During the garden season, I often use different types of covers over some of my vegetable plants. Since I’m frequently asked about this, I thought it would be helpful to explain when and why I use row ...

Twenty-percent to 30% shade cloth may not look like it's providing much shade, but when afternoon sun reaches garden vegetables during summer heat, it can provide a few degrees of protection. Tree ...

When summer turns fierce, even sun-lovers can flag. A little temporary shade can be the difference between a thriving bed and ...

We’ve had excessive heat this summer, and it appears more is on the way. Many gardeners have turned to shade cloth to protect their crops and tender plants. Shade cloth is an open-weave synthetic ...

As our summer heats up and we get close to the summer solstice, it’s a good time for gardeners to evaluate how we use shade cloth in our gardens. Shade cloth is useful in our climate for a number of ...

The looming first fall frost doesn’t mean the end of the vegetable garden. With a little heat-trapping protection, it’s possible to keep growing cold-hardy crops such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, ...

A few weeks ago, Mother Earth’s intrepid editor-in-chief, Cheryl Long, told me about a study from Kansas State University in which good quality organic lettuce was successfully grown in high tunnels ...

Broccoli is one of the plants that tends to bolt and get bitter in the heat of summer. Shade cloth can help Courtesy Johnson County Extension Though the onset of summer often brings the most ...

Shade—you either love it or hate it. Gardeners often fall into the latter category because low-light conditions prevent the ...

Just because you are planting in the shade, it does not mean that you want boring or drab ground cover. While it can be a unique challenge, growing in shaded areas will add beauty and life to all ...

Hot weather is here and that can bring extra challenges for vegetable gardens as high temperatures cause yield and quality loss in many vegetable crops. For example, high temperatures contribute to ...