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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
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Seasonal Gardening
Shop
Shop At Home
Holiday Wreaths
Wreath FAQ
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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
February 6, 2017

February To Do List Par Deux

Ben Smith
February 6, 2017

Yes, this is a continuation of my “to do list” from last week with more chores to work on.  Time to roll up those sleeves, put on the gloves, and get to work...

Comment
Ben Smith
January 30, 2017

February 2017 To-Do List

Ben Smith
January 30, 2017

It’s funny how one year can be so different from the next.  With last year’s winter being so mild, everything in the garden seemed to be 3 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule.  My Cornelian Cherry started...

Comment
Ben Smith
January 23, 2017

The Importance Of Plants

Ben Smith
January 23, 2017

I realize that for many of you I am probably preaching to the choir, but for the rest of the world it never hurts to remind them that plants (next to dogs perhaps) are man’s best friend...

2 Comments
Ben Smith
January 16, 2017

Surviving The Deep Freeze

Ben Smith
January 16, 2017

By the time you read this column it will probably be raining and the cold dry spell of late December and early January will be behind us.  According to the weather gurus, this was the coldest winter since...

1 Comment
Ben Smith
January 9, 2017

The Importance Of Awe

Ben Smith
January 9, 2017

I recently read an article by Jessica Hullinger in The Week about the importance of experiencing “AWE” in our lives.  To quote Ms. Hullinger: “I'm a nature nerd and an awe junkie...

Comment
Ben Smith
January 2, 2017

A New Season And A New To Do List

Ben Smith
January 2, 2017

Okay, here we go.  Out with 2016 and in with a whole new gardening season and hopefully a whole new attitude about life.  First off...

Comment
Ben Smith
December 26, 2016

My Final Words Of Wisdom For The Year

Ben Smith
December 26, 2016

As we wind down the final days of the 2016 gardening season, I find myself struggling to find something to say that will seem profound and lasting.  In light of all the...

2 Comments
Ben Smith
December 19, 2016

Plants Make Great Gifts Too

Ben Smith
December 19, 2016

We don’t often think of plants as being good gifts for Christmas.  After all, they are hard to wrap and tend to dry up and die if left under the tree or in the house too long.  But plants are a gift that keeps giving for years to come...

Comment
Ben Smith
December 12, 2016

Gift Ideas For The Gardener

Ben Smith
December 12, 2016

It’s time for my annual column on gift ideas for the gardener in your life.  Here are some things that I wouldn’t mind receiving for Christmas...

Comment
Ben Smith
December 5, 2016

December To-Do List

Ben Smith
December 5, 2016

I know it might be hard to believe that there are actually chores to accomplish in December, but in a real garden the work is never completely done.  Here are my major points to consider...

Comment
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Latest post from “The Golfing Gardener”:

The Golfing Gardener

Trevor Cameron

Featured
Summer Watering
Jul 7, 2025
Summer Watering
Jul 7, 2025

As the warmer days of summer commence, it is the perfect time to talk about proper watering in the landscape.  In our region we are blessed with plenty of rain to keep things green the majority of the year, but we also experience…

Read More →
Jul 7, 2025

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