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via Dennis Patton Special to the Star via Wild Valley Farms  via Adele Wilcoxen Let's get started with the basics of gardening. Soil or potting mix. We've all been there trying to decide what soil to use in our yards, gardens or plants. But have you noticed there are many of different types of soil? It can become overwhelming and frustrating! Well I'm here to break it down for you and address the real issue of gardening. Soil vs Potting Mix. SOIL via landscapeforlife.org  Let's get the first question out of the way. What exactly is soil? Soil is a mixture of sand, silt and organic matter that supports plant growth. Soil is not dirt. Plants grow in soil. There is a couple different options when it comes to choosing which soil is right for your needs! Top SoilThe first options is topsoil. Some topsoil brands have a mixture of a natural layer that has formed at the surface from rock, decomposition, wind and water movement. Or what you already have in your yards. Here at Wild Valley Farms we have a topsoil is that from farm ground and has been screened to create a premium consistent product that does not have any rock or other debris. Head over to our products page and check out our Topsoil! Enriched TopsoilOk, here is the second option, enriched topsoil. Enriched topsoil is a mixture of topsoil and organic matter or compost. The organic matter in enriched topsoil helps improve the quality of the soil for better plant growth. Ours is called "SoftSoil". Our soft soil is perfect for your raised garden beds or anywhere you need a ton of packed nutrients! Gardens will thrive on the range of nutrients needed to maintain root health and give you that beautiful garden full of fruits and vegetables. Now that we have broken down the difference between the two, how do you know which one to buy and when? If you are just looking to fill maybe some holes or spots in your yard, topsoil is your go to. If you are wanting to help your fruits grow and get all those pack nutrients, use enriched topsoil or Soft Soil. Potting MixNow we are onto the other side of gardening. When and why to use potting mix. Potting mix is used in container gardening, such as your big potter plants or the tiny seedling plants in your homes. The best quality potting mixes don't contain soil (dirt). We call it soil because that is what we grow plants in. Our intelli-soil is a special formulated growing mix that is ready to use in your raised garden beds, hanging baskets and outside pots! Who doesn't love a good ready to use mix? I know I do! Here are a couple cool facts about our intelli-soil!
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By: Jacoba Hopkins  Gardening can be super fun! But it can also be pretty expensive. If you're like me then you're always looking for an inexpensive way to bring your garden to life. I'll let you in on a few gardening hacks that may help you out. These hacks are great because they include many things that you probably already have around your home. They're cost effective and will definitely be a conversation starter! 1. Use Eggshells as Seedling Pots via squakfox  What gardener doesn't want cute healthy seedling plants in their home. Well, here is a simple and easy gardening hack that can be found in your fridge. Eggshells! Who would've thought? The eggshells are rich in calcium which helps promote plant growth. Here is all you need to do. Start by making a pinhole in the top of the egg. Use a knife to cut off the top 1/3 of the eggshell and drain the yoke. (You can also use cracked egg shells but make sure there is enough shell to create a container you can fill with some of our intelli-soil.) Throw in a little soil, plant the seeds, give them a little love and water, and walla! There you have a cute little seedling! (Here's helpful tip: Don't through away the carton just yet, use it as a base to store and transport the plants without dropping them! ) 2. Use a Citrus Peel via My Roman Apartment  You may think I'm crazy now, but just bare with me. Spring is a great time because everything is coming back into bloom. This next hack uses a citrus peel as a pot. Citrus peels are full of nutrients and can be used as an easy and inexpensive decorative pot item. Just simply take half of your citrus peel and fill it with Intelli-soil! 3. Foam Peanuts to fill heavy pots via The Family Handy Man  We all love big, heavy planting pots, but moving them is a whole different story. Usually I want to move them when my husband is at work and he can't help me. Here's a helpful hack just for that. Grab your pot and fill the bottom third of it with foam peanuts. The foam peanuts remove a lot of the weight and also increase drainage! Cover the foam peanuts with landscape fabric and fill the remaining space in the pot with intelligent-soil. This next step is super easy. Just grab your seeds and start planting away! Remember to check out these cute planter pots that Wild Valley Farms has to offer! 4. Coffee filters via popsugar  If you're like me and you're tired of the mess that your decorative planting pots leave behind, this hack is for you. Simply place a coffee filter in the bottom of your tiny planting pot before adding Intelli-soil. Your little coffee filter will help to prevent soil from seeping out the bottom of your pot while watering. Fill your pot with Intelli-soli and as your little plant grows, it will be thankful for that coffee filter.
