Garden Bite with Teri Knight

There are plenty of reasons to leave your perennials up for winter. Find out what they are and how important it is for our wildlife. Check out some great photos on my website too. Gardenbite.com

The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture has deemed it a noxious weed due to how it has overtaken as an understory plant in our forests, knocking out our natives. Wisconsin has already restricted it. Find out why and when you won't be able to buy this plant in Minnesota!

Vines are wonderful to soften fences. Annual vines are fun because you can change them out every year. Now is the time to unwind them from their temporary homes... you'll be glad you did. Find out why and why I do not like Morning Glories on today's Garden Bite! 

I love native plants for many reasons! But this guy, Wood Betony, I hadn't heard of until I opened my newest issue of Northern Gardener magazine. (I highly recommend this magazine, and no, I'm not getting paid to say that!) Wood betony is an unusual parasitic plant with a taproot and lateral roots that attach to the roots of grasses, asters and a few other plants, making it desirable to plant in p...

It’s the first week of November already and you didn’t get to seeding those dead spots in your lawn. That’s okay, dormant seeding is doable. the Ins and Outs of dormant seeding. Check out my website for further details. gardenbite.com 

As you peruse garden catalogs and local garden center websites, there are some flowers you might think twice about planting if you have a pet or little person that likes to gnaw on everything. Check out the list of some poisonous plants you may reconsider planting. Make sure you check out my website for further information! 

While we place pumpkins on our doorstep and kids dress up for trick or treating, the origins of Halloween vary. I talk about the Celtic origins on today's Garden Bite. Can you guess how much Americans spend on this holiday? 

On the east coast the night before Halloween was called “Mischief Night”, that got me thinking about nature's nocturnal creatures! Learn more about our Upper Midwest native creatures that have a reputation for ferocity, some deserved, some perhaps not! That's today's Garden Bite and online too! 

Orchids are lining up in garden centers and grocery stores. Those are Phalaenopsis and not hardy to our Upper Midwest region. They DO make wonderful gifts! Today I give a primer on native orchids to Minnesota and Wisconsin and talk about those INDOOR orchids. Caring for them and showing off some gorgeous options on gardenbite.com.

A perennial topic, yes. A sexy subject, Nope... but important nonetheless. I discuss the protocols of storing garden chemicals for Winter. This includes organics!  

While predictions of Winter 21-22 say the Upper Midwest will see colder, snowier conditions, they ARE just predictions. However, it is a lot easier to get chores done before the snow flies, if possible! What are those chores? Find out on today's Garden Bite and check out my website for more info!

Local garden centers, farmers markets and apple orchards are a great place to pick up those odd curcurbitas (as we talked about last week) and find Indian corn, straw bales, corn stalks and so much more. But you can go in your closet and in your yard to find some cool stuff too! Check out different displays today and let your imagination run wild. And learn how to preserve branches!

When I was little, it was all about the pumpkins seeds!!  Roasted with tons of salt. My taste is, gratefully, a lot more sophisticated and so are the recipes for those seasonal treats. Along with fabulous pie, soup and stews too. Find recipes and the myriad of curcurbita used for all kinds of cooking with these delicious fruits, or vegetables if you prefer! 

When I was a kid, carving pumpkins meant using the kitchen knife. Not anymore, thank goodness! But there is an art to picking the right pumpkin depending on what you plan to do with it! I have all this and a video too on today's show and on my website along with links to free stuff! 

Like it or loathe it, it's pumpkin spice season! Those cool curcurbitas offer so much more than a little spice in our latte. Check it out on today's Garden Bite and find a handy guide to those lumpy, bumpy beauties with recipes and more on my website too!

Tips on choosing and extending the life of your Fall mums and great ways to reuse those plastic garden pots! Check it out on today's Garden Bite and visit my website too! 

Last week I talked about bird feeders and squirrels. Today’s it’s about WHAT to feed those birds as winter comes roaring in… at some point. What birds like certain types of seed/feed? How to protect those birds from predators. It's on today's 'Bite!

Glazed pots do not appreciate the wet cold of winter. Moisture in the soil is good for plants but not for these containers. Find out why and see the damage on my website, gardenbite.com. How to take care of those pots! 

It’s not Winter yet, but it’s on the way and some have already experienced temperatures dipping into the 30’s. Some folks "Up North" have covered tomatoes or just given up! What's the difference between a "frost" and a "hard frost"? Does it matter? Find out on today's Garden Bite. 

As we head into the “Season of Shivers”, according to the Farmers Almanac for the winter of 21-22, protecting your evergreens is a subject we can get started on early! How to protect them and a special consideration about using burlap on today's Garden Bite. 

It's not too early to start thinking about winter protection for your woodies! Before you get the wrong idea... I'm talking about your trees and shrubs! Winter sun, wind, temperature fluctuations, snow and ice can make for a deadly combo for your trees and shrubs.  Learn what to do about it on today's Garden Bite and be sure to go to my website gardenbite.com

Fresh herbs are a necessity in my garden but you can also have them indoors. And there are local nurseries that are happy to supply you with some fabulous plants! Not all herbs enjoy the great in doors but plenty do and I’ll share them with you.

It's time to clean out those bird feeders and houses too. Birds are starting to migrate and this is our opportunity to provide for them. But to do that properly, they need clean feeders and more. I talked with my friend and bird expert, Bonni, about this. I caught it on video! Check out my website, gardenbite.com

Yes, you can still plant in zones 3 and 4... We cold climate gardeners are a tough lot and so are our plants. The soil is still warm but the air is getting cooler. A great combination to plant trees, shrubs and some perennials too. Learn all about it on today's Garden Bite and check out my website for video and more.

Yesterday was about planting bulbs, today it's about digging out those tender bulbs that bloomed this Summer. When is the best time to dig out your dahlias and other tender bulbs and how do you store them? That's on today's Garden Bite.