Pre-sown seed tapes and discs


Wed. Apr. 6, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pre-sown seed tapes and discs

During the pandemic, the U.S. has seen more than 18 million people get into gardening! Wahoo and welcome!

If you feel a bit daunted by planting a vegetable garden and think it might be costly, try pre-sown seed tape and/or discs. I just learned about these through the National Garden Bureau and had to share!

They’re great for any level of gardener. These seed tapes are for direct sow when the soil is  … [Continue reading]

When to prune your hydrangea


Tue. Apr. 5, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: When to prune your hydrangea

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular flowering shrubs.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Strawberry Vanilla’ 2019 Fall

A big question is when to prune them. Prune back stems to just above a fat bud — called a heading cut — in fall, late winter or spring. These plants have conical-shaped flower heads.

The above diagram is from the University of MN Ext. Read more here.

Prune paniculata in fall, late winter or early spring. … [Continue reading]

Assessing wildlife damage on plants


Mon. Apr. 4, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Assessing wildlife damage on plants

The weather was cold, windy, snowy, rainy and then some sun came out. You may have also gone out and took a look at your small trees, shrubs and even perennials. Assessing wildlife damage.

Rabbits, voles and squirrels can all strip bark. They may also leave small tooth marks on the wood. University of Minnesota Extension wildlife specialist, John Loegering, says if the bark is stripped all the way around a branch, that  … [Continue reading]

April Fools Day and busting garden myths


Fri. Apr. 1, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: April Fools Day and busting garden myths

It’s April Fools day! To celebrate, let’s pull some tall tales out of the Garden Myth bucket. 

 

Wound dressing is one of the top myths. 

We used to think that trees, like humans, needed some sort of “bandaid” after they’ve been cut.  Not so, in fact, there are times that those wound dressings may even inhibit the plant’s ability to heal itself.  Tars, emulsions and waxes can dry and crack.   … [Continue reading]

Tomato and Pepper seed start time


Thu. Mar. 31, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Tomato and Pepper seed start time

For those of us in cold climates, we get itchy to get into gardens or do SOMETHING gardeny…  and then something like this happens…

The AVERAGE last official frost date for Zone 3 and 4 is May 15th while zone 5 and 6 is looking at about April 15th. But, as mentioned on Monday, that’s changing. Still, it’s best to plan for it.

Warm season crops such as tomatoes  … [Continue reading]

Soil structure and drainage


Wed. Mar. 30, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Soil structure and drainage

Nothin’ sexier than soil structure and drainage! HA…

If you peruse descriptions of a particular plant’s needs, they almost all say, prefers “well-drained soil”.  That is soil that contains enough pores, the gaps between soil particles, to allow air and water to flow freely.  Ideally, the sand, silt and clay particles are arranged so they occupy only half of the space, leaving the other half as pore space.  A 50/50 split is primo. 

Most  … [Continue reading]

Time to turn on the tap – Maple syruping


Tue. Mar. 29, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Time to turn on the tap – Maple syruping

It’s time to turn on the tap, if you haven’t already. The sap is running.

Maple Syrup season is here and that golden goodness is the best thing EVER.

Sugar Maples are best but it’s not just maple trees. I’ve told you before that you can even tap boxelder trees. The caveat to tapping these other trees is that the sugar content is lower than a Sugar maple  … [Continue reading]

Explaining a freeze, a frost and why it matters


Mon. Mar. 28, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Explaining a freeze, a frost and why it matters

We’ve had some lovely warmer temperatures and even some rainfall. BUT, we live in cold climates so that means cold ain’t over till Mother Nature says so.

And often she gives us more blasts of cold – I think she wants to remind us who is actually in control!

Historically, in my zone 4 area, May 15th has been the last frost date, however, with climate change that has  … [Continue reading]

Bare-root tree/shrub planting


Thu. Mar. 24, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bare-root tree/shrub planting

 As soon as the soil thaws (is workable), it’s time to plant bare-root trees.  A bare-root tree has no soil at all around its roots.  It has been removed from the soil while still dormant.

Typically bare-root are available until just after the frost free date in your region, this year they are selling out quickly!  After that, if there are any left the nursery will pot them up, let them break dormancy, and sell  … [Continue reading]

Fresh From the Garden – Organic guide and myth busting


Wed. Mar. 23, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fresh From the Garden – myth busting

Years ago, I had a chance to interview John Whitman, he’s the author of a  vegetable gardening tome called “Fresh from the Garden – an organic guide to growing vegetables, berries and herbs in Cold Climates”.

It is packed with information on vegetables I grow and those I’ve never even heard of! 

He also shares garden myths:

  • Some people are born with a green thumb!  He says, nope.  Good gardening
 … [Continue reading]