While the weather isn’t quite ready for a garden, that doesn’t mean you can’t begin to plan one for the next season. If you’re interested in having a unique landscape or garden, consider an edible garden. Edible gardens are ones that have plants and trees which offer fruits and vegetables. Not only will you have a supermarket in your backyard, but an edible garden can add a significant amount of charm and beauty to any yard. Here are some of the more popular plants you can add to a Minnesota garden.
Leafy Greens
Some of the most nutritional plants are spinach, kale, and lettuce. Also known as microgreens, these hearty plants can grow through most of the year until winter. They are relatively easy to care for, and in fact, will be one of the first plants to grow back in the spring.
Fruit-Bearing Trees
Since Minnesota leans towards a colder climate, there are not many trees that can survive here. While you aren’t going to be able to grow citrus trees or many drupes, cold-hardy fruit trees will work just as well. The most commonly grown fruit tree in Minnesota is the columnar apple tree. They are beautiful trees and are simple to grow and maintain. They also don’t usually grow higher than 10 feet, so it makes for an easier landscaping addition.
Peas
One of the earliest to produce in the springtime, flowering peas are a great crop to grow in any garden in Minnesota. They are incredibly healthy and tasty, and they also make for a beautiful plant. Snow peas are incredibly bountiful, which means you can store up plants during the yielding seasons to eat and freeze.
Shrubs and Bushes
There are many native fruit-bearing bushes in Minnesota. Some of the most common ones are Blackcap raspberry (Rubus species), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and Elderberry (Sambucus Canadensis). Edible bushes are not only beautifully ornamental plants, but they are easy to implement in any landscaping design. There are also many benefits of using Minnesota native plants as well!
If you’re wanting to incorporate a garden into any landscape, you should consider an edible garden. Consulting with professional landscapers is the best way to achieve your dream yard.
We all know some fall planning can help prep for the spring season. For many, fall is seen as the cleanup season: manage your soils, prepare sod, clean bed, etc. But what some don’t realize is that you can still have a thriving garden even in the cold Autumn weather. Planting spring bulbs and pulling out summer blooms will help tremendously with next year’s bounty, but there are excellent options you can add right now to your garden.
Prepping your garden for fall and winter doesn’t mean it has to be barren. While it will help protect your plants for the coming colder months, doing maintenance will allow you to introduce beautiful fall colors to your landscape.
Fall Garden Ideas
This season’s garden should feature some of the most autumnal colors. The best plants to add are kale, asters, cyclamen, chrysanthemums, and pansies. You can plant trees or shrubs too during this time, as they will retain enough moisture for the dormant period of winter. This can help reduce the risk of transplant shock.
Vegetable Gardening Isn’t Dead
Many first-time gardeners assume fall and winter mean their garden is to be off-limits. After prepping and cleaning for winter, they don’t think there’s anything they can do. But that is not true at all. There are a good amount of plants that can grow up until the first frost. To keep the plants healthy and happy, use row covers cold frames and mulch. There might even be late-season sales on some plants. Some veggies you can grow are kale, broccoli, and cabbage. If your climate is on the mild side, you may even keep growing lettuce, hard-necked garlic, and root crops like carrots and radishes.
Once fall comes to an end, you can remove the vegetable plants and any weeds and debris. A great cover for your garden can be done using the leaves falling in your yard! Rake them up and mow over them to create an excellent cover, rich in carbon and nitrogen.
For a gardener, the end of a season can be sad. But there is always something you should be doing with your garden throughout the year. Follow these great winter gardening tips for when Fall is over, to ensure you have a highly productive spring season!
If you’re planning a new landscaping project, one of the best routes you can go is to reintroduce native Minnesotan species to your garden. Not only are native plants naturally beautiful, but they are also highly beneficial to both your budget and the environment. Native grown plants help increase the biodiversity of your yard, which is incredibly important to our ecosystem. So if you’re in the market for a landscaping project, here are some of the benefits of planting native Minnesotan plants that you should consider.
They are budget-friendly
One of the most cost-effective alternatives to landscaping is planting native plants. You can do small to large scale landscapes without breaking the bank. Also, because these plants can withstand the harsh Minnesotan environment, you will likely not need to replace the plants yearly.
Easy maintenance
Once native plants have been planted, they will not need as much upkeep. Mulching, watering, frost protection, you name it. These plants have survived on their own in Minnesota, therefore they let nature do all the work. The most common horticulture plants usually don’t produce nectar and require much more maintenance. Native plants, however, will produce pollen, nectar, and even seeds that will welcome birds, bees, butterflies, and more wildlife. The roots that many plants native to that environment can even help prevent erosion as they hold soil much more efficiently.
