with Teri Knight
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Explaining a freeze, a frost and why it matters
We’ve had some lovely warmer temperatures and even some rainfall. BUT, we live in cold climates so that means cold ain’t over till Mother Nature says so.
And often she gives us more blasts of cold – I think she wants to remind us who is actually in control!
Historically, in my zone 4 area, May 15th has been the last frost date, however, with climate change that has … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Bare-root tree/shrub planting
As soon as the soil thaws (is workable), it’s time to plant bare-root trees. A bare-root tree has no soil at all around its roots. It has been removed from the soil while still dormant.
Typically bare-root are available until just after the frost free date in your region, this year they are selling out quickly! After that, if there are any left the nursery will pot them up, let them break dormancy, and sell … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fresh From the Garden – myth busting
Years ago, I had a chance to interview John Whitman, he’s the author of a vegetable gardening tome called “Fresh from the Garden – an organic guide to growing vegetables, berries and herbs in Cold Climates”.
It is packed with information on vegetables I grow and those I’ve never even heard of!
He also shares garden myths:
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: International Day of Forests
I saw on a calendar of holidays, that today is International Day of Forests. I got to thinking, what a GREAT day!
The UN General Assembly proclaimed this day in 2012. Click on the link for information on this 10 year anniversary! I’m IN!
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: More cool tools
Great tools are the gardeners best friend. Great, QUALITY tools are even better! When I first started gardening, I bought the cheapest pruners, loppers, trowels and even shovels.
Well, that was 20 years ago and I’ve spent a lot more money on replacing those tools that fell apart or simply didn’t do the job I needed them to do! I talked about some of my favorite tools last week, today I’ll share a few more. … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: What NOT to do when the temps rise
Okay, I admit it. Last week was lovely for many of us with a reprieve from the bitter cold. I couldn’t stand it. I walked around in my yard looking at the unusual amount of rabbit poop and rabbit fur! Some cat has been hungry…
I left the bunny poop and fur but removed the “fence” that didn’t work.
After removing the evergreen garland and de-wiring it so I could … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Spring Equinox 2022
The Vernal Equinox is Sunday! The word vernal means ‘fresh’ or ‘new’ and is related to Spring.
Many a gardener lists Spring as their favorite season. The freshness of it, the hope it brings and the first time we get our hands in the soil again and smell the Earth!
Equinox means equal night. The Equinox doesn’t “officially” happen until 10:33 Sunday morning central time. I say we start celebrating now! I’m thinking happy dance… … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Oxalis – the Good Luck plant
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
While you’re likely seeing green “shamrocks” everywhere, what exactly is a shamrock? It’s a kind of slurred pronunciation of the Irish word seamrog, meaning little clover. It’s really White Clover also known as trifolium reepens. A 3 leafed plant that WAS thought of as a weed but is now a great lawn replacement!
It’s also related to oxalis, also called shamrock. The leaves are very similar but … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Rhodos & Azaleas for the North
A listener recently asked me if Rhododendrons were the same as Azaleas. Well, kinda.
If you have a chance, visit the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and be prepared to be amazed.
Botanically, azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the genus Rhododendron. This genus is one of the largest genera of woody plants, containing over 800 species. We can’t grow them all in our cold climate.
Basically, azaleas are deciduous (losing their leaves in winter) … [Continue reading]
Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Spring woodland wildflowers
I was snowshoeing with friends in the Big Woods state park in Nerstrand, Minnesota. There are signs up to stay on the trail as there are endangered dwarf trout lilies in the area.
This is one of the very rare places they grow. The flowers are tiny! This from Minnesota Seasons: When not flowering, the Dwarf is not easily distinguished from other trout lilies, though the leaves are slightly smaller than those of the average … [Continue reading]