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Home » Complete Guides

How to Separate Used Nursery Containers (pots) Easily.

Published : April 20, 2017

9 Comments

Separating "stuck" used nursery containers (pots) the easy way.

This question comes up a lot in Our Members Area because a lot of members, including myself, recycle used nursery pots.  Why?  Because it’s crazy not to!  These plastic nursery containers have no business in our landfills if small backyard growers like us can recycle them, make good use of them, and keep them out… Click here to read more…

Braiding Golden Curls Weeping Willow Trees for Patio Planters.

Published : April 19, 2017

13 Comments

Braiding Golden Curls Willow.

Golden Curls Willow is a very attractive plant with branches that twist and turn like a pigs tail, but they can get big.  One of Our Members, Roger Higgins from Roger’s Backyard Nursery in Cranesville, Pa has a very unusual approach to growing and selling this tree. A late friend of mine discovered and brought… Click here to read more…

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

Published : April 14, 2017

17 Comments

Roger Higgins with a Dappled Willow that he grew from a really long hardwood cutting.

The easiest and most predictable way to grow Dapple Willow, Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki’, from cuttings is to do them as Hardwood Cuttings in the Winter.  They can be done as Softwood Cuttings in the Summer, but that can be a bit tricky.  But as hardwood cuttings they are very easy to root. Plants in… Click here to read more…

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

Updated : April 4, 2017

31 Comments

Roger Higgins and Duston McGroarty discuss growing seeds in the rain.

Meet Roger Higgins from Roger’s Backyard Nursery in Cranesville, Pa.  Every one of those plastic jugs next to Roger contains seeds.  Some are perennial seeds, some might be Dogwood Seeds, maybe some Japanese maple seeds. Some of the jugs are milk jugs, the bigger jugs are kitty litter jugs.  If you look closely Roger has… Click here to read more…

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

Published : April 2, 2017

12 Comments

The correct way to place the rooted cutting in the pot, on top of the potting soil.

This article includes both still photos and a movie. When potting small plants it’s easy to make the mistake of potting them too deeply or fertilizing them with the wrong kind of fertilizer.  Or even using a poor grade of potting soil. In this example I am potting a rooted cutting which is basically a… Click here to read more…

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

Published : March 31, 2017

25 Comments

Mike McGroarty taking a break in a wheelbarrow.

Trees and plants are no different than any other creature on the planet.  If you want them to be nice, to act right, you have to train them when they are young. With conical evergreens like Spruce trees, pine tree and upright arborviate it’s important to train them when really young to produce only one… Click here to read more…

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

Published : March 31, 2017

8 Comments

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

Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a hot seller! Doesn’t look like much sitting on that tree stump does it?  Believe it or not, small Dwarf Alberta Spruce that size are in high demand on the wholesale market!  Growers all over are constantly looking for them from 2″ to 4′. One of the first plants that I… Click here to read more…

How to Grow Perennials from Seed.

Updated : March 2, 2017

31 Comments

Fiesta Time Hollyhock

  Growing Perennials from Seed is Easy. Rule number one.  Only grow perennials that are hardy in your zone.  You can buy perennial seeds online, just make sure that you know what plant hardiness zone you are in and buy only seeds rated for your zone. Zone map for the United States: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html Zone map… Click here to read more…

Rooting Cuttings in December and January.

Updated : December 4, 2020

58 Comments

Golden Curls Willow hardwood cuttings.

It’s really cold and snowy here in northern Ohio in December so that means no gardening right? Wrong!  Here’s at Mike’s Plant Farm we have been crazy busy making and sticking cuttings. Indoors right?  Nope!  Outside. The bed on left are cuttings Hardwood Cuttings that we’ve stuck between November 15th and December 10th. These are… Click here to read more…

The Magic Candy Dish

Published : December 4, 2016

4 Comments

The Magic Candy Dish

How to sell hundreds if not thousands of plants with “The Magic Candy Dish”. Crazy right? Crazy like a fox.  Follow along. I am actually doing this blog post for Our Members, not really interested in showing it to the general public, but putting it here is the easiest way for me to convey my… Click here to read more…

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Mike McGroarty interviews a successful backyard grower from Tennessee.

Mike Interviews a Very Successful Backyard Grower from Tennessee.

Posted On February 23, 2021 By Mike

Red Prince Weigela

Red Prince Weigela

Posted On January 18, 2021 By Mike

Bare Root Japanese Maple Trees about to be Heeled in.

Digging and storing bare root trees for later potting.

Posted On January 18, 2021 By Mike

Finnegan checking the depth of my hole.

The donkeys helping me put up a sign.

Posted On January 17, 2021 By Mike

Stacking trees in a pick up truck.

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

Posted On January 17, 2021 By Mike

Mountain Fire Piers Japonica

Mountain Fire Piers Japonica

Posted On January 17, 2021 By Mike

Heeling rooted cuttings into pots.

Rooted cuttings, heeled into pots until we can get them potted.

Posted On January 16, 2021 By Mike

Heuchera Coral Bells 'Fire Alarm'

Heuchera Coral Bells ‘Fire Alarm’

Posted On January 16, 2021 By Mike

Heuchera Coral Bells 'Prince'

Huechera, Coral Bells ‘Prince’

Posted On January 16, 2021 By Mike

Blue Angel Hosta

Blue Angel Hosta

Posted On January 16, 2021 By Mike

My Secret Potting Soil Recipe

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