Mmmmm…National Pi(e) Day

pi dayUnless you’re a math geek who can recite the many decimal places of pi, you probably celebrate March 14–or 3.14, or National Pi Day–as the perfect excuse to enjoy a tasty pastry filled with your favorite fruit for dessert. Math + sweets = happiness, right? (At least, that’s how some of us survived calculus homework.)

If you’re more garden geek than math major, spend the day planning the perfect additions to your garden for your own homegrown pie fillings. Whether you love traditional strawberry and rhubarb spring pies, savory summer tomato pies, or tasty apple and pear pastries in the fall, now’s the time to plan delicious additions to your garden.

Growing fruit is easy and rewarding. Before you begin planting an orchard or strawberry bed, keep in mind a few tips.

  • Plant in full sun. Most fruit trees, shrubs, or plants need at least 6-8 hours of sun for best production.
  • Ensure good drainage. Whether you’re growing in a raised bed, container, or in-ground garden, well-drained soil is essential. Make sure containers include drainage holes. Amend heavy clay garden soil with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] to improve drainage.
  • Check soil pH. Make sure your soil pH supports the fruit you want to grow. For instance, blueberries need an acidic soil, with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5. If your soil leans toward alkaline, try adding Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Rhody, Azalea, and Holly Food. Visit your local Master Nursery® Garden Center and ask how to test your soil pH.
  • Research fruit plants’ needs. Some plants, like apple trees, need a second variety for pollination, while others, like blueberry bushes, produce bigger harvests when a second variety is added. Strawberries may be June-bearing, meaning they produce one large harvest per year, while others are ever-bearing, producing fruit throughout the growing season until frost. If you have questions about the best varieties for your area, talk to your local garden center expert.
  • Visit your local Master Nursery® Garden Center. You’ll find the perfect fruit plants, Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® soil and amendments, and expert advice.

Did you fill your freezer with fruit last summer? Whether you have strawberries lingering from last year’s trip to the farmers’ market, or you’re inspired to grow your own this year, here’s a five-ingredient recipe to help you enjoy National Pi(e) Day.

Need more gardening inspiration? Click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Rhody Azalea & Holly Food
Western Region
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Soil Builder
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder
Western Region

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions

Plan for Pollinators on Learn about Butterflies Day

When you hear about pollinator gardens, monarchs tend to steal the headlines. After all, they’ve undergone a critical recovery due to efforts by organizations like Monarch Watch, along with concerned gardeners and citizen scientists. With thousands of gardeners adding milkweed to their plantings, and with the heightened interest in tracking their migration, monarch watching has become the new birding. (You can learn more about how to support and track their migration here.)

But monarchs aren’t the only pollinators that need support. Creating a pollinator garden or adding more pollinator-friendly plants to your existing beds is a win-win: if you’re a vegetable gardener, attracting pollinators can help boost your harvest. But even if you’re not growing edibles, pollinators create the perfect entertainment in your garden, offering hours of pleasure while you relax with a refreshing beverage, watching them flit about the flowers.

While birds, insects, and bats also pollinate plants, March 14 celebrates butterflies. Impress your friends and family with fun facts for Learn About Butterflies Day. 

caterpillarTo create a pollinator garden that supports butterflies, you’ll need both host plants and nectar sources. Host plants are the “nurseries” of the pollinator garden. While some host plants are also nectar sources, these are the plants where butterflies lay their eggs. (Most often, you’ll find the eggs on the underside of leaves, hidden from predators, but stems and tops of leaves are also fair game.) In 10-14 days, the larva emerges, and the tiny caterpillar feasts on the plant until it forms a chrysalis, where it grows into a butterfly. Butterflies are picky about host plants. Monarchs, for instance, only lay their eggs on milkweed, Gulf fritillary butterflies only lay eggs on passion vine, and painted crescents lay on asters. Other butterflies use a variety of host plants: black swallowtails will lay eggs on fennel, carrots, parsley, and dill. Even shrubs and trees serve as host plants: eastern tiger swallowtails choose willows and sycamores for their nurseries. You can find an extensive list of butterflies and their host plants here.

