>> THIS BEE BALM IS LITERALLY CRAWLING WITH BEES.

>> THEY LIKE OUR TEMPERATURES.

>> WE HAVE THINGS BLOOMING FROM EARLY SPRING TO LATE FALL.

>> IT'S FUN TO IMAGINE WHAT THIS PLACE WILL BE LIKE IN A FEW YEARS.

>> WE HAVE JUST GOTTEN STARTED.

♪ SHARON: THANKS FOR JOINING US ON GREAT GARDENING!

I'M YOUR HOST, SHARON YUNG.

IT'S THE START OF OUR REGULAR SEASON, AND WE'LL HAVE NEW EPISODES FOR YOU EVERY WEEK UNTIL MAY 9.

ALONG THE WAY, WE'LL SHARE HELPFUL TIPS AND TRICKS TO HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THE GROWING SEASON, AS WELL AS SHOW YOU TOURS OF LOCAL GARDENS.

LET'S WELCOME BACK OUR GARDEN EXPERTS!

THEY ARE HORTICULTURIST AND EDUCATOR BOB OLEN, AND GARDEN PROFESSIONAL DEB BYRNS ERICKSON OF BYRNS GREENHOUSE IN ZIM.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM GARDENERS ACROSS OUR REGION, WHO HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR EXPERTS.

WE HAVE PHONE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS HERE TO RECIEVE YOUR QUESTIONS THIS EVENING.

CALL LOCALLY 218-788-2847 OR EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

TONIGHT, WE'RE TALKING WATERING TIPS.

PLUS, WE'LL EDUCATE OURSELVES ON HOW TO MANAGE MOISTURE.

BUT FIRST, LET'S MEET WITH DEB AS SHE TAKES US THROUGH HOW POT SIZE CAN AFFECT WATERING.

DEB: I BROUGHT A FEW THINGS TO LOOK AT AND A LOT OF TIMES, IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER POT, THEN IT IS GOING TO -- IF IT IS A FULL CANOPY -- THIS IS NOT.

THE CANOPY IS JUST THE AMOUNT OF PLANT MATERIAL THAT CAN STOP THE WATER FROM GETTING INTO THE CONTAINER.

THIS IS NOT FALL SO WHEN YOU WATER, A LOT OF WATER GETS INTO THAT CONTAINER BUT IF YOU HAVE A FULLER CANOPY LIKE THIS OR LIKE THE ONES DOWN HERE, WE HAVE SOME FULLER CANOPIES, AND THOSE, WHEN YOU WATER THEM, THEN THEY CAN SHED OFF A LOT OF THE WATER IF YOU HAVE THE HOSE UP HIGH.

YOU CAN GET THE HOSE IN AND WANTED THEM MORE THOROUGHLY.

THESE ONES, IT IS A DROP IN POT AND YOU CAN GROW THOSE TOGETHER IN A SMALLER SPACE AND WHEN YOU ARE READY TO BRING THEM OUTSIDE, THEN YOU CAN POP THEM INTO A BIGGER POT BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF PLANT MATERIAL IN A SMALLER CONTAINER, THEY ARE GOING TO REQUIRE A WHOLE LOT MORE WATER THAN SOMETHING WITH A SMALL CANOPY AND A LITTLE BIT MORE SOIL EXPOSED, AND IT COMES DOWN TO ALSO HOW BIG IS YOUR PLANT AND THE PLANT, HOW IT GROWS.

A DAHLIA LOVES A LOT OF WATER, AND IT HAS A BIG CANOPY SO YOU NEED TO GET WATER DOWN IN THERE.

ONE THING THAT IS KIND OF TRICKY, WHY I BOUGHT DAHLIAS AND BEGONIAS IS BECAUSE THEY BOTH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO POWDERY MILDEW, BUT ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY DONE BY UMASS, WHICH WAS SO INTERESTING, IF YOU WATER IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS COOLER, ONCE THE TEMPERATURE GOES ABOVE 60 DEGREES AND BETWEEN 60 TO 70, BY THE TIME IT HITS 70 DEGREES, IT DOUBLES IN HUMIDITY.

