North Country Gardening

2012-01-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Finally, the long awaited hardiness zone map is out. This is updated from the last one issued in the 90's. Find out what zone you garden in, then purchase perennials, trees, and shrubs accordingly. Or, see if the zone listed appears accurate from your experience gardening and living in that region. They seemed to have gotten right for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where I live.

Some New and Notable Vegies for 2012

2012-01-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

I haven’t let the drop in temps or the heavy snowfall diminish my excitement for the new vegetable offerings in the 2012 catalogs. In fact, the blanket of snow is good news for the perennials I still have sitting in pots by the shed.

So with hot beverage in one hand, pen in the other, I started perusing some of the catalogs piling up on the table: Jung’s, Johnny’s, Pine Tree, HPS, etc.

New this year is Summer Dance Hybrid Cucumber (70 day), one of three long, narrow cukes making a debut this year. The other two is a 60 day one called Southern Delight Hybrid and a 40 day-er, burpless variety, called Summer Top Hybrid. Summer Dance grows to 12 in., is about an inch wide, and has a skin so tender it doesn’t need peeling prior to eating. It is being offered by the J.W. Jung Seed Co.

I stumbled across a northern variety of pumpkin while checking out a catalog that is new to me: Irish Eyes Garden Seeds. The pumpkin variety is called Montana Jack and is touted for being a good variety for northern gardeners. It’s an 8-15 pound Jack-o-Lantern type that requires 95 days to maturity. Best bet: start inside in a peat pot a couple weeks before the last frost date. Place out peat pot and all in well-drained, well amended soil. Then baby the heck out of it until she ripens.

New Ace pepper isn’t exactly new on the market, but it’s new to me. A northern gardener who I just happen to judge vegetables with at a local fair, told me this is the one you want for, reliable, heavy yields here in the north. Start this one in a greenhouse or grow house. One company that offers New Ace is HPS, a company that, incidentally sells larger quantities of seeds at a price you can live with.

I hate to admit it, but I had given up on growing butter nut squash in this short season zone. Several attempts left me with a lot of under ripe butternuts. Then I came upon Canesi Hybrid butternut squash, from Jung’s. This bad boy will plump up in August like a fully-cooked ballpark frank. This variety has excellent flavor. However, it didn’t keep long in my cool crawl space. Perhaps it was too cold and damp for it.

For the enthusiastic gardeners I’ve met living in high rises, public housing, and other dwellings with limited space, there’s a new container tomato in town that should do well for these folks. Terenzo Hybrid, a 2011 All-American Selections winner is a nice compact variety suitable for hanging baskets and containers. Juicy, red cherry fruits average 1-1 ¼ in. across and weigh just under an ounce. They say it’s “trailing but tidy,” a plus for you neat nics. It’s a determinate variety that features “near perfect yields all summer long.” It’s being offered by Burpee’s, and some other seed companies.

Well, that’s it. Just a few newbie’s to whet your whistle. If you haven’t done so already, slow down a minute and peruse the 2012 seed catalogs.

Happy Gardening.

Tips for Making Your 2012 Garden Resolutions

2012-01-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

Everyone has resolutions for the new year. As gardeners we may want to list a few goals for our 2012 gardening and landscaping. This can help make a big job a little more manageable, both in terms of the work that needs to be performed and money that needs to be budgeted. So if you haven't all ready, sit down with your favorite garden books and catalogs, a pen and a calculator and answer these questions:

What do I want to achieve for my flower bed, vegetable garden, lawn, etc?
What equipment or supplies will I need to do the job?
What will it cost?
Where will I get said equipment and supplies?
Can I beg, borrow, or buy cheaply any of these things?
Can I elicit the help of others either for free or at a cost to get the job done?
How much time will each task take?
Have I built in enough time to enjoy the summer as well? There is no sense planting roses if you don't have time to smell them!

I hope this helps and I wish you the best for the upcoming gardening season!

Birds in Our Backyards

2012-01-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

Winter is a great time to be a bird watcher in this area. Watch for snow birds, owls, and eagles. Get the whole scoop when you read January's issue of Connie Thompson's Birds in our Backyard. You can also visit my website for any back issues of her newsletter.

Free ebook: Are you doing more harm than good with your marketing efforts?

2011-12-31T08:44:00.000-08:00

Folks in the green industry seem to be some of the best people to do business with, especially those green businesses that specialize in plants only (not a big box, big profit store). The folks at garden centers and the like will usually help you make the appropriate selection for your garden, and offer you honest advice, including what not to buy for your situation. Unfortunately, not all marketers are so kind. In fact, a "shrewd business man" is usually held in high regard.

Reputable writer and marketing consultant, Marcia Yutkin would argue otherwise. In the ebook you can link to at the bottom, Marcia plants the seed for a sustainable business model that will keep customers happy, is better on the environment, and by golly, will make you more money in the long run. These tips apply to most anyone in the green industry, especially those marketing their products to consumers.

The gist of the article is that we'll do better in the long run financially, and be able to sleep at night, if we market to our customers with honesty and integrity. She gives several examples of shoddy marketing that everyone should be able to relate to. In other words, grow your business the right way and you shall be rewarded. Enjoy the free ebook and Happy New Year!
http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/?af=1342067&u=www.yudkin.com/noharm.htm

Month of the Full Cold Moon

2011-12-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” –Steve Martin

December is the month of the Full Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon, as it is known by some Native Americans. The moon will be full tomorrow, but this morning it looked like a squashed orange, as it sank over the western horizon.

The Christmas lights and full moon will give us a little respite from the long, dark evenings that begin before most folks get home from work and last until after the car leaves again the next day.

The winter solstice on the 22^nd of December will drive home the fact that we’re in the dead of winter, though as of this date there is very little snow here in the Upper Peninsula. It is cold, though, with temps in the teens across the U.P.

The garden is truly devoid of any color now, except the pale green of the Brussels sprouts that stand frozen in the un-tilled portion of my garden. The only color I see when I go out to the garden is the bright red berries on this high bush cranberry shrub that has grown as tall as my tool shed.

On December 23, the days will start getting longer! I hope you brighten up this dark, chilly month with lots of Christmas lights and smiling faces!

White Papers for the Green Industry

2011-12-04T08:02:00.000-08:00

The Why and How of White Papers

If you’ve never included white papers in your marketing plans for your garden or horticulture related business, you could be missing out on profitable leads. White papers are typically written as a business-to-business marketing plan. However, they are also written for the inquisitive consumer, especially those not wooed by gimmicky advertisements.

White papers are a way of informing a potential customer of the virtues of what you have to offer, only in a subtle way. Here are ten tips and strategies for writing and marketing effective, lead-generating white papers.

First things first. Don’t call it a white paper. Most consumers won’t have a clue what a white paper is anyway. Instead, give it a title that describes what it is about, using the fewest words possible. For example: How to Choose the Best Investment Firm.

A white paper should range from 5-12 pages. Too few pages won’t offer enough information and too many pages, well, who wants to wade through page after page after the point has been made? Bottom line: make your point in how ever many pages it takes to do so.

The purpose is to educate, not to sell. Don’t mention your company, at least not until the very end.

Offer up the problem, then the solution. For example, “many investment firms fall flat on providing good returns over the long run, leaving you short on savings for retirement.” Your solution: “invest with a company with a proven track record.” Then go on about what to look for in a company to ensure they have a good track record for return on investment. Hopefully, your company has a good track record for investment returns!

Focus on benefits, not features. To say that your company has the best returns in the business is a feature. This is fine and should be mentioned somewhere in the white paper. However, what the client is concerned with is the benefit to them, which is “will I have enough money in my portfolio to afford a comfortable retirement?”

Interview staff who have contributed to bringing your product to market. Turn their technical jargon into something readable by the buying public (if marketing to the general public).

Offer it as a free download to capture names, email addresses, and yes, potential clients.

If offering it in exchange for an email registration, give away the first couple of pages to entice them into wanting to read the rest of it and thus offering up their email address.

Include quotes from people who have responded positively to your white paper or report. The white paper may never get read if others haven’t responded favorably.

Have your white papers edited by a good writer/editor. It is imperative that these white papers are written well, very well. Regardless of whom you have write the white paper, even if it is your best in-house writer, always have someone else edit the thing to prevent any glaring errors in thought or grammar. The alternative is to hire a freelance copywriter. A copywriter worth their salt will have an independent editor go over their work before it is posted to a website.

Reference: Michael A. Stelzner: Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.

Neil Moran is a copywriter for Haylake Business Communications.

Birds in Our Backyards

2011-12-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

Local bird sitings, interesting links to videos, and words from the editor. Don't miss the December issue of Birds in Our Backyards.

Great Lakes Trade Exposition

2011-11-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

Hey, green industry professionals! Mark your calendars for the Great Lakes TradeExposition (GLTE), to be held January 9-11, 2012 at the DeVos Place/Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, in Grand Rapids.

The GLTE is in its 89^th year and will attract over 6000 people to 100 educational workshops and classes and over 400 trade show booths, according to Amy Frankmann, Executive Director of the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA).

“The opportunity to network is huge,” said Frankmann of the three day event that is being hosted by MNLA along with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF).

Frankmann said those who will benefit by attending the GLTE include landscapers, turf managers, nursery staff, retail garden center owners and workers, Christmas tree growers , sod producers, golf course superintendents, and arborists.

Besides valuable networking with peers and the trade show, attendees will get to hear about new trends in the industry and what’s working and what isn’t, according to Frankmann.

The educational workshops are offered each day and address 16 segments of the green industry, offering something for everyone attending the event. Examples of workshops offered at the 2012 conference include “Websites that Work,” “7 Habits of Highly Successful Owners,” “Increasing Urban Tree Survival,” “Sustainable Lawn Management,” and “Growing Healthy Lawns Without Using Insecticides.”

The Devos Place is located in downtown Grand Rapids and includes a skywalk for parking and quick access, on foot, to many shopping and entertainment venues in the city, according to Frankmann. And despite it being held in a large city, Frankmann says that after 89 years it is still a “regional show with a hometown feel.”

The MNLA is an association of landscapers and other green industry professionals throughout the state. They publish a bi-monthly glossy magazine that is packed with information on legislative issues, new products, business profiles, and articles of interest and educational for green industry professionals. They also certify members and nonmembers in landscaping and retail sales.

For more information on the GLTE and to register for the event and book a room, go to www.glte.org.

First day of deer season, or last day of gardening?

2011-11-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

For hunters this was the first day of firearm deer season. For me, it was the last day of gardening! I picked just under a dozen Ruby Perfection Hybrid cabbages. The beautiful heads had survived some pretty cold nights (down to about 29 degrees). We’ll be making freezer cole slaw with it ASAP. It would be nice to have some venison to go with it!

Holiday Centerpiece

2011-11-15T05:26:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for making holiday crafts! Here is an article I wrote for Country Lines on how to make holiday centerpieces. These are pretty easy to make, but it you have any questions give me a shout.

Then again, if you don’t have the time to scavenge for the materials needed to make one, I’ll make one for you. I charge $16.00 a piece and will deliver locally for free. If it needs to ship I need to add $9.00 to cover the costs of packaging and shipping for a total of $25. You can pay by check, money order, or I can bill your credit card via PayPal.

I also make wreathes and sell for the same amount.

Happy holidays and enjoy a fresh, fragrant centerpiece and/or wreath around your holiday table this year!

Bird Migration

2011-11-04T05:46:00.000-07:00

Connie Thompson talks about the bird migration taking place in the Eastern Upper Peninsula in her latest edition of Birds in Our Backyards. The EUP is a popular spot for bird migration due to its proximity to Whitefish Point.You can also check out a nice picture of some sandhill cranes.

Bulbs in pots

2011-10-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

Has anyone in zones 3 or 4 planted spring bulbs in pots in the fall for spring blooms? A lady who lives in an apartment building asked me about doing this with tulips, crocus and snowdrops. I told her there is no guarantee they won't freeze over the winter in the pots. However, if she makes sure there is good drainage,fills the top of the pot with mulch or soil to prevent the freezing and thawing that goes on in the winter, and ensures good snow cover, they should do alright. Anyone care to weigh-in?

Emerald Ash Borer Project

2011-10-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

My short stint as supervisor for the EAB (SLAM project) in Moran will come to an end tomorrow. Mostly I helped collect data on where this tiny bug is appearing (almost everywhere around Moran and to a lesser extent in St. Ignace). This data will help determine the level of infestation, as determined by the number of EAB on the purple sticky traps, and the amount of larva under the bark of each tree. This data is being fed to researchers at MSU. They are using the data to help other states deal with the infestation and hopefully to find ways to slow EAB here in Michigan.

Right now the best solution to keeping your ash trees is to have them injected with TREE-age, which is what they call a systemic insecticide that is taken up into the tissue of the tree. The larva commit suicide when they feed on the tree. I am told that this is a fairly inexpensive treatment for EAB that you only have to do every 2-3 years. It is normally done by a professional. Some of the trees down here in Moran have been injected with it. It works! Those trees are still looking good, despite sitting in the middle of several hundred dying ash trees.

It's been a learning experience for me. I used a GPS for the first time, got to see the bugs and larva close up, and spent many hours trampling through the woods, crossing creeks, and at times, sweating profusely! Met a good bunch of young people who were dedicated to the cause. Their employment may come to an end as it is rumored that this will be the last (of four) year of carrying out the study in this location. Houghton is the other location participating in the study, and Delta Co. has as well.

I've enjoyed spending time in the town that bears my name!

Garlic for Cold Climates

2011-10-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

A little respite from rains and high winds is all I needed to slip into the garden to plant my garlic. My rich, sandy loam garden was a mucky mess from all the rain we’ve gotten lately. Fortunately, I had prepared some raised beds, not in wooden frames, but by digging out shallow troughs on either side of a three-foot wide planting bed. These troughs had standing water when I went out this afternoon, but the planting beds themselves were only moist, like a good cake.

It wasn’t ideal conditions to be working out in the garden, however the sun was shining and the air was clear and cool.

I planted what garlic I could get from Jung’s. Some varieties were sold out, like their Russian hardneck type, which I know from experience grows well in this northern climate. So I opted for German porcelain. This is also a hardneck variety and should do well here. I also picked up a couple of bulbs of Elephant garlic, which isn’t really garlic, but actually like a leek. I’m debating at this moment whether to plant it now, and risk it not surviving out harsh winter, or save it for a spring planting.

I planted 100 cloves out of about 9 of the German porcelain bulbs. They should do well in the loose loam, which I had amended with well-rotted chicken manure.

After about 45 minutes of stooping to plant each clove with my bulb planter, I sat in my lawn chair facing the sun that is starting to hang low in the south. The wind was blowing up into my face and making it hard to hold down the pages of my garden log so I could record when and where I planted my garlic.

I hate to think this is another fair the well to the garden for the year, and that another year has gone by already. However, it will give me something to look forward to this spring as I Elephant garlicanticipate the early appearance of the green tops of the garlic and another season in the garden.

October Birds in Our Backyards

2011-10-02T07:28:00.000-07:00

Read about the bald eagle comeback, the raptor count at Whitefish Point, and how to treat a sick bird in the October issue of Birds in Our Backyards. What birds do you see flocking up to head south?

Herbicide Gone Awry

2011-09-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

By now, pesticide applicators should have discontinued the use of the broadleaf herbicide, Imprelis. It an herbicide that kills dandelions and other broadleaf plants in lawns and golf courses. This Dupont product went on the market in October of 2010 and by June of this year, reports were coming in that it was damaging white pine, Norway spruce, and other ornamental trees and shrubs in Michigan and some other states.

It’s possible that the unusually wet spring drove the chemical down into the ground, where it was absorbed by the roots of trees and shrubs. If this product has already been applied to your lawn or turf, be sure not to use the grass clippings as mulch or compost.

It appears it is the product itself that is the culprit, and not the applicator. Dupont is involved with discussions with the EPA as to how to deal with the problem. The best way to register a complaint is via Dupont and the applicator, according to a recent article in The Michigan Landscape magazine (September /October, 2011).

If you’re about to have your lawn sprayed with an herbicide, it wouldn’t hurt to double check with the applicator to be sure they’re not using Imprelis.

Creating a woodland landscape

2011-08-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased with the way this landscape turned out. I started out with a sloping property and built steps with limestone rock. The stone path ran 40 ft. total (that's a lot of heavy hauling!).

I landscaped this mostly shady area with shade tolerant plants: ajuga, columbine, foam flower, hostas, violets, forget-me-nots and bleeding hearts. The soil was clay-based, so I added a little compost to each hole. Seems to be working, though I did lose two plants right off the bat. I may not have firmed them in enough, causing them to dry out quickly. New plantings like this should receive no less than an inch of water per week. A little slow-release fertilizer will get them off to a good start.

It's a little bit of a chore to get each rock firmly planted so they doesn't move when walked on. It's best if the rock is sitting in 3-4 inches of gravel or sand. I scattered some of the stone throughout the landscape, trying to make it look natural, i.e., as if the stone had been there all along. The homeowner seemed satisfied with my creation.

