The Dance of the Veggies P2: Crop Rotation

Many gardeners have heard that crop rotation is a good idea, but there’s a lot of confusion out there over how to make it happen. Especially when you’re working with a city-sized space or a container garden, a lot of advice you’ll find out there can sound impossible to follow. But, once you understand the…

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The Dance of the Veggies P1: Succession Planting

What is Succession Planting? Simply put, succession planting means growing more than one crop, or growing several rounds of the same crop, in the same space within the same year. Does that sound a little intimidating? Don’t worry, it’s not as complex as you might think! If you want to make the most of your…

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Pest 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…

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Pest 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…

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The Garden Walk: Daily Checklist for a Healthy Garden

Hi there, dear Sky Nursery readers. Toby Madrone here. I usually stick to a more informative tone, but I decided to change it up a bit today, and share from my personal gardening experience. I hope you enjoy this post in all of its honest plant-nerd glory. I take a walk through my garden every…

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Pest Damage ID Part 1: Who’s chewing holes in my leaves?

If you garden long enough, sooner or later some pest is going to break your heart. Maybe your freshly emerged seedlings will be mowed down to the ground, your favorite flowers will emerge twisted and discolored, or you’ll find an entire shrub defoliated in a matter of days. There are many wonderful and rewarding things…

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Natural 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…

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Fertilizer Basics: Gardening 101

sky nursery organic fertilizer products

Most gardeners have heard that plants need fertilizer. But what kind of fertilizer, how the heck do you use it, and where do you start? Even for experienced gardeners, the options can feel overwhelming. And searching online often yields confusing or conflicting advice. The good news is, choosing a fertilizer and supplying your plants with the…

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Five Pest-Eating Predatory Insects to Know and Love

ladybug larva closeup

Know before you squish — the bugs in your garden just might be helpful predatory insects! Some of these garden friends might look or even act a bit alarming, but ultimately they’re well worth having around. Once you know the difference between predatory insects and the herbivores that eat your plants, you’ll be able to…

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