with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What to do with Asparagus
A Garden Bite listener told me she’d just bought a new home and there was an asparagus bed. She wondered what to do with it. First it would be good to know how old it is, or that you know it’s at least 3 years old. That’s how long it takes for asparagus to really be harvestable.
Fall is a time when the plants, that fuzzy top growth, can be cut back all … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Gall talk
I sent out a shout out on my Garden Bite facebook page for my followers and received a suggestion to talk about galls!
First, what are they? Galls are abnormal growths that occur on leaves, twigs, roots, or flowers of many plants. There are a LOT of galls!!!
Just a little gall fun! Those round growths are little homes for insects. They have a small hole in each…
Most galls are caused by irritation and/or stimulation … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Oriental bittersweet – Pretty but obnoxious
This lovely looking vine is deceitful as it’s invasive qualities haunt our forests, grasslands, and parks! Sounds a bit harsh for such a well used holiday decoration but it’s true.
It’s all good cheer as we use it for decorating, for YEARS, then the darn thing went wild and is now at the top of the hit list for many U.S. States. The vine is heavily affecting the northeastern U.S. and is … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Types of bird feeders
Yesterday we were all about the food, today it’s about the feeder…
There are numerous feeders out there. Which ones work? Well, they all do but which ones keep the squirrels at bay? Ha! None of them forever, unless you have them rigged for an electric shock when they touch it.
Someone I know actually did that! He had fashioned a shocker that he could operate by remote control when the blackbirds would flock … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show: Foods for the Birds
There’s nothing like calming your spirit after a slushy, bumper to bumper ride home than watching the brilliant Red Cardinal feasting on bird food out your window. Bird Notes from Cornell U’s Ornithology lab is a great read on feeding birds.
For your enjoyment, make sure you locate the bird feeders where you can see them keeping in mind that birds want to feel safe. So an area that will provide quick cover should … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show: Houseplant heat and humidity
There’s already below zero windchills! Seriously not liking no Autumn this year, but Mother Nature is cranky sometimes…
So, our houseplants are in and the heat is on, which also means the air is already getting dry.
Houseplants, as a rule of thumb, require night temperatures about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than daytime. For average homeowners, the daytime temps usually hang somewhere between 65 to 70 while night time temps are set around … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Battling buckthorn
It’s that time of year… although the cold and snow are early, the Buckthorn shrub/small tree still holds it’s leaves. Which makes it a great target! This terribly invasive shrub is easily visible this time of year as it holds it’s leaves and berries longer than most.
Buckthorn takes over our native plants and shrubs and is NOT good for birds. It’s not poisonous, it just doesn’t give them any nutrition as they don’t absorb it. … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Nature: Good for the Body, Good for the Mind
Today we officially celebrate Veterans Day. Originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the signing of the agreement that ended World War I at 11:00 A.M., November 11, 1918, this federal holiday was changed to Veterans Day in 1954. At that time, it became a day to honor all the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States.
Garden Bite honors those who have … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Saving your Woodies this Winter
Before you start giggling… Tom, I know you are…. listen up, this is good advice! 😉
Winter sun, wind, temperature fluctuations, snow and ice can make for a deadly combo for your trees and shrubs. Sunscald happens on bright winter days when the sun heats up the cambium layer on the south and/or west side of your trees. The cambium layer moves water and nutrients through the tree, if it heats up, it … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Seeding your lawn in Winter? yup
You thought the season was over, and, yes, the best time to seed your lawn is mid August to mid September. However, there’s another option. Dormant Seeding. The University of MN Ext. offers some information HERE. Some other interesting info below…
This practice involves seeding when temperatures are too low for the seed to germinate prior to winter. Germination prior to winter is bad and seedlings will generally die if they … [Continue reading]