Posts Tagged ‘perennials’
USDA Zone Changes – How Does this Affect NW Gardeners?
On November 15, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an update to its Hardiness Zone Map, moving the Shoreline/North Seattle area from Zone 8b to 9a. The map has long been a useful tool for gardeners to determine which perennial plants are likely to survive their region’s coldest temperatures. Zones are assigned…
Read MoreSky Staff Favorites for Fall: What Can I Plant Now?
As things quiet down and we settle in for the wet season ahead, we’re taking a little time to share a short list of the perfect fall plants to fill in an empty spot in the garden for fall and winter interest. We asked our staff straight up: What plants do we have this season…
Read MoreSeeds at Sky: Local, Organic, Sustainable & Beyond
It’s time to think about seeds! Here in the Pacific Northwest, many vegetable and summer flower seeds can be sown indoors starting in February to get a jump start on the season. The hardiest spring veggies can even be sown right into the ground by early March. As you begin to consult seed planting charts…
Read MorePlants for a Haunted Halloween Garden
Some gardens are spooky year round! Bloodgood Japanese Maple Two very special seasons collide in our October gardens. Of course, we’re talking about fall planting season, and spooky season! Now is the perfect time for our gardens to get into the spirit of things with wonderfully wicked plants of all kinds. Whether you garden in…
Read MoreThe Fall Garden Fashion Show
While spring and summer boast plenty of blooms, one could argue that the real fashion show belongs to autumn. In our Pacific Northwest fall gardens, flowers give way to colorful berries and intriguing seed pods; leaves transition through a vibrant cavalcade of colors, then drop to dramatically reveal textured bark and twisting branches; and all of…
Read MorePest Damage ID Part 3: Who’s destroying my garden?
Creepy crawlies may come to mind first when we think about garden pests, but birds and mammals can sometimes cause us even more trouble. Damage from smaller critters might look like holes or discoloration. But when it comes to uprooted plants, heavily nibbled veggies or flowers, seeds snapped right up out of the ground, or…
Read MorePest Damage ID Part 2: Who’s Discoloring My Leaves?
Pest damage isn’t always as obvious as holes in your leaves. In our last pest damage ID post, we covered the most common insect pests that chew or rasp away at plant leaves. This time, we’re taking a look at some more subtle culprits: those that suck the juices right out of your plants like…
Read MoreHarvest Season is Every Season: Don’t Miss These Early Bonus Crops
Most of us have been trained to think in terms of linear systems, and new vegetable gardeners often start out trying to garden in a straight line: plant in the spring, water through the summer, harvest in the fall, wait out the winter, then purchase new seeds or seedlings and start over. There’s a lot…
Read MoreNatural Slug & Snail Management
Ah, springtime in the garden. Bulbs are blooming, bumblebees are buzzing, and mollusks are slowly stirring beneath the mulch. Wait…. what? Slugs and snails — land-based cousins of marine mollusks like clams — are very much part of our garden ecosystems. Like most of the small animals that call our gardens home, they spend the…
Read MoreWinter Container Favorites to Mix & Match
After the glorious abundance of summer annual blooms, the options for beautiful winter containers are too often underrated or overlooked. As a result, too many containers miss out on their potential to add joy and inspiration to the darkest season of the year, as they end up sitting bare and empty on our porches. While…
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