General Gardening
Ben Smith
Compost and Fertilizer - A Boring But Necessary ...

It pains me to see customers spending hundreds of dollars on new plants and simultaneously refusing to spend a few more on a bag or two of compost and a box of starter fertilizer.  These two items are not unnecessary “add-ons” that the retailer is just trying to add to the sale, they are critical components of a successful transplanting process - or as I like to refer to them as “plant insurance”.  Unless you have phenomenal soil, you should always add compost and starter fertilizers when you are planting new plants.  Here is why…

Compost and Fertilizer - A Boring But Necessary Topic
Summer Gardening
Ben Smith
The Secrets Of Proper Summer Watering

Summer watering is inevitable in the northwest if we want to keep our landscapes green and healthy…

The Secrets Of Proper Summer Watering

crocus

Some Undeniable Signs That Spring Is In The Air

Some Undeniable Signs That Spring Is In The Air

I think we all know that the road to spring is never a straight line. Once we pass the winter solstice in December, the days do indeed get longer and longer with increasing periods of sunshine and warmer temperatures. But along that path there are constant detours and a few potholes to navigate…

Now Is The Time To Plant Bulbs

Now Is The Time To Plant Bulbs

I decided it would be fun to add a few varieties of bulbs to my garden… But instead of the packaged varieties that sit on our retail shelves, I elected to look at the “landscape” list which consists of varieties sold in units of 100’s and even a few of 250 each. By the time my wife and I narrowed down our choices, we had ordered no less than 2500 bulbs…

Latest post from “The Golfing Gardener”:

The Golfing Gardener

Trevor Cameron

Featured
Part 2 of the Trilogy of Conifers - Beyond Blue
Part 2 of the Trilogy of Conifers - Beyond Blue

Honesty is always the best policy and since I promised a “Trilogy of Conifers” last week, on we go with even more conifer mojo.  We explored their variations in color, texture and growth habits for local landscapes.  In episode two this week, I want to focus on the many calming shades of blue, highlighting some selections with both superior color and shape…

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