WSAZ John Marra | Home & Garden Information for West Virginia, Ohio, & Kentucky


Former Cabell County Extension Agent John Marra is WSAZ's Lawn and Garden Expert. Read his advice and watch his streaming video segments. Contact John via e-mail: john.marra@wsaz.com
John Marra Home & Garden Headlines
Your Tomato Plants Need Special Care Now

Last Updated: 10:36 AM 07/02/09 - As summer weather conditions come into play on your tomato crop, there are certain management tools to remember to ensure a bountiful harvest. (Full Story)
Managing Black Spot on Roses

Last Updated: 10:26 AM 07/02/09 - Roses can be a beautiful addition to your landscape. However, if you don't control black spot, a very common disease of roses, your most sincere efforts to have a quality rose garden will be in vain. (Full Story)
Backyard Orchard Management

Last Updated: 5:30 PM 06/25/09 - If you want quality tree fruit this summer, you need to control insects as well as disease until the leaves fall off in Autumn. (Full Story)
Managing Mites on Your Landscape Plants

Last Updated: 3:54 PM 06/25/09 - Mites are so small that detecting them on your plants is difficult. However, if not controlled, they can easily kill your most cherished landscape plants. (Full Story)
Mushrooms in Your Landscape

Last Updated: 3:49 PM 06/25/09 - Mushrooms can be a real problem in some landscapes. However, when the wet and high moisture conditions that cause the growth of mushrooms get drier, you won't have as serious of a problem. (Full Story)
Coping With Summer Stress On Your Lawn

Last Updated: 11:58 AM 06/18/09 - Summer brings on some unwanted stress to your lawn. However, proper mowing, watering, and even proper fertilization is critical for protecting the quality of your lawn. (Full Story)
Pruning Your Shrubs and Trees

Last Updated: 11:35 AM 06/18/09 - Pruning your shrubs and trees the right way and at the right time can greatly increase the beauty of your landscape. (Full Story)
Bees Are Important in Your Landscape

Last Updated: 10:12 AM 06/18/09 - Bees are very important to the production of many fruits and vegetables. However, we need to better understand their care and how to protect them to assure their continued survival. (Full Story)
Controlling Bagworms in Your Evergreens

Last Updated: 2:35 PM 06/11/09 - Bagworms can denude your most precious evergreens. However, controlling early is the answer. (Full Story)
Conditions Good for Strong Farmer's Market Season

Last Updated: 2:07 PM 06/11/09 - Farmer's markets are in for a bumper crop if the weather turns drier and the use of pesticides are used. (Full Story)
Controlling Snakes in Your Landscape

Last Updated: 5:09 PM 06/03/09 - Snakes can be controlled in your landscape by eliminating their hiding places. There are also ways to keep snakes out of your mobile home. (Full Story)
Watering Your Landscape

Last Updated: 5:05 PM 06/03/09 - Basically, you can't water just any time of the day. The best time period is morning or early evening due to creating disease problems. (Full Story)
Dealing With Diseases in Your Lawn

Last Updated: 5:00 PM 06/03/09 - Lawn diseases will eventually show up in your lawn. However, there are ways to minimize the effect on the beauty of your lawn. (Full Story)
Selecting Shrubs and Trees for Your Landscape

Last Updated: 11:32 PM 06/02/09 - Have some idea what you want in the way of landscape plants before you go to your favorite lawn and garden center. (Full Story)
Mulching Your Shrubs and Trees

Last Updated: 1:02 PM 05/18/09 - Mulching your trees and shrubs can be very beneficial. However, when using mulch, be careful not to abuse its use. (Full Story)
Proper Planting of Your Trees and Shrubs

Last Updated: 12:59 PM 05/18/09 - Survival of newly planted shrubs and trees depends on the proper planting hole construction. (Full Story)
Cut Your Grass With a Mulching Mower

Last Updated: 1:41 PM 05/06/09 - Using a mulching mower is a win win win situation. It returns valuable nutrients to the soil. It reduces your time mowing. It protects our environment. (Full Story)
Controlling Spider Mites in Your Landscape

Last Updated: 1:14 PM 05/06/09 - Spider mites are so small that they might go undetected until your plants show severe damage. Control spider mites with physical controls or opt for many chemical controls. (Full Story)
Controlling Bag Worms in Your Trees and Shrubs

Last Updated: 1:09 PM 05/06/09 - Bag worms can eat your precious evergreens in a New York minute. However, your pest control is getting them before they attach to the tree in August and September. (Full Story)
Attend Your Local County Fair

Last Updated: 9:22 AM 04/30/09 - Attend your local county fair to help support youth and encourage agriculture production in your area at the same time. (Full Story)
Honey Bees are Coming Back

Last Updated: 9:19 AM 04/30/09 - Honey bees are making a comeback in the US. However, we still need to properly use pesticides to avoid killing honey bees. (Full Story)
Starting Your Lawn From Scratch

Last Updated: 9:15 AM 04/30/09 - Starting over in your landscape with a new lawn seeding isn't difficult. Timing of seed application and liming is the first thing to consider. (Full Story)
Controlling Tent Caterpillars in Your Trees

Last Updated: 6:24 PM 04/15/09 - In order to control Eastern Tent Caterpillars in your landscape, you need to take control methods early. (Full Story)
The Use of Mulch in your Landscape

Last Updated: 5:54 PM 04/15/09 - There are lots of different landscape mulches out there. However, select one that meets your objectives, like texture and longevity. (Full Story)
Attracting Hummingbirds to your Landscape

Last Updated: 5:51 PM 04/15/09 - Hanging your hummingbird feeders up now, before they arrive, can help guarantee that they will stay around your landscape this summer. (Full Story)
More Headlines
Stay Connected
On the Go
Access our site from any mobile device, text alerts.
e-News
Get daily headlines e-mail & breaking news alerts.
RSS Feeds
Add WSAZ.com news to your RSS reader.
Weather Alerts
Sign up for severe weather alerts.
Home & Garden Photos
Advertiser Content - Home & Gardening
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
Healthy Tri-State
Live a healthier lifestyle in 2009
SOMC
Very good things are happening here
Moms4Moms
By moms, for moms
WV Lottery
Nightly drawings and numbers
Big Sandy
For all your furniture and appliance needs