Our garden sits precariously between zone 6b and 7. We’re in a very borderline area with multiple micro-climates within the 1.3 acres of land we have around us. We’re far enough into the warm season now that the frosts should not happen again until fall, but then we thought we were done with frosts over … Read more
I decided several years ago that I didn’t want to mess with chemicals in my garden. It was an easy choice for me. We had kids and I didn’t want to risk their exposure to dangerous substances. I didn’t want to eat food covered in chemicals at the dinner table. A tomato with a side … Read more
Here’s a quick look at my garden from the weekend! The ‘Diablo’ ninebark is in bloom. It has beautiful purple-copper hued leaves and flowers with these clusters of white flowers each spring. In the vegetable garden the lettuce is coming along – finally. It’s taken a while this year to get some good germination. I … Read more
There are some plants that are tricky to propagate but stevia isn’t one of them! In fact stevia is very easy to root from cuttings. Read on to learn more about propagating stevia from cuttings! Why Would You Want to Propagate Steve from Cuttings? Stevia rebaudiana is an herb often used as a substitute sweetener … Read more
It’s been a couple weeks since I updated the series on starting a nursery business and since yesterday was my first sales date at a farmer’s market I thought today would be a good opportunity to talk about that experience. Going to the market is pretty much an all day affair. It takes time to … Read more
Today is the 15th of the month which means that it is also Garden Bloggers Bloom Day hosted by Carol of May Dreams Gardens. Stop by to see a bounty of blooms from across the blogosphere. Today here are a few things that are blooming in my Tennessee Garden. The irises are taking the stage. … Read more
Spring means it’s time to take some cuttings! Today I took a few cuttings of a birch tree I’m eventually going to have to remove. I planted it way too close to our house and it has gotten too large. I didn’t want to lose the tree so I thought I would get a few … Read more
It’s been a very busy week for me and I haven’t had much time to write but I did want to post a few photos of what is growing in the garden. Today is a rainy soggy mess in the garden and not very well suited for gardening so looking back at the garden photos … Read more
This year is going to be a challenge. I can tell already judging from the weather we’re having. A delayed start combined with high moisture and strange weather is creating a tricky situation for gardeners. All this moisture may sound like a good thing but I’m very concerned about the potential for fungal diseases on … Read more
Planting time is here, but before you plant there are a few things you should do to prepare your garden beds. Here are a few things you should do to get the soil prepared before planting out your garden. Weed – This one is pretty obvious but it has to be done! Weeding the garden … Read more
A couple months ago I put together my little 6’x8′ Harbor Freight greenhouse. It was an inexpensive greenhouse that I was hoping would be a good way to increase my growing area for my small nursery business. I thought it was time I gave an update on how the greenhouse is working out for me. … Read more
Perennials are the work horse of just about every garden. Trees and shrubs provide structure, but perennials provide a consistent impact. Annuals are great for an instant punch but perennials give you a repeat performance year after year. Some perennials bloom consistently through the season while others give a nice show for a short period … Read more
Our first group of irises has just started to bloom. The iris blooms are coming much later than last year due to the cold temperatures that have pushed everything back about nearly a month. There are a just a couple types of iris here in my garden including the tall bearded irises, the Dutch irises, … Read more
I like the look of rocks for bordering my garden beds. Rocks define the border between the garden area and the walkways, help keep mulch in place, and give the garden bed a structural element. I’ve gathered rocks from several places over the years and brought them to my garden. It’s not easy work but … Read more
It’s Friday! I think I may have heard you exclaim in glee from here…maybe that’s just my imagination. The weekend is approaching and you are eagerly anticipating being outdoors in the garden. Have you planned out your chores and tasks yet? If not here are a few things that I need to do in my … Read more
One of the many things to consider when starting your own nursery business is the workload. You probably really enjoy gardening (or else you wouldn’t even consider a nursery business!) but do you realize how much work goes into producing a plant for sale? We aren’t just talking about one plant either. We’re talking about … Read more
