Rob Zimmer

Most frequently asked gardening questions answered

Published by LPulaski on Wed, 01/05/2022 - 12:42pm

Throughout the year in 2021, I received many questions from readers and listeners. Below are some of the most popular questions I received, multiple times, throughout the year. The fact that I received most of these questions multiple times indicates to me that these are things that are very important to gardeners in our area, and topics that touch their hearts. Enjoy my popular questions of the past year.

Perennials should be left alone for winter season

Published by LPulaski on Tue, 12/21/2021 - 8:51pm

There is something magical about the first snowfall of the season. Frosting our grasses and trees with a fresh blanket of gleaming white, the first snowfall seems almost like a dream. Magical landscapes are accented and highlighted by frosty feathers of snow, forming a surreal gardenscape, right at home.

Ideas for the gardener on your Christmas list

Published by admin on Wed, 12/01/2021 - 11:47am

It’s time to start thinking about gift ideas for gardeners and nature lovers on your shopping list this year. Anyone who loves gardening will enjoy a thoughtful, carefully chosen garden or nature themed token of your friendship, love and appreciation. Gardeners take their hobbies seriously and are often passionate, as well, about birds, wildlife, weather and many other related themes.

Need some ideas for the gardener on your Christmas list? Here are some of my suggestions for fun, thoughtful and enjoyable gardening gifts.

Nature still has many shades in November

Published by LPulaski on Tue, 11/16/2021 - 7:22pm

For many people, November is often a forgotten month in the garden. Most of our trees and shrubs now stand bare of leaves, and most of our perennials and annuals are dormant for another season. Yet, November is a beautiful time to take notice of the many different textures and the subtle beauty of the shades of autumn.

A lot to reflect on as gardening season closes

Published by LPulaski on Fri, 10/15/2021 - 12:32pm

With the gardening season beginning to wind down, it’s time to take a look back and reflect on the successes, failures, trials and rewards of the growing season in 2021.

It was a year of weather challenges, from heat to cold, from excessive moisture to excessive drought. We saw it all over the past year. How did the gardening season go for you?

It’s the summer of the hydrangea

Published by admin on Fri, 07/16/2021 - 12:55pm

My favorite flowering shrubs of the summer season are the beautiful, lush hydrangeas that fill our landscapes and gardens with their billowy blooms and elegant form. A must-have for every garden and providing a long bloom season from July all the way through Halloween, hydrangeas come in many forms, colors and sizes. Chances are there’s a hydrangea for every spot in your yard and garden.

Hostas add excellent texture to gardens

Published by admin on Tue, 06/29/2021 - 3:57pm

Growing hostas is a love affair for many gardeners in our area. They are easy to grow, versatile, beautiful, artistic and useful throughout the garden and landscape. Hostas are one of the most drought-tolerant plants available in our area, and they are able to withstand adverse conditions, such as those we have seen this summer. Wet or dry, hot or cold, hostas always thrive.

Invasive species are plants of deceptive beauty

Published by admin on Thu, 06/10/2021 - 12:59pm

In Wisconsin, June is Invasive Species Awareness Month. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources uses the month of June to educate gardeners and property owners on the threat and danger that invasive species pose to native Wisconsin landscapes and ecosystems.

By definition, an invasive species is one that arrived after the first white settlers came to Wisconsin. Many of these plants were brought here for their value as ornamental plants, or as food crops. Others stowed away on ships in the form of seeds, or mixed in with hay and packing material.

Themed herbal gardens can be family fun

Published by admin on Fri, 05/28/2021 - 2:57pm

It’s the perfect time to start planning an edible and useful herb garden at home. With a huge collection of tasty and aromatic herbs to choose from, starting your own herb garden right at home has never been easier.

Growing herbs is easy, and many of the best herbs for cooking and using in other methods are very versatile, requiring only bright light and relatively dry conditions to thrive. You can grow herbs right in the garden, as well as in containers on the porch, patio or throughout the landscape.

Spring has arrived in all of its glory

Published by admin on Tue, 05/18/2021 - 3:07pm

Although we’ve had several late frosts over the past few weeks, the glory of spring continues to unfold and grace our gardens and landscapes with bursts of vibrant color. The promise of another beautiful gardening season is upon us. We relish, as gardeners, these glorious days of May.