Providing the proper amount of water to your plants is both a science and an art. Often times, nature does not provide enough moisture for our plants, and the invention of irrigation systems helped us to fill the void. Unfortunately, these systems are often not set up properly and can cause more damage than good.Continue reading “The Science and Art of Watering”
Author Archives: Barking Dog Gardens
Are Black And White Gardens Actually Colorful?
I had a couple of people reach out to ask what the ‘Black’ flower was in my last newsletter. I had to go back and dig up the list, but it is a ‘Dark and Handsome’ cultivar of Hellebore. It made me think about all the great ‘Black’ colors in the garden, and I decided toContinue reading “Are Black And White Gardens Actually Colorful?”
Native vs Non-Native vs Invasive vs Aggressive Plants
There is a lot of discussion and interest around native plants right now. I am engaged in a conversation with most clients about adding native plants to their garden, which is a great development. If you have been reading my recent posts, I have had an interesting interview and some articles on native plants and the localContinue reading “Native vs Non-Native vs Invasive vs Aggressive Plants”
Importance of Proper Mulching
OK, here we go. Two soapboxes stacked, megaphone fully charged, attitude on, and hyperbole activated! Mulch can be the greatest input for your garden and plants or it can create a desolate wasteland. How’s that for hyperbole? I know that readers of this newsletter span a great range of gardens from small fractions of anContinue reading “Importance of Proper Mulching”
Popular Native Plants At Van Berkum Nursery
During the late-Winter of 2021, I wrote a piece on Van Berkum Nursery, a wholesale nursery based in southern New Hampshire that propagates a broad range of perennials. Their founder’s DNA, Leslie and Peter Van Berkum, is rooted in native and woodland plants, so I reached out recently to John Gedratis, the current nursery owner, to ask aboutContinue reading “Popular Native Plants At Van Berkum Nursery”
Work in the Spring Garden
Two weeks ago, I taught my ‘Work in the Spring Garden’ class, and thought I would share some of the concepts that I covered as we are preparing to get out into the gardens. Each one of these is a significant topic and I spend a lot of time educating people about these important ideas.Continue reading “Work in the Spring Garden”
Importance Of Having a Quality, Certified Arborist
I spend a lot of time helping client’s understand the importance and value of a high quality, certified Arborist. We have a tendency to ignore or not pay close attention to our larger woody plants and trees. They are always there and appear to reliably leaf out every Spring and change color in the fall.Continue reading “Importance Of Having a Quality, Certified Arborist”
Growing Degree Day Meaning for Plants and Insects
As a follow-up to the previous piece on pollinators and native plants, I thought a brief discussion of Growing Degree Days (GDD) would be interesting. I seem to do this every year or two, but it really helps to reinforce our previous discussion on the relationship between plants and pollinators. Nature provides plants at the right timeContinue reading “Growing Degree Day Meaning for Plants and Insects”
Discussion with Dr Robert Gegear about Pollinators and Healthy, Native Ecosystems
I try to provide information to help people learn and be prepared to make informed decisions. Over a number of recent posts, I have been discussing native plants, pollinators and healthy ecosystems. If any one part of the system is out of balance it can have a significant impact on the system as a whole.Continue reading “Discussion with Dr Robert Gegear about Pollinators and Healthy, Native Ecosystems”
2023 New England Weather Summary from Blue Hill Observatory
I know everyone who reads this isn’t a horticultural geek or numbers nerd like me, but take a few minutes and learn about this incredible resource we have in the Boston area called the Blue Hill Observatory. When I talk about weather, in my in-season newsletters, I am often linking to and using data from BlueContinue reading “2023 New England Weather Summary from Blue Hill Observatory”
Barking Dog Gardens - Gardening in New England 