You’ve probably heard of adding lime to soil. Farmers and lawn experts recommend it frequently to add to gardens and lawns to help your plants grow, but why? Why should you use lime for your tomatoes? What is Lime? Lime is calcium carbonate. Which leads us to one easy answer for why it might help … Read more
Springtime is full of all kinds of color. New foliage comes out, flowers bloom, and all kinds of fresh growth begins. One of the classic plants many people think of for spring is the tulip. Tulips are usually best planted in the fall about 6 inches deep in the garden, but sometimes we forget to … Read more
It’s planting time in many areas of the country and many gardeners are just starting their first gardens. Figuring out just what to do in the garden can get a little overwhelming for beginning gardeners so here are 5 essential garden chores that gardeners can do to maximize their success! Keep the Garden Weeded … Read more
It is full fledged spring around our Middle Tennessee garden. There is no shortage of work that needs to be done in the form of weeding and mulching on top of a myriad of miscellaneous projects. For now though let’s just take a few pictures of the garden and we’ll think of that monster spring … Read more
Every year I notice these little green insects, aphids. Well, sometimes they aren’t green, I’ve seen them in orange and yellow and they come in red, brown, and black too. Whatever fashion sense these insects display one thing is for sure: you don’t really want aphids on your plants! Aphids are a soft-bodied insect that … Read more
In the vegetable garden there is always a need for more space. You never have enough. The garden is constantly being filled with more plants than you really have room for and you have to find ways to organize it. That’s why going vertical is a great option and the most classic way to go … Read more
What is my favorite tree? That’s a hard question to answer, since there are so many trees that I enjoy. Some trees provide fruit, other trees, shade, and others flowers which makes them hard to pick a single favorite. I have to categorize. In the spring for the flowering trees I would have to say … Read more
It all adds up! Everything you do has some sort of financial cost to it that can contribute to your business expenses when beginning your nursery business. Often we don’t think much about them. I know I’m guilty of not considering certain items as part of the expenses. There are lots of things that sound … Read more
The 20-Minute Gardener on Amazon A couple weeks ago I was sent a review copy of the 20-Minute Gardener from Sunset Books. The idea behind the book is very intriguing: 20 minutes of gardening each day for a great garden. You may have heard this concept before. The idea is simple. If you do a … Read more
Today lots of people are becoming more conscious of how their activities can change the environment. One of the things you often hear about is getting rid of the lawn. I’m not one of those people who advocates getting rid of the lawn but rather being more responsible for lawn care. Here are a few … Read more
I’ve been busy this week. I say that as if it’s something new but it seems like life is just a matter of varying degrees of busy. Sometimes you’re really busy and other times less so but always busy! This week I dove headlong into my latest project. I’ve been talking about this one for … Read more
Today we had a light snow drop down over our gardens in Tennessee. It isn’t the craziest thing to happen but it’s not something that gardeners enjoy. We would much rather have the sunny and warm days that spring is known for! Here’s our garden after a light dusting. Grape hyacinths. Snow around the flower … Read more
I love a nice Japanese maple! Who doesn’t? There are Japanese maples with variegated leaves, ones with deep burgundy colors, others with interesting shaped leaves that are highly dissected and many other kinds. The fall color on a Japanese is almost always guaranteed to be something special. Their highly ornamental nature makes them very popular trees in the … Read more
Today’s post is going to be a bit geeky. I hope you can get past that because I think one of the most important parts of running a successful nursery business (or any business) is good financial management. No matter how much you enjoy gardening you don’t want your business to lose money. Planning on … Read more
The first day of Spring is marked by gardeners everywhere. Unfortunately not everyone gets to experience warm days, growing plants, and all the wonders of spring at the same time. It’s different for every region but that doesn’t make it any less significant. The first day of spring symbolizes the beginning of the growing season … Read more
The last frost date is one of the most important dates for gardeners. The last frost date determines when to plant the vegetables and ornamentals at the best possible time for maximum growth over the season. Some plants like being planted before the frost date while others have to be planted afterward. Last year Spring … Read more
