1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:07,320 Hello, my friends across the fruited and rooted plane. Yes, it's time 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:13,640 for another Gardening Simplified show with Stacy Hervella me, Rick weisst and our engineer 3 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:21,160 and producer Adriana Robinson. We're broadcasting from studio away here at proven Winners Color 4 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:28,079 Choice Shrubs. Container gardens have personality, they reflect your personality and Stacy, 5 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:34,600 I like to think you can create chaos with control limited by the boundaries of 6 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:39,640 the pot. I experienced that last year with trufflea paint Gomfrina, which just 7 00:00:39,679 --> 00:00:45,039 went NUTSI cuckou and but fortunately the boundaries of the pot was there. Well, 8 00:00:45,039 --> 00:00:48,399 you know, I think an annual going nutsy cuckoo is exactly what it 9 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,799 is programmed and supposed to do for you. I mean, if an annuals 10 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,920 not going nutzy cucko, kind of a boring summer, true, yeah, 11 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:59,479 and we like some excitement. So there's so many benefits to container gardening, 12 00:00:59,759 --> 00:01:03,600 for being able to grow plants in small spaces, to be able to move 13 00:01:03,679 --> 00:01:10,000 your garden to sun or shade conditions contingent on what you're planting. And then 14 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,120 of course you've got to remember that the plants you put in the container are 15 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:17,359 going to have to coexist in that same container, so you want plants with 16 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:23,760 similar needs. But stacy container gardening is just perfect for gardeners and folks who 17 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:29,760 want to experiment with different plant combinations, textures and colors. You know, 18 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,400 it's so true, and it really so. You and I are on the 19 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,599 older side. We've been around for a while, been gardening for many years. 20 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:45,079 But I mean, but still, like, do you remember when containers 21 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,400 basically meant one of those swan planters or those black cauldrons, those plastic black 22 00:01:49,439 --> 00:01:53,400 cauldrons. Yes, my mom had those, and whiskey barrels. Let us 23 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:57,519 not forget whiskey barrels. But it used to be not all that long ago 24 00:01:57,959 --> 00:02:02,280 that that was it for container gardening. And the only thing that people really 25 00:02:02,319 --> 00:02:08,560 put in containers pretty much was like geraniums. You know, they didn't done 26 00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:14,080 yeah, yeah, a spike, And you know, it was so limited 27 00:02:14,199 --> 00:02:17,680 and it was so constrained, and I think it's just so amazing that we 28 00:02:17,719 --> 00:02:23,879 have been able to witness this transformation of container gardening from being this very uh 29 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:30,800 you know, conventional, rather dull practice in the garden to this creative endeavor 30 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:36,280 that you can use to express your personality to expand your garden space. You 31 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:40,000 know, not just the different plants and combinations that we use in containers nowadays, 32 00:02:40,199 --> 00:02:45,840 but the containers themselves. Oh, the containers unbelievable. You're right, 33 00:02:45,879 --> 00:02:50,400 and that's where we start. Uh. And of course, if you're going 34 00:02:50,439 --> 00:02:53,759 to do some container gardening, take a look at the size of the containers. 35 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:59,319 You want a big enough container to be able to provide some root mass 36 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,520 and some soil. And you know, if you look at proven winners, 37 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:07,439 you look at self watering containers like the aqua pots yea. The selection of 38 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:13,120 pots and containers today and the colors and styles. Wow, it's it's such 39 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,919 a big difference. And I think you make a great point about the size 40 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,840 of the containers. So when people are asking me about like containers, you 41 00:03:19,879 --> 00:03:22,520 know, I'd say, you want to put the majority of your money in 42 00:03:22,599 --> 00:03:25,199 pretty large containers. So to me, that means like sixteen inches diameter or 43 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,639 more. What do you consider a large No, I agree with that. 44 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,520 As a matter of fact. On next week's show, we're going to talk 45 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:36,199 about hanging baskets, and I'll go off on hanging baskets. I'm so opinionated. 46 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,639 I'm I'm about hanging baskets like you are with wind chimes. I've got 47 00:03:39,639 --> 00:03:44,400 a strong opinion and I'm gonna bring it, but we won't go there today. 48 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:46,199 So yes, at least sixteen inches. Yeah, and you know, 49 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,759 I think it's useful. So a lot of times I buy containers in sets. 50 00:03:50,879 --> 00:03:52,759 You know, they'll be sold in a set, you know, three 51 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,360 of the same color, sort of small, medium, large, And I 52 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:58,800 do like having that. It's it's really nice and easy to arrange. But 53 00:03:58,879 --> 00:04:01,520 of course, in that little contain you're probably just planting a single thing, 54 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,599 just one plants the media, maybe one bigger plant, and then it's those 55 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:10,360 larger ones where you really get to combine and use some of those tips that 56 00:04:10,439 --> 00:04:14,439 our guests when they Claremont shared with us on last week's show about designing containers. 57 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,560 Yeah, exactly. Of course, the soil is important. We talk 58 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,079 about that often. A good potting mix, a good lightweight mix. But 59 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:26,040 Stacy, a question that I've had through the years for a lot of people 60 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,759 is you can kind of go broke on potting mix. It's not cheap. 61 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,399 It is not cheap, And I will say right now, I reuse my 62 00:04:34,399 --> 00:04:40,519 potting mixes every year because because I do the same, and generally I recommend 63 00:04:40,519 --> 00:04:44,920 to people, you know, at least keep half to three quarters of last 64 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,720 year and then amend that soil. And of course there are great four months 65 00:04:47,759 --> 00:04:54,519 slow release fertilizers that you can use. Amended maybe with a water soluble fertilizer, 66 00:04:54,519 --> 00:04:56,839 and you'll be off to the races. Yeah, you know, potting 67 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,000 soil is not only expensive, but it also is a natural resource. I 68 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,600 mean, most of our potting mix is our pete base. Pete is a 69 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:08,639 natural resource, and so I think that we have an obligation and responsibility to 70 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,600 treat potting soil, you know, not like a product that we just buy 71 00:05:12,639 --> 00:05:15,439 every single year, but as something that we invest in and continue to use. 72 00:05:15,439 --> 00:05:19,319 So I do what you what you might recommend. I store all my 73 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:24,839 potting mix into in big bin storage bins in the winter, and then come 74 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:28,240 spring, I take it out, I amend it with compost or composted manure 75 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,639 mix that in and then I'm like multiplying my volume of potting mix, which 76 00:05:31,639 --> 00:05:34,639 means I get to have more containers. So let's win win. Yeah, 77 00:05:34,439 --> 00:05:38,720 yeah, I like that. While I'm into containers too. So this week's 78 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,279 limb a Rick, I'm gonna lay this on you. Here, I'm growing 79 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,959 my personal camelot, a haven of planters. I've given great thought with many 80 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:54,360 of every container. The end result is a no brainer. My yard has 81 00:05:54,399 --> 00:06:00,360 gone to pot. So there you go. I love it now with containers, 82 00:06:00,399 --> 00:06:02,519 Stacy, we often talk about starting from the center, working our way 83 00:06:02,519 --> 00:06:06,959 out with thriller plants, and you know, we know the various thrillers. 