 Spring, isn’t it an exciting time? Spring usually means warmer weather is just around the corner. This also means melting snow and the uncovering of your yards and gardens. Some of the many things that makes spring great is flowers blooming, fresh tilled dirt in garden beds, and a new breath of life for grass in the yard. This is the opportunity to bring color and life to your gardens and flower beds. There are many types of spring flowers. Here are some flowers you might consider when planning your garden this year; Pansy, bloodroot, snowdrop anemone, lilac, daffodil and my favorite tulips. When I think of tulips, I picture myself walking through fields full of them in the countryside of Holland. However, tulips originated from the Ottoman Empire, also known as present day Turkey. Tulips were actually imported into Holland in the sixteenth century by a man named Carolus Clusius. He wrote one of the first major books about tulips in 1952 which helped make these flowers so popular. They became so popular that his garden was raided and had bulbs stolen from it on a regular basis! Did you know that tulips are one of the best flowers to plant in the spring? They can be used in a variety of settings, formal naturalistic, or causal. Either way there is a tulip for everyone, from a diminutive four inch tall to a beautiful multi-foot-high blossom.  Here are some helpful tips on how to get your garden ready for the spring! 1. Inspect Raised Garden Beds We all know that winter can be harsh on our plants. From the freezing cold temperatures to the heavy snow fall we seem to get a lot of! Before you do anything, check for damage. It can become really easy to be ready to jumpstart your garden and then realize that you have bowed or split wood on the frames. 2. Check your Garden Tools Did you consider to look at your tools? There's a 50/50 chance you have everything you need. This may save you time in the long run when trying to prepare your garden for this year! A good wipe down of all your tools is always a good idea and will help them preform to their high function! Here's a helpful hint, if the wooden handles are starting to split or have cracks, you can wipe them down with boiled linseed oil! Which increases its resistance to warping and cracking. Cool right? 3. Turn Compost Now that we have the basics done, time to move into actually getting you garden ready! Now its time to get the soil ready. Here at Wild valley farms we have three different kinds of soils to choose from! There's our Intelli-soil which is a special formulated growing mix that is ready to use in your house plants, hanging baskets and outside pots! The second product is SoftSoil, SoftSoil is a special blend of premium topsoil and our Terra Zest, it's perfect for raised bed gardens. It's a two for one type of deal! Lastly we have good old Top Soil. Which has been screened to create a premium consistent product that has no rocks or other debris. Soft Soil
$40.00
A perfect blend of our screened topsoil and our premium compost. This is a great product for raised bed gardens!
