The cold has arrived. As gardeners, we find ourselves longing for spring, when our gardens come back to life and we can spend time outside. It’s tempting to believe we can’t plant anything now, but there is a way to plant seeds for next spring. Winter sowing is a type of planting that involves planting seeds outdoors in winter. It sounds too easy, but it works! Many hardy annuals and perennials can be sown in winter to give plants a head start in spring. What is Winter Sowing? To answer this question, we’ll look at the basics of seed physiology. […]
Author: James Johnsen
8 Useful Tools For Your Garden
December is the perfect time to reflect on the previous gardening season. What plants grew well? Do some areas of the garden need improvement? Another question to consider is how you can garden more efficiently. Gardening is intense physical work that can leave us feeling sore at the end of the day, making it essential to use the right tools. Whether using the standard trowel or a new item, various gardening tools help every gardener. The Importance of Garden Tools In my work as a horticulturist, I often hear the phrase “ergonomics.” This term means “the study of people’s efficiency […]
4 Festive Holiday Plants
Updated: December 5, 2024 The weather outside is frightful, but the indoor temperature is delightful. As you head to the nursery this time of year, you’ll see an assortment of plants produced for the Christmas season. Among those plants are poinsettias, a popular shrub known for its red bracts (a type of leaf). There are other species you can grow this time of year too. As a bonus, many of these plants can be grown as houseplants throughout the year. Let’s examine the various holiday plants and consider how to make them thrive beyond Christmas. Poinsettias Poinsettias are popular for […]
How To Create Winter Container Displays
November is a quiet time in the garden. The perennials, trees, and shrubs have entered dormancy and show few signs of life. Birds have migrated, and the pollinators have begun their hibernation. If that’s not enough, the days are cold and dark, making it difficult to enjoy the outdoors. Fortunately, there’s a way to create a festive look in the landscape this time of year, especially with containers. Winter containers are gaining popularity as gardeners realize their unique contribution to the landscape. Container displays can brighten your patio, balcony, or driveway. You can also display containers in your garden. Here’s […]
Fall Gardening: Using Fall Leaves In The Garden
Fall is here, bringing cooler weather and chores in the yard. For many, raking leaves is an annual task to keep your landscape tidy. Fall is an excellent time to clean the yard. Still, many people miss out on the opportunity to improve their landscape using leaves. It’s easy to think we should remove any leaf clutter from our yards, but those leaves are a great source of organic matter. What Is Organic Matter In Soil? Organic matter is any carbon-based compound that stores and releases nutrients into the soil. In other words, using leaves in the garden will add […]
Extend The Growing Season: Using Row Covers & Other Techniques
Keep Growing Fresh Vegetables All Year Long! Want to extend the growing season? You can grow fresh vegetables well into the fall—or even all year long—by protecting them from the cold with a simple row cover, grow tunnel, or DIY cold frame. With all the hard work you did upfront, let’s keep your plants going strong! Learn more. Where To Grow Late Summer Or Fall Vegetables Before we talk about using season extenders, let’s take a moment to think about where you grow the vegetables you want to keep producing in the colder months. Here are some ways to use your garden’s location to your advantage: […]
An Easy Guide To Forcing Bulbs
Updated: October 24, 2024 Every year, I look forward to planting bulbs in the fall. However, waiting for them to bloom requires patience. Fortunately, you can enjoy flowers in the middle of winter without traveling to a warm climate. Many of your favorite bulbs can be forced indoors, allowing you to keep away the winter blues. Before we dive into the specifics, we’ll look at the basics of bulb physiology. The bulbs we plant in fall require a cold period to bloom, which occurs during winter. Bulbs can also receive this cold period through other means, like a refrigerator. Forcing […]