Going green

From all-encompassing landscape projects to simple hanging planters, there’s a way to make your outdoor space homier, more welcoming and more relaxing so that you can enjoy it all summer long.

Going green

By Grace Brandt | Submitted Photos A s the weather grows nicer and temperatures finally rise above freezing, Mankato residents are once again turning their attention to the outdoors. There are endless options when it comes to sprucing up your home, whether you have a large yard or a small yard—or even no yard at all. From all-encompassing landscape projects to simple hanging planters, there’s a way to make your outdoor space homier, more welcoming and more relaxing so that you can enjoy it all summer long.

Gorgeous gardens

While it might seem intimidating to try to grow your own garden, Jacqueline Karsten of Drummers Garden Center and Floral said that it’s actually easy to cultivate a beautiful space. However, she does recommend starting small and working your way up.

“[That way] you don’t bite off more than you can chew, because plants are a living thing and they do take a little bit of care,” she explained.

Karsten recommended new gardeners start with potted plants or containers of annual flowers. (Annuals have a oneyear lifecycle, while perennials rebloom every year.) Container gardening has gotten to be more popular in recent years because entire gardens can be grown in anything from tubs to hanging baskets, so people don’t need to dig up their yards.

“A lot of people do container gardening [because] that makes it super simple,” Karsten said. “You don’t have to do any maintenance on your soil in the ground, [whereas] traditional gardening is more maintenance and time and effort. [Plus], some plants just do better in containers. It keeps them away from rabbits, rodents and deer.”

According to Karsten, a good way to start is to try two or three different types of plants at first and start adding more as the season progresses. Different plants have different growing seasons. For example, some annual flowers (such as snapdragons and pansies) can be planted earlier in spring, while cooler weather vegetables (such as beets and Brussels sprouts) can be added in July or August.

Another option for potential plant enthusiasts is growing an herb garden, especially because several herbs can be grown in one 10-inch pot. Karsten suggested starting with herbs that are more tolerant of drought (and thus don’t need as much watering), such as rosemary, lavender, thyme and oregano. But, she added, it’s more important to grow herbs you’ll actually use.

“You’d want to grow something that you want to eat,” she said. “Don’t just try something because it’s easy.”

People can even grow herbs in the same container as flowers and vegetables. Karsten suggested a combination like sage, mint, a cabbage and pansies for beginners wanting to give container gardening a try.

“[If you] add a flower in there, it doesn’t really take over, and you can create this really beautiful arrangement, even with an herb garden,” she said.

The Free Press • MAY 2020 • • 19 “Herbs have a beautiful texture to them, and a smell. [The arrangement] is a really beautiful sensory experience because you have the color and smell and touch.”

Gardens can come in all shapes and sizes—and even small yards can accommodate them. Karsten said smaller spaces can benefit from incorporating different heights of plants, with taller species in the back and shorter ones in the front. The important thing is not to overcrowd your space, no matter how big it is.

“You can actually put a lot in a little space, but don’t overcrowd it, because they will grow,” she said. “We want the area to fill out, but we have to have a little bit of patience with it, because the plants will spread out.”

Karsten added that people with smaller yards should be sure to consider how much sunlight different parts of their property receive during the day, factoring in the direction the yard is facing and whether there’s any shade from trees. Different plants require different levels of sunlight.

“Then you can look at the list of plants that require the amount of sun,” she said, recommending that people think of “odd numbers” when planting. “If you just like easy really maintenance, [you could pick] plants like hostas or a shrub or a small tree… and little plants around it. Plant three plants in a small area. It’s going to look really good. It could completely change the look of your yard.” Going wild

While people often turn to gardens in order to beautify their outdoor space, Karsten said that doesn’t mean that they need to perfectly cultivate every inch of the yard. In fact, one trend that is growing in popularity is introducing more native plants into a yard, from native grasses to pollinator plants from the area. And, while some people might balk at letting part of their yard “go wild,” Karsten said this practice is actually good for the environment and still allows natural beauty to thrive.

“[It’s about] the addition of diversity among your garden plants,” she said.

