Obtain 5-gallon plastic bucket Cut 2” hole in center of bottom Also cut 5-6 ¼” holes in the bottom for drainage Place bucket right side up on two sawhorses Place a coffee filter or sheet of paper at bottom of bucket Cut slit in sheet of paper and slide it under root ball (inside bucket) […]
We all get hungry and need nourishment to live. Plants, too. Plants in the ground might get by without food, but for container plants, it is essential. Food and water—take Goldilocks’s advice: not too much, not too little, just right. So, let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for our plant babies. Fertilizer […]
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! When you see certain words, run the other direction as they generally indicate you are looking at a plant thug. Those are the plants that look good at first but threaten your sanity in a year or two. You can find these at garden centers all over. The plant might be ornamental […]
Native plants often have a reputation for being “aggressive”, “thuggish”, or “weedy”. Sometimes this reputation is earned. Common milkweed, for example, is great for monarchs, but can be a real pain for a gardener to try to control (only plant this particular variety if you have lots of space and an informal style!). And it […]
So, you’ve been considering container gardening. Let’s think a bit more specifically about what it takes to create a spectacular pot. You don’t need professional help or specialty plants—Just take a walk down the aisles of your favorite garden center this spring and choose wisely. Plan the structure of your pot. The easiest way is […]
This isn’t exactly a job offer, but we do need your help. Today begins our plant sale which takes the place of our annual plant auction. We have NO income for our club; all fund raising was halted by the pandemic and we won’t even have dues since everyone took advantage of the two-years-for-one pricing. […]
As the days get warmer, I start dreaming about a summer vacation. Often, my family will pack up and set off in our pop-up camper to stay a few nights in one of our national or state parks. The natural places in our country hold so much beauty! This year we probably won’t be heading […]
What is the most popular fruit grown in our home gardens? You know it as a tomato. Botanically it is a fruit as are zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, beans and peas. Nutritionists call them all vegetables, mainly because we eat them as savory dishes. But by whatever classification, a tomato is what so many of us […]
Transplanting a plant into the garden soil is a fairly easy task. Items you will need include a trowel (or shovel for larger plants), compost soil, starter fertilizer and water. These steps are geared to planting a perennial, but the same is true for an annual plant. Let’s look at this project step by step: […]
Want to go Native? Are you ready to plant some native plants, but aren’t sure where to start? Here are some beautiful native plant alternatives to common nursery plants. Instead of: Forsythia — try Spicebush (lindera benzoin) instead! This beautiful shrub has yellow blooms in early spring before leafing out. The leaves and stems are very […]