Thunder Ridge is a privately owned and
maintained garden in south central Wisconsin
(formerly zone 4b, now zone 5, thanks to
global warming!). Our land includes several
perennial/annual flower beds, including
over 40 named iris varieties, an 80x30 vegetable
bed, an orchard, an oak/conifer forest,
and 25 acres maintained in the federal government's
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). I have
a Master Gardener Certification from the
University of Massachusetts.
We do our best to be primarily organic.
Anything that is for consumption, including
vegetables, fruit and edible flowers is
always grown organically. This site provides
articles and growing information for the
area, including organic controls that prove
successful. We also have irises available
for sale and trade during the summer. Thunder
Ridge Gardens is proud to offer the very
best vegetables, herbs, flowers and seeds
from the finest gardening retailers. We've
brought together the best plants and products
from Wayside Gardens, Gardeners Supply,
Park Seed, Gardens Alive, Plow and Hearth
and Dutch Gardens.
I used the
Gardener's Supply Revolution Planterthis
year for my tomatoes. Overall, it worked
well, though you really have to remember
to water every day. It was nice to have
the tomatoes up off the ground!
Time to start thinking about starting seeds and preparing beds. Gardener's supply has everything you need!
Even the biggest, heaviest blooms like peonies can hold their heads high with the help of these polyethylene-coated steel flower supports. Sturdy grids support stems from below and help keep bloss
Plastic-coated aluminum flower support rings are perfect for yarrow, foxgloves, mums, tall sedums and more. Rings can be adjusted up and down as plants grow. Ring diameter is 10-12". Ideal su
The arms of these Y-shaped flower stakes can be bent for custom support and moved easily as new flowers come into bloom. Wire arms bend easily to create custom support The best quality flower stakes
You'll appreciate the versatility of these natural willow trellises in the garden. These plant supports expand and contract like an accordion, so they can be set up as squat or as tall as you like. Th
For 25 years, our garden carts have been a beloved tool of gardeners everywhere. That???s because they were designed specifically to meet the needs of gardeners, not adapted from an industrial "util
This rugged molded plastic cart is light enough for easy maneuverability, yet sturdy enough to carry heavy loads of up to 300 pounds! Tip it to rake in leaves or shovel out compost, topsoil and wo
These flexible, lightweight polyethylene tubs are washable, bendable, crushable, nearly indestructible. Now in nine different "designer" colors, our Tubtrugs are heavy-duty enough to haul rocks, mix
Ladybugs and praying mantises are voracious predators of many garden insect pests, including aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and mealy bugs. We'll send you approximately 1, 500 adult ladybugs or an eg
They won't flop over like flimsy plastic leaf bags, and they won't let garden refuse spill out like wheelbarrows can. These tear-proof polypropylene garden bags have a wide base and hoop rim, so they
When grasshoppers swarm, they can outnumber any other pest, and they'll eat anything green, from grass to irises, hostas to roses. They are the #1 problem in the South, and can overrun northern garden
This year, get your peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots and other row crops off to a faster start. Fill these planting troughs with starting mix and sow a row just as you would in the garden. Seedlings g
When Native Americans sowed their crops, they didn???t use tractors or plows. To keep valuable seed from blowing away or being eaten by birds, they often hid it inside little balls of clay. The same m
When Native Americans sowed their crops, they didn???t use tractors or plows. To keep valuable seed from blowing away or being eaten by birds, they often hid it inside little balls of clay. The same m
Why do knowledgeable gardeners use PaperPots year after year? Because these biodegradable pots are the easiest, most economical way to grow large numbers of transplants. Theyre closely packed to save
This seedstarting kit grows twelve large seedlings at a time enough to start a plentiful kitchen garden. The large 4" x 4" APS growing cells hold plants until they are mature enough to go
You asked us for taller tomato ladders and here they are! Each of these Ladder Extensions will add a full 30" to your existing Tomato Ladder for an installed height of almost 6-1/2 feet (77"). Try