84 00:06:06,959 --> 00:06:11,959 Of course, I love canas I love cord lines. As the thriller in 85 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,399 the center. One thing that's fun to do is to put a vine in 86 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,439 the center of a container. Put some steaks, like some bamboo steaks in 87 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:23,680 the center. You could even plant seeds of vining plants like a hyacinth bean 88 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,600 or whatever, and vines take over the center as a thriller. Oh that's 89 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,079 such a good idea, because you know, sometimes you get tired of doing 90 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,199 the same old, same old. My go to thriller one that I always 91 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:39,360 have to have every year is rock and deep purple salvia. So for you 92 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,040 know, I probably a lot of our listeners, you know, are like 93 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:45,680 us in the garden, both in the ground and in container. So I 94 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,759 have my in ground garden out there in the yard, and I put containers 95 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,199 on my porch and patios for a little bit of extra color. But I 96 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:58,000 really focus my container plantings on attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, because what could be 97 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,319 better than attracting them to write where you sit? And so every choice that 98 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:04,560 I make is based on color, of course, and colors of my containers. 99 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:10,519 But rock and deep purple and vermilion or kufia are my must haves every 100 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,759 year because they attract so many hummingbirds, and I just adore the color and 101 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,839 look of those plants. I love that. And for people keeping score at 102 00:07:16,839 --> 00:07:25,319 home, Stacy's talking about the Rocking series of Salvia proven winners, I agree 103 00:07:25,319 --> 00:07:28,079 with you. They are a kick in the plants. I love them. 104 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,720 After the thrillers, of course, we have the fillers, plants that tend 105 00:07:30,759 --> 00:07:34,319 to be rounded or mounded and make the container look full. And then we 106 00:07:34,399 --> 00:07:40,680 have some fun with the spillers placed close to the edge of the containers, 107 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:46,839 so dichondra silver falls or potato vines, and of course potato vines too. 108 00:07:46,879 --> 00:07:55,519 Today there's so many advancements tricolor, scartrus colors, different leaf shapes. They're 109 00:07:55,519 --> 00:07:59,240 fun to grow, they have come a long way since Margharita, that golden 110 00:07:59,319 --> 00:08:03,160 one busted onto the market several years ago. They have really become a standard. 111 00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:07,560 And that's another really cool thing that's happened with container plants is there's just 112 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,920 been all of these new introductions that have just completely changed the way that we 113 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,519 plant them. But I do want to go back briefly to fillers, because 114 00:08:15,759 --> 00:08:18,480 you know, thriller, that's easy, spiller, that's easy fillers where things 115 00:08:18,519 --> 00:08:22,199 get a little bit tricky, people are like, what is that? And 116 00:08:22,279 --> 00:08:26,120 you know, I think a great example of a filler that a lot of 117 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,399 people are familiar with is diamond frostyphobia. So if you know, I'm sure 118 00:08:30,439 --> 00:08:31,960 a lot of our listeners have grown it or at least seen it in hanging 119 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,399 baskets and so forth. And that's a really great example because it's kind of 120 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:41,080 poofy, you know, it's rounded, but also it blooms all summer. 121 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,120 It has a nice neutral color, it's white, so it's very easy to 122 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:46,559 work in with other plants, and it's see through. That's one thing I 123 00:08:46,639 --> 00:08:50,840 love about it is that it's not just like a big clump of plant. 124 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,679 I mean, not that I have any any problems with big clumps of plants. 125 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:56,200 I love them, but it's it's light and airy, so that when 126 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:01,720 you have all these plants in combination and it contain you can see through it 127 00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:05,080 to see everything and get that layered lush effect of all different colors and shapes 128 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:09,240 and textures. You nailed at Stacy, because I agree. What you want 129 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:15,080 is you want different leaf sizes if that's the way I put it in the 130 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,720 container. You want that contrast, and that's what's going to make your container 131 00:09:18,799 --> 00:09:24,799 pop. Boy, you can't beat something like colias in a container, well 132 00:09:24,879 --> 00:09:28,559 unless you have deer, and then you can. But I was just shopping 133 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,279 with my mom over last weekend for our summer plants. We couldn't get everythingcause 134 00:09:33,279 --> 00:09:35,679 not everything was out, but she always plants colias in her front yard, 135 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:37,080 and I was just thinking how jealous I was of her that she gets to 136 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,919 grow these big, beautiful, lush colias, because I have tried, and 137 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:46,720 the deer have climbed up my front steps to show them right down. Well, 138 00:09:46,759 --> 00:09:52,399 I grow them in my containers, inside the compound, the compounds so 139 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:56,480 the deer don't eat them. Yes, the links that will go to but 140 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:01,639 you know we're talking about a kind of composing your container, and I actually 141 00:10:01,639 --> 00:10:03,840 compose my containers right in the garden center when I'm shopping, kind of on 142 00:10:03,879 --> 00:10:07,960 the cart saying Okay, you know, how are these going to look together. 143 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,159 I don't just buy a whole bunch of plants and then go home and 144 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,279 figure it out. So I'm kind of working through it in my mind as 145 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,799 I'm shopping. I love that And if you need some help with that as 146 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:22,080 we go to break here, I want to recommend that Proven Winners is into 147 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,120 recipes. We call them recipes, and if you're looking for ideas, you 148 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,200 can go to proven Winners dot com and all you have to do is search 149 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:35,320 container garden recipes, container garden recipes and you'll get a lot of ideas. 150 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:41,120 You sure will coming up. Plants on Trial. That's next. Stacy's gonna 151 00:10:41,159 --> 00:10:45,000 give us a good swift kicking the plants. Plants on trial here on the 152 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:54,799 Gardening Simplified Show. The Gardening Simplified Podcast is brought to you by Proven Winners 153 00:10:54,799 --> 00:11:00,440 Color Choice Shrubs with over three hundred flowering shrubs and evergreens, all trialed and 154 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:05,039 tested for your success. There's one for every taste in every space. See 155 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,639 them all at Proven Winners color Choice dot Com. Greetings gardening friends, and 156 00:11:09,759 --> 00:11:13,879 welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show. This is Stacey Harrella. I'm here 157 00:11:13,919 --> 00:11:18,519 with Rick and this is normally the time of the show where we put a 158 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,120 plant on trial talk about one of the three hundred plus proven when there's Color 159 00:11:22,159 --> 00:11:24,679 Choice shrubs, and you decide if you want to add it to your garden. 