Fertilizing annuals and perennials


Thu. May. 9, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Fertilizing annuals and perennials

Fertilizing annuals and perennials

Yes, there’s a difference.  Because annuals live their entire life cycle in one season, they do well with more fertilizer treatments.  Also, if they’re in containers, the fertilizer runs out much quicker.  Perennials have the advantage of establishing their roots deeper in the soil and the fertilizer lingers longer.

Always follow package directions OR use less!  Never use more.  For great blooms, use a 10-20-10 fertilizer.  The middle number is  … [Continue reading]

Coffee grounds deter slugs


Wed. May. 8, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Coffee grounds deter slugs

Coffee grounds deter slugs

There have been a number of claims about using coffee grounds in the garden.  Do they really work? Well, as with most home remedies, they are still being studied!  Claims of disease control to enhanced growth and more, generally, means that success varies. There are some who say don’t use them at all.  I generally offer university based information but sometimes you’ll find nuggets of knowledge that science just doesn’t  … [Continue reading]

Lilac love is in the air


Tue. May. 7, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Lilac love is in the air

Lilac love is in the air

Oh the lilacs have budded out and soon that wonderful fragrance will waft through, I hope, open windows!  Here’s to a sunny day with a warm breeze!

A LONG time ago I lived on a hobby farm where the lilacs were about 12 feet thick, about 12 feet tall and surrounded the house.  Truth is, they CAN get out of hand as many of us know  … [Continue reading]

Lawn care – weed killing


Mon. May. 6, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Lawn care – weed killing

Lawn care – weed killing

Does forsythia bloom foretell the coming of crabgrass?  Actually… sorta.  This year is a bit wonky with cold weather which means we have some time, but not much. Generally speaking…

Preemergent herbicides affect germinating seeds. That means, to be effective, the herbicide should be applied two to three weeks before weed seeds germinate.

Some researchers say that’s about the time when forsythia starts to drop its blooms.  The  … [Continue reading]

Fertilizing your lawn – why wait?


Fri. May. 3, 2019

Fertilizing your lawn – why wait?

This is a yearly ponderable by the lawn faithful.  According to research, Spring is NOT the best time to fertilize your lawn.  I know, I can hear many of you gasping, but the BEST times to fertilize your lawn are Late summer and fall.  

This is contrary to the traditional springtime application. Early spring applications of nitrogen cause a surge of top growth in the plants, which makes the lawn look nice in the spring but depletes the plants’ energy reserves. Consequently, when  … [Continue reading]

Some zucchini love


Thu. May. 2, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Some zucchini love

Years ago, while out tending to my garden, I came across a 2 foot monster!  It was long, thick and green… it was an enormous zucchini squash.  I had so many, I was begging people to take them.

So then I just quit planting that prolific producer.  The issue being their sprawl!

But, this winter in particular, I kept yearning for my chinese 5-spice zucchini bread, alas, I could find NO zucchini in my local  … [Continue reading]

Palmer Amaranth


Wed. May. 1, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Palmer Amaranth

All above and below ground parts of the plant must be destroyed. Additionally, no transportation, propagation, or sale of these plants is allowed. Failure to comply may result in enforcement action by the county or local municipality.  YIKES!  They are not kidding around!

The dreaded Palmer amaranth, a runaway weed threatening ecological systems has found a new pathway. In September of 2016, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) was initially discovered and confirmed in Minnesota.

First  … [Continue reading]

Save the bats? YES!


Tue. Apr. 30, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Save the bats?  YES!

Should we save the bats?  Yes! There are a few reasons why.  One that tops my list is the amount of mosquitoes they eat, along with leafhoppers, moths, flies, June bugs and cutworms!  Scientists have estimated that they are worth $3.7 billion in reduced crop damage and pesticide use!

The University of Minnesota Extension recommends some plants to keep the bats around and liven up your evening garden. Interestingly, they suggest a plant called  … [Continue reading]

Fairy rings and fungi


Mon. Apr. 29, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Fairy rings and fungi

Now that the snow is gone, the grass is greening up, the fairies are coming out too!    

No… not this kind.  It’s still a little too cold out here!  There’s a fairy ring in my lawn…

My husband didn’t believe me when I told him what I thought the ring was. He thought it was from a few years ago when a lawn company fertilized.  No, honey, that doesn’t last that long. Then I  … [Continue reading]

Looking for EAB


Fri. Apr. 26, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Looking for EAB

While this ridiculously cold Winter seems like it should have killed some bad bugs, I’ve heard from bug specialists, that’s not the case.  Bummer.

University of MN Ext. Entomologist, Jeffrey Hahn, DOES say, that now is a great time to examine your ash trees for evidence of emerald ash borer (EAB).

It may seem early, that maybe you need the leaves on the trees to check the canopy, but Hahn says that’s not a  … [Continue reading]