Getting Vegetable Garden Ready for Planting

A few weeks back I planted my cold season vegetables in the greenhouse and all are now ready to be transplanted. Normally I plant my lettuce in March but this past winter has been extreme and has set me back in planting my cold season vegetables.

Now it is April and weather is warmer with no snow in forecast so I got busy with getting the vegetable garden ready for planting the seedlings.

Things to do:

1. Removed the cardboard that was on top of the garden.  
2. Rake away the natural mulch, leaves from under the cardboard
3. Take away the newspaper that set on top of the soil
4. These layers helped to nourish the soil and encouraged worms to aerate the soil.
5. Pull out any weeds or grasses that are growing
6. Till the top six inches of the vegetable garden bed.

Now that this chore is completed I can sow my transplant my spinach, peas, carrots lettuce and cabbage into the outdoor vegetable garden.

Attribution: pixabay.com

Removing Leaves from Spring Flower Gardens

Removing leaves from my yard and gardens is a two season project; in the fall and then again in April. Not all of my oak trees lose their leaves and this year the leaves did not fall until the new leaf buds started to appear in late March. Come the first week of April I have leave in my flower gardens.

In the fall the city will remove our leaves when we put them at the curb. They will then turn the leaves into mulch. However in the spring leaves are not needed for mulch and today I found out that there is a fee for spring leaf pickup so we are going to rake and put them in lawn bags for trash pickup.

Know that I reside in the woods so keeping all of the leaves for compost recycling is not wise. I will keep only small amount of leaves for my compost but the other leaves must be removed as they harbor borer insects that will eat the tubers of the irises, dried leaves are also are good nesting ground for ticks, fleas and snakes.

Along with the removal of leaves from the flower gardens I am also removing the mulch because it will enable the new spring flowers to emerge from their sleep without difficulty. I use a rubber rake or my hands to gently remove the leaves and the mulch from the flower gardens without disturbing the plants underneath.

Gardening tips by Susan:

1. Late spring or early summer is the best time to apply the mulch as it will help to retain moisture.
2. If you used leaf mulch then add all leaves except oak to your compost pile. Oak leaves attract mites and other bad for the garden insects that are harmful to your plants.
3. If you have oak leaves I would recommend that your burn them or bag them for trash disposal.  

Small or Large Garden? How to Choose the Right Size

Whether you dream of a small patio garden or a large backyard garden, every garden begins with intention. I’ve tended spaces of all sizes over the years, and each one reflects the heart of the person who cares for it. From container gardens arranged with love to the estate grounds I once oversaw, every garden has something to teach us about space, creativity, and what truly matters.

Today I had a conversation with a woman who told me about her own garden. She described how she planned her layout so the colors would flow, how she mixed vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and how she hoped to expand it this year. When I asked if she had any photos, she smiled and pulled out her phone.

To my surprise, her entire garden lived in a 6‑by‑9‑foot patio space.

Her photos showed a beautiful small container garden, thoughtfully arranged and full of life. She had used every inch wisely. It reminded me that anyone can have a garden as long as they have sunlight and the desire to grow something.

I complimented her work, and then she asked about mine.
“You always talk about your garden,” she said. “Do you really have one?”

I told her yes  but mine isn’t a container garden. My gardens stretch 157 by 57 feet, and they’ve taken years to build. They’re what most people would call a large garden. And yet, I’ve also worked as an private residence gardener, tending a property two times the size of my own. Those were feature gardens that had to be perfect every single day.

That experience taught me something important:
choosing the right garden size isn’t about how much space you have  it’s about how you want to care for it.
Gardening isn’t about size. It’s about intention, joy, and the simple pleasure of watching something grow.

People love to garden, whether they have a few pots on a patio or a sweeping landscape. The value is the same. Gardening is good for the soul, and everyone benefits from planting something anything that brings them joy.

I grow plants in the ground and in containers because containers add interest and texture to a garden. I find them at yard sales, big‑box stores, and online shops. A good container can turn a simple plant into a focal point and make even a small garden feel layered and inviting.