There are many types of native grasses that people can use, including some species that are shorter growing— there’s even “no-mow” grass that only grows to six inches high. This grass can be especially helpful in hard-to-mow areas of a yard, since homeowners can still cultivate something that looks nice and isn’t difficult to care for. In addition, native grasses often help prevent soil erosion thanks to their deep and spreading root systems.

Karsten added that these native plants are also more maintenance-free after they’ve been properly established. Since they’ve already adapted to area conditions, they’re tolerant of many different soil health levels, so they grow easily. In about two years, the plants don’t require any more maintenance than occasional rain showers. These plants also offer a crucial service by Jacqueline Karsten of Drummers Garden Center and Floral said it is easy to cultivate a beautiful space.

A gardener’s perspective

Mankato resident Karen Wright encourages gardeners to buy locally not only to support local businesses but also because locally grown plants and flowers will likely grow better.

20 • • MAY 2020 • The Free Press • Home Magazine M ankato resident Karen Wright has been gardening for more than 50 years and is a loyal customer at Drummers. Wright completed the requirements to become a master gardener in 2016 and gardens both at her home in Mankato and her cabin on Lake Washington. She has extensive gardening experience with vegetable gardens, flower gardens, water gardens, container gardens, houseplants, square foot gardens and landscaping.

According to Wright, more gardeners are turning to online sources to find the plants they want, and she does too when she finds good deals. However, she still prefers to shop at local nurseries and greenhouses. Her favorites include Donahue’s, Drummers and Edenvale Nursery in Mankato, and Bachman’s in the cities.

“A lot of the local nursery businesses have been having trouble because of online business,” Wright said. “A lot of people are just ordering things online. However, anything that is grown locally is probably going to be better for your garden. And you’re dealing with real people. While a lot of the gardeners are ordering online, I think there’s a lot of value to working with your local nursery or shop.”

Wright said she has noticed how local nurseries and greenhouses have been adding more and more varieties of plants to attract customers, as well as specially ordering plants on request.

“It’s that personal touch that they can do,” she said. “They’ll be able to order it for you. They’re really willing to accommodate you.”

Wright said gardening centers have also begun hiring plant specialists to offer advice, which is a resource that gardeners lack when ordering online. In addition, in order to compete with online stores’ wide marketing presence, local gardening centers have begun adding more events to draw people in, such as the chance to make a fairy garden or pot a plant with your child.

“There’s a lot more outreach,” Wright said. “That way, they can sell their product and get people into look. That’s been a big trend I’ve seen.”

When it comes to gardening trends, she said that more people are gravitating towards square foot gardens or raised garden beds in order to save space, as well as participating in shared community gardens. She also noted that “organic” gardening is becoming a higher priority for both gardeners and garden centers.

“A few years back, you had to go to specialty places to find ‘organic’ vs. using chemicals,” she said. “I am all about taking care of the environment for our future generations, so I’ve been on the ‘organic’ bandwagon for a while.”

“Our lives are more and more confined to inside spaces. That time outdoors is a time for relaxation and a time to take a breather. We all know that moving, getting physical exercise from gardening, from creating a space outside that you can just go relax or entertain, is a huge help in regards to mental and social health. And we’re seeing it more and more, because we know it helps us in some way to be outside in nature, and we want to create a space that reflects that. It’s super nice to just walk out the door and have [the garden] be there. You can just take 5-10 minutes to have this space to relax in, to just breathe the air. It’s not just about aesthetically making something look beautiful; it’s an investment into your own health.” –Jacqueline Karsten, Drummers Garden and Floral

providing nectar, pollen and seeds for butterflies, bees, birds and other animals.

“If you want to beautify your yard with native plants, your ground [health] is usually going to be just fine,” Karsten said. “These plants are very tolerant of many soil health levels. That’s why you’re seeing a resurgence of natives and pollinator plants that are specifically Minnesota-grown. You’re putting in the effort, and you’re seeing the result. It’s not necessarily right away, but you’re not struggling to try to keep this plant alive; the plant wants to stay alive.”

Besides native grasses, there are dozens of other plants native to the Minnesota area. Some flowers include the meadow blazingstar, sharp-lobed hepatica, swamp milkweed and partridge pea. Looking at landscaping

For Mankato homeowners who are looking to do a little more extensive work outside, there are several options and local experts who can assist them. Like gardening, landscaping projects can vary extensively in range and price, from a simple patio remodel to an entirely new yard setup.

