Tag Archive for: Summer

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

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Espoma Organic Potting Mix Espoma Organic Flower-tone bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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: 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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Featured Products:

Holly-tone bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Houseplant Glow-Up: Repotting with Style 🪴✨ | Summer Rayne Oakes

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Join Summer Rayne Oakes as she gives her houseplants a stylish refresh! In this video, Summer demonstrates how to repot houseplants and add decorative touches to elevate their look. Along the way, she shares personalized plant care tips for each type of plant she’s working with. For the best results, she uses a high-quality organic potting mix like Espoma Organic Cactus Mix and recommends feeding houseplants with Espoma Organic Indoor!, a premium organic liquid fertilizer.

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 Indoor! Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Bonsai Mix Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: Planting Camassia with Summer Rayne Oakes!

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Camassia, a native North American bulb, is a stunning spring bloomer that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-8. Often underutilized these bulbs are known for their striking blue, lavender, or white flowers.

In this video, Summer Rayne Oakes of Flock Finger Lakes shows how to plant Camassia bulbs and shares her top plant care tips. Summer recommends mixing in a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bulb-tone when planting. This practice ensures these bulbs get the nutrients they need to produce 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 Bulb-tone bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: What You Need to Know Before Planting Garlic This Fall 🧄 🍁 || Wyse Guide

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Watch Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide share his top tips for planting garlic in the Fall.

In this video, Kaleb demonstrates how to prepare the soil, plant garlic cloves, and protect them for the winter. He also offers valuable insights on choosing the best garlic varieties, spacing cloves properly, and caring for your garlic throughout the seasons.

Kaleb recommends using an organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and a rich organic compost such as Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost. He mixes these into his raised garden beds, already filled with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, to add organic material and essential nutrients that support strong root growth and ensure a bountiful garlic harvest next summer.

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

Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost Bag

Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Buy

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Buy

VIDEO: ANTHURIUM REPOT with Summer Rayne Oakes

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Watch as Summer Rayne Oakes from @homesteadbrooklyn shares her repotting process for a collection of Anthurium plants. She chooses Espoma Organic Potting Mix, Orchid Mix, and Perlite, to craft the perfect potting blend. Summer feeds her plants with Espoma Organic Indoor! liquid plant food to provide the right balance of nutrients to promote healthy foliage and blooms.

The Potting Mix serves as a nutrient-rich foundation for strong root development, while the Orchid Mix adds essential bark pieces for better aeration, mirroring the natural environment of Anthuriums. Perlite improves drainage and helps prevent root rot, making it perfect for these water-sensitive plants.

Get inspired by Summer’s approach to plant care and see how she transforms her Anthuriums’ new home.

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 Indoor! Espoma Organic Potting Mix Bag Espoma Organic Orchid Mix Bag

Espoma Organic Perlite Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VIDEO: How to plant GARLIC in the FALL ? ? with Wyse Guide!

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Follow along with Kaleb Wyse from Wyse Guide as he demonstrates how to clean, prep, and plant his recently harvested garlic bulbs. Kaleb plants his garlic in the fall to harvest the following summer. In this video, Kaleb also re-pots some Jade plants using Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix before heading out to his raised bed garden. There, he amends his beds, which are filled with Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix, by adding Espoma Organic Bulb-tone and Espoma Organic Chicken Manure. These provide the essential nutrients his garlic bulbs need to germinate and grow successfully next spring.

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 bagEspoma Organic Chicken Manure bag Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix large bag I’m Espoma Organic Raised Bed Mix bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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