Gardening With Sal

Love It or Hate It—If You Have It, You Know It Loved by some. Loathed by others 🌱 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | March 6, 2026 This is one plant I find myself at odds with when it comes to my stance on invasive species and allowing nature full control to do as she sees fit.  I love having it in the yard. I think it makes the lawn soft and a pleasure to walk on barefoot. I absolutely hate it when it comes to my raised beds and hardscaped flower beds. In the gardening world, it's called pennywort. You can even find it in some stores as a health supplement (although I think that may be a slightly different cultivar). In the backyard, though, most will simply refer to it as a WEED. Yep—dollarweed. Without a doubt, one of the most prolific weeds, plants, things-that-grow (or whatever else you call it)—you can ever have in the yard. This stuff grows so fast you'd swear it was being mass-produced on Ford's assembly line. One day there is one, the next day you have 300—and that ...

  Two Very Determined & Very Serious Pests 🪲 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | March 4, 2026 These are without a doubt the most serious foes I deal with in my garden. The squash bug and the squash vine borer deliver more damage pound-for-pound—or is that ounce-per-ounce—than any other pest I have ever dealt with. The vine borer is by far the worst of the two.  Some of my favorite things to grow are winter squash, zucchini, and pumpkins. These two pests just love to wait—or it seems so—until the plants are full, healthy, and producing fruit.  They’ll attack and can kill a plant within three or four days—at least the SVB can—if you’re not on your toes. These two pests are both serious, but they attack in very different ways. The squash bug will pierce the vine stem and suck the sap. While there are many other bugs that do the same, squash bugs are usually present in high numbers, and they’re much more voracious. They can easily cause an entire vine to wilt quickly an...

 The Longest Beans You’ve Ever Grown 🫘 Plant Talk:| by Guy Saldiveri | March 3, 2026 Asparagus beans—my all-time favorite crop. They're also called yard‑long beans and Chinese long beans. They have an edible pod and are technically a type of cowpea in the legume family. Their long, slender pods taste very similar to regular green beans but with a slightly nutty flavor. While they thrive in hot, humid southern climates, I've found that they do better in my area (Gulf South) if I keep them in partial shade or dappled sun. If left in full midsummer sun, they can suffer sun scorch and slow or stop production. They are very prolific from April until the first frost. This is one crop that benefits from picking—the more you harvest, the more they produce. Seeds should be sown about a week after the last expected frost date. They will require a trellis for support as they are true vining plants and cannot stand on their own. A trellis around six feet tall has worked very well for me....

 The Conventional and Not-So-Conventional Way 🥔 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | March 2, 2026 Who doesn’t love a good sweet potato? I know I do.  Baked, French fried, mashed, or baked into a pie. The pie… I almost like that even better than pumpkin pie—almost. If you’ve never tried growing your own, I highly recommend it. They’re easy to start, easy to maintain, and extremely high-yielding. Plus—and a lot of folks don’t know this—you can eat the leaves too. Clearing up the big confusion Let’s start this one off by getting rid of the elephant in the room—sweet potatoes are NOT yams. They look and taste different, and they belong to different families of plants. Sweet potatoes are grown throughout the world. Yams, on the other hand, are generally grown in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Sweet potatoes are root vegetables in the morning glory family. They have sweet, moist flesh and smooth, thin skins. Yams are large, starchy tubers with a rough, brown, bark‑like sk...

 Various Layouts Used Throughout my Yard 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | March 1, 2026 Over the years, I’ve had to modify how and where I grow things. For this reason, I prefer to use containers or grow bags for most of the vegetables, and fixed beds for things that I use for permanent crops like garlic and onions. The fixed beds also serve well for some other plants such as okra, corn, and sometimes squash.  These layouts allow me to move things around fairly easily if weather patterns change or get to a point where the plants will be damaged for some reason. Using cattle panels for trellises provides very sturdy support. They also make it easy for me to provide shade (with shade cloth) if needed. I can also create greenhouses for winter use without having to build other structures.  This method also gives me more, and easier control over the soil environment when it comes to amendments or dealing with disease, and saves a lot of work when it comes time for weeding....

 A Cheapskate’s Way to Use Things You Normally Throw Away 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | February 27, 2026 Being the cheapskate that I am, I try to repurpose as many things as possible instead of throwing them away. I also like to use a lot of cement blocks in my garden area, and I hate not being able to use the holes. Small things like herbs and low-profile flowers do well, but larger plants with more extensive root systems tend to girdle inside and basically turn the holes into a six-inch nursery pot. On top of that, it’s a waste of soil to fill the holes if the blocks are stacked two or three high. A great solution I’ve come across is using butter tubs. I’ve found that 45‑oz tubs, in particular, work perfectly. It isn’t a single brand—Country Crock, Smart Balance, and a few others work well. It’s the size and shape of the tub that make the difference. This size fits perfectly and works great as a container. Pop a few holes in the bottom, fill it up, drop it in, and you’re s...

 March Madness Coming Up 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | February 25, 2026 Earlier this month I posted about Why I Don’t Start Seeds in February . I spent the month getting everything cleaned up and prepped for spring.

