VIDEO: Planting Hydrangeas and Yews 🌸🌲 with Wyse Guide

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In this Wyse Guide project, Kaleb refreshes the entry to his mom’s driveway with smooth hydrangeas and a Captain yew for four-season structure. He plants each shrub with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to jump-start strong root growth and reduce transplant stress, then adds Espoma Organic Holly-tone because hydrangeas and most yews thrive in slightly acidic soil. Bio-tone delivers beneficial microbes and gentle nutrition right where roots need it; Holly-tone provides a slow, steady feed tailored for acid-loving plants so they establish beautifully in his neutral Iowa soil.

Tips from Wyse Guide:

  1. Plant when you have the window. If the soil is workable and you can water, spring through fall is fair game—plants are often better off in the ground than in pots.
  2. Match plants to the site. Kaleb chose upright, weather-tough, smooth hydrangeas for bloom and a rugged Captain yew for year-round form in part shade with occasional dry spells.
  3. Call before you dig. Always locate underground utilities before starting holes. Safety first.
  4. Plant slightly high. Set the root ball a touch above grade to allow for settling and better oxygen at the crown, especially near thirsty maples.
  5. Prep the roots. Loosen or lightly score tight root balls so roots can spread into native soil. Then, pre-soak the root ball before backfilling.
  6. Feed and mulch smart. Mix Bio-tone and Holly-tone into the planting hole for establishment and acid-loving nutrition. Finish with a 2–3″ layer of compost like Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost mulch to add organic matter to lock in moisture and suppress weeds.

A simple, well-chosen pairing—hydrangeas for flowers and yew for structure—turned this entry into a welcoming focal point. Take your time, let inspiration strike at the nursery, and set new plants up for success with Bio-tone and Holly-ton

Ready to plant? Visit your local garden center for Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus,  Holly-tone, Land & Sea Compost, and let’s get growing!

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Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image Espoma Organic Holly-tone Organic Fertilizer for all acid loving plants Espoma Organic Land and Sea gourmet compost

 

 

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VIDEO: How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs in Late Fall for Beautiful Spring Flowers 🌼 with Wyse Guide!

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Planting daffodil bulbs in late fall is the perfect way to prepare for a colorful spring garden. Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide shares his top tips for planting bulbs to set them up for success. A key step is using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone when planting. The fertilizer provides essential nutrients that will be ready and waiting when the soil thaws, helping bulbs quickly establish roots and produce vibrant, healthy blooms in spring.

Don’t miss your window to plant before the ground freezes. With just a little effort now, you’ll enjoy bright, cheerful daffodils when spring arrives!

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WyseGuide 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bulb-tone bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Fall Garden Refresh with Wyse Guide

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Watch Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide tackle some fall gardening projects at his mom’s house. In this video, Kaleb transplants boxwoods that aren’t doing well and repots agave plants from outdoor containers that need to be brought indoors for the winter. When transplanting the boxwoods, Kaleb recommends using a high-quality organic starter fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to ensure strong root growth. He also uses Espoma Organic Potting Soil when repotting the agave plants to give his plants a fresh growing medium for the winter months.

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WyseGuide 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus bagEspoma Organic Potting soil Mix Big bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Planting Native Violets from Seed and Plant Plugs 🌸 with Summer Rayne Oakes

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Join Summer Rayne Oakes from Flock Finger Lakes as she works to create a diverse garden by blending a variety of native and native-adjacent plant species.

Each plant choice contributes to the garden’s ecological value, from nitrogen-fixing Dalea to pollinator-attracting violets and rare asters. Summer uses an organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to provide these plants with the nutrients needed for successful establishment. Summer provides valuable insights into building rich soil, designing a visually harmonious layout, and managing weeds naturally to create a beautiful, pollinator-supporting garden.

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: flockfingerlakes.com

Instagram – @flockfingerlakes

YouTube –Flock Finger Lakes

X – @flockny

Facebook –Flock Finger Lakes

 

Featured Products:

 

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Plant Fall Blooming Bulbs with Summer Rayne Oakes

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For those wanting a vibrant pop of color this fall, Summer Rayne Oakes from Flock Finger Lakes shares her approach to planting beautiful fall bulbs like saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) in her garden. Known for its delicate red stigmas that produce the high-value spice saffron, this plant requires careful planning and timing to thrive. Summer Rayne explains her process for selecting ideal planting spots, and preparing nutrient-rich soil using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone.

Summer demonstrates how to plant each corm with a hori-hori knife, ensuring they’re set at the right depth and orientation for optimal growth. With a few helpful tips on moisture control and harvesting, she reveals why these crocuses are a beautiful and practical addition to any garden. Follow her journey to see how these stunning plants will enhance her fall landscape!

Learn more about Flock Finger Lakes here:

Website: flockfingerlakes.com

Instagram – @flockfingerlakes

YouTube –Flock Finger Lakes

X – @flockny

Facebook –Flock Finger Lakes

 

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bulb-tone bag

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Repurposing Leaves for an Easy DIY Mulch Layer 🍂 with Garden Answer

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Follow along with Laura from Garden Answer as she demonstrates how to turn fallen leaves into a powerful soil booster using leaf mulch in her garden beds. She starts by gathering and shredding leaves with her lawn mower, this helps with breaking down the leaves and preventing the formation of a thick mat layer that prevents water and air movement.