THESE GUYS DON'T LIKE A LOT OF HUMIDITY SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO COME AGAIN, WATER IN THE MORNING, KEEP IT OFF THE FOLIAGE, BUT IF IT IS COOLER IN YOUR WATERING THINGS, THERE IS LESS LIKELIHOOD OF THE HUMIDITY MOVING IN AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSES A LOT OF POWDERY MILDEW AND A LOT OF FUNGAL DISEASES.

IT IS KIND OF INTERESTING BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER, WHAT OUR HUMIDITY IS, AND WHAT OUR PLANTS REQUIRE.

BOB: ALL GOOD POINTS.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY PLANTS AND YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

SOME OF IT IS THE THICKNESS OF THE LEASE.

THE THICKER THE LEAF, THE LESS MOISTURE IT WILL REQUIRE BECAUSE THERE IS LESS -- THE MORE IT SHEDS, AND THESE VERY THIN LEAF PLANTS RESPIRE MORE READILY AND THEY WILL REQUIRE MORE MOISTURE, PARTICULARLY THEM AS YOU MENTIONED, THOUGH HUMIDITY AND WARMER TEMPERATURES, MORE MOISTURE.

DEB: ESPECIALLY IF YOU THROW IN THE WIND OR CLIMATE.

IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE RAIN, YOU SHOULD WATCH IT AND NOT OVER WATER BUT IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER -- TRY AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE WEATHER AND KNOW -- NEXT WEEK IS SUPPOSED TO BE WET SO YOU WILL NOT HAVE TOO WATER AS MUCH EITHER.

THERE IS A LOT LESS WATER PRESSURE ON YOUR PLANS.

BOB: IT IS KIND OF -- YOUR PLANTS.

BOB: IT IS KIND OF A MANAGEMENT THING.

WATERING AND WATER IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD PLANT GROWTH.

WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT STRAWBERRIES WERE DAHLIAS, ALL OF THESE PLANTS ARE REALLY ENCAPSULATED MOISTURE.

SHARON: THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

YOU TALK ABOUT POT SIZE.

ARE YOU TALKING DIAMETER, DEBTS, OR BOTH?

DEB: SOIL COMPOSITION.

WE USE A LOT OF PEAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT IN OUR FIELDS.

WHAT YOU HAVE FOR COMPOSITION, WHEN YOU SPEAK OF SUCCULENTS, THEY REQUIRE LIGHT DRAINING SOIL SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SOIL YOU CHOOSE ALSO ABOUT THE BIGGER THE PLANT, THE BIGGER THE DRINK, SO IF YOU HAVE A BIG PLANT LIKE THESE DAHLIAS, THEY REQUIRE A BIGGER DRINK THAN SOMETHING THAT IS SMALLER WHICH REQUIRES A SMALLER DRINK AND IT CAN GO IN A SMALLER CONTAINER ALSO.

SHARON: WELL, THANK YOU.

LET'S GET TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

ONE OF OUR VIEWERS IS ASKING ABOUT PINK LILIES OF THE VALLEY FROM TWO DIFFERENT REPUTABLE GARDEN CATALOGS THAT SHE HAS ORDERED BUT EVEN THOUGH SHE FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS, NEITHER ORDER SURVIVED IN TWO DIFFERENT PLANTING YEARS.

SHE'S WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY ADVICE AND ARE THEY DIFFICULT TO GROW.

HER WHITE ONES GROW LIKE WEEDS.

DEB: I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN I GET SOMETHING AND I PAID A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR IT AND IT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIMEN IN MY GARDEN, I LIKE TO POT IT UP IN A CONTAINER SO THEN YOU HAVE MORE CONTROL AND YOU REALLY NEED TO SATURATE THAT ROUTE, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS COMING IN BEAR AND IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY DRY ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE HAVING IT SHIPPED IN AND I LIKE IT TO BREAK BUD BEFORE I WOULD TRANSPLANT IT OUT, EVEN WITH LILY OF THE VALLEY.