 The Answer Might Surprise You 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | February 24, 2026 You just finished watching some DIY video on YouTube. There are 5 pallets rotting away in your backyard, and you're just itching to build a raised bed for your strawberries.  Do you go out and buy some nice expensive lumber, or can you use some of those old pallets that are just taking up space? Like the title implies, the answer might surprise you. Here are the industry standard markings for pallets and what they mean. The big question is whether or not you can trust those stamps. The one with the "MB" stamp can definitely be trusted. There is no doubt about that one— it's unsafe to use.  The one with the "HT" stamp MIGHT be safe to use. I know, I'm showing a graphic that shows a pallet that's marked "HT" as safe to use, but like my mom would have said, "You don't know where that pallet has been!"  It's hard to argue with mom on this on...

But It Doesn’t Have to Be a War Drum 📝 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | February 23, 2026 Sonny Bono was definitely onto something when he wrote the lyrics to that song. While some of the meaning has shifted, I can still see it applying to the garden forums we have today. I've written about some humorous observations I've made in forums, but this time, it's going to be a little more on the serious side. I’ll keep it from becoming a full‑blown rant if I can—he said with a smile… Seriously, looking around forums these days, those hot third‑rail topics persist ad infinitum and never get resolved. But one unmistakable pattern is the way people respond to questions that are directly related—or on the fringe of these topics.  The biggest one, of course, is the native/non-native/invasive/aggressive debate. There is nothing that poses a bigger "disaster in the making" question than one asked about a plant that someone considers invasive. Another one that co...

 The Myths, the Facts, and the Legends They Inspire 🐜 Garden Pests | by Guy Saldiveri | Updated: 03/01/2026 Fire ants are the bane of every garden south of the Mason‑Dixon—from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between. What's worse is they’re adapting to colder climates and creeping steadily northward.

 Delicious, Dangerous, and Completely Misunderstood 🍅 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | 02/18/2026 Yep, that title probably got your attention. Is it accurate? Actually, it is—well, mostly.

When Your Brain is in Hyper-drive 😄 Humor | by Guy Saldiveri | 02/16/2026 Lying in bed, awake at hours that birds are still huddled together—and me just thinking. Yeah, that's probably not the best thing to be doing at that time. Wide awake, brain in high gear, throttle wide open, thoughts come streaming through. Wondering if I shouldn't start a second blog—Sal's-Random-Thought-Emporium—enter at your own risk. To be honest, I'm not even sure I would want to go in there—some scary stuff lurking behind those brown eyes. This time though, not scary, just interesting. Wide awake and thinking about words—thinking about writing. Something that I wrote that was corrected—Segway is a scooter—segue is the word you want. Segways get you from block to block. Segues get you from idea to idea. I have a car for the first one—I want the second. I’ve been riding that mistake for years. So, it pops in my head—Why do we have homonyms—or are they homophones? I always get them confused. I...

 Are they Good, Bad, or Who Cares? 🪲 Garden Pests| by Guy Saldiveri | 02/15/2026 We’ve all seen them. We’ve all played with them. But what exactly are they? Well, they’re actually land-based crustaceans.  Believe it or not, they belong to the same extended family—well, they’re more like cousins to shrimp, crabs, and lobsters—although I don’t think I would want to host a boil for them.

 The Hard Reset That Gives Your Plants a Jumpstart 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | 02/13/2026 I remember the first time someone recommended this for one of my plants—I looked at them like they had completely lost their mind.

 The Nuisance That Should Provide a Raincoat 🪲 Garden Pests| by Guy Saldiveri | 02/12/2026 Glassy-winged sharpshooters are a pest that I for one place in the nuisance category. They are sucking insects that feed on sap. They show up in abundant numbers in the latter part of the season, and have a nasty habit of—let’s call it “spitting” at you. But to be honest, I haven’t seen them do major damage to my particular plants. They mostly affect my asparagus beans and crepe myrtles, and I’ve not found any reliable way to keep them away.  Sharpshooters can be a significant problem with certain crops because they transmit a bacterium called Xylella fastidiosa. This bacterium can cause Pierce’s disease. It can, at times be a very serious threat to things like grapes, although I haven’t had any issues with my Muscadines. They sit on the vines and suck the juice (xylem fluid), and then spit it back out at you. If you’ve ever felt “rain” while walking under a crepe myrtle on a sunny day,...

 How Much N P K Your Garden Really Needs 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | By Guy Saldiveri | Updated: February 25, 2026 Gardeners run into the same problem every spring: fertilizer labels are confusing, recommendations vary wildly, and every product has a different density. One bag says “apply 1 cup per plant,” another says “3 pounds per 100 square feet,” and your soil test tells you something else entirely.

 Can They Take the Cold? 🌿 Plant Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | February 05, 2026 I love to propagate my plants—especially my roses. I do it as much as I can. Sometimes I wonder why, since I give most of them away. 

This Southern Gardener’s Take on Seed Starting 📝 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | February 04, 2026 So you got your new seed catalog in December or January and all your seeds have been ordered. All your gardening friends are champing at the bit, wanting to get started. YouTube channels are pushing you to get it in gear. You will run out of time if you don’t get started now! Nope, not even close—well, not in the Deep South anyway.