The garden is gearing up for growth are you ready? Have you prepared the garden and gotten everything set to grow? I haven’t but the warm weather is going to be here this weekend and I’ll be making some headway into my garden’s preparation. When to prepare the garden varies depending on where you live … Read more
Two weeks ago I posted about propagating plants for a nursery business but there are other ways to acquire plant materials for sale in your nursery. I personally enjoy the propagation process because it allows me to tell my customers exactly how they were grown, what products I have used to enhance growth, how to … Read more
Over the weekend I was able to do something that I never imagined I would be able to do and it was all because of blogging: I took a business trip for blogging. I received an email several weeks ago asking if I would be interested in working with Troy-Bilt to try out some of … Read more
Spring will be here very soon. The calendar gives us a date but that seems arbitrary. Spring is more of a feeling. The weather is warmer and plants are actively growing again. This coming weekend will be much warmer than it has been and should trigger a lot of action in the garden. Today I … Read more
Last week I wrote about my seed starting “mini-greenhouses” made from clear plastic cups so I thought I would share how my tomato seeds are doing so far. To sum things up I am very pleased with the results as I have very strong and healthy growing tomato seeds are in the mini-greenhouse cups. Some of … Read more
This time of year people are looking for answers to their gardening questions. Perhaps the most common gardening questions start with the word when. As gardeners we realize that time is a very important factor when planting plants because it can greatly effect how a plant grows in the garden. Here are a few gardening … Read more
One little seed starting trick I have in my bag of gardening tricks is to start seeds in plastic cup greenhouses! I shared a picture of seed starting in my mini-greenhouses about 2 weeks ago on my Facebook page and I thought today I would share with you the progress of the seedlings. Plastic cups … Read more
This past Saturday I went to the Nashville Lawn and Garden Show. The weather outside was a snowy overcast mess so what better way could there be to spend the day than to go somewhere with gardens and plants? We brought the whole family up and had a great time perusing the garden displays, playing … Read more
Everyone starts somewhere with a vegetable garden. You can’t instantly have the garden of your dreams. That dream garden has to come together bit by bit, a little each day. That goes for experienced gardeners as well as those just starting their first vegetable garden. It’s just the nature of gardening. You don’t receive instant … Read more
If you plan to sell plants you have to have plants to sell. So how does one go about getting a supply of plants for a nursery business? As plant retailers we really have only two options: produce the plants on our own or buy them from someone else and resell the plants. Both options … Read more
By far my favorite plant from the vegetable garden is the tomato. I don’t buy them from the stores if I can help it as there is very little flavor to be found in store bought tomatoes. Fresh from the garden is how a tomato should be. Today on a gray overcast winter day I’m … Read more
It is inevitable. You will find a weed somewhere in your lawn or in your garden. As things begin to grow this spring you’ll notice weeds coming up where you don’t want them. In fact that is the general definition of a weedy plant – a plant that grows where you don’t want it! Any plant can … Read more
A couple weeks ago my wife stopped an bought us some croissants at the grocery store for dinner. The croissants came in a clear plastic box container. It was a little over a foot long and a little less than that wide, but the dimensions don’t really matter. The plastic box was tall enough to … Read more
Have you ever used a kids toy to plant seeds? It might be worth a try! While out in the garden planting rainbow chard and spinach I used a hula hoop as a planting aid. Inside the hula hoop I planted the rainbow chard and in the outside ring I planted spinach. When the plants … Read more
We have three children in our household who love to be outdoors. It’s extremely hard for this gardener to sneak outside without someone tagging along. That’s a good thing! I’m thrilled that they love to be outside in the open air experiencing what all kids should have the opportunity to experience. It’s important though that … Read more
Before you really get into producing plants for sale it is very important to come up with a way to get the plants to the customers. I don’t have a place where costumers could just come by and browse the plants since I do all my production from my own garden. One day perhaps, but … Read more
The Nashville Lawn and Garden Show is coming up very soon! Here are some of the details. Nashville Lawn & Garden Show February 28 – March 3, 2013 Tennessee State Fairgrounds Come enjoy Jardins du Soleil – “Gardens of the Sun” The 24th annual show will feature internationally-inspired garden designs! Amazing live gardens Thousands of spring … Read more