You will have an environmentally friendly garden
Native wildlife relies on their surrounding plants for resources. Most horticultural plants are not appropriate for their diets, which will end up decreasing your yard’s biodiversity. Native plants, however, can welcome more species to your yard, and help the environment for the greater good. One great example is milkweed, a favorite of monarch butterflies. If planted, they will flock and lay their eggs on them, to feed the young caterpillars. Increasing biodiversity produces a ripple effect, which is ultimately advantageous for our ecosystem.
Minnesotan native plants you should consider:
- Perennials (woodland, prairie, and wetland)
- Black chokeberry shrubs
- Eastern white pine trees
- White oak trees
- Pagoda dogwood trees
- Pennsylvania sedge
Planting native species in your garden comes with many advantages, as well as creating stunning landscapes. If you’re considering giving your lawn a makeover, don’t hesitate to contact a professional Minnesota landscaping company. They will help you create your dream landscape, and can give you guidance on the best native plants.
Honeysuckle is known for its tubular shape, nicely scented flowers. They’re fantastic for accenting walls and sides of buildings, adding another component of personality. Honeysuckles perform best when they’re overflowing, flowering tops are mostly in sunlight or just lightly shaded. While deer don’t eat Honeysuckle, Hummingbirds and other wildlife love to consume it.
Below, you can learn more about what Honeysuckle is and tips to effectively grow them in your yard.
What’s Honeysuckle?
Honeysuckle is a heat tolerant plant that can thrive in almost any environment. It’s leaves has varying colors of deep green, and it gives off an incredibly sweet scent. Honeysuckles can grow as far-reaching vines or shrubs.
The color variety is incredibly wide, along with the amounts of animals and insects it attracts. Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and Bees are most notably drawn to the Honeysuckle plant. They all enjoy the small red berries that populate when the flowers bloom. If properly tended to, the flowers can bloom multiple times throughout the growing season.
Tips for Planting Vines and Shrubs
When to Plant
You can begin to plant Honeysuckle in early spring after any threat of frost has passed. Being in Minnesota, however, you may have to be more confident than more temperate states.
Where to Plant
Pick a sunny spot where the soil is moist and excess water can drain.
Soil Type
Plant your Honeysuckle in organically rich and well-drained soil. It must be moist, but never soggy. Honeysuckles perform best in soil that ranges from 5.5 to 8.0 on the pH scale.
Installing Supports
If you want Honeysuckle to climb, you’ll need a structure for it to grow. You can opt for structures such as a trellis, pole, or fence. All of this should be done before the Honeysuckle is planted. Once set up, plants should be about 6 to 12 inches from the support.
Caring for Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle plants should be well watered and mulched. Avoid overusage when possible. Keep everything moist and damp, but never too soggy, and be sure to add layers of compost each spring. Along with the composting, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer and organic plant food to ensure your Honeysuckle grows to its maximum potential.
There you have it. With just a bit of consideration and regular care, Honeysuckles can be a welcome addition to your garden. Happy Planting!
Spring is fast approaching, which means chore time begins for gardens. After a cold and cruel winter, it can feel overwhelming to get back into your garden. But it doesn’t have to be! While it might still be too early to start gardening, there are many things you can do to prepare your garden for the Springtime. Follow this checklist for a smooth and efficient garden prep.
Make Sure Your Tools are Tuned Up!
If you didn’t properly store your garden tools, they will probably be out of shape. Sharpen up your pruners and trowels, and you should be set! Wooden handled-tools that have been exposed to wintry elements could be cleaned by sanding and coated in linseed oil. But if your tools’ saving is beyond hope, it might be time to invest in a new set of gardening tools.
Survey the Area
The first thing you should do is tidy up your yard. Once the snow has completely melted, look around for foliage that has been looming under the snow for the winter. You should look around for broken branches, and assess the health of the trees. If you have any paths or fixtures that are susceptible to erosion, check to make sure they are in need of a repair due to the cycle of freezing and thawing.
Prune and Trim
Removing dead and damaged branches might seem tedious, but it will pay off when plants bloom. This is especially important for maintaining your shrubs that bloom in the summertime, such as hydrangea, roses, or butterfly bushes. Some wood from your trees and bushes might have become damaged from the cold, so make sure to prune any wood as such.
