The Monarch Highway and habitat


Tue. Jun. 26, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  The Monarch Highway and habitat

Last week was Pollinator week and the Minnesota Dept of Transportation, affectionately called, MNDot, shared information on their partnership with 6 other state transportation departments to restore Monarch habitat along the Interstate 35 corridor. The Monarch Highway.

Monarchhighway.org

It’s a 1500 mile stretch that State departments of transportation are increasing the use of native plants on roadsides and  expanding the agency’s prescribed fire program to further enhance existing native vegetation and habitats.  … [Continue reading]

Rain, rain go away….


Mon. Jun. 25, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Rain, rain, go away…

The rain did not let up for a week…  including the first day of Summer!  Okay, enough whining.  Many of us have experienced excess rain, but some have had a real issue with flooding….

Then there’s just really wet lawns…  check out this information from the University of MN Extension from 2010 on wet lawns

Some folks are seeing lots of mushrooms in their lawn… Inky Cap

Others are dealing with standing water (as  … [Continue reading]

Year of the Calibrachoa


Fri. Jun. 22, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Year of the Calibrachoa

Holy Calibrachoa!  I can’t think of a prettier little annual to add to every container, well, most every container, than the calibrachoa, the little sister of the Petunia.  

The National Garden Bureau has designated 2018, the Year of the Calibrachoa! Over the course of the last 20-30 years, Calibrachoa came from Brazil to Japan, to Europe and America, and then into your garden.  

It’s definitely the “new kid on the block” and breeders  … [Continue reading]

Summer solstice


Thu. Jun. 21, 2018

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

It is officially the first day of Summer!  The summer solstice took place at 5:07 this morning!   Of course it felt like we were in the tropics last week!  ARG….  Still, happy to celebrate!

This is the longest day of the year, for some it means the middle of summer, but I would say for most of us in colder climates, it’s more like the beginning of summer!  I’m cool with that!

Cultures have celebrated this  … [Continue reading]

Diagnosing plant decline


Wed. Jun. 20, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Diagnosing plant decline

I think the toughest part of gardening is trying to figure out why a plant isn’t thriving!

Is it an insect, is it a disease, are my plants getting the nutrients they need.  Enough water, too much water? Maybe this particular plant doesn’t like afternoon sun or one day you’re looking down on something that makes you go “eeewww, what’s that?”

Here are some questions that a Master Gardener might ask of you to find  … [Continue reading]

Gypsy Moths


Tue. Jun. 19, 2018

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

The Gypsy moth is an invasive, leaf-eating insect that feeds on about 300 types of trees and shrubs in North America.

When their populations are high, gypsy moth caterpillars can strip an entire neighborhood or forest of leaves in May and June.

Repeated defoliations may weaken trees and leave them susceptible to other insects and diseases. Adult gypsy moths do not feed, but the adult females lay thousands of eggs which are easily transported to new  … [Continue reading]

Perennial planting tips


Fri. Jun. 15, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show:  Perennial planting tips

Yes, there is a pun in the title…

Sometimes we forget that not everyone knows how to do things we’ve done for years.  In that spirit, today is about perennial planting tips.

When planting containers:

  • Right Plant, Right Place (I know we talked about this but always a good thing to reinforce)
  • In container planting, mix perlite with your potting soil to lighten it and allow better drainage
  • plant your purchase at the level it
 … [Continue reading]

Transporting your plant purchases


Thu. Jun. 14, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Transporting your plant purchases

There’s nothing like wind to whip the moisture out of plants leaves!  Motorcyclists and dogs may love it the wind in their hair/fur, but plants… not quite so much!

While a plant loves a new home out of a pot, it takes them time to adjust (just like most humans!).  So they’re already a bit weakened, add the loss of moisture and being beat up by wind, and they’re a little traumatized.  Here are  … [Continue reading]

Plant sale mania


Wed. Jun. 13, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Plant sale mania

It’s plant sale time at many area garden centers.  Oh, those glorious buys you can get!  Just remember, they’re only a deal if they grow.  Make sure you’re getting healthy stock.  If possible, loosen the plant and hold it by the stem very close to the soil line, pull it out of the pot and look at the roots.  Check that they’re not yellow or mushy.  The last thing you want is root rot! … [Continue reading]

Controlling late blight on tomatoes


Tue. Jun. 12, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Controlling late blight on tomatoes

Last year many folks lost much of their homegrown tomatoes due to a nasty disease called Late Blight.  Will last year’s disease affect this year? Not likely, the pathogen doesn’t survive our winter. It’s generally brought in from elsewhere.  It can only survive on potato culls or tomato fruit that are sheltered in soil or a warm compost pile.

Late blight is caused by a water mold and needs high levels of  … [Continue reading]