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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
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Seasonal Gardening
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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
September 4, 2017

Fall Is For Planting - September Check List

Ben Smith
September 4, 2017

Fall has always been my favorite time of year, especially when I lived in California and the summers were so oppressive.  While August can feel like the doldrums, September is full of all sorts of gardening activities.  Here are some highlights for the month…

Comment
Ben Smith
August 28, 2017

Late Bloomers For The Border

Ben Smith
August 28, 2017

As we move from late August into early September it is not unusual to have our borders start to look a little tired.  The good news is...

3 Comments
Ben Smith
August 21, 2017

Planting A Fall Veggie Garden

Ben Smith
August 21, 2017

Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about planting a fall veggie garden.  There are several factors that go into having a successful fall garden.  Here are some of my thoughts…

Comment
Ben Smith
August 14, 2017

What Exactly Does It Mean To Be "Drought Tolerant"?

Ben Smith
August 14, 2017

It’s been almost five decades since I had a college level plant physiology class and studied the process of how plants move water through their vascular systems and how they adapt to drought conditions so they can survive the dry summers.  After some research, I am happy to say that...

Comment
Ben Smith
August 7, 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

Ben Smith
August 7, 2017

At the end of every column I write, is an invitation, to send in your questions about gardening issues you would like answers for.  Here are three common ones I receive every year...

Comment
Ben Smith
July 31, 2017

What's Going On In Our August Gardens

Ben Smith
July 31, 2017

This is it folks, the final lap of the summer gardening season when all our hard work should come to a crescendo.  August is high summer for us and perennials should be...

Comment
Ben Smith
July 24, 2017

Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds Into The Garden

Ben Smith
July 24, 2017

Part of the joy of gardening, for me, is in watching feathered friends visit my yard and flit about the shrubs, flowers, feeders and water features.  As much as I love my plants, these little creatures are an “extra treat” that makes all my hard work that much more worthwhile.  A beautiful garden with lots of...

2 Comments
Ben Smith
July 17, 2017

Landscaping In Layers

Ben Smith
July 17, 2017

Before I purchased the Sunnyside Nursery back in 1989, I owned a landscape contracting business in California where we designed, installed, and maintained residential, commercial, and municipal landscapes.  The bread and butter of the business was...

1 Comment
Ben Smith
July 10, 2017

Salvias - Mother Nature's Hummingbird Magnet

Ben Smith
July 10, 2017

There are lots (and I mean lots) of choices for summer blooming perennials that will attract hummers into our gardens, but one genus really stands out in my mind as a “can’t lose” choice...

Comment
Ben Smith
July 3, 2017

4 Things To Do For A Fabulous July Garden

Ben Smith
July 3, 2017

According to my weather guru Rufus La Lone of the Weather Café, July is shaping up to be a very pleasant month for gardening.  Here are 4 things to do to make our gardens look absolutely fabulous....

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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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