Dormant pruning


Fri. Feb. 11, 2022

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

Now through early spring is the best time to prune MOST trees and shrubs. 

Cold temperatures provide the best time to prune because the plants are dormant, their sap flowing less freely and the insects are not a bother.

Do NOT prune any spring blooming shrubs now, however, it IS a good time to prune any summer or fall flowering shrubs. More on WHEN and HOW to prune trees/shrubs from the University of Minnesota Extension.   … [Continue reading]

Vegetables for part shade/part sun


Thu. Feb. 10, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Vegetables for part shade/part sun

You can still grow a vegetable garden if you don’t have full sun, that means 6 to 8 hours!  That, according to former  University of Minnesota Hort professor, Jeff Gillman in his book “Decoding Gardening Advice”.  A great read. 

Gillman says these vegetables/herbs need as little as 2 hours of direct sunlight:

  • Arugula
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Endive
  • Kale
  • Leaf lettuce
  • Mustard greens
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard – if you want the leaves only.
 … [Continue reading]

There’s more than one Milkweed


Wed. Feb. 9, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: There’s more than one Milkweed

Milkweed.  THE plant for monarch butterflies.

But it’s not just the common milkweed. There are, in fact, several options. Karen Oberhauser, Director of the University of Wisconsin- Madison Arboretum, says part of the massive decline of the monarch is weather related. Early, warm springs tend to be associated with low monarch numbers.  She says that may be due to the mismatch in the timing of milkweed availability. Habitat loss is the number one  … [Continue reading]

A change of climate for gardening


Tue. Feb. 8, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show: A change of climate for gardening

As we continue to deal with climate change, record temps high and low, increased drought and floods, there’s a change of climate in the gardening world in several ways including how we view trees and the planting of them. 

We’re well past simply beautification and are planting for their natural functions. The Minnesota DNR has proposed $13.3 million to replant seedlings lost in the drought. Read more about that from the link  … [Continue reading]

Sowing seeds in winter – vernalization


Mon. Feb. 7, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Sowing seeds in winter – vernalization

Plant some seeds in a container that forms a greenhouse effect and set them outside. Cheap, easy and allows for the seeds to be ready to plant in your garden when the soil warms up!

What happens with this method is vernalization, a process in which frigid temperatures stimulate seed germination.

This can work for perennials such as delphinium and thyme for example (plants hardy to your climate zone which is  … [Continue reading]

Very Peri – Pantone color and plants


Fri. Feb. 4, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Very Peri – Pantone color and plants

 I mentioned a few weeks ago that Pantone picked their color of the year for 2022. ‘Very Peri’ as described by Pantone, “displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression”. I really do love that.

Moving on to Very Peri and plants. Incorporate some joy with an allium called ‘Globemaster’.

Hardy to zone 2, this flowering onion has silvery purple globe flowers  … [Continue reading]

Cankers/Galls and late winter pruning


Thu. Feb. 3, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Cankers/Galls and late winter pruning

With all the leaves gone on our trees and shrubs, it’s a good time to take a careful look at their branches for galls or cankers. Now through early March is a good time to prune out these problems. The wound is exposed for a shorter amount of time (a good thing) before the new growth starts to seal the wound.

As explained by the University of MN Hort Dept. : A … [Continue reading]

Groundhog Day “weather” you believe it or not!


Wed. Feb. 2, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Groundhog Day “weather” you believe it or not!

February 2nd each year brings the most-watched weather forecast of the year—and the only one led by a rodent.

Legend has it that on this morning if a groundhog, specifically Punxsutawney Phil, can see its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it cannot see its shadow, spring is on the way. I wrote this last week, so I’m not going to say I know what  … [Continue reading]

Sprouting seeds


Tue. Feb. 1, 2022

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

 It has been a cold winter so far. Temps well below zero… brr. We’re missing our greens but we don’t have to. Where I work, one of our employees did a video on Sprouting seeds indoors. Watch the full video below. 

What’s so cool is how EASY it is! Growing sprouts doesn’t require any soil, just water, air, and a little sunshine on the last day or two to develop chlorophyll. (Turns them green)

Sprouts are  … [Continue reading]

Dead trees for life!


Mon. Jan. 31, 2022

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Dead trees for life!

I was snowshoeing with friends when one of them pointed out a ‘snag’ and said, “you should write a garden bite about that”. So, Lisa, I did!!  

You may wonder what the heck is a snag? It’s a dead tree left upright to decompose naturally and it’s a fantastic cover for wildlife while also providing food.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, Dead trees provide vital habitat for more than 1,000 species of  … [Continue reading]