And Would We Want to Know What They Said? 😄 Garden Humor | by Guy Saldiveri | February 02, 2026 I have to say, if they talked to me the way I talk to them, there’d probably be several armored tank divisions ready to roll across my property!

How to Get Many From a Few 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | February 01, 2026 Propagation is one of the more interesting and enjoyable things I do in the garden. It allows me to purchase one or two plants and then make as many as I want. 

What to Do and What to Worry About 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | January 30, 2026 Unfortunately, this is something that happens quite often and it can lead to much frustration.  Everyone is delighted about how easy it is to train a cat to use an indoor litter box. They gravitate towards them naturally. A nice new flower or vegetable bed, filled with fresh, soft soil is just as attractive and a magnet to cats—especially feral cats. 

Invasive Series – Part 1 - A Long-View Look at Native and Invasive Plants 📝 Opinion  | By Guy Saldiveri | Updated January 27, 2026 Native, Non-Native, Aggressive, and Invasive This is by far the most divisive hot-button, third-rail topic anyone can bring up in the gardening world. It certainly won’t win me any brownie points for bringing it up here. 

Invasive Series – Part 2—A Real World Example 📝 Opinion  | By Guy Saldiveri | January 27, 2026 Author’s Note: If this article challenges your perspective, take it as an invitation to look closer at the plants around you. Nature is complicated, adaptable, and rarely as black‑and‑white as we make it. 

 Invasive Series - Part 3—Bridging the Gap 📝 Opinion  | By Guy Saldiveri | January 27, 2026 Our ecosystem is dynamic, living, and constantly changing.  Assigning a single point in time to justify whether a species should be considered native or non-native, to me, is just unacceptable. 

Cinder blocks: A great choice for a raised bed 🔨  How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri |  Updated February 19, 2026 I've tried various setups for my gardens: in-ground, wooden boxes, and various raised-bed configurations.  Most have performed admirably, but when it comes to ease of setup, overall cost, and functional longevity, only one material really shines—cinder blocks!  

An explanation of what this weird stuff really is 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | January 24, 2026 | Updated: February 21, 2026 We’ve all seen it, and we’ve all wondered—what is it, and where did it come from? More importantly, what is it doing on my tree or shrub?

A little behind-the-scenes look at what makes your garden grow 📝  Opinion | By Guy Saldiveri | January 23, 2026   And to think, I started out looking to debunk the need for the birds and the bees, only to end up making the case for keeping them around—go figure.

Vegetables taste great, but they won’t land you on the cover of Southern Living 📝 Opinion | by Guy Saldiveri | January 22, 2026 Why does it seem like the bulk of gardeners, even more experienced ones, just want to talk about the "pretty flowers"?

A little space in the corner makes a big impact in the yard 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | January 20, 2026 When it comes to upkeep in my yard, I’ll admit it — I fall squarely into the “I like it manicured” camp. I grow a bit of everything: natives, non-natives, edibles, ornamentals, and the occasional plant that just shows up and dares me to move it.

Heat, Cold, and Frost information 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | January 20, 202 6 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location.

Is there ever really a " right " answer? 😂 Garden Humor | by Guy Saldiveri | January 18, 2026 I've come across many interesting things in online forums.  One of the most intriguing is how differently people answer what seems like a fairly straightforward question.

What to use, and how to use it 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | January 15, 2026 Most online forums are filled with new gardeners with limited experience who ask a lot of questions. Many of the questions are about mulch. Specifically, which kind to use, how much to apply, and whether they should work it in or just layer it on top.

Pruning a Tree—There's a right way, and a wrong way. 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | January 13, 2026 This is something that most gardeners as well as many homeowners have to do on a fairly regular basis.

Was that pepper hot, or did I just swallow a blowtorch? 🌿 Garden Talk | by Guy Saldiveri | January 12, 2026 Here’s a fun one for all of you who grow—and especially eat—peppers. Did you know that capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers “hot,” isn’t actually hot at all?

Stratification: The How and the Why 🔨 How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | January 12, 2026 Stratification and scarification: a lot of gardeners have heard these words, but many don’t really understand what they mean or why they matter. I sure didn’t at first.

A full guide for beginning to intermediate gardeners. 🛠️ How‑To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | January 12, 2026 A Walk Around My Yard

Soil is complicated... or is it? 🔨 How To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | Updated: February 22, 2026 This is another one of those gardening topics that just seems to drive wedges between people faster than that native/non-native debate. Everyone has their own ideas, their own mixes, and most of all their own confusion. Let's see if we can clear up a little of that right now. Let's start with this gem: soil management is a deep science, but you don’t need a doctorate to understand what matters in the garden. It's a much simpler thing if you understand some basics and follow some very simple guidelines. Start with the definition—it’s a complex mixture of minerals, organic materials, air, and water. When these components are present in the right proportions, they create a living, dynamic environment that properly supports plant life. I did say it was basic, right? Stay with me… A “healthy, loamy” soil is typically considered to be a balanced mix of 45% minerals, 5% organic...