Late Bloomers: Keeping Landscapes in Color

Perennials are a staple of the garden, and each year they come back to impress us with their floral display. I look forward to the spectacular blooms on my perennials every year, as do many of you. Creating consistent colors in the garden can be a challenge. Perhaps your garden is full of spring-blooming perennials that look gorgeous in May, but those blooms soon fade, leaving you little color to enjoy in summer. You can solve this problem by planting long-blooming perennials. Here are a few plants to count on for long-lasting color. Rozanne Geranium Hardy Geraniums come in many […]

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7 Common Garden Plants That Are Toxic to Dogs

Dogs are naturally curious and love to use their olfactive superpowers on walks, in garden beds, and in front and backyards. While some garden vegetation is completely harmless for our furry family members, other vegetation is poisonous. Your garden may contain poisonous plants that in a few cases can be lethal for the family dog. Some plants may cause diarrhea, vomiting, or discomfort, while others can lead to liver damage, convulsions, and kidney failure. Unfortunately, many of these plants are more common than one might imagine. If you have any of these plants on your property, you may consider relocating […]

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A Quick Guide To Pesticides

Updated: August 8, 2024 Hey, what kind of bug is that?  Knowing the type of insect you are trying to eliminate is the first step to proper pest control. All insects have specific life cycles from egg, to nymph, to adult. The life stage in which they do the most damage might not be when they are most vulnerable to pesticides. Japanese beetles are a perfect example. As adults, they are extremely difficult or nearly impossible to control. They are most vulnerable in their larval life stage as grubs, in the ground feeding on turf grass roots. This is when […]

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How To Dog-Proof Your Garden

Dogs and gardens don’t always mix, at least according to some gardeners. If you ask the dogs, they might disagree. Garden plots, with their range of tempting smells, freshly turned dirt, and population of highly chaseable insects and small animals, offer a veritable playground for a pup, who won’t understand why running through the tall grass is fine, but romping through these much more interesting plants is not. Plus, after watching their owners digging around in the dirt, your dog may try to socialize by joining in on the fun. Fortunately, there are ways to indulge these social instincts without […]

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7 Irises To Get Excited About Fall 2022

It is time to start planning for your spring blooming flower garden. One of the most beautiful and popular flowers is the Bearded Iris. The best time to plant is late summer to early autumn. Jung Seed has several new Irises this year selected for their beauty and overall performance. Best Bet German Bearded Iris Best Bet German Bearded Iris has light blue standards that are a sharp contrast with the falls of near navy blue. It is a vigorous grower that produces huge blooms. Early season and rebloom. Grows to 36 inches. Zones: 3 to 9 Cherry Blossom Song […]

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A Gardener’s Guide To Plant Nutrition

Every gardener knows that plants require several different nutrients to grow, but what specific nutrients do plants use and for what purpose? Here is a little overview and a science refresher. Macronutrients Macronutrients are those that plants need in the most significant amounts. The BIG 3, we call them. Nitrogen. Phosphorus. Potassium. These primary nutrients are represented by the letters from the periodic table of N, P, and K. Nitrogen (N) is the most commonly deficient soil nutrient plants require to produce chlorophyll, proteins, and enzymes for growth and reproduction. Phosphorus (P) is the nutrient that helps the plant regulate […]

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Understanding Plant Diseases

Updated: July 2, 2024 There are dozens of different types of plant diseases that can affect vegetable gardens from coast to coast. Plant diseases should not be a mystery to most gardeners, and yet… all types of gardeners struggle with them every season. Solutions are obvious, but understanding is the first step. Plant Disease Diagnosis Plant disease management starts with proper disease diagnosis. Just like a clinical physician, the doctor will ask, “What symptoms do you have?” In the garden, we must ask, “What symptoms does the plant have?”  Nowadays, you may be able to narrow down the possibilities by […]

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Protect Your Garden From Unwanted Animals

As a young man, I often visited my grandparent’s cabin in northern Wisconsin. The cabin had abundant wildlife, including a large herd of deer. While fun to observe, the deer would decimate the hostas in the landscape every year. After years of frustration, I replaced the hostas with plants deer prefer to avoid. You’ve probably experienced similar problems in your garden, whether you encounter deer, rabbits, or other types of animals. Animal pests can wreak havoc on plants, from veggies to trees. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize damage to the plants. Deer Deer may be the most damaging animal […]

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6 Tips For Keeping Baby Copperheads Away From Your Garden

Gardening is an experience that typically brings a lot of wildlife to your front door. In most cases, this is seen as a positive thing; however, when one of those animals, such as the infamous Copperhead, is a venomous snake, it’s easy to see why most people would love to keep them out. With so many places to hide in, Copperheads typically go unnoticed until you happen to walk upon them one day, something that almost everyone wants to prevent. So, to help, here are six tips on keeping these slithery unwanted guests away from your gardening space. Don’t Make […]

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8 Patriotic Plants: Gardening with Red, White & Blue Foliage

There are many ways to celebrate the 4th of July, from fireworks to parades. Many gardeners like to commemorate the holiday with red, white, and blue flowers. Another way to add patriotic colors to your garden is by growing plants with red, white, and blue leaves. Modern breeding has led to creating plant varieties with uniquely colored foliage, giving us even more options to add color to our gardens. Many of these plants can be used in shady landscape areas to make them brighter. Here are a few plants that will add a patriotic touch to your garden. Forever Red […]

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