According to Jim Thomas, co-owner of Thomas Tree & Landscape, Inc., the first step is to simply talk with a professional about the work you want done. At Thomas’ company, he will send a potential client a questionnaire about the project, including the rough budget, timeline and details that the client wants included. From there, he sets up a free consultation, where he or one of his employees will spend about an hour on the client’s property to come up with a clearer idea for the project. Next comes the design process, which is included for free if the client decides to go ahead with the project.

It’s difficult to estimate the cost of an “average” landscaping job, Thomas said, since each project is so individual—but he added that spending $10,000 for a project “isn’t anything.” However, his projects can run from $1,000 to upwards of $40,000, with the majority falling in the “medium-sized” job range of $5,000-$10,000.

But Thomas insists that homeowners shouldn’t be intimidated by the larger numbers, since he’s able to come up with a project that will meet a homeowner’s needs and budget at the same time.

“You can still get a lot of work done for under $5,000,” he said. “That’s where that initial consultation comes in. Sometimes people want a lot of work done, but they don’t have the budget, so what we’ll do is look at the whole entire project, break it up and give them three different estimates. They can do sections of it for the next 2-5 years. We do that frequently with people. I realize not everyone’s got $20,000 to spend on land, so you’ve got to break it up for them and prioritize.”

Some popular projects that Thomas has done in recent years have been bigger patios, more retaining walls and more extensive paver stones. Paver stones in particular have come a long way recently, he added, pointing to the many unique patterns, colors and designs now available.

Starting even smaller

If you’re living in an apartment or other small space, don’t be discouraged—you can still grow a beautiful garden. Besides herb gardens, you can also explore other types of houseplants.

“Houseplants are a big thing that’s happening right now,” Karsten said. “That’s another good way to start for beginners.”

She added that people with houseplants can bring them outside in warmer weather, which usually helps them thrive more than usual because of the sunlight and natural watering.

“A lot of people bring their houseplants outside during the summer,” she said. “It’s a really nice way to invest in greenery that you can’t have to maintain. I bring mine outside. [During colder months], they’re all tucked in under grow lights, but I bring them outside and they do so great.”

Like gardening, landscaping projects can vary extensively in range and price. Jim Thomas, co-owner of Thomas Tree & Landscape Inc. said talking to a professional about your vision for your yard is a great first step. Thomas sends potential clients a questionnaire about the project, including the rough budget, timeline and details that the client wants included.

“We tend to do a lot of really cool backyards,” he said. “It seems like people are spending more time at home, so they’re making pretty big investments into their properties to stay home and enjoy their home. I don’t know if people aren’t taking vacations or what, but it seems like they spend a lot of money and a lot of time on their backyards.”

Gardening and working in the yard can become a relaxing and enriching pastime, according to Karsten. She also calls gardening a wonderful source of meditation and physical activity.

Surprisingly easy

While new gardeners may worry that their free time will be consumed with caring for plants (especially weeding!), Karsten said gardening is surprisingly easy once plants are established.

“Once something that’s low maintenance gets established, you might need to do initial cleanup in the spring and maybe some pruning, but no more than a couple hours a week,” she said, adding that many plants require only a “a couple hours a month” to properly tend. “Most of [the time] is probably fending off weeds, but there are really great ways of getting rid of those once you have mulch down, or ground cover plants that can help you battle that.”

Karsten added that gardening can become a relaxing and enriching pastime, despite the work involved.

“It becomes a really wonderful source of meditation and physical activity, so you want to be able to add plants to your garden,” she said. “There’s maintenance every year like weeding, trimming and pruning, but it becomes a joyful experience. That’s why you’ll see avid gardeners out there a lot. It’s really fun to watch things grow. Even if it seems like it isn’t fun to trim branches, once you do it, you plant something new and succeed, it is quite addicting.”

“We tend to do a lot of really cool backyards,” he said. “It seems like people are spending more time at home, so they’re making pretty big investments into their properties to stay home and enjoy their home. I don’t know if people aren’t taking vacations or what, but it seems like they spend a lot of money and a lot of time on their backyards.”

In addition, several homeowners have asked him for “sitting walls” around their patios, as well as more outdoor lighting and fire pits, especially those powered by gas. These are more expensive, but they’re easier to use.

“Fire pits are huge,” Thomas said. “It was all wood fire pits, but now, the last several years, people are switching to gas fire pits. You just walk out, hit a switch and the fire pit is going.”

Thomas Tree & Landscape, Inc. also works with clients on greenery-based landscaping projects, ranging from flowers to shrubs to trees. According to Thomas, there are “a hundred new plants” on the market every year, and since they often come in many sizes, the variety of plant materials is “almost endless.” While he doesn’t carry plant materials or green goods, he works with local floral businesses, along with some others in the Twin Cities, to supply clients’ needs. About once every two weeks, he’ll order a semi-truck load of plants during the busy season for upcoming projects.

According to Thomas, his schedule is pretty full already, so it would take about a month to set up a new appointment and four months to start working on a project. His company works on projects from the end of March until Thanksgiving, while the “off” season is spent planning designs, organizing the schedule and also plowing snow for businesses and residents.

“We’re always the last one to shut down,” Thomas said about his long season. “I always save patio jobs or retaining wall jobs for late in the year when it’s too late to plant, so we can still work on them if it’s snowy.”

The company also has a “landscape design center,” where people can come purchase materials for projects they want to tackle themselves. Inventory includes mulch, decorative rock, sand, paver stones, pond supplies and other items. Thomas said that while most customers prefer to leave the project to him and his crews, some enjoy doing the work themselves.

“People who like to putz in their backyard come out with their pickups, and we load them up with a truckload of [whatever],” he said. “But we’ve got a lot of people who don’t want to do any of that.”

No matter what kind of project people have in mind, Thomas has probably done it—but he cautioned homeowners from having unrealistic expectations in the age of perfectly edited home improvement reality TV shows.

“People look on websites and see all these beautiful patios and backyards, but they have no idea that the yard they’re looking at is a $50,000 landscape,” he said. “They see all these home improvement shows and things, [but] they don’t understand the cost of it. People don’t know how much landscaping is. We try to help them all out.”

According to Karsten, the two biggest challenges that local gardeners face are insects and fungus. However, there are ways to protect precious plants from these pests.

“It’s really disheartening to see hard work get eaten by insects, or fungus take over plants like tomatoes,” she said. “But there are actually certain plants that can repel insects from just their smell, such as lavender and rosemary. Also, there are just general practices to avoid fungus, like not watering foliage during the day [and] watering the ground instead of the leaves.”

Karsten added that pesticides can be useful to protect gardens, even if people might shy away from using “chemical” additives. Many pesticides now utilize natural chemicals that are found in flowers and insects, which means they aren’t as harmfufl to the environment.

“I would definitely recommend adding something,” Karsten said. “Nutrients and insecticides are just fine to use. I would say that you can use and incorporate a chemical to help your plants fend off insects, but the health of your plant is going to be the No. 1 way to defend it from fungus and insects. A stressed plant is not going to do very well against those issues.”

A plant can become stressed for several reasons, Karsten explained, including over- or underwatering, lack of nutrients or poor soil. She recommended that gardeners run a nutrient test on their soil, which can be done through a simple take-home kit. For bigger gardens, she said there’s also the option of sending soil in to the University of Minnesota, which has a soil testing program.

“If your soil is not healthy, you’re not going to have a good time with gardening,” she said, adding that soil quality varies greatly across Mankato. “There are some areas that are healthier than others. It sounds really complicated, but once you get the basics down of what a plant needs, it can become very easy after you start paying attention to its behavior.

Common gardening issues

Certain plants can repel insects with just their smell such as lavender and rosemary protecting your plants and flowers from pesky insects. You’ll start seeing changes pretty quickly.”

For even more professional help, Karsten said people can simply stop by Drummers to talk with the experts.

“Even beginners will know, ‘My plant doesn’t look happy,’ but they just don’t know why it’s not happy, and that’s why we’re here,” she said. “We can diagnose what’s making that plant stressed. That’s kind of a big part of our job, diagnosing plant problems.”

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