Plantskydd
Back Off Bambi
With colder weather approaching, so are deer. Many shrubs are prime targets for voracious consumers. Some of their favored snacks are arborvitae, yew and rhododendrons. Stop them in their tracks with Plantskydd animal repellant, which is 100% guaranteed and approved by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Plantskydd was the first organic animal repellant to…
Read MoreTough Sepcies Tulips and Miniature Daffodils
This is the time of the year when gardeners are digging lots of holes in the garden, burying precious bulbs of various sizes and shapes. Sadly, there is usually an audience watching us with grins on their furry faces. I’m talking deer, squirrels, voles and chipmunks. GRRRRRR. (Right: Daffodil ‘Kokopelli’, Brent and Becky’s Bulbs) Thankfully…
Read MoreNasty Little Voles!
My blood pressure soared the other day when I noticed one of my Hydrangea ‘Incrediball’ had suddenly wilted. The adjacent ‘Incrediball’ seemed fine. As I drew closer to investigate, I noticed a small hole at the base of the shrub. Upon closer inspection, I discovered a tunnel and cavity underneath the shrub, where roots used…
Read MoreGorgeous Flowering Shrubs with No Deer Damage
I have the special honor and opportunity to evaluate plants that are either new to the retail market or will be released in the upcoming year. I was tickled pink last week when two huge boxes from Santa Clause (Proven Winners and Spring Meadow Nursery, a wholesale grower) landed on my front porch. Inside were…
Read MoreNew Perennial Mukgenia
Mukgenia This perennial is awesome! I spotted it at Holdridge Garden Center (in Ledyard, CT) when I spoke there earlier this month. It is a cross between Mukdenia ‘Crimson Fans’ and Bergenia. The rich pink flowers, attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, open in April and continue into early June. The jagged leathery leaves turn a…
Read MoreSpring Garden Maintenance
Last Sunday was my first chance to putter about my gardens, enjoy the bursting new plant life, and do some spring clean-up. As I mentioned earlier, not only has my schedule been insanely busy, but spring has also been very slow to arrive in Kennebunk, Maine. Even though it was cold (in the 40’s) and…
Read MoreJump-Start Gardens in Spring
With spring around the corner, I’m itching to get out in my gardens. Colorful flower gardening catalogs and magazines can only satisfy my gardening cravings for so long. At this time of the year I feel like a ship’s captain scanning the horizon for land – except I am searching for small green shoots. The…
Read MoreSuperior Deer and Rabbit Repellent
It’s understandable that you might feel the urge to go outside to defend your plants from midwinter gnawing by deer, rabbit and voles. Especially when you watch your neighbors frantically racing about their yards blasting plants with hot pepper spray; tossing coyote urine granules about; twining mylar string with little flapping flags around borders, staking…
Read MorePerennializing Spring Blooming Bulbs
I hate having to repeat myself, but when it comes to digging in spring blooming bulbs each fall to replace those that fizzled away or were munched by critters, I CAN stop this expensive, repetitive madness. Now I plant long-lived, naturalizing bulbs that stick around for years. Here are a few of my tried and…
Read MoreHurray for Garden Center Clearance Sales!
I love rummaging through plants on garden center clearance tables at this time of the year. And I know I’m not alone. It is so much fun discovering a gem selling for 75% less than it should cost. Come to Mama! One of my favorite finds are Itoh (intersectional) peonies. These usually sell for $85…
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