Price is per cubic yard (about a pickup load), and will cover about 162 sqft 2 inches deep. Intelli-Soil potting mix
$29.99
Intelli-soil is a premium potting mix that is made from Coir, Terra Zest, and Wool Pellets. Intelli-soil is light and fluffy and will hold 40% more moisture while maintaining good drainage for strong root development. The perfect potting mix for both your indoor and outdoor pots. Plants in Intelli-soil have gone up to 7 days before signs of wilt. Intelli-soil comes in 1CF bags. 4. Top Dress Garden Beds Now that we've got the garden beds looking great, clean tools and your favorite compost/soil. Now its time to prep for putting those beautiful flowers in them! It's time to add the manure. There are two different types that Wild Valley Farms offers; Steer and Horse. Here's the breakdown of the two. Steer manure is used for a variety of lawn and garden needs. It helps improve the soil quality and health. Horse manure is well aged and broken down to provide a great natural fertilizer, it contains sawdust bedding to help loosen clay soils. We recommend top dressing with our Terra Zest which is a high quality compost. 5. Divide Perennials We are finally on to the fun part, adding the flowers! Go to your local store and pick up some of your favorite seedlings. Or if your neighbor has some flowers/seeds that you like, ask them to see if you could use them or maybe trade some of what you bought for what they have! It's a very cost efficient way to add and give! Remember no to use any plant if they show signs of disease or discoloration. You wouldn't want to bring it to your new garden!  6. Weed and Mulch! Lets get rid of those pesky weeds! Nothing ruins your day and garden like weeds! Remove young, sprouting weeds first and then add a layer of cardboard or landscape fabric onto the bare ground. Next, add about three to four inches of mulch. That is a sufficient amount to discourage any new weeds. Finally, plant your gardens tightly with your favorite perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs to try and crowd out the weeds. Want to add a little bit of color to your garden? We offer five different colors of mulch to help add that little extra you might be wanting! Colored Mulches
$40.00
Our premium colored mulch is made from kiln dried wood which is why it holds it's color for 2 years before fading. Price is per cubic yard(a yard is about a pickup load), and will cover about 162 sqft 2 inches deep.
Choose which Color you want by checking the small color box, then you can choose your Quantity. Quantity is by the yard. Delivery is only available in Utah and Western Wyoming. Add in the comments when your prefered delivery time would be and we will call to finalize. 7. Prune
Now that you've done all the work, it's time to keep it all under control. Remove any dead branches from the shrubs, pull any weeds that might pop up. Also thin and shape the hedges, they need to look nice as well! Hopefully these tips will help you feel a little less overwhelmed with getting your lawn and garden ready for the coming warm months! By Cindy Cloninger
One of the best things about gardening is transforming a space into something of beauty. Planning, nurturing, working, and cultivating such a space not only awakens life to thrive in the small garden space but also inspires life within us.
In recent years, gardeners old and young have been combining crafting and gardening into a space to create fun and whimsical fairy worlds. These small spaces exist among your already established flowerbeds, nestled under a tree, or can be created in pots and boxes of their own. They can be created on scales large and small and crafted by your or have many store-bought elements added. They can blend in seamlessly with your landscape becoming almost hidden in plain sight or burst with color.
These are such fun and unique little projects that require ingenuity and imagination and cultivate a love of growing things, rather than the mundane task of weeding kids often associate with gardening.
Here are some fun and unique ways you can create your very own fairy garden with your kids, grand-kids, or just for your own enjoyment to be enjoyed in and outdoors. 
Get Your Imagination Flowing
Creating a world where tiny little people, animals, and fairies can live and love is a great way to set your kids imaginations running. Try inspiring them with a trip to the library to check out a few great books and movies to watch.
Here are just a few to get you started:
Bridge to Terabithia, Tinkerbell, Epic, The Borrowers, Smurfs, Indian in the cupboard, Night at the Museum, Tumbelina, The secret world of Arrietty, Horton Hears a Who, The Littles, Peter Pan, Gnomeo & Juliet, and Strawberry Shortcake.
Next, brainstorm what they (the fairies) might need or enjoy in their world. Drawing out some of those things is a fun exercise in creativity. Check out Pinterest board, Fairy Gardening for some great ideas and do-it-yourself crafts (she even has fairy bicycles). ImgSave.me has tons of photos for you to browse through. My Fairy Gardens website is a store to behold with hundreds of themed items to get you thinking. But don’t get daunted by thinking of the cost as we’ll show you many great low-cost and even recycling options.
Plan Out Your Tiny World
The next step is planning and preparation. Decide where and what your fairy world will live in. Map out some of the plants and structural elements you want to include, both the natural and crafted. There are options to fit every skill, time, and imagination. From the tiniest teacup to an expansive garden box. These elements don’t have to be expensive. They can come from your own yard and garden, a nature walk, your local nursery, or craft and dollar stores.