160 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,279 But in the theme of today's show of container gardening, I wanted to 161 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:33,799 kind of shift the segment a little bit and talk about growing shrubs and containers 162 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:39,279 because we get so many questions about whether people can grow shrubs and containers, 163 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:41,919 How do they do this, what soil do they use? So so many 164 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:45,879 questions, And you know, I would like to think that's because we have 165 00:11:45,919 --> 00:11:50,120 so many wonderful choices with Improven Winners Color Choice shrubs. People say, WHOA, 166 00:11:50,159 --> 00:11:52,639 I don't have any more ruined my garden or I'm not you know, 167 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,840 I'm not making a new bed, but I really really want this cool new 168 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,039 shrub that you've got, So how about a container? And so I think 169 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:03,120 it's really good to kind of give our listeners sort of a base understanding of 170 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,000 what it takes to grow shrub and container so they can do it at home. 171 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,200 I think it's a great, great idea, Stacey. And I think 172 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:13,000 part of the reason folks want to do this is because they see it in 173 00:12:13,159 --> 00:12:18,159 public places or out in front of a hotel, and they want to do 174 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,240 that at home. Yeah, and it is very simple. And you know, 175 00:12:20,279 --> 00:12:24,759 I think the number one question that we get is can I grow X 176 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:26,960 in a container? You know, whatever plant they've encountered that's with it, 177 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,080 you know, or shrub rather, because we are focusing specifically on shrubs here, 178 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,559 can I grow in a container? And the answer to that is that 179 00:12:33,639 --> 00:12:39,039 pretty much, you can grow any shrub in a container. In theory, 180 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,159 I'm going to give you a couple of caveats to that, but you know, 181 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,840 my response when people are surprised by that is to think of bones. 182 00:12:45,879 --> 00:12:50,159 Eye plants and boneside are trees, you know, real trees that would grow 183 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:54,559 to you know, very very tall, one hundred or more feet tall if 184 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:58,480 left to their own devices and unlimited soil in space. But once you take 185 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:03,720 that tree and you force it to grow in this very very tiny container, 186 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:07,639 and you're pruning it and trimming the roots, and you know, really restricting 187 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:13,919 its space it can grow and stay in scale, and containers naturally have a 188 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:18,159 similar effect on shrubs. Okay, just by keeping it in that confined space, 189 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,840 even something that would get quite tall is generally going to you know, 190 00:13:22,879 --> 00:13:26,960 stay proportional and be a little bit smaller. Now that said, some plants 191 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:31,759 that I don't recommend growing in containers are those that sucker really vigorously. So 192 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:37,639 something like I know we talked about mister mustard Sorberia or ural full spyrhea a 193 00:13:37,639 --> 00:13:41,799 few weeks ago, that would be one that I would not recommend because that 194 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,120 it's it's like have you ever tried to grow mint in a container? Everyone 195 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,639 thinks like, oh, you know mint, it's so rambunctious. I'm going 196 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:50,000 to grow it in a container and that will be great. But mints like 197 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:54,480 mmmmm, I'm not going to be constrained by this container for me, can't 198 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,879 do it. And so it's like almost like with some of these plants, 199 00:13:56,879 --> 00:14:03,600 when you try to change their inherent nature, they're just rebelling certainly teenagers, 200 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,240 I guess, and they won't be they won't they won't have it. So 201 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,840 it wasn't meant to be. I was not meant to be exactly. So 202 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:16,360 Sorberia ita is another one that I wouldn't necessarily recommend in containers. Winterberry, 203 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:22,039 holly, staghorn sumac, and there's so many beautiful saghorn root, so many. 204 00:14:22,039 --> 00:14:24,799 But there are some beautiful staghorn sumac varieties out on the market, but 205 00:14:24,879 --> 00:14:28,279 that will not be happy in a container. And if it's not happy in 206 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,279 a container, then neither are you as a gardener. Well, Stacy. 207 00:14:31,399 --> 00:14:35,519 For me, I struggle with evergreens, and you'll see people in fall or 208 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:41,639 towards Christmas plant evergreens in containers and then by spring you have this brown shell 209 00:14:41,759 --> 00:14:46,559 of what used to be a plant, brown shell of sadness. Sadness. 210 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:52,120 Yes, indeed you do. Oh, you answered your own question when you 211 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,879 are asking that, Because the reason that so many people fail with planting evergreens 212 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,759 is because they do it in fall in winter. And it's not that you 213 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,960 can't grow evergreens in containers. Yes, you absolutely have to, you know, 214 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:07,759 be more careful about watering. But when you plant something like that in 215 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,759 fall in winter, what happens is it doesn't have a chance to get established, 216 00:15:11,399 --> 00:15:16,120 no roots. That soil freezes a lot of times. This is happening 217 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,679 at like restaurants and things like that, so people aren't like really caring for 218 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:24,519 them. If that soil around that container freezes without you know, reasonably good 219 00:15:24,559 --> 00:15:28,399 watering, that is just absolutely going to dry up. Well, I would 220 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:33,759 have to say I've had some success, and what I have done is when 221 00:15:33,759 --> 00:15:37,759 I put the soil in the container, I leave an inch or two from 222 00:15:37,759 --> 00:15:41,240 the top of the pot so that I can mulch. Oh yeah, melch 223 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:45,440 will be hugely yeah, absolutely, And you know, people don't think about 224 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,279 mulching their containers, but it's always a good idea. If you have extra 225 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,159 mulch, just sprinkle it right over the surface of your container around your plants. 226 00:15:52,159 --> 00:15:54,360 It will help so much to keep that moisture in. But along the 227 00:15:54,399 --> 00:16:00,039 lines of evergreens, I would also say, if you're considering evergreens in a 228 00:16:00,039 --> 00:16:04,559 container, you're probably best off with a need a leafed evergreen like a dwarf 229 00:16:04,639 --> 00:16:10,840 pine or or juniper or something like that, rather than a broadly shiver green 230 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:17,039 like a boxwood or chamelia or something like that. Those are going to it's 231 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:18,879 right there in the name. They're broad leaf, so they are going to 232 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,919 lose a lot of water out their leaf surface and that's going to make it 233 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,480 a lot harder for them to deal with this situation in the container of limited 234 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,320 water. Okay, that makes sense. So there's my recommendation on that. 235 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,120 Now, what you can grow some that I know do really well, And 236 00:16:33,159 --> 00:16:36,639 of course what we get the most questions about is hydranges. Hydranges and containers. 237 00:16:36,919 --> 00:16:38,759 We have articles on our website about this, and generally speaking, I 238 00:16:38,759 --> 00:16:44,399 think hydranges do great in containers. I've seen Bobo in containers that looks gorgeous. 239 00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:47,080 Oh, Bobo is a great chose. So Bobo is a dwarf panicle 240 00:16:47,159 --> 00:16:51,559 hydrangea, reaching just about three to five feet tall and wide. So especially 241 00:16:51,559 --> 00:16:56,519 when you're dealing with these more dwarf varieties, they're really really suitable to just 242 00:16:56,559 --> 00:17:00,399 staying in scale, you know, with that can tainer. Let's Dan's hydrangeas. 