Thursday, August 21, 2025

VIDEO: August Garden Refresh ☀️🌿🌸 with Skye Hamilton

Gardening in August isn’t for the faint of heart — it’s hot, it’s scraggly, and it takes motivation.  Skye Hamilton reminds us that the effort is well worth it. With just a few key steps, you can transform your late-summer beds and set the stage for a gorgeous fall garden.

One of Skye’s favorite tips? Feed tired annuals and perennials with a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Plant-tone. This slow-release, all-purpose organic fertilizer gives plants a natural boost without burning, helping them put on their final flush of blooms.

Skye’s August Garden Checklist

  • 🌱 Weed control: Stay on top of weeds to instantly refresh the look and health of your beds.

  • ✂ Cut back overgrowth: Trim plants for a tidier appearance and encourage reblooming where possible.

  • 🌸 Deadhead rebloomers: Keep flowers coming with consistent deadheading.

  • 🌿 Fertilize: Apply a high-quality organic fertilizer like Espoma Organic Plant-tone to revive perennials and annuals for their late-season show.

  • πŸ› Treat issues: Address pests and diseases before they spread.

So while August gardening may feel intense, remember: a little care now means a thriving, colorful fall garden later. Discover more natural gardening tips and find Espoma Organic Plant-tone at your local garden center today. 🌱

*****

Learn More about Skye Hamilton:

🌸 Website

🌸 Instagram

🌸 Facebook

🌸 YouTube

🌸 Pinterest

🌸 TikTok

Featured Products: 

Espoma Organic Plant-tone organic fertilizerEspoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag Image

 

The post VIDEO: August Garden Refresh ☀🌿🌸 with Skye Hamilton first appeared on Espoma Organic.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2025

VIDEO: Planting Perennials in Full Sun ☀️🌿🌸 with Garden Answer

Laura from Garden Answer shows us how to plant five sun-loving perennials—even in the peak of summer heat. From elegant Siberian iris to bold salvia, she layers color and texture into her garden while reminding us that planting in hot weather can still be successful with the right care. To set her new perennials up for success, Laura uses Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus, the ultimate “planting insurance” that boosts root growth and helps prevent transplant loss.

6 Quick Tips for Planting Perennials in Summer Heat

  1. Expect a little wilting – It’s normal for new plants to droop in full sun, but they’ll perk back up once the day cools.

  2. Water consistently – Keep soil evenly moist during establishment to reduce stress.

  3. Plant early or late – Beat the midday sun by working in the morning or evening.

  4. Amend your soil – Blend in organic compost like Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost or Espoma Organic All-Purpose Garden Soil for better drainage and nutrient retention.

  5. Feed at planting – Mix Bio-tone Starter Plus right into the hole to encourage strong root growth and long-term success.

  6. Mulch generously – A layer of organic mulch helps conserve water and keep roots cool.

Even on the hottest days, your garden can keep growing with the right prep and care. 🌱 Whether you’re adding in new perennials or refreshing containers, remember that feeding the soil naturally makes all the difference.

πŸ‘‰ Watch Laura’s full video for inspiration, then grab your favorite Espoma Organic products and let’s get growing!

*****

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

πŸͺ΄ YouTube

πŸͺ΄ Website

πŸͺ΄ Facebook

πŸͺ΄ Instagram

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag ImageEspoma Organic Land and SeaEspoma Organic All-Purpose Garden Soil image

 

The post VIDEO: Planting Perennials in Full Sun ☀🌿🌸 with Garden Answer first appeared on Espoma Organic.

from Espoma Organic https://www.espoma.com/flowers/2025-video-planting-perennials-in-full-sun-with-espom-organic-bio-tone-starter-plus%e2%98%80%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%8c%bf%f0%9f%8c%b8-with-garden-answer/



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Boy Dog Names: 200 Names + Naming Tips

Boy Dog Names: 200 Names + Naming Tips

Naming our first dog “Hamburger” (aka “Burger,” seen below as a new puppy) back in 2006 officially kicked off our obsession with unique pet names. So much so that we actually pitched a pet naming book concept to several literay agents before starting this blog (unsurprisingly, it was rejected). But we recently returned to our first love with posts rounding up 200 Girl Dog Names and 200 Girl Cat Names. So naturally, we are back today to continue with 200 name ideas for a boy dog. We’ve got everything from popular human names to quirky food names and more…

Continue reading Boy Dog Names: 200 Names + Naming Tips at Young House Love.

from Young House Love https://www.younghouselove.com/boy-dog-names/



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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Bird Friendly Gardening πŸ•Š️🌸 | Growing Joy with Maria

Bird-Friendly Gardening with Jen McGuinness, Ep 239

Do you love watching hummingbirds, chickadees, or sparrows right outside your window? One of the key benefits of having a garden is the wildlife that comes to visit your beautiful blooms. Our friend Maria Failla of Growing Joy with Maria gardens specifically for her local birds, because they bring her so much joy, and this blog shares everything she’s learned about bird-friendly gardening.

This blog is inspired by Episode 239 of the Growing Joy with Plants Podcast, where Maria sits down with Jen McGuinness, author of Bird-Friendly Gardening, about how we can make our outdoor spaces safe and welcoming for birds.

Why Should We Help Birds in Our Gardens?

Birds can help pollinate plants and eat harmful insects, which can help keep our garden healthy. But they need our help. Since 1970, about 3 billion birds have disappeared in North America because of habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.

But there’s a way you can make a difference right in your backyard.

What Makes a Garden Bird-Friendly?

A lot of people are probably thinking that bird feeders are enough when they want to help birds, but a bird-friendly garden means using your whole garden to support them by offering them food, water, and shelter.

A bird-friendly garden includes:

  • Native plants that supply seeds, berries, or attract insects (Hummingbirds especially love nectar from flowers)
  • Fresh water sources for drinking and cleaning themselves (and if you have a budget, you can add a solar fountain or mister to your birdbath
  • Safe shelter from predators and bad weather
  • Places to build nests, like trees, grasses, or birdhouses (thick bushes, trees, and tall native grasses are great)

Native plants = natural food for birds in the garden

Add Native Plants to Your Garden

Select native plants when building a bird-friendly garden. You can check your USDA growing zone or use the Audubon Native Plant Finder by simply typing in your zip code to get local recommendations. Garden center employees are also a huge resource that you can ask questions to.

Here are some bird-friendly flowers:

  • Coneflowers and asters
  • Sunflowers
  • Blueberry bushes and crab apple trees
  • Oak trees (they attract insects that the birds eat)
  • Native grasses like Big Bluestem

Using a nutrient-rich soil like Espoma Organic Garden Soil helps these plants grow strong and healthy, which then supports more birds and insects.

add fresh clean water to your bird friendly garden

It’s important to maintain your bird feeders

Make sure to keep your bird feeders clean to stop the spread of diseases like House Finch Eye Disease. Utilize squirrel guards to keep them from stealing from your feathered friends. Different feeders attract different types of birds, so ideally, have a seed feeder and a hummingbird feeder to ensure all your local birds are well fed. 

Note: Maria and Jen love monitoring birds using electronic bird feeders with cameras in them, which use AI to identify the birds that come to visit.

add nesting materials for birds in your garden

Don’t forget nesting areas

To help birds build nests, try leaving out:

  • Twigs
  • Pet hair (like chicken feathers or alpaca furs)
  • Feathers
  • Native grasses

start your bird friendly garden today

Start Small

You don’t need a huge property to create a bird-friendly garden. If you have a small space, you can plant native flowers in containers or hanging baskets. A beautiful hanging basket of fuchsia will keep your hummingbirds happy all summer long!

To keep your plants blooming and productive, feed them during the growing season with a gentle organic fertilizer like Espoma Flower-tone or Berry-tone, depending on what you’re growing.

Birds Bring Joy

Watching birds fly, sing, and raise their babies reminds us that our gardens are part of a whole ecosystem where every creature matters. And when we help birds, we help the Earth. Bird care is ecosystem care.

*****

Learn more about Growing Joy with Maria:

πŸͺ΄πŸŒΏ Website

πŸͺ΄πŸŒΏ Facebook

πŸͺ΄πŸŒΏ Instagram

πŸͺ΄πŸŒΏ YouTube

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Flower-tone bag Espoma Organic Berry-tone.Espoma Organic Tree-toneEspoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag ImageEspoma Organic All-Purpose Garden Soil image

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Bird Friendly Gardening πŸ•ŠπŸŒΈ | Growing Joy with Maria first appeared on Espoma Organic.

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VIDEO: Planting A Shade Garden 🌿 with Wyse Guide

Whether you’re working with dry shade or full sun, Kaleb Wyse of Wyse Guide proves that every pocket of your garden can thrive with the right planning—and a little help from Espoma Organic.

In his latest video, Kaleb brings us along as he refreshes his shade beds and layers in new perennials in full-sun areas, showing how he builds textured, healthy spaces across his Iowa homestead. He’s not just planting—he’s feeding the soil and supporting every root with care.

Kaleb’s shade garden is a great example of adapting to conditions. Not all shade is the same—some spots, often under large trees, are dry shade, where roots compete for moisture and soil drains quickly. Other shady areas, like low spots or places near downspouts, hold more water, creating wet shade. Kaleb’s property has dry shade under mature maple and crabapple trees, so he selects plants that can handle lower moisture while still brightening dim areas.

To get his new additions off to the best start, Kaleb relies on Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus, his go-to for all new plantings. For hostas and other acid-loving favorites, Espoma Organic Holly-tone is also in his toolkit, enriching the soil with just the right nutrients for long-term success.

🌿 Kaleb’s Top Tips for Planting Success

1) Water Before You Plant
Always begin with a well-watered root ball so plants adjust quickly and absorb water efficiently post-planting.

2) Use a high-quality organic Starter Fertilizer
“It’s like planting insurance!” Kaleb says. He sprinkles Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus in every hole to encourage strong root development and minimize transplant shock.

3) Only Disturb Roots When Necessary
If roots aren’t bound tightly, skip scarification. Gentle handling helps reduce stress.

4) Embrace Compost—Even Last Year’s Leaves
Kaleb layers homemade compost—or a high-quality mix like Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost, a rich blend of natural ingredients enhanced with lobster and crab shells—right over last year’s fallen leaves. This creates a living mulch that enriches the soil naturally and builds long-term garden health.

5) Group Plants in Odd Numbers
Repeating clusters of five or seven create harmony and visual rhythm, especially in larger beds.

6) Prioritize Soil Coverage
From epimedium to hosta to Agastache, Kaleb aims for dense plantings that naturally suppress weeds and conserve moisture.

Ready to Grow Like Kaleb?

If Kaleb’s video inspires one thing, it’s that soil health is at the heart of every thriving garden. Whether your shade is dry or wet—or your planting area is in full sun—start with rich compost, thoughtful watering, and organic support from Espoma, and your plants will thank you season after season.

Let’s get growing—whether you’re filling a shady nook or bringing a sunlit border to life.

*****

Learn More about Wyse Guide:

πŸͺ΄ YouTube

πŸͺ΄ Facebook

πŸͺ΄ Instagram

πŸͺ΄Website

Featured Products:

Espoma Organic Bio-tone Starter Plus Bag ImageEspoma Organic Holly-toneEspoma Organic Land and Sea

 

The post VIDEO: Planting A Shade Garden 🌿 with Wyse Guide first appeared on Espoma Organic.

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