Garden Hike

Ash Leaf Spirea | Sorbaria sorbifolia

Ash Leaf Spirea, Sorbaria sorbifolia The Ash Leaf Spirea can be very invasive. It has a strong rhizome habit, and suckering is a given. This habit can be suppressed in landscapes where weed barriers like poly and fabric are used. But eventually, those rhizomes will find their way to the

Winter Garden Pests: Assessing The Damage

The three primary pests in winter are rabbits, voles, and deer. Rabbits! In my landscape, after winter, rabbit damage usually appears on Spirea, Barberry, Roses, Arborvitae, and Apple trees. This is by no means a complete list of susceptible plant species. Considering how many thorns are on roses and barberry

Swedish Ivy - Propagate From Cuttings

The Swedish Ivy, Plectranthus verticillatus, is a common variety grown for houseplants. The low light conditions in most homes make this an excellent plant to grow, especially for beginners, due to its easy care. For year-round outdoor growing, Zone 10 or higher temperature climates are necessary. Native to South Africa

When Disaster Strikes - Transform Your Landscape

Our landscape was devastated from a septic leach field installation. Take a look at the transformation.

Winter Evergreen Burning: Anything I Can Do?

Burning symptoms on evergreen conifers usually show up in late winter and early spring. Just because a plant burns occasionally does not mean it is not hardy, at least not in my book. I consider it susceptible to burning. Why do evergreens burn? * Sustained winds; eventually, the moisture in the

How To Convert A Room Into A Seed Starting Area | My Setup

My wife and I have grown salad greens through the winter months under artificial lights for many years. You can look at our salad-growing adventures here. We enjoy growing as much food as possible during the summer months but became frustrated at how few days grocery produce will last that

Ideas For Creating Beautiful Natural Landscape Beds

The video included in this blog post views many different plant varieties and landscaping ideas on one of the first garden beds I created in this landscape setting (about 15 years ago). I wish I had more photos of the early stages of this project, but this was back when

Five Beautiful Shrubs That Attract Pollinators

When spring comes around, it's hard to describe that feeling you get when all the plants have come out of dormancy after a long winter, flowering begins, and you see those first bees appear. It seems flowering herbaceous perennials and annuals get the most attention in pollinator gardens.

Outdoor Solar Shower: How I Heat My Water With The Sun

Why would anyone want a solar-heated outdoor shower when they live in the northern part of the United States? It's cold up here! Good question. The answer is that I could not stop thinking about it, so I finally just did it. I can't use it

Repotting A Large Jade Plant - 20 Years Old??

Jade Plant, Crassula ovata The Jade Plant is a common houseplant native to South Africa. It does well as a houseplant due to the low level of care needed for it to thrive. It requires little water and does well in the same pot for years. The jade plant shown

Evergreens That WOW: A Summer to Winter Comparison

This winter (2022-2023) is the most prolonged, sustained snow pack I can remember in my 50-plus years living in the northland. If you've read a few things I've written, the question arises: why do you live there? It's the seasons. We've convinced

Wildflowers Discovered Along The Trail

I've worked mainly with trees and shrubs over my career; it has always been my main area of interest in plants. I set out to pay closer attention to the wildflowers on two recent hikes where I live in the northern Great Plains, one next to the Missouri

Sedum: The Perennial Genus That Has It All (almost)

What a great little plant, the Sedum genus. I wrote a blog article recently about Spirea being the workhorse of all shrubs. I think Sedum fits the bill here, being the workhorses of the herbaceous perennials. They have it all, they always perform! (almost) * Numerous flower colors * Sprawling and upright

Large Self Watering Raised Garden Beds: Concept, Materials, Assembly

In the photos you see here, one of our vegetable gardens is next to these large spruce and ash trees. It's incredible how much moisture and nutrients trees of this size will "rob" the surrounding area. Growing vegetables in this area has become almost impossible; it&

What Tree Should I Plant? The Most Common Questions I Get At The Garden Center

When helping someone pick out a tree, a lot of questions are required from both parties. In this video we’ll cover the most common questions I get at the garden center. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike. Kevin

Growing Salad Greens Indoors: How To Grow Greens All Winter

Growing your food changes something in you. I won't describe in detail all the various feelings or emotions it brings to mind. But satisfaction, thankfulness, and peace are at the top of the list. For most of my life, a big part has wished I could have been

Don't Miss These Shots: Beautiful Photos of Red, White, and Pink Poinsettias. In a Winter Setting?

What better way to get into the season's spirit than with one of the most beloved wintertime symbols, poinsettias? Brought to us from Mexico by Joel R. Poinsett (the namesake of this bright and festive flower), a classic red poinsettia screams holiday cheer! But there’s so much

Winter Wonderland! A Glimpse of the Magic of Hoar Frost

Hoar frost is an enchanting natural phenomenon that often delights onlookers as its ethereal, lacey appearance appears on cold winter mornings. What is Hoar Frost? Hoar frost, also called pruinose ice, is a type of frost that forms when the temperature of the air cools below the freezing point of

Growing Unique Trees in Containers Adds Awesome Interest To Your Landscape. But How Do I Overwinter?

Growing trees in containers is a great way to add interest to your landscape. You will need to take steps to overwinter them though. This video takes a look at several varieties and how to overwinter them in cold climates.

Refresh Your Annual Pots With Tree Toppers/Spruce Tips And Other "Brush" Accents

Fall is a great time to refresh your annual pots with tree toppers/spruce tips. We'll also be adding other great "brush" accents from around the yard. Sometimes you can enjoy your creations all winter. And othertimes, not so much.

Red Splendor Flowering Crabapple: Is It Time to Prune? Fireblight Considerations

The Red Splendor Flowering Crabapple is a beautiful tree that can give your landscape color and interest for many years. This gorgeous tree will brighten any outdoor space with its vibrant deep pink flowers in the spring. It is pleasing to look at and helps attract birds and other pollinators

Fall Colors on Pear, Elm and Birch: Will A Hard (Killing) Frost Hurt My Trees and Shrubs?

Fall is a beautiful time of year. In this video we’ll look at fall colors on Mountain Frost Pear, Northern Empress Japanese Elm, and Parkland Pillar Birch.  And we’ll answer the question: "Will a hard frost hurt my trees and shrubs?"

How to Prune Spreading Junipers to Accent Your Landscape, Not Cover It Up

Junipers can be great additions to your landscape, but be sure you keep them in check and pruned correctly, or they can quickly take over. In this video, I'll show you how to prune spreading junipers so that they accent your landscape instead of covering it up. Here

How to Extend a Landscape Bed using Rock Edging (Easy)

Rock edging is a great way to keep mulch and other materials in place while adding a natural touch to your yard. In this video, we'll show you how to use rock edging and natural fieldstone to create an attractive landscape bed.

Early Fall Color and Showy Fruit: Check Out These Favorite Small Trees and Shrubs

I hope you enjoy this video highlighting some of my favorite trees and shrubs with early fall color. We'll start with Prairie Radiance Euonymus boasting a pink fall leaf color. Peek at the colorful fruit on the Showy Mountain-ash and Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn. And check out the purple