Many flowers serve as ideal nectar sources for butterflies. Most butterflies are not as picky about where they drink compared to where they lay eggs. So, those seeds you started on National Plant a Flower Day make the perfect addition to the pollinator garden.

Make sure to mix your host plants in with your nectar plants. Because the host plants will be eaten by the caterpillars, they’ll look rather raggedy. Place these toward the back of beds or mix them into beds or containers filled with blooming nectar plants that mask their less-than-pristine appearance.

If you garden in a small space, like a balcony or patio, consider creating a container pollinator garden. Pick out a pretty container with drainage holes from your local garden center, fill it with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region], add your host plants and nectar-rich flowers, and voila! You’ve created a perfect planting for pollinators. Don’t forget to water well and feed with Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Rose and Flower Food to keep the plants growing and blooming all season long.

Most importantly: forgo pesticides in your pollinator garden. If you want a thriving butterfly population, the larvae need a chemical-free zone to grow and turn into beautiful butterflies.

Need more gardening inspiration? Click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Rose and Flower Food
Western Region
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region

Celebrate Plant a Flower Day—Even if Your Garden Is Buried in Snow

It might be a little early to plant your tender annuals, especially if your beds sport six inches of snow and temperatures hover in the 30s. But have no fear: you, too, can celebrate National Plant a Flower Day on March 12 in preparation for spring.

Instead of planting your flowers outside, focus on sowing seeds indoors. Whether you’re looking to create a bountiful cutting garden to produce beautiful bouquets throughout the season, want to grow marigolds as companion plants for your veggie garden to help deter pests, or plan a rich, vibrant mailbox garden to add curb appeal, starting flowers from seed is both cost-effective and rewarding. There’s nothing like sowing seeds, pampering the little green babies as they emerge, tending them until they’re big and strong, then planting them in your garden and watching them bloom. It’s a terrific feeling of accomplishment to grow your own flowers—plus, it lets you get your hands in the soil right now, instead of waiting for your garden to thaw.

Visit your local Master Nursery® Garden Center to pick up your favorite flower seeds, seed starting tools, and Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region].

coneflowerWhat are your favorite flowers? Many varieties are super easy to start from seed, offering nearly instant gratification. If you’re new to seed starting, give these a try.

  • Coneflowers—Not only are coneflowers pollinator magnets, these pretty perennial flowers make a great addition to homegrown bouquets. Older varieties don’t bloom until the second year after starting from seed, but some newer cultivars produce flowers the first season. Look for PowWow Wild Berry or Cheyenne Spirit coneflower seed if you’re anxious to add color to your garden this year.
  • Zinnias—One of the easiest annual flowers to grow, there’s a zinnia variety sure to suit everyone. Whether you like old-fashioned single, heirloom zinnias, pretty double blooms, or the unique bi-colors of many new cultivars, zinnias will brighten up your beds, bouquets, and pollinator gardens.
  • Marigolds—Traditionally used as a companion plant in the veggie garden to help deter pests, marigolds look great lining a walkway, filling the front of a mixed bed, or brightening a container garden. If you like crafts, many marigolds make a great dye as well.
  • Cosmos—Sweet, delicate cosmos are tougher than they look. These charming, daisy-like flowers look lovely in beds and bouquets, attract pollinators, and also give the gardener a break: they’re low maintenance and even thrive in poor soil.
  • Sweet Peas—Who can resist the old-world charm of sweet peas? Look for the highly-fragrant varieties to add delicious scent to your garden and bouquets. Most sweet peas need a trellis or fence to climb for best results. They also appreciate a little assistance to get started: nick the tough outer seed coating with a nail file (called scarification) to help water penetrate the seed and speed germination.
  • Nasturtium—A gorgeous flower that not only looks great, it tastes great, too! Look for trailing varieties for pretty additions to raised beds or window boxes. The edible flower adds a peppery kick to salads.
  • Sunflowers—If you garden with kids, sunflowers make the perfect plant to get them interested in gardening. The giant varieties are especially fun to grow, but newer dwarf cultivars make a great addition to small gardens and containers. Starting sunflowers indoors means that you are outsmarting the birds and mammals that love to snack on the seeds. However, sunflowers dislike transplanting: they get a little miffed if their roots are disturbed. Start these seeds in biodegradable pots, and then plant the entire pot in the garden.

