Mike's Backyard Nursery

The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Bibs On!

  • Home
  • Recommended Tools
  • Products
  • Categories
    • Business
      • Backyard Nursery
      • Bestselling Plants
      • Marketing
    • Gardening Tips
      • Compost
      • Containers
      • Diseases
      • Fertilize
      • General
      • Landscaping
      • Lawn
      • Pests
      • Protect
      • Pruning
      • Weeds
    • Nurseries
    • Plant Propagation
      • Cuttings
      • Division
      • Grafting
      • Seed
    • Rural Living
    • Tools
  • Contact
  • About Mike
You are here: Home / Archives for Business / Backyard Nursery

What is a Liner Plant?

Updated : June 17, 2024

6 Comments

Almost all people who want to start their own Backyard Nursery start out with liners they purchase from other growers.  Every day in the Backyard Growers Business Center, folks are buying and selling all sizes of plants; unrooted cuttings, rooted cuttings, liners, stock plants and even seeds! Liners will typically range in size from a… Click here to read more…

Stock Plants and Growing in Containers

Updated : June 17, 2024

4 Comments

Stock plants, rooted cuttings, cuttings, that’s my business. Up against the donkey fence, I have planted several stock plants to take cuttings from. They are my gold mine. I have Anabelle Hydrangea and Gold Flame Spirea among many others. The Gold Flame Spirea is just a phenomenal plant. It is easy to propagate and it… Click here to read more…

Can You Make $100,000 From Yard Waste?

Updated : June 17, 2024

9 Comments

Rooted Cuttings Waiting To Be Potted Up

Can you REALLY make $100,000.00 from yard waste?? Sounds like one of those bogus get-rich-quick scams, right? I’m sure I’ll catch some flack for even suggesting it’s possible. But guess what… I don’t care. Before I dive into that, I wanna let you know what’s been going on at my nursery. We just finished up… Click here to read more…

Backyard Nursery Success Story

Updated : June 17, 2024

1 Comment

When Mike McGroarty of rural Perry, Ohio said to his wife; “From now on, all of our plants are $4.97. We’re selling everything at that price.” he had no way of knowing how that decision would change his life and lives around the world. At the time, McGroarty was just growing some plants in his… Click here to read more…

What is the Backyard Growers Business Center?????

Updated : June 17, 2024

Leave a Comment

Hi, Sharon here. I am Mike’s assistant and also an administrator on the Backyard Growers Business Center forums. I thought I would share this dialogue with you to give you an idea about what goes on there. Thanks everyone!  July 28, 2015 12:59 am Sarah12417 Member Members Forum Posts: 5 Member Since: June 27, 2015… Click here to read more…

Growing Japanese Maple Trees in Pots

Updated : June 17, 2024

64 Comments

Many people enjoy the beauty of Japanese Maple trees, but some folks don’t have room for another tree in their landscape, or they may be apartment dwellers who don’t have a yard. Fortunately for these folks, there are many dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties of Japanese Maples that can be grown quite well in containers. Any… Click here to read more…

My Nursery and Donkey Points

Updated : June 17, 2024

2 Comments

I’ve had some new business cards printed by Vista.com and I have to tell you that they make it very easy to design your own card. Plus they are reasonably priced and have quick service. I set my cards out on the table and people grab them up! My cards have a photo of Pam,… Click here to read more…

Damping Off – When Seedlings Fail

Updated : June 17, 2024

1 Comment

One of the most heartbreaking moments for any gardener may occur in early spring when their carefully-tended seedlings suddenly keel over and die, seemingly for no apparent reason. This occurs most often in seedlings that have been started early indoors, and the cause is typically one of several soil-borne plant diseases collectively known as damping… Click here to read more…

The Canadian Buy/Sell Board

Updated : June 17, 2024

2 Comments

Well we finally have some selling and buying happening on the Canadian Backyard Growers Business Center Buy/Sell Board. You simply cannot beat these prices! If you take the $7 thirty day trial, you can scoop up these great plants! www.backyardgrowers.com/join Plants for sale on the Canadian Buy/Sell Board 5/19/15 5 un   – .95              Emerald ‘n… Click here to read more…

Getting Ready For The First Plant Sale

Updated : June 17, 2024

12 Comments

Friday May 8th will be the first plant sale of the season for Mike’s Plant Farm 4850 North Ridge Road, Perry, Ohio 44081, Fri-Sun 9-5 Mike, Pam and Cathy have been working non-stop getting everything ready.  Come on out and meet the whole gang! Mike, Pam and Cathy will be there Fri-Sun. Duston and Sharon… Click here to read more…

