The Yard Fixer

02/05/2025

Here's a glimpse of seasonal beauty to , perhaps offer some inspiration for your own property. Meanwhile - let's think about now! This is the time of year when we should be thinking about our plants and the deer that like to eat them. The deer are most hungry by the end of winter and will actually eat plants that they can't even digest, just to get something into their stomach. There is an organic product called Milorganite that has been proven ( in several University studies) to discourage deer from entering the space where you have applied the product. Milorganite consists of dried microbes and provides multiple nutrients in the form of a dust- free fertilizer. I still prefer another organic fertilizer ( Progro)for general fertilization, but the Milorganite will fertilize and keep the deer away from your spring buds.( Apply heavily.) Milorganite is available at Stone Falls Gardens in Henniker - they are closed for the season but you can leave a message and they will accommodate a pickup time for you. Milorganite may also be available at Osbournes in Concord, NH. If you have Tulip bulbs planted I strongly suggest that you use this product or another deer repellent near the Tulips. I have put in a formal request for an early spring, let's see what happens with that! 😉🌞🌱

11/30/2024

Holiday containers - easy way to dress up any space! Use a combination of greens for dimension and interest. An addition of white is always going to pop. What ever color you choose to add to your collection is great! I spray my cuttings with Wiltpruf to keep them from getting winter wilt. Now's the time! 🌱🌞🌲

10/30/2024

Finding Nemo! This is a creation made by Amie who runs the The Yard at Pleasantview where I buy many plants. Those are candy corns!! ( This was for a company -wide competition.) Amie won first place!!!! 😁

10/26/2024

The display is ready to view at Riverside Pizza in Contoocook, New Hampshire! So many people to thank - but first of all much thanks to Mary Congoran who started this incredible project many years ago. 💖

09/16/2024

Tulips in New Hampshire
When many people think of tulips, they tend to think of places like Holland where we see acres of tulips in bloom. Tulips actually originated in Central Asia. The flowers that you may see in that region, growing in the wild are quite different from our hybridized varieties available for our gardens. New Hampshire is not as conducive to tulip sustainability as , say Turkey; but it is possible to have stunning tulip displays on your property. Now is the time to purchase, and October is the time to plant.
We are all eager to see some color in our beds after a New Hampshire winter.( Which always seems to be about a month too long for me!🙄) So - first choose your planting location: choose a spot where you will see the flowers the most. Try to tuck the bulbs ( as you plant) close to your current perennials. The perennials will be emerging as your bulbs are blooming and by planting the bulbs close to the perennials you decrease the risk of the bulbs getting chopped up from future planting tools. Consider layering the bulbs for more drama - mix your colors as well. Your bulbs need a really good watering after you finish planting. Bulbs start to grow in the fall and need help getting started.
New Hampshire's soils and growing conditions are not ideal for long - term life of most tulips. They usually perform beautifully the first year, but they don't always return. ( I planted bulbs in Hopkinton and they came back year after year but the experts say I was lucky.) I know of people that plant hundreds of bulbs every year and then dig them up and throw them into the woods after the bloom has faded. Plant your tulip bulbs but remember that they are not a guaranteed perennial.
In the spring as your tulips emerge, you may want to apply a deer away product. You can also use a knife and cut strips of Irish Spring soap all around your plants. I know of instances where the tulips were budded, or had just bloomed and the deer ate off the tops! Bulbs are available at many sites on line or at your local garden supplies store. 🌞🌱

07/31/2024

Before and after photos of a recent cleanup and beautification of a little pocket of potential. Look at your own property and think about making the most of your space! 🌱🌞

06/15/2024

New Installs - vulnerable older plant material - these are your go to plants , especially in the week ahead. Water now to prepare them for the extreme heat. During the high temperature days, water early in the morning and/or in the evening. If you are going away - tuck newspaper around your most vulnerable plants and soak the newspaper. If you have container plants - have a friend water or put your container into a pan of water and place them in a shady location while you are away. Tis the season! 🌱🌞

05/29/2024

I have planted several Dill plants on my property and my clients property - the Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars like to lay their eggs on Dill plants. The caterpillars are wonderful to see and are thankful that we have provided some Dill for them. ( It can be a pretty addition to your annual collections in containers, or the bed space!) 🌞🌱

03/13/2024

It's time to start thinking about getting things done !!🌞🌱

01/07/2024

Early days for The Yard Fixer. Thank you Maggie and Taylor! 🙂🌞🌱

11/29/2023

Holiday containers are an easy way to add elegance and color to any space. If your outside containers have frozen already, just pour some hot water into them and you'll be able to insert your greens, etc. ( It's not a bad idea to pour some cool water in after you have finished your design - that way your pieces will be held in place.)

11/07/2023

MULCH - Not just another pretty face! 🌱🌞
Winter is staring us in the face but we still have time to do some work on our property. One of the best things that we can take care of right now is to get a nice layer of mulch around our plants.
It's important to choose a good quality mulch. We add mulch to our planting spaces for several reasons, the final one being the compostability of good mulch- it will add to the nutrients of your soil as it decomposes.
The most obvious reason to apply mulch is that pretty face that I mentioned in my title. Your bed spaces will look cleaner and more attractive with a layer of mulch.( Two to three inches is ideal.)
Heading into winter, the mulch will protect your root systems. In this region, we often experience what is called a false spring. This can occur in late January or February and we can see our day time temperatures rise to 50 degrees or higher and this can last for several days. This is a very short-lived warm up and our temperatures will soon plummet. If we don't have a thick layer of mulch around our plants they can start to come out of dormancy- when the temperature returns to normal the awakening plants can be damaged by the unexpected cold. If we have a thick layer of mulch around the bed area, it will take several weeks of rising, spring temperatures to permeate the mulch and start the growth process for another season.
Another major benefit to applying a thick layer of mulch is w**d control. Many, many clients have told me that their beds were much easier to keep w**d-free after an application of mulch. ( I have a neighbor who has been gardening for 60 plus years who until recently, didn't understand the benefit of a thick layer of mulch!)
If you aren't able to apply mulch to your entire bed space, at least apply mulch around newly installed plants; especially if you are planting in the spring or summer. A thick layer of mulch will help to hold moisture in place which is vital to the health of newly installed plants and also to established plants if we go into a drought situation.
As you apply the mulch, you can go heavy in the open bed spaces, but keep it light right around the base of your plants. Don't choke out your plants with too much mulch! ( Some older, more established beds may need a clearing out of the "hills" of mulch.)
Aesthetics, protection from the cold and extreme heat, w**d control, compost benefits are all brought to you by the application of good quality mulch. ( Please try not to use the red , dyed mulch.🙄) If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me, Theresa, I'm The Yard Fixer.🌞🌱 ( 603-724-9864) [email protected]

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