Tag Archive for: spring

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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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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10 Time-Saving Tactics for a More Efficient Garden | Growing Joy with Maria

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Has your garden started to feel like a tedious task on your never-ending to-do list? Here are 10 ways to avoid garden burnout by making gardening more efficient and simple, so you can enjoy it without feeling weighed down.

This blog is inspired by Episode 266 of the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast, where Maria chats with CaliKim, YouTube gardening educator and author of The 10 Minute Gardener. Together, they share time-saving hacks to help you enjoy gardening again—without the stress.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

One of Kim’s foundational philosophies is to break down large tasks into smaller, manageable ones (3-, 5-, 8-, 10-, or 30-minute jobs), which is the basis of her book. The 10 Minute Gardener also organizes these by season (early, mid, late, dormant), so you can adapt them no matter where you garden.

Practical Time-Saving Tactics You Can Try Today

3 minute tasks

3-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Fertilizer Fridays – Every Friday, while your tea kettle is boiling or you’re sipping coffee, take 3 minutes to fertilize your plants with an organic liquid fertilizer like Espoma Organic Indoor! Houseplant Food. You can also water them or pick off brown leaves.

  • Swift Growth Seed Sowing – Keep a small basket of seeds handy by your back door or in your pocket. During a quick break, pop a few pea seeds along a trellis or lettuce seeds into a container to keep succession planting going.

  • Three-Minute Tool Tidy – Clean and oil a few garden tools, like pruners, that may be getting rusty or sticky.

5-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Tie-Up Tuesday (and Thursday!) – Dedicate a few minutes twice a week to trellis plants like cucumbers. Keep tie tape or twine in your pocket so you can do this quickly while walking through the garden.

  • Shade Cloth Oasis – Pre-clip shade cloth to trellises so you can dash out and cover plants when the sun is blazing.

  • End-of-Season Cleanups – Pull out dead plants and toss them into nearby trash bins or pop-up bins to keep your garden tidy.

8 & 10-minute tasks

8- & 10-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Summer Salad Station – Plant a container with salad greens, a tomato or cucumber, and herbs for a quick, ready-to-harvest dinner garden.

  • Hustle & Bustle Garden Bed Prep – In spring, refresh your garden beds with soil amendments like Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost and worm castings.

30 min tasks

30-Minute Gardening Tasks

  • Compost Pile Refresh – Toss together kitchen scraps and yard waste to build your compost pile. Give it a splash of water, then walk away and let nature do the work.

  • Tree Branch Trellis – Gather a few sturdy sticks and lash them together to create a simple, rustic trellis for climbing plants.

Be Consistent and Keep Things Within Reach

The key is to keep everything handy and accessible. You don’t need complicated strategies to make gardening easier. Keep a basket of seeds by the door, stash pruners in multiple spots, and have tie tape at the ready. Making tools and supplies accessible ensures you stay consistent and efficient.

Listen to the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast

For more time-saving tips, listen to Episode 266 of the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast!

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Land and Sea Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid fertilizer

 

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VIDEO: Planting Trees and Perennials 🌳🌺 with Wyse Guide

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Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide shows us that with the right care, you can plant trees and perennials with confidence. In this video, Kaleb is adding an Afterburner black gum tree and fresh perennials to his backyard. To give his new plantings the strongest foundation, Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus. This trusted starter fertilizer helps reduce transplant shock, stimulates strong root growth, and enriches the soil—so plants establish quickly and thrive for years to come.

Featured Tips from Kaleb’s Planting Process

  1. Plant year-round when conditions allow
    Don’t wait for the “perfect” season. If you have the time, energy, and right weather, get plants in the ground. They’ll be happier growing in your soil than sitting in containers at a nursery.
  2. Choose the site carefully
    Take time to visualize how a tree or plant will look from multiple angles of your yard and home. Think ahead about how it will grow into the landscape.
  3. Prepare the site well
    Dig a wide hole—wider than the root ball—to give roots room to spread into the native soil. Remove rocks and other large debris.
  4. Prep the roots before planting
    Inspect roots for tight circling, then gently loosen or scarify them to encourage outward growth. Be sure to expose the root flare so the tree can breathe properly.
  5. Always plant with a quality organic starter fertilizer
    Using a starter like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus helps reduce transplant shock and promotes strong, lasting roots. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, Bio-tone is gentle, organic, and builds long-term soil health.
  6. Water, stake, and mulch for success
    Give trees a deep initial watering—Kaleb used 10 gallons for his black gum—and continue watering consistently, especially in summer heat. Stake young trees for support and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Kaleb finished his project by planting Phantom Joe Pyeweed and Kerodonis Salvia, filling in garden beds with color and texture. His approach shows that planting is less about waiting for the “right” season and more about giving your plants what they need: thoughtful placement, healthy roots, good soil, and consistent care.

Ready to Plant?

For all your plantings, give your plants the best start with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus. Build stronger roots, reduce transplant stress, and set your garden up for long-term success.

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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

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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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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/

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VIDEO: Prune & Feed Trees Like a Pro with Wyse Guide 🌳

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Watch Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide takes us through his springtime ritual of pruning and fertilizing fruit trees on his Iowa farm. Kaleb emphasizes the importance of proper pruning to encourage healthy growth and feeding with a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Tree-tone.