I WOULD LET IT GO TO BLOOM SO IT'S GOING TO MORE OF A DORMANCY WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK IN.

BOB: ALL GOOD POINTS.

WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IS A LOT OF THESE PLANTS, IF THEY ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL COLOR, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT COLORS FROM THE ORIGINAL, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING TO GROW THEM AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A TENDENCY TO REVERT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL COLOR.

PINK GOING BACK TO WHITE, WHITE BEING STRONGER.

LILY OF THE VALLEY, ONCE YOU GET THEM ESTABLISHED, THEY ARE ALMOST INVASIVE, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

SHARON: I DID NOT REALIZE THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO GROW.

GRAYSON WOULD LIKE US TO TALK ABOUT BIOCHAR.

IS THIS A GOOD WAY TO PUT BRUSH BACK INTO THE SOIL WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR IT TO COMPOST?

WHEN IS THE LAST FROST DATE?

BOB: A COUPLE GOOD QUESTIONS.

DEB: I ONLY THINK IT IS GOOD FOR MAKING YOUR RAISED BEDS.

I LOVE THAT AS YOU HAVE SEEN IT.

IT CAN TAKE OUT A LOT OF NITROGEN AND I KNOW A LOT OF BIG GROWERS ARE GOING TO IT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF PEAT AND IT DOES AERATE THE SOIL WELL BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WATCH YOUR FERTILITY A LOT MORE.

BOB: IT'S PARTIALLY OXIDIZED SO -- YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE NITROGEN AND WHAT ARE WE REALLY ADDING THIS FOR?

ARE WE TRYING TO OPEN UP THE SOIL?

THAT COULD BE A MAJOR CONSIDERATION BUT IT IS NOT BIOACTIVE SO IT IS REALLY -- IT HAS UTILITY BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CURE-ALL.

I THINK STICKING WITH GOOD ORGANICS, GOOD COMPOST, GOOD MANURES AND GOOD PEATS, WHICH WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE AREA, THOSE WILL BE THE PREFERRED ORGANICS WERE AS.

SHARON: IF YOU ARE FROM OTTAWA IS ASKING IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO TRIM THE ROSE BUSHES AND HOW FAR DOWN THE STEM SHALL THEY GO?

BOB: WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF ROSEBUSHES TO BEGIN WITH.

WE ARE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT SHRUBS AND SO FORTH AND YOU CAN ALWAYS WAIT A LITTLE LONGER BUT YOU CAN PRUNE THEM BACK.

YOU CAN TELL WHEN THERE'S BEEN WINTER INJURY.

IT HAS BEEN A BIG QUESTION THIS YEAR.

SOMETIMES, IT CAN BE GOOD.

SOMETIMES, IT CAN BE BAD.

WE MIGHT HAVE MORE TOP STOCK DAMAGE.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT REALLY HAS DRIED UP.

YOU CAN ALWAYS PRUNE IT BACK TO THE GREEN POINT.

DON'T YOU THINK?

DEB: DON'T BE TOO AGGRESSIVE ON APPEARED WHEN YOU START TO PRUNE IT BACK, TAKE IT GRADUALLY ALTHOUGH YOU CAN ALWAYS AIR OUT THE CROWN AND TAKE OUT SOME OF THOSE CROSSING LINES JUST SO YOU HAVE GOOD AIRFLOW THROUGH IN CASE THERE IS ANY DISEASE, BLACK SPOT, MILDEW.

IT REALLY LIKES ROSES.

SHARON: WE HAVE -- BOB: WE HAVE A FEW INTRODUCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR IT.

THEY HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR RESISTANCE.

GOOD POINTS.

DON'T UNCOVER THEM YET.

IT'S EARLY FOR THAT.

I AM ASSUMING HE'S TALKING ABOUT SHRUB ROSES.

SHARON: WE WILL GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTIONS IN A MOMENT BUT A FIRST, GARDEN TOUR.

IN 2023, WE VISITED THE GARDENS OF JUDY AND LARRY.

