with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Coveting a zone 5 plant
I have coveted the buddleia or Butterfly bush, for years. I’ve been tempted many times to buy one and see what happens. One of the experts I work with just hates them! It’s a zone 5 plant! I live in zone 4b and that’s pushing it.
So he generally encourages people not to buy them or be prepared to lose them when we get a wicked winter. But here I go, sharing a … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: How to build a compost pile
My compost pile could use some help. Actually it needs to be completely revamped! But that’s another ‘Bite! Today it’s about the materials to use.
Again, I dip into my favorite magazine for inspiration, Northern Gardener.
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Summer Solstice 2022
The Summer Solstice happened at 4:13 this morning, central time! The astrological first day of Summer and the longest day of the year.
The timing of the June solstice is not based on a specific calendar date or time; it all depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point from the celestial equator. That’s usually the 20th, 21st or 22nd. This is generally a time when many are eating the first strawberries of the … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Peony tips
The peonies are really poppin’! The garden center I work at recently featured ‘Buckeye Belle’. The flowers are a deep, dark red!
But today’s Bite is really about tips for taking care of these lovely perennials. Northern Gardener magazine continues to feature tips that they’ve shared over their 150 year history. And today I share with you their tips on peonies. Brand Peonies, Minnesota’s first peony breeding operation, opened in Faribault, MN, in … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Time saving garden products
We’re all busy but we also love to garden! Sometimes our garden chores get away from us. In come some time-saving garden products approved by members of the National Garden Bureau, including ME!
Do you have poor soil? Maybe NO soil? Consider Garden Soxx, a mesh containment system that’s similar to container growing—but without the container.
You place GardenSoxx® where you want to grow, fill the mesh with your own compost or potting … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Dandelions – the great debate
As you know, I’ve been an advocate of not using chemicals on my lawn, which means dandelions. Lots of gardeners, including me, have touted the benefits of those cheery yellow flowers. Bees enjoy them. However…
I just read an article from a man who really LIVES native plantings. Benjamin Vogt is an author I’ve interviewed a few times and he has just given me food for thought that I wanted to share with … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Plant diagnostics
What’s wrong with my plant? OH, such a loaded question. UGH, I think the toughest part of gardening is trying to figure out why a plant isn’t thriving! Sometimes it’s easy, like the photo below:
Much happier this year. PS, others know this plant by it’s more common name Coral Bells.
Sometimes, it’s not easy at all and could be a number of ailments at one time. Is it an insect, is it a disease, are … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Keep weeds away with ground cover
Weeds a problem? Likely.. They are in my landscape. But ground covers come to the rescue!
Ground covers can mean several things, plants, mulch or something else, which perform in other ways.
Ground covers can also enhance soil health, provide food and habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and reduce soil erosion.
Check out these plant options from the University of Minnesota Extension. It’s a great variety of plants that … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Watering tips for your lawn
We’re expecting the heat to really kick in this week. It’s a good time to look over some watering tips for your lawn!
The University of MN Extension has some great ideas to train your lawn to be water-wise. Water lawns deeply and infrequently to encourage deep rooting. Shallow watering results in root growth in only the top few inches of the soil which means plants will be unable to survive hot dry … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: 2022 – The Year of the Phlox
The National Garden Bureau chose Phlox as the 2022 perennial of the Year! I have creeping phlox and I just planted a pink garden phlox late last year.
I’m excited to watch it this year!
Phlox are one of the classic American perennials and one of the earliest North American natives to enter cultivation. Colors range from white to pink to magenta, purple and blue.
There are roughly 2 … [Continue reading]