Oh for Peats sake


Tue. Mar. 14, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Oh for Peats sake

It’s been a staple in potting mixes for something like forever. It’s water retaining qualities, ability to hold nutrients in the soil and leave space for oxygen make it valuable to gardeners. And we’re depleting this carbon sponge we so desperately need.

Another article in Northern Gardener magazine shares that peat creates ideal growing conditions for plants.

Peat moss comes from bogs, a kind of wetland that’s home to unique flora and fauna. It  … [Continue reading]

A whole new look at Bleeding Hearts


Mon. Mar. 13, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: A whole new look at Bleeding Hearts

My Northern Gardener magazine came!! It never disappoints, I always discover something. If you’re a cold climate gardener, check them out. No, I’m NOT paid to say that!

Common bleeding heart (the old-fashioned early bloomers) are native to Asia but there are several North American Natives!

The common bleeding (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) heart bloom early and go dormant over the summer.

There are lovely cultivars of them including ‘Alba’ (these 3 plants  … [Continue reading]

Change is gonna come 2023


Fri. Mar. 10, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Change is gonna come 2023

I’ve said it before and it continues to be relevant:  The only constant thing in life is change and that really follows us into the garden.

Whether it’s change WE choose, the PLANT chooses or even a hungry critter chooses! In particular this winter of 22/23 has been challenging to say the least.

Every one of my shrubs has been eaten by rabbits. I can’t really blame them as they need to eat  … [Continue reading]

Microgreens


Thu. Mar. 9, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Microgreens

March is here but for those of us in cold climates, and this winter in particular!, our weather just isn’t suitable for outside growing yet! In come microgreens! They are really popular and super easy indoors.

Microgreens are not sprouts (germinated seed), they’re edible immature greens, harvested with scissors less than a month after germination, when the plants are up to 2 inches tall. For more on sprouts check out microveggy.com. 

They’re pretty much any green  … [Continue reading]

General seed starting


Wed. Mar. 8, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: General seed starting

 From now to about mid-April you can start planting seeds indoors. Be sure to adjust for YOUR climate zone. I am focusing on zone 4 mostly but that can translate to areas of 3 and 5 also.

  • For germination, most seeds need warmth
  • For growth, they’ll need light.  There’s no need for fancy/expensive grow lights unless you’re growing flowers indoors.

And yes, my 1897 built home tilts! I will have to put some shims on  … [Continue reading]

2023 Year of the Spirea


Tue. Mar. 7, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: 2023 Year of the Spirea

Spirea, years ago I really didn’t like them. They seemed a bit boring and I sort of ignored them. Then along came Double Play ‘Candy Corn’.

It’s changing colors throughout the seasons are something to behold.

The National Garden Bureau has named their shrub of the year for 2023, it’s Spirea! With nearly 100 unique species, NGB reports that this hardy group of plants boasts a wide range of colorful foliage ranging  … [Continue reading]

Host plants for butterflies and moths


Mon. Mar. 6, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Host plants for butterflies and moths

Plowing out from our blizzard I received my Prairie Moon Nursery catalog. Oh the joy it brings! Inside the catalog is a list of native plants that are hosts for specific butterflies and moths.

I share some with you today! For earlier bloom and the first to provide nectar for hummingbirds, choose Columbine. This plant is host to the Columbine Duskywing. Red and yellow flowers bloom from April to June  … [Continue reading]

Newspaper recycling and your garden


Fri. Mar. 3, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Newspaper recycling and your garden

 While I don’t always enjoy the news, I’ve always enjoyed getting the big Sunday paper. My Sunday paper didn’t show up… so this is a previous photo!

I’d really hate to see print go away completely although I understand the push to online formats, spreading the paper out and reading while enjoying a cup of coffee isn’t something I want to give up. I’m not good and scrolling and drinking my coffee!! HA,  … [Continue reading]

What to know about bare-root plants


Thu. Mar. 2, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: What to know about bare-root plants

Once again, it’s time to check out bare-root plants! From perennials to shrubs (including roses) to trees, planting bareroot is less expensive.

Bare-root plants are typically one to perhaps even 3 years old when dug out of the ground where they’ve been growing.

Prairie Moon Nursery has a great PDF on Installing Bare-root which includes the various roots systems and planting specifics.  They’re shipped to you with no soil, just moist  … [Continue reading]

Getting a jump on summer bulb planting


Wed. Mar. 1, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Getting a jump on summer bulb planting

Get a jump on summer bulb planting! Karen is an expert at Gertens Garden Center in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and shares some great info. Oh, and I share some too!

You can purchase bulbs from local garden centers or maybe you dug up your gladiolus, cannas, your dahlias or your tuberous begonias last Fall and want to get started.  PS, as Karen says, if you get it a little be  … [Continue reading]