THEY OWN A HOME THAT'S A CENTURY OLD, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S PAST ITS PRIME.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEY KEEP THEIR SPACE VIBRANT AND BEAUTIFUL!

JUDY: I AM JUDY.

LARRY: AND I AM LARRY.

WE ARE HERE AT OUR HOME AND WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 63 YEARS.

I LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE, MY WHOLE 81 YEARS, AND THE HOUSE IS 100 YEARS OLD, AND MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT IT BACK IN 1923.

JUDY: WE HAVE HAD A PLAN FOR A CERTAIN AREA BUT NEVER A PLAN FOR THE WHOLE THING.

THE CREEK HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

IT COMES FROM AN ARTESIAN WELL AND IT NEVER DRIES UP NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE WEATHER.

LARRY: IT RUNS ALL YEAR ROUND AND WITH THE DROUGHT, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH WATER IN IT.

WITH A GOOD RAINFALL, THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF WATER.

WE HAVE A COUPLE BRIDGES JUST FOR THE COSMETIC ART BECAUSE YOU CAN WALK OVER THE CREEK.

[LAUGHTER] BETWEEN ME, MYSELF, AND MY FRIEND, WE BUILT THE GAZEBOS AND THE LITTLE HOUSE.

AND THEN SHE DECORATES THEM WITH STUFF.

[LAUGHTER] JUDY: THE THING YOU SEE FIRST, THE THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU DRIVE BY SHOULD LOOK APPEALING.

IT SHOULD LOOK INVITING AND COLORFUL.

IT HAS TO BE COLORFUL.

LARRY: WE HAVE A CABIN ON FISH LAKE AND WHEN THEY PUT A DIFFERENT ROAD UP THERE, I ASKED THE CONTRACTOR IF WE COULD TAKE THE ROCKS AND HE JUST SMILED AND HAD, TAKE ALL YOU WANT.

WE TAKE THE ROCKS AND THEN WE BRING THEM HOME AND PLACED THEM THERE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE UPPER GAME ROOM GARAGE.

JUDY: AND WHEN YOU SEE REALLY HUGE ONES, THAT IS GENERALLY THANKS TO A REALLY BIG, STRONG GRANDSON.

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ABOUT ALL THE FERNS.

SO WE HAD THIS LITTLE PATCH AND IT KEPT GOING SO WE JUST SAID, FINE, GO AHEAD.

AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL, REALLY.

THEY WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UP ALL OF THAT AREA, TRYING TO WEED IT.

THEY KEEP OUT THE WEEDS AND DON'T REQUIRE ANYTHING.

THEY JUST DO THEIR OWN THING.

I GUESS YOU CALL THEM A GROUNDCOVER BUT THEY REALLY WORK WELL.

LARRY: IT'S REALLY ENJOYABLE TO GET OUT AND WORK IN NATURE AND WORK IN THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER WE HAVE HERE IN DULUTH.

[BIRDS CHIRPING] SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDY AND LARRY.

LATER IN TONIGHT'S SHOW, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE CLEAN UP EFFORTS OF THE DULUTH COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM, AS THEY TOOK CHARGE OF REVITALIZING A SPACE AT THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SWITCHING GEARS, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PARTS OF GREAT GARDENING IS SHARING PHOTOS SENT IN BY YOU, OUR VIEWERS, AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERIES "THE LOCAL DIRT."

WE LOVE SHARING THE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS OF GARDENERS ACROSS OUR REGION.

TO SEND IN YOUR PHOTOS TO BE FEATURED, EMAIL GREATGARDENING@PBSNORTH.ORG.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU SHARE WITH US!

SO FOR NOW, LET'S GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTIONS!

RICHARD IN TWO HARBORS IS ASKING, DOES WATERING LEACH OUT NUTRIENTS FROM POTTED PLANTS AND WHAT THEY REQUIRE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRIENTS, IF SO?

BOB: GOOD QUESTION.

DEB: IT GOES TO CONTAINER SIZE AND HOW MUCH FERTILITY YOU HAVE PUT IN THERE.

DO YOU HAVE A TIME RELEASE FERTILITY?

