Tips to keep your indoor seedlings thriving


Mon. Apr. 17, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Tips to keep your indoor seedlings thriving

If you planted seeds indoors, you’re seeing sprouts now. I’ve got okra coming big time!

Tomatoes, peppers and more.

Now is the time to give them some extra attention. The University of Minnesota Extension says one of the most common problems affecting seedlings is damping off. I had to remove the covers early, I was starting to see issues!

This problem is caused by a number of pathogens that I can’t  … [Continue reading]

Trendy bee hotels – yea or nay


Fri. Apr. 14, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Trendy bee hotels – yea or nay

Trends can be fun. Trends can also be wolves in sheep’s clothing. One of the latest trends plays on our desire to help pollinators. Bee hotels.

My good friend and arborist, Faith Appelquist of Treequality, once again gives me a great bit of information to share with you. Faith writes: Research shows that bug hotels are mostly a fad. There has been very little science applied to them to determine  … [Continue reading]

Planting the “Hell strip” aka boulevard


Thu. Apr. 13, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Planting the “Hell strip” aka boulevard

I shared about my favorite new book on Monday, “A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators”. Today I want to include some of their information on planting the “Hell Strip” also known as the boulevard.

This is the place that almost always looks lousy as it gets a beating from cars, trucks and road salt. Or drought…

Consider planting native wildflowers. DO make sure that you check your city  … [Continue reading]

Shrubs for containers 2023


Wed. Apr. 12, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Shrubs for containers 2023

Container gardening is a trend that continues. Proven Winners, a major plant breeding company, shares some perfect shrubs for your containers. First up is a native plant! Aronia melanocarpa aka Black Chokeberry.

Specifically Low Scape Mound (a nativar) is hardy to zone 3 and offers three-season appeal with masses of white spring flowers, black summer fruit and fabulous red fall color. Low Scape is under half the size of the native species growing  … [Continue reading]

Rain barrels and compost bins


Tue. Apr. 11, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Rain barrels and compost bins

 April Showers bring May flowers.  At least that’s the hope and that moisture isn’t in the solid form of snow! 

Rainwater is the best kind of water for your landscapes and gardens and capturing it is a good thing for several reasons.

First, it’s free!  It’s also a good stormwater management practice.  Corralling that precious water before it rushes down the storm drain and carries with it phosphorous that is a major contributor

 … [Continue reading]

New book review: A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators


Mon. Apr. 10, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators

I am so excited to share this new book with you. I received a copy from the publisher to review and, I have to say, I am more than happy to report “A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators, creating habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes and Upper Midwest” by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla, is even better than I anticipated.

Sharing knowledge on ALL things in  … [Continue reading]

Choosing your Easter lily


Fri. Apr. 7, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Choosing your Easter lily

This Sunday is Easter. It changes every year as Easter always falls on the first Sunday after a full moon between March 22nd and April 25th, approximately. This Christian Holy Day is marked by cherished traditions that bring joy, comfort, warmth and a continuity between generations.

The beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers of the Easter Lily, or lilium longiflorum symbolize purity, hope and life – the spiritual essence of Easter – a time of renewal.  … [Continue reading]

Mulch and a tragic misstep IMHO


Thu. Apr. 6, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Mulch and a tragic misstep IMHO

I just read a statement from a website that is thought to be very reputable. It’s used by a LOT of lay people to get, what they believe, is the best information. That’s why I had to do this Garden Bite.

I won’t name the website but it clearly stated that plastic and landscape materials (fabric) are great mulch for foundation areas. NO, please do NOT use either of those. Ever.

The  … [Continue reading]

Assessing wildlife damage on plants


Wed. Apr. 5, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Assessing wildlife damage on plants

The weather was warm enough to start shoveling out the 4 ft. pile next to my back door to melt!

I’m now wearing a brace on my elbow. BOY that stuff was frozen! And then…

I’ve been continuing to tread lightly in my gardens but I DID see life! 

Have you been assessing wildlife damage? I have damage on nearly all my shrubs and even some perennials. 

Rabbits, voles and squirrels can all  … [Continue reading]

Tomato and pepper seed start time 2023


Tue. Apr. 4, 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Tomato and pepper seed start time 2023

The last official frost date for Zone 4 is May 15th while zone 3 is looking at about May 25th.  That date is completely subject to the current weather!

I’m in zone 4b and we have yet to reach our first 50 degree day. (It was predicted but didn’t quite get there).  The average first 50 degree day in my area is March 9th. At this point, let’s  … [Continue reading]