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You are here: Home / Archives for Gardening Tips / General

Heirloom Seeds, are they Really Better?

Updated : November 5, 2014

276 Comments

Let’s start with . . . what exactly is a Heirloom seed? Heirloom seeds come from plants that are really old like me, even older really.  I was born in 1956, most or all heirloom seeds come from plants that were being actively grown prior to 1951.  Why 1951?  What’s so significant about that?  I… Click here to read more…

Fruit Trees that Fail to Make Fruit.

Updated : June 17, 2024

271 Comments

Do you have a fruit tree or trees in your yard that just don’t seem to know how to make fruit?  Are you frustrated with your fruit trees and their lack of adequate fruit production?  I know it can be frustrating, but here’s the deal… Fruit trees are programed at birth to be robotic fruit-producing… Click here to read more…

Saving Snow Damaged Japanese Maples and other trees and shrubs.

Updated : November 7, 2014

119 Comments

Damage to our favorite trees and shrubs can happen.  Sometimes the damage is the result of heavy snow fall, sometimes an animal, large dog, horse pony, donkey whatever it might be, decides to eat part of a tree, or small trees are often physically damaged by kids cars or other means. Recently somebody wrote to… Click here to read more…

10 Reasons Not To Be Afraid Of Garden Spiders

Updated : June 17, 2024

5 Comments

 Garden spiders are not aggressive. They are much, much more likely to run than to attack. They are typically found in gardens, meadows and clearings….not in your bed. If you do happen to find a garden spider in your house, its most likely in search of disease carrying flies. There are approximately 120 known species… Click here to read more…

Amending Garden Soil

Updated : June 17, 2024

58 Comments

When to Amend Garden Soil and When Not to. The two types of garden soil that really need to be amended the most are clay soil and sandy soil.  Clay needs to be amended to loosen it up.  The roots of plants need to have the ability to transfer oxygen through the soil to the… Click here to read more…

The Pre-Spring Gardening Checklist.

Updated : January 18, 2019

90 Comments

Let’s see, what should we put on our pre-spring gardening checklist? I need your help with this, comment below and let me know what I missed. 1.  Get all of the remaining leaves out of my beds. 2.  Remove the tops from the perennials, Hosta, Daylily etc. 3.  Trim any trees that need trimming while… Click here to read more…

My Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick is Dying

Updated : June 17, 2024

133 Comments

A Dying Harry Lauder's Walking Stick

Some Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick plants (corylus avellana contorta) are being attacked and are dying slowly. This doesn’t seem to be a widespread problem, but it is happening.  The disease that is attacking them is called Eastern Filbert Blight, which is a fungal type disease and not an insect problem.  If you have a plant… Click here to read more…

The Joy of Being a Gardener.

Updated : November 21, 2014

46 Comments

A Bird Adopted Me! Several weeks ago while making cuttings this young Robin flies in the building and lands on my head.  Just sits there.  I put my hand on my head to get her off and she hops on the back on my hand and just rides it down to the table and looks… Click here to read more…

What are we doing to our trees?

Updated : June 17, 2024

8 Comments

Mike McGroarty

What are we doing to our trees?  They treat us well, provide us with shade, fruit, and beauty. Why are we so mean to them? I’d like to take a moment and call out Arborist Blair Glenn for the work that he has been doing to educate America about the proper care and pruning of trees. If you… Click here to read more…

Are your plants safe? Is it too warm too soon.

Updated : June 17, 2024

80 Comments

Is it too warm too soon.  How will it affect our plants. I am not going to sugar coat this. I am deeply concerned about this really, really warm weather this early in the year.  It’s beautiful outside.  Spent some time on the porch yesterday.  It was really, really nice out.  Pam, my wife, had… Click here to read more…

37 Ways to Know You’re Addicted to Gardening

Updated : June 17, 2024

226 Comments

1. Your neighbors recognize you in your pajamas, rubber clogs, and a cup of coffee. 2. You grab other people’s banana peels, coffee grinds, apple cores, etc. for your compost pile. 3. You have to wash your hair to get your fingernails clean. 4. All your neighbors come and ask you questions. 5. You know… Click here to read more…

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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

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