It pains me to see customers spending hundreds of dollars on new plants and simultaneously refusing to spend a few more on a bag or two of compost and a box of starter fertilizer. These two items are not unnecessary “add-ons” that the retailer is just trying to add to the sale, they are critical components of a successful transplanting process - or as I like to refer to them as “plant insurance”. Unless you have phenomenal soil, you should always add compost and starter fertilizers when you are planting new plants. Here is why…
I am back once more to help you continue down the road to pruning success this week with episode three. Most things work best as a trilogy, right? I am sure that all of your eager gardening minds are ready for more this week as we keep this momentum going. Up next is a focus on types of buds, which will…
My hope from last week is that I got everyone’s pruning juices flowing. This week I will attempt to build on that momentum and get into some more specifics. If you got outside in this wonderfully cold and sunny weather and started your personal pruning battle plan, pat yourself on the back! You have earned a gold star and embarked on a journey to pruning success. If you haven’t, don’t worry, there is still time…
One plant that simply must be present in every yard is a Laceleaf Japanese Maple. You know the ones… the beautiful, manageable sized trees that have interesting leaves in stunning colors all throughout the year. Laceleafs can be living art pieces when cared for properly and developed slowly into specimens that add character, texture, and color to any landscape. Even over the dormant winter months, a properly grown Laceleaf can be a stunning focal point in the garden…
After this last hard freeze, I am hoping that the worst is behind us and we can confidently get out into the garden and whip things back into shape. While I realize February is still technically winter, it is also the beginning of spring for north westerners, and there is much to do before the actual spring season arrives. Here are some timely tasks to consider…
There are lots of tasks we could dwell on for the month of February, including nipping weeds in the bud, planting early blooming perennials, controlling moss in the lawn, and general clean up of any left over debris from winter. But by far, the most important task of all is pruning. I do the vast majority of my pruning in the month of February, so let’s drill down to some specifics…
The Golfing Gardener
Trevor Cameron
As we inch out of the cold and head towards the warmer days of spring, I am feeling the need to talk raspberries this week. As I close my eyes (and start to drool a bit), I can imagine snacking on these fresh tasty treats from the garden. Whether you have…