Mike's Backyard Nursery

The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Bibs On!

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You are here: Home / Archives for Mike

Selling Plants at a Flea Market.

Published : March 26, 2018

6 Comments

Gold Mound Spirea and Gold Flame Spirea.

Flea Markets???????? Yes, but make sure you understand the difference between the typical flea market customer and the typical plant buyer.  They are completely different animals, they think differently and they spend differently.  And I’m pretty sure you’d find that that the typical plant buyer has more disposable income. It’s really, really important to understand… Click here to read more…

Reviewing the Mantis 4-Cycle Plus Tiller/Cultivator

Updated : July 19, 2019

38 Comments

The Mantis 4-Cycle Plus Tiller/Cultivator

Me and Mantis.  We have a history and I think you should know about it. I lost my father in 2003 and my mom 363 days later.  It’s life, something we all deal with eventually.  They were extremely independent people but in those last few years, they needed help with some things. Like yard work. … Click here to read more…

Potting Soil! What can I use to make my own potting soil.

Updated : May 18, 2021

41 Comments

Fergus learning all about pine bark mulch.

The important points about a Good Potting Soil Mix. 1.  First of all, it is confusing because there are so many options that make for a good mix.  A lot of it has to do with what is available to you in your area. 2.  Pea gravel.  I used to add pea gravel to my… Click here to read more…

The Mantis Back Porch Compost Tumbler.

Updated : March 13, 2018

5 Comments

Easy open, easy close composter lid.

I really like this amazing Compost Tumbler by Mantis because it’s small enough for the back porch but large enough to make a nice size batch of compost at one time.  And because it can be placed to close to the back door it takes all most no effort at all to give it a… Click here to read more…

Growing and Selling Heuchera, Coral Bells.

Updated : June 17, 2024

41 Comments

Heuchera, Coral Bells on display at Mike's Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio

Looking for a plant that is beautiful, easy to care for and will add some sparkle to just about any landscape?  Heuchera it is!  Commonly known as Coral Bells. These are just some of the Heuchera that we have at the nursery and we sell a ton of them.  They are extremely popular and rightfully… Click here to read more…

Lavender Twist Weeping Redbud Trees, only $25.00 each!

Published : February 4, 2018

25 Comments

Sharing a moment with Finnegan.

This is a rare find!  In garden centers around here these tree seems to start at $199.00!  But right now, and I’m sure they won’t last, One of Our Members is Selling them in the Members Area for $25.00 each. I actually got a chance to see the trees that she is selling last weekend. … Click here to read more…

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’

Updated : February 4, 2018

58 Comments

Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea

This is a panicle hydrangea, in the P.G. Hyrdrangea family.  P.G. means paniculata grandifloria P.G. Hydrangeas are Often Trained into Tree Form so I’m sure the same can be done with Vanilla Strawberry.  Hardy in zones 3 to 8 this plant has pretty wide appeal across the U.S.  It grows from a height of 6′… Click here to read more…

Mike and Pam McGroarty Visit with Backyard Growers from Georgia and other Southern States.

Updated : June 17, 2024

9 Comments

A birthday party in a hoop house?

At the end of January, 2018 Pam and I traveled to the Atlanta, Georgia area to visit with our Backyard Growing Members from the south.  I’m not sure how many people actually attended this get together but I think it was around 50, maybe a few more. Because this visit took place just a few… Click here to read more…

Our Family of Backyard Growers.

Updated : March 8, 2025

11 Comments

A plant swap meet?

Ask any Member, without a doubt, Our Backyard Growers Group are like family and to many, closer and more important than family. Our Backyard Growers Group is a group of like minded people who are dedicated to helping one another.  For years and years I’ve been holding a Backyard Growers Shindig at my nursery here… Click here to read more…

The Nursery, Plant Tag Printer that We Use.

Updated : February 2, 2018

7 Comments

Loading plant tags into the printer.

Tagging the plants that you grow and sell is a necessary evil.  You have to tag them for your own reference and you have to tag them for your customers whether you sell retail or wholesale.  Hand writing tags works just fine, but it can be really time consuming and finding a marker that really… Click here to read more…

We are Giving Away a Free, ‘Purple Ghost’ Japanese maple.

Updated : January 12, 2018
Acer palmatum, 'Purple Ghost' planted in a bed of other Japanese maples.

Wow!  I can’t believe that we are doing this . . . but here goes; The contest is now over. A winner has been drawn and an email has been sent to notify them. We’ll post the winner here once they respond. Thank you! Please do me a huge favor . . . Using the… Click here to read more…

Free Japanese Maple Tree!

Updated : January 10, 2018
Water Fall Japanese Maple, fall color.