Compost
After you clean up your yard, you can utilize the debris for compost! A good compost mix has equal amounts of “brown” and “green” materials. Brown materials are dried leaves and dried grass/straw, whereas green are weed and grass clippings. Brown is carbon-rich and green is nitrogen-rich, both of which are crucial for a healthy garden.
Put in New Mulch
Giving your garden a fresh layer of mulch is the easiest task you can do. This is not only a functional choice, but also an aesthetic choice. Choose your favorite mulch and plan on adding several inches of it to your garden bed. If you are taking a highly sustainable approach to your gardening endeavors, this is the perfect spot to use some of your compost!
Willow trees are suited in moist, temperate soil, and need a lot of sunlight. While they can grow in virtually any climate, the stems are quite fragile and are prone to be broken from high winds and damaging storms, therefore they are not recommended to be grown in areas prone to such weather. That being said, willow trees are a fantastic choice for your home’s landscape. There are a wide variety of willow trees available on the market so that this guide will outline the different types, and it will give you steps to taking care of your willow tree
Types of Willow Trees
Willow trees are typically characterized as a tree or a shrub. While there are over 400 documented species of willow trees, here are a few of the most common willows used in exterior landscaping.
Weeping willow
The weeping willow, Salix babylonica, is the most recognizable willow out of the entire salix family tree. Their dangling pendulous branches are what give the weeping willow its iconic graceful look.
Pussy willow
The pussy willow, Salix caprea, has an entirely different look to that of the weeping willow. Its stems stick upright, instead of the weeping’s appendage like branches. Fuzzy bulbous buds, called catkins, peacefully pop out of the branches in a charming and cozy fashion during the winter.
Gold willow
Golden willows, Salix alba, are a species of white willow trees whose new growths produce a vibrant golden hue. The branches are similar to weeping willows, but they are not as pendulated and pronounced as the weepings. These trees are great accent trees and provide a nice contrast during the bleak and stark look of winter.
Black willow
Native to many eastern parts of North America, the black willow, Salix nigra, thrives in wet environments. This type of willow tree grows rapidly compared to other types of willow. Its signifying trait is the dark blackish, brown bark.
Corkscrew willows
Corkscrew willows, Salix matsudana, also known as Chinese willows, are perhaps the funkiest willow trees. They are identifiable by their uniquely twirly branches. Its leaves are beautifully vibrant in color, especially in the fall, and it works perfectly as an all-season tree, as it grows very fast and even when the leaves are gone, the Corkscrew willow provides a stunning and exciting look due to the spiral structure of its branches.
How to Grow a Willow Tree
There are many ways to start growing a willow tree, but here are essential steps you can take to add a willow tree to your home’s landscaping project.
Take a willow tree cutting
To grow a willow tree, cutting must be taken from a living tree’s terminal, and be at least 18 inches long. From there, insert the cut branch into very moist soil from a live terminal branch that is 18 inches long. Insert the cut end into a pot with good drainage and in moist soil, or you can directly plant it into the ground. Make sure the soil maintains sufficient hydration until the roots grow. From there, let nature take over, and what the tree grow!
Growing from bare-root trees
This is the more common way to grow a willow tree. This method should utilize a young willow tree that is at least one year old. The roots should be very wet before planted, so make sure they are soaking in a bucket of water beforehand. There should also be ample room for the roots to grow, so push the soil down to depth and diameter that is twice that of the roots of the willow tree. Once planted, followup with primary tree care, and sooner than you know, your willow tree will grow into a marvelous specimen.
The poinsettia has long been a Christmas favorite. Despite being native to Mexico, the poinsettia has become the plant to provide holiday cheer in millions of households. As time has gone on, poinsettias can now be purchased in many colors, shapes, and sizes. It is natural that you might want your new “Christmas plant” to last longer than the holiday season, so here are some tips to help keep the holiday spirit all year-round.
Control The Temperature
Despite being a holiday plant, it is still susceptible to damage from the cold. It should be placed in a plant sleeve as soon as you leave the store. Go straight home with it, as leaving it in the car while you finish other errands will lead to dropping leaves and wilting.
Location
Only once you are home should you unwrap your poinsettia. Find a spot in your home where it will be exposed to natural light, but not in excess of an hour or two. If the location is sunny, then you may need to provide a little extra watering to keep it from drying out. Drafts, or heat from the ducts or radiator can cause problems as well. For the safety of occupants, keep the plant out of reach of children and animals. It is not necessarily poisonous, but could cause stomach discomfort.
