Removing plants that have seen better days

Maybe that old English lavender in your backyard was a flourishing and flamboyant rock star in its day, but now it's a bit of a wash-up playing county fairs and the occasional Vegas lounge. It's taking up valuable real estate-the sunniest spot in your border garden, but you just don't have the heart to remove it. Or even worse, you can't decide whether or not to remove it.

Sometimes it helps to talk it out with a gardening friend or a gardening professional. If the plant hasn't thrived in years its probably run its course and isn't going to improve. Take it out. If you need a little Irish courage to do this drink a couple of beers before hand-it helps ease the pain.

If you're attached to the plant take some of the blooms or foliage and dry them in that dictionary you never open anymore. Try to fill the space with something that will be meaningful as well-a division from a friend, or that really expensive sheared boxwood Scotty dog you've always wanted.

Gardens can get stagnant and you'll spend less time out there if you keep putting off the inevitable. After the initial pain you'll be really excited about that new space you just opened up.

Debunking gardening myths with the Renegade Gardener

The Renegade Gardener is Don Engebretson and he runs one of my favorite gardening sites thus far (other than my own of course)! One of the more useful and fun sections on the site is the "myth of the week." It's a great resource for all gardeners-his irreverent writing, midwestern sensibilites and actual understanding of science (wierd, I know) make it a great go to site to answer those hard questions like, "But God mandates that you can only divide perennials in the spring," or "Will my neighbor incite a city wide protest if I cut down a tree in my yard?" Check it out.

http://www.renegadegardener.com/

Burnet: a happy little addition to the herb garden

Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme-all rock stars in the herb garden-but why not try something a little different like burnet. Impress your friends by sprinkling a little crushed burnet into their salad and watch as they dig around with their forks looking for a cucumber. Imagine their astonishment when they alas, find none.

Burnet has a unique, fresh cucumber flavor that's great in anything that calls for cukes-raita, salad, a cucumber martini for those warm summer nights. It's also a delightfully symmetrical plant with a tidy character for you neat freaks. Go on, get out of your little herb rut and try something new. I know I should.