Garden Bite with Teri Knight

Grasses are some of my all time favorite plants and with the introduction of Big bluestem 'Blackhawks', I have another favorite!. Last year I scored two of them. Oh my,  the foliage evolves throughout the growing season. You must see this beauty on my website gardenbite.com

Last year Lilac Blight hit HARD. The other hard part about it is that it doesn't just go away. While you pruned and cleaned up, the problem can persist plant debris for years. Learn more about this fungal issue and don't give up yet! 

There are a lot of you with clay soil. I’m included in this group. I talked just last week about the good parts of clay soil but today it’s about plants that enjoy it! Or at the very least, tolerate it! One of my favorites is Aster. See it on my website and learn more about different perennials that can handle soil on today's 'Bite!

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. They love the warm soil and cooler air. They also still have plenty of time to scoot their roots down deep into the soil. There IS a caveat to those of us in drought locations. Water, water, water... learn more about the do's and don'ts of Fall tree planting on today's Garden Bite. 

It’s not too early to think about dealing with Buckthorn, one of Minnesota’s most damaging invasive plants. Wisconsin’s not real happy with it either!! Nor are several other states. This invasive is nasty. Learn more about why it's so bad, how to identify it and how to get rid of it or at least "manage" it on today's Garden Bite.

While listeners in Wisconsin are faring far better this Summer of Drought, Minnesota is in tough shape. Only far southeastern Minnesota is okay. Most of the rest of the state is in severe to extreme drought. You’ve likely seen your stress on your trees and shrubs. The University of MN Extension is cautioning homeowners not to prune trees... Learn more about HOW our trees/shrubs are being affected and what the ONE reason is that would be okay to prune. 

Gardening can cost money but there are many ways to save. I’m sharing some of those with you today. Tree trimming companies often pay to dump their chips at a city-owned facility. If you’re willing to give up driveway space, they will dump it in your driveway for free! They may not be the colored mulch you wanted but that fades anyway! Learn more ways to save on garden supplies on today's episode!

I love my hanging baskets. I have had some very unique ones and decided I wanted to try my hand at creating my own. Sorta. It's not fancy weaving but a fun burlap basket. Learn how on gardenbite.com and today's episode!

A deal is only a deal if it works out. A neighbor's ill-fated blueberry bushes and another who wanted rock. UGH, learn why rock mulch is NOT a good idea in most garden beds and where it does work. 

I love the sound of birds singing in the morning. I talk often about pollinator gardens but what about planting an “audible” garden? Birds sing for 2 reasons, for territory and for mating. Native plants attract native insects which native birds eat. Seed eaters tend to go for native grasses and flower heads. Learn more layering your garden and the songs of birds on today's Bite!