243 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,480 Now, I mean these are the these are big leaf hydrangeas, the 244 00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:07,039 kinds of the purple or blue full the flowers that everybody and their brother wants 245 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:12,480 to grow and a lot of people can't or haven't had success, but they 246 00:17:12,519 --> 00:17:15,359 can do okay in containers. They are one you might want to move to 247 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,720 a protected spot rather than just leave you know, exposed out in the middle 248 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:23,720 of your yard or something like that. Now, I do want to briefly 249 00:17:23,759 --> 00:17:27,880 address container size when it comes to shrubs, because this is another question that 250 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:33,000 we get a lot and so basically what I recommend is that you match the 251 00:17:33,079 --> 00:17:38,240 container size close to the size of the shrub that you purchase. So if 252 00:17:38,279 --> 00:17:42,759 you buy a one gallon container, that container is about ten inches, so 253 00:17:42,759 --> 00:17:47,559 you're buying the hydrange or the plant in a one gallon that container is about 254 00:17:47,599 --> 00:17:49,799 ten inches in diameter, So you're probably gonna want to go with something that's 255 00:17:49,799 --> 00:17:56,039 about twelve to fourteen inches diameter and approximately as tall. So you don't want 256 00:17:56,079 --> 00:17:59,240 to just have a huge container in a little tiny plant in the middle, 257 00:17:59,319 --> 00:18:02,799 not just from a dedic standpoint, but from a plant health standpoint too, 258 00:18:02,839 --> 00:18:07,400 because that just leaves a lot of soil to sit there and absorb moisture and 259 00:18:07,759 --> 00:18:11,240 you know, allow for root rot because all that wet soil sitting around with 260 00:18:11,319 --> 00:18:14,400 no roots to take it up, but no evaporative forces to take it away. 261 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:18,880 Sure that makes sense. Now, I have tried stacy growing shrubs in 262 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:23,279 containers, but what I've resorted to is pulling them out of the ground in 263 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:29,200 October and planting them directly into the soil next to the container, and then 264 00:18:29,319 --> 00:18:33,920 replanting them again the next spring. You know, I could understand why people 265 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:36,680 don't want to do that. Well. I think it's a great idea. 266 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,400 It's a great solution if you have the space. But not everyone has the 267 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:41,759 ground space. And I think a lot of the people that we hear from 268 00:18:41,839 --> 00:18:45,160 who want to grow shrubs and containers, you know, they have a condo 269 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:49,160 or very small space, you know, not enough room to allow for that. 270 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:53,279 So it is possible now a lot of times when you hear people talking 271 00:18:53,279 --> 00:18:57,000 about growing shrubs and containers, they say, choose a shrub that's chwoo. 272 00:18:57,119 --> 00:19:00,519 Zones hardier than the zone that you live in. So if you live in 273 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,599 zone six like we do, you would only be planting shrubs that are hardy 274 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:10,200 to USCA zone four. That's okay advice. I don't think it's bad advice 275 00:19:10,279 --> 00:19:12,720 at all, but I don't think that it tells the whole story. And 276 00:19:12,759 --> 00:19:17,039 I also think it's very limiting because a lot of times, yeah, that's 277 00:19:17,079 --> 00:19:22,039 that's cutting out five. Then you're basically limited to what potent till practically, 278 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,720 and maybe cornice a couple of other things. Oh, write your tongue. 279 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:32,799 But so it's okay advice, But again it doesn't tell the whole story because 280 00:19:32,839 --> 00:19:34,839 what I have found, and I was a rooftop gardener in New York City 281 00:19:34,839 --> 00:19:38,759 where everything was in containers and conditions. Of course we're very extreme because we're 282 00:19:38,799 --> 00:19:41,599 way up on the top of buildings. But what I've found, more than 283 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:47,160 anything, the key to success is not so much that hardiness, but its 284 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:52,440 ability to withstand periods of wet soil. Because what happens with a container when 285 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,920 you have something in a container through the winter is that when it gets real 286 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,000 cold, that container freezes solid, and so all that soil you know, 287 00:20:00,039 --> 00:20:03,440 matrix, is completely frozen. And then when this temperature starts to get a 288 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:07,480 little bit warmer in late winter and early spring, it starts to thaw, 289 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,920 but of course it's sawing from the outside in, so that deepest central core 290 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:17,400 of the container remains a big frozen ice cube. And then at this point 291 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,920 in the season it's starting to rain. There's still some like wet snow happening, 292 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:22,759 and so all that moisture is going in, but it can't drain out 293 00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:26,759 because the center is still frozen. So really, I think that's the key 294 00:20:26,799 --> 00:20:32,480 to success. Almost more so, or indeed more so than hardiness, is 295 00:20:32,519 --> 00:20:36,839 that ability to withstand that. So I think that's an important consideration for people. 296 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,279 It's one reason why I think butterfly bush are not necessarily the best for 297 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,680 containers unless you can put them sort of under an overhang or something like that 298 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,960 to prevent that rainfall that you can't control from riding the roots. Of course, 299 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,920 you still then need to monitor the moisture, you know, by hand, 300 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,400 going out there and checking it. But I think that that really is 301 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,480 what I have seen. Kill plants more than cold. Plants are just like 302 00:21:02,599 --> 00:21:04,640 people, and with people, you know what you think about a March day 303 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:08,200 or whatever, and it's cold and wet. There's nothing worse than having wet 304 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,079 feet. Oh don't you hate that? It's just and you know, my 305 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:15,680 mom would send me to school with bread bags in my boots just to avoid 306 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,720 that. Yeah, that wet feet is no fun at any time of the 307 00:21:18,759 --> 00:21:23,000 year, but especially in March. So we could go on and on about 308 00:21:23,039 --> 00:21:26,160 growing shrubs and containers, and we would love to, but we're out of 309 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:30,119 time for the moment, So I'm going to put everything that you need to 310 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,559 know in our show noteech Gardening Simplified on air dot com all link you to 311 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:38,079 some additional articles that we have and you'll see some pictures of shrubs and containers 312 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,200 because we're going to take a break and then we've got gardening questions and it 313 00:21:41,279 --> 00:21:52,599 is garden question go time, so please stay tuned. Thanks for listening to 314 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:57,000 the Gardening Simplified Podcast sponsored by Proven Winners Color Choice Shrubs. Learn more about 315 00:21:57,039 --> 00:22:03,559 our trial tested and proven flowering shrubs and evergreens and find a local retailer at 316 00:22:03,599 --> 00:22:10,680 Proven Winners color Choice dot com. Greetings gardening friends, and welcome back to 317 00:22:10,759 --> 00:22:14,759 the Gardening It's Simplified Show. One of the ways that we try to simplify 318 00:22:14,839 --> 00:22:18,079 gardening for you here on The Gardening Simplified Show is that we answer your garden 319 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,759 questions, because, of course, one of the most confusing things about gardening 320 00:22:21,799 --> 00:22:23,480 if you're getting started, or you know, even if you've been doing it 321 00:22:23,519 --> 00:22:26,720 for years, plants can do weird things. You can find yourself in new 322 00:22:26,759 --> 00:22:30,799 situations that you don't know how to resolve. And Rick and I have seen 323 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,440 a lot and we can put our heads together and try to help you. 324 00:22:33,519 --> 00:22:37,279 So they're all the time, you know. I say that I've been a 325 00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:42,680 professional horticulturist for some twenty plus years now, and I swear plants get weirder 326 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,319 to me every years. Where am I? How did I get here? 327 00:22:47,559 --> 00:22:52,039 And that's