Garden Tool prep and pruning out damage


Fri. Apr. 17, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Garden tool prep and pruning out damage

We’ve talked a lot about plants this week but, of course, if your soil is just too soggy, consider garden tool prep.  At least lovingly tending to the tools gets us closer to the garden!

Take some steel wool to those trowels, a file to your pruners and examine tools for any repair or, perhaps replacement!

You can prune out dead or damaged branches any time…

My lilac always suffers damage  … [Continue reading]

Cool coleus and 2020 introductions


Thu. Apr. 16, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Cool coleus and 2020 introductions

Coleus are such cool plants! I love them in my containers, in the garden and in areas to fill spots where the spring beauties have already expired! From green to yellow to pink to orange to nearly any combination you can think of you, you’ll find an amazing array!

 Main Street ‘Beale Street’ Coleus is a 2020 All-American Selections Winner and the first-ever coleus to be named an AAS Winner!

Fully sun tolerant,  … [Continue reading]

More 2020 vegetables to try


Wed. Apr. 15, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More 2020 vegetables to try

 Hybridizers are always workin’. As we continue to shelter in place, getting our hands in the dirt, or at least being outdoors and pondering what we’ll plant can lift our spirits. (currently it’s snowing like crazy in southeast Minnesota but yesterday was fabulous!) Welcome to the Upper Midwest where the weather changes on a whim!

How about a new summer squash? It’s called ‘Lemon Drop’.

According to Burpee, Lemon Drop makes for  … [Continue reading]

Of pollinators and plants


Tue. Apr. 14, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Of pollinators and plants

Bees get the buzz as the most efficient pollinators, as they should…

Honey bees in particular because they can be packed up and carted to commercial growers for pollinate, for instance, almond trees in California.

But nearly everything is a pollinator to a certain degree.  Butterflies are probably next on the list. Though inadvertent pollinators, they carry the pollen on their legs and bodies as they feed on the nectar of flowers.

Birds, beetles  … [Continue reading]

Your Easter lily


Mon. Apr. 13, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Your Easter lily

It was an odd weekend for Easter. While we are social distancing and staying in place, many of our places of worship held online services.

Our local florists were busy delivering Easter lilies to many. 

The beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, hope and life – the spiritual essence of Easter – a time of renewal.

Caring for your Easter lily:

  • Lilies prefer it a little cool, around 60 to 65 degrees
  • They also prefer
 … [Continue reading]

Garden nurseries


Fri. Apr. 10, 2020

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

 We’re living in a strange land that none of us could have imagined just a couple of months ago. As gardeners we instinctively love being outdoors.

Thankfully THAT’s still an awesome thing we can do and we can benefit in so many ways. Oh I’ve already had a few days to get out in the sunshine and cut back some perennials and grasses and linger a proper distance away from my neighbors who gather to check  … [Continue reading]

Tomato and pepper seed start time


Thu. Apr. 9, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Tomato and pepper seed start time

Nothing’s better than a homegrown tomato.  You can make that experience even better by starting your own from seed.  The best barometer for planting tomatoes and peppers outside is when the soil temperature is 60 to 70 degrees.  Usually that’s Memorial weekend in zone 4 and a week or so later in zone 3.   Planting early usually means stunted growth.  I’m going to start some seeds within the next week or so.   … [Continue reading]

Planting slopes


Wed. Apr. 8, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Planting slopes

Oh boy… can’t wait to push the mower up that!

There’s got to be a better way! And there is…but it ain’t easy.

You’re looking for plants to prevent soil erosion and yet the site is usually difficult to work on for anything including maintenance.  Adding a mix of shrubs, grasses, perennials and hardscape items is work, but worth it.  Think about your budget too!

This is a great article from Midwest Gardens on planting slopes.  … [Continue reading]

Frost dates and the Year of the Hydrangea


Tue. Apr. 7, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Frost dates and the Year of the Hydrangea

 Throwing seeds of lettuce and radishes on your soil right now is fine, they germinate in soil temps of about 35.

Most cool season crops germinate when soil and air temperatures are at least 40 degrees and above.  Those crops include carrots, beets and cole crops like broccoli and cauliflower.

 The AVERAGE last official frost date for Zones 3 and 4 is May 15th while zones 5 and 6  … [Continue reading]

Lasagna gardening or “sheet” gardening


Mon. Apr. 6, 2020

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Lasagna gardening or “sheet” gardening

Oh we had some wonderful days last week. I hope you had a chance to move about your gardens and start clean up!

I saved the grasses to use as mulch on my vegetable garden. Since we ARE headed into a time when we can start to really do some things outdoors, keep in mind, we still have to be aware of soggy soil and frost still in the ground. (Although not much) … [Continue reading]