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Home » Growing » Page 5

Which Boxwood Makes a Nice Low Growing Hedge?

Published : January 1, 2017

17 Comments

Low growing boxwood used to make an entry way welcome sign.

To the best of my recollection, the Boxwood plants used to make this entry way sign at our local high school are Buxus ‘Wintergreen’ also known as Korean Boxwood.  ‘Wintergreen Boxwood is one of the best Boxwood’s to use as a low hedge like we did here to spell out the word Perry.  This planting… Click here to read more…

Free Pruning Shears, Free Memberships!

Updated : January 9, 2017
Free Pruning Shears!

We are having two Drawings. Details on how to enter the contest are at the bottom of the page. On January 3rd, 2017 we’ll draw two names for the pruning shears.  We are giving away two pair of these Corona Pruning Shears.  These are the exact shears that we use a Mike’s Plant Farm to… Click here to read more…

The Ten Minute Plant Show.

Updated : December 13, 2016

4 Comments

Annabelle Hydrangea.

In Our Members Area we are always discussing new and interesting ways to sell more plants.  Many people live in an area where it’s just not feasible to invite a bunch of people to their house for a plant sale, so they are always looking for new ideas. This simple idea starts with a simple… Click here to read more…

Rooting Cuttings in December and January.

Updated : December 4, 2020

63 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…

The Wrap Around Potting System.

Published : November 9, 2016

8 Comments

The Wrap Around Potting System.

My life of potting benches truly has involved.  For years and years I used a “Legless Potting Bench” and I pretty much made that bench famous when I shared it online so many years ago.  That started with me resting one end of the bench on my potting soil pile and supporting the other end… Click here to read more…

Growing Hydrangeas from Cuttings in the Fall or Winter.

Updated : November 8, 2016

97 Comments

Hydrangea cuttings stuck close together.

I am writing this article on election day, November 8th, 2016. Don’t forget to vote for the Donkeys, they are Running for President! The plants right in front of Cathy are Annabelle Hydrangea.  We stuck those cuttings last November, potted them up in late June and I took this photo in October.  They bloomed like… Click here to read more…

Growing Roses from Cuttings in the Fall.

Updated : November 6, 2020

95 Comments

Wrap the rose cuttings in several layers of wet newspaper until you have a "Rose Cutting Burrito".

Basically there are two ways, two different times of the year to grow roses from cuttings.  Softwood Cutting Season begins in June and continues through the summer.  By fall the wood hardens off and you have to do things a bit differently, You have to Apply Hardwood Cutting Strategies. Let’s keep things simple and put… Click here to read more…

Shindig 2016 at Mike’s Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio

Updated : October 10, 2016

11 Comments

Mike and Pam McGroarty with Duston McGroarty.

Every year, for many, many years now, we hold an annual event at our nursery here in Perry, Ohio for our Backyard Grower Members.  It’s a big deal for all of us because we spend all year communicating online, buying and selling plants to and from one another, helping each other growing problems, but seldom… Click here to read more…

This is Why I Do what I Do.

Updated : September 21, 2016

39 Comments

Dancing Queen Hosta

It was early Sunday morning, the third day of our fall plant sale and I was walking through the nursery.  It was a beautiful September morning, very quiet except for the birds chirping, even the Donkeys were Quiet, just watching me stroll through the nursery when suddenly it hit me;  What an amazing thing it… 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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