The winner has been drawn: Jason T. from Kentucky Congratulations! Last week we gave away Three Pair of Corona Pruning Shears, Duston will notify the winners via Email in a few days. This week we are giving away a ‘Virdis’ Japanese maple.  This is a weeping, laceleaf tree with green leaves that turn a brilliant… Click here to read more…

Over Wintering Ornamental Grasses.

Updated : December 18, 2017

17 Comments

Ornamental grasses heeled in for the winter.

Ornamental grasses can be really challenging to over winter in pots.  If you cover the pots with white plastic like I show here that helps a great deal because it keeps them dry so they don’t rot.  But uncovered, they don’t do well in pots over the winter here in the north. So this year… Click here to read more…

Free Pruning Shears!

Updated : January 2, 2018
Pam McGroarty, showing off pruning shears.

The winners have been drawn. The winners are: Nancy L. from Louisiana Donna S. from Florida Kari B. from Minnesota Congratulations! We are giving away three pair of Corona pruning shears, Model #BP3180. The lady in the photo?  That’s my wife Pam and she knows pruning shears!  I’ll tell you that story below. These are… Click here to read more…

Waterfall Japanese Maple.

Updated : May 3, 2019

40 Comments

Water Fall Japanese Maple, fall color.

Wow!  That’s what I say every time I see one of these spectacular trees. Waterfall Japanese maple, also known as Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Waterfall’ is a spectacular specimen plant for any yard. Being a weeping Japanese maple ‘Waterfall’ does not grow tall, most that I see are less than 48″ tall but quite wide. The… Click here to read more…

Backyard Growers Tour Brotzman’s Nursery

Updated : November 5, 2017

2 Comments

Tim Brotzman explains chip budding to our members.

We have to say a huge “Thank You!” to Tim Broztman of Brotzman’s Nursery in Madison, Ohio for taking time out of his extremely busy and demanding life to take a “wagon load” of our members on a tour of their most interesting and impressive nursery. Before I tell you a bit about Brotzman’s, I… Click here to read more…

How to Get Rid of Standing Water in Your Yard.

Updated : November 5, 2017

39 Comments

Perforated Drainage Pipe

If you have a place or places in your yard that have standing water and I know a lot of people do, there are ways to make that water disappear and in this post and video I’m going to explain how you can go about that. Filling with Topsoil Seldom Works. Typically people try and… Click here to read more…

It’s an Exciting Time to be a Member of our Backyard Growers Business Center!

Updated : July 19, 2017

27 Comments

Unknown Hydrangea

Wow!  That’s all I can say. We have so many fun and exciting things happening in Our Members Area right now and we are accepting new members, but only for a short time. Look at this Purple Ghost Japanese Maple.  Would you like one?  Two or Three? When I posted these photos a few weeks… Click here to read more…

Rooted Cuttings. Heeling them in, storing them until you can get them potted. When to fertilize them.

Updated : July 7, 2020

57 Comments

Sticking thousands of cuttings at Mike's Plant Farm.

Human beings love to take simple things and make them as complicated as possible! My job as your gardening/growing mentor is to get you back to the basics so you can focus on what works and get more done. There are a lot of different ideas about how to go about any given task, but… Click here to read more…

The Correct or Proper Way to Trim Shrubs.

Published : June 25, 2017

71 Comments

Mike McGroarty, teaching how to trim shrubs.

I made you a movie about trimming shrubs.  Enjoy! When pruning shrubs in your landscape it’s important to understand a few things.  It really makes no difference when you prune most plants.  The plants flat out don’t care and the sooner you prune them, if they need it, the sooner they can be on their… Click here to read more…

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Young trees planted in organized rows, sunny landscape.

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The Donkey Bucket Challenge (Watch Video)

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Hydrangea cuttings stuck close together.

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Mike’s Big Perennial Bed by the Month.

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$180.00 per Square Foot? Is it really possible?

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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

Recent Posts

Finnegan keeping the sun off his head.

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

… Read Full Article

This upside down donkey is a hoot!

An Upside Down Donkey and Cute Puppy.

You can see more of the donkeys here. And more silly donkey stuff here. Questions, comments, mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond. Until then, by any and all means stay inspired! … Read Full Article

'Rockin Raspberry' Bee Balm.

‘Rockin Raspberry’ Bee Balm.

Wow! I planted four of these 'Rockin Raspberry' Bee Balm in the perennial garden at the nursery last summer and look at them now. They are in bloom right now, end of June here in northern, Ohio and every person that sees them asks about them. This beauty … Read Full Article

'Bubblegum Blast' Bee Balm.

‘Bubblegum Blast’ Bee Balm

This beautiful Bee Balm is part of the 'Sugar Buzz' series. I planted these in my perennial bed last summer and this year they are beautiful and blooming like crazy! They grow from 16" to 24" tall, are hardy from zone 4 through zone 8. They love full sun … Read Full Article

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

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