with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Annuals for Fall
As I mentioned yesterday, I stopped at my local nursery for some annuals as Fall approaches. The temperatures were pretty warm but they’ll cool off and many of the annuals I bought this Spring were looking pretty bedraggled. I picked up a couple of mums. Which by the way were in the wrong bin. I thought I was buying yellow when I got them home the tags said purple. Oh well.
There’s celosia on the … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Big Bluestem ‘Blackhawks’
I was devouring my new Northern Gardener magazine sitting on my front porch with a cool beverage when I came on an article by Debbie Lonnee, who works in the horticulture industry, about a new cultivar for Big Bluestem.
Let me tell you, this one is a beauty! Called ‘Blackhawks’, the foliage evolves throughout the growing season.
Emerging green in the Spring, the long strappy leaves take on purple hues by June. Throughout the … [Continue reading]
Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Blight blues on lilacs
There’s been a lot of the blues this last few weeks with lots of reports of blight on lilacs. I have plenty myself. They look awful.
Some of my listeners have sent me pictures of their towering lilacs now can’t down to a few feet tall to try and rid the plants from this nasty fungal enemy.
So why THIS year? As if 2020 hasn’t been challenging enough? A cool, wet, … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden to-do’s for September
September is just a few days away! While this year has some vast changes due to a pandemic, our garden to-do’s heading into Fall remain the same! (that feels kinda good right now!)
Harvest, of course is ongoing.
My Red Grape tomatoes have been outstanding! I’ve been putting them in salads and stir fry and have been dehydrating them too.
Because of the crazy year I’ve had with road construction on both streets of … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Pretty poppies and peonies for Fall planting
We’ve talked about Fall planting of trees, shrubs and daylilies. There are plenty more perennials including pretty poppies and peonies that dig Fall planting! Poppies explode in June.
Their ruffled, shimmering petals pack a colorful punch. Plant in groups in a sunny, well-drained position and match them with summer bloomers or annuals that spread out and will conceal their early dormancy. They grow to about 2.5 ft. Although the foliage can … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Clethra – it’s for part sun/part shade
So I’ve been looking to replace the hostas I quickly planted near my new Crabapple tree. I had these in my nursery on the side of the garage. That’s where I put all the “extras” I have of plants like daylilies, hostas and whatnot that I’ve divided.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to just toss a plant! Sometimes not! They were chewed up pretty bad by slugs and I really … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fall is great for planting trees and shrubs
Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. They love the warm soil and cooler air. They also still have plenty of time to scoot their roots down deep into the soil.
For easy growing, Rugosa roses are a good choice. These are also salt tolerant! This one was at a home I lived in in Burnsville, Mn.
Be sure to water new plantings up until the ground … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Wild cucumber takes over
While not QUITE as “over the top” this year, wild cucumber is making it’s appearance known. Since 2020 has, so far, been a year of “over the top”, I’m grateful for ONE thing that’s not quite as bad…. however, let’s examine this annual vine that loves to be “over the top”.
This vine loves to climb and drape itself over fields, trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers throughout much of the country! It’s Latin name is … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Planting cover crops
Let’s talk green manure. No, I’m not talking about an animal with a gastrointestinal issue but cover crops. These are plants with a purpose.
They can help with soil erosion, weed control and even fix what’s ailing your soil. The University of MN Ext. says living roots help maintain nutrients, support a diversity of soil microorganisms, and help the soil retain water.
As the weather cools into September, you can plant oats, peas, buckwheat … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Resurrection lily – the Rising!
I’ve told this story before but it bears repeating as we all go through this pandemic together. I’m calling today’s episode, Resurrection Lily – the rising! Hey 2020, TAKE THAT! Their latin name is Lycoris squamigera and they have a number of other common names, Magic Lily, Surprise lily, Naked Ladies to name a few
I came by this plant in July of 2012 when I moved into my current home. The previous … [Continue reading]