You know those gorgeous hanging baskets, those urns and planters that are so tempting in the greenhouses right now? Here's the formula Amy Ivy likes: a thriller, a filler and a spiller. To put it another way: something eye-catching. Something to add color and fill in the space, and something that'll trail over the sides. Fill the container with potting mix, arrange the plants side by side, add water, and a good measure of patience. [full story]

Greenhouse people say the plants that sell best are the plants that are already blooming. It makes sense: they're pretty, and so appealing early in the season, when gardeners are yearning for some color. And, when you see a bloom, you know what you're getting. Pink cosmos or white? Orange or yellow marigolds? But Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy says there are risks in buying plants that are that far along in their growth cycle. She shares tips on what to look for, and how to mitigate some common downsides. [full story]

It's time to tackle perennials — dividing, replanting, moving, and cleaning out the grass and weeds. That's what the calendar says. But continuing cold rain and occasional snow showers don't add up to ideal gardening weather. It's just not much fun out there, and messing around when the dirt is wet makes weeding harder and is bad for soil structure, according to Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy. So wait till weather clears, then follow her practical tips on how to proceed. [full story]

One of the joys of spring is the appearance, and fragrance, of lilacs. Most old farmsteads and gardens have at least one lilac tree. A Potsdam couple has started a second career of bringing lilacs back to more yards.About ten years ago, Janice and Cliff Westerling sold their home in the village of Potsdam and bought a 50-acre farm near West Potsdam. Now retired, they're focusing on growing and selling lilacs. Their gardens at Moore's Hill Farm include more than 30 varieties. One of the most fragrant flowers in the plant world, lilacs are available in lots of colors - including royal purples, presidential blues and creamy yellows.Todd Moe stopped by for a tour of the Westerling's nursery and display gardens. It's still too early for blossoms. Janice says the flowering season is typically Mother's Day to Father's Day, but she and Cliff love to show off the plants to curious visitors. So, why lilacs? Cliff says the hardy varieties are easy to grow in the North Country, despite pesky deer. [full story]

It may not seem like it now, but soon the garden will be reaching for the sky. Some plants needs a little help to climb. Amy Ivy put in some plastic mesh fencing as a trellis this weekend to assist her peas and beans to reach their full potential. The same, with ties to hold heavier produce, can keep your cucumber and tomato bounty at a dry and healthy altitude.Almost anything from chain link to snow fence to woven twigs will do to add an upper story to the garden. [full story]

Getting an early start on the vegetable season can be tricky. The weather can be sunny and warm one day, chilly and windy the next. Young lettuces, spinach and other early season starts have to get through it all. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy shares advice on using row cover - that light, porous fabric - to moderate the extremes. One warning -though row cover looks like a way to protect against frost, she says it isn't. You need a little more when temperatures fall that far. [full story]

Think chocolate cake. A handful of good soil will look like a handful of chocolate cake: dark and rich, holding together but a little crumbly at the edges. Space for whipped cream to soak in (in the case of cake) or air and water, in the case of soil. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy says it's the aggregates that keep the texture right. She explains what aggregates are and how they work. She has tips on how protect and encourage them. [full story]

There's so much to do when winter finally does go away, and the breezes warm up. Between the yard and garden(s), you could go crazy. But no need. Cooperative Extension's Amy Ivy starts slow-ish, loosening up the winter accumulations of leaves and debris from the perennials and giving what's up some light and air. Clearing out the dead stalks and remains of last year. Giving the yard a light raking. And doing some thinking! [full story]

Sunny Spring days are a temptation to plant the year's earliest vegetables: peas, spinach, arugula and other hardy seedlings. But as warm as the breezes might be, it's still too early if the soil isn't registering 50 degrees F. So says Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy. [full story]

Pruning time has arrived, but there's no rush. You have the month of April, at least until the buds come, to get it done.Amy Ivy and Martha Foley share some tips for a good pruning strategy. Get the dead stuff out, obviously, but with flowering shrubs like lilac or mock orange, you might want to get rid of dominant gnarly older stems, too, since young growth flowers more abundantly.And lopping shears are fine for smaller branches, but move up to a saw if you find you are straining yourself, or your tool. [full story]