CONTAINERS
A fairy garden can be a tiny part of your existing flowerbeds. Pick a location under a tree or near a rock outcropping or stump.
You may also choose to create something new in a unique or fun container or box. A hollowed out stump, painted pale, teacup, or an old wooden box is fun options. Yard sale finds can be great choices too. A fishbowl, old birdbath, empty cake pans, and baskets make great fairy gardens.
This video has some fun ideas.
SOIL
Choosing a nutrient-rich soil like our Terra Zest is a perfect environment for your succulents and tiny plants to thrive. Because it is all natural and chemical free, Terra Zest is safe for little hand to play in. To help with watering and slow release, all natural fertilizing, be sure to mix in a bag of Wool Pellets.
NutriWool Organic Wool Pellets
$10.99
Wool Pellets are 100% Raw Wool from sheep, that adds nutrition to your plants. Wool Pellets are a 9-0-2 grade fertilizer. Wool Pellets will help hold water helping to reduce watering by 25% while still keeping the porosity in your soils. An 8 oz bag will cover about 15 square feet and is enough for at least 6 gallons of soil if used as directed. They are the perfect addition for both your outdoor gardens and your indoor plants.
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more! Nutri Wool Pot
$11.99
Nutri Wool Pots are a 2.5 Quart fabric pot that are made in the USA. Nutri Wool pots will help air prune roots, and will hold water better than any other fabric pot. Are 100% bio-degradable and will help feed plants when pots are placed in the soil. You can transplant without taking your plant out of the NutriWool Pot as the pot will breakdown when placed in the soil. NutriWool Pots will not Bio-degrade unless you place soil on the inside AND outside of the wool felt. (Hint: If you do not want them to bio-degrade keep them on a non-soil surface) Terra Zest
$35.00
Terra Zest for your garden, flower beds, or anywhere you want to improve your soil and retain moisture. Try planting your tomatoes straight into Terra Zest, you will love the results! Price is per cubic yard(a yard is about a pickup load), and will cover about 162 sqft 2 inches deep. Read more about Terra Zest and how to use it in your garden and flowerbeds:Terra Zest Premium Organic and All Natural Compost - Wild Valley Farms Product Highlight 
PLANT CHOICES
When selecting plants, be sure to note the mature sizes so they won’t overcrowd and dwarf your little world. You can, however, plant larger growing ones in a container for one season and then transplant them as they out grow your fairy garden. Succulents are the most popular plants to add in and near your fairy garden. Some great choices are hens and chicks and sedum. Don't forget about adding in some great herbs like creeping thyme. Ferns, moss, miniature petunias and daisies, along with many varieties of ground cover, and strawberries can make a unique and fun little world for your fairies.
Check out this how-to video to make a one season only fairy garden
ELEMENTS THAT MAKE IT MAGICAL
To make your fairy garden stand out and be completely different from your normal garden, you will need to add elements that make it feel like it’s a world of its own
NATURAL ELEMENTS
Pieces that are naturally found in nature look beautiful in fairy gardens. You can leave them in their rustic state, or craft them into something else entirely. A few examples are a birdhouse, twig latter, twig door, sand and pebble pathways, furniture from twigs and painted rocks, moss covered dwellings, driftwood and decaying tiny logs, water features, log slices, moss pathways, seashells, gourds, and coral.
STORE BOUGHT AND HANDMADE ELEMENTS
Bring everyday living to life with touches of home. The ideas are endless, from rivers, paths, waterfalls, to every type of home, swing, work and leisure items around. Really use your imagination here. Some elements you can add, buy, or make are: fake flowers, popsicle stick bench, mini bird bath with small terra cotta pots or teacups and saucers, handmade tent/ tee-pee, colored rock pathway, fake birds, night lighthouses made from water bottles, hot glue gun waterfall, fairies, river, and mushrooms just to name a few.
