Gardening With Sal

 The Ant That Isn't an Ant 🐜 Garden Pests| by Guy Saldiveri | Friday, April 10, 2026 I wish I could count how many times I've had run-ins with this little [insert expletive].  The first time I had ever seen one, it took me by surprise. I was actually lying on the couch, watching TV.  Feeling something crawling on me, I naturally just reached over and rubbed it against my arm with my thumb. Then, that slow motion "oh NO" moment of realization. The result of this lazy, unknowing reaction: a sharp, intense burning, almost as if a match were being held to my skin. A pain I can't recall ever feeling before or since.  The worst thing? I didn't even slow it down. It just kept on going and I think I even made it mad. Of course I didn't let it get away—but it did take a small hammer to get it to stop moving. It sounded like I smashed a piece of plastic too. I had no idea what this was or what it was made out of, but it was fast, armored, and in possession of a wea...

  Causes & Differences 🦠 Plant Diseases| by Guy Saldiveri | April 9, 2026 You have a thriving tomato or pepper plant. Leaves vibrant green, stems full of flowers and fruit, everything looking nice and healthy—until you notice that spot.  It could be on the very bottom of the fruit, or on the side. Similar in appearance—blanched white and spreading outward—it looks like a sore that should be oozing, but it's hard and scaly—at least initially. You stare, scratch your head, and wonder just what is going on here. You've done everything right, your plants look healthier than they have ever looked, well-watered, well-fed, but this… There are two possibilities, caused by two very distinct issues. You are most likely dealing with either Sunscald or Blossom End Rot. Both are very common issues that, believe it or not, are not classified as actual diseases. Both, however, affect just about every gardener that's ever grown these types of vegetables.  So if they aren't actual ...

 It Really Works 🌱 How-To Garden Guide | by Guy Saldiveri | April 8, 2026 Back in mid-February, I made a post about rejuvenation pruning and its merits.  Today, I want to double down on that idea and show a real‑world example—when to do it, how it works, and what happens afterward. I love my roses, and the hedge along my front porch can be absolutely beautiful when it’s full and in bloom. Before: A full, healthy hedge in peak bloom. Unfortunately, over the last few years, goats and wild pigs have done their best to turn that hedge into a buffet. The goats stripped the canes bare; the pigs rooted around the crowns and tore up the soil.  After damage: Browsing left the roses leggy and stressed. The roses still grew, but not like they used to. Lichen began creeping across the stems—a sure sign of stress. That earlier post called rejuvenation pruning a hard reset for a reason. This rose hedge is the perfect example—strong roots, tired top growth, and a plant that just need...

Watering Plants—Maybe Not as Cut and Dry as It’s Made Out to Be  🌿 Garden Talk| by Guy Saldiveri | April 3, 2026 Ever get in the middle of a gardening group and ask about watering? Be prepared for fifty different answers. What seems like an easy question brings up a barrage of different answers. Water only in the morning, never let the leaves get wet, only water from the bottom, let the soil dry out, NEVER let the soil dry out… This seems like it should be one of the most simple—if not the most simple things—we actually do in the garden. Even for me, the problem comes in when we overreact to something nature usually takes care of just fine.  You go out and notice your tomato plant is wilting or turning yellow. You have it fertilized, well-watered, well-tended, but it's still struggling. Then you look at the volunteer that's coming up in the crack in the driveway. It's never been touched, you never even knew it was there—and it's doing great!  You stand there scratching...