How do determine if you have a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter Cactus. Other than the bloom time, you can determine what type you have by the shape of the leaves. Thanksgiving cactus have pointed claw like leaves, the leaves of a Christmas cactus are more scalloped, while Easter cactus leaves are more rounded. General care… Read More
Water early in the morning or early evening. Avoid the heat of the day as the water evaporates quickly when it’s so hot. Plants that are wet overnight can lead to disease problems, especially in the veggie garden. Raise your lawn mower so the grass is at least 4” long AFTER mowing. Longer grass shades… Read More
Once again, you will find all Wagners grown 3.5” pepper, tomato, herbs and other vegetables, plus all 4 1/3” annual flowers growing in SelfEco pots. These may look like an ordinary plastic pot, but they are anything but ordinary. These pots are 100% compostable. Made locally in Stillwater, MN SelfEco pots are made from the… Read More
We all get a bit spoiled during the summer months when we go outdoors and grab handfuls of fresh herbs when we are cooking. Some of the summer abundance might be dried or frozen for winter use, but nothing beats the taste of freshly harvested herbs growing indoors for winter use. As an added bonus… Read More
With a bit of effort, it’s easy to have amaryllis that will bloom year-after-year. Let’s start the steps needed to get them to rebloom once the flowers have faded. Remove the flower stalks just above the bulb and set the plant in a bright sunny window during the rest of the winter. Don’t over water… Read More
As we head into fall, it’s time to revisit the SelfEco pots that many of the plants sold at Wagners this past spring were growing in. These pots are made from plant starches found in corn, switch grass and sugar beets and are designed to break down naturally over an extended period of time. It’s… Read More
These three basic tips will help keep your containers, hanging baskets and window boxes looking great during the heat of the summer and into the fall season. For the rest of this post when we say containers, we are referring not only to them but hanging baskets and window boxes as well. Keep well-watered While… Read More
Established lawns, shrubs and perennials should receive 1” of water per week delivered all at one time vs a little bit at a time. When mowing, your grass should be about 3” long after it’s mowed. Longer grass shades the ground keeping it cooler which in turn means less drying out of the soil. Longer… Read More
When we think of fall and our outdoor planters it’s garden mums that come to mind and truthfully, nothing says fall more than MN grown outdoor mums. But what about the other MN Grown plants that are perfect for your outdoor planters and window boxes. While they may be relegated to being “runner ups” here… Read More
Spring weather is taking its sweet time to arrive this year. I’m looking at it as more time to think, dream and plan this year’s gardens. We are all anxious to get outdoors to enjoy some warm weather. When it comes to planting during the spring the key is to be “patient”. Wait for the… Read More
It’s that time of year when gardeners start feeling as if winter will never end. What’s a gardener to do? Why not start a few seeds indoors and watch them grow! There are many household items that make great containers for young seedlings and are biodegradable. Toilet paper rolls can be cut in half, eggshells… Read More
The rooms in your home are made better and healthier by adding houseplants to add interest and beauty. There is something extra special about adding living potted plants to a room. Grouping them together in a room creates a visual impact. Vary the height and shape of your plants to add interest on a coffee… Read More
This is the time of year to create a timely, lovely holiday centerpiece for all to enjoy. Here are a few helpful suggestions. Start with a theme, maybe the twelve days of Christmas or all the winter and summer sports that different members of the family enjoy. It could be whimsical and fun for your… Read More
As we move indoors for the winter months it’s time to give a nod to those hardworking indoor plants that are more than just a “pretty face” in the living room or kitchen. They work hard to clean indoor air from volatile organic compounds. From health benefits to improving concentration, indoor houseplants are easy on… Read More
Pumpkin season and bulb planting seem to go together every fall right along with mums. Why not plant a few spring blooming bulbs in the same hole with a mum? You’ll have fall color now and a pleasant surprise in the spring too. Here’s a fall decoration I recently observed. Stack an assortment of pumpkins… Read More
August is when your garden is in a “blaze of glory”! The blooms light up the landscape for your summertime enjoyment. Dahlias have gorgeous flowers in bright colors, yellow and orange sunflowers and celosia have spiky blooms. Lantana is showy too with their delicate orange and yellow blossoms which the butterflies love. Don’t forget the… Read More
Summer is the season to enjoy the fruits and beauty of your spring gardening projects. The summer months go by so fast. While it’s time to enjoy the beauty of the season, there are still things to do in the yard and garden. Here is my summer check list of things to do. Veggie Garden… Read More
A beautiful home deserves a beautiful garden and landscape. Maybe you feel very confident about decorating your living room or bedroom, but a little shy in planning your garden and landscape. Vision your landscape and garden just as you would an indoor project, go online to watch landscaping videos, look at photos on Pinterest or… Read More
Have you looked at your rhubarb lately? Mine is growing like crazy this year. I just found a recipe for Rhubarb Chutney. It can be used as a topping for meats or even an ice cream. 4 cups diced rhubarb 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup cider vinegar or dry red wine… Read More
Spring! It is here! It’s a wonderful time to enjoy the warm days and cool mornings and evenings. You may have to do some clean-up in the yard and garden, but think of all the exercise and fresh air you will be getting. Working outdoors gives your brain a boost too. Gardening is a positive,… Read More