The dollhouse aisle at our local craft store will have endless choices right down to miniature gardening tools. 
For more about Fairy Gardens check out this AWESOME link:
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Sheep have evolved over the years because of human behavior of removing their wool.
Primitive sheep like Bighorns in the West still shed most of their wool every year. And domestic sheep, the ones raised primarily for their meat, will do some shedding. But for the majority of sheep, there is continual wool growth.
Primitive sheep like Bighorns in the West still shed most of their wool every year. And domestic sheep, the ones raised primarily for their meat, will do some shedding. But for the majority of sheep, there is continual wool growth.
Wool just keeps growing and growing if humans don’t cut it off.
In New Zealand in 2004 a rancher happened upon a sheep that was barely recognizable. It was estimated that, Shrek (as he was named), was believed to have escaped shearing for 6 years by hiding in caves at shearing time.
When Shrek was eventually sheared, the wool cut weighed over 60 lbs! There was enough wool to produce 20 men’s suits.
In New Zealand in 2004 a rancher happened upon a sheep that was barely recognizable. It was estimated that, Shrek (as he was named), was believed to have escaped shearing for 6 years by hiding in caves at shearing time.
When Shrek was eventually sheared, the wool cut weighed over 60 lbs! There was enough wool to produce 20 men’s suits.
Today, most modern ranchers hire traveling teams of shearers. This team starts out in California in early Jan and slowly makes it way eastward across the United States, ranch by ranch, ending the shearing season in June.
Each day having sheared 200 sheep, one team of professional shearers can easily end the season having sheared over 20,000 sheep. WOW!
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During the winter, our herd grazes in Southern Utah about 50 miles west of Delta. In one day near the end of April they are loaded onto 10 semi trucks and brought back to Croydon. We plan for them to come in a little early, usually 1-2 days before shearing.
| With numbers this large and the work load delivered in such short period of time, help is enlisted from the experienced, seasoned rancher down to the youngest Wilde able to help. In this family business and way of life, everyone pitches in and learns the value of a hard days work along with the joys of working together. |   |   |
With the sheep in place and the hired teams brought in, shearing is ready to start. The herd is then separated out for the shearing by wool quality and breed.
With the exception of poultry, it is believed that there are more breeds of sheep than any other livestock species! Divided into categories for meat, wool/hair type, and face color. The most common types are fine wool, long wool, medium meat wool sheep, carpet wool (the coarsest wool), hair sheep, fat-tailed, short or rat-tailed, prolific breeds, and primitive breeds. The Rambouillet is the most common breed of sheep in the U.S. Besides being known for their high-quality wool, they are known for their longevity and strong flocking instinct.
 Suffolk sheep have black faces & are bred mainly for meat |  Columbia sheep are know for their large size & white faces |
Our ranch has 2 breeds of sheep, Columbia and Suffolk. The Columbia is one of the first breeds developed in the United States in nearby Laramie, Wyoming and refined in Idaho.. Columbia sheep were developed by the United States Department of Agriculture as a true breeding type to replace cross breeding on the range. In 1912, rams of the long wool breeds were crossed with high quality Rambouillet ewes to produce large ewes yielding more pounds of wool and more pounds of lamb. Columbia sheep are bred for the softness of the wool and classified as a medium wool. They are large, white faced and have heavy white fleece that grows all over.
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Suffolk are black faced and bred mainly for meat with coarser wool. If you’ve been to the county fair, this is the breed that are shown by adults and children in FFA shows.
The sheep are taken into the shearing containers where these expert shearers begin their work. The annual shearing most often occurs in a shearing shed, a facility especially designed to process hundreds. Some ranches shear more than 3,001 sheep per day in these facilities with professional shearers.
Some professional shearers can shear a sheep in less than 2 minutes. The world record is 37.9 seconds!!
Once freed from their wooly winter coats, the sheep are then released to graze in the green mountain pastures from May to November.