Growing, Buying and Selling Thousands of Plants

Updated : June 17, 2024

2 Comments

In my previous video I showed you my grow bed full of Japanese maples. I had to grow those for a couple of years for them to get to that size, then I had to dig, ball and burlap the tree. A lot of work for one tree.Now I’m going to show you my container… Click here to read more…

Growing Plants in Beds

Updated : June 17, 2024

4 Comments

Today I’m going to talk to you about growing plants in beds, and when it makes sense and when it doesn’t. Whether you are growing plants for yourself or to sell it doesn’t really make a difference. Gardeners are gardeners and we all love plants. I’ve been doing this my whole life and I really… Click here to read more…

To Dig or Not to Dig

Updated : March 8, 2025

69 Comments

Today I want to  talk to you about the difference between planting and transplanting, or “digging”, planting or transplanting. Now this is something that people get confused about a lot. Digging season usually begins in late November, right around Thanksgiving.  You want to dig up plants when they are dormant, after the leaves fall off, … Click here to read more…

Conversations from the Backyard Growers Business Center

Updated : June 17, 2024

2 Comments

People often wonder, “What is this Backyard Growers Business Center?” Then they exclaim, “I’m just interested in growing plants, not selling them.” Well it’s not all that stuffy and formidable.  The members of the Backyard Growers Business Center are growers who help each other out. The more experienced old-timers, (and young-timers) are eager to help… Click here to read more…

Preparing for Spring Plant Sales

Updated : June 17, 2024

8 Comments

So it’s February 5th and about 12 degrees outside here in Perry, Ohio. You would think that this would be a slow time of year in the growing business, but you’d be wrong! Many of our successful growers are still buying and selling plants in anticipation of their first plant sales beginning in April! What… Click here to read more…

How Much is One Rooted Cutting Worth?

Updated : May 29, 2020

9 Comments

Is it really possible that one lonely rooted cutting could change your life forever? I suppose it could. I decided to write this because this morning I was giving some advice to one of our Canadian members about getting started selling small plants. I felt that he was thinking way too small and taking way… Click here to read more…

How to Plant Bare Root Trees

Updated : June 17, 2024

1 Comment

Bare root trees are dug from the ground when they’re dormant, usually in fall, and their roots are shaken free of soil.  They are stored in a cool place with their roots kept moist until they are ready to be shipped for you to plant.  Supplies & Tools Needed: Bare Root Tree Bucket Shovel Scissors… Click here to read more…

Shipping Plants

Updated : June 17, 2024

2 Comments

Every day hundreds of wholesale plant sales and other transactions take place in our Backyard Growers Business Center. If you are new to the business, you can learn a lot from the experienced members of the group. Shipment of  plants by mail requires detailed packaging and preparation of the plant, you want to ensure that… Click here to read more…

Mike McGroarty’s “Secret” Bed Building and Potting Soil Recipe.

Updated : June 17, 2024

88 Comments

Raised Beds and Potting Soil.  The Recipe is the Magic that makes for Beautiful Plants! A good potting soil recipe and a good bed building recipe are interchangeable.  A good potting soil recipe is an absolute must. You can’t fool around and get a potting soil recipe wrong.  I poor potting soil recipe will stall,… Click here to read more…

DIY Plant Cart

Updated : June 17, 2024

2 Comments

Nursery carts and wagons will help save time and your back!Easily move plants, pots and tools around your nursery, greenhouse or garden with this DIY plant cart! This DIY Stroller Plant Cart will hold 8-10 plant pots (the $4.97 size Mike sells) and maneuvers well over most surfaces. Give it a try, it only took… Click here to read more…

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »
Young trees planted in organized rows, sunny landscape.

15 Fast-Growing Trees to Transform Your Yard Quickly

Posted On March 23, 2025 By Duston

The Donkey Bucket Challenge (Watch Video)

Posted On December 6, 2024 By Duston

How to Make Money Growing and Selling Mums (Chrysanthemums)

Posted On September 28, 2024 By Duston

Hydrangea cuttings stuck close together.

My Month-By-Month Plant Propagation Guide

Posted On August 24, 2024 By Duston

Mike’s Plant Farm Spring Ad

Posted On May 15, 2024 By Mike

Mike’s Big Perennial Bed by the Month.

Posted On April 27, 2023 By Mike

$180.00 per Square Foot? Is it really possible?

Posted On March 28, 2023 By Mike

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

Copyright © 2025 · Hill Country Digital Media, LLC · Privacy Policy · Earnings Disclaimer · Terms of Service