Savvy gardeners know, the key to a great garden is healthy soil. Done correctly, compost is the magic potion that provides gardens with nutrients and valuable microorganisms. It makes it easier for soil to accept and retain water, helps stabilize soil pH, and can even protect plants against some pests and diseases. When compost is sometimes referred to as “garden gold” or “black gold”, it’s no exaggeration. Nature makes compost all the time – it is a natural method of recycling created by bacteria and other soil-borne organisms as they break down organic matter. Walkthrough any forest floor and scrape […]
Category: Fall Gardening
How to Overwinter Perennial Mums
Updated: October 2, 2024 Garden mums, or Chrysanthemums, are the quintessential flowering plant that helps folks to usher in fall. They add a spot of hopeful color to the fall garden and provide grateful seasonal cheer to our home décor. Along with this seasonal cheer, mums also provide us with joy and positivity, which we can all use right about now. Many people treat their seasonal mums as a temporary decorative plant, only to dispose of it when their flowers finally fade. But know this, with some fall preparation and winter care, your mums can come back blooming year after […]
An Easy Guide to Growing Amaryllis
Updated: October 31, 2024 The amaryllis is a gorgeous flower with roots in Greek mythology. Amaryllis was a nymph who fell in love with a handsome shepherd named Alteo and sought to make him enamored with her. With this kind of a background story, it’s no wonder why the amaryllis flower is associated with love and romance. Regardless of the meaning behind this flower, it’s definitely a sight to have in your garden. So if you’re interested in growing amaryllis, then you’re in the right place. Here’s an expert guide to amaryllis growing so you’ll have great success with these […]
How to Harvest Pumpkins (And How to Store Them)
You want to know how to harvest and store pumpkins? Start here first. In the United States, more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkin are produced every single year. Though most pumpkins come from Indiana, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California, with the right tools anyone can grow them. But the real question is, when and how to harvest pumpkins? For those looking for the best, check out this comprehensive guide on how to harvest pumpkins and how to store them. When to Harvest Pumpkins Most pumpkins take an average of 75 to 115 days until they are ready to harvest. […]
Wildflower Magic: Sowing Perennial Wildflower Seeds For Success
Updated: August 21, 2024 It sounds simple enough; open a packet, bag, or canister of wildflower seeds, sprinkle them out onto the ground, and “presto!” you have a giant patch of wildflowers blooming in a few short weeks. Not so fast. When To Plant Wildflowers First, you need to consider the optimal planting timetable for your wildflower seeds. Sowing at the right time will allow the seeds the best seasonal climate conditions to germinate well. In most zones, wildflower seed sowing season is in the fall, from mid-September to late November is best. This may seem counter-intuitive because after all […]
4 Simple Steps for Fall Garden Tool Clean Up
As leaves start changing colors and the first fall frost approaches, it is once again time to prioritize finishing the last garden chores to ready the garden for the winter. An important, but sometimes overlooked fall chore, is properly cleaning and storing tools and garden equipment for winter. Step 1: Wash Clean off all dirt, soil residue, and rust spots from garden tools with a wire brush, fine-grained sandpaper, or steel wool. Remove plant sap from pruners and loppers with a cloth moistened with rubbing alcohol or turpentine. (if you have practiced appropriate seasonal pruner sanitation, this task should be […]
Fall Planting – Potted Perennials
Perennials can add color and foliage texture to your landscape, but be sure to make sure the perennial chosen is suited for the sun and moisture that the location receives. The soil also needs to be well-drained for the plant to thrive. Many perennials can be low maintenance and can add color in season. Most perennials are either spring, summer, or fall bloomers and the other seasons can add different foliage textures to your landscape. Growing Potted Perennials Soil Preparation Proper soil preparation is necessary for the long-term survival of perennial plants. If you have well-drained soil like sandy soil […]
Fall Bulb Planting Tips
Updated: October 17, 2024 With the weather cooling as we enter fall, it is time to start preparing for your spring flower garden. Fall is the optimal time to plant your bulbs so they are ready to bloom come springtime. Here are some tips when choosing, planting, and caring for your fall bulbs. Choosing Spring Blooming Bulbs For early blooms, try varieties of crocus, hyacinths, and be sure to add some snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) and glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbesii) which often bloom before the snow has even melted. The never-ending varieties of daffodils and tulips have such a wide range of […]
7 Popular Garlic Varieties
Garlic is a popular perennial often used to add flavor in cooking and are easy to grow. Although there are hundreds of varieties of garlic, we’ve chosen our favorite most popular garlic. Interested in learning about how to grow and care for garlic? Be sure to check out our Garlic Growing Guide. Popular Garlic Varieties German Porcelain Garlic Type: Porcelain Hardneck Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8 Storage: Up to 6 months. Description: One of the best hardneck garlic for flavor and keeping. It has very large bulbs containing 4 to 5 huge cloves. The wrappers are splashed with purple and […]
Iris Growing Guide
Irises are popular, easy-to-grow “old-fashioned” perennials. They are attractive plants for beds and borders but also make lovely cut flowers. Irises attract pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds. Learn more about growing and caring for your iris flowers. Types of Irises There are a number of different types of Iris with a dizzying range of colors, flower forms, and heights. The most familiar type is the bearded iris. Depending on the type of Iris, they grow from either a rhizome or bulb. Dutch Irises are considered bulbous types. Rhizome Irises The stems of the rhizome iris grow horizontally just beneath the […]