October perennial care


Thu. Oct. 1, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: October perennial care

Yowza, it’s October 1st. This year feels like it’s taking forever and flying by…. Into a bright future!

You can start preparing for that bright future with some October to-do’s in the garden.

Now’s the time to collect seeds of rudbeckia and coneflowers.  Cut the heads off in the afternoon when the plant is dry, open the flower head and collect the seeds. You might want gloves on for some seeds, they can be kinda  … [Continue reading]

Apple trees for our northern climate


Wed. Sep. 30, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Apple trees for our northern climate

Oh, apple season, how I love you!  Shall I count the ways or just name some spectacular cultivars. For those of us in cold climates, growing apples wasn’t always easy but with a lot of research by places like the University of Minnesota, that started breeding apples in 1888, we can grow some delicious apples!

I remember back in … a long time ago, the Landscape Arboretum had the first ‘Honeycrisp’  … [Continue reading]

Charting how to plant bulbs in the Fall


Tue. Sep. 29, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Charting how to plant bulbs in the 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. Another 2020 introduction by Brecks below:

First, remember to check to see what your local nurseries have to offer before you place an order. The catalogs, however, DO offer a wider variety than some of our local shops so if you don’t  … [Continue reading]

Spring bulbs are for Fall planting


Mon. Sep. 28, 2020

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

If you want spring to midseason bulbs to plant this Fall, you best get to finding some! With 2020 being a wildly enthusiastic year for gardens and landscape designing, some local nurseries and online sites that sell exclusive bulbs are flashing Out of Stock signs already.

Normally I would talk about this in October, well, I guess it darn near is! But generally speaking that’s when we put those little bulbs in  … [Continue reading]

Seeds to sow


Fri. Sep. 25, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Seeds to sow

Fall sowing of the seeds of spring germination. It’s a doable deed and you can get a deal to boot! There are some native plant nurseries that have select seeds on sale to sow now and you’ll see results as they spring up next season! What are those natives?

Prairie Moon Nursery, based out of Minnesota, supplies native plants and seeds to the Upper Midwest. They can hook you up, as well as other native  … [Continue reading]

Fall herbicide care


Thu. Sep. 24, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fall herbicide care

Most of you know that I’m not much for chemicals, however, I know that many folks still want a lawn that’s more grass than weeds. Now through late October is the best time to put down a herbicide for those broadleaf weeds.

These plants are actively growing making it a good time to get at them.  The broadleaf weeds include dandelion, plantain lily, white clover and wild violets. 

After treatment, these guys will begin to  … [Continue reading]

Too much produce? What to do safely


Wed. Sep. 23, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Too much produce? What to do safely

 With the pandemic a LOT of folks started vegetable gardening, a healthy outdoor activity while on lockdown. Something to sink our teeth into, so to speak.

Others expanded their gardens and now your neighbors are kind of over accepting more cucumbers and zucchini from you!  So what do you do?

Comprehensive information on varied ways to safely preserve your harvests [Univ. of MN Ext.]

When harvesting vegetables, be careful not to  … [Continue reading]

Autumnal Equinox – savoring Fall


Tue. Sep. 22, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Autumnal Equinox – savoring Fall

 Happy Autumnal Equinox Day!  We turn the Autumnal corner at 8:30 this morning! Some trees are already changing color, hopefully we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the show. I think my French lilac is very happy to move on to 2021!

I just love this time of year.  Sweatshirts and flannels, leaving the windows cracked open at night with that cool air making good sleeping weather

We are bringing in our garden  … [Continue reading]

Oak wilt


Mon. Sep. 21, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Oak wilt

A friend of mine has, what used to be, a gorgeous old oak tree. Sadly it has Oak wilt. As we took a walk through a college arboretum I live near, we noticed it there too. Oak Wilt is caused by a non-native, invasive fungus  Ceratocystis fagacearum. (now you know why I didn’t even try to pronounce it on my radio show!)

The fungus invades the water-conducting vessels of oaks, eventually killing infected trees. While the  … [Continue reading]

Choosing plants NOT for cost but for longevity – the case for local garden centers


Fri. Sep. 18, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Choosing plants NOT for cost but for longevity – the case for local garden centers

Admission, I am guilty of this. Looking at the garden catalogs and seeing a spectacular looking plant and the price knocked down by 50%… because it’s Fall and falling in love. I nearly did that with a stunning hibiscus called ‘Midnight Marvel’.

This baby’s got some serious YOWZA goin’ on! But I stopped myself from ordering it! I chose to read  … [Continue reading]