As more homes and developments begin to pop up around her once wide-open landscape, Skye Hamilton is turning to nature for a simple, beautiful solution—privacy trees. After years of farmland views, she’s been thoughtfully planting evergreens around her property to create a natural screen. Now that those trees have spent a full year establishing strong root systems, it’s time for the next step: feeding them for healthy, vigorous growth. Since evergreens put on much of their growth in late spring and early summer, Skye shares why this season is the perfect time to fertilize—and how using a slow-release, organic fertilizer can help keep trees lush, resilient, and thriving for years to come.
3 Tips for Fertilizing Privacy Trees:
Time it right: Fertilize in late spring to early summer when evergreens are actively growing.
Feed the roots: Apply fertilizer around the drip line to reach the root zone effectively.
Use slow-release organics: Choose products like Espoma Organic Evergreen-tone® or Tree-tone® for steady, long-lasting nutrition.
With the right timing and a slow-release organic fertilizer, privacy trees can grow strong, healthy, and full—bringing beauty, structure, and natural screening to your landscape for years to come.
In this garden tour, Summer Rayne Oakes takes us somewhere unexpected. Tucked down a quiet dirt road at the edge of forest and estuary is a formal garden designed by Serge Brunner, a third-generation member of the Espoma Organic family. Inspired by the grandeur and symmetry of Longwood Gardens, Serge reimagined an overgrown landscape into a thoughtfully designed retreat filled with clipped hedges, native statuary, water features, and moments of surprise. While the style leans formal, the philosophy is rooted in patience, soil health, and letting the garden evolve naturally over time. Maintaining long-term plant health in a garden like this relies on building strong soil with organic inputs such as Espoma Organic plant foods and soil amendments.
Garden Design & Maintenance Takeaways from Serge’s Garden
1. Reimagine Overgrown Landscapes Instead of Letting Them Hide Your Home
One of the most common landscaping mistakes Serge sees is ignoring foundation plantings for decades. When shrubs and hedges outgrow their space, it’s an opportunity to step back and reimagine rather than simply trim. Renovation can restore balance and highlight your home again.
2. Symmetry Creates Calm and Intention
This garden relies on mirror images, straight lines, and repeated plantings to create structure. Formal gardens may look precise, but they require consistency and healthy plants to maintain that crisp look. Feeding hedges and shrubs with an organic plant food like Espoma Organic Plant-tone helps support steady, manageable growth without harsh flushes.
3. Feed the Soil for Long-Term Success
A garden that’s evolved over 35 years depends on healthy soil biology. Organic fertilizers improve soil structure over time, helping plants develop stronger root systems and better resilience. This is especially important for clipped boxwood, holly hedges, and ornamental trees.
4. Choose Native and Deer-Resistant Plants
With a resident deer population, every plant in this garden was chosen carefully. Serge relies on deer-resistant plants such as hollies, boxwood, and lantana to maintain color and structure. Feeding acid-loving plants with Espoma Organic Holly-tone helps keep foliage healthy and supports long-term performance.
5. Embrace Art and Serendipity
Sculptures, statuary, and even a reclaimed tree turned into a wildlife totem add personality throughout the space. Gardens don’t need to be rigid. A mix of planning and happy accidents often leads to the most memorable results.
6. Remember That a Garden Is Never Finished
Perhaps the most important takeaway: gardens are always evolving. As plants mature, light changes, and new needs arise, adjustments are part of the process. Organic gardening supports this slow, natural progression, feeding plants as they need it rather than forcing quick results.
A Garden Built on Time, Patience, and Healthy Soil
This formal garden may look polished today, but it’s the result of decades of observation, thoughtful plant choices, and soil-first gardening practices. Whether your style is formal or naturalistic, building healthy soil with Espoma Organic plant foods sets the foundation for a garden that grows better with time.
Ready to start your own long-term garden transformation? Watch the full video for inspiration, explore Espoma Organic plant foods, and let’s get growing naturally. 🌱
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Classic-Romantic-Garden-Tour-frame-000003.jpg10801920Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2026-02-10 16:53:142026-02-10 16:53:14VIDEO: A Formal Garden Tour with Summer Rayne Oakes
When the garden beds are resting, container gardening keeps the joy of planting alive. In a recent video on her Flock Finger Lakes channel, Summer Rayne Oakes shows how she extends the season by layering spring-flowering bulbs in containers, tucked inside her chicken and duck run. Using Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Espoma Organic Perlite, Summer creates a well-draining, root-friendly environment that helps bulbs overwinter successfully and burst into bloom come spring.
