Tag Archive for: potting soil

VIDEO: Hanging Baskets for Shade 🌿🌸 with Skye Hamilton

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Watch Skye Hamilton @hamiltonhousedesigns as she shares her go-to strategy for full, eye-catching hanging baskets in spaces with dappled or minimal sunlight. She adds a creative twist on the classic “thriller, filler, spiller” method—think filler, spiller, and longer spiller! Skye recommends using a strong, high-quality organic potting soil like Espoma Organic Moisture Mix to help retain moisture, as hanging pots can dry out quickly.

While Moisture Mix is Skye’s go-to for hanging baskets, Espoma Organic Potting Mix is also a fantastic option for all container planting. 

Skye’s top tips for successful shade baskets:

1) SKyle likes to use 16” baskets and adds a plastic liner (snip a drainage hole) to help retain moisture.

2) Choose shade-loving annuals—these plant types can thrive in shady conditions and often have smaller root systems, letting you plant more closely.

3) Aim for 5–7 plants per basket to create a full, cascading look.

4) Focus on “fillers, spillers, and longer spillers” to build depth and interest.

5) Let trailing plants cascade over the sides for that overflowing feel.

6) Water consistently and use soil that helps with moisture retention, like Espoma Organic Moisture Mix.

Bonus Tip:

When planting, Skye adds Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to provide the nutrients needed for strong root growth and big, beautiful blooms. 

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Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image Espoma Organic Potting Mix Espoma Organic Moisture Mix

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Planting Herbs and Berries in Containers 🌿🍓 with Summer Rayne Oakes

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Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes plants herbs and berries in containers using Espoma Organic Potting Mix, Cactus Mix, Perlite, and Soil Acidifier.

No garden space? No worries! Summer shows us how to create a lush container garden filled with flavorful herbs and delicious berries right on your patio, balcony, or windowsill.

Summer highlights how easy it is to cultivate favorites like thyme, basil, oregano, cilantro, chives, strawberries, blueberries, and even dwarf huckleberries using containers. To ensure success, she recommends Espoma Organic products, including:

  • Espoma Organic Potting Mix: Provides balanced moisture and drainage, perfect for promoting healthy root growth.
  • Espoma Organic Perlite: Improves soil aeration and drainage to prevent root rot.
  • Espoma Organic Cactus Mix: Ideal for Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and lavender that prefer dry conditions.
  • Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier: Essential for acid-loving fruits like blueberries and huckleberries.

Container gardening not only maximizes your space but also creates visually appealing and edible arrangements.

Learn more about Summer Rayne Oakes here:

Website: homesteadbrooklyn.com

YouTube: @summerrayneoakes

Facebook: facebook.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Instagram: instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Twitter (X): twitter.com/sroakes

 

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Cactus Mix Espoma Organic Potting MixEspoma Organic Soil Acidifier Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Tulip Garden Tour with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌷

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Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes takes us on a tour of her stunning tulip garden at her Meadow House Gardens. Last fall, Summer planted over 4,000 tulip bulbs using Espoma Organic Bulb-tone, and today her garden bursts with color from more than 100 tulip cultivars.

In this video, Summer showcases her favorite tulips, including the elegant ‘Sarah Raven,’ captivating ‘Flaming Flag,’ and dreamy ‘Ume no Murasaki.’ She also demonstrates how she feeds her tulips with Espoma Organic Flower-tone, ensuring healthy, vibrant blooms all season.

Summer Rayne Oakes Feeding tulips with Espoma Organic Flower-tone

Summer’s Tips for Planting and Caring for Tulips:

  • Plant bulbs in the fall using a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone for optimal nutrition.
  • Water bulbs thoroughly after planting to help establish roots.
  • Feed tulips after sprouting with a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Flower-tone for lush blooms.
  • Avoid fertilizer contact with blooms or foliage to prevent burning.
  • Consider naturalizing tulip varieties that are known to return each spring.

Bonus Tip: In addition to tulips, Summer planted a variety of perennials throughout her garden beds. Summer recommends planting with a high-quality organic starter fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus to reduce transplant shock and help promote strong, healthy roots for big, beautiful blooms.

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 Flower-tone bag Espoma Organic Bulb-tone Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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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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Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Holly-tone Organic Fertilizer for all acid loving plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Euphorbia Repotting 🌵 with Summer Rayne Oakes

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Join Summer Rayne Oakes as she repots her beautiful Euphorbia plants to prepare them for the summer outdoors. While Euphorbias and cacti may look similar with their spines and upright growth, they belong to entirely different plant families. Euphorbias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family and exude a white, often toxic latex sap. Cacti, part of the Cactaceae family, do not produce this sap and typically have areoles (small, cushion-like structures) from which spines, flowers, and new growth emerge—something Euphorbias lack. Often mistaken for cacti, Euphorbias are succulents native to Africa and require specific care.

Repotting:

Summer creates a well-draining soil mix using Espoma Organic Cactus Mix combined with Espoma Organic Perlite (70% Cactus Mix, 30% Perlite) to ensure excellent aeration and drainage, reducing the risk of root rot. To nourish the plants through the growing season, she applies Espoma Organic Cactus! Liquid Fertilizer every 4–6 weeks.

As a final touch, she tops off the containers with Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix, which helps protect the soil surface, reduces moisture loss, and adds a clean, finished look to each pot.

Summer also explains a common condition called “corking,” a natural process where the stems of Euphorbias become woody at the base due to aging, which is not a sign of disease.