Wouldn’t you know it? The day after I post a review on the Harbor Freight Greenhouse I just installed in our backyard a storm system with strong winds comes though to give it a test. I spent most of the evening worried that I would be wandering around our neighborhood searching for plastic window panels. … Read more
Back in the fall I took advantage of a sale at the discount retailer Harbor Freight and bought myself a greenhouse. It was a small greenhouse at only 6’x8′ in size which would be about 48 square feet of space. I’ve always heard gardeners say that no matter what size greenhouse you have you will … Read more
It’s been a while since I joined in with Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day so I thought I’d share you a little of what is blooming in the gardens around our home. For our garden this year it’s the usual suspects who are in flowering. Daffodils, crocuses, and winter jasmine are coming along strong while other … Read more
When I made the decision to begin my micro-nursery (Blue Shed Gardens/HomeGardenBox) I had to figure out first what kind of plants I wanted to produce. This was a very difficult decision since I like pretty much anything there is to do with the garden. Selecting one type of plants or one area seemed just wrong because … Read more
I have a goal in mind for my vegetable garden this year. I have a similar goal every year but this year I think it’s especially important. I want to make our garden into our grocery store. I’m being realistic with this and in no way think I can completely eliminate the grocery store trips … Read more
The other day strong winds blew through Tennessee. They were not just your normal winter winds, these were March winds – in February. The kinds of winds we normally get in spring when the weather changes more frequently between warm and cold fronts. Unfortunately I wasn’t prepared for the high impact of the winds. Two … Read more
The economy is still in disarray and all of us are trying to find ways to do things cheaper and more efficiently even in the garden. Fortunately gardeners are experts at finding ways to be cheap. Let’s look at some easy to do ideas that can help keep your garden budget as low as it … Read more
Last year I embarked on a quest to start my own nursery business. One of my dreams for a long time has been to own my own nursery and I began putting plans together around a couple business ideas that I could do from home. I researched all over the internet to find resources and … Read more
Plant propagation sounds like something very complicated. A lot of gardeners are intimidated by the idea of getting something to root. It looks challenging but in reality there are a great number of plants that are very easy to propagate. That’s not to say that a cutting will grow roots each and every time. In … Read more
A few weeks ago Mr. Brownthumb posted an interview with the inventor of Rootcups on Treehugger. Rootcups are an easy to use propagation device that the home gardener can use to help propagate some of their favorite plants. I contacted Mr. Brownthumb because I was curious about the product and and then got in touch … Read more
I’ve talked a lot about raised beds over the years here and there’s no doubt that I’m a fan but are raised beds perfect for everybody? Does everyone need a raised bed? Should you used raised beds in your garden? Anyone could utilize raised beds to have a great garden, but you don’t have to … Read more
You’ve probably noticed that there’s a lot of talk these days about self-sufficiency. People are striving to reduce their impact on the environment by improving how things work. Self-sufficiency is a great goal to have for your garden as well. Not only does being self-sufficient help the environment but it makes a cheaper and healthier garden. … Read more
When to plant your vegetables is very important knowledge for all gardeners. It can mean the difference between a great harvest, a late harvest, or no harvest! It’s critical to know certain facts about the plants before you plant them. A little knowledge can go a long way to creating a great garden so let’s … Read more
Spring will be here before you now it. Which means all that fun garden time for us gardeners. In order to maximize the productivity of your garden and minimize the maintenance required we need a plan. We need a spring preparation garden plan. We need a plan of attack to get all those chores done, … Read more
It’s January and my garden is a mess. That’s OK because it’s January! My garden could be the perfect mixture of evergreen conifers and winter color landscape plantings specifically designed to brighten the gloomiest winter day, but it’s not. I would love that, but my garden was never put together for the winter color. I’m … Read more
Below you will find six plants that are some of the easiest to care for and grow in the garden. All are drought tolerant and are very seldom bothered very little by deer or rabbits (two of my greatest nemeses!) In addition to their drought tolerant and pest resistant properties these plants are very good at … Read more