During shearing, the fleece is removed in one piece. High-quality fleeces are skirted. Skirting is when the undesirable parts of the fleece are removed from the rest of the fleece. Undesirables include bellies, top knots, and tags.
The soft, high quality wool is taken and loaded onto trucks where they are taken to wool markets and companies bid on the wool. These end up in sweaters, blankets, suits, and all sorts of textiles and uses for consumers.
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Waste wool, that has traditionally been unsellable still has it’s uses. The Albert Wilde took this waste wool and created, WOOL PELLETS. Wool Pellets are made from this less desirable fleece and are the perfect aid to your garden soil. What he discovered creates an entirely all natural, organic and recyclable addition that boosts plant growth of all kinds.
The natural occurring property of wool carries a natural fertilizing value of 9-0-2 NPK. Their wooly nature holds up to 20x their weight in water, reducing watering times without causing rot. The microscopic make up of wool is like a tiny barbed wire for common garden pests like slugs and snails. Created in easy to mix pellets they release slowly over time giving just the right amount of nutrients while allowing much needed room for oxygen and root growth.
NutriWool Organic Wool Pellets
$10.99
Wool Pellets are 100% Raw Wool from sheep, that adds nutrition to your plants. Wool Pellets are a 9-0-2 grade fertilizer. Wool Pellets will help hold water helping to reduce watering by 25% while still keeping the porosity in your soils. An 8 oz bag will cover about 15 square feet and is enough for at least 6 gallons of soil if used as directed. They are the perfect addition for both your outdoor gardens and your indoor plants.
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Nutri Wool Pot
$11.99
Nutri Wool Pots are a 2.5 Quart fabric pot that are made in the USA. Nutri Wool pots will help air prune roots, and will hold water better than any other fabric pot. Are 100% bio-degradable and will help feed plants when pots are placed in the soil.
You can transplant without taking your plant out of the NutriWool Pot as the pot will breakdown when placed in the soil.
NutriWool Pots will not Bio-degrade unless you place soil on the inside AND outside of the wool felt.
(Hint: If you do not want them to bio-degrade keep them on a non-soil surface)
With sheep aiding in the creation of wool pellets for your garden, flower beds and gardens bursting with strong and robust blooms are a natural part of Springtime. Nothing says spring like freshly shorn sheep and what comes after…..lambing.
Cindy Cloninger
Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, and cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most. When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things. Despite the forecast, live like it's spring.
By Cindy Cloninger
Premium all natural and organic compost is an essential part to creating a great garden. Learn all about Wild Valley Farms, Terra Zest in this article.
Since the creation of the earth, decomposition has been in play. Rock, trees, leaves, grasses, foods, and all types of organic matter have been broken down over time to create the soils that surround us.
Because the minerals, bedrock, climate, moisture, and plants vary depending on geographical location, soil content and make up varies too.
Ideally, you want to create a soil that helps retain moisture and has adequate aeration. Ideal soil is dark and has the full range of organic nutrients that release slowly over time. Soil like this allows for deep root growth and ideal environment for your plants.
If your soil doesn’t look like this, or you are combatting hard and compacted soil.
Terra Zest is the solution you have been looking for.
Terra Zest compost blend is the solution for softening your soil.
What is Terra Zest?
Our premium organic and all natural Terra Zest is a special blend of manure, sawdust, and hygroscopic fiber (wool).
There are two main components that make up any compost. 'Greens', or table scraps and yard waste, and 'Browns', or manures.
The main difference in any compost is feedstock or the materials that you start with. You need "Greens" and "Browns" or Nitrogen and Carbon. There are many different sources of "Greens" or Nitrogen and using the best sources yield the best results.
