evergreen | Espoma Organic

VIDEO: Porch-Perfect Ferns: 🌿 Planting Hanging Baskets with Wyse Guide

June 17, 2025/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Kaleb Wyse, Spring Gardening

There’s nothing quite like a porch full of lush, thriving greenery to welcome in the warmer months—and no one brings that vision to life quite like Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide. In his latest video, Kaleb shares how he transforms his sunny front porch into a shaded retreat using one of our favorite combinations: Boston ferns, Kimberly Queen ferns, and a trusted mix of Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix and Holly-tone.

Ferns Chosen with Purpose

Kaleb’s front porch faces south, which means intense sunlight, reflected heat, and the occasional gusty breeze. Instead of fighting nature, Kaleb leans into it—selecting Kimberly Queen ferns for their upright habit and sun tolerance, while reserving traditional Boston ferns for shadier spots near the house.

His secret to keeping these ferns happy? It starts with the soil.

Kaleb’s Planting Tips:

Kaleb chooses our Espoma Organic Potting Mix because it offers the perfect balance of drainage and moisture retention—critical for ferns, which love even moisture but hate soggy roots. This mix includes:

Perlite for improved aeration
Organic compost for slow-release nutrition
Natural, eco-safe ingredients—no synthetic fillers or plastic beads here

As Kaleb puts it: “It holds on to the moisture needed but also drains really well.”

He also adds a light sprinkle of Espoma Organic Holly-tone, our acidic plant food typically used for hydrangeas and evergreens. Since ferns thrive in slightly acidic conditions, Holly-tone gives them an extra boost without overstimulating growth—perfect for those who prefer a light-touch fertilizing routine.

🌱 Pro tip from Kaleb: Gently loosen or score the roots of pot-bound ferns before planting. It encourages them to branch into the fresh potting mix and establish faster.

Build Your Own Porch Sanctuary

Looking to create your own front porch oasis? Let Kaleb’s video be your inspiration. And when you’re ready to pot up your ferns, reach for the products trusted by generations of gardeners.

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VIDEO: Planting NEW Evergreens, Shrubs and Perennials ?☀️? with Garden Answer

July 24, 2024/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Garden Answer, Summer Gardening

Follow along with Laura from Garden Answer as she plants new perennials, evergreen trees, and shrubs throughout her gardens. Using Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus, Laura ensures her plants receive the essential nutrients they need for successful establishment. Discover her top tips and tricks to create a beautiful and thriving summer garden!

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/gardenanswer

https://www.gardenanswer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gardenanswer

https://www.instagram.com/gardenanswer/

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VIDEO: Flowerbed Cleanup ? ? || Wyse Guide!

June 13, 2023/in Fruits & Vegetables - None

Follow along with Kaleb Wyse’s @WyseGuide flowerbed cleanup! Watch as he preps his beds and offers some composting tips and tricks. Once the beds are beautified, he uses Espoma Organic Evergreen-tone, Plant-tone, and Tree-tone to fertilize his Skyline Spruce and other evergreen trees.

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WyseGuide

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

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

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

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Plant-Centric Picks for Decking Your Halls This Season

December 7, 2022/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables - None, Holidays

Looking to liven up your space in the cold of winter? No matter what your interior style is, incorporating plant-centric decor is the best way to make your home look and feel festive, fresh, and fragrant. You might even develop some new holiday traditions with these merry and bright ideas. Go beyond boughs of holly this season, and try out these suggestions for decking your halls, hearth, and home!

For a Merry Mantel

If you have a mantel, now is the time to take advantage of it! A decorated mantel is classically festive, and even the simplest touches can help your space feel extra cozy.

Hanging a locally-created wreath above the mantel is a simple yet charming way to spread some holiday cheer. Wreaths come in many different shapes and varieties, so visit your local tree farm, farmers market, independent garden store, or florist to find something that suits your space.

