Mike's Backyard Nursery

The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Bibs On!

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Home » Mike's Plant Farm

My Landscaping and Remodel of the Old House

Updated : June 2, 2015

27 Comments

Today Duston and I made a little video to show you the progress I’ve made on the rental house that sits at the front of my nursery. The plants I’ve chosen really serve a dual purpose, one, they make the yard look really nice, and two, I plant things that I will be taking cuttings… Click here to read more…

DIY Irrigation System for Lawn, Garden or Greenhouse

Updated : May 28, 2020

44 Comments

People have been asking me how I water all of my plants. The best thing that I have found, and that all the nurseries around me use, is the Nelson Whiz Head sprinkler. (<– that’s an affiliate link) It’s fairly inexpensive and it fits right onto a ½ inch fitting on a ¾ standpipe. I… Click here to read more…

How to Apply Preemergent Herbicide

Updated : August 18, 2015

17 Comments

Preemergent herbicides are designed for application before the targeted weed germinates, and are an effective preventative method for controlling weeds. People always ask me what type of preemergent herbicide I use and I tell then Snapshot DG.  You’re only going to find this at a place that sells to nurseries.  I would check AM Leonard… Click here to read more…

Backyard Growers Enjoying a Visit to Mike’s Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio

Updated : December 1, 2014

8 Comments

Backyard Growers discussing plant propagation with Mike McGroarty.

Once or twice a year we invite our Backyard Growers to my place, Mike’s Plant Farm, here in Perry, Ohio.  Each year we have a group of wonderful people.  We enjoy the day talking plants, plant propagation, growing and selling plants and we eat.  And of course the donkeys love the company. We also do … Click here to read more…

How to Grow and Trim Japanese Maples.

Updated : October 26, 2018

124 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…

2013 Shindig at Mike’s Plant Farm in Perry, Ohio

Updated : November 11, 2014

11 Comments

Mike McGroarty explaining a growing process to customers.

I have been doing these summer get togethers for customers for so long I don’t even remember when we first started them.  Years ago I know that.  The first few were at my house on Middle Ridge, then we had a few at the house we live in now and for the past three years… Click here to read more…

Three Generations of McGroarty Nurserymen

Updated : June 7, 2019

14 Comments

Lunch Break at McGroarty's Nursery

My father would be so proud to see the three generations of McGroarty Nurserymen. I’d love to add at least one McGroarty girl to this crew but so far we have three little boys in the family.  We’re counting on Kevin and Grace to add the girl or girls to the mix.  Time will tell. EDIT… Click here to read more…

Mike’s New Nursery… From The Beginning!

Updated : March 27, 2023

119 Comments

This is what we started with in 2010. This fun little video documents our progress through the spring of 2012. The front container growing area is just to the right off the donkeys.  This photo was pretty much taken from the same vantage point as the above photo where the ground is snow covered. September… Click here to read more…

Landscape Design Ideas

Updated : November 25, 2014

34 Comments

Growing Japanese Maples

Updated : May 20, 2015

102 Comments

Tips on how to grow your very own Japanese Maples from the seeds on the tree in your yard!

$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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