Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer,recycle coffee pods, Doughnut Tree

Doughnut Trees

Hello fellow readers, What a roller coaster this spring has been. It came on like a lamb with highs up to 70 degrees stimulating early growth. Then, in comes the lion of overnight temps well below freezing. Many of the early blooming trees like magnolias ‘froze their faces’ I can hear
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer,Springfest Garden Show

Here’s to New Beginnings

Hello fellow readers, For those of you that tuned in last week, the spring ‘honey do list’ went without a glitch; beyond expectation in terms of all that matters. And my dear Curt was a wonderful sport with the ribbing. Truly, I didn’t expect him to gather the remaining dead heads (so
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer. Spring Cleanup

Spring Garden Honey-dos

Hello, fellow readers, Indeed, it feels like Spring has arrived early, but don’t let Mother Nature fool you into starting seeds too early in the garden. Check seed packs for when to start them outside. It’s time to start seeds indoors; the rule of thumb is eight weeks befo
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer,Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa', Curly Willow

Rooting and Planting Willow Branches

Hello fellow readers, Gloria from Columbia, NJ, wrote in part two of an inquiry she made back in September about rooting a branch from a “curly willow bush” used as part of her daughter’s wedding centerpieces in 2008. She wishes to start a baby willow to give to her
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a white nest of Eastern Tent Caterpillars in the crotch of a tree.

Diehard Campers -Tent Caterpillars

Hello fellow readers, It’s the unofficial start to summer which brings on outdoor activities and vacations including tent camping for diehards. Ben from Bangor asked what to do about the wormy things building tents in the crevices of his cherry tree right above his grill. Easter
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The invasiveness of wisteria suffocating and old tree

Managing Wisteria

Hello fellow readers, I visited Kathleen and Andrew in Summit and witnessed first-hand the strength of their dilemma devastating their deck. The wrist-thick woody vine climbing from the ground to their second-story deck was strong and impressive. It wasn’t in bloom as yet, and t
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Fawn, fawn in the garden, wildlife rehabilitator

Spring Babies

Hello fellow readers, Mother’s Day ends the risk of frost which triggers our time to plant veggies and annuals plus it’s the time for spring babies. From mid-May through June fawn are born and they are so darn cute; though they grow into our biggest garden dilemma ever! Still, I have
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Skunk-Cabbage-Emerging-in-marshy-water

Skunk Cabbage Appeal

Skunk cabbage's unusual chemistry creates heat, melting the snow around itself. It's one of the first things to sprout and serves a role long ago as well as today.
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone, Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design

Lime or Not to Lime Lawns

Hello fellow readers, To lime or not to lime lawns, that was the question from Craig of Andover, NJ. His brother, Chris of Blairstown, then asked if there was a moss killer he could use. True, there seems to be a routine among perfect lawn enthusiasts to lime every spring and fall wit
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone, Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design

Bare-Root Apple Trees

Hello fellow readers, Rebecca of Andover, NJ, received a dormant, bare-root apple tree via mail order and wondered the best way to take care of it until she plants it. What a wonderful gift! They are doing a backyard renovation and plan to include apple trees in the mix. Apple trees s
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