Garlands are another classic option for the mantel, and that’s because they provide so much room for customization. Build your garland by blending together clippings of your favorite evergreens, holly, and red berries to create a design as simple or decadent as you wish. Plus, if you’ve been using Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone on your trees and shrubs, your evergreens will set you steps ahead in quality and appearance!

For a Spruced Up Table

Holidays are the season of hosting. Add a special touch to your gathering by gathering your own fresh and fragrant decor to festively set the table!

Peruse your backyard or local park for pinecones, and use them to create a centerpiece for your dinner table. The key to a strong centerpiece is to create dimension without creating a distraction. Arrange your pinecones in a shallow dish with your choice of candles, pine sprigs, fresh cinnamon sticks, and small birch branches. P.S. If you’re feeling especially crafty, paint the edges of the pinecones white for a snow-frosted look!

Eucalyptus is an evergreen native to Australia, famous for its fragrance, health benefits, and appearance. It’s also an easy yet classy option for a centerpiece! Trim your eucalyptus houseplant or shop your local garden store for fresh branches, then create a layered arrangement with real or artificial winter fruits. Pomegranates, pears, apples, or cranberries are all great options! Warning: eucalyptus can be toxic to cats and dogs, so be sure to keep this arrangement out of reach if you have pets.

For a Holly Jolly Home

The lights have been strung, the mantel’s been decked, and the table is set… holiday decor transforms a house into a home! To wrap things up, here are some final plant-centric decorations to jingle the holiday spirit into any room.

Opt against an artificial tree and forage for a branch that can fill its spot. A Charlie Brown Christmas, anyone? This decor option isn’t for everyone, but with a little white or gold spray paint, an elegant jar as a base, and a few ornaments, the simplest backyard branch can transform into a classy decoration.

Has your holly tree been thriving thanks to Espoma Organic Holly-Tone? Incorporate that beautiful growth and upgrade your ambient lighting by wrapping sprigs of holly around LED candles using twine or decorative ribbons! You can also mix in eucalyptus leaves for a more well-rounded look. Stagger the height of the candles and arrange in groups on countertops, coffee tables, desks, or any surface that needs a little cheer.

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With these decor suggestions, your space is sure to feel merry, bright, and fresh for the holidays. Have a festive plant-centric decor idea that we missed?

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10 Ways to Repurpose Your Christmas Tree

December 22, 2021/in Blog

Photo by Jimmy Chan from Pexels

Now that the holiday season is coming to a close, you’re probably wondering what to do with that giant, luscious tree in your house. Don’t toss it just yet! There are plenty of earth-friendly ways to dispose of or repurpose it. Here are our top 10 ways to repurpose your Christmas tree!

1.) Mulch

Before having your tree picked up by your usual garbage crew, do a quick Google search to see if there are any mulching programs in your area. Old trees can be great to use as barriers against sand and soil erosion, and can also be used for local water-way stabilization. It’s a great way to help your environment!

2.) Compost

There’s always a way to turn your old organic material into compost! Cut the branches to fit the inside of your bin, and layer them in a criss-cross pattern about 6–8 inches high to ensure good airflow through the bottom of the pile. Then add your vegetable scraps, leaf litter, and any other compostable materials. Over time, the branches will break down and turn into compost themselves.

3.) Replant

If you live in a mild climate, you probably purchased your living tree either balled and burlapped or in a pot. If you can’t seem to let it go, just plant it in your yard! Dig a large hole in the ground and water it thoroughly. Then add a thick layer of mulch with either wood chips or leaves. Add some extra nutrients to help it get through the rest of winter with Espoma Evergreen-tone.

Photo by Devin Justesen on Unsplash

4.) Chip it
If you have access to a chipper (which usually can be rented), feed your tree through it. Come springtime, you can use the wood chips to bring nutrients to your soil!

5.) Feed the birds

Did you know that you could turn your old tree into a bird feeder? Remove all of the non-organic decorations like ornaments, hooks, and tinsel. Then place it outside while still in the stand and place it in a spot where you’ll be able to see it from indoors. Next, decorate it again by adding things like orange slices, strung popcorn, little bunches of bird feed, and anything else a bird would like to nibble on. Now you have a wonderful haven for birds to eat and shelter themselves that you can watch all season long from the warmth of your home.

