Gardening With Sal

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.