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A message from Larry “The Rose Guy” about winterizing your roses. It’s getting colder and the days are getting shorter, so it’s time to think about preparing your roses for winter. Don’t stop watering. This is very important as the die back you see on your roses in the spring is caused by cold winter winds which take out the moisture from the canes. Do not prune now because the die back will start from the point you made your …
The leaves of fall are one of nature’s most gorgeous gifts but I find that I appreciate them even more after they have fallen off the trees. Yes, I said after. While I don’t look forward to the work of cleaning up the leaves any more than you do, I have a very deep appreciation for what they will mean to my lawn and garden a few months from now. Where most people see fallen leaves as hours of raking, …
Instant impact! That’s what you get when you add ranunculus to your early spring garden. Each plant produces wave after wave of petal-packed, crepe-paper-like flowers in a bold array of colors. These flowers grow 12 to 18 inches tall and are so frost tolerant that they can survive occasional temperatures as low as 20 degrees F. Ranunculus is a perfect companion to other cool weather loving annuals and perennials. Pink and orange ranunculus flowers will pop against blue pansies. Yellow snapdragons would be amazing …
Easter lilies fill our homes with bright blooms and fragrant aromas. Here are some guidelines that may extend the life of your lily, as well as a few easy steps to follow if you choose to plant it outdoors. Caring for your Easter Lily Once you get your Easter Lily home, it is best to place it where it will get bright, indirect light. Lilies grow from bulbs and are planted in well-draining soil so they don’t rot. It’s critical …
A couple things to remember when making your own hummingbird nectar… Never use honey or artificial sweeteners! Honey ferments easily, and can cause sores in a hummers mouth. Artificial sweeteners have no food value. Do not use red food coloring in your solution, as this could be harmful to your hummers. Most feeders have red on them and that should be enough Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: Mix 4 parts water to 1 part white table sugar Bring water to a boil. …
Where is the best place to hang your hummingbird feeder? An ideal location for your hummingbird feeder, would be close to a window in your house so that you can watch the hummingbirds when you are indoors. It should be hung in a shady spot if possible, to keep the nectar from spoiling as soon. Hummingbirds are more likely to spot feeders that are hung near plants that attract the hummingbirds. Keep in mind that hummingbirds are very territorial and …
In Michigan, April 15th is not only tax day but it is also the time to put out our hummingbird feeders. Although the hummingbirds we see in April will probably continue on their way up north, putting out feeders will help feed them on their way. The hummingbirds that choose to nest in our area usually arrive around Mother’s Day. Being ready for these flying jewels is essential to keeping them coming back. Since there are not a lot of flowers …
May is the time to purchase & plant new roses. To plan the best location of your new roses, you need to know how many hours of sunlight will be in that spot. Most roses need at least 6 hours to thrive. You will want to plant at the end of the 2nd week of May. Dig a hole about twice the size of the container & a little deeper. Put a shovel full of composted cow manure into the hole. …
When selecting tomato varieties, you must choose between plants with different types of growth habits called determinate or indeterminate. All tomatoes are either one or the other. Duration and form of growth are the main ways to tell the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes. Determinate or bush types bear a full crop all at once and top off at a specific height. They are often good choices for container growing. determinate types are preferred by commercial growers who wish to harvest …
We hate to be the ones to tell you this, but if you’ve never had an heirloom tomato then you’ve never tasted a real tomato. A tomato is considered to be an heirloom when the seed has been saved and grown at least 50 years or more and has been passed down from generation to generation. An heirloom is also open-pollinated, which simply means the plant is capable of producing seeds that will grow a new plant identical to the parent plant …