What's the best way to double your harvest of tomatoes and enjoy them up to 3 weeks earlier? Make sure that almost every blossom bears fruit! And that's just what Blossom Set Spray does. This na
These are the sturdiest tomato plant supports that you can buy. Made with 7mm steel verticals and 6mm cross pieces, they're 20% thicker than other supports on the market. Seven cradle-shaped cross-mem
Our Professional Germinating Mix is a finely textured sterile blend of sphagnum peat and vermiculite that is pH adjusted. It also contains trace minerals to stimulate root growth. It's ideal for seeds
Can the best seedstarting mix get better? Our tests say yes! This 100% Organic Germinating Mix is the new gold standard for starting plants from seed. Sphagnum peat and perlite give it the same fi
No need to store bags of potting soiljust keep a jar of these instant soil wafers on hand and you???ll never run out. Soak a wafer in warm water and you???ll have enough soil to fill a 4" pot. Jar
Our Compost Plus Germinating Mix contains the same high-quality blend of sphagnum peat and vermiculite as our regular Germinating Mix, plus a healthy dose of our Intervale Compost to provide nutrients
A miniature topiary frame from an antique shop was the inspiration for these sizable new plant trellises. Perfectly sized for large patio planters, they're a lovely way to add dramatic height to y
A miniature topiary frame from an antique shop was the inspiration for these sizable new plant trellises. Perfectly sized for large patio planters, they're a lovely way to add dramatic height to y
In response to your many requests, we are now offering our popular rubber border mulch in a 12" width that is ideal for edging perennial beds, walkways, and driveways. It can be used to form strai
Our recycled rubber tree rings will never scatter, even when you run a mower over them. They don???t acidify the soil, and don???t need to be refreshed each year, like bark mulch. The rings suppress weeds
Lawn edging is a tremendous time saver. This 100% recycled PVC edging lets you see a clean edge, not the edging. Nearly invisible once installed, the 4-foot sections snap together in minutes, creating
A rain gauge from Colonial times inspired this intriguing reproduction, crafted from brass and stainless steel. As rainwater fills the glass vial, a float and lever system displays the amount in 1/4"
A welcome visitor in the garden today - Praying Mantis Oct
18, 2008
Have you ever thought about adding more decoration to your garden and lawn? The possibilities are endless. Garden statues can be the best way to start adding your own personal touch. From the simp...
Pruning and maintaining your trees and plants in your garden is a gardener's ongoing duty. With such responsibility comes the care of their tools. No matter what type of tool or tools you own, quality...
A chicken ark is a particular kind of housing for chickens that is a bit different from a regular chicken coop. In the United States, this kind of housing is often referred to as a "chicken tractor" i...
As the summer moves into August, it's tempting to neglect your garden. After all, the growing season has ended and Fall is on its way. There's no real gardening left to do, right?
You could be wron...
So you want to plant trees - before you get started, there is a method that works best so that you can have the healthiest tree possible - we will call them Tree Planting Rules.
To start dig your h...
Many gardeners live in areas where almost anything can grow effortlessly. Just plant the seeds and water it for a few weeks, and you've got a beautifully lush plant. But when you live in somewhere lik...
Due to extra pollens in the air at springtime, it's usually a bad time of year for people suffering from various allergies. Did you realize that regular carpet and upholstery cleaning can relieve ...
If you're thinking about starting a garden, the first thing you need to consider is what type of garden you will have. There are many different choices and often it can be hard to pick just one, but h...
If your current planting goals involve plants that require adept water drainage, I am sure you know how frustrate it is to have a yard that just won't cooperate. Some plants can handle the extra water...
YourBackyardGarden.com
is a comprehensive gardening site, with resources, articles,
ideas and a wide variety of gardening products including
plants, bulbs, flowers and much more! They provide easy
access to all the information you need to plan or transform
a garden or simply to keep it flourishing and at its
best from season to season.
The Gardens at Thunder Ridge web site was
originally published January 8, 1996