Laura adds Espoma Organic Blood Meal to balance the carbon-rich leaves with a nitrogen source, creating an ideal mix for a quick breakdown of the leaves and soil nourishment. A leaf mulch layer can be a natural insulator for delicate plants, shielding them from winter chill and enriching the soil for the next season.

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Video: Overwintering Tips With Kaleb Wyse!

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Ever wonder how to save your favorite outdoor plants from the winter cold? ❄? @Wyse Guide demonstrates how he overwinters his plants.

Kaleb demonstrates how to use our Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix to re-pot your outdoor container plants and bring them inside for the coming winter months.

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGrayBoxwood 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/ 

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/ 

 

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How to Use Succession Planting in Your Fall Garden

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Gardening with hands in soil

 

Did you finish harvesting your summer crops and find yourself wondering what to do next? There’s still plenty of time to get a fall and winter garden going before the first frost! Try planting one vegetable right as another one finishes. This is a process many gardeners use called succession planting and will maximize your harvest all season long. Here are four different ways to do it!


Harvest and replant


Go ahead and harvest your veggies that are ready to go. When you’re done, plant another set of vegetables with a shorter maturity date in that same plot in your garden. Replacing leafy greens with potatoes is a great example of this method.

 

Be sure to plan accordingly here! Growing based on maturity can be a little tricky if you aren’t planning for your region. Make sure to check the seed packet or plant tag to find out how long the plant will take to mature and what temperature in which it will grow best. Also be sure you have enough seeds to keep you going through the season.

 

Companion crops

 

This method involved planting two or more crops with varying maturity dates around each other. This way, even after you harvest the first crop, your garden will continue to flourish! Radishes next to cucumbers are a perfect example of this since radishes will be harvested before the cucumbers start to produce too much shade.

 

Remember to feed all your crops at their varying stages of growth to keep them moving along. Espoma’s Garden Tone will keep the soil rich in order for your crops to continue thriving as the weather gets colder. And don’t hesitate to pull plants that are reducing or ceasing harvest in order to make room for new crops!

Man gardening tomatoes and vegetables in a raised bed

 

Staggered crops

 

Try planting the same crop every few weeks in order not to be bombarded by the entire crop at once. For example, tomatoes and peas would work well in small batches throughout the entire season.

 

Just one crop

 

Lastly, you can always keep things simple by planting the same crop with different maturity dates. Seed packets will often display the days to maturity for you. Broccoli, for example, is a crop with various maturity dates.

 

Don’t forget that you can always start your seeds indoors in order to speed up the growing process outdoors! This allows you to harvest and quickly plant to keep your garden at an optimum level throughout the fall and winter season.

 

Gardening, leafy Green plants, fall gardening

 

Ready to get out there and start succession planting? We can’t wait to see your endless harvests all season long! Get started by making a list of veggies it’s not too late to plant.

 

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Garden-tone

 

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Video: Planting Shrubs with Garden Answer

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Follow along as Laura from Garden Answer spruces up her new property with some new shrubs with the help of her favorite Espoma products!

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5 Tips for Creating a Fall Centerpiece for Thanksgiving

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Your Thanksgiving dinner may look different this year with a smaller number of attendees, but that’s all the more reason to stun them with holiday decor! It’s more important than ever to relax with members of your household and find ways to put everyone in that classic festive mood. Here are some ways to make a beautiful table centerpiece to help this holiday season be as cheerful as the last.

Fall flowers potted into a pumpkin

 

1. Pumpkins everywhere

Not sure what to do with all the pumpkins you got for Halloween? Turn them into flower pots and get the full effect of fall! Hollow them out and put in some of your favorite flowers. You can even paint them to match any decor color you already have.

Cornucopia with fruits, vegetables and flowers

 

2. Create your own cornucopia

Thanksgiving is celebrated to give thanks for the harvest for the year and all the food you’re going to eat, so it’s fitting to display your harvest on the table too! If you took part in growing fruits and vegetables over the summer, why not display your hard work on the table in the form of a cornucopia?

After all the meal planning, preparing, and time spent in the kitchen, the Thanksgiving table needs some love.  A Thanksgiving centerpiece is simple with all of the seasonal produce. Check out the video below from Wyse Guide for some inspiration.

 

table planters

3. Flower arrangements

Another creative trick you can try is creating flower arrangements! If you’ve been growing flowers, you already have everything you need. But if you haven’t, hop on over to your local florist and pick out some fall-colored bouquets and arrange them however you want. There’s no wrong way to do it!

fall leaves on string

4. Shrubs and leaves

If you’re looking for an inexpensive yet effective way to get it done, your backyard is your oyster! Don’t want to pluck out your flowers? Simply bring in some fallen leaves that are bound to be a mix of red, yellow, and orange. This will definitely give your home a more rustic look. Add some branches and evergreen shrubs for some texture!

 

5. Don’t forget houseplants

If you’re a dedicated plant parent, you probably already have some unusual houseplants around your house. Now all you need to do is re-pot them into something more festive to brighten up everyone’s spirits! Make sure to add some potting mix while repotting and some Indoor! Houseplant food to keep them perky throughout dinner.

Whether you’re going all out or only want to make a small arrangement, adding some festive decoration is sure to get everyone feeling more festive and joyful this holiday season. Even if Thanksgiving is dinner for one — remember that plant care is self-care!

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