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Sunnyside Nursery

Home
Trees & Shrubs
Conifers
Flowering Trees
Fruit Trees
Hydrangeas
Japanese Maples
Rhododendrons & Azaleas
Roses
Small Fruits & Berries
Winter Bloomers
Flowers, Plants & Seeds
Annuals
Houseplants
Perennials
More Things
Events
Gift Ideas
Holidays
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Sales
Seasonal Gardening
Shop
Shop At Home
Holiday Wreaths
Wreath FAQ
About Us
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May 29, 2023
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
July 12, 2021
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
Ben Smith
June 30, 2014

The July To Do List

Ben Smith
June 30, 2014

By July most of us have finished our planting and it is time to maintain what we have and do a little editing and tweaking. 

1 Comment
Ben Smith
June 23, 2014

Something New And Exciting

Ben Smith
June 23, 2014

Nothing says summer to me more than flowering perennials in my wife's garden.  While the spring blooms of the peonies and delphiniums have long faded the summer performers are starting to take center stage.  Two that I always look forward to are...

Comment
Ben Smith
June 16, 2014

This Is How To Plant In The Summer

Ben Smith
June 16, 2014

Now that the summer weather has arrived it never fails that someone will ask the perennial question:  “Can I still plant now or should I wait until the fall?”  For the record, we can plant any time of the year...

Comment
Ben Smith
June 9, 2014

Summer Is Coming, Time To Get Out The Hoses

Ben Smith
June 9, 2014

This is my annual column on proper watering habits and it is interesting to me that last year I wrote this same column the second week of JULY.  Hopefully that means that we are going to have a long and hot summer. Here’s the lowdown on proper watering... 

Comment
Ben Smith
June 2, 2014

The Dreaded To Do List

Ben Smith
June 2, 2014

June is the month I try to finish all the tasks that I thought I was going to complete in March, April and May (funny how that works).  If you find you need a break from all these chores then come join me for...

Comment
Ben Smith
May 26, 2014

Keeping The Show Going (Shrubs For Summer Blooms)

Ben Smith
May 26, 2014

Here we are in the last week of May and for the most part the glory of spring has faded away.  If we want to keep a continuous display of color in our gardens then we need...

Comment
Ben Smith
May 19, 2014

May Musings And Other Random Thoughts

Ben Smith
May 19, 2014

Delayed Gratification: It should be no surprise to my readers that...

Comment
Ben Smith
May 12, 2014

Beware Of Downy Mildew

Ben Smith
May 12, 2014

For years I have planted a dozen or so flats of impatiens in our garden in cool shady areas (but also in full sun) and enjoyed months of...

Comment
Ben Smith
May 5, 2014

When All Hell Breaks Loose

Ben Smith
May 5, 2014

If April showers bring May flowers then it ought to be a pretty colorful month.   With 30-50% above normal rainfall the season has been a slog up until now.  The last week of April was truly glorious but May is when the real work begins so read on. 

Comment
Ben Smith
April 28, 2014

Rediscover Rhododendrons

Ben Smith
April 28, 2014

Springtime has arrived and the multitudes of Rhododendrons are blooming….. Our state flower shines in every color imaginable – but what I am here to remind you of is one old adage – flowers come and flowers go - so discover the different foliages of Rhododendrons! 

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Latest post from “The Golfing Gardener”:

The Golfing Gardener

Trevor Cameron

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Everyone should want an attractive landscape, but achieving this can honestly be intimidating sometimes.  However, remember that we are here to help!  Every gardener I have met has…

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June 29, 2026

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