6.) Make a wreath

Gather some wire, scissors, and any other pieces of decoration you’d like to add. Snip off individual branches and create a beautiful decorative wreath for your front door! You can keep this up all winter long — no need to take it down after the holidays have gone.

Photo by Kieran White on Unsplash

Photo by Kieran White on Unsplash

7.) Chop firewood

Have a fireplace? Put your tree to good use and heat up the house using the wood! All you have to do is chop it up and keep it handy for when you’re ready to light a fire.

8.) Get crafty

There are so many different ways to use the trunk of your tree for crafts! Cut thin slices and turn them into rustic coasters. Cut up multiple slices and add it to your wreath. If it’s big enough, slice it, write a fun saying on it, and turn it into a sign! The possibilities are endless.

9.) Make stakes

Got leggy plants? Stake them up with small branches from your tree! No need to go out and buy wire stakes when you can make your own right from home.

10.) Toss it properly

If you just want to throw out the tree, start by contacting your local waste provider as they usually pick up trees in the weeks that follow Christmas.

Keep in mind plastic or flocked trees unfortunately cannot be recycled, and need to be cut into small pieces and disposed of in the regular trash. But if you have a live tree you’re no longer using, consider using some of these nature-friendly tips to give them more uses before finally getting rid of them at the end of the season!

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5 Ways to Make Your Garden More Festive

December 22, 2020/in Blog, Gardening

The holidays are officially underway, and while you’re probably already in the process of decorating your tree and other indoor spaces, have you stopped to think about your garden? Decorating the outside of your house can bring even more joy to your community and will give your greenery some extra love during the colder months.

Here are 5 ways to decorate your garden for the ultimate holiday curb appeal.

1. Start with the basics

You don’t have to run out and buy new decorations right away! Instead, use what you already have. If you have a few plants in pots, that’s a perfect place to start. Add some festive flair to your containers by painting them with holiday images and colors, or just tie some gift bows around them. If filling new containers, use Espoma Potting Mix to give plants a healthy start with our Myco-tone Advantage. Feed your new houseplants with Espoma Organic Indoor! Liquid plant food.

2. Light it up!

You can’t go wrong with string lights during the holidays. While you might be used to lining walkways or hanging them from your roof, try changing things up and wrapping the lights around your shrubs or lining the garden with them. This will bring a festive feeling to your garden while also bringing more attention to your hardy plant babies. (Give them the credit they deserve for making it through this chilly time of year!)

3. Bring the tree outside

Why keep the glory of your Christmas tree limited to indoors? Plant an evergreen outside and decorate it just the same to bring the holiday cheer so even more people can appreciate it. Now you have the opportunity to decorate two of them in completely different ways! Maybe the outdoor version will have a theme and be more photogenic while the kids can have free reign of the one indoors. Plus, you can never go wrong with adding a tree to your property if you have the space!

4. Decorations everywhere!

Similar to the tree, why keep the fun decor inside? Treat the rest of your garden the same and let loose with ribbon, tinsel, and decorations galore. Stick candy canes in the soil for that classic holiday vibe or strew about pinecones for a more rustic look. Try placing old ornaments on any plants with strong enough stems to replicate a mini Christmas tree. Get creative with this one and make it your own!

5. Include your mailbox

Whether or not your mailbox is near your garden, extend your greenery to it to tie it together with your home’s festive look. This can be done simply by draping or wrapping a garland around it, but you can also fancy it up with some of the same bits of decor used in the garden like lights or bows. If there’s enough space, bring a potted plant or two over to show the neighborhood that this is a plant-loving home!

Go ahead and pick and choose which decor tips you want to incorporate, or go wild and use them all! Remember that curb appeal shouldn’t be reserved just for the warmer months. Even if you’re spending your holidays social-distance style, adding outdoor decor will extend your festive spirit to all who pass by!

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