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 Henry Fields, Gardens
Alive, Plow and Hearth, White Flower Farm and Dutch Gardens.
Working in the garden is a whole lot easier with this ingenious kneeler. You can use your arm strength to lower yourself down for weeding or planting, and then push yourself up again without straining...
If your busy schedule keeps you from watering your patio plants every day, this Automatic Patio Dripper Kit will do it for you. It includes everything you need to tend up to 20 potted plants: 75 feet...
We think Tubtrugs are one of the most useful gardening tools ever, so we could hardly wait to try out this new size. These flexible, lightweight polyethylene tubs are washable, bendable, crushable...
Finally, a rose glove that protects your hands from thorns yet is comfortable, breathable and stays flexible even after washing. Made of supple, yet tough, synthetic suede that breathes, these gloves...
These brightly colored watering cans are a pleasure to use. Made in the U.S. of high-quality, UV-stabilized plastic, they have an extra-long, 19" neck to extend your reach, and an adjustable/removable...
When it's time to water hanging baskets or a distant garden bed, lugging hoses and watering cans can be a real hassle. This easy-rolling wheel pump sprayer lets you bring along your own water supply...
These professional-grade 50-foot rubber hoses are the highest quality and most colorful hoses that we've ever used. Naturally strong and durable, they won't crush or kink like...
You'll appreciate both the classic appearance and the generous size of this rugged steel hose bowl. It has the hammered finish and warm glow of real copper at a fraction of the price. Holds up...
Do your garden a big favor by saving a rainy day and collecting free rainwater to help your plants thrive. Our largest rain barrel comes complete with lots of great features: an overflow outlet for...
Simplify your watering chores without creating programming headaches. Our EZ Timer has just two dials to select duration and frequency of watering, and its top-quality construction guarantees...
Modeled after the water hoses at gas stations, our Fast-Fill Nozzle is handy for filling up everything from self-watering planters and Tomato Teepees to your car radiator without frustrating spillls...
No mortar, no mason, no maintenance required! Patterned after the stone wall at a Connecticut farmhouse, this durable plastic raised bed is indistinguishable from real stone. It assembles in minutes...
Maximize your harvest of peas, cucumbers, summer squash and melons by growing them up this space-saving trellis. The poly-coated steel poles clip together without tools to create a frame that's...
According to many gardeners, the ideal raised bed is a trim rectangle, attractive and easy to tend. Our Vermont-built raised beds are made of durable, rot-resistant red cedar. Copper corner caps...
Our heavy-duty Earth Staples come in several styles: Regular Earth Staples hold garden covers or plastic mulches securely in place 10-in. Extra-Tall Earth Staples sink deeper in the ground for anchoring trellises and wire composters Easy-Out Earth Staples have a handy loop on top for quick removal Rubber Earth Disks make our Regular and Easy-Out Earth Staples easier to remove and help prevent fabric from tearing (discs cant be used with Extra-Tall Earth Staples) Regular Earth Staples: 6" H Extra-Tall Earth Staples: 10" H Easy-Out Earth Staples: 6" H Earth Disks are made from 3/8" black rubber
Turn your old soda bottles into a super-easy, inexpensive irrigation system. Our patented Aqua Cones fit 1-liter bottles for light watering or 2-liter bottles to deeply water thirsty plants.
Our slow-release granular fertilizer (5-6-5) gives your tomatoes all the nutrients they need, including plenty of phosphorus for big, abundant fruit. For a healthy start, mix a handful into the soil...
At last we've found a bracket that hangs on virtually any railing, from narrow wrought iron to 6" wood deck rails. Solid steel with a protective finish, these are the sturdiest, safest holders we've...
When Native Americans sowed their crops, they didnt 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...
Add a whole new dimension to your pond with a floating island that's home to plants and provides habitat to all sorts of aquatic creatures. These self-contained pond planters hold a growing medium...
Attach these graceful lotus flower chains to your roof valley or gutter end and they'll direct rainwater gently to the ground or right into a rain barrel. No more mud splashing on the house or heavy...
When it's time to move large planters, potted shrubs, trees, or even rocks, use this ingenious hauling device to do the job and protect your back from injury. Just place the self-cinching straps around...
Learning about gardening can be very overwhelming, but just like anything else, it can also be very easily researched, taught, and learned. Fortunately, you have discovered this article. It should provide you with all the help you need to increase your gardening skills and confidence, so that your efforts will yield a fruitful and beautiful [...]
Gardening at home is a great way to improve your health and well-being. Though you may be a good gardener, you can always learn more. Educating yourself is an easy way to improve. Here, in this article, you will get some wonderful information to help you have a better garden. Garden Pests Do not kill [...]
Gardening is a very fun activity, and it can be very beneficial and rewarding. Regardless of what you grow, cultivating and caring for plants brings a special kind of satisfaction. Read this article and you will have some fantastic tips for being a successful gardener. Use both annuals and biennials to add a splash of [...]
You must have both patience and skill to grow an organic garden. The goal of this hobby is to grow pesticide-free and healthy food that you can enjoy. However, organic gardening can seem quite daunting, especially if you do not possess the proverbial green thumb. The advice in this article will give you all you [...]
When you garden, you can grow delicious vegetables and fruits in your backyard; this gives you plenty of dietary options for the future. There is nothing that tastes better than fresh tomatoes on salad or an entire salad grown from your own garden. This article will give you some great gardening tips to help you [...]
Learn some tips to assist you in cultivating a beautiful garden for your personal enjoyment, your business or your family. If you ascertain beforehand exactly what you need, you will not be throwing away money on unnecessary items, or plants that are not suited to your environment. It is particularly important for new gardeners to [...]
Tending your garden is a relaxing way to get some sun and be active. Beginning gardeners need to know the answers to questions like when and what to plant, what type of soil is needed and what kind of gardening equipment they need to purchase. This article can help those interested in doing gardening. One [...]
There are many different reasons for adopting organic gardening methods. For example, some people prefer to use organic gardening to cultivate edibles for the dinner table. However, you will need to put forth an effort in order to make it grow. You might be wondering where you need to start to have your very own [...]
When you use the correct organic gardening products, techniques, and equipment, it shows. Your caring skills will shine through in the quality of your garden. This is an admirable thing. Just like everything else in life, there’s always room for improvement. The following tips are given to help you with this. If you are growing [...]
If you know enough about what you’re doing, gardening is not that hard. Using some basic advice, most people can be great gardeners. The ability to develop into a master gardener is within your reach; just read on to get the advice that will help you get there. To help them out, try poring leftover [...]
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
