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Home » Archives for Mike » Page 3

What is a Plant Patent and How Do they Work?

Updated : November 16, 2021

43 Comments

Are plant patents a good thing or a bad thing? Is this just “Big Brother” controlling what we do in our own garden? First, let me put this out there. I am not an attorney. I will explain this as I understand it but keep in mind, I am a “Dumb Ole Dirt Farmer”, don’t… Click here to read more…

Fall Plant Sale at Mike’s Plant Farm!

Updated : August 8, 2021

26 Comments

Dianthus, Appleblossom Burst

Right now is the ideal time to buy plants because they are beautiful and not picked over. We have an excellent selection of the items listed here. We have lots and lots of other things you can buy, all only $7.97 each but I’m not going to list them all here. These are the items… Click here to read more…

My Landscape Design Skills Suck!

Updated : May 10, 2021

235 Comments

Mike McGroarty sucks at landscape design.

That’s what he told me. He said my landscape design skills totally suck. Or something to that effect. Last summer when I did a post about landscape lighting some helpful visitor to my website suggested that I stick to growing plants because I was a terrible landscape designer. So yesterday as I was walking into… Click here to read more…

How to put a ball and burlap on a bare root tree that has been previously dug.

Updated : April 15, 2021

6 Comments

Japanese maples balled in burlap.

One of the most important things you need to learn as a gardener is that there is a digging or transplanting season that has a beginning and an end. Digging season starts in the fall, usually around Thanksgiving, after deciduous plants have lost their leaves. Digging season continues through early spring. Once plants start to… Click here to read more…

Mike Interviews a Very Successful Backyard Grower from Tennessee.

Updated : February 23, 2021

12 Comments

Mike McGroarty interviews a successful backyard grower from Tennessee.

See more photos and learn more about Nathan and his nursery here. Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond. Until then, by any and all means stay inspired! I often share this quote with Our Members . . . “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to… Click here to read more…

Red Prince Weigela

Updated : January 18, 2021

52 Comments

Red Prince Weigela

Red Prince Weigela is one of the best selling plants that I grow. I guess it’s the striking red flowers that attract attention that make it such a great seller. Red Prince grows well in zones 4 through 8. Red Prince loves full sun but it will also tolerate some shade. Rich green leaves really… Click here to read more…

Digging and storing bare root trees for later potting.

Updated : January 18, 2021

42 Comments

Bare Root Japanese Maple Trees about to be Heeled in.

These are rules for digging trees and other plants. Only dig trees or plants when they are dormant. Here in Ohio dormancy occurs usually right before Thanksgiving, after we’ve had at least on night with temps down around 28 degrees F. or lower. That’s when digging season begins, and for us it usually ends about… Click here to read more…

The donkeys helping me put up a sign.

Updated : January 17, 2021

9 Comments

Finnegan checking the depth of my hole.

This is how you stack $5,000 worth of trees on a pick-up truck.

Updated : January 17, 2021

11 Comments

Stacking trees in a pick up truck.

In this case we were able to lean the trees against the tailgate, but often times it helps to put a bale of straw or two across the back of the truck or trailer to lean the trees against. Then additional trees are actually stacked onto top of the first row of trees. The pots… Click here to read more…

Mountain Fire Piers Japonica

Updated : January 17, 2021

16 Comments

Mountain Fire Piers Japonica

Mountain Fire Piers Japonica is a broad leaf evergreen. This particular variety is famous for the fire red new growth that comes out in the spring, thus the name. Piers Japonica can grow quiet tall, as tall as 8′, they are relatively slow growing and can easily kept to a more manageable size of about… Click here to read more…

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Rooted cuttings of variegated weigela in bunches to harden off.

Over Wintering Rooted Cuttings.

Posted On January 8, 2023 By Mike

Mike's Big Perennial Bed.

Mike’s Big Perennial Garden

Posted On January 8, 2023 By Mike

A Profound Thank You from Mike.

Posted On September 1, 2022 By Mike

Finnegan keeping the sun off his head.

An Old Guy, Two Donkeys, a Puppy and a Hammock. What could possibly go wrong?

Posted On July 17, 2022 By Mike

This upside down donkey is a hoot!

An Upside Down Donkey and Cute Puppy.

Posted On July 14, 2022 By Mike

'Rockin Raspberry' Bee Balm.

‘Rockin Raspberry’ Bee Balm.

Posted On June 26, 2022 By Mike

'Bubblegum Blast' Bee Balm.

‘Bubblegum Blast’ Bee Balm

Posted On June 26, 2022 By Mike

Blue Angel Hosta.

‘Blue Angel’ Hosta.

Posted On June 25, 2022 By Mike

Big Daddy Hosta.

‘Big Daddy’ Hosta

Posted On June 25, 2022 By Mike

'Humpback Whale' hosta.

‘Humpback Whale’ Hosta.

Posted On June 25, 2022 By Mike

Complete Guides

Growing, Rooting and Propagating Dappled Willow in Tree Form from Cuttings.

Growing Seeds, Winter Sowing, in Milk Jugs and Kitty Litter Jugs.

The Correct Way to Pot Rooted Cuttings, Nursery Stock Liners and other Plants.

Training Arborvitae and other Conical Evergreens to Grow with a Single Leader.

How to Propagate, Root Cuttings, of Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Recent Posts

Blue Angel Hosta.

‘Blue Angel’ Hosta.

'Blue Angel'hosta is by far one of my favorite blue hostas. A big hosta like this in a perennial bed covers a lot of area and that keeps a ton of weeds at bay! These giant heart shaped leaves are very slug resistant. We have this plant in full sun. With … Read Full Article

Big Daddy Hosta.

‘Big Daddy’ Hosta

'Big Daddy' hosta is one of my favorite big hostas, mostly because it's big, it's blue and it has very interested leaves that are a bit dimpled. Big Daddy hosta gets about 24" tall and 36" wide. It's hardy in zones 3 through 9, the flowers are blends of … Read Full Article

'Humpback Whale' hosta.

‘Humpback Whale’ Hosta.

We sold out of 'Humpback Whale' hosta pretty early this year. Humpback Whale is pretty impressive hosta and this one really hasn't matured yet because they can get three feet high and 7 feet wide. I've also seen photos of them that show them to be a lot … Read Full Article

Ice Plant, delosperma

Ice Plant, delosperma

How pretty is that? And it's a ground hugging perennial that comes back year and year. These plants were new to our nursery last year so Pam and I planted three of them in our landscape at home. Not only did they do really well last year but they wintered … Read Full Article

Electric Red Dianthus

‘Electric Red’ Dianthus

I've been working on my perennial bed at the nursery and this Electric Red Dianthus caught my eye and was screaming "make my picture". So I did! Dianthus in general are great perennials for your garden. They are super winter hardy even here in cold … Read Full Article

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