The quality of materials used are a key component in the making of a great compost.
| We combine these products carefully to ensure your plants, lawn, trees or garden vegetables can get the full nutritional value needed for root development. Because our Terra Zest compost blend is ‘cooked’, and not just made with the right ingredients, otherwise harmful components have been eliminated. This compost blend has a 40:1 ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen, 50% moisture, maintains a temperature of 160 degrees for three weeks - cooking out seeds and pathogens. Terra Zest compost blend is guaranteed 99.5% seed free. Our compost is on site for over 8 months being turned and screened to make a perfect product full of humus, ready for gardens. |  |
Terra Zest is screened to remove and debris, then carefully tested to make a uniform product.
Terra Zest will help your soil retain moisture and works as a slow release fertilizer that lasts all year long, (unlike chemical fertilizers that only last for a few weeks), and it won’t burn your lawn or plants. This premium compost blend is safe for use around children or pets immediately after use.
Wild Valley Farms is committed to delivering all natural, organic, and safe products to our customers. Special care is taken in every stage of development to ensure you receive a nutrient dense, long lasting, and uniform compost soil.
We also make a special Golf Course blend that helps green up grasses faster and helps keep high traffic areas softer.
What are the Benefits of Wild Valley Farm Terra Zest compost blend?
- Helps soils retain moisture
- Adds the full range of nutrients not just the big three (NPK){Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Boron, Zinc, Copper, Iron}
- NPK is N=30 lbs per ton P=34 lbs per ton K= 12 lbs per ton
- A true compost so it will not burn your plants from high salts or unbalance your pH like manure (pH=6.1)
- No need to add lime like with commercial fertilizer. (saving you money!)
- Terra Zest is a slow release fertilizer so nutrients are available all year long not just for six weeks like commercial fertilizer
- Adds organic matter to help build and loosen soils.
- Screened through a 1/4 inch screen so no trash, big rocks, or other garbage
- All Natural, Organic, and Local
We not only sell Terra Zest in bulk and deliver in Northern Utah, we also offer installation so the back breaking labor is done for you. You can also find it at many garden retailers in the US and Canada.
Proven ResultsUtah's own Matt McConkie used Wild Valley Farms compost & Wool Pellets in his Giant Pumpkin growing attempts this year and it paid off, making him the new record holder for Utah! McConkie smashed the old record by 200 lbs bringing in his prize pumpkin weighing a whopping 1,974 lbs!! He also placed as the Number 16 grower in the World for 2017!!!! You could say that using our special blend of Terra Zest compost and Wool Pellets brings GIANT results. |  |
 | Tomatoes thrive when planted straight into Terra Zest. They love this nutrient rich compost. Tomatoes in containers filled with this compost blend will have the moisture retaining benefits and the room for their roots to grow deep. These 6 tips for Growing Tomatoes in a Container are the perfect guide.
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Cindy Cloninger
Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, and cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most. When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things. Despite the forecast, live like it's spring.
By Cindy Cloninger
The best varieties of heirloom seeds and plants to put in your garden and flowerbeds.
A resurgence in heirloom varieties of flowers and vegetables provide a unique opportunity to add a bit of nostalgia and family connection to your garden and flowerbeds.
Smells Like Nostalgia
Have you ever gone somewhere and smelled something and instantly you were transported to another place and time? So many of our memories are tied to smells. Actually, researchers have discovered that smells travel through the nose, cranial nerve through the olfactory bulb to help the brain process smells. The olfactory bulb and amygdala are both part of the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain. This close relationship between the olfactory and the amygdala is one of the reason odors cause a spark of nostalgia.
Dr. Ken Heilman, James E. Rooks Jr. Distinguished Professor Neurology and Health Psychology at the University of Florida and a member of AAN says,
Smells do bring back memories, smell goes into the emotional parts of the brain and the memory parts, whereas words go into thinking parts of the brain.
Whether it’s pumpkin pie, freshly baked bread, or your mother’s perfume, smell can invite sweet memories into our lives is pleasant. This got me thinking about all the things I have loved about my childhood home and sharing a backyard with my grandparents who enjoyed 4 acres of crops, blooms, and orchards.
Terra Zest
$35.00
Terra Zest for your garden, flower beds, or anywhere you want to improve your soil and retain moisture. Try planting your tomatoes straight into Terra Zest, you will love the results!
