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How to Propagate Grapes from Hardwood Cuttings.

Updated : October 22, 2019

269 Comments

Propagating grapes using hardwood cuttings.

Grape plants are easy to propagate from cuttings. Most of the time they are done during the winter months when the plants are dormant.  Cuttings taken in the late fall and winter are known as hardwood cuttings because just as it sounds, the wood is much harder during the fall and winter than it is… Click here to read more…

How to Make Homemade Plant Propagation Flats.

Updated : November 27, 2020

96 Comments

Homemade Plant Propagation Flat.

This is a good winter project.  At least it was for me. These wooden plant propagation flats are really quite simple and easy to make.  I used pressure-treated wood so they would last and I’ve never had a problem with treated wood around my plants or rooting cuttings so don’t be concerned about that.  Everything… Click here to read more…

Protecting Your Plants from Mice and other Rodents During Winter.

Updated : June 17, 2024

212 Comments

Weather resistant mouse bait.

Many people don’t realize the importance of protecting your plants from field mice and other rodents but they will actually eat your plants and kill them. Sometimes the damage they do is so subtle and inconspicuous that the damage itself goes unseen, yet the result of that damage can be devastating. Of course, there are… Click here to read more…

How to Root Hundreds if not Thousands of Cuttings at One Time.

Updated : May 20, 2015

69 Comments

26,000 rooted cuttings waiting to be potted.

What I am about to share with you is a bit of an industry secret.  But what I want you to really grasp is that this system will work for just a few cuttings, or in our case we do tens of thousands of cuttings at time using this very simple, yet incredibly effect system…. Click here to read more…

Gardening Zone Maps for the United States and Canada.

Updated : November 25, 2014

9 Comments

As a gardener it’s really, really important that you know what gardening zone you live in.   Most plants are sold and advertised to be cold hardy to a certain zone.  Or some plants can only tolerate so much heat. So if you are confused or wondering about what zone you are actually in, here are… Click here to read more…

Winter Tree and Shrub Transplanting Tips and Why Now is the Ideal Time .

Updated : May 20, 2015

129 Comments

Recently dug Japanese maples.

I am going to talk to you about Winter Tree and Shrub Transplanting Tips and Why Now is the Ideal Time. Sounds crazy right?  This isn’t gardening season, it’s winter.  Spring is gardening season! Well . . . that’s sorta true. People really get confused about when to transplant what and how to go about… Click here to read more…

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Mike’s Backyard Nursery.

Updated : November 10, 2014

141 Comments

Just to let you know that we really and truly do appreciate all of our customers and all of our newsletter subscribers, we made you a little video for Thanksgiving. Fall Photos of Mike & Pam with the Donkeys, Finnegan and Fergus. Questions or comments?  Post them below.

The Consumers Guide to Caring for and Planting a Live Balled in Burlap Christmas Tree.

Updated : December 17, 2019

36 Comments

Planting a live Christmas tree.

Buying  a live balled in burlap Christmas tree is a very special family event.  When you buy a live Christmas tree as opposed to a cut Christmas tree you are buying a living thing that will be part of your family and part of your landscape for many years to come. You pick out the… Click here to read more…

8 Plants With Spectacular Fall Colors

Updated : November 10, 2015

65 Comments

A few days ago as I was pulling into the driveway at home I couldn’t help but notice some of the spectacular fall colors.   Sure we’ve all seen the wonderful displays of color on the hillsides as we travel, but today I want to share with you a few plants that I think are noteworthy… Click here to read more…

Fertilizer Applicator for Fertilizing Containers, Nursery Pots and Plants in the Landscape

Updated : March 9, 2025

10 Comments

This fertilizer applicator makes it easy to target individual plants or containers.

I am very proud to say that this super time-saving, back-saving fertilizer dispensing device was invented by one of our very own Backyard Growers.  After bending over to fertilize a few hundred or a few thousand plants John quickly realized that there had to be a better way. This device is amazing.  All you do… Click here to read more…

Mike and Pam McGroarty with their Miniature Donkeys Finnegan and Fergus.

Updated : April 20, 2021

167 Comments

I don't know about the donkeys, but I look ridiculous.

Mike’s Plant Farm4850 North Ridge RoadPerry, Ohio 44081 I have to thank my daughter-in-law Lorelei  for taking these photos for us. The rest is pretty self-explanatory.  The solid dark brown donkey is Fergus, the white and light brown one is Finnegan.  My subscribers helped us pick the Irish names in honor of my Irish father…. Click here to read more…

Over Wintering, Protecting Plants for Winter

Updated : February 9, 2020

222 Comments

Gold Drop Potentilla. Tough enough to make it through the winter?

There are a lot of different ways to protect the plants that you are growing for the winter months.  There are a few things that you need to understand about protecting plants for winter. 1.  You don’t need a greenhouse.  You should be growing plants that are hardy in your growing climate, therefore they will… Click here to read more…

How to Grow and Trim Japanese Maples.

Updated : October 26, 2018

125 Comments

Crimson Queen Japanese Red Maple.

Crimson Queen is by far one of the most beautiful of the Laceleaf Weeping Japanese maples on the market.  However, I see so many of them that are improperly pruned and cared for.  It’s not so much that they are improperly pruned, they are not pruned at all.  Which is really about the worst kind… Click here to read more…

How to Grow Roses from Cuttings.

Updated : October 8, 2024

231 Comments

Growing roses from cuttings.

It is easier than you think to propagate and grow roses from cuttings.   As with all plant propagation it’s all about timing and technique and timing is usually more important than technique. (Note:  Did you notice that there are two different kinds of bees in that rose bloom?  Just thought I’d point that out.)… Click here to read more…

How I Advertise My Plants for Sale

Updated : June 17, 2024

19 Comments

Winter is getting closer and closer every week. We’re trying to button everything up before it’s too late. In this week’s “Mondays With Mike”, I share with you the results of our Fall/St. Patrick’s Day plant sale and also show you the ad I’m running for our sale next week. It’s very rare that I… Click here to read more…

Why do I need raised beds? Do I need raised beds?

Updated : October 23, 2014

61 Comments

A stair stepped landscape planting.

Recently, here on the blog, we had a discussion about lots of interesting and creative ways to build raised beds.  Thank you all for sharing your great ideas, lots of really cool ideas.  You can see that post and add any additional ideas here.     But . . . do you really need raised… Click here to read more…

B&B, Balled in Burlap, Tree Digging Tips.

Updated : November 10, 2014

8 Comments

The art of hand digging trees and balling them in burlap really is an art.  Some are good at it, others not so much.  Me?  I’d rate myself as an okay tree digger.  At least with relatively small trees and shrubs.  Recently I put up a post about Canadian Hemlocks trees and I have some… Click here to read more…

Growing, Propagating and Selling Canadian Hemlock Tsuga canadensis.

Updated : March 8, 2025

83 Comments

All around the tree, carving the top 1/3 of the root ball on this Canadian Hemlock tree.

Is it possible that a plant could change your life forever? Yes it is possible that one plant could change your life forever and it could be just about any plant. I really do mean that. We had a very successful plant sale slash St. Patrick’s Day party this weekend at Mike’s Plant Farm here… Click here to read more…

Miniature Donkeys Getting all Dressed Up

Updated : November 10, 2014

28 Comments

Pam made the donkeys personalized scarves.

The donkeys are all excited!  This Saturday, September 14th, 2013 we are having a big plant sale and a St. Patrick’s Day party here at Mike’s Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio. A St. Patrick’s Day party in September?  Yeah, that was the donkeys idea.   Since they are Irish (because we gave them Irish names) and… Click here to read more…

How I Overwinter My Cuttings

Updated : June 17, 2024

39 Comments

We’ve been pushing hard to try and get all the cuttings stuck that we can before it gets too late in the season. In this week’s episode of “Mondays With Mike” I’ll show you how we plan to overwinter our cuttings. By adjusting the layout of my mist beds, I’m now confident the cuttings will… 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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