didn't mention them—THE BUGS, lol, there is a lot to learn and a lot to deal with. And with all of that, I can honestly say, I wouldn't give it up for nuthin! And that's the truth. The rewards really do outweigh the frustrations.  There are years where nothing seems to go right, everything you plant just wilts or runs away from you. Then there are years when you just can't seem to do anything wrong. Those are the best ones! I wanted to write this one up just to toss out a few...

 The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and What in the World is That! 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 23, 2026 Hickory Horned Devil On the surface, this one might seem a little odd on a gardening blog. But I have to tell ya, I've seen some really weird stuff on the way to just pulling up some weeds… Take this first guy here. Can you imagine going out to prune a branch, only to find this staring back at you?

 The Ins, Outs, and Upside Downs of the What's, Where's, and Why's 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 20, 2026 WOW, that title block was a mouthful all by itself. 😊 But I have to say, it really brings the point home — especially when the topic is where and how you have your roots roaming.

 Organic is Natural, But So Are Belladonna and Arsenic 💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | July 18, 2026 For some reason there's a perpetual belief that because something is labeled "Organic" it's completely safe. Because this is such an entrenched and widespread belief, I think it's time to set the record straight.

Clearing the Brush and Getting to the Root of the Matter 🌿 Garden Talk | 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | July 12, 2026 Hold on to your leaves—we're getting ready to tackle the Holy Grail—the Trifecta of products that take care of just about every pest your garden can experience—or so we're told... If you've been gardening for more than ten minutes, I'd lay odds that you've already heard about these three. Search almost any garden problem online and you'll find one—or all three—recommended as the answer.

 The Part No One Tells the Beginner 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | July 09, 2026 One thing that hits home when I look back at the design, setup, and implementation of my garden is the cost. A couple of other things hit me as well:  - Someone showing me a small basket of their $100 tomatoes.  - The Master Gardener course question that asked if having a backyard garden was cost-effective—and any answer but 'no' was wrong.

How to Tell Them Apart 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | June 30, 2026 Male Squash Flower "Is this a male or female flower?" That's a question that pops up in the community all the time — and not just from new gardeners.  High school biology was a long time ago for many of us, and if your memory is like mine — well, let's just say I'm glad I remember where the kitchen is. 😉

 An Over-the-Fence Look at How Plants Actually Work 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | June 28, 2026 The Reasoning Behind the Read It's been a VERY long time since the biology classes I took in high school. To be completely honest, I've probably forgotten at least 95% of what was taught.  I enjoy writing these types of articles for various reasons, but the main one is that they serve as an amazing refresher course for me. 

If Plants Really Repelled Insects, Orkin Would Be Out of Business 🌿 Garden Talk | By Guy Saldiveri | June 18, 2026 You've seen the memes. You've seen the marketing in the garden departments. You have friends who swear that planting this with that keeps that from this. Believe the hype? Nope, not me — never have and never will. 

 The Pest That Makes Me Want To Break Out the Blowtorch 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | June 12, 2026   Spider mite infestation From June thru September, a Deep South garden is nothing short of a full-blown bug fest.  It seems like every pest imaginable shows up during that stretch — spider mites are no exception.

 Quiet, Destructive & Cattle For Ants 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | June 11, 2026 Aphids On Long-Beans Aphids are easily one of nature's greatest nuisances.  If you grow a backyard garden, then you know they're a headache — there's simply no way around them.

 Well Not in the Deep South Anyway 🌱 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | June 8, 2026 Healthy Leyland Cypress You can't drive around the South without seeing this tree prominently displayed everywhere. The question is — should it be?

It Happens Whether You Want It or Not 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | June 6, 2026 Cross-Pollination Myth There's a lot of myth, folklore, confusion, and a little bit of truth all tied together with this one.

 The Non-Emergency That Has Everyone Dialing 911 💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | June 2, 2026 Hammerhead Worm Everyone — right on up to the university extension offices — is calling this guy out for crimes against humanity it never committed.

Another Myth That Never Seems To Die 💬 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | May 31, 2026 Well, if you know me, then you know by that title where this post is heading. Here's the off-ramp if you want it — if not, let’s sow some real facts and real truths.

 The Transport Issue That's Treated Like a Supply Issue  🌿 Garden Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | May 30, 2026 Tomato with Blossom End Rot If you’ve ever tossed Tums into your tomato pot, this article is for you.

The Nightshade That Makes You Believe It's Dangerous 🌶 Plant Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | May 29, 2026 Various Peppers I've harvested Peppers are among the most versatile and fun vegetables to grow. The fact that they're one of nature's little tricksters is just an added bonus. 

 Nature's Artistry At Work 🌿 P lant Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | May 26, 2026   Lady's Tresses Orchid (Spiranthes) Extended stormy weather, waterlogged yards, rapid and unchecked growth all around — it's amazing what pops up when you can't get out there and whack it down.

Sometimes It’s Okay to Ignore the Yard 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | May 24, 2026 Spiranthes - Lady's Tresses Orchids Now, anyone who really knows me will look at that title and think I've finally gone off the deep end and completely lost my mind.

 Well-Behaved, Easy-To-Grow, Beautiful in the Landscape 🌱 Plant Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | May 19, 2026 Monkey grass, or liriope, is another prominent, perpetual evergreen that is ever-present in my yard.