Summer’s Euphorbia Care Tips:

  • Wear gloves when repotting to avoid skin and eye irritation.
  • Inspect roots and prune away dead or damaged areas.
  • Water thoroughly, then allow the top 1–2 inches of soil to dry out.
  • Fertilize regularly during the growing season, pausing in winter.

With Summer’s guidance and Espoma’s organic products, your Euphorbias will thrive outdoors this summer!

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Learn more about Summer Rayne Oakes here:

Website: homesteadbrooklyn.com

YouTube: @summerrayneoakes

Facebook: facebook.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Instagram: instagram.com/homesteadbrooklyn

Twitter (X): twitter.com/sroakes

 

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Cactus Mix Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix

Espoma Organic Cactus - organic Liquid Fertilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Planting Daylilies with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌼

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Watch Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes dig into one of the summer’s easiest and most rewarding perennials—daylilies! She plants standout varieties like the ‘Jersey Spider’ and shares helpful tips for getting them established in both containers and garden beds.

To give her plants the best start, Summer uses Espoma Organic Potting Mix, a rich, organic, well-draining blend that includes mycorrhizae to support deep root growth. Then she feeds with Espoma Organic Flower-tone, our organic slow-release fertilizer formulated to promote strong stems and lasting blooms.

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 Potting Mix Espoma Organic Flower-tone bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Planting ‘Evelyn’ Roses 🌹 with Garden Answer

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Laura from Garden Answer teams up with her mom to spruce up her parents’ garden by planting David Austin Evelyn Roses. Laura amends her soil with her favorite organic starter fertilizer, Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus, and Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost.

Laura also spends some time weeding and repotting plants into the garden beds. The hearty soil combo of Bio-tone Starter Plus and Land & Sea Compost will help ensure all the roots stay strong and healthy blooms are forthcoming.

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

https://www.youtube.com/@gardenanswer/featured

https://www.gardenanswer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gardenanswer

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

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image Espoma Organic Land and Sea gourmet compost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Planting Potatoes & Ranunculus 🥔🌱🌸 with Garden Answer

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Follow along as Laura from Garden Answer plants some ranunculus and potatoes! 🥔🌱

To save time and money, Laura is using leftover potatoes from last year’s crop and planting the entire spud directly on the ground. Plus, planting with a high-quality organic starter fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and top-dressing with a nutrient-rich organic compost like Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost, she’s creating the perfect environment for a stronger, more delicious yield.

Laura recommends following up with some organic fertilizer in her routine garden maintenance. She will feed her potato plants with Espoma Organic Garden-tone and her Ranunculus with Espoma Organic Flower-tone, providing each plant type with the specific fertilizer specially formulated to produce happy healthy plants. 

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Learn more about Garden Answer here:

https://www.youtube.com/@gardenanswer/featured

https://www.gardenanswer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gardenanswer

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

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image Espoma Organic Land and Sea gourmet compost Espoma Organic Garden-tone Espoma Organic Flower-tone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Spring Garden Awakening with Summer Rayne Oakes 🌿

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Spring is stirring in the Finger Lakes, and Summer Rayne Oakes of  Flock Finger Lakes is already deep into her garden chores. In this video, she takes us on an early-season walk through her ever-evolving landscape highlighting emerging bulbs, sharing design plans, and laying the groundwork for a bountiful, sustainable year ahead.

Summer uses organic products for all her gardening projects—including our trusted Tone line of organic fertilizers, premium Potting Mixes, and organic Liquid Fertilizers—to create healthy, thriving spaces across her property. When planting new bulbs like daffodils and tulips, she relies on Espoma Organic Bulb-tone to set them up for success. And whenever she plants something new, Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus is her go-to to support strong root development from day one.

For all her new garden beds, Summer builds nutrient-rich soil from the ground up with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, Land & Sea Gourmet Compost, and our premium Potting Mix—ensuring each planting area is full of organic matter, supports microbial life, and has optimum moisture-holding capacity.

From rewilding meadows and restoring forest edges to designing pollinator patches and building a 60-foot sustainable chicken coop, Summer’s garden isn’t just beautiful—it’s intentional. Her approach reflects a great mission: to nourish plants, support biodiversity, and build a healthier planet from the soil up. 🌱

Watch the full garden walk to get inspired for your own spring garden reset!

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Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image Espoma Organic Bulb-tone bag Espoma Raised Bed Mix bag Espoma Organic Land and Sea Espoma Organic Potting soil Mix Big bag

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VIDEO: Planting Raised Beds 🌿 with Wyse Guide

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Watch Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide as he gets to work prepping and planting his raised beds for spring. His go-to formula? Healthy soil and smart planting techniques.

Kaleb starts by refreshing his beds with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, a rich, fluffy blend made specifically for raised garden beds. It’s well-draining, holds adequate moisture, and helps create the ideal environment for Kaleb’s spring vegetables.

To give his New plants a strong start, Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus, sprinkling it into the planting holes. This organic fertilizer promotes strong root growth and helps plants establish quickly.

Kaleb’s Top Spring Planting Tips:

  1. Refresh raised beds each year with an organic soil mix like Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix

  2. Use Bio-tone Starter Plus when transplanting any type of plant

  3. Try soil blocking to reduce transplant shock

  4. Protect young plants with covers from critters and cold

  5. Take it slow—gardening is a learning process!

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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 Bag Image Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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