Bareroot Trees - Plant NOW & watch them Bud & Bloom in YOUR Yard!

"Spring in Wisconsin!"  - that's all we need to say...

but the bareroot trees do like this weather!

BAREROOT Tree Sale EXTENDED - Thanks to Mother Nature!

Stop in & check out the variety of shade, decorative and fruit trees - while supplies last & the weather is cool. 

Plant them now and watch them grow! 

Happy Spring! 

Pretty Plastic Pots

Although I support the global need to reduce production and consumption of plastics, I feel plastic products that are re-used/repurposed for decades deserve some consideration.    

I actually own a few plastic kitchen items inherited from my mother-in-law who passed away more than 40 years ago; these items are still in good condition and are re-used frequently in our household.  

But my focus for THIS blog will be pretty plastic pots for indoor/outdoor plants. 

Each of these decorative plastic pots might be made of resin/plastic/polyethylene, but all are synthetic and do NOT decompose when placed in landfills.   The sturdy plastic urn-style pot shown here has been used for several years for winter outdoor arrangements as well as summer container plantings (like German ivy with Osteospermum/South African daisies.)   

One of my horticulture instructors suggested we toss out any plastic containers after using since any disease or bacteria could become embedded in plastic interior surfaces and might transfer to a new plant.   I strongly disagree with tossing out these expensive decorative plastics after a short season! 

Instead, I will share the plastic pot cleaning “recipe” I have used for decades; it works!

One cleaning rag (a piece of old cotton T-shirt works well)
One cup water plus TWO TABLESPOONS liquid bleach mixed in an old glass container
One pair plastic gloves (PPE for protecting skin, hands and fingernails)
One pair safety glasses (preventing eye injury is always important)
One soiled plastic pot

INSTRUCTIONS:  If working outdoors, remove all soil and roots from plastic pot to be cleaned; rinse with hose if available.  Inside of pot might be stained from soils used, but it should clean up nicely.  While wearing plastic gloves and eye protection, simply dip cleaning rag into bleach solution.  Wipe off interior surfaces of large pot and allow bleach solution to linger for five minutes; next a quick rinse and allow plastic pot to air dry, or dry with an old towel if you wish. Dispose of the soiled cotton cleaning rag in trash; a cotton rag WILL decompose with time.  

Shown here is a birch-bark style plastic pot I purchased from Lammscapes a few years ago, which I’ve used in every season for various plants.  Here it is shown after I removed a dead plant before I bleached the planter. After using the above cleaning method; it looks like the day I purchased it from the Garden Center.   I have never experienced any negative issues when re-using a disinfected plastic pot.  NO diseases have transferred to my new plantings.  (It is important to use fresh potting soil or your homemade compost to fill the cleaned pot; using the tired, spent soil could be problematic.)

The month of March in Wisconsin doesn’t provide many days where we can “dig in the dirt.” But time spent in March cleaning and refurbishing pots means they will be ready for planting in MAY and JUNE!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture

Gardening Resolutions & Best Intentions

By early February some New Year’s resolutions have already been compromised, or maybe they weren’t sustainable resolutions at all.  Some people make extreme promises to themselves with all the best intentions, but does cutting back on carbs really translate to never again indulging in a warm cookie—fresh from the oven?  Resolutions can be more attainable and sustainable if they are reasonable goals… sensible improvements to your current lifestyle. 

If your resolutions include eating more whole foods in the new year AND spending more time outdoors AND getting more exercise and movement into your routine, then YOUR GARDEN is ready to help you succeed!  Eating whole (minimally processed) foods can be incorporated into your current lifestyle and diet, even if the change is gradual. (All your garden produce can be considered whole foods.)

If you’ve grown culinary herbs in your garden in previous years, you already understand how satisfying it is to prepare a meal using freshly harvested herbs for flavor, color and nutrients.  If you’ve grown a few veggies in previous years, then a reasonable resolution might be to try TWO new varieties this season. (Try NOT to overextend yourself when planning your garden space… don’t plant more than you are able to care for!  If you do, gardening loses its charm and becomes a chore.)  February and March are perfect months to peruse magazines and seed catalogs to determine which varieties or cultivars will grace your garden space in 2023!

If your resolutions include getting more exercise and movement each day, then a gentle stretching session before heading to your garden is the perfect way to prepare your limbs and joints for tasks awaiting you.  Many gardeners approach their garden space with the intention of weeding; but when they arrive, they notice a few items ready to harvest, and several plants that need water or mulch.   Saying most gardeners are multi-taskers is an understatement!  While their HANDS are picking fresh herbs and veggies, their HEAD is planning how to serve them (or preserve them!) 

Among your gardening resolutions, you shouldn’t forget annuals, perennials and flowering/fruiting shrubs!  Each will provide enticing flowers or fruit to attract pollinators to your garden space.   

My Herbaceous Plants instructor taught it is ideal to get pollinators accustomed to visiting your garden space EARLY; 

planting perennials will invite pollinators to visit and linger in your space… pollinating along the way.  

Many annuals bloom continuously four months or longer, so these will keep bees and butterflies coming back often.

Resolutions are not exclusive to January 1^st.     

Resolutions pertaining to gardening are just getting started!   The most important resolution I can offer:  TREASURE THE JOY YOUR GARDEN PROVIDES AND SHARE THE EXPERIENCE WITH A YOUNG CHILD IF YOU CAN… DIGGING IN THE DIRT CAN BE FUN FOR “KIDS” OF ALL AGES!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture

Kohlrabi Krazy!

Love eating fresh, raw kohlrabi… in past years, to get enough of this crispy veggie when in season, I had to purchase from farmers’ markets or grocery stores.  Although I have more than 40 years’ experience growing flowers, shrubs, veggies and herbs, kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea) has rarely been a successful crop in my home garden.

Cabbage white butterflies are extremely prolific in this area of Wisconsin, and they LOVE to lay eggs on leaves of anything in Brassica genus.  I utilize organic gardening practices so I prefer not to use powders or any insecticides, especially on food crops!  So, by July of each summer past, my fleshy thick kohlrabi leaves were consumed by those not-so-nice cabbage white butterfly larvae.

When I determined I could provide a non-chemical barrier to keep the cabbage whites off my plants, I knew it was worth a try.   My husband designed and constructed a 12” x 24” x 15” tall cage using hardware cloth (a stiff metal mesh that rarely rusts).   The sections of this mesh are 1/2” wide, so cabbage whites cannot fly through to get to the young plants… SUCCESS!   Pictures show that the “U” shape works well and allows enough space for developing foliage of each plant.   One 12” x 24” x 15” cage can hold SIX kohlrabi seedlings.  NOTE: You could build a larger cage for your plants if you wish, but keep in mind, these units must be stored with your garden supplies each year and do take up some space.

The cultivar I chose for this season is called ‘Winner’ and it is appropriately named! Excellent taste and texture… can be eaten in salads or slaws

 It can grow to 18 ozs. per fruit, but I harvested most when they were the size of a tennis ball.  One plant remains in the garden (all alone in its cage) and I will be patient while it matures further.  One of the claims for ‘Winner’ is that it is resistant to splitting so I feel confident waiting a bit longer to harvest my final kohlrabi of the summer  season. 

Although I understand this form of intervention would not be practical for cauliflower, cabbage or broccoli (due to overall size of these plants), it surely worked well for THIS GARDENER, who is just a bit kohlrabi krazy!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture

A Summer Wardrobe for your Plants!

 

Early July is the perfect time to wear your new summer apparel… shorts, capris, sandals… whatever you enjoy most.  For those of us who live in Northern States, July usually provides enough warm weather so that each of us can savor those sunny days.  Even Fairbanks, Alaska (where I lived in the early 70’s) has several summer days in the 80’s… along with about 22 hours of daylight around Summer Solstice.   Just as humans enjoy our summer wardrobe, plants can benefit from a summer wardrobe as well:

Some annuals and perennials will benefit from “top dressing”

which involves mixing TWO CUPS  compost or organic matter with a teaspoon of organic, granular fertilizer.  For small plants, place one cup of this mixture around the base of each plant and water in; the water should percolate through root zone of the plant and will carry nutrients and moisture to each plant’s roots.   

NOTE:  Remember MORE is not BETTER.  Many plants take a time out during hottest months; give a gentle nudge with top dressing—do not push plants with excessive fertilizer in July!

Plants like zucchini or pumpkins will benefit from a light covering of straw mulch across complete root zone.  Pumpkins will develop vines and creep over the straw, rooting occasionally along the way.  Straw also conserves moisture and reduces weeds in your pumpkin patch. You can place this straw covering at the time you plant seeds, but can also spread straw after plants have emerged.

Stone mulch is not my favorite, since stones absorb heat from the sun and reflect it back at bottom branches of plants.  I would never suggest using stones under any evergreen trees… it is a form of plant abuse in my opinion!  Colored or white stones CAN BE USED around plants like tall sedum (or ‘Postman’s Pride’ stonecrop, shown here.) Sedum and succulents can handle some reflective heat, so light-colored stones should be fine surrounding those plants.

Hostas are versatile plants and can be mulched with shredded hardwood if you wish.  HOWEVER, IF YOUR HOSTAS MANIFEST SIGNS OF SLUG DAMAGE, THEN SHREDDED HARDWOOD ISN’T THE BEST CHOICE.  Instead, surround each hosta plant with sharp edged stones, like volcanic rock, to discourage those slimy little slugs.  (I have even heard some gardeners utilize polymeric sand for this purpose, though I have not tried this method myself.) Of course, there are chemicals you can apply as a deterrent but sometimes gentler methods work well.  You can try placing several empty tuna cans filled with beer, which attracts slugs to go for a “swim.”

During these lazy and crazy days of summer when you’re putting on your favorite clothing, remember your plants will thrive during summer days if you provide them with a comfy summer wardrobe!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture

Let’s GO and Let’s GROW!

May, the month gardeners eagerly anticipate…  May is filled with hopefulness for a long growing season and gardening success!  Gardeners often have devised a Personal Planting Plan for each section of their landscape, siting sun lovers in areas that will receive more than six hours of sunshine per day, while shade lovers will thrive in areas where shadows prevail.

Garden centers and nurseries should be well stocked with your favorites as well as newer cultivars and specialty plants, so let’s GO!   The transition month of May in Wisconsin usually provides enough sunny, warm days so we can enjoy the process of outdoor shopping, selecting the perfect specimens for those garden spaces and containers. 

Garden design can be done well by both professionals and novice gardeners.   Following basic principles of “the right plant in the right place” will ensure success.  Considering how tall and wide each plant will grow in a single season is key to correct placement in a garden space. Garden design isn’t based only on overall appearance; functionality of a plant in its space is also crucial.  (If you purchase a lovely flowering shrub but it completely hangs over the walkway, it will become annoying quickly when you are tripping over the branches— result: you may not appreciate its true beauty!)  If you place the shrub far enough from the walkway, you might add an attractive groundcover along the edge; groundcovers are available for both sun and shade.

May is also about acclimation… plants that were wintered over indoors must adjust gradually to their new outdoor spaces.   Some gardeners may use a greenhouse or garage for this purpose; it is an important step to allow plants to become accustomed to cool nights and sunny days.  Just as humans can easily become sunburned on sunny early spring days, those plants need to acclimate gradually as well.  A few years ago my husband and I (mostly my husband!) built a sun room in one section of our garage; we included three south-facing windows to set potted plants in MAY and OCTOBER.  This works well for those transition months and the plants adjust nicely.

If you are ready to watch plants GROW, then let’s GO… to your favorite plant provider!             

TIP: My Design Instructor suggested making a list of plants you intend to purchase, along with appropriate quantities.  Sometimes when you visit your favorite greenhouse/garden center, the choices can be overwhelming so a list will help you focus on your Personal Planting Plan. (The list should serve as a guideline only—you are encouraged to purchase a few impulsive specimens for extra pop in your space!)  Let’s GROW!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture

425 (for twenty-five minutes)

 

This month brought us the “official” start of Spring, but in Southeastern Wisconsin, many of us are still AWAITING arrival of spring weather.  Although there were a few “teaser” days hovering around 60 degrees this month, the final day of March brought us fresh snow and more frigid temps… a slight reality check for those of us eager to see our daffodils in full bloom.  One article I read recently spoke of a “backwards Spring,” which appears to be an accurate description of recent weather conditions.  Of course, psychologically gardeners everywhere anxiously await those first spring blooms to appear… we likely will have to wait a bit longer for enough warmth to encourage a blast of color from all our bulbs!

Gardeners have been planning for our flower and veg gardens for 2022.  Although we won’t be harvesting our own fresh veggies for some time, most produce departments have numerous varieties of veggies and fruits throughout winter/spring.  Recently I tried oven-roasted veggies for the first time— so amazing AND so easy! This side dish is perfect for springtime days that are colder than we might wish!

Only a few items needed:  an assortment of raw veggies, cut to one-inch thickness, plus olive oil and sea salt. You will need a broiler pan or metal cookie sheet with a one-inch lip (to keep oil from dripping onto oven floor) and an oven preheated to 425 degrees.

For optimal carmelization of veggie surfaces, I prefer to skip parchment paper or silicone mats for this recipe.  A few examples of veggies that will roast successfully:  carrots, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and cabbage cut one-inch thick, parsnips or any root veggies.   Drizzle or brush olive oil onto top and bottom surfaces of all cut veggies and place pan into hot oven; sprinkle sea salt last. Twenty-five minutes later, veggies are ready to serve!  

Since this method of preparing vegetables uses dry heat only, you might be preserving some nutrients—you definitely will be preserving and enhancing the flavors and textures!  

(These veggies are ideal for those following a plant-forward or vegetarian meal plan, but can be a great side dish for meat entrees also.) 

                                                                Enjoy!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture