As I do design consultations for our customers, a frequent question is “When can I plant these?” or “What’s the best time to plant?” and at this time of year the answer is “Whenever the plants are available in the garden center.” In the spring we have trucks rolling in daily, and the plants immediately…

There are several ways that planting cold-hardy vegetables help people to discover wellness. First, putting these plants in the garden in early spring lifts our spirits and gets our bodies moving. We are finally out and about in the natural world, and this alone is beneficial. Secondly, in our gardens we can grow food that…

It’s the beginning of April and we’re all anxious to get outside to see growth and flowers. But on Cape Cod April can be as cold, or even colder than March. We are stuck at the intersection of Winter and Planting Season. Plants that we can put in containers and in the ground right now…

At Country Garden we know that plants, gardens, and beautiful landscapes are healing, life-supporting places. So we were very pleased to see an article in the New York Times this week on how many hospitals are including plants and gardens in the healing therapy programs for their patients. We are aware, however, that you don’t…

March is a great month for advance planning, but when we think about what we’ll plant this spring and summer, don’t forget to access how your landscape looks now. I don’t know about you, but the view out some of my windows in the winter and early spring is of tree trunks, oak leaves, and random…

I find that the early spring is a great time to repot houseplants. Since the days are getting longer this is giving all plants the signal that it’s time to grow, and if you put some of your plants out for “summer camp” in late May, they will be well adjusted to their new digs…

Even as the March snows fall our customers are thinking about their summer gardens and are ready to start seeds. But not all seeds should be planted at the same time, and most who grow seedlings indoors will need some supplemental lighting to help the young plants stay strong. This week’s blog post will help…

On Cape Cod March might start out like a lion but it ends up like a cold, wet, and wind-blown lion…the lamb doesn’t usually show up until April in this region! But indoors we can be getting our seed-starting areas set up and some of our seeds sown.  Pepper seeds are often started in early…

Truth?  On Cape Cod it’s not spring in March. Not even close. But no matter what Mother Nature is giving us outside, there are several things on the home-landscape and garden to-do list this month. Here is your March Checklist: Cut down ornamental grasses anytime this month. At this point they are falling over and are…

Some seeds get started indoors (more on this in next week’s blog) and others get placed right in the ground. In this post we’re talking about some common seeds that are great to purchase at this time of year but get planted directly in the ground at the end of May. Why discuss May planting…

If you’ve fed the birds in the past you’ve probably noticed that some birds prefer to eat off the ground, while others will go to a feeder first. You may have seen that finches love the tube feeders and when they are filled with the extra fine sunflower chips, woodpeckers go to these as well.…

It may be too cold to spend much time outside, but when you feed the birds a good quality seed you’re rewarded with a yard full of color and motion, and less mess for you! Inexpensive seed mixes often contain fillers such as golden or red millet, wheat, oats or other grains that most birds…