Garden Hike

Fall Colors on Pear, Elm and Birch: Will A Hard (Killing) Frost Hurt My Trees and Shrubs?

Fall is a beautiful time of year. In this video we’ll look at fall colors on Mountain Frost Pear, Northern Empress Japanese Elm, and Parkland Pillar Birch. And we’ll answer the question: "Will an early hard frost hurt my trees and shrubs?" Thanks for stopping by

How to Prune Spreading Junipers to Accent Your Landscape, Not Cover It Up

Junipers can be great additions to your landscape, but be sure you keep them in check and pruned correctly, or they can quickly take over an area. In this video, I'll show you how to prune spreading junipers so that they accent your landscape instead of covering it

How to Extend a Landscape Bed using Rock Edging (Easy)

Rock edging is a great way to keep mulch and other materials in place while adding a natural touch to your landscape. In this video, I'll show you how to install rock edging using natural stone to create an attractive landscape bed. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike!

Early Fall Color and Showy Fruit: Check Out These Favorite Small Trees and Shrubs

This video highlights some of my favorite trees and shrubs with early fall color. We'll start with Prairie Radiance Euonymus boasting a pink fall leaf color. Peek at the colorful fruit on the Showy Mountain-ash and Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn. And check out the purple fall color on the

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas: How to Add a Rock Garden

Adding a rock garden to your front yard is a great way to improve your curb appeal and add some extra interest to your landscaping. In this video, I'll show you how to create a rock garden in your own front yard, using rocks, plants, and soil. Thanks

Early Fall Pruning - Lower Branch Removal

It's time to prune some lower branches off our Green Ash and Royal Frost Birch. Early fall is a great time to complete this project. Here's a video showing the process. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike! Kevin Make sure you check out A.M. Leonard

"The Aphid Effect" - How These Tiny Creatures Help Pollinators Thrive

When insects ingest plant tissue, their excretions (frass) can provide valuable carbohydrates for other insects. Aphids are often seen as pests, but they can also play an important role in the relationship between plants and pollinators. In this video, we take a look at how aphids have made this Swedish

Removing An Overgrown Evergreen Shrub (Yew). Is Pruning It Back An Option?

Eventually, evergreen shrubs along house foundations can become overgrown. This video looks at the removal process. See if you are up for the task, or decide if pruning it back is an option. After removing this large shrub, here’s a video showing the complete landscaping project that followed. Thanks

Three Great Spireas With Gold Leaves: Firegold, Goldmound & Double Play. Prune Them or Leave Them?

I love using plants with gold foliage for accents in my gardens. The golden leaves of these plants create a striking contrast against the typical green foliage. This post looks at three great gold spireas. Firegold Spirea is a beautiful plant with vibrant golden foliage that adds a touch of

Perennial Flowers in Full Bloom: A July & August Photo Essay

I put together a collection of some of the best-blooming perennials for July and August. This video is a photo essay highlighting perennials hardy to zone 3 & 4. From Coneflowers to Rudbeckias to Sedum, you're sure to find something you love. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike!

My Potentillas Are Thriving After Pruning - Watch to see how they reacted!

Potentilla shrubs look their best with a light annual shearing, generally around 6-8 inches, and preferably before they break dormancy. Pruning stimulates new growth, which yields thick, fresh foliage and a flurry of bright flowers. I’ve included two short videos showing the pruning process and results. Enjoy. Thanks for

Ninebark: Beautiful Leaf Colors as a Result of Spring Pruning

Ninebark's will look their best with frequent pruning. Pruning stimulates new growth, and with Ninebarks, their most outstanding feature is vibrant leaf colors. Enjoy the video below to see the colors: Ninebarks also respond well to rejuvenation or renewal pruning. You can watch videos here and here to

Pear Trees | Great For Fruit And Ornamental Value

Even though it is usually the fruit we are after when planting pear trees, they are also very ornamental, with white flowers in the spring and a beautiful range of fall leaf colors. The glossy leaves on pears are also an attractive quality. I have three pear trees growing in

How To Hydrate The Rootball Of Perennials For Increased Transplanting Success

Perennials are a great way to add color and life to your garden, but ensuring they transplant successfully can be tricky. The challenge with today’s container perennials and nursery stock is keeping the roots hydrated due to the light soil mixes used by growers. A majority of wholesale growers

A Peek At My Arborvitae Collection: Bright Yellow, Deep Green, Globes & Pyramids

Arborvitaes have soft scale like leaves and they offer a variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors that can enhance the look of your gardens. There are so many different varieties to choose from, you're sure to find a favorite that is perfect for your needs. I think

Hardy Hydrangeas: Beautiful White Panicle Flowers that Fade to Pink and Smooth Talking Annabelle

Hardy panicle hydrangeas are perfect for adding color to your landscape that start off with showy white panicle flowers and fade to a beautiful pink. And we won't forget our old favorite, Smooth Annabelle. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike! Make sure you check out A.M. Leonard

Planting A Clematis: Finding the Right Location

When planting a Clematis, it's essential to choose the correct location. Clematis prefer well-drained soil, and like their roots to be kept cool, so it's best to plant them where their roots will receive some shade. They also need support to climb on, such as a

Summer Blooming Annuals: A Photo Essay

Your landscape is not complete without a display of summer blooming annuals. They are the perfect way to add color and life to any garden or landscape. Enjoy this photo essay with music, summer 2022 edition. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike! Make sure you check out A.M. Leonard

Evergreens For Your Gardens: Unique Characteristics that WOW

This blog post highlights 16 conifers hardy to Zones 2-4, all with unique characteristics. The video takes you on a tour of each variety. I've also included a photo gallery of the varieties covered in the video. At the end, I've linked to a video that

How to Bring Your Garden Indoors: Fresh-Cut Flower (Nature) Vases

Bring the outdoors in with these easy to make fresh-cut flower vases! You can create beautiful arrangements and be amazed how many options there are once you start looking. This is a great project for anyone who loves spending time in the garden, and it's really simple to

Agapanthus (Lily Of The Nile): Showy in Planters, Great for Cut Flowers and Mass Plantings

Agapanthus, also known as Lily Of The Nile, is a beautiful flower that can be used in a variety of ways. Its showy blooms make it perfect for use in planters (and covering stumps as you'll see in the video) and make a stunning display in mass plantings.

Japanese Tree Lilac: Snowdance, Ivory Silk and Copper Curls

If you are looking for prolific white blooms on a small tree, look no further than Japanese Tree Lilac. This video looks at Snowdance, Ivory Silk, and Copper Curls Pekin varieties. This small tree form lilac is perfect for any landscape and is known for its extremely hardy nature. Thanks

Perennial Flowers in Full Bloom: A June Photo Essay

The month of June brings many perennial flowers into full bloom. This photo essay showcases some of the best perennials to grow in zone 3 and 4. Thanks for stopping by Garden Hike! Kevin Make sure you check out A.M. Leonard for all your horticulture tools and supplies. They&

Three Great Lilacs for Your Garden: Miss Kim, Bloomerang and Dwarf Korean

I’ve worked at Garden Centers for many years, and occasionally I would have a customer looking for shrubs to plant that would reveal they did not like the scent of Lilac flowers. What? I thought they were kidding. But apparently some clubs revolve around their love of the smell

Tiger Eyes Sumac: Great for Naturalizing, Drought Tolerant and Showy Leaf Color

Tiger Eyes Sumac is a drought-tolerant shrub with yellow leaf color, providing a nice contrast in the landscape. It has showy fall colors and is great for naturalizing areas. Deer and rabbits are attracted to this shrub in the winter, but maybe that is not a bad thing?? Tiger Eyes