🌿 Why Espoma Organic Tree-tone?

Kaleb trusts Espoma Organic Tree-tone for its all-natural, slow-release formula that provides essential nutrients to the entire tree—roots, trunk, and canopy. Its exclusive Bio-tone microbes enhance nutrient absorption, promoting robust growth and fruit production.

✂️ Kaleb’s Top Tree Pruning Tips

  • Timing is Key: Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth starts.

  • Shape Matters: Aim for an open center to allow sunlight and air circulation.

  • Clean Cuts: Use sharp tools to make precise cuts, reducing the risk of disease.

By combining these pruning techniques with the nourishment from Espoma Organic Tree-tone, Kaleb ensures his fruit trees are healthy and productive throughout the growing season.

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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/

 

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VIDEO: How to Care for Roses 🌹 & Hydrangeas 🌸 with Garden Answer

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Laura from Garden Answer Preps Her Garden for Blooming Success!

Spring is in full bloom, and Laura from Garden Answer is busy giving her garden the nutrients it needs to thrive! In her latest video, Laura shares essential care tips for roses and hydrangeas, starting with careful pruning to encourage healthy new growth. After pruning, she feeds these beautiful flowering shrubs with Espoma Organic Rose-tone, a gentle yet effective slow-release fertilizer specially formulated to deliver vibrant blooms without the risk of burning plants—something common with synthetic fertilizers.

While Rose-tone is primarily designed for roses and other flowering plants, it’s safe for use on hydrangeas as well. However, for optimal results, especially if you’re aiming for blue blooms, Espoma Organic Holly-tone is typically recommended. Holly-tone is formulated for acid-loving plants and contains elemental sulfur, which helps lower soil pH—a key factor in achieving those sought-after blue hydrangea flowers . That said, using Rose-tone won’t harm your hydrangeas and can still provide beneficial nutrients.

Meanwhile, her husband Aaron works to ensure the rest of the garden plants get some love too, applying Espoma Organic Plant-tone to arborvitae and boxwoods. Plant-tone is enriched with beneficial microbes and humates, promoting robust growth and enhancing overall plant vitality.

Watch Laura’s full video for detailed tips on how to care for your garden and learn why Espoma Organic fertilizers are her go-to choice for healthy, flourishing plants!

For more hydrangea care tips, check out our complete guide to growing hydrangeas!

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Learn more about Garden Answer here:

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Espoma Organic Holly-tone Organic Fertilizer for all acid loving plantsEspoma Organic Plant-tone organic fertilizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: How to Grow a Hummingbird Garden 🕊️🌿🌺 | Growing Joy with Maria

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🌿 Learn how to create your hummingbird garden using Espoma Organic soil and fertilizer. With the right organic products, you can support pollinators and grow a garden that’s good for your heart — and the planet. 💚

Spring is here, and Maria from Growing Joy with Maria is transforming her balcony into an organic hummingbird and pollinator paradise! 🌸🐦 In her latest video, Maria shares how she builds a vibrant, eco-friendly garden packed with flowers designed to attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies — all using organic fertilizer and organic soil to give her plants the healthiest start.

To create strong, thriving plants, Maria relies on Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus. These trusted organic products help her container garden hold moisture, support root development, and produce long-lasting blooms, making them irresistible to local pollinators.

Maria’s setup is renter-friendly and easy to replicate. She fills colorful grow bags and planters with organic soil, adding trumpet-shaped flowers like fuchsia, bee balm, salvia, and petunias — all favorites of hummingbirds. She even shares DIY tips for making hummingbird feeders and reflects on how using organic fertilizers helps protect pollinators and nurture the environment.

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VIDEO: Boost Your Blooms: 🌸 Fertilizing Hydrangeas the Organic Way with Skye Hamilton

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When it comes to hydrangeas, proper fertilizing is key to ensuring beautiful blooms and overall plant health. Skye Hamilton, gardening enthusiast and hydrangea expert, stresses the importance of fertilizing these stunning plants with a high-quality organic fertilizer as a smart investment in your garden. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, which often contain excessive nitrogen that encourages foliage growth at the expense of blooms, Skye recommends using Espoma Organic Holly-tone.

How to Fertilize in the Spring 🌸: 

How to Fertilize in the Summer ☀️:

Why Holly-tone? Because it’s an organic fertilizer specially formulated for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas. Its slow-release formula ensures steady nutrient availability, promoting vibrant, plentiful blooms rather than just leafy growth.

Skye Hamilton with Holly-tone

Here’s Skye’s quick guide for successful hydrangea fertilizing:

  1. Fertilize twice a year: once in mid to late spring and again in mid-summer.
  2. Your first application should occur after leaves emerge but before blooms appear.
  3. Apply the second round no later than July to avoid disrupting bloom cycles.
  4. Missed spring fertilizing? Early summer application still benefits your plants.
  5. Apply fertilizer during mild weather or in the evening shade to prevent root burn.
  6. Distribute fertilizer along the drip line of your hydrangeas and gently work it into the soil surface.
  7. Always water thoroughly after fertilizing to ensure nutrients reach the roots effectively.

Skye Hamilton's Hydrangeas in full bloom

With Espoma Organic Holly-tone, your hydrangeas receive exactly what they need, resulting in lush blooms and healthier plants overall. Go organic, bloom better!

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Holly-tone bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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