August Issue of Birds in our Backyards

2011-08-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

Connie Thompson is at it again. She's seen a lot of birds in July in the Soo area while the rest of you were vacationing or off doing other things! Check out her comments and pictures at the Archive for "Bird's in our Backyards."

How is your gardening growing?

2011-07-08T04:12:00.000-07:00

People who got their gardens in early this year or who are gardening in sandy soil around Kinross seem to be enjoying some success with their gardens. Unfortunately, I’m in neither camp. The low, wet sandy-loam soil I garden in was slow to dry out and warm up. Thus I didn’t get much in before June 5th. My spuds rotted in the ground and a lot of things just seem to be at a standstill.

Surprisingly, my corn is fairing the best, even though I didn’t get it in until June 6^th. It’s just shy of knee high right now. My tomatoes are finally showing signs of life. I think the cukes, beets, onions, carrots, and beans will do okay. I’m not so sure about the pumpkin and squash that I had high hopes for.

Luckily, I had started some things in pots inside my little greenhouse. I really like the idea of growing some things in pots, especially here in the northern climate. You don’t even need a greenhouse to do it, just a nice sunny, protected spot near your house. We’ve already been eating some cukes, buttercrunch lettuce, onion greens, assorted herbs, and New Zealand spinach. I also had a few couple of meals of asparagus and made a few quarts of rhubarb. Alas, we do the best we can here in the north country. Plant a variety of things so you’ll be sure to get something good to eat. Let me know how your garden is doing.

Plants not flowering?

2011-06-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

One of the questions I get asked most often is how to encourage a plant to produce flowers. It is most often a hydrangea or lilac that’s not flowering. Here is something that works for me. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

1. Remove any weeds and/or sod from about two feet all round the base of the trunk of the plant. Replace the sod with compost or well rotted horse or cow manure.

2. Sprinkle about a table spoon of a slow-release, all purpose fertilizer, or a fertilizer with a high percentage of phosphorous (per recommended amount) around the perimeter of the plant. Mix into the soil. For lilacs, sprinkle about a cup of lime around the base of the plant.

3. For shrubs and perennials it often helps to pinch off the tips or terminal ends of the stems. Do this in early spring of the year, except for those plants that flower in the early spring, such as forsythia. This will put more energy into lateral growth and produce more flower buds.

4. Apply a 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the area you’ve just applied the compost or livestock manure to.

5. Provide about one inch of water per week during the growing season.

North Country Gardening: New Release! North Country Gardening with Wildflow...

2011-06-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

North Country Gardening: New Release! North Country Gardening with Wildflow...: "Native wildflowers are hardy plants that don't require a lot of watering and virtually no fertilizer. They're good for the environment and ..."

New Release! North Country Gardening with Wildflowers: A Guide to Growing and Enjoying Native Plants in the Great Lakes Region, by Neil Moran

2011-06-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

Native wildflowers are hardy plants that don't require a lot of watering and virtually no fertilizer. They're good for the environment and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your property. Check out my new book on how to establish everything from a flower bed to a rain garden to a meadow, with flowers native to your area. It's a great book for people interested in establishing wildflowers on their property (including an explanation of why it is important) and those wishing to collect and propagate native seed in a greenhouse. This book will show you how to:

q collect native seeds from wild areas;

q create a wildlife oasis that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds;

q germinate native seed to grow your own native plants;

q propagate native plants by other means, including stem cuttings and division;

q understand invasive species and their negative impact on the environment.

You can order my book from my blog site (www.northcountrygardening.blogspot.com) or my business web page at www.neilmoran.com. Locally, it can be purchased from the Chippewa East-Mackinac Co. Soil Conservation District (906-635-1278) and Up North Books in the Save-a-Lot plaza. Price is $14.95 plus .90 tax. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Northern Native Wild Plant & Seed Co-op.

Garden tip: slow release fertilizer

2011-06-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a timely tip for gardeners. Many of you are planting your perennials or looking to feed your existing perennials, as well as trees and shrubs. This tip is from a money saving tips booklet of mine called, From Store to Garden 101 Ways to Make the Most of Garden Store Purchases.

Tip #19:

Fertilizer, slow release (e.g. Osmocote). Slow release fertilizers will feed plants for up to six months. I like using slow release fertilizer for all bedding plants, hanging baskets, and the initial planting of trees, shrubs and perennials. Mix the right amount into the soil or potting mix, or sprinkle around the root zone of your plants. www.neilmoran.com

Keep Those Hanging Baskets Looking Beautiful!