a wonderful thing because they never stop being fascinating and wonderful and it 328 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,839 never Gardening is just a lifelong pursuit. So if you have the garden question 329 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,400 for us, you can write us at help HLP at Gardeningslified OnAir dot com, 330 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,839 or just go to Gardening Simplified on air dot com and click the contact 331 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,039 form. You can write it's a letter. You can even you can write 332 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,759 us an email, I guess not a letter. You can even attach a 333 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,720 photo a photo, which is very helpful in many cases because some people have 334 00:23:12,799 --> 00:23:17,319 very specific questions. So don't hesitate to reach out. And Rick is going 335 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,160 to see what's in the mail bag this week. Well, let's dip in 336 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,440 here and take a look. Deb has a question for the Canna King That 337 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:29,599 would be me. Canna conundrum. I like that I bought a pot of 338 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,319 Canna's last fall, placed it in a dark room, but it wasn't cold 339 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:37,440 enough, and they started to grow again in December. It's now April and 340 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,759 it's blooming. My question is do canna rhizomes need a downtime or can they 341 00:23:41,839 --> 00:23:48,160 just keep on growing? That's a great question, and I would mention that 342 00:23:48,279 --> 00:23:53,359 I dig mine up in fall and put them away. And the reason I 343 00:23:53,440 --> 00:24:00,720 do that is basically that rhizome is a storage vessel, and in fall, 344 00:24:00,759 --> 00:24:06,720 as the days start to get shorter, I wait to cut back the cannas 345 00:24:06,839 --> 00:24:11,960 and dig them up because, just like with other plants, you're translocating nutrients, 346 00:24:12,599 --> 00:24:17,559 food into that rhizome or that root, and you want to give it 347 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,480 plenty of time to do that. So do I feel that they need a 348 00:24:21,559 --> 00:24:26,519 resting period? Yeah? Could you grow a canna similar to how you would 349 00:24:26,559 --> 00:24:30,039 grow a houseplant indoors? Sure you could, but it's not going to be 350 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:34,519 as robust, in my opinion, as it is if you were to follow 351 00:24:34,559 --> 00:24:38,680 that cycle of digging them up in November, putting them into storage, and 352 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,480 then replanted. You know it's yeah, it's Cannas are are funny because if 353 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:47,920 you go to a warm climate, say like USCA Zone nine or warmer, 354 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,279 cannas are pretty much a year round plants like a house plot. If they 355 00:24:51,319 --> 00:24:53,640 get a little frost, it will knock them back, They'll take a little 356 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,319 rest, and then they'll come back up once, you know, the days 357 00:24:56,359 --> 00:25:00,960 are longer and the temperatures are warmer. So it's kind of like they can 358 00:25:00,079 --> 00:25:03,799 go dormant if they need to, but they don't strictly have to. Now, 359 00:25:03,799 --> 00:25:07,640 I don't know exactly what's going to happen with your cannas, but I 360 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:11,599 think they will be fine. I would definitely go ahead and plant them in 361 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,000 a container, water them. They might benefit from a little bit of extra 362 00:25:15,039 --> 00:25:21,200 fertilizer since they have been expending a lot of energy from that storage rhizome blooming 363 00:25:21,279 --> 00:25:26,039 in your basement with hopefully someone to enjoy them. But I think they'll be 364 00:25:26,039 --> 00:25:27,559 fine, And I would say, by all means, plant them outside in 365 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:32,359 some good rich potting mix. Fertilize them, you know, every two weeks 366 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:36,039 or so, and I think by this summer you won't even know in the 367 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,720 next fall, go ahead and let a frost knock them back, It's what 368 00:25:38,799 --> 00:25:41,079 a lot of people do. Or just cut them back, wait until like 369 00:25:41,599 --> 00:25:45,440 mid to late October, and then they should be fine. Yeah, I 370 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,440 agree. I think you're going to be fine. Deb And right now, 371 00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:52,000 now that you're at this point, one thing you could consider doing, and 372 00:25:52,079 --> 00:25:55,519 I know it'll you know it'll hurt, but take a pruning shears and just 373 00:25:55,559 --> 00:26:00,319 clip those few blooms off right now, get it outside, and let's get 374 00:26:00,319 --> 00:26:03,519 that plant off to the races right, which will say the plant the energy 375 00:26:03,559 --> 00:26:07,400 it would otherwise put into developing seed, which you don't want anyway. Terry's 376 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,720 asking us, what is the range of temps appropriate for planting grass seed? 377 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:18,519 Here in West Michigan. Soil temperatures of fifty five to sixty degrees is and 378 00:26:18,559 --> 00:26:25,440 that's usually when we see the four scythias in bloom. That really sort of 379 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,160 prompts a lot of garden activity when those for scythia are in bloom. You 380 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,160 know, I think I don't know a whole whole lot about grass, but 381 00:26:32,319 --> 00:26:34,519 what I do know is that it is also a variety specific. So if 382 00:26:34,559 --> 00:26:38,119 you've decided to, I know, my husband and I brought I forget which 383 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,640 type it was. We bought a very drought tolerant grass because our yard is 384 00:26:41,759 --> 00:26:45,920 so sandy and sunny, and it recommended a fall planting instead of a spring 385 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,960 one. So whatever grass seed you're buying, it should come with instructions. 386 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:55,759 But overall, you know grass seeds, as any gardener who's had to contend 387 00:26:55,799 --> 00:26:59,079 with it in their beds can tell you, it's kind of hard to get 388 00:26:59,079 --> 00:27:04,079 it from not growing. So there is an old adage grass grows best where 389 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:08,200 you wish it wouldn't. Yes, I have certainly found that that's the truth 390 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:12,119 and the cracks of your driveway and your planting beds. But it's all about 391 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,880 soil temperatures. So in spring, when we get to fifty five sixty degrees, 392 00:27:17,519 --> 00:27:21,720 that's when you're going to That's when you're going to plant grass seed. 393 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:26,759 And I agree with Stacy. The optimum time in the Northern States to establish 394 00:27:26,759 --> 00:27:30,799 a lawn and plant grass seed, in my opinion is August September, when 395 00:27:30,799 --> 00:27:34,599 the soil's nice and warm, but the temperatures are going to start cooling down 396 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:41,319 we get regular rainfall, that's a great time to establish seed. Not everybody 397 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:45,119 carries a soil thermometer around in their vehicle like I do, or multiple or 398 00:27:45,319 --> 00:27:52,519 multiple Steve's writing to us thanks for the great shows. I have two questions. 399 00:27:52,039 --> 00:27:56,240 Is it helpful to apply corn gluten to the lawn for weed control, 400 00:27:56,599 --> 00:28:00,480 and if so, when is the best time to apply. I am building 401 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:07,759 a wicking, not wicked, a wicking raised bed garden for my vegetables. 402 00:28:07,079 --> 00:28:11,559 Do you have any advice or experience with these? The corn gluten, of 403 00:28:11,599 --> 00:28:17,640 course, is great for suppressing weed seed. It's not going to kill weeds. 