Search Results for: clay soil

Fresh from the Garden – myth busting

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Fresh from the Garden – myth busting

I had a chance to interview John Whitman, he’s the author of a new vegetable gardening tome called “Fresh from the Garden – an organic guide to growing vegetables, berries and herbs in Cold Climates”.

He also talks about myths in the garden.  The leading myth is that some people are born with a green thumb!  He says, nope.  Good gardening comes from

  • hard work aka patience
  • knowledge such as
 … [Continue reading]

Mighty tiny evergreens

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Mighty tiny evergreens

Yesterday I talked planting practices this time of year, today let’s talk mighty tiny evergreens!  

My new Northern Gardener magazine came with an article by Susannah Shmurak, who happens to live in the same town I do!  She also blogs at healthygreensavvy.com.  Her article is titled “Small but Mighty evergreens” and includes some darling little beauties for smaller landscapes.  

While there’s been much talk, and with good reason, about the winter damage of many  … [Continue reading]

Year of the Calibrachoa

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]

Dear Spring, we miss you…

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show:  Dear Spring, we miss you…

So the air temperature got down to 6 degrees last week (I’m in the southeastern portion of Minnesota)…  that’s a record by the way.  (Ya think!)

I was talking with a local nursery owner who said they’re opening today but “not really”.  The day they really think they’ll be able to take care of their customers needs won’t happen until April 21st!  (The latest he’s opened in his 50 years there).  They still  … [Continue reading]

Change is gonna come 2023

Click below to listen to my 2 min Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Change is gonna come 2023

I’ve said it before and it continues to be relevant:  The only constant thing in life is change and that really follows us into the garden.

Whether it’s change WE choose, the PLANT chooses or even a hungry critter chooses! In particular this winter of 22/23 has been challenging to say the least.

Every one of my shrubs has been eaten by rabbits. I can’t really blame them as they need to eat  … [Continue reading]

Low mow/no mow grass choice

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Low mow/no mow grass choice

If mowing is not your thing or you’re looking at being more environmentally friendly, consider Eco-grass. A low mow or no mow lawn option.

Prairie Moon Nursery offers a blend of fine-leaved fescue grasses as an alternative to an energy-intensive conventional turf lawn. This blend is hardy from Zone 2 – 7. It is not native to our region, however, due to the other benefits it offers, it’s worth it even if you  … [Continue reading]

Change is gonna come, weather we like it or not!

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Change is gonna come, weather we like it or not!

The only constant thing in life is change and that really follows us into the garden. Whether it’s change WE choose, the PLANT chooses, a hungry critter chooses or the weather! 

And this Winter has been all over the place! With drought last year and sustained cold this winter along with mini stretches of really warm temps, we’ll have to see how it plays out in the garden.  … [Continue reading]

Worst trees! Says who?

Click below to listen to my  2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Worst trees! Says Who?

 I discovered a list of trees that a site says are the WORST. After reading it I took issue with some of their “worst”. Frankly, one person’s “weed”, is another person’s “flower”. Take the dandelion.

That said, I’ll share some of their “worst” and my “not so”. There are a lot of reasons a tree isn’t fun to have around. They may be messy or weak and prone to damage… maybe they’re susceptible to  … [Continue reading]

Fall lawn seeding and care

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Fall lawn seeding and care

2021 for Minnesota has meant drought. While we’ve had some glorious rain, we are still in a drought and our lawns, plants and trees & shrubs have suffered. That said, now is the time to seed your lawn (if it needs it). Many lawns have gone dormant so, before you start raking up that brown stuff, be sure grass is truly dead. If there’s been some greening up, it’s not dead. Still brown?  … [Continue reading]

A low mow, no mow grass choice

Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: A low mow, no mow grass choice

Lawn mowing season is coming… yay! Kinda…

if mowing isn’t your bag or you have a slope you’d rather not deal with, then consider Eco Grass.

Prairie Moon Nursery offers a blend of fine-leaved fescue grasses as an alternative to an energy-intensive conventional turf lawn. I’m not getting paid to talk about Eco-Grass, but want to share with you this option for a low mow, no mow grass.

It’s also an  … [Continue reading]