Category: battling the Minnesota climate

25 Sep 2010
September 25, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden seasons, Plant health, shrubs and trees

Autumn Yellowing of Conifer Foliage

It's almost October.  In our Northland this is the time dramatic changes take place in the outdoors.  Actually, the changes begin  in late  June when the days begin to shorten.....The changes go  unnoticed until "autumn". ....Until  this past week.  Visually, "the  fall" is here. Every fall we get calls from friends regarding changes they notice on the foliage of  their pines or arborvitaes.....or on any of our conifers, for that matter, the trees and shrubs commonly called evergreens. ...

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20 Sep 2010
September 20, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden maintenance, garden seasons

Sixty Years Ago Most Minnesotans Farmed and Gardened

While I am at this post reaching into the memory of days gone by, I think it is important to note this additional recollection from  my childhood. In the 1930s and 1940s the major occupation in Minnesota was farming.  Most Minnesotans did not live in the Twin Cities.   Suburbs did not exist.  Small town life flourished.  Small town people grew gardens, usually the vegetable and fruit ones.  Farmers Seed and Nursery Company was in business...

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20 Sep 2010
September 20, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden maintenance, garden seasons

Some Peculiarities of Our 2010 Growing Season

Spring came very early in 2010.  Do you remember?  April was very pleasant and mild, even warm.  May was coolish. I remember as a child in the early 1940s an April Easter Sunday was featured with ice and snow nearly everywhere.  The days would be sunny, but wintery and cold. I much prefer our current delivery of Spring.   I am rooting for a Zone 5 growing zone.  We are almost there.   One would think most...

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03 May 2010
May 3, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden seasons

The Spring Garden Is Three Weeks Early

There have been at least three springs over the past twenty years that resemble the present spring, when the vegetative world  started a month early and has continued to maintain such a schedule.  The symptoms have been the same, although this year, 2010 our Spring began according to calendar, in March.... even a week earlier. Since then, not a day has been over 80 degrees Fahrenheit and there have been no driving dusty winds with dry...

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20 Apr 2010
April 20, 2010 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate, garden seasons

Season 2010 Is Three Weeks Early

I am certain that the vast majority of landscape gardeners in the Twin City area view this spring as outstanding.....thus far. So far both March and April have been cool or mild and clear.  We had a good winter snow to supply good soil  moisture.  According to most growth calendars, we are about three weeks ahead of schedule.  My Juddii Viburnums began opening their blooms yesterday.....redbud is in full lavendar-pink bud....PJM Rhododendron in its fifth day...

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10 Oct 2009
October 10, 2009 0 Comments By masterpiecelandscapingadmin battling the Minnesota climate

Today Is October 10. So What?

Today is October 10.  So what? In the Twin City area October 10 is the date on the average of the first seasonal frost.  As I am looking out my office window, I notice there is a broad coating of snow on the ground.  It is likely that the temperature has reached 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. This usually means my coleus outside will be dead.  A few of my perennials will show drooping foliage.  This...

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