Wet feet, dry feet


Fri. May. 25, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Wet feet, dry feet

We talk a lot about sun/shade conditions and soil types but one thing we don’t always check on when pursuing our favorite plants is whether they like dry feet or wet feet.  Not every plant likes to be in a rain garden!

Siberian Iris are graceful yet tough perennials that thrive in average to damp soil, and they’ll form large clumps that bloom heavily after the first year. In fact, you’ll want to divide  … [Continue reading]

Tomato planting


Thu. May. 24, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Tomato planting

I’m so excited! (and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it!)

It’s time to put those peppers and tomatoes in the ground!  The ground temp should be about 60 degrees for tomatoes and about 70 degrees for peppers.  They like it hot!   This year I’m trying a couple of new AAS winners ‘Valentine’ and ‘Red Racer’.  I don’t know which is which because I had a  … [Continue reading]

The ‘illers of container planting


Wed. May. 23, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The ‘illers of container planting

We’re staring down Memorial weekend!  WAHOO!  Gardeners mean business now.  We are about to plant with abandon!!!

That also means meandering down aisles of flowers and plants, taking hours to figure out what to put in containers!  Or maybe that’s just me!  If you get plant-love overload at your local nursery, it can  make it difficult to choose plants!  There are some basic rules to follow that will help you create that eye-popper  … [Continue reading]

Feeding your shrubs


Tue. May. 22, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Feeding your shrubs

Yesterday we established that it’s a good idea to feed your container plantings and your other herbaceous plants, just don’t burn them.  Apply according to the label or LESS.

As for shrubs, well, they could use some food too but there are some caveats, we’ll get to those.

Keeping plants healthy also helps lower opportunities for disease and insects to do damage.

A caveat to fertilizer response is the environment your shrubs are grown in.   … [Continue reading]

The poop on fertilizing plants


Mon. May. 21, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min  Garden Bite radio show:  The poop on fertilizing plants

First let’s establish that there’s no poop involved in fertilizing!  Manure does not add much for nutrients into the soil, it fluffs it.

On to the whole fertilizing thing.  I’m notoriously bad at this, so, in that vein, I’m going to help you AND me!

Proven Winners, one of the top plant breeders, says it’s really important to feed your container plants.  That makes sense, they’re roots can only go so far and  … [Continue reading]

The dirt on plant shopping


Fri. May. 18, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The dirt on plant shopping

When plant shopping, bigger is not always better.  Tis better to bloom in your garden than in the garden center.

If you see a little wilting it could be a sign of a root problem.  Look for plants with good color on the leaves.  Look under the leaves for any possible insects.  If you have a plant loupe, bring it with you!  You’ll look ultra cool, I promise.  ;-)

Plant loupe

Seriously, in some of the  … [Continue reading]

Caladium beauty


Thu. May. 17, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Caladium beauty

The shady garden always seems to be the toughest for finding color pop and circumstance.  Enter the caladium.  Talk about adding pizzazz to a gloomy dark corner.

The name ‘Freida Hemple’ doesn’t SOUND like it would bring delight to the dark corners of your garden but let me tell you, this Caladium is jazzed up with big gorgeous red leaves ringed in green.

‘Fanny Munson’ adds bright pink with crimson veins and ‘White Christmas’ is just  … [Continue reading]

Blueberry – the antioxidant super hero


Wed. May. 16, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Blueberry – the antioxidant super hero

I’ve talked about blueberries before, in fact, a long time before as you’ll see from this video I did YEARS ago!  Cut me some slack!  😉

The Blueberry is a tasty  antioxidant  superhero and a lovely shrub with rockin’ fall foliage.

It does offer gardeners in the upper midwest a bit of a unique challenge as they like a more acidic soil, a pH of 4 to 5.5 is ideal.  For those  … [Continue reading]

Creating a bee home


Tue. May. 15, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Creating a bee home

Yesterday I chatted on about neonics, today, let’s build a bee home.  Let’s first establish they’re not going to sting you but don’t place them on your house either.

Certainly planting flowers is a must, but so is a nest for them.  Thirty percent of bees are cavity-nesting, they’ll live in hollow stems or holes in wood.  There are pre-made nests but these are often more cute than useful, says the University of Minnesota  … [Continue reading]

EU says PU to Neonics


Mon. May. 14, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  EU says PU to Neonics

In late April of this year (2018), the European Union banned all outdoor use of neonicotinoids [National Geographic] aka neonics.  It’s expected to be enforced by the end of 2018 and will mean they can only be used in closed greenhouses.  Total Ban on neonics [The Guardian]

Now the definition of PU…. Click here for the explanation!

Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticides in both the U.S. and globally and have been  … [Continue reading]