Garden Bite with Teri Knight

Soon we'll be planting Fall bulbs for Spring color. There are lots and lots of gorgeous bulbs we can plant, most of which squirrels love to eat. BUT, there are ways to prevent that. That's on today's Garden Bite along with bulbs they don't "prefer"! Take a peek at my website too for further details and pictures. 

Time flies! It's October 1st and time to collect seeds of coneflowers and rudbeckia with instructions on today's Garden Bite. You'll also want to  decide how you want your "winter" garden to look and I've got the options on today's Garden Bite. 

While I've seen a few hummingbirds still feasting on my annual mandevilla and my honeysuckle vines, most of them are headed south. There are 350 or so species of hummingbirds, all of which are native to the "New World", the Americas. I share which ones are native to Minnesota and Wisconsin and have some facts about these amazing little flying jewels on today's Garden Bite. Check out my website for...

Although most plants are shutting down right now, your lawn continues to actively grow, if it’s had water! Fall is the time when lawn grasses use their energy to spread and develop deeper root systems instead of above ground blades. The best time to fertilize your lawn is, generally, now to late October. I share how to do this now, but remind you that many of us are still in a drought and fertiliz...

Apple season is in full swing with local orchards now open. For those of us in cold climates, growing apples wasn’t always easy but with a lot of research by places like the University of Minnesota , which started breeding apples in 1888, we can grow some delicious apples! Learn all about these delicious options you can grow in your own yard and when to plant them. 

Not a sexy topic even for gardening, but Oak Wilt is a really lousy fungi that destroys these beautiful trees. Oak will has traveled further north, for the first time showing up in Crow Wing County , Minnesota. Wisconsin also has the disease. Oak wilt is caused by a fungus that deprives the tree of water. The fungus isn’t visible, but the symptoms are obvious: the tree’s leaves wilt from lack of w...

Dogs. Oh what companions they are to we hapless humans. And SO MUCH MORE. Their noses detect bombs, human remains, drugs and so on. Now they're being used to detect Emerald Ash Borer and, just recently, there are a few trained to sniff out the coronavirus. Learn more on today's Garden Bite and be sure to check out my website too. 

On a recent bicycle ride I discovered a little hidden gem I didn't know the name of... so I went searching. Spotted touch-me-not is the common name of a native to the Upper Midwest. Learn more about this plant, how it got it's name and 2 other natives plants discovered on that bicycle ride! Check them all out on gardenbite.com. 

We turn the Autumnal corner at 2:20 central time this afternoon! I just love this time of year.  Sweatshirts and flannels, leaving the windows cracked open at night with that cool air making good sleeping weather. our Fall colors will be muted and now we are, once again, being asked to wear masks.  While challenges continue, let’s just take a moment and celebrate TODAY. Today's 'Bite is...

Much of my home state, Minnesota, and western Wisconsin remains in a drought. Yes, we've had rain but it's still not enough to pull us out. Fall is "generally" a good time to put down a herbicide, but because of the dry conditions we need to rethink that! On today's Garden Bite I talk about why this is usually a good time to put down a herbicide for certain types of weeds and why THIS year, 2021,...

Too much produce can become a bit overwhelming after you've canned, preserved, froze and dehydrated a lot of it. Today's Garden Bite is about how to harvest to store your produce, the different temperatures and conditions for the various produce and more. Be sure to visit my website for more details. 

In the drought that we are still experiencing, it's even more important to prepare our plants for the cold winter months. Learn what you need to do to help those trees, evergreens and other plants survive and thrive on today's Garden Bite. 

Beautify and preserve. It’s possible with permeable pavers. Storm water runoff creates a litany of issues including contaminants and pollutants that enter our waterways, destroying habitat and killing wildlife. There are so many ways permeable pavers help our environment! Check it out on today's Garden Bite.

There's still harvesting and enjoying our flowers and planting, there's also time to consider building a new garden bed. As you do, be sure to add organic matter, a soil potpourri, so to speak... 

Maples are always exceptional for fall color but I have a few others that offer brilliant color and a couple other surprises including one that will attract a lot of birds! They also work in small yards! Check them out today and on my website too.

It's all about planting garlic and the slight differences you need to make when planting in cold climates! The do's and don'ts and my experience. Go to my website gardenbite.com to see pictures and get more information! 

As we work our way into Fall there are some plants that we all associate with that time of year.  I talked about some Fall options last week, in particular, mums - the annual kind and the hardy mums! But what about perennials, some natives? It's also a good time to plant trees. How about taking a look at some different trees? It's on today's 'Bite! 

The University of MN Extension, as every other State University extension around the country does, answers gardeners questions. This year the top topics included stressed maples and evergreens, insects and invasive species. Learn about them and what to do! Check out my website, gardenbite.com also!

Fall is a great time to seed your lawn and do a number of other chores. In Minnesota we've experienced severe drought which has led to dead grass and warnings on what you should and should not do for your lawn. While we received rain we are still not out of the woods, so to speak. Today's 'Bite is about how to reseed dead areas of your lawn (how to know it's really dead) and what NOT to do. 

Recently someone I know had a nasty run-in with poison ivy. It’s nothing to be trifled with! Not everyone has a major reaction but once you have, you will continue to have a bad reaction. If it’s in an area of your yard you want it GONE. First, make sure that's what it is. Then there are a lot of precautions you must take to ensure your safety along with pets and others. Please listen to my podcas...

Happy Labor day, a holiday to pay tribute to the contributions American workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. As for worker PLANTS , let me tell you who to salute and, possibly select, for your own gardens on today's Garden Bite!

We're headed toward Labor Day weekend but that means there's still plenty of time to enjoy your outdoor spaces. As more and more, we consider our impact on our planet, have you ever considered Eco-friendly furniture?  When I had my television show, Dig In Minnesota, I had the opportunity to find out more about polywood... plastic is used to create sturdy recycled furniture. They've come a lon...

The fall planted bulbs are starting to show up at local nurseries. These are those spring bloomers like tulips and crocus. But there’s also garlic, which will be ready to harvest in early August. Learn how to select the best bulbs, how to plant and care for them into winter. 

Your petunias are pooped and it's time freshen up those annual containers with some fall color. Oh yes, there are mums, but there are also plenty of other plants to add the pop back into your planters. Check 'em out on my website too. Gardenbite.com 

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