THEY BREAK DOWN AT ABOUT 70 DEGREES AND AS YOU WATER THEM, THE FERTILIZER COMES OUT OF THEM AND THOSE ARE GREAT FOR ADDING FERTILITY AND NOT OVERDOING IT.

BUT YES, IT DOES TAKE OUT, BUT GOOD SOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PH OR CHANGING A BIT OF THE SOIL BECAUSE FERTILITY CAN RAISE THE PH, TWO.

BOB: -- TOO.

BOB: CORRECT, AND THE LETTER THE SOIL, THE MORE CONSCIOUS YOU HAVE TO BE ABOUT THIS.

THEY CAN FLUSH THOSE THROUGH.

THEY ARE LOW IN NUTRIENTS OR YOU WANT NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM.

WE HAVE 17 NUTRIENTS, MICRO AND MACRO.

IF YOU ARE USING A WATER-SOLUBLE FERTILIZER, GET ONE THAT HAS TRACE NUTRIENTS IN IT AS WELL.

DEB: THE OTHER THING IS IF YOU ARE USING A REAL SOIL VERSUS A NON-SOIL MIX, THAT NONE SOIL MIX HAS ZERO FERTILITY UNLESS IT LISTS IT ON THE BAG SO IF YOU HAVE A NATURAL SOIL, IT IS A MUCH BETTER BUFFER.

SHARON: IS THERE A WAY TO TEST?

HOW WOULD SOMEONE KNOW IF THEY BOUGHT SOMETHING FROM A LOCAL GREENHOUSE OR IS THERE A TIME PERIOD YOU RECOMMEND?

DEB: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

YOU SEE THAT PEAT LOOK TO IT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF FERTILITY OR A LOT OF OF THEIR SOIL MIXED INTO IT.

BOB: IT IS LIGHTER TO SHIP, EASIER TO MOVE AND BAG AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF MINERALS SO THE HIGH QUALITY IS HEAVIER AND VERY VALUABLE, PARTICULARLY IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA.

SHARON: GOOD QUESTION.

PHIL FROM HERMANTOWN WANTS TO KNOW ANY EASY TIPS FOR GROUND CHERRIES.

BOB:BOB: GETTING THE RIGHT VARIETIES.

SHARON: WHAT VARIETIES?

BOB: WE CAN START WITH NORSTAR.

PROBABLY -- BALI IS GOOD AND HARDY.

THE NANKING CHERRIES.

DEB: THERE'S BEEN A DEMISE A BIT OF THE NANKINGS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

BOB: THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD PR FOR THEM.

THEY ARE STILL IN THE MARKET AND SO FORTH.

SABE IS ANOTHER ONE.

THESE ARE NOT GOING TO BE BING CHERRIES.

THEY ARE MORE SOUR BUT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD AND HARDY.

PIES AND JUICE AND EATING THEM FRESH, TOO.

NOT LIKE A REAL SWEET THING SO DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT.

SHARON: THERE IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO GROW GARLIC.

HALLOWEEN IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS COULD THIS GROWER FACE?

BOB: IN SOME WAYS, IT'S REAL EASY AND IN SOME WAYS, IT IS REAL CHALLENGING.

GARLIC, FOR THE MOST PART, WE HAVE TO GET IT TO GO THROUGH A STRATIFICATION WINTER PROCESS.

WE PLANT IN THE FALL SO WILL LOVE THEM, GARLIC GOES IN, PLANTED MID-TO-LATE OCTOBER, AND THEN IT'S GOING TO COME UP FOR YOU IN THE SPRING.

WE HARVEST IN EARLY AUGUST.

WE PULL THEM UP AND LET THE BULBS AND THE CLOVES DRY AND THEN WE REPLANT AGAIN.

AUGUST FOR HARVEST.

IF YOU WANT TO PLANT IN THE SPRING, YOU CAN ACCLIMATE THEM IN THE REFRIGERATOR FIRST FOR ABOUT 60 DAYS AND YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COLD PERIOD.

