Creeping Charlie


Wed. Jun. 2, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Creeping Charlie

When I became a Master Gardener in 2003, there was a group of MG’s that formed a group called “Friends of Charlie” because nearly every other question asked by home gardeners was, “How do I get rid of Creeping Charlie”?

Some people love it, claiming creeping Charlie provides food for bees and a savory, minty smell. Others wage war against this weed as though their lives depended on its eradication.

With a Latin name I won’t  … [Continue reading]

Dame’s Rocket – flower or weed


Tue. Jun. 1, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Dame’s Rocket – flower or weed

Oh such pretty flowers blooming in ditches, along railroad tracks and in large stretches of farm yards. Oh but what evil those beauties bring upon us. Dame’s Rocket looks like a native phlox but it’s not!

It is an invasive species of the mustard family that has spread like gangbusters throughout the Upper Midwest. It is on the ERADICATE list for Minnesota and RESTRICTED in Wisconsin. South Dakota’s not too thrilled with  … [Continue reading]

Memorial Day – and the poppy


Mon. May. 31, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Memorial Day – and the poppy

Garden Bite would like to thank all those who serve in the United States Military and their families.  We honor those who gave everything.

Today is the day we reflect and remember our Soldiers.  Memorial Day, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union andConfederate soldiers who died.  By the  … [Continue reading]

Deer resistant plants


Fri. May. 28, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Deer resistant plants

Did you know deer LOVE hosta? That’s a rhetorical question!

Those graceful marauders are lovely to watch in winter but once you feed them, they expect the buffet to stay open.

What WON’T a deer eat? A hungry one will eat whatever, but there are deer resistant plants. Check out The Best Plants for 30 Tough Sites (page 14)

Some plants that come immediately to mind include coneflowers and columbine, yarrow and sage.

 

For  … [Continue reading]

Feeding your shrubs


Thu. May. 27, 2021

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

 Another area I’m not so consistent at is feeding my 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. 

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  … [Continue reading]

The poop on fertilizing


Wed. May. 26, 2021

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

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 get  … [Continue reading]

Herbs for pollinators


Tue. May. 25, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Herbs for pollinators

I talk a lot about pollinators and plants. An item in my Northern Gardener magazine caught my eye, planting HERBS for pollinators!  I’ve told you before that swallowtail caterpillars LOVE parsley and dill.

This is a great reminder to plant enough to help the pollinators!

I love dill in many dishes including fish. It’s not just for pickles, it’s also fab in sauces!  Parsley is another great herb for pollinators and people! Recipes for parsley … [Continue reading]

Plant this not that – take 2


Mon. May. 24, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Plant this not that – take 2

So often folks find a tree they like and then everyone plants it and then that’s all you see.  And then they get taken out by disease and our boulevards are naked.  Planting diverse species is the best way to protect them all.

This is plant this not that take 2…

To quote Faith Applequist of Treequality, “Japanese tree lilacs are a one-season wonder”.  Her laundry list of negatives includes  … [Continue reading]

Container planting


Fri. May. 21, 2021

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

It’s the Rite of Spring! Container planting…. Wahooooooo

We peruse our local garden centers giddy with anticipation of what we will find and create.

I created a video on Container plants with tips on root pruning, what the soil level (why does that matter?) should be and the three ‘illers!  Thrillers, fillers and spillers.

Your recipe for success:

Thriller – big, bold and beautiful.  This plant is the tallest and is your main accent.  Could be  … [Continue reading]

Tomato and pepper planting


Thu. May. 20, 2021

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

Once again we had a record cold and I know that many of you have already planted tomatoes and peppers. They do NOT like that. I hope you at least covered them.

The best time to plant tomatoes and peppers is when the soil is 60 degrees or more. It’s not that they will die (except for that record cold) but they won’t be happy.

There are plenty of soil temp gauges out there,  … [Continue reading]