2011-06-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Every year people spend good money buying hanging baskets to add a little color to a patio area or other living space. By mid-summer I’m hearing complaints that their hanging baskets, once so pretty, are now looking like a wig on a scarecrow.

Fortunately, there is a way to keep those hanging baskets looking good all summer long. But first, you have to choose the right varieties. Petunias, popular for the last couple decades, hold their beautiful blooms all summer long. However, as you probably know, they’re not exactly maintenance-free. They require regular deadheading and constant watering. Wouldn’t you rather be at the beach or lounging in a chair than sweating over a hanging basket as you pluck every last spent bloom?

So, let’s cool it on the petunias. Maintaining 3-4 baskets of petunias instead of a dozen will save you a lot of deadheading time. Placing them in a protected area in partial shade or dappled sunlight will further reduce the time spent maintaining these baskets. Another thing folks may not know about petunias is you can cut them right back to the rim of the container about midsummer. Then, place them in full sun, water and feed well, and they’ll come back better than ever.

Mix it up. There are other plants that make for great looking hanging baskets. One of my wife, Sherri’s favorites in recent years is the tuberous and fibrous begonias. I always thought these did best in the shade. Not so. They actually can stand full sun most of the day (10-12 hours), at least here in Michigan. They also require very little deadheading. What’s more, they’ll flower right up until the threat of frost comes in the fall.

Geraniums are another good choice. They require much less deadheading, and when you do, there are fewer blooms to deadhead. Besides less deadheading, geraniums don’t mind a little (note I said “little”) neglect during the summer, especially in the watering department. Actually, they flower better when they’re a little on the dry side. And don’t forget, there is a beautiful trailing type of geranium that comes in white, pink and deep red.

Here are some more tips for maintaining beautiful hanging baskets while (hopefully) getting more R & R this summer:

· Water regularly. Hanging baskets will require almost daily watering during hot weather. Rain doesn’t count as a watering, unless there is a flood warning that goes with it!

“Every gardener likes to stick with old-standbys of varieties that they know will work, but it is fun to try a new, breakthrough variety that will do just as well or better in your garden,” Danielle Ernest, PR & Brand Development Coordinator for Proven Winners.

Water well with a large watering can, or better yet, one of those water wands. Water should be streaming out the bottom of the container when you’re done watering.

· Feed regularly. Plants in a hanging basket require lots of fertilizer. However, for the sake of sparing the lakes and streams of harmful fertilizer run-off, I suggest you use an organic or slow-release fertilizer,

· Along with occasional feeding with a water soluble fertilizer, to keep them fed all summer.

· To keep your plants from drying out and looking ragged, hang the baskets in a spot near your home that is protected from strong winds.

“It really depends on the variety in the hanging basket, but keeping them well watered and fertilized is key to having successful hanging baskets all summer, says Danielle Ernest, PR & Brand Development Coordinator for
Proven Winners. “ If they get a bit leggy, go ahead and give them a haircut.”

Here are some other good choices for hanging baskets:

· Calibrachoa (million bells). This petunia-like plant comes in many different colors. One to look for at area garden centers is Superbells® Blackberry Punch Calibrachoa, and Superbells® Coralberry Punch Calibrachoa, both from Proven Winners. Calibracoa requires a little less maintenance than petunias, but is nearly as showy. Hang this one in a protected, partial shade area to keep it looking good all summer.

· Scaevola. This is another common plant used in hanging baskets. It’s a leafy plant with medium sized flowers that come in white and deep lavender.

· Bacopa. With its petite white flowers, bacopa complements the baskets of large flowering begonias we have around our living area in the backyard. “Bridal Showers,” a variety that is loaded with little white flowers, is a common variety. Bacopa demands a little break from the sun or it too will fizzle out before the season ends.

· Petunias. Okay, for you petunia devotees, there are some irresistible varieties out there, including Proven Winner’s Pretty Much Picasso®, a “supertunia” with violet purple flowers edged in lime green.

· Vines and foliage plants. Don’t forget the vine plants. These no-fuss plants are sometimes mixed in with flowering plants in a hanging basket. Look for trailing plants like vinca vine, licorice vine, English ivy and Boston ivy.

Neil Moran is a horticulturist and garden writer. His new book, North Country Gardening with Wildflowers: A Guide to Growing and Enjoying Native Plants, and hi s other books can be purchased via www.neilmoran.com.