Mike's Backyard Nursery

The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Bibs On!

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Home » Tools » Page 2

We’re Giving Away a Free Gardening Gift Basket!

Updated : December 25, 2015

69 Comments

Gardening Gift Basket Give Away.

We are giving away this gardening gift basket!  We are doing this in conjunction with the nice people at Mantis.com.  You know them right?  They make all kinds of really cool gardening related tools but the one that I am most passionate about is the Mantis Tiller.  You’ve seen me use it many times, it’s… Click here to read more…

Backyard Nursery Tools of the Trade, Things to turn you into a successful grower.

Updated : March 16, 2023

126 Comments

Mike McGroarty hugging miniature donkey Finnegan.

I, Mike McGroarty, am committed to turning you into a successful Backyard Grower.  This post is all about you and your success.  There truly are handful to things that you need to get started and be successful as soon as possible. One of those tools is education.  I work really hard to bring you as… Click here to read more…

How to Build Your Own Solar Powered Generator

Published : September 23, 2015

17 Comments

Having a solar powered generator can be functional, economical and fun. There are many different practical uses depending on the size of generator you decide to build. You can find step-by-step plans below to build a portable solar power generator and a link to get plans to build a full size solar generator. Materials List… Click here to read more…

How to Sharpen Pruning Shears

Updated : August 17, 2015

3 Comments

These Corona pruning shears are one of my favorite tools to use all year round, and I work the heck out of them! After a while, the blades become gunked up with sap, and nicked from cutting hard branches so it’s very important that I regularly maintain the shears so they will perform properly. I… Click here to read more…

Edge a Bed Like a Pro

Updated : April 15, 2020

42 Comments

One of the most important components of creating a landscape project is digging out the bed. People often ask me what they should do to separate the bed from the grass and weeds and to keep the soil from the bed from washing away. You can go and ask any employee at a big box… Click here to read more…

Easy Tree Stump Removal

Updated : April 15, 2020

6 Comments

I’ve seen many people struggle trying to remove dead tree stumps in their yard. In order to successfully and safely remove tree stumps, you have to have the right tools. If you are removing an entire tree, make sure don’t cut it so far down that you don’t have any trunk to use as leverage…. Click here to read more…

Best Pruning Shears

Updated : April 15, 2020

70 Comments

We get a lot of emails from our readers.  One question often asked is: Which brand of pruning shears does Mikes use?  This question is an easy one for me to answer. If you were to swing by the nursery right now, you’d find Mike there in his bib overalls.  The way he looks in his… Click here to read more…

Which Wheelbarrow Should I Buy?

Updated : January 1, 2017

35 Comments

Wheelbarrows!  Why so many options?  Why can’t it be simple? One wheel? Two wheels? Plastic tub?   Metal tub? Is a two wheeled garden cart better? Wheelbarrow Logic from Mike McGroarty. Here’s my take on wheelbarrows, from a guy that has made his living for the better part of 40 years using wheelbarrows. In my… Click here to read more…

Electric Wheelbarrow Review by Mike McGroarty.

Updated : January 15, 2015

11 Comments

The Electric Wheelbarrow.

Last growing season I was given the opportunity to use, test and review this awesome electric wheelbarrow from http://ElectricWheelbarrows.com.  If you’ve known me or have been following me for any length of time you know that I am huge, flag waving fan of single wheel, construction grade Jackson wheelbarrows.  To the point that even offer… Click here to read more…

Garden Tools Care

Updated : May 19, 2015

2 Comments

How to Clean, Maintain, and Store Your Garden Tools Gather the required materials and tools. Materials: – Boiled linseed oil – Spray lubricant – Multi-purpose tool oil – Abrasive pad or steel wool – Sanding block or sand paper – Waterproof glue – Dish soap (not pictured)  Tools: – File – Bucket (not pictured) –… Click here to read more…

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$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

Finnegan keeping the sun off his head.

An Old Guy, Two Donkeys, a Puppy and a Hammock. What could possibly go wrong?

Posted On July 17, 2022 By Mike

This upside down donkey is a hoot!

An Upside Down Donkey and Cute Puppy.

Posted On July 14, 2022 By Mike

'Rockin Raspberry' Bee Balm.

‘Rockin Raspberry’ Bee Balm.

Posted On June 26, 2022 By Mike

'Bubblegum Blast' Bee Balm.

‘Bubblegum Blast’ Bee Balm

Posted On June 26, 2022 By Mike

Blue Angel Hosta.

‘Blue Angel’ Hosta.

Posted On June 25, 2022 By Mike

Big Daddy Hosta.

‘Big Daddy’ Hosta

Posted On June 25, 2022 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

'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

Big Daddy Hosta.

‘Big Daddy’ Hosta

'Big Daddy' hosta is one of my favorite big hostas, mostly because it's big, it's blue and it has very interested leaves that are a bit dimpled. Big Daddy hosta gets about 24" tall and 36" wide. It's hardy in zones 3 through 9, the flowers are blends of … Read Full Article

'Humpback Whale' hosta.

‘Humpback Whale’ Hosta.

We sold out of 'Humpback Whale' hosta pretty early this year. Humpback Whale is pretty impressive hosta and this one really hasn't matured yet because they can get three feet high and 7 feet wide. I've also seen photos of them that show them to be a lot … Read Full Article

Ice Plant, delosperma

Ice Plant, delosperma

How pretty is that? And it's a ground hugging perennial that comes back year and year. These plants were new to our nursery last year so Pam and I planted three of them in our landscape at home. Not only did they do really well last year but they wintered … Read Full Article

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