RELATIVELY PEST FREE IF YOU KEEP MOVING ALONG.

SOME CUT OFF THE ESCAPE SWITCH OF THE FLOWERING POTENTIAL AND CUT THOSE OFF TO GET THE LARGER BALL THE SIZE SO THERE'S A LOT OF TIPS INCLUDING VARIETY SELECTION BUT NOT REALLY DIFFICULT TO GROW BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

SHARON: DO YOU THINK THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS SO WET -- WE DID NOT KNOW IT WOULD BE SO MILD BUT YOU COULD HAVE PLANTED GARLIC INTO SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN STILL GET A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND.

BOB: IT WAS RAINING ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND I WAS OUT THERE IN MY MUD BOOTS, HALFWAY UP MY CALVES IN MUD, COVERING THE GARLIC BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT COULD BE DAMAGING.

YOU HAVE TO MULCHED THEM IN IN MOST YEARS.

THIS YEAR, WHO KNOWS?

AND WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

THEY ROT OFF?

SO MUCH MOISTURE.

THIS YEAR'S GARLIC CROP IS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING WHEN IT FINALLY GETS UP.

IT WON'T BE LONG.

SHARON: ONE LAST QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU.

YOU TALKED ABOUT PLANS AND WATERING THEM.

FOR THE NOVICE, SOMEONE TRYING TO REALLY GET IN, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH PLANS TO PUT TOGETHER?

DEB: IF YOU GO TO A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER.

THEY KNOW SOUND AND SHADE THINGS AND WANT TO GROW, WANT TO PUT TOGETHER.

I'M SORRY, BUT BOX STORES HAVE COMBINATIONS THAT I HAVE SEEN TOGETHER AND I JUST SHAKE MY HEAD.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SET YOU UP FOR GOOD SUCCESS BUT A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER IS GOING TO HAVE THINGS PUT TOGETHER WELL FOR YOU AND A LOT OF TIMES, SUN AND SHADE THINGS, NOT MIXING THEM, KEEPING THE SUN THINGS TO GO INTO THE SUN.

UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO DO AND UNDER PLANTING -- THERE'S GOING TO BECAUSE SHADE THERE.

THEN THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, BUT THE ROOTS ON A BEGONIA ARE MUCH SMALLER, MUCH MORE FRAGILE THAN SOMETHING BIGGER LIKE A DOLLY ABACO LOCAL.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

SHARON: IT REALLY IS A GOOD REASON TO SUPPORT LOCAL.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET PLANS THAT ARE LOCAL TO THE AREA.

BOB: WE THINK OF A LOT OF THE WOODY'S.

THEY ARE BETTER SUITED GROWING COLD AND A REALLY GOOD POINT.

DON'T ALWAYS SHOP PRICE.

SHOP LOCAL.

SHARON: YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WEATHER PREDICTIONS.

BOB: THE WEATHER HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS EVERYWHERE.

WHAT A WARM AND UNUSUAL WINTER WE HAD OF COURSE.

RAINFALL AND MOISTURE IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SEASON LOOKS LIKE SO WHAT DOES THE SEASON LOOK LIKE IN THE YEAR AHEAD?

I CAN SAY IF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ARE ANY INDICATION, EXPECT AN EMBRACE WEATHER EXTREMES.

WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE, LIKE LAST YEAR, VERY DRY, DROUGHT CONDITIONS THROUGH MUCH OF THE GROWING SEASON.

MARCH OR IN SEPTEMBER.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE AN AVERAGE YEAR IN TERMS OF BOTH TEMPERATURES AS WELL AS PRECIPITATION.

THIS IS A MAP FROM THE NATIONAL ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER.

I WANTED TO SHOW IT BECAUSE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MOVED OUT.

YOU NOTICE WHERE WE ARE.

WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, WE ARE IN THE EXTREMELY ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES COMING INTO THE SPRING.

THIS IS APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.

VERY WARM SPRING THAT JUST CHANGED.

THE NEXT MAP WILL SHOW YOU WHAT WE ANTICIPATE DURING THE SUMMER.