Here are some photographs from my garden.
I hope they inspire you to plant something of your own no matter the size of your space.

 Wildflower and ornamental grass garden

Garden pavestone path 

Butterfly garden

Hosta Garden

Circular hosta garden in front yard 

Hosta garden by the privacy fence

Lily garden path

Sensory Garden

Dog Kennel Garden

Backyard ornamental grass and wildflower garden

Black-eyed Susans along garden path

Greenwood Nursery Client Review; Flowering Shrubs

I have been a long-time client at Greenwood Nursery because the trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers that I have bought from this online nursery have thrived in my garden. All plants are shipped with care and arrive healthy and ready to be planted. In the last 7 years that I have shopped at Greenwoodnursery.com, they have never let me down.

This year I find myself looking at the greenwood nursery website for flowering shrubs that will grow on the sunny side of my dog kennel. I am thinking a shrub that has flowers will look better than a chain link fence. I have some evergreen shrubs in this area of my yard and they look nice but would like some summer color since the kennel is directly under my side sun porch.

My neighbor has Crape Myrtle in her yard. It grows along the backside of your privacy fence and it does look beautiful when it is in bloom. This flowering shrub did grow fast however the flowers are not fragrant.

Some of the flowering shrubs that I like are the Red Knockout Rose Shrub, which always looks good however my favorite flowing shrub is the Clethra Sugartina Crystalina or commonly known as the summersweet. 

 This flowering shrub produces bottle brush-shaped flowers in late summer that are very fragrant. I think this flowering shrub would be perfect if grown in masses along the outside of my dog kennel because it grows fast and the blooms will take away the doggy smell.

This summersweet when fully grown is three feet in height with a similar spread. It is deer resistant too and that is a plus since the deer cut across my yard nightly to get to the woods on the other side of my house.

I am certain that I will shop at Greenwood Nursery for the knockout double red roses to plant in my yard close to my patio. Then I will buy several summersweet shrubs to grow in masses along my dog kennel and in the front of the dog kennel where the gate is I plan to buy and grow honeysuckle Arnolds Red because the bright red flowers will look nice and this fast-growing shrub will provide a good windbreak and will also attract butterflies.

I am glad I took some time this morning to check out the new gardening supplies and plants that are being offered at greenwood nursery because it is the season to plan my garden for planting after spring frost has passed.

I am a satisfied client and know if you check them out that you will be too. Know that when you log in and become a member you will get a special discount list of prices. Affordable prices for your yard and garden needs.

Here are some photographs of my gardens, all plants that you view were bought online at Greenwood Nursery. 

 Hosta Garden

 Summersweet

 Coneflowers

 Ajuga

 Coneflowers

 Japanese flowering Quince

 Peppermint

 Ivy

Liriope

 Old Fashioned Lilacs

 Honeysuckle

Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae

Cosmos Flowers Photo Gallery

When it comes to planning a colorful garden that has nonstop summer blooms until the weather turns cool in the fall I plant cosmos flowers. These flowers are so easy to grow from seed and they are maintenance-free, although I do water them when the weather is extremely hot or there is summer drought.

Here is a photo gallery of cosmos flowers grown in the garden and in masses.  

These pretty cosmos flowers attract honey bees, monarch butterflies, and other butterflies. I recommend that you plant the flower seeds in an area where you can view the flowers and the pretty butterflies fluttering around the blooms.

 I grow cosmos flowers in my butterfly garden, containers, and along my side slope.  I also grow these flowers in masses in my side meadow that I can view from my sun porch.   

It is nice to sit on the porch and view the pretty flowers in the afternoon while sipping some lavender and chamomile tea.  This is a natural way to relax and unwind after a hectic day.

My favorite cosmos flower garden is the meadow because there is a path

where you can walk among the flowers.  This path serves as a nature walk for the kids and adults in my neighborhood.   They all enjoy standing in the middle of an enormous flower garden where they can view the butterflies, and take photographs of butterflies, birds, and rabbits.  Occasionally you can even see a deer or fox.

If you enjoy gardening and monarch butterflies then I recommend that you grow

cosmos flowers.