Blueberry the antioxidant Super Hero


Fri. May. 17, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Blueberry the antioxidant Super Hero

I’ve talked about blueberries before, in fact, a long time before as you’ll see from this video I did, maybe 10 or 11 YEARS ago! It was probably the 3rd video I’d done on gardening!   Cut me some slack!  ?

The Blueberry is a tasty  antioxidant  superhero and a lovely shrub with rockin’ fall foliage.

It does offer gardeners in the upper midwest a bit of a unique challenge as they like a  … [Continue reading]

Hardening off


Thu. May. 16, 2019

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

While the weather’s been kinda iffy and my seedlings haven’t done much of anything.  In fact, I’m beginning to think that the Burpee Organic seed starting I used really isn’t good.  I have a GB about this. 

Anyway… some folks are curious as to hardening off those homegrown seedlings and greenhouse plants.  Mine will not be going anywhere unless/until they get bigger!

Hardening off is the process of acclimating your precious, babied plants into the wild  … [Continue reading]

Friendly fences and hedges


Wed. May. 15, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Friendly fences and hedges

I gave a shout out to all those who follow my Garden Bite facebook page and asked folks what topic they’d like more information on. A friend asked what would make a great hedge for a fence.  Friendly fences are awesome!

Years ago I planted a friendly fence of Alpine Currant.  It’s a hardy mounded shrub that can be kept at about 3 feet or, do like I did and let it grow  … [Continue reading]

Summer blooming bulbs


Tue. May. 14, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Summer blooming bulbs

Gladiolas, dahlias, cannas.  These are bulbs we in cold climates can plant now for summer bloom!

Alliums, oriental lilies, begonias and bulbs I can’t pronounce are also on that list. I made an impulse purchase and bought some pretty gladioli called ‘Vista’, a pretty purple and white glad with a red center.

These are gonna add some pop to the perennial garden as they grow 40 inches tall and bloom from July to September.  Glads  … [Continue reading]

Planting vegetables in containers


Mon. May. 13, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Planting vegetables in containers

Lots of folks will be growing vegetables and herbs in containers.  What size container should you use?  What TYPE of container?   Certain containers create issues for your plants.

Tomatoes are super popular and grow well in containers but they need size! University based information says use AT LEAST a 12 inch diameter container, but honestly, bigger is better.  The larger pots provide more soil and hold more water which minimizes wilting and stress as  … [Continue reading]

Mother’s Day and flowers


Fri. May. 10, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Mother’s Day and flowers

Mother’s Day and flowers

Mother’s Day is one of those traditions that is all American.  A woman named Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases “second Sunday in May” and “Mother’s Day” in 1912 being very specific that the apostrophe for mothers day was in there so that people would celebrate their own mother not just all moms.

Two years after her own mom died Anna embarked on a campaign to get people to celebrate their  … [Continue reading]

Fertilizing annuals and perennials


Thu. May. 9, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Fertilizing annuals and perennials

Fertilizing annuals and perennials

Yes, there’s a difference.  Because annuals live their entire life cycle in one season, they do well with more fertilizer treatments.  Also, if they’re in containers, the fertilizer runs out much quicker.  Perennials have the advantage of establishing their roots deeper in the soil and the fertilizer lingers longer.

Always follow package directions OR use less!  Never use more.  For great blooms, use a 10-20-10 fertilizer.  The middle number is  … [Continue reading]

Coffee grounds deter slugs


Wed. May. 8, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Coffee grounds deter slugs

Coffee grounds deter slugs

There have been a number of claims about using coffee grounds in the garden.  Do they really work? Well, as with most home remedies, they are still being studied!  Claims of disease control to enhanced growth and more, generally, means that success varies. There are some who say don’t use them at all.  I generally offer university based information but sometimes you’ll find nuggets of knowledge that science just doesn’t  … [Continue reading]

Lilac love is in the air


Tue. May. 7, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Lilac love is in the air

Lilac love is in the air

Oh the lilacs have budded out and soon that wonderful fragrance will waft through, I hope, open windows!  Here’s to a sunny day with a warm breeze!

A LONG time ago I lived on a hobby farm where the lilacs were about 12 feet thick, about 12 feet tall and surrounded the house.  Truth is, they CAN get out of hand as many of us know  … [Continue reading]

Lawn care – weed killing


Mon. May. 6, 2019

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Lawn care – weed killing

Lawn care – weed killing

Does forsythia bloom foretell the coming of crabgrass?  Actually… sorta.  This year is a bit wonky with cold weather which means we have some time, but not much. Generally speaking…

Preemergent herbicides affect germinating seeds. That means, to be effective, the herbicide should be applied two to three weeks before weed seeds germinate.

Some researchers say that’s about the time when forsythia starts to drop its blooms.  The  … [Continue reading]