Fall Planting Tips

Just because the weather has turned a little cooler and we’re headed toward October doesn't mean that it is time to put away those garden gloves.  October is still the heart of harvest season.  The cooler weather and rainfall also make October a great time to be planting shrubs, trees, perennials and tackling other transplant projects. 

Cooler temperatures of October encourage plants to slow their growth cycle.  Even though the air is a bit crisp, the ground is still warm, which is a great environment for plant root development.   You should keep watering everything in your yard until we have our first hard frost, which is generally around the second or third week in October. 

Take the time now to evaluate your garden so you are ready when fall project time arrives.  How do your perennials look? Daylilies or hostas getting too big for their homes? Now is a great time to split them up.  You can repurpose them in other places in your yard or even list them on Craigslist.  People in need love free plants!  Plan a garden day with friends and swap plants, you might end up with a unique new garden to take home at the end of the day.

There is no way to get around it: for your grass to look good, you need to take care of it.  By take care of it, we mean you need to fertilize it. Not only does it make your grass a luscious green, but it is also great for the environment, when done correctly.  Healthy grass has a dense root system that holds soil, which prevents it from running off and polluting the water.  Fertilizing on or after Labor Day is the golden star of best fertilizing practices, because nearly all of the fertilizer goes right into the soil.  Check out this link to determine which how-to is best for how you take care of your lawn.  Now is also a great time to lay sod and spread grass seed.

  You can also think about planting bulbs for the spring.  Tulips, crocus, daffodils and hyacinths are great choices that will produce bold color in the spring.  Look for firm, healthy looking bulbs when you are shopping.  

On a final note, make sure that you clean up your lawn at the end of the season.  Leaving mounds of grass clippings and leaves on your yard can invite diseases.

(all images via Corbis)

Garden Badges

Recently we had a local boy scout group into the garden center and greenhouse for a tour.  They had been working for some time now growing their own plants and vegetables before they came to us for their tour.  We had a great turnout, of both parent chaperones and boy scouts, and we toured the greenhouse for an hour.  Everyone was very surprised by everything that goes on behind the scenes in the greenhouse, and I think that we have helped shape some future gardeners!

Learning how to move our greenhouse benches

Christmas poinsettias in July!

Learning about shading plants

Cheesin' for a group shot!

Kids in the Dirt

One of my favorite times of the year is getting to be out of the office and working with families.  Every year we travel over to a local preschool and work with a 'mommy and me' type class to plant flowers.  It is a fun activity that gets everyone involved in the planting process.  

Kids say the silliest things and our days with them were just that, filled with silly things!  Every year we learn that some kids love the dirt and some kids are afraid to touch the dirt.  Below are some of our favorite shots of their completed projects.

Treat Mom Right

With Mother's Day right around the corner, check out a handful of our favorite items in the garden center.  Of course flowers are generally a safe bet for any Mother's Day gift, but these are fun little bonus items any mother in your life will love! 

We've got a great selection of items for fairy garden enthusiasts to create their perfect miniature landscape.  Maybe figurines for your garden are more your style, we've got some fun items in that area, too.

Gearing up for Spring!

Check out our latest Instagram video on our garden center. Things may be small but it's warm, it's growing, and it's green!

Check out the rest of our Instagram pictures
http://instagram.com/lyndegreenhouse

Holy Buckets We're Growing!

Pineview Produce...in pictures for 2014!

Tomorrow is our second Lynde Local Market and we will have: herbs, beans, peas, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, salad mix, spinach, arugula, romaine and butter lettuce heads. In addition to our offerings, there will be 10 other vendors with amazing things to sell! Stop by from 3-6.

Cukes, Tomatoes and Beans, Oh My!

Strawberry Flowers

Cherry Tomatoes

Tomato Jungle

We're looking forward to seeing everyone at the second Lynde Local Market happening tomorrow from 3-6pm!

Pantone in Minnesota

Pantone's Color of the Year is Radiant Orchid

This year's Pantone color is a great one in terms of landscaping.  This lavender color is found in a multitude of different places, from annuals and perennials to flowering shrubs.  These are a few of our favorite picks:

• Firewitch Dianthus 
• Dianthus have long been a garden favorite.  With almost a month of blooming period, the flowers are great for creating small bouquets.  Another great thing about Dianthus is that it is heat tolerant, perfect for our hot Minnesota summers.  Zone 3-9
• Lavender Bounty Iris
• This showy Iris is a great addition to a ground bed.  Boasting good height and attracting butterflies, this Iris makes for a beautiful cut flower. Very low maintenance.  Zone 3-8
• Gladiator Allium
• Alliums are stunning when planted in large clusters that bloom from late spring into early summer.  The fragrant globe shaped flower is a focal point in a bouquet. Zone 4-9, without a stroke of luck, you'll plant these bulbs each year.
• Dwarf Korean Lilac
• This fragrant little gem is smaller and denser than many other lilac bushes.  It blooms clusters of pale showy lilac flowers that cover the majority of the bush. Zones 3-7