From the Soil with Sollecito: Recent Episodes
Jim Sollecito
In this series, Jim Sollecito of Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in central New York provides a series of helpful talks to help navigate the seasonal shifts that impact plants, shrubs, trees, flower beds, and garden plots. Jim focuses on the use of natural products and cultivation methods specifically adapted to this region's climate, soil composition, geology, and native ecology. Sollecito Landscaping Nursery is the first Be Green garden center licensed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
In this episode, Jim talks about learning from the challenges of the past with your landscape.
In this episode, Jim talks about a new method in keeping deer off of trees during the autumn and winter months.
This is one in a series of three podcasts in which Jim talks about his recent winter trips to Cuba, where he shared ideas and techniques with organic farmers. In this episode, Jim talks about organic ways to treat your lawn and surrounding landscape.
This is one in a series of three podcasts in which Jim talks about his recent winter trips to Cuba, where he shared ideas and techniques with organic farmers. In this episode, Jim talks about the pros and cons of using organic products vs. easy-to-use chemicals.
This is one in a series of three podcasts in which Jim talks about his recent winter trips to Cuba, where he shared ideas and techniques with organic farmers. In this episode, he talks about specific organic practices we can incorporate into our own gardening activities here in the U.S.
In this episode, Jim talks about how plants heal and repair among the stresses of their environment, and shares what you can do to assist.
Despite our best efforts, sometimes trees and shrubs fail to flower. In this episode, Jim talks about some of the possibilities as to why, and what you can do (and plant) to make the most of your landscape.
Turf is the cheapest thing to install, and the most expensive to maintain. Jim talks about how he tries to minimize this element in his landscape designs, and what you can do to improve tough areas in your landscape.
In this episode, Jim talks about one of the most overused and over-rated plants: the Compact Burning Bush and some reasons why many are not "burning" as hot as some may like.
Invasion: Landscapes in Crisis describes the effects of deer-browsing, buck rubbing and other environmental threats to plants and trees in and around Cornell Plantations Botanical Gardens and Arboretum at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Did you know a Quaking Aspen, one of the lovliest trees in the fall landcape, can predict the weather? Keen observers note weather changes underway just by listening to trees. Jim has a better method: he keeps changing channels on the TV until he sees a forecast he likes. Here are some natural things to look for that may help you predict the weather in your neighborhood.
Jim has a rule when he bites into a really hot pepper sprout in one of Megan's five-alarm hot shot panini sandwiches while lunching out on the job; 'stop, drop, and roll.' After recovery he then stumbles back to the flower bed to resume planting those spring bulbs. The rule there is 'dig, drop, and done.' It's really simple, and guaranteed to bring many springtimes of pleasure.
Fall is the time of year you can be a heartbreaker without remorse. Love 'em, then leave 'em. Be a landscape Casanova or Cleopatra with a lawn rake and a lawn mower. Shower those favorite leafy shrubs and trees with your attention and affection from spring through summer and then, when autumn leaves start to fall, mulch them into your lawn. No tears will be shed and your lawn will love you for it.