All Year Treatments
Once you have found the perfect spot and have your poinsettia resting comfortably, there are some things you can do during the year to keep it vibrant.
February
This is when many poinsettias start to wilt and lose color. You may want to move your plant to a sunny window for a period of time.
Spring
During the spring months, you can provide some maintenance to allow it to continue to flourish. In April, trim back the stems to just around 6” over the soil. This will allow room for more growth. In May, provide some fertilizer to the soil to encourage growth. In June you can move the plant to another pot if there are too many roots.
Once you get to the summer, make sure to keep the plant inside and away from direct sunlight, while watering consistently. The key is to not let them dry out. Then when the winter comes, you will be able to enjoy the Christmas plant all over again!
The experienced professionals at Dean Bjorkstrand, Inc. can help complete all kinds of landscaping projects to increase the value of your home. Reach out online or call 612-861-3919.
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Winter might seem like a time when you can sit back and forget all about your garden for a few months, but you could not be more wrong. While there might not be anything growing, there is still work you can do to get the most out of the warmer months when they do come. Here are some tips and ideas for what you can do when the weather is too cold for growing.
Winterizing
This should be done before the first frost of the year. To protect your plants from winter temperatures, first mulch around plants that are not as hearty. Use leaves and barks, mostly. You can also wrap certain plants, especially newly planted ones, with burlap insulated by leaves or straw.
All Seasons Gardening
In reality, it is a misnomer to say that nothing grows in the winter. There are many late and winter-blooming plants that can give your garden a nice burst of color during the cold. Winter hazel and honeysuckle not only provide that color, but also nice fragrances. Some bulbs, like snowdrops and winter aconite will burst through a thin layer of snow, and are nice harbingers of the spring to come.
Wildlife
Nature is more than just plant life. You can help birds have a regular source of food during the cold months by providing bird feeders and baths. Plus, they will help to control your garden’s ecosystem by assisting with pest control. By using the right food, you can even attract a certain type of bird that you would like around your garden.
Evaluation
While the garden is not hustling and bustling with activity, it is a good time to take stock of how the previous year went and what your goals are going forward. Decide on some goals, and what else you would like to get out of your yard. This is also a good time to catch up on reading and research to implement new strategies. Evaluating and taking stock will help you determine how best to proceed in the coming months.
As you can see, gardening does not have to be confined to certain seasons. Even in the winter, there are things you can do to improve your garden and prepare for the growing seasons ahead. Use these tips and ideas and create your best garden.
The experienced professionals at Dean Bjorkstrand, Inc. can help complete all kinds of landscaping projects to increase the value of your home. Reach out online or call 612-861-3919.
Anyone who has been to a country fair or experienced Halloween knows what a pumpkin is. It’s a large orange fruit, and is most often used for pies, decorations, and entering in competitions. Many people don’t realize that there are several different types of pumpkins. There are the large ones that go in competitions and also get turned into jack-o-lanterns, and there are smaller, tastier ones that are best for baking in pies. Another thing to know is that pumpkins can grow in your garden. Here’s how.
Soil
First off, it is important that the soil you’re using to grow pumpkins has a ph level between 6.5 and 6.8. It is best to use a lot of composted manure, and plant in soil that has a good structure that not only retains moisture, but will drain well too.
Timing
Pumpkin seeds do not respond well to frost, so they should only be planted well after any possibility of frost has passed. You can start them inside if you want around 4 weeks ahead of when you think the last frost might be. If you’re transplanting, you can bring them out when leaves start appearing, and place a jar over top of the plant to protect it from the elements for the first few weeks.
Pollinating
To help the growing process along, especially if you are looking to win at the fair, you may want to try pollinating. After about 10 weeks after the seedling starts to sprout, find a female pumpkin. Females have a smaller pumpkin resting at their base. Swab the female flower with the stamen of a male pumpkin flower. This will quicken the pollination process, and hopefully allow your pumpkin to grow nice and big.
Stem Location
Stem location can go a long way towards growing a larger pumpkin. To get the stem in the right position, you will need to coach the pumpkin as it grows. This process can take weeks, but you should end up with a stem that’s perpendicular to the vine. Make sure to be gentle, however, since a pumpkin is quite delicate when it is young.
Once the vines have withered, then you know it’s time to harvest your pumpkin. Using these tips, you can make sure that your pumpkins grow up big and healthy.