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Home » Growing » Page 4

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

Published : March 31, 2017

42 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

9 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 Over Winter Ornamental Grasses in Containers.

Published : March 31, 2017

10 Comments

Roger Higgins holding Blue Fescue Ornamental Grass.

Recently Duston and I traveled to Roger’s Backyard Nursery in Cranesville, Pa, only about a 37 mile drive for us and took a tour of Roger’s Backyard Nursery.  Roger is One of Our Members.  He showed us why he is successful over winter ornamental grasses when others are not. In the photo you can see… Click here to read more…

Offering Landscape Design, Landscape Consultation to Your Nursery Customers.

Updated : April 1, 2017

5 Comments

Recently this came up in Our Members Area so I thought I’d share the conversation here for a couple of reasons.  I want you to know the quality of information exchanged in our members area on a regular basis. This is really good information and a great way for a person with knowledge of plants… Click here to read more…

Things to Do in and Around Cleveland, Ohio and Northeast Ohio.

Updated : April 4, 2019

4 Comments

Slip the rose cutting Burrito into a plastic bag.

Want to visit Mike’s Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio? Make it a vacation! Mike’s Plant Farm is located in the far northeastern corner of Ohio, about one mile from beautiful Lake Erie.  If you plan on visiting this area there are a ton of things to do and see around here and my goal with… Click here to read more…

How to Make a Backyard Greenhouse with Four Hula-Hoops.

Updated : April 2, 2021

48 Comments

Crazy right? Hula-Hoops? This video is informative, it’s creative, it’s useful and it is funnier than all get out.  And it’s short! Take a peek. So there you have it, the Hula-Hoop Greenhouse and this thing can be used for veggies or For Rooting Cuttings in the Summer.

Start a Garden Club at Work!

Published : March 3, 2017

5 Comments

How to stack plants in a truck.

Start your own garden club at work! It’s easy.  Just find other people that share your interest in gardening and invite them into your club.  Create a group on Facebook where you can share your interests and ideas.  Trade plants, trade seeds, share landscaping ideas, seed growing tips, cutting growing tips. Bring your group to… 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…

Gardening in January No Matter Where You Live!

Published : January 9, 2017

18 Comments

Mike and the members.

Single digits here in Ohio this week!  Brrrrrr. Both the plants and the Donkeys are Doing Fine.  The donkeys stay in their little shelter house during the day, it’s pretty open but it keeps the wind off of them.  Then at nighttime they check into Their Little Semi Underground Bedroom. The plants?  The plants are… Click here to read more…

Putting up a Building in Five Hours!

Updated : January 1, 2017

3 Comments

From the inside looking out.

We were running out of room at the nursery and decided to add an extra storage building that we intend to Use to Pack and Ship Small Plants, Liners and Rooted Cuttings. We have a local company run by an Amish Family that builds all kinds of outdoor storage buildings and this is the second… Click here to read more…

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Busting Gardening Myths!

Posted On May 1, 2022 By Mike

How to Move Heavy things the Easy Way.

Posted On April 13, 2022 By Mike

21 Plants that are Easy to Grow and Sell Like Crazy!

Posted On March 25, 2022 By Mike

Hardwood cuttings of Dappled Willow.

Rooting Dappled Willow from Hardwood Cuttings and Starting a Fun Little Business with Nothing but a Handful of Sticks.

Posted On March 21, 2022 By Mike

Tips and Tricks for Growing Plants from Seed.

Posted On February 2, 2022 By Mike

What is a Plant Patent and How Do they Work?

Posted On November 12, 2021 By Mike

Dianthus, Appleblossom Burst

Fall Plant Sale at Mike’s Plant Farm!

Posted On August 8, 2021 By Mike

Mike McGroarty sucks at landscape design.

My Landscape Design Skills Suck!

Posted On May 8, 2021 By Mike

Japanese maples balled in burlap.

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

Posted On April 15, 2021 By Mike

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

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

Mike McGroarty sucks at landscape design.

My Landscape Design Skills Suck!

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 … Read Full Article

Japanese maples balled in burlap.

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

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. … Read Full Article

Mike McGroarty interviews a successful backyard grower from Tennessee.

Mike Interviews a Very 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 … Read Full Article

Red Prince Weigela

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 … Read Full Article

Bare Root Japanese Maple Trees about to be Heeled in.

Digging and storing bare root trees for later potting.

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 … Read Full Article

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