404 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,039 But what it's going to do is suppress weed seed. And what time 405 00:28:21,079 --> 00:28:23,640 of the year is that a problem for us in our lawns well spring, 406 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:30,400 think crabgrass, and then again in fall with winter annuals. So I recommend 407 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,279 if you want to take the corn gluten approach, and I believe it's a 408 00:28:33,319 --> 00:28:38,599 great choice because it's also a natural nitrogen source, go ahead and put it 409 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:42,960 down. And my recommendation would be to be using it in spring and fall. 410 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:45,960 Well, you know, I have a joke as I'm walking through my 411 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:48,920 garden in the summer, if it wasn't for crabgrass, I wouldn't have no 412 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:52,160 grass at all. So if I were to ever become a blue singer, 413 00:28:52,319 --> 00:28:59,319 that would be my first You're gonna climb the country charts here with that song. 414 00:29:00,039 --> 00:29:04,200 Oh but as for his question about the wicking garden bed, so I 415 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:07,640 had not heard of this, but I looked it up when I saw this 416 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:12,519 question, and basically, it's like taking it's like making a raised bed into 417 00:29:12,519 --> 00:29:15,720 a self watering container. So you have like your PVC pipe, you build 418 00:29:15,759 --> 00:29:19,359 it over a reservoir of some type. You've got your PVC pipe so you 419 00:29:19,359 --> 00:29:22,640 can you know, get the water down in there. And so basically this 420 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,640 is a raised bed that's built over that. And people are familiar I think 421 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:30,720 with self watering containers. They've become more and more popular over the coming years 422 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,200 and or the most recent years, and I think I think it's a great 423 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,599 idea. I think it's very interesting. I saw a lot of pictures of 424 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:41,119 this online, and it's nice because you don't see the reservoir or just like 425 00:29:41,119 --> 00:29:45,319 with a self watering container, you're not like, well, there's a self 426 00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:48,599 watering container. You know, it's all hidden within. And I would say 427 00:29:48,759 --> 00:29:52,240 there's two things, sort of two caveats that I give to people when they're 428 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:57,359 talking about self watering containers. Number one, and a lot of instructions don't 429 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:03,119 actually factor this in or tell you. But until the plants are rooted in, 430 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:08,400 the self watering effect is meaningless. It doesn't happen until there's root growth 431 00:30:08,839 --> 00:30:14,759 deeper down into the soil because the roots need to take up the water. 432 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:19,279 So you need to actually water manually for probably the first four to six weeks 433 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:22,960 after planting, whether that is a wicking bed or a self watering container. 434 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:27,440 And that's particularly true if you're growing from seed, because you know the seed 435 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:32,119 is just that little tiny seed with no roots, that water is not going 436 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:36,079 to get all the way up to the surface of the wicking bed to actually 437 00:30:36,079 --> 00:30:38,920 get that seed to imbibe the water. It needs to go on and germinate, 438 00:30:40,039 --> 00:30:41,960 So that means you're going to be hand watering, and you have to 439 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:48,119 be very careful about that because of course, any self watering container is contained 440 00:30:48,559 --> 00:30:52,440 and you can it's easy to overwater, so you could end up, you 441 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:53,759 know, flooding it out, so you have to be very careful about that. 442 00:30:53,839 --> 00:31:00,680 Well, we're all looking for set it and forget it solutions with lots 443 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,599 of things. Right, and set it and forget it can often get you 444 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:08,119 into a lot of trouble. He can and along those lines, and I've 445 00:31:08,119 --> 00:31:12,359 heard a couple of horror stories before someone says, oh, you know what, 446 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:17,240 I'm going on vacation I'm going to ask my neighbor to water my plants. 447 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:21,000 I said, oh, don't worry, they're self watering containers. Watering 448 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,559 a self watering container is not equally obvious to everybody, nor is it equally 449 00:31:25,559 --> 00:31:30,079 obvious from container to container. Sometimes it's really not clear where you actually put 450 00:31:30,119 --> 00:31:33,759 the water in. So if you're relying on someone else to help you refill 451 00:31:33,799 --> 00:31:37,799 those reservoirs and keep your plants growing well, make sure you give them a 452 00:31:37,839 --> 00:31:42,799 little tutorial before you just hand over the keys to the garden. That's why 453 00:31:44,759 --> 00:31:48,640 I just wet my plants, because this just continues. People struggle with watering 454 00:31:48,799 --> 00:31:52,839 and pruning. Yeah, watering and pruning well. Watering is definitely the one 455 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,359 people say, I would like to know exactly how much water and went, 456 00:31:56,559 --> 00:32:00,440 and we can't know. And if I were to say them, and I've 457 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:04,160 experienced that in the garden center, if I said, okay, well, 458 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:08,200 hold the watering can face east, elevate your left leg into the air, 459 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:14,240 and poor progressively, they would follow the because they're writing it and how often 460 00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:16,839 once a week? Okay? And it doesn't work that way. We just 461 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:22,000 don't have a set it or forget it solution and you know. If that's 462 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,079 why we say gardening is both an art and a science, you got it. 463 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:28,119 So if we can help you with the art or science part, don't 464 00:32:28,119 --> 00:32:30,839 hesitate to reach out at help at Gardening Simplified OnAir dot com or just visit 465 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:35,799 the website Gardening Simplified on air dot com for the show notes and to ask 466 00:32:36,079 --> 00:32:37,319 your questions. We're going to take a little break, but when we come 467 00:32:37,359 --> 00:32:42,519 back, guess what, the Birdman is back all right, so please stay 468 00:32:42,519 --> 00:32:52,519 tuned at proven Winner's Color Choice Shrubs. We love plants. That's why we 469 00:32:52,559 --> 00:32:55,839 bring you the Gardening Simplified Podcast, and that's why we trial and test all 470 00:32:55,880 --> 00:33:00,599 of our shrubs to make sure they outperform everything else on the market. Let 471 00:33:00,599 --> 00:33:04,920 our expertise help you create the gardener landscape of your dreams. Get started at 472 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:10,119 proven Winner's Color Choice dot com. Welcome back to the Gardening Simplified Show. 473 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:15,599 It's time for branching news, not breaking news, and this week back by 474 00:33:15,839 --> 00:33:22,319 popular demand, or as an arborist would say, by popular demand the Birdman. 475 00:33:22,519 --> 00:33:27,759 He's going to swoop in to tweet us with some more bird talk and 476 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:31,799 Birdman thanks again for joining us here on the Gardening Simplified show, always a 477 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:37,200 pleasure. Rick thinks you bet you yeah. And speaking of lively, CNN 478 00:33:38,119 --> 00:33:43,880 did a story this past week which was fabulous. Parrots learning to call each 479 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:49,519 other on video chat. They're using like an iPad or a phone, and 480 00:33:49,599 --> 00:33:52,319 they're called, they select who they want to call, and then they just 481 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:58,480 have this conversation and they kind of just have some fun together. It's amazing. 482 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:01,240 Does the other bird answer? Yes, they do, even if they 483 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:09,840 don't feel like talking. YEA two can play that game. The bill is 484 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:14,360 in the mail. That's right. Polly wants more than a cracker. I 485 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,280 can tell you that they want a FaceTime together. So anyhow, we'll put 486 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:22,559 that link on our website, Gardening Simplified OnAir dot com. So birdman, 487 00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:27,800 give us an update on the loons on the lake. How they're doing. 488 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:32,079 Our loons are just in the perfect spot. They're sitting on their raft. 489 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,599 She went on her nest on the twenty fifth. I watched her a couple 490 00:34:37,639 --> 00:34:40,280 of days ago and she was rolling an egg over in the nest. I 491 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:44,679 can look right out in my window and in my spotting spoke and watch her. 492 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:50,800 And she'll be on the nest for about twenty eight days and then off 493 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:57,599 will come another one or two little loons. By the way, since nineteen 494 00:34:58,119 --> 00:35:06,000 ninety two, Uh, we've had um twenty eight chicks. Oh wow, 495 00:35:06,679 --> 00:35:13,320 awesome on our on our lake that's in plugon and you know so uh loon. 496 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,599 Uh. Their their life expectancy is twenty eight to thirty five years. 