You adorn your bedroom, living room, and entryway with plants to create a bright, leafy, and welcoming environment. But what about the heart of your home, the kitchen? The right plant can help purify the air, create the perfect ambiance, or even provide fresh produce and herbs year-round. With so many houseplants, you might wonder where you should start. Allow us to guide you to five plants that will thrive in your kitchen: Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) If you don’t have a grasp on your green thumb yet, you can’t go wrong with a Pothos plant! They are truly some of the easiest houseplants to car ..read more

As the trees turn to shades of reds, oranges, and browns, it's time to turn our attention to our fall gardening chores list to make sure we are ready for winter.  Preparing your garden for the upcoming winter is not only a practical task but can also be an enjoyable one. In this blog post, we'll explore some fall gardening chores to help you get your garden ready for the colder months ahead. Tidy up First things first, get to pulling those weeds you’ve been procrastinating and ignoring! No one really enjoys pulling weeds, but your garden will thank you in the spring. While you’re at it ..read more

As the air turns crisp and the leaves fall, we’re sure you’re thinking about (or maybe already have) stocking up on pumpkins. Whether you've picked your own or bought them from us at Dammann’s, keeping your pumpkins fresh through Thanksgiving and all the fall celebrations can be a challenge. Fear not! With a few simple tricks, you can ensure your pumpkins remain vibrant and ready for carving, decorating, or turning into delicious pies. Handle with care First things first, try your best to keep your hands off your pumpkin! The oils from your fingers can speed up the rotting process, so only to ..read more

If you are reading this series of blogs, you have either heard the term “gardening for pollinators” and wish to learn how this style of gardening differs from other types, or you are already engaging in attracting pollinators and are happy to gather additional recommendations. TERMS A pollinator is an animal or an agent that moves pollen from the male part of a flower (anther) to the female part of the same or another flower (stigma). Pollinators include but are not limited to: Birds, butterflies and moths, bees and wasps. A garden that invites pollinating species of birds and insects never ut ..read more

When a frost leaves your plants wilted and discolored, your first instinct may be to prune them immediately. Those ugly, damaged leaves must go. Pruning your plants too soon after frost damage can, however, further damage or even kill them. The wilted foliage will actually protect your plants during future frost and freeze events.   How the damaged leaves protect the plant beneath  When frost damages a plant, it impacts the most exposed portions first and worst. Foliage at least partially shields the inner structure of the plant from the frost, thereby lessening the damage. When you ..read more

Mulching helps young trees survive their first few years of life. Mulched trees have better odds of survival and grow at faster rates than non-mulched trees.    Unfortunately, many tree owners unintentionally lay down mulch in a manner that harms trees, by building up huge "mulch volcanoes" that eventually cause rot, disease, and death.    Let's review safe and effective mulching, including: •   The benefits of mulch for young trees •   The best time of year for mulching trees •   The proper method for applying mulch around a tree •   ..read more

February is a month of anticipation. It might not always feel like it, but spring is just around the corner and your garden should be getting ready to leap into life. This period of calm before your plants start to do their thing is ideal for getting odd jobs done around the garden. Here are a few of the most important tasks to get completed this month.   Apply Organic Fertilizer  Now is a good time to apply show-release organic fertilizers, such as Blood Meal, Fish Emulsion, and Bone Meal. These fertilizers release their nutrients slowly and gradually, so applying it now will mean t ..read more

If you're familiar with the famous NASA study that showed certain houseplants can remove toxins from the air, you may be considering increasing the greenery in your own home. Poor air quality has been linked to a range of health complaints, such as headaches, nasal stuffiness and fatigue. Some toxins commonly found in the home, such as formaldehyde, are also thought to contribute the development of certain types of cancer.  Many of the houseplants shown to improve air quality are easy to care for, so you don't need specialist knowledge to reap the benefits of investing in a few plants, an ..read more

Make the most of your harvest and keep your fruit trees healthy! This blog will focus on pruning, managing an abundance of fruit to harvest, and preventing and repairing the damage of heavy fruit-bearing branches. How To Prune Your Fruit Trees When? Fruit trees should be pruned in late winter to early spring when winter hardiness and health are least affected. Pruning can also be done in the late summer or early fall—however, major pruning at this time may weaken your tree. This is because when severe cold temperatures are followed by pruning in early winter, pruning reduces winter hardiness ..read more

Sitting around the fire pit is such a perfect way to spend the evening outside with friends and family. If you have enough space in your yard—ideally, a 10-foot radius all around the location of your pit—then you can create one at home. Building your own DIY brick fire pit is a great way to install this must-have backyard feature on a budget.  A DIY Brick Fire Pit Makes Outdoor Entertaining So Much Easier Everybody loves sitting around a fire! Instead of setting a fancy table and running around with serving trays, you can relax at your fire pit and focus on enjoying each other’s company ..read more