Garden Bite with Teri Knight

Want shrubs? Got shade? Got dogs? Hmmm, what to plant that is not toxic to your pets but will handle shade. The Yays and Nays on shrubs for shade and pets on today's Garden Bite . 

Ants have again shown their moxie in my landscape. Mounds of their work is throughout my gardens and lawn, upending sedum, grasses and more. Oh what to do? That's on today's Garden Bite ! 

With the exception of hummingbirds, most of us plant gardens for beauty, fragrance and taste, not thinking too much about songbirds. Today's Garden Bite is about planting for those migratory birds. Plants, tips and also an app to help you identify who's singing that birdsong is all on my website ! 

Creeping Charlie ever present in our lawns will be, blooming purple flowers, oh so pretty to me. Ode to the weed that creepingly reseeds with stem and rhizome. Not content to stay in place, Creeping Charlie, sets a pace to cross your lawn, it’s a race. Embrace the creeper or let loose on the leaper? More on how to eliminate it, if that's your thing, on Garden Bite ! 

Sometimes our plants flop over. Perennials like blackeyed susans, asters and hollyhocks could use some support from time to time. Especially in windy conditions, which seems we've had a lot more of that recently. Those annual gladiolas could use support too sometimes! On today's Garden Bite I talk about several options for support. Check 'em out!

These may seem "old-fashioned" but gooseberry and currant shrubs are tart berries worth a look at! Strawberries and raspberries get the buzz but the tartness and easy growing of these cold climate shrubs are something to consider. I have all the information you need on my today's Garden Bite plus recipes! 

My dad LOVED rhubarb. And my mom made a LOT of pies and froze a lot of cut-up rhubarb for winter. This perennial is well worth growing. I have the how-to and recipes on today's Garden Bite . Also a caveat to those leaves...

The red poppy came to symbolize our war veterans in 1921.  It is a wildflower poppy.  During World war one, the fields of Flanders in western Belgium saw 4 years of unrelenting battle. On today's Garden Bite , I share the poem of Flanders Field, the history of Memorial Day and where to get these poppies. Garden Bite remembers our Fallen... 

It's Memorial weekend! Time for those of us in cold climates to really "dig in"! You want an eyepopping container planting, create it easily with a few pointers. Thrillers, Fillers and Spillers. I have recipes and examples on today's Garden Bite. However, the most important factor is what YOU like!

Yesterday we fed our annuals and perennials, today's Garden Bite is about feeding your shrubs and trees. When, why and how much!

While I'm not much for using any chemicals on my plants, that doesn't mean you can't use some fertilizers. Today's Garden Bite is about using organic fertilizers on your annuals and perennials. What NPK is, what they do for the plants and the best methods and why! 

There are times when height is wonderful with plants... and then there are times when they flop over due to their height. There are methods to control height. I describe them on today's Garden Bite including when to cut them back if that's how you want to control it. 

Herbs are mighty tasty for humans and pollinators too! What herbs pique the interest of pollinators? From caterpillars to butterflies and bees too. Take a listen and a look at my website, Garden Bite ! See a swallowtail caterpillar munching away... Pick for yourself and leave some of them to flower.

Tomatoes take a little effort to plant. Or you can make a lot of effort. Your choice. I do have methods on today's Garden Bite . What I do and also a video with me on my former tv show "Dig In Minnesota" and Mr. Tomato Man! There are some great tips all the way around and you'll also learn more about planting peppers. Soil temperature is key. 

You've made a monetary investment in your trees and shrubs, now you really need to spend some time. Time taking care of them by putting them on a watering schedule. Learn more on today's Garden Bite . How to figure out the amount of water and how often to water them! 

On today's Garden Bite I talk about the investment of trees, what NOT to plant and some ideas of trees to plant instead. I talked with my friend, an Arborist, for great ideas. Hint, she calls Autumn Blaze Maple, Autumn Disaster...  

Blueberries are loaded with the good stuff AND they taste great in everything. Growing blueberry bushes does require some work, especially for those of us in northern climates and without acidic soil. Learn how on today's Garden Bite and also some great suggestions on cultivars.

Today I'm sharing plants for pollinators and also hummingbird attractors! There are lots of them and I have a comprehensive list that includes trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials too. Go to Garden Bite website for all the details. 

Today's Garden Bite is about plant shopping. Some tips and tricks to help in your selections to get the most bang for your buck! And have FUN!

Finally, most of you are into full-on gardening! It’s been a long wait but we’re exploring all our local garden centers and finding so many plants to purchase! Or is that just me? No, I doubt it, especially based on the number of people I see! I’ve always been one to plant annuals exclusively in containers but this year I'm changing it up! I bought a few packs of sunflowers this year and am excite...

While I’m not a hockey player, living in Minnesota, a person comes to know a few terms anyway. What’s that got to do with gardening, you ask, well, this plant I’m highlighting today would be the Hat Trick of Annuals. Nasturtiums. They are beautiful, edible and pollinators love them. Learn more about these easy annuals on Garden Bite and find recipes too!

We are finally feeling warmer temperatures and seeing more sunshine! It’s been a long haul this spring. Now is the time to plant gladiola, dahlia and canna bulbs for summer bloom! Alliums, oriental lilies, begonias and bulbs I can’t pronounce are also on that list too. Check out my tips on today's Garden Bite . 

Growing vegetables and herbs in containers is a great way to garden if you have less space or if your sunny area is smaller. I’ve got tips today on the size container to use and what TYPE of container. Check out gardenbite.com too!

While talking with friends about how difficult it can be to figure out the proper way to recycle all of our plastics, one of them mentioned worms that eat plastic! WHAT? That meant further investigation for me. Wax worms and mealworms have been shown to eat forms of plastic. There's much more research to do but it's very intriguing. Learn more on my website, Garden Bite . Find Garden Bite on Faceb...

Jumping worms remain a big topic in several states including Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and more. They are traveling and we need to be aware of them. Check out today's Garden Bite where I have a video further explaining these worms and what they do to our soil.