I mostly use raised beds for my vegetables but the truth is almost any plant can do great in a raised bed. Herbs, flowers, and ornamentals can all thrive in raised beds. What makes a raised bed an awesome growing method is the soil that it uses. You can mix the perfect soil mixture for … Read more
On a cold morning such as this you might be wondering “what can I do in the garden?” Or you might be wondering “why does he know what I’m wondering?” Or…maybe not, whatever the case is cold winter days are good for the garden and the gardener. The garden needs those cold winter days to … Read more
I’ve written several times before about raised beds. I’m a fan, a huge fan of raised beds. With a raised bed you can control the soil, control the moisture, and garden virtually anywhere. It makes sense that raised beds are a great option for every homeowner (here’s why: 8 Benefits to Gardening in Raised Beds). … Read more
It’s not just a box. Really it isn’t. It’s so much more than that. You built it in your backyard, sideyard, or even front yard. You filled it with soil. You tended that box and nurtured every single tiny seed you planted in it. That box is your garden. That box with the untreated wood … Read more
Every year I show off the first daffodil to bloom in my garden. This year, I have to say, my first daffodil is less than impressive. The cold and wet weather has put a damper on the beauty of this little yellow flower. So far it’s the only one in bloom that I have seen … Read more
From time to time I’ll be posting some new graphics about specific plants with a little important information about them. Today I share a few echinacea or coneflower planting facts. Echinacea is one of my favorite choices to plant in sunny areas that don’t receive a lot of moisture. Coneflowers love the sun, are drought … Read more
Homesteading has seen a resurgence over the last several years which is very cool. More people are opting to build a strong connection with the land and are moving toward mini-farms and homesteads to raise their families. Before beginning a homestead future farmers should do one thing: learn to garden! The garden is one major … Read more
Here are a few garden resources that you may find useful. I highly recommend the resources in the first section below and have used all of them on a semi-regular or more frequent basis. The Garden Resource Directory section contains other resources and sponsors that may also be of interest to you. Highly Recommended Garden … Read more
It may not be obvious, or maybe it is, but I think in 2013 vegetable gardening will be more important than ever. There are a myriad of reasons why I believe this and you can pretty much observe it everywhere you go, some sign that points to the importance of gardening. Let’s examine a few … Read more
Since I posted the other day on my Metal Sided Raised Bed I’ve received several questions about raised beds in general as well as questions about the metal raised bed itself. For today’s post I’ll answer those questions as many other people may be wondering the same thing – or may not have but may … Read more
Recently I put together my newest raised bed. I was inspired by some pictures I’ve seen lately where metal roofing materials were used for the sides. It was a very cool look that I wanted to see if I could replicate for my garden. Plus metal materials last longer than lumber for raised beds. I … Read more
My daughters from 2009 – Ages 2 and 4 My kids are kind of strange. Of course I know what you’re thinking, all kids are a little weird. They have their quirks, their unique traits that will eventually turn them in to unique adults. That’s not the kind of weird I’m talking about. While visiting … Read more
I’ve been looking back at my photo albums lately. Looking back at old photos helps to get a perspective of where the garden is going by remembering where it’s been. I can see how effective my efforts are at developing a garden, how much things have grown, and remember old plants I might not have … Read more
Every year I write down my ideas for gardening projects. It helps me to put down some thoughts and map out where my garden needs to go throughout the season. I won’t be able to accomplish every project on the list but it does give me some direction. At the end of the year I’ll … Read more
It’s that time of year again! The end of the old and the beginning of the new. It’s at this time of year that I like to review my project list to see how well I accomplished my goals. Every year I come up with a list of projects I hope to complete in my garden … Read more
Over Christmas we traveled a little. Not much, we never go very far. We just visited with family. One evening a family member asked me if I knew of some attractive, easy to grow, low maintenance plants she could put in the front of her house. She wanted something she could plant that wouldn’t require … Read more
And though it’s been said, many times, many ways… Merry Christmas! May your season be filled with friends, family, and joy!