Make sure to pick up Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] and Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Starter Food to give your new flowering plants a great start.

Need more gardening inspiration? Click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Soil Builder
Eastern & Midwestern Regions

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Starter Food
Western Region
Eastern & Midwestern Regions

Ready…Set…GROW!

Are seed packets taking over your kitchen table? If you live in warm zones, it’s about time to start those tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants-hooray! If you’re in cold climates—hold tight a little longer. Instead, make sure you’ve gathered all your seed starting supplies.

Are you new to seed starting? We think there’s no activity as romantic as getting your hands dirty with your valentine…by planting seeds. Pop some bubbly, put on Marvin Gaye, and make some babies…green babies, that is!

Before you get started, make sure you’ve gathered your supplies, because there’s nothing worse than being in the midst of seed-starting bliss and getting interrupted because you forgot…a marker for labels. So, before you get comfy, gather the following:

  • Seed starting chart for timing. Starting plants too early can be as detrimental as starting too late. Most seed starting charts tell you when to start seeds, based on your last expected frost date in spring.
  • Seed starting trays with humidity domes. Never let delicate seedlings dry out. A humidity dome helps preserve soil moisture.
  • Biodegradable pots. Some plants, like sunflowers, dislike root disturbance. By starting seeds in biodegradable pots, you can transplant the entire container into the garden without disturbing the roots. The pots decompose in the soil.
  • Potting Soil: Bumper Crop® Potting Soil [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] provides a great start for your seedlings. The mixture retains moisture and adds microbiology, so plants need less water and fertilizer.
  • Soil scoop.
  • Heat mat with thermostat. Some plants, like tomatoes and peppers, need warm soil to germinate well.
  • Grow light station. Some seeds need light to germinate and some need to be kept in the dark until they sprout. However, all seedlings need 12-18 hours of light once they germinate. Make sure the light fixtures are on adjustable chains that can rise as the plants grow. Use full spectrum bulbs to mimic daylight.
  • Make life easy by setting a time for your grow lights, ensuring your seedlings get adequate light.
  • Plant tags. You may think you’ll remember exactly which seeds are in which tray. You won’t. Write the plant name on a tag with a permanent marker or grease pencil and insert the tag into the tray.
  • Spray bottle. Use a gentle mist of water to avoid disturbing just-germinated, delicate seedling roots.

Check out your local Master Nursery® Garden Center to stock up on all your seed starting supplies.

Need more gardening inspiration? Click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region

Birds Need Love, Too

Valentine’s Day may hog center stage in February, but the entire month is for the birds—in a good way. February is National Birding Month, a great time to pamper our feathered friends. (If your valentine is also a bird-nerd, consider a pretty, practical bird feeder or solar-powered bird bath as a great gift in addition to the heart-leaf houseplant. Check out the options at your local garden center.)

Even better than a bird feeder, make a plan to add plants to your garden that feed the birds. February is a perfect time to research bird-favorite plants to add to your garden. From echinacea’s seeds that are beloved by finches to the fruit of Virginia creeper adored by mockingbirds, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and blue jays, to the tubular flowers of salvias and trumpet vines that lure hummingbirds, adding more bird-attracting plants to your garden this spring means more wildlife viewing. Now’s the perfect time to make a list of plants that attract birds.

Watch your birding life list grow! Remember: plants need great soil. Make sure you’re giving new plants a good start by adding Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] to your garden.

Want to take your bird watching a step further? Join thousands of citizen scientists in the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 16-19, 2024. Sponsored by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, it’s a chance to help scientists collect data on wild birds by submitting your observations online. Not sure about bird IDs? Download the free Merlin App—it helps identify birds by photo and sound. Hear a songbird but don’t see it? Hit “Sound ID,” record the tweets, and voila—an ID with more information about the bird pops up. It’s a fun family activity.

For more February activities perfect for the entire family, try making valentines for the birds. Stop by your favorite garden center to pick up bird food, then follow the simple directions here to show birds some love. These heart-shaped homemade bird feeders look really cute decorating a front yard tree, too.

For more inspirational gardening articles click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Soil Builder
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder
Western Region

Great Valentine’s Day Gifts Every Gardener Loves

While it’s still too chilly in most areas for outdoor planting, show your favorite person true love with a gorgeous gift of heart-inspired houseplants. Houseplants make the perfect Valentine’s Day choice: their long-lasting, air-cleaning, location-brightening leaves (and sometimes, flowers) will make your valentine swoon.

Opting for a long-lasting, living gift is a terrific choice for Valentine’s Day, especially because there are so many cool houseplants with heart-shaped leaves. So, not only does the plant offer the perfect symbolic holiday gesture, it continues to show your love throughout the year.

Visit your local Master Nursery® Garden Center to find the perfect houseplant and pick up a pretty pot to make the gift extra special. Make sure you add a bag of Bumper Crop® Potting Soil [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region], so your gift is perfectly planted in nutrient-rich soil, giving it a great start for your valentine. Why not add a bag of Bumper Crop® All Purpose Food to make sure your valentine can easily feed that heart-filled plant?

Try one of these houseplants with heart-shaped leaves for a perfect gift:

  • Heart-leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum): Easy-to-grow trailing vines enjoy part-shade. Add a stake to train the vines to climb.
  • String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii): Petite, typically green and silver heart-shaped leaves adorn trailing stems. Prefers full sun.
  • Sweetheart Hoya (Hoya kerrii craib): Single, heart-shaped succulent eventually grows into a vine covered with small green hearts. Prefers low water (let it dry out between waterings) and tolerates low light.
  • Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum): Great tropical appeal, with colorful bursts of red or pink “flowers” that are actually spathaceous bracts. Prefers bright, indirect light. Let soil dry out between waterings.
  • Heart-leaf Fern (Hemionitis arifolia): Pretty green foliage prefers indirect light and slightly moist soil.
  • Velvet Philodendron (Philodendron Gloriosum): If your valentine loves unique, hard-to-find plants–and you have an ample budget–you’ll dazzle your darling with this houseplant. Large, velvety-green leaves with contrasting white veins make this beauty a coveted choice. Prefers bright, indirect light and slightly moist, well-draining soil.

Want to win Valentine’s Day? Pair a perfect heart-leaf houseplant with a gift card to your honey’s favorite garden center! Then, go together to pick out the perfect rose bush, dahlia tubers, or tasty tomatoes when the weather warms—and offer to help plant them in the garden.

A perfect valentine shows love all year long, and beautifully blooming flowers that can turn into bouquets or tasty edible treats to harvest and cook together will win you major points. Make sure to pick up Bumper Crop® Soil Builder [Eastern & Midwestern Regions | Western Region] and Bumper Crop® All Purpose Food to give your new plants a great start.

For more inspirational gardening articles click here.


Related Products

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Potting Soil
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Potting Soil
Western Region
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® All Purpose Food
Western Region
Eastern & Midwestern Regions

Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Organic Soil Builder
Eastern & Midwestern Regions
Master Nursery® Bumper Crop® Soil Builder
Western Region