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…
First off, let me apologize for using the word “winter” in the title as I sincerely hope that our actual “winter” is still many weeks away. Having said that, as we head towards the holiday season, it is an ideal time for gardeners to look forward just a bit. Frost will be coming soon, and Mother Nature will require...
In our PNW climate, there is so much to appreciate about the fall season. Gardeners are in the midst of harvesting their summer bounties of edibles and getting their gardens ready for the coming winter, all the while pondering where to move this plant, when to divide that one, and where to add something new. As we have been discussing the last few weeks...
Let me be transparent and state that, without a doubt, fall is my favorite time of the year. As a local native, I like my weather partly cloudy with temperatures in the 65 to 70 degree range and hopefully some rain, but only from 10pm to 6am or so. Is that too much to ask from Mother Nature? Sounds perfect for outdoor projects in the fall - not too hot, not too cold, but just right for us gardeners...
Whenever I ponder summer blooming shrubs, two have been and always will be at the front of my mind… Roses and Hydrangeas – as nothing will beat either of these for length of flowering time, all the way until frost… There is never anything wrong with more of either, but what else can I choose that will add some seasonal interest to the summer garden?…
The Golfing Gardener
Trevor Cameron
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…