Price is per cubic yard(a yard is about a pickup load), and will cover about 162 sqft 2 inches deep.
Read more about Terra Zest and how to use it in your garden and flowerbeds:Terra Zest Premium Organic and All Natural Compost - Wild Valley Farms Product Highlight
Colored Mulches
$40.00
Our premium colored mulch is made from kiln dried wood which is why it holds it's color for 2 years before fading. Price is per cubic yard(a yard is about a pickup load), and will cover about 162 sqft 2 inches deep.
Choose which Color you want by checking the small color box, then you can choose your Quantity. Quantity is by the yard. Delivery is only available in Utah and Western Wyoming.
Add in the comments when your prefered delivery time would be and we will call to finalize.
Choose which Color you want by checking the small color box, then you can choose your Quantity. Quantity is by the yard. Delivery is only available in Utah and Western Wyoming.
Add in the comments when your prefered delivery time would be and we will call to finalize.
NutriWool Organic Wool Pellets
$10.99
Wool Pellets are 100% Raw Wool from sheep, that adds nutrition to your plants. Wool Pellets are a 9-0-2 grade fertilizer. Wool Pellets will help hold water helping to reduce watering by 25% while still keeping the porosity in your soils. An 8 oz bag will cover about 15 square feet and is enough for at least 6 gallons of soil if used as directed. They are the perfect addition for both your outdoor gardens and your indoor plants.
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Plant a Memory
Like me, many of you may have fond memories of making your way up the walkway of your grandparents' homes and all of the vibrant colors and smells that invited you into their hearts and homes. Join by remembrances of lessons taught by your grandfather as he pruned trees and bushes or taught tips for a good harvest in his overalls. I loved being in my grandparents garden and all of the yummy smells that are such a part of my childhood. Delicious raspberries, peaches, and lilacs. So much of what I have in my flowerbeds and garden have been influenced by generations past.
If every time you get your hands in the dirt or smell those long forgotten scents, memories come flooding back, you may enjoy planting a memory garden.
If every time you get your hands in the dirt or smell those long forgotten scents, memories come flooding back, you may enjoy planting a memory garden.
Gardening in the Past
There is much we can learn from generations that have gone before about gardening.
I have been inspired by the wartime efforts of citizens in both WWI and WWII.
In March 1917, just weeks after the US entered WWI, the National War Garden Commission encouraged Americans to contribute to the war effort by planting, harvesting and donating from their gardens. During WWI a huge food crisis had emerged with Europe's crops turning into battlefields. The burden of feeding millions fell to the United States.
I have been inspired by the wartime efforts of citizens in both WWI and WWII.
In March 1917, just weeks after the US entered WWI, the National War Garden Commission encouraged Americans to contribute to the war effort by planting, harvesting and donating from their gardens. During WWI a huge food crisis had emerged with Europe's crops turning into battlefields. The burden of feeding millions fell to the United States.
Promoting "sow the seeds of victory" to housewives and become "soldiers of the soil" to school children, 3 million new garden plots were planted in 1917 alone, and more than 5.2 million were cultivated in 1918 Victory gardens.
Victory gardens were again promoted in WWII with the loss of laborers to fight in the war. Nearly 20 million Americans answered the call.The US Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 20 million victory gardens were planted. Fruit and vegetables harvested in these home and community plots were estimated to be 9-10 million tons, an amount equal to all commercial production of fresh vegetables. It's amazing what a few people working together in small ways can do!!
Times Change
In the US alone, there are many varieties of flowers and crops that have gone out of fashion and have all but gone extinct. The reason for this may lie, in part, to the way our suburban lifestyles have changed through the decades.
1920's
During the 1920’s most homes didn’t have fences, but walkways and separation between houses were lined with perennials. Popular choices included, Canterbury bells, irises, foxgloves, phlox, pyrethrum, coreopsis, hollyhocