Jeff Gillman

Jeff-Gillman

Jeff Gillman is director of the University of North Carolina Charlotte Botanical Gardens. With a master’s degree in entomology, a Ph.D. in horticulture from the University of Georgia, and more than 30 years of experience researching weed, disease, and insect pest management, you might say he knows a thing or two about gardening. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Jeff spent 15 years as an associate professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota. He is the author of five books on gardening and the environment and is a well-respected lecturer across the country. When he’s not teaching, testing, trialing, and researching all things gardening, you’ll find Jeff enjoying the best barbecue in town.

  • garden flooding protection
    How-To

    3 Steps to Minimize Flood Damage in the Garden

    IF you’ve experienced a flood, a wrong move after the water recedes can make a bad situation worse. To minimize flood damage in the garden, take these steps:  1. Identify the…

  • sheet mulching
    How-To

    What Is Sheet Mulching and How Do You Do It?

    If you’ve ever started a new garden from scratch, then you’ve probably had to convert some amount of lawn into a planting bed. There are several ways to eliminate turf,…

  • Article

    Should I Mulch in Fall to Protect Perennials for Winter?

    There is no doubt that mulching builds soil, reduces the need to water, and helps control weeds. But what does it do to protect plants from the cold? In many…

  • Article

    Bring in the Beneficials

    Gardens for butterflies and bees are easy. Dozens of books, magazine articles, and websites out there will guide you through lists of pollinator-friendly plants like butterfly bush (Buddleia spp. and…

  • How-To

    Which Pruner Is Right for You?

    Of all the tools on the garden-center shelf, there is nothing more variable in style and appearance than pruners. It’s worth your time to consider different styles and brands to…

  • Article

    Water-Soluble Fertilizers

    If you have ever shopped for fertilizer for your plants, then you know the wide variety of options available. Water-soluble fertilizers are popular, often because they seem easy to work…

  • potting soil spilling out of a container
    How-To

    Potting Soil Put to the Test

    In their natural environment, plants get everything they need to stay healthy from the soil: water, nutrients, and air. Most well-established plants living in soil rarely need more than an…

  • Article

    Get the Right Light

    Serious gardeners love to get their seeds going in trays before spring for a number of reasons: to extend the growing season, to provide optimal germination conditions, to try unusual…

  • Article

    Setting the Record Straight on Glyphosate

    Every summer, I pull weeds from the gravel under our deck, and last summer was no exception. First, I pulled the big weeds, then I began pulling the smaller ones.…

  • How-To

    A Better Fix for Root-Bound Plants

    We’ve all experienced the disappointment of sliding a newly purchased tree or shrub out of its container only to find a tightly woven mosaic of circling roots. For years, experts…