THIS WILL BE JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST, OUR MAJOR GROWING PERIOD BECAUSE WE HAVE THE LIGHT AND THE TEMPERATURES.

WE WILL HAVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES WHICH WILL BE GOOD FOR US.

NOT TOO HOT.

LOOK AT WHAT WILL HAPPEN POTENTIALLY IN THE SOUTHWEST, A FEW LAMINATE MIGRANTS COMING NORTH AGAIN, COMING INTO THE FALL.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

THEY ARE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A WARM FALL AS WELL.

WE HAD THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SO I'M SUGGESTING THAT PEOPLE MIGHT -- DON'T HOLD ME TO THIS BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS THE WEATHER AND WE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN -- BUT YOU MIGHT LOOK AT SPRING PLANTING, SUMMER PLANNING, AND YOUR FALL CROPS, AND EMPHASIZE ALL THREE TO GET GOOD PRODUCTION THROUGH THE YEAR.

WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT -- AGAIN, AVERAGE MOISTURE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON BUT PROBABLY RAINFALL EVENTS.

EXPECT MORE SURE EXTREMES.

WE HAVE SEEN HEAVY DOWNPOURS.

WHATEVER CLIMATE CHANGE IS OCCURRING, WE ARE NOT SEEING THE INTENSITY IN TEMPERATURES BUT WE ARE SEEING EXTREMES IN TERMS OF DROUGHT AND MOISTURE SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD DRAINAGE TO HANDLE THE WET CONDITIONS, SUPPLEMENTAL MOISTURE.

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT ADVISE FOR CONTROLLING MOISTURE, SOME OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO.

YOU CAN CONTROL MOISTURE IF YOU HAVE A WATER SOURCE SO YOU WANT TO THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

NUMBER ONE, LET'S GET SOME ORGANICS IN OUR MINERAL SOILS.

THIS CAN BE COMPOST.

THIS CERTAINLY CAN BE MANURES AS WELL.

THINK ABOUT MULCHING THE SOIL.

MOST STAYS UP ON THE SOIL'S SURFACE AND THAT PREVENTS EVAPORATION.

WATERING IN THE MORNING.

BECAUSE WE MINIMIZE DISEASE PRESSURE, YOU TALK ABOUT HUMIDITIES, AND THE PRESSURE OF DISEASE.

WATER IN THE MORNING REDUCES EVAPORATION AND WATER WILL BE VERY VALUABLE.

WATER RATES IN MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING UP.

IF IT IS DRY, WE WORRY ABOUT WELLS IN RURAL AREAS, AND BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID, WE WILL GROUP PLANS BASED ON THE DEPTH OF WATERING.

I WILL USE SALAD CROPS.

YOU HAVE RADISHES, LETTICE, AND MAYBE SOME OF OUR SPINACH CROPS.

THEY WILL NOT REQUIRE A LOT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE BROADLY COVERED TO BIDDERS, SWEETCORN, DEEP ROOTS.

THOSE, YOU WILL WATER VERY THOROUGHLY AND INFREQUENTLY.

DRIVE THOSE ROUTES DOWN AND THEN YOU NEVER REALLY WANT TO WATER UNTIL YOU SEE A PLANT THAT IS STRESSED OR WILTING.

THEY WILL COME BACK FROM THAT BUT IN MOST CASES, YOU STILL DAMAGED THE PLANT.

THINK ABOUT TRICKLE IRRIGATION, DRIP IRRIGATION, RATHER THAN OVERHEAD SPRINKLERS WITH THE LOSS OF MOISTURE DUE TO EVAPORATION.

DO NOT OVER TILT.

EVERY TIME YOU TILT, YOU BREAK UP THE SOIL STRUCTURE AND THEN SURFACE DRIES OUT AND YOU ARE LOSING MOISTURE TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONTROLLING ALL THE WEEDS WITH AND THEN ANOTHER TIP.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET OUT THERE AND WATER -- I LIKE THE TWO STEP PROCESS WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO WATER FIRST THE SOIL SURFACE AND LET THE WATER SULK IN AND THEN ADD A SECOND TIME WATER TO DRIVE THAT DOWN SO YOU DON'T GET THE RUNOFF.

THERE IS A LOT THERE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BUT THOSE ARE SOME TIPS FOR CONSERVING MOISTURE.

IT WILL BE VERY CRITICAL FOR ALL OF US IN THE FUTURE.

SHARON: THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOB.

GOOD TIPS.

WE'LL CONTINUE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS IN A MOMENT, SO KEEP CALLING!

BUT FIRST, IN AUGUST 2023, THE DOWNTOWN DULUTH COMMNUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM TOOK CHARGE OF THE GREEN SPACE AT THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.

WE TAGGED ALONG WITH THEM AS THEY REVITALIZED THE AREA WITH VOLUNTEERS.

LET'S WRAP THINGS UP WITH MORE QUESTIONS!

-- WITH VOLUNTEERS.

>> WE ARE AT THE DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY RIGHT NOW.

THE LIBRARY APPROACH TO THE GARDEN PROGRAM AND SAID THAT THEY WANTED SOME HELP WITH THIS OUTDOOR SPACE.

IT WAS NOT REALLY BEING UTILIZED IN THE WAY THAT THEY WANTED IT TO BE UTILIZED AND WE ARE FINALLY HERE NOW SO IT IS SUPER EXCITING TO BE AT THIS POINT IN THE PROJECT.

WE PARTNERED UP WITH THE DULUTH COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM AND APPLIED FOR THIS LOVE YOUR BLACK FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY INTO BEAUTIFY THE SPACE.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN DEMOLITION MODE SO WE ARE PULLING EVERYTHING OUT AND TRYING TO SAVE ANY LILIES OR THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT FOR THEIR HOME LANDSCAPING PROJECT AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE IS GETTING RIPPED OUT SO WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO START WITH A FRESH SLATE AND THEN PUT IN NATIVE POLLINATOR PERENNIAL VARIETIES IN THE GARDENS.

AND THEN MORE AT BERRIES IN THE CIRCLE GARDEN.

>> I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND BEING ABLE TO USE SOME OF THIS SPACE FOR PROGRAMMING AT THE LIBRARY.

WE WANT TO EVENTUALLY GET SOME SIGNS IT INTO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PURPOSE OF THE DIFFERENT POLLINATOR PLANTS AND HERBS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS, AND THEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT IS A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN ACCESS THOSE, TOO.

>> WE ARE HOPING TO GET IT ALL DONE TONIGHT SO ONCE THE DEMOLITION IS OVER, THE BEDS ARE CLEAN, WE WILL TAKE A LITTLE BREAK, EAT SOME FOOD, AND THEN IT WILL BE THE PLANTING STAGE.

>> NEXT YEAR AT THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE ITEMS THAT PEOPLE COULD PICK OUT OF HERE AND MOST OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE JUST FROM THE COMMUNITY.

50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

>> THIS IS TRULY A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ALL THESE DIFFERENT GREAT ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN SO IT'S NOT ANY ONE PERSON THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EFFORT.

HERE TODAY, WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE AND CAN SHARE IN THE BEAUTY THAT RESULTS FROM IT.

SHARON: WELL, WE WILL HAVE TO GET TO OUR QUESTIONS NEXT WEEK.

THEY HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL, AND THAT IS ALL FOR GREAT GARDENING TONIGHT.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, ON INSTAGRAM @GREATGARDENINGPBSNORTH, AND ON YOUTUBE AT YOUTUBE.COM/GREATGARDENING, WHERE YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S EPISODE POSTED TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, BOB.

AND THANK YOU, DEB, FOR YOUR GREAT INSIGHTS TONIGHT.

WE'LL RETURN FOR A NEW EPISODE NEXT WEEK, WHERE WE'LL SHOW OFF AN ESPECIALLY COLORFUL SPACE FROM A DULUTH GARDENER.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT GREAT GARDENING, THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND ENJOY THE GARDEN.

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