Pussy Willows for early Pollinators


Tue. Feb. 22, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pussy Willows for early Pollinators

 I talked last week about some new 2022 Spring bloomers. Today I’m focusing on our native Pussy willows! This native shrub provides some of the earliest flowers which means pollen for our native bees! The foliage is also host to native butterfly caterpillars.

Pussy willows are fast growing, up to 15 to 20 feet tall and prefer wet sites but will tolerate a wide variety of soils. These shrubs are either  … [Continue reading]

Winter seed sowing and indoor planting


Mon. Feb. 21, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Winter seed sowing and indoor planting

Frigid temps have still been lingering and in colder climates, you still have a week to get outside and plant native seed. Winter Seed Sowing. 

Many folks have already purchased seed they intend on starting indoors. Right now would be the time for some flowers. Here’s a great visual for you on WHEN to plant:

What you need:

  • a place to put your seedlings! Sunny window? Basement with artificial light?
  • sterile
 … [Continue reading]

2022 Spring bloomers


Fri. Feb. 18, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: 2022 Spring bloomers

It’s fun Friday and I’m going to share some fab NEW Spring bloomers for 2022 from Proven Winners. A sweet alyssum named for me? Probably not but it’s called ‘Moonlight Knight’, with a K!

This annual has masses of fragrant soft yellow blooms from planting to frost. It’s 8 to 10 inches tall but trails to 2 ft! Lovely in landscapes and containers. It’s heat tolerant too.

You’ve heard the term, Baffle ‘em  … [Continue reading]

Soil vs soil-less mixes


Thu. Feb. 17, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Soil vs soil-less mixes

Yesterday we talked about repotting your pot-bound plants and I mentioned soil.  There are so many types of soils and soil-less mixtures on the market, which do you choose? 

Let’s first talk about the functions of soil or potting media:

  • The first function of a potting media is to anchor the roots.
  • The next is to feed the plant, provide it with minerals and nutrients. 
  • And finally, to allow air to reach the roots.  
 … [Continue reading]

Repotting houseplants


Wed. Feb. 16, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Repotting houseplants

I just recently had to cull 2 houseplants. They were each at least 15 years old and I hadn’t “done” anything to them.

 

It was well past time and I went after them. A philodendron and spider plant.

My step stool is JUST tall enough for me to get these hanging plants down. The philo was rootbound and droopy, the spider plant just sagged.

I don’t have pics of the absolute mess I made, but  … [Continue reading]

Immunity Garden – a Rainbow of Vegetables


Tue. Feb. 15, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Immunity Garden – a Rainbow of Vegetables

The pandemic has produced a plethora of new gardeners for many reasons. Some of which include those who are looking at what they eat and how they might contribute to their overall health. Planting a kaleidoscope of color in the vegetable garden is a great start!

Different colors of vegetables and fruits offer different nutritional value.  Although continuing studies are being done on the full value of these power-packed plants, here’s  … [Continue reading]

Valentine’s Day – the origins and flowers too


Mon. Feb. 14, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Valentine’s Day – the origins and flowers too

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentine pot and flower Gertens

The origins of this day are a bit mysterious and convoluted. There were 3 Christian martyrs all named Valentine and in 500 AD, Pope Gelasius created St. Valentines Day to commemorate the martyrs.  There was no romantic meaning to the day until 1382 when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the “Parlement of Foules”. It’s actually about fowls… birds.  The narrator falls asleep and dreams of a beautiful garden  … [Continue reading]

Dormant pruning


Fri. Feb. 11, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Dormant pruning

Now through early spring is the best time to prune MOST trees and shrubs. 

Cold temperatures provide the best time to prune because the plants are dormant, their sap flowing less freely and the insects are not a bother.

Do NOT prune any spring blooming shrubs now, however, it IS a good time to prune any summer or fall flowering shrubs. More on WHEN and HOW to prune trees/shrubs from the University of Minnesota Extension.   … [Continue reading]

Vegetables for part shade/part sun


Thu. Feb. 10, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Vegetables for part shade/part sun

You can still grow a vegetable garden if you don’t have full sun, that means 6 to 8 hours!  That, according to former  University of Minnesota Hort professor, Jeff Gillman in his book “Decoding Gardening Advice”.  A great read. 

Gillman says these vegetables/herbs need as little as 2 hours of direct sunlight:

  • Arugula
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Endive
  • Kale
  • Leaf lettuce
  • Mustard greens
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard – if you want the leaves only.
 … [Continue reading]

There’s more than one Milkweed


Wed. Feb. 9, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: There’s more than one Milkweed

Milkweed.  THE plant for monarch butterflies.

But it’s not just the common milkweed. There are, in fact, several options. Karen Oberhauser, Director of the University of Wisconsin- Madison Arboretum, says part of the massive decline of the monarch is weather related. Early, warm springs tend to be associated with low monarch numbers.  She says that may be due to the mismatch in the timing of milkweed availability. Habitat loss is the number one  … [Continue reading]