497 00:35:16,599 --> 00:35:22,679 So they can replace themselves quite a few times. That's amazing. And yeah, 498 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:25,440 but they're losing a habitat, so we have to be very careful with 499 00:35:25,519 --> 00:35:29,159 them and watch them closely and be aware of them. Yeah. I was 500 00:35:29,199 --> 00:35:34,039 watching a special on the Smithsonian Channel about the Great Lakes and the importance of 501 00:35:34,079 --> 00:35:38,400 the loons. What what an amazing bird and uh yeah, the work that's 502 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:45,239 being done to to preserve the loons is a very important work. Let's talk 503 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:50,639 a minute about goldfinches. I love seeing goldfinches at my bird feeder, and 504 00:35:51,079 --> 00:35:54,000 it never ceases to amaze me birdman, how they how they can kind of 505 00:35:54,079 --> 00:36:00,159 change color, and they're almost like the flowers they bloom in spring, at 506 00:36:00,199 --> 00:36:04,960 least it feels that way. Well, they really do. Their feathers change. 507 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:08,599 The males in particular, they're kind of gray and gray grays or yellow 508 00:36:08,679 --> 00:36:14,559 and during the during the winter in their little flock and their little nomadic flock, 509 00:36:14,599 --> 00:36:16,719 and they come into your feeder. But now they come in and they've 510 00:36:16,880 --> 00:36:22,199 changed to a bright yellow and black and uh, and they're chattering a lot 511 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:28,480 more. They're up there in the trees just make a noise, but they 512 00:36:28,519 --> 00:36:32,960 don't. They don't nest until the late summer. Oh really, I didn't 513 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:38,679 realize that I have sorry, go ahead. Uh. They wait until the 514 00:36:39,159 --> 00:36:45,639 thistles ye are ripe, and then they use to thistle down for their nests. 515 00:36:46,119 --> 00:36:50,960 Yeah, you're right. Uh, in August, for example, when 516 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:57,639 the globe thistle have finished blooming, I will see globe thistle covered in goldfinches. 517 00:36:57,679 --> 00:37:00,920 So yeah, that's pretty cool and gathering bedding. I've seen their nests 518 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:06,960 before and they are just like the softest, comfious, little fluffy nest um. 519 00:37:07,159 --> 00:37:09,559 So how late in the season and their young still have enough time to 520 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:15,880 mature before conditions get really harsh. They do, it's usually audus and then 521 00:37:16,159 --> 00:37:21,199 um. But when you start to see if you're familiar with what the little 522 00:37:21,199 --> 00:37:24,400 ones look like when they fly and when they speak, they don't speak the 523 00:37:24,559 --> 00:37:29,920 radular chatter like a goldfinch does. It's a different kind of a sound. 524 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:34,840 That means that fall is on its way. Oh. Interesting, that's about 525 00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:37,840 the time they least start to begin to turn. It's about when they're when 526 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:44,199 they're just totally fledged and ready to ready to meet the winter. Now, 527 00:37:44,239 --> 00:37:51,000 are there other birds that also nest that late in the season. I don't 528 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:55,360 know of that. You could get a third nesting of blue birds that would 529 00:37:55,360 --> 00:38:01,239 be fairly late. Interesting, that happens pretty regularly because bluebird's uh nest two 530 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:05,559 or three times. And that's that's really one reason that they were coming back 531 00:38:05,599 --> 00:38:09,559 so nicely. Well, and it's uh, it's another good reason. If 532 00:38:09,599 --> 00:38:15,440 you have some wild growth around your property and you have some globe thistle growing, 533 00:38:15,559 --> 00:38:21,480 maybe just let it grow and let the finches enjoy it. So birdman, 534 00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:25,239 uh, I had to throw on our list today killed ears and I 535 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:30,719 had to throw killed deers on the list because Adriana just loves killed ears. 536 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:37,280 And what a what a fascinating bird. It's it's a plover uh. And 537 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:42,280 so I guess one of the one of the fascinations with the bird is how 538 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:46,960 it lays its eggs and goes about doing that. They are right, absolutely 539 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:51,840 fascinating and you don't even know that you're coming on them when you're in their 540 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:57,440 nesting territory because it's usually just a field or a rocky spot or an open 541 00:38:57,679 --> 00:39:01,039 open place. If you grab, we're and their eggs are down in between, 542 00:39:01,079 --> 00:39:06,920 looking that's at and you'll flush them off the nest and then they'll they'll 543 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:09,719 look like they're wounded. They'll drag you away from where that nest is by 544 00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:15,880 flopping along and flapping their wings and calling and limping and they're drave, you 545 00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:22,599 crazy son. But if you move away from that and watch, they'll come 546 00:39:22,639 --> 00:39:27,119 back to where the nest is. But to figure out where that is is 547 00:39:27,199 --> 00:39:30,480 really tough because they those little speckled eggs really look like rocks. Yeah, 548 00:39:30,519 --> 00:39:37,199 they're so camouflaged. And you know, being in horticulture, Um here at 549 00:39:37,199 --> 00:39:39,599 our nursery, we get a ton of killed ears because we do have so 550 00:39:39,639 --> 00:39:44,599 many gravel spaces. And when I lived in New York, a friend of 551 00:39:44,639 --> 00:39:47,800 mine owned nursery upstate and they had similar you know, all the surfaces were 552 00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:52,400 gravel, and they also had a little long haired jack Russell terrier and she 553 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:59,239 would fall for the killed ears act every single time. Remember, year after 554 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:02,119 year after that, that killed deer would walk away with its fake broken wing, 555 00:40:02,159 --> 00:40:07,039 and she would just be following it and following it, and it was 556 00:40:07,159 --> 00:40:10,559 it was so fun to watch the two of them together. Um. But 557 00:40:10,639 --> 00:40:14,480 you know, I've seen killed deer really in any gravelly spot. And I 558 00:40:14,559 --> 00:40:19,559 do see them a lot here in Grand Haven along the edges of our bayous 559 00:40:19,559 --> 00:40:22,320 and swamps, so kind of when they recede, when they get a little 560 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:25,039 bit drier. I see them all the time, just running all around. 561 00:40:25,079 --> 00:40:29,960 That is that common to see them in those wetter areas. Well. Just 562 00:40:30,039 --> 00:40:32,639 think about you've got a little gravelly spot. What a perfect place to hide 563 00:40:32,679 --> 00:40:37,760 your nest in both pebbles. Yeah, yeah, have you ever seen have 564 00:40:37,840 --> 00:40:43,400 you ever seen the babies? Yes, they are so cute. It's like 565 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:47,679 a ping pong ball and still a little ping pong ball. You just waddle 566 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:52,119 around and chase and but there they've got to be three feet or three inches 567 00:40:52,159 --> 00:40:55,039 tall. It looks like there's three feet tall, but three inches tall on 568 00:40:55,079 --> 00:41:00,519 this little round spot on the top. Chase and mom, Yeah, that's 569 00:41:00,559 --> 00:41:05,360 great. They're fascinating. I love plovers. And of course, here along 570 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:10,239 the shoreline of Lake Michigan, piping plovers very important. A lot of important 571 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:16,800 work being done trying to preserve that bird. And again they're they're pension for 572 00:41:17,559 --> 00:41:22,400 laying those eggs and camouflaging them on the ground, and of course that's uh 573 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:30,119 predators, foot traffic going to become a problem. But they are continuing to 574 00:41:30,119 --> 00:41:37,000 survive and multiply, so they're and they're protecting those areas rick uh to keep 575 00:41:37,039 --> 00:41:42,719 some people out at least, and they're they're increasingly population. It was it 576 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:45,800 was nip and tuck there for a while whether they were going to have fighting, 577 00:41:46,039 --> 00:41:49,519 but it looks like they've saved them. But we have to keep watching 578 00:41:49,559 --> 00:41:53,199 them. Okay, birdman, hummingbirds. Everybody's ready to have you put out 579 00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:59,480 your hummingbird feeder. Yet I did put out my hummingbird feeders because last year 580 00:41:59,559 --> 00:42:05,840 I saw my first one on April twenty fifth, and foos counting, and 581 00:42:06,039 --> 00:42:07,960 I have not seen any this year, but even though and it's been very 582 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:12,840 cold, so I don't think that's terribly surprising. But my fear, of 583 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:15,800 course, is that if they are coming back, they're going to need energy 584 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:19,519 more than ever because it has been so cold and so gray and so gloomy, 585 00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:24,000 so obviously they've been working their way up from the south birdman here in 586 00:42:24,039 --> 00:42:28,000 the north. Is it a good idea to put out the feeders now? 587 00:42:29,159 --> 00:42:35,519 It's a particularly good idea because it's cool and your nectar is not likely to 588 00:42:35,559 --> 00:42:40,480 spoil particularly quickly. But I do have two reports of orioles being seen in 589 00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:45,079 this last week. And when the orioles show up, so to the hummingbirds. 