Summer’s Top 3 Tips for Planting Bulbs in Containers
1. Start with a High-Quality, Well-Draining Soil Mix
Healthy bulbs begin with the right foundation. Summer uses Espoma Organic Potting Mix as her base because it’s lightweight, rich in organic matter, and formulated specifically for container gardening. It holds just the right amount of moisture while still allowing excess water to drain away—critical for preventing bulb rot during winter storage.
To further improve drainage, she blends in Espoma Organic Perlite, which keeps the soil loose and airy. This extra oxygen around the bulbs encourages strong root development and helps containers handle fluctuating winter and spring conditions.
2. Layer Bulbs
One of Summer’s favorite techniques is layering bulbs by size and bloom time. Larger, later-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils go deeper in the pot, while smaller, early bloomers like snowdrops are placed closer to the surface. This creates a succession of blooms from early to late spring—all in one container.
Planting bulbs a bit closer together in containers also creates a fuller, more impactful display, making pots look lush when they come into flower.
3. Protect Containers While Letting Them Chill
Bulbs need a cold period to bloom, and Summer’s chicken and duck run doubles as a cold greenhouse thanks to added panels. Containers stay protected from harsh weather while still experiencing natural temperature changes. A light soil topper can also help discourage curious critters from digging, especially when overwintering bulbs in shared garden spaces.
Let’s Get Growing
Layering bulbs in containers is a simple, rewarding way to extend the gardening season and enjoy months of spring color. With Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Espoma Organic Perlite, you’re giving bulbs the well-draining, nutrient-rich environment they need to thrive—naturally.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Bulbs-with-Chickens-IMG_6466-1.jpeg8531280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2026-01-06 13:45:242026-01-06 13:45:24VIDEO: Planting Spring Bulbs in Containers 🪴🌷 with Summer Rayne Oakes
As the season winds down, Laura from Garden Answer takes on her final bulb planting of the year, sharing practical planting and bulb-care tips along the way. In this project, she plants more than 300 Thalia daffodils alongside a mix of spring bloomers, including Persian Pearl, Snowdrops, and Lilac Wonder—showing how late-season planting can still deliver impressive results.
Laura walks us through her process, emphasizing the importance of proper bulb depth, spacing, and soil preparation. These foundational steps help bulbs establish strong roots before winter, setting the stage for healthy growth and vibrant blooms in spring.
To support early root development, Laura incorporates Espoma Organic Bulb-tone at the time of planting. This organic, slow-release fertilizer is specially formulated for bulbs and helps:
Encourage strong root growth before dormancy
Support bigger, more vibrant spring blooms
Feed gradually over time for long-term plant health
Reduce the risk of burning young roots compared to quick-release fertilizers
By combining proven planting techniques with the right nutrition, this end-of-season bulb planting shows how a little extra care now can make a big difference when spring arrives.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Espoma_1225_GardenAnswer_Bulbs_Thumbnail.png7201280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-12-23 10:38:372025-12-23 11:06:16VIDEO: Planting the Last Bulbs of the Season with Garden Answer
Fall always feels like the quickest season in the garden, and in her final autumn tour at Flock Finger Lakes, Summer Rayne Oakes invites us to slow down and savor what’s left before winter fully settles in. As she walks the property, you’ll see how the gardens she’s been nurturing with Espoma Organic Fertilizers and Potting Soils have grown into layered, living spaces that carry beauty even as the blooms fade and the days grow shorter.
A Farewell Walk Through the Pollinator & Herb Gardens
The tour begins on a crisp morning among the pollinator and herb gardens, where most of the leaves have already dropped, but the seed heads still stand tall. Summer lets them remain for the songbirds, creating a soft, textural landscape that feels both wild and intentional. From there, she moves to a front garden bed, gently tucking in Virginia bluebells beneath a freshly prepared layer of mulch and rich soil, imagining how their spring flowers will weave into the story of next year’s garden.
Soft Light on the Pond, Meadow, and Grasses
In the video, Summer moves down to the pond and meadow, where goldenrods, asters, sedges, and native grasses catch the low autumn light. The seed heads shimmer, the pond sits quietly in the background, and you get the sense that the garden is exhaling after a full season of growth. A visit to the compost pile reminds us that all of this beauty is supported by what’s happening beneath the surface: wood chips, sawdust, clippings, and plant debris slowly transforming into the soil that will feed future plantings.
The Meadow House gardens
At the Meadow House gardens, the mood shifts to one of hopeful beginnings. These beds are still young, yet already filled with perennials, bulbs, and containers that will be tucked away for protection as temperatures drop. You can almost imagine how full and lush it will all look when spring and summer return.
Reflecting on Five Seasons of Growth
Summer reflects on five years of tending this land and how much has changed in that time—tiny trees now casting shade, shrubs filling out, meadows finding their own rhythm. It’s a gentle, grateful goodbye to fall, and a quiet nod toward all that’s still to come.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Fall-Garden-Tour-frame-000001-copy.jpg540960Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-12-11 11:51:162026-01-06 13:12:24VIDEO: One Last Autumn Stroll 🍁🍂 with Summer Rayne Oakes
Laura from Garden Answer shows how to plant spring-blooming bulbs in large containers for a big, colorful show next season. She fills eight pots with Menton tulips and Spanish bluebells, feeding them with Espoma Organic Bulb-tone and then topdressing with Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost to refresh the tired soil and support strong, natural growth.
The Planting Plan: A “Bouquet” in Every Pot
Laura creates a layered “bouquet” effect in each container:
Center: Menton tulips
Outer edge: Spanish bluebells
Both bloom late in the season, so the colors overlap beautifully. Spanish bluebells grow about 14–18″ tall, while Menton tulips reach 23–25″, giving each pot a soft, tiered look. Planting in raised containers keeps everything at waist height, which makes bulb planting much easier than digging in the ground.
Step-by-Step: How Laura Plants Her Bulb Containers
1. Prepare the Container
Laura removes soil down to about 6 inches deep. This makes room for the first layer of bulbs and ensures they’re planted at the proper depth.
2. Amend the Soil with an Organic Fertilizer
Before placing any bulbs, she sprinkles Espoma Organic Bulb-tone into the container.
Why it helps:
Provides slow-release, organic nutrition right where roots grow.
Encourages strong root development, which is key for bulbs to overwinter and bloom well.
Gentle, natural formula that’s safe for people, pets, and pollinator-friendly gardens when used as directed.
3. Plant Tulips “Shoulder to Shoulder”
Menton tulip bulbs go in first at 6 inches deep, planted:
Pointy side up, flat side down.
Very close together—“shoulder to shoulder”—rather than spaced as they would be in the ground.
This tight spacing lets her fit about 100 tulip bulbs per pot, creating a dense, show-stopping spring display.
4. Add Spanish Bluebells
She covers the tulips with a couple of inches of soil, then plants the Spanish bluebells in a ring around the outer edge at about 4 inches deep. Bluebell bulbs look a bit different, but the rule still applies: roots down, growth point up.
5. Add compost
Because the potting mix has been used before and is showing roots and wear, Laura doesn’t just add more regular soil. Instead, she topdresses each container with Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost.
Why it helps:
Adds rich organic matter back into tired soil.
Improves soil structure and moisture retention, which bulbs love.
Supplies a gentle nutrient boost from premium ingredients like lobster and kelp meal, helping bulbs grow strong and bloom beautifully.
6. Water Thoroughly
After planting and topdressing, Laura waters each container deeply.
Her key watering tip:
Aim for even moisture across the entire soil surface, not just one side of the pot.
In winter, check containers every 2–3 weeks. The goal is soil that’s slightly moist, never soggy, and never bone dry.
Bulb-Specific Tips for Container Success
Laura’s main bulb care reminders:
Chill time matters:
Tulips and daffodils generally need 12–16 weeks of consistent cold (around 35–45°F).
Hyacinths often need 8–10 weeks; crocus and snowdrops around 6–8 weeks.
Mild climate? Go pre-chilled: If you garden in a warmer region, order pre-chilled bulbs so they arrive ready to plant and still bloom well.
Drainage is essential: Containers must have drainage holes so bulbs don’t sit in water and rot. In very wet climates, you may need to protect pots from constant rainfall; in dry climates, remember to water occasionally.
With the right chill, good drainage, consistent moisture, and organic nutrition from Bulb-tone and Land & Sea Compost, these containers are now set up for a spectacular spring show—naturally.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Espoma_1225_BulbTone_Thumbnail-copy.jpg10801920Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-12-09 16:44:432025-12-23 09:58:46VIDEO: How to Plant Spring Bulbs in Containers 🌱🌷 with Garden Answer
Summer Rayne Oakes @FlockFingerLakes takes us on a tour of her garden packed with edible plants. From fruit trees and berry bushes to roses and kale, Summer shows how beauty and function can grow side by side. Along the way, she nourishes her plants with Espoma Organic products to build strong roots, vibrant blooms, and thriving harvests.
Espoma Products Summer Uses in Her Edible Landscape:
Bio-tone Starter Plus Summer uses Bio-tone Starter Plus when planting apple trees and preparing new beds. With mycorrhizae and beneficial microbes, it jumpstarts root growth and helps plants establish quickly—like “planting insurance” for long-term success.
Espoma Organic Potting Soils To build the foundation of her new garden beds, Summer used a mix of Espoma Organic Soils, including Raised Bed Mix, Potting Mix, Land & Sea Compost, and others. These mixes improve soil structure, boost microbial life, and provide the organic matter plants need for healthy growth.
Rose-tone For her roses, Summer sprinkles Espoma Organic Rose-tone around the root zone. With its 4-3-2 blend, it encourages lush foliage and beautiful blooms while being safe for the soil and pollinators.
Soil Acidifier Blueberries thrive in acidic soil, and Summer keeps them happy with Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier. Made from elemental sulfur and gypsum, it naturally lowers pH to match the needs of acid-loving plants.
Tomato! Liquid Fertilizer Summer gives her tomato plants a boost with Espoma Organic Tomato! This easy-to-use liquid concentrate provides balanced nutrition and added calcium to prevent blossom end rot, ensuring plump, juicy fruits all season long.
Bringing It All Together
Summer’s edible landscape is proof that food gardens can be as beautiful as they are bountiful—with the right soil, thoughtful plant choices, and natural care. Ready to start your own edible landscape? Explore Espoma Organic products and discover how to feed your garden naturally. 🌱
Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes turns three massive terracotta planters—rescued from a second-hand store —into statement containers for the garden. Because the pots are deep and heavy, she creates a lightweight false bottom with Espoma Organic Perlite, then tops it with Espoma Organic Potting Mix before planting a mix of ornamental grasses, pollinator favorites, and trailing accents.
Why Espoma Organic Potting Mix? Espoma Organic Potting Mix is crafted for container success—indoors or out. It’s rich and fluffy for easy root growth, holds moisture without getting waterlogged, and drains well to keep roots happy. The blend includes organic ingredients and Myco-tone, a proprietary blend of mycorrhizae that supports strong root systems and helps plants use water and nutrients more efficiently. In large planters where every inch counts, that balance of aeration, structure, and organic nutrition is exactly what new plantings need to establish quickly.
Tips & Takeaways from Summer’s Container Build
Use Perlite as a False Bottom. A layer of Espoma Organic Perlite can work beautifully as a false bottom in oversized containers for shallower-rooted plants when you don’t need the full depth of soil. It also reduces the planter’s weight. But for deep tap-rooted or tree-like plantings, it’s best to skip this method.
Choose Plants for Season-Long Interest. Summer anchors the pot with Pennisetum ‘Ginger Love’ for structure and gorgeous backlit plumes into fall and winter, then layers in Verbena bonariensis ‘Meteor Shower’ (pollinator magnet), sneezeweed ‘Morheim Beauty’ for warm tones, Beautyberry ‘Pearl Glam’ for three-season appeal, ornamental oregano (Oregon Kent beauties) for texture, and a trailing annual morning glory to spill over the rim.
Design for the View. Think about the angle most people will see. Summer places taller plants toward the back and lets trailers cascade in the foreground to create depth and a “finished” look from the main viewpoint.
Shop Smart in Mid-Summer. July–August can be slim pickings at local nurseries. If inventory looks tired, consider ordering online, mixing annuals with perennials, or planting what you can now and editing later. Containers are wonderfully changeable.
Plant for Pollinators and Wildlife. By mixing grasses, flowering perennials, and nectar-rich annuals, Summer builds a container that feeds bees, butterflies, and other pollinators—bringing life and movement to her garden space.
Share your container build with us using #EspomaOrganic on IG—we’d love to see what you create!
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Title-22.jpg7201280Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-09-17 15:39:232025-09-17 15:54:10VIDEO: Planting in BIG Reused Planters 🪴🌿 with Summer Rayne Oakes
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:
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.
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.
Call before you dig. Always locate underground utilities before starting holes. Safety first.
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.
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.
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 Compostmulch 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
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.
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 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 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.
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.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Time-Saving-1.jpg10801080Matt Dauphinaishttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngMatt Dauphinais2025-09-11 16:15:582025-09-11 16:15:5810 Time-Saving Tactics for a More Efficient Garden | Growing Joy with Maria