For a long time now I have denigrated my Bradford pear tree. It’s smelly in the spring, although it looks nice. It produces loads of inedible fruit that spawns offspring in my garden and everywhere else the birds decide to fly. Bradford pear trees are generally weak trees that split because of their “V” shaped branch … Read more
I like warm weather, don’t get me wrong. I like the warm spring sunshine that bathes everything in light and encourages the flowers to grow. I like the summer days – when it isn’t above 90 degrees and 65% humidity – I’m not picky. I love the warm fall days where the sun trickles through … Read more
Seed starting time is just around the corner! OK it may be a little more than around the corner for some gardeners but while we are planning our holiday gatherings those seed catalogs are coming in, enticing us to get started! Today lets look at several seed starting techniques and methods that you can use to effectively … Read more
As you know I’m a huge fan of plant propagation. I would bet that many of you reading this are too, or if you not a huge fan you are at least interested! It’s a fascinating area and can be an amazing benefit for growing your garden. Just think of all the free plants you … Read more
Over the last couple weeks the weather has been much warmer than it should be, but now we’re getting back to a much more normal December weather pattern. There was even the mention of snow in the forecast for next week. We’ll see. I won’t count my chickens but a little snow would make a … Read more
I finally managed to get my Indoor Hanging Wall Planter Project up on the wall! I ran out of screws so I’ll have to run to the store to pick up a couple more and make sure it stays up securely. It’s fine for now but I definitely need those screws attached before adding pots … Read more
This Friday I thought I’d try something new…an open post! I’d like to hear what you think about the garden, gardening ideas, projects, or just your thoughts on various issues. So here’s what I’m going to do. Every couple weeks I’ll host a Friday Free for All Post where you can comment on a subject … Read more
The current project I’m working on for Lowe’s Creative Ideas fits into two categories for me: indoor gardening and vertical gardening. “Migration” was the theme given to us which means we were to bring the garden indoors but the issue with that for me is space. I bring plants indoors to overwinter each year like … Read more
Want to do something nice for the birds? Feed them! Here’s an easy way to do it! Get a grapefruit (any suitable citrus will work). Cut it in half. Eat the grapefruit. (Important step) Fill grapefruit halves with bird seed. Set grapefruit halves on a deck rail Enjoy watching the birds! Piece of cake – or rather … Read more
Yesterday I watched and shared this video from Quiet Creek Farms and the Penn State Extension Service on the Growing The Home Garden Facebook page. The video has some great techniques for seed starting including a recipe for their seed starting soil. It has a business slant geared toward developing a CSA but the techniques … Read more
Over the weekend I spent about 30 minutes piecing together a cold frame to do some hardwood cuttings. The process for building a cold frame is very similar to building a raised bed. I used some old pressure treated lumber that used to belong to a deck, an old storm door without the glass, and … Read more
I’d like to thank all the participants of the Fall Color Project this year! We’ve been able to see lots of wonderful colors from across the country. In a few days I’ll put together a wrap up post with all the participants listed but today I would like to take a moment to announce the … Read more
As a gardener you will find that you wear many hats. We aren’t talking about fedoras, ball caps, or even straw hats here. We’re talking about the different roles you will be called to fill as a gardener! Gardening isn’t just about sticking a plant in the ground and watching it grow (although there is … Read more
I’m sure you’ve heard about Pinterest by now. If you’re like me you may have thought “that’s just another online time waster.” Or if you’re a guy maybe you thought “that’s just for women!” Well I’ll admit it, those were my first thoughts. Then I began to see people using it and sharing things from … Read more
Strange things are always occurring in the garden. Or we think they are strange at first until we apply a little bit of logic to the situation! Over Thanksgiving I was visiting my in-laws. When we pulled up into the driveway I noticed something right away…the irises were blooming! Here in Tennessee we’ve had several … Read more
It’s that time of year when we’re all struggling to come up with great ideas to give our favorite people. I’ve always found that the best gifts are those that you can use on an almost daily basis. A couple years ago at Christmas I was given an iron skillet. I thought for second “wow, … Read more
I just wanted to take a moment and wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that your list of things to be thankful for far outweighs any other list you might have. Enjoy the company of family, friends, and food and let Thanksgiving be a celebration for all the joys you have … Read more
