Hardy Kiwi vine


Mon. Jul. 26, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Hardy Kiwi vine

Have you ever thought of growing kiwi? Me either. I mean, come on, we live in zones 3 and 4! BUT, Hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta and Actinidia kolomikta) is the cold-hardy cousin of the vine that produces the familiar kiwi fruit sold at grocery stores.

Hardy kiwi is much more cold-tolerant and can be grown in zones 3, 4, or 5.  Primarily it’s grown for it’s heart-shaped leaves but it also delivers that tasty  … [Continue reading]

The Well Gardened Mind


Fri. Jul. 23, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The Well-gardened Mind

Last year I interviewed Sue Stuart Smith on her book, “The Well-gardened Mind – the Restorative Power of Nature”, detailing her grandfather’s journey from POW in Turkey during WWII and his recovery back to his life. Here’s the link to the interview.

Her grandfather, a WWI British veteran, had nearly died as a POW in Turkey, made it back a shell of a man but his gardens restored not just his physical health but  … [Continue reading]

Lake shoreline plantings


Thu. Jul. 22, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Lake shoreline plantings

I visited friends on a lake and noticed the plantings (or not) of the various properties.

  1. Shoreline planting provides physical stabilization of a lakeshore or river bank. The extensive root systems of native plants embrace the soil and hold it in place.
  2. They also benefit the water ecosystem by filtering-out pollutants from water runoff, creating healthy shoreline habitat.
  3. Attracting birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

While it’s a great idea to contact your local Soil and Water  … [Continue reading]

Second season planting


Wed. Jul. 21, 2021

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

Midsummer is the time for zone 4 to 6 gardeners to begin planting crops like broccoli, lettuce, peas, spinach, kale, cilantro and arugula.

Planting now through early August will have you harvesting from September through November (maybe!). When planting in the heat of summer, it’s important to keep the soil surface consistently moist. If it dries out, newly sprouted seeds may die and you will need to start over.

As a general rule, seeds  … [Continue reading]

Perennial grasses


Tue. Jul. 20, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Perennial grasses

Perennial grasses are one of my favorite plants. We are fortunate to have so many natives as well as many cultivars of those native plants.

And then there are those grasses that might not be from around here but are hardy just the same! I’m thinking of Japanese Golden Forest grass aka Hakonechloa. I’ve planted this one but it’s not super pleased in it’s place just yet.

There are tall grasses, small grasses, green grasses, blue  … [Continue reading]

Blossom end rot


Mon. Jul. 19, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Blossom end rot

Ugh, blossom end rot….

My romas went crazy (as have all the types of tomatoes I planted this year). However, this black stuff bugs me! So, what is blossom end rot?

It’s a calcium deficiency. Oddly that doesn’t mean there’s not enough calcium in the soil. Uneven watering and rapid early growth of the plants can also cause the rot because the calcium is needed by the tomatoes when they are actively growing and the  … [Continue reading]

Perennials for dry shade


Fri. Jul. 16, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Perennials for dry shade

 Many areas within the Garden Bite audience are suffering drought conditions. Some more than others. What plants can handle dry shade?

Hosta, of course, is one clear choice.

Foxglove is a gorgeous flowering biennial that digs part shade. It IS poisonous. Also known as digitalis, it’s used medicinally for congestive heart failure.

If you don’t have small children visiting your gardens, then give this very tall flower a chance. It grows to 5 ft  … [Continue reading]

What’s keeping birds from your backyard?


Thu. Jul. 15, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What’s keeping birds from your backyard?

Everyone loves having birds come to their landscapes, but some may find they don’t get much action even if they put out birdseed. So what’s going on?

One listener asked me how she could attract hummingbirds, then mentioned she has two cats. Well, first, leave the cats in the house. They are predators, regardless of whether they hang out on your shoulder.

Many people don’t like insects in their yard, so they  … [Continue reading]

Scarlet leatherflower


Wed. Jul. 14, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Scarlet leatherflower

Since it feels like we’re living in Texas, I thought I’d bring up clematis texensis, also  called Scarlet Leatherflower.

While a Texas native, it offers a possibility for those of us in zone 4b. Different from the clematis we’re used to, which prefer shade on their roots, this little beauty loves a southern or southwestern exposure and at least 6 hours of full sun. 

It’s also drought tolerant and blooms only on new wood.  That  … [Continue reading]

Fertilizing in hot weather


Tue. Jul. 13, 2021

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fertilizing in hot weather

To fertilize or not to fertilize.

Hot weather and drought stress plants, adding fertilizer can do even more damage. If you haven’t been watering those plants, trees and shrubs and the soil is very dry, don’t waste your time and money. They won’t be able to absorb the nitrogen so rethink adding fertilizer.

Don’t just leave it on top of the soil. And just don’t fertilize your lawn. Wait until Fall.

If you do  … [Continue reading]