590 00:42:45,079 --> 00:42:47,199 So they're gonna they're here, or they're about to be here, just 591 00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:53,239 it's momentarily and to have your you have your oranges out for the orioles, 592 00:42:53,360 --> 00:43:00,639 and get the hummingbird feeders out for the hummingbirds. And the also spot the 593 00:43:00,719 --> 00:43:05,280 hummingbird feeders too, so you're about to see a party of colors. I 594 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,920 can't wait. You know. My neighbor put out oranges for the orioles because 595 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:13,960 she always gets them. But the housefinches are doing a number on her oranges 596 00:43:15,320 --> 00:43:21,440 in the meantime, so they are the worst, you know. But I'm 597 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:23,920 worried the oriole is going to come back and be quite indignant when it finds 598 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:30,039 that orange to be completely picked out for well, they know how to compete, 599 00:43:30,039 --> 00:43:32,119 you know. And maybe there'll be another orange one day. No it's 600 00:43:32,119 --> 00:43:35,280 true, and we have both my neighbor and I put out a lot of 601 00:43:35,320 --> 00:43:38,920 hummingbird feeders. So between the two of us and all the flowers and coverage 602 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:43,679 and everything that we offer, I hope that we make a pretty nice welcome 603 00:43:43,679 --> 00:43:45,280 spot for them when they get back to Michigan. Even if it does turn 604 00:43:45,320 --> 00:43:49,800 out to be as cold and crummy as it was these past couple of weeks, 605 00:43:50,639 --> 00:43:52,440 I think we're going to move right into some nice weather right now. 606 00:43:52,800 --> 00:44:02,000 But putting out brightly colored perennials and annuals and shrub that has good colored flowering 607 00:44:02,519 --> 00:44:07,639 shrubbery, it's just it's good for all of all the animals and birds, 608 00:44:07,679 --> 00:44:13,039 but particularly hummingbirds in the oioles here here, and the shrubbery and trees and 609 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:15,920 other plants also. Birdman are going to provide a little bit of protection for 610 00:44:15,960 --> 00:44:21,039 those robins who are hopping around on our lawns and in our garden beds. 611 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:25,719 They're nesting too, and we'll see those nests if you're observant, right in 612 00:44:25,880 --> 00:44:30,480 the crevices of the branches here. And that's something I always look forward to 613 00:44:30,559 --> 00:44:36,760 in spring. Look in the Forsisia bushes. They love for sisias like last 614 00:44:36,920 --> 00:44:40,480 yes or last week's program. And I'm a lover of forsissia, particularly when 615 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:44,880 they go kind of gangling and wild. Yeah, and their branches touch the 616 00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:47,039 ground and they root again, and you've got more of them, and you 617 00:44:47,119 --> 00:44:52,400 make a hedge out of the things they are. And that type of shrubbery 618 00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:55,440 is perfect for all kinds of nesting birds. Yeah. Birds really love that 619 00:44:55,519 --> 00:45:00,719 sort of uninterrupted wall of you know, brand and leaves and coverage so that 620 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:04,079 they can find a lot of hiding places. And it's great for them with 621 00:45:04,119 --> 00:45:07,280 so many natural predators like feral cats and that kind of thing. Correct, 622 00:45:07,320 --> 00:45:12,599 absolutely, yeah, and cans are a problem, but if they can hide 623 00:45:12,599 --> 00:45:16,679 away and them birds have been quite successful here in southwest Michigan. Right. 624 00:45:16,719 --> 00:45:20,559 Well, you don't have to twist our arms to point to plant more shrubs 625 00:45:20,599 --> 00:45:24,519 and burt and eels and that kind of thing. Well, birdman, thanks 626 00:45:24,519 --> 00:45:29,480 so much for swooping in. We appreciate it. Of course, I have 627 00:45:29,559 --> 00:45:34,880 found through the years that folks who love plants and flowers just naturally gravitate towards 628 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:39,199 birds too. They add to the color and sound of spring. And we 629 00:45:39,320 --> 00:45:45,000 appreciate you very much sharing your your interest in your knowledge of birds. Well, 630 00:45:45,079 --> 00:45:50,159 you're always welcome. I always cheat a little bit. I've got three 631 00:45:50,199 --> 00:45:52,360 books that I use all the time. Like you know, you use Google 632 00:45:52,400 --> 00:46:00,280 and I use Don and William Stokes Nature Guides. Isn't this bird aavier? 633 00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:02,480 I'll tell you everything you need to know is in those books. You've got 634 00:46:02,519 --> 00:46:07,840 your books, We've got our Google and the parrots have face time and they're 635 00:46:07,920 --> 00:46:14,239 having fun. Well, you know, I have started over the past couple 636 00:46:14,239 --> 00:46:16,440 of months using the Merlin bird id app. And I don't know if you're 637 00:46:16,440 --> 00:46:21,519 a big phone user, but that has just been an absolute game changer for 638 00:46:21,599 --> 00:46:24,320 my birding and particularly the sound ide. Have you ever played around with that? 639 00:46:25,639 --> 00:46:30,239 Um, I just haven't had time to fool of the story of the 640 00:46:30,280 --> 00:46:34,920 truth, but I've seen I've had people that I've been with use it and 641 00:46:35,039 --> 00:46:39,079 to help identifying the song and then the song with the color and the habitat. 642 00:46:39,159 --> 00:46:44,920 It just it's a it's a quick learn to to what usually takes me 643 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:46,719 a long time. Yeah, it's been absolutely amazing and I love it. 644 00:46:46,719 --> 00:46:49,880 At first, I was so dubious about it. I thought, Oh, 645 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:52,559 there's no way that it's going to be able to identify these birds. But 646 00:46:52,639 --> 00:46:57,519 not only does it identify the birds, but it will also then highlight which 647 00:46:57,599 --> 00:47:00,920 one that it has, you know, identified, that's singing at that particular 648 00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:05,519 moment. And so you know, when you're talking about the goldfinches and the 649 00:47:05,599 --> 00:47:08,960 juvenile goldfinches having a different sound, I'm very eager. Well, not that 650 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:13,639 I'm rushing summer or anything, but um, when you know that does happen 651 00:47:13,719 --> 00:47:16,519 later the summer, I'm very eager to discover if I can pick out those 652 00:47:16,599 --> 00:47:22,400 juvenile calls versus the adult calls and songs. Um, when those when those 653 00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:23,960 babies are out and about, because I get a ton of goldfinches in my 654 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:29,639 garden. Well, the warblers are in and now is the time to use 655 00:47:29,719 --> 00:47:34,039 that kind of an apparatus because warblers are terrible. Oh yeah, they're notoriously 656 00:47:34,159 --> 00:47:37,440 wrong. And the colors and the things, and that'll be a gold mine 657 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:40,840 for you. Well, that is my plan for this weekend, is birding 658 00:47:40,840 --> 00:47:45,360 with my new binoculars and my Merlin sound ID and along the lines, enjoy 659 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:54,639 bird vernacular. Is that app cheap? Oh Rick, It's free, and 660 00:47:54,760 --> 00:48:00,559 I highly recommend it. Birdman, Thank you very much. Always fun to 661 00:48:00,559 --> 00:48:02,559 talk to you. We'll talk to you again, all right, perfect, 662 00:48:02,559 --> 00:48:07,039 thanks for the call, all right, thank you doing good bye well, 663 00:48:07,119 --> 00:48:09,480 Stacy. That was a tweet. Always fun to talk to the birdman. 664 00:48:09,760 --> 00:48:15,360 And hopefully Adrianna got her fill of killed deer talk. And if she didn't 665 00:48:15,400 --> 00:48:19,360 get her fill of killed your talk, she'll get it when she's seeing the 666 00:48:19,480 --> 00:48:22,760 killed ears in her neighborhood tennis court this season. I love it. Have 667 00:48:22,880 --> 00:48:27,440 yourself a great week, Thanks Stacy, Thanks Adriana, and thanks to you 668 00:48:27,519 --> 00:48:30,159 for watching and listening to The Gardening Simplified Show.