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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
October 10, 2016

A Few Fall Standouts For Your Garden

Ben Smith
October 10, 2016

It’s always fun this time of year to walk around the nursery and see what looks interesting.  Most evergreens look like they always do, but the deciduous shrubs can become pretty darn spectacular in October.  Here are a few that caught my eye...

Comment
Ben Smith
October 3, 2016

My October To-Do List

Ben Smith
October 3, 2016

Fall is officially here and what a glorious one it has been so far.  There has been just enough rain to green up the lawns and enough sun in between to keep the ground workable and the plants growing.  The forecast for October sounds like...

Comment
Ben Smith
September 26, 2016

Where There's Smoke, There's Fire - These Plants Will Ignite Your Yard

Ben Smith
September 26, 2016

Keeping our landscapes changing is so critical to keeping our interest in gardening.  With change, there’s the anticipation of something new and exciting.  With change, our garden compositions take on whole new personalities.  And with change, we find opportunities to experience our gardens in ways we may not have originally conceived...

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Ben Smith
September 19, 2016

Fall Is For Planting - Carpe Diem

Ben Smith
September 19, 2016

I know that some of you might think that I just pontificate to amuse myself and that I am mostly full of BS (and that might be true occasionally).  But in this case, I need to tell you that...

Comment
Ben Smith
September 12, 2016

Replanting Containers For Winter Interest

Ben Smith
September 12, 2016

Judging from the attendance for our fall container class last week (over 90) it is encouraging to know that many northwest gardeners are just saying “NO” to looking at boring pots of dirt all winter.  Instead they are filling them with...

Comment
Ben Smith
September 5, 2016

September Check List

Ben Smith
September 5, 2016

FALL IS FOR PLANTING:  Fall is an excellent time to plant just about anything.  You can plant new...

Comment
Ben Smith
August 29, 2016

Back To (Gardening) School - Fall Semester Is Beginning

Ben Smith
August 29, 2016

Summer is just about over and the kids are all going back to school.  And guess what?  It’s time for gardeners to...

Comment
Ben Smith
August 22, 2016

Water, Bats & Spiders

Ben Smith
August 22, 2016

I know my column last week was all about watering, but with these days of really hot temperatures I feel it’s important to briefly touch on...

1 Comment
Ben Smith
August 15, 2016

The Magic Of Water

Ben Smith
August 15, 2016

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were traveling down Highway 97 in Eastern Oregon on our way to Crater Lake.  That area of Oregon is...

Comment
Ben Smith
August 1, 2016

The August To-Do List

Ben Smith
August 1, 2016

What a strange year this has been.  It feels like we have yet to experience summer.  Despite a conflicted weather pattern, my garden seems to be...

Comment
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Latest post from “The Golfing Gardener”:

The Golfing Gardener

Trevor Cameron

Featured
Bring On The Fall
Sep 15, 2025
Bring On The Fall
Sep 15, 2025

Apologies, but I have some pertinent news to pass along that might be an unpleasant reminder to all local gardeners…  Yes the rumors are true, we are about to say goodbye to our PNW summer.  Goodbye to…

Read More →
Sep 15, 2025

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