Rain gardens


Wed. Apr. 4, 2018

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

More and more, homeowners are planting rain gardens.   Some cities offer dollars toward funding your project as it protects our water and helps storm water drains.  Check with your city to see if THEY offer something!!!  It’s worth it.

From marshes to savannas to dry prairies, there are some wonderful choices.  You must determine, first, what your sun/shade conditions will be and know the climate zone you live in.  University of MN Extension offers a comprehensive  … [Continue reading]

Frost dates, germination temps and the Year of the Beet


Tue. Apr. 3, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Frost dates, germination temps and the Year of the Beet

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.

Right now, the Upper Midwest isn’t there and if you listened to yesterday’s Garden Bite, you know it  … [Continue reading]

Critical freeze and Spring buds


Mon. Apr. 2, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Critical freeze and Spring buds

The last couple of years, Spring came early in terms of warm temperatures and bud break, then we had a freeze which nipped some of those buds.  2018 is a different story.  Coming out of a cold winter, many of us have still been experiencing below normal temperatures.  In fact, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting April temperatures to be just below normal and precipitation above normal.  Check your budding trees and shrubs. … [Continue reading]

Tiptoe into Spring garden cleanup


Thu. Mar. 29, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Tiptoe into Spring garden cleanup

As we tiptoe into Spring, we’re gingerly getting into our gardens, cutting back the leftovers from winter.  I’m talking about me.. And my cold foray into outdoor clean-up of my perennial grasses and flowers I left up. I do say tip toe for a couple of reasons…  soggy, muddy soil, which compacts and, frankly, it hasn’t been that warm!

If you’re not trudging through snow and your perennials aren’t laying over frozen to  … [Continue reading]

They’re all about the home gardener! NGB and AAS


Wed. Mar. 28, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  They’re all about the home gardener!  NGB and AAS

The National Garden Bureau and All America Selections, two non-profit plant organizations, joined forces to bring plants and information to the home gardener!  New, never before sold varieties are tested and shared with home gardeners.  I talked with NGB Executive Director, Diane Blazek.  NOTE:  I would suggest using Google Chrome as your browser for NGB.  The site didn’t interact well with Internet Explorer.   

She explained that the breeders  … [Continue reading]

One gardener’s delight is another’s invasive!


Fri. Mar. 23, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  One gardener’s delight is another’s invasive!

One gardener’s dream is another gardener’s weed.  Plain old orange daylilies are near the top of the list!  Their Latin name is hemerocallis.  In fact, on the Minnesota Wildflower site for Orange daylilies, in capital letters under status, it reads  Invasive – ERADICATE.

While Wisconsin isn’t as militant about the Daylily, they’re still considered invasive there too!  A rival vying for the title “ditch lily” in Minnesota, is called Tiger lily or  … [Continue reading]

Maple syruping


Wed. Mar. 21, 2018

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

When I was little my mom always had Aunt Jemima syrup.  Then I got the taste of REAL maple syrup and have NEVER gone back!  I can’t even order pancakes at a restaurant unless they have the real deal.  I’m so spoiled!

THEN I got to taste syrup made from my own Silver Maple trees.  There’s something about making it yourself that just adds to the flavor.  I’ll just be honest, this is when I lived  … [Continue reading]

Spring done sprung, spongy soil on the way


Tue. Mar. 20, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Spring done sprung, spongy soil on the way

While it’s simply a day on the calendar to some, the Spring Equinox starts a new gardening season in the minds of many.  Some fun Farmers Almanac Spring Facts

Astronomically speaking, the Vernal Equinox will happen at 11:15 this morning in the northern hemisphere, central time!  The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator –  … [Continue reading]

Garden friend or foe


Fri. Mar. 9, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Garden friend or foe

Ingrid Hoff, an entomologist  gave a great talk at the Proven Winners Extravaganza about bugs to squish and not to squish!

The Lacewing larvae is like a little aphid-eating lion!  Do NOT squish this wonder bug.

Aphids - yellow

Aphids – yellow

Aphids come in a variety of colors and they are NOT our friends.

Another squishable is the Emerald Ash Borer which has destroyed multiple millions of Ash Trees.

It may be pretty but it is  … [Continue reading]

Toss and walk


Thu. Mar. 8, 2018

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Toss and walk

A friend of mine does this every year.  He tosses seeds of leaf lettuce, radishes and even brussel sprouts on his garden this time of year and walks away.  Toss and walk…..

radishesIf you cleaned up your garden last year, then toss the seeds willy nilly onto the surface, no rows, and let them be.  No putting more soil on top, no watering, just walk away.  Toss and walk…

Brussel sprouts - Octia
Brussel sprouts – Octia

Sometime this  … [Continue reading]