Planting before the ground freezes


Thu. Oct. 6, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planting before the ground freezes

You can still plant healthy shrubs and trees into November! This does NOT mean evergreens. You need to wait till next spring for them.

While our temperatures can get pretty cold, the ground in our zone 3 and 4 climates doesn’t “generally” freeze until late in November and December. That means you can take advantage of deals at your local nursery.

When shopping, don’t be afraid to take the plants out of their  … [Continue reading]

Overwintering geraniums


Wed. Oct. 5, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Overwintering geraniums

In the last couple of years I’ve heard more and more people overwintering geraniums. So, today, after seeing the University of Minnesota Extension jump into it, I thought I would share their information.

Full disclosure, I have not attempted this but my sister did and had some success.

Geraniums can be overwintered indoors by taking cuttings, potting up individual plants or storing bare-root plants in a cool, dry location. Make sure to do one or  … [Continue reading]

Planting on a septic system


Tue. Oct. 4, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planting on a septic system

Many years ago I lived on 5 acres that had a septic mound. It was hard to mow and the rider was not to be used on top. My clever idea was to plant native seed. Well, this way a LONG time ago when I was very new at the gardening game and I didn’t research it the way I should have.

There are rules to planting on septic systems and Prairie Moon

 … [Continue reading]

Digging up bulbs for winter storage


Mon. Oct. 3, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Digging up bulbs for winter storage

Last week we were planting bulbs for Spring bloom, today is about digging up bulbs for winter storage! Gladiolas, dahlias, cannas, begonias and elephant ears to name some!

It’s important to wait until the flowers are gone and the foliage of these plants is browning or completely  toast.

For the 2022-23 Winter, the Farmers Almanac is calling it “A Tale of Two Winters”. Their forecasted weather map splits the country in  … [Continue reading]

Ins and Outs of planting bulbs in Fall


Fri. Sep. 30, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Ins and Outs of planting bulbs in Fall

As I teased you with tantalizing tulips and other Fall planted bulbs yesterday, I wanted to share the ins and outs of planting the various types of bulbs. First, remember to check to see what your local nurseries have to offer before you place an order.

Online sites, however, DO offer a wider variety than some of our local shops so if you don’t see what you want, that is  … [Continue reading]

Spring bulbs for Fall planting 2022


Thu. Sep. 29, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Spring bulbs for Fall planting 2022

If you want spring to midseason bulbs to plant this Fall, you best get to finding some. At the nursery where I work, customers were asking weeks ago when our bulbs would arrive. They have arrived and already many have been sold! 2022 is another booming year for bulbs.

Daffodils and tulips, crocus and fritillaria. Snowdrops and squill, hyacinth and allium. Whew, and so many cultivars in between!!

We plant these bulbs

 … [Continue reading]

Planting native seeds in late Fall


Wed. Sep. 28, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planting native seeds in late Fall

My favorite native seed nursery had a sale and I scored 3 types of flowers I’ve admired. My plan is to sow them outdoors late this Fall.

These specific seeds need cold stratification to germinate.

Sowing these in late fall allows the seeds to germinate in their own natural timeframe and it’s easy!

Generally, it’s best to plant on a weed-free site that’s clear of other vegetation. For my purposes I will  … [Continue reading]

Neonics and deer


Tue. Sep. 27, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Neonics and deer

A couple of weeks ago an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper caught my eye with the headline “Majority of deer exposed to toxin”. State biologists tested the spleens of road kill deer and those sent in by hunters. 94% had concentrations of neonicotinoids. More from MPRNews.org. 

But it gets worse, nearly two-thirds of those deer had higher concentrations than a threshold found to potentially lower fawn survival and cause deformities.

Neonics started

 … [Continue reading]

Ghost Plant – fungus or flower


Mon. Sep. 26, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Ghost Plant – fungus or flower

 Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota is my go-to place for native plants and seeds that I can’t find at my local garden center. They just highlighted a very unique plant on their Facebook page that I am sharing with you today.

Ghost Pipe, Ghost Flower or Indian Pipe looks like a fungus but it’s actually a native flower.

It’s Latin name is Monotropa uniflora, is a wildflower that is actually a member  … [Continue reading]

Handling too much harvest safely


Fri. Sep. 23, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Handling too much harvest safely

This year MY harvests have not been impressive, however, my neighbor across the street has a HUGE supply of tomatoes, which I’ve benefitted from.

I’ve been the recipient of zucchini and fresh corn too. Which I’ve shared with other neighbors! I love my ‘hood.

You don’t want to lose that harvest. So what do you do to safely pick and preserve your bounty for future use?

When harvesting vegetables remember these tips:

  • Be
 … [Continue reading]