Summer Gardening

Don't Be Annoyed, Fill That Void!

Don't Be Annoyed, Fill That Void!

I am going to go out on a limb here and make a brash statement: “perfection in the garden is fleeting”.  Yes, it is sadly true… Earlier this spring I was congratulating myself on how nicely all of my many perennials (probably too many if I am honest with myself) were knitting themselves together and gradually obliterating any bare, visible soil.  That is still happening, to be sure, but along the way some of my early bloomers have “gone over” and it is time to take another look at what I can plop in and around them to keep things looking colorful and interesting…

It's The Summer Of Love

It's The Summer Of Love

I don’t know what it is about the months of July and August, but it seems like every year about this time I fall in love with my garden all over again.  For me, the spring season is more of a puppy love or infatuation, but the summer months are when true love really blossoms, both literally and figuratively.  It’s when my garden loves me back with all of its beauty and splendor…

Growing Citrus Can Be Fun

If you are into “zonal denial” and enjoy pushing the boundaries, then perhaps a lemon or lime tree may be worth your time and effort.  Make no mistake however, the Pacific Northwest is not Florida or California and you won’t be able to just plant a citrus tree in the backyard and in a few short years start harvesting your very own navel oranges.  On the other hand, when planted in a container, Meyer lemons and seedless Bearss limes will do okay - provided you follow some simple procedures…

How To Keep Our Landscapes Thriving In This New Climate Paradigm

How To Keep Our Landscapes Thriving In This New Climate Paradigm

Last week I wrote about how to successfully plant in the dry summer months and I promised this week to discuss how to keep our landscapes thriving (not just surviving) as we shift to drier, hotter, and longer summers.  As a side note, don’t let this recent “rain event” lure you into complacency about watering.  At best, it only moistened the top ½ of the soil, which for the most part only keeps the dust down…

How To Plant In Summer

How To Plant In Summer

A few weeks back I was harping about why gardeners don’t bother with compost and fertilizer when they are planting.  This week I feel the need to talk about the importance of good planting practices.  No matter where you purchase your plant material, I can guarantee you they will croak if it they aren’t planted properly.  Here are some of my tips to help you succeed…

It's Dry Out There, Water Your Yard... Please!

It's Dry Out There, Water Your Yard... Please!

I will be the first to admit that this extended warm and dry period (100 days with only one-half inch of rain) brings with it mixed blessings. On the one hand, all this sunshine keeps things growing and puts me in the mood to spend time in my garden where my perennials are in their full glory and the yard continues to be full of…

Something Coming And Something Going

Something Coming And Something Going

It’s been almost 3 years since my wife and I moved into our new house, just 2 miles from the nursery. In the first year we did nothing to the yard, but the second year (2020)…

A Few Tips To Get The Most Out Of Late Summer

A Few Tips To Get The Most Out Of Late Summer

As we wrap up the end of August, we should for the most part be able to simply sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Yes, there are still beans to pick, cucumbers to pickle, zucchini to put on the neighbor’s front porch when they are at work, flowers to harvest for dining room bouquets, and of course watering. But certainly, there is not the intensity of gardening chores that we face in the spring of the year…

4 Great Reasons To Visit The Garden Center In August

4 Great Reasons To Visit The Garden Center In August

I was in the nursery the other weekend looking for some ideas for my next column, when it occurred to me: “What is it that draws shoppers into the garden center this time of year?”. Considering that there is nary a shy bone in my body, I thought, why not ask a few customers why they were there. This is what I found out…

'Bee-You' Bee Balm

'Bee-You' Bee Balm

Monarda, commonly known as Bee Balm, has been a popular garden perennial for many years. Most of the modern hybrids come from two species native to the eastern United States. Today’s cultivars come in a range of colors, including…