Grimm's Garden Talk

  • Soft Landings – Protecting Pollinators With Plants

    What are soft landings? When I first came across this term at a native plant conference in winter of 2024, I had no idea what it was. And now, I see that I have been using soft landings most of my career, without even planning for it. Soft landings are plant filled places under key [...]

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  • New Plants – I Cannot Keep Up!

    New plants are always coming down the wire. But there have become so many that I cannot keep up with them! In the past, we have always strived to bring the best product to our customers, from years of trialing in our own gardens and at the arboretum. But now there are so many new [...]

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  • Grass-Like Plants

    In the landscape, the lawn has become more than just a breaking point for the plants. It has become the most important part for many gardeners. But it is only supposed to be a place to play and run, or as a separation between larger landscape beds. But what is our appeal with grass? The [...]

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  • Maple Trees

    Maple trees are one of the most requested trees in the nursery here at the Gardens. Besides having amazing fall colors, they are durable, wind-tolerant, and fast growing. So maples are king in the tree world. I love maples too, for their color and fast growth rate. And I love maple syrup! But there is [...]

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  • Blunt Mountain Mint – 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year

    It is not even the new year and already we have a perennial plant of the year. The Perennial Plant Association has named blunt mountain mint as the one to go get. And we carry it here at Grimm’s Gardens! Blunt mountain mint, also known as clustered or short-toothed mountain mint, is one of 19 [...]

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  • How to Create a Pollinator Paradise

    How exactly does one create a pollinator paradise? The answer may surprise you. When my wife and I moved into our 5 acre property 10 years ago, it was not my intention to create a pollinator paradise. I just wanted gardens, native plantings, and a place to raise my kids. At the time, we did [...]

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  • Keeping Trees Healthy in Stressful Conditions

    Keeping trees healthy can be one of the most challenging things for gardeners. I once heard a colleague from Kansas State University say that trees in Kansas cannot be healthy, because our environment is too tough on them. But there are ways in which you can keep a tree as healthy as possible. There are [...]

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  • Bluestem Grasses – October Plant of the Month

    Bluestem grasses are our 2024 October plant of the month. What do I mean by bluestem grasses? Well, there are 2 species that are generally considered when talking about bluestem grasses. These are Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). This can get confusing when someone asks for bluestem grasses. You have to [...]

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  • Attracting Beneficial Insects to the Garden

    What are beneficial insects? Well, I can think of many of them. But I have had a lot of experience. When I think about my garden, whether it is the kitchen garden or the cottage garden, I know that there will be problems. These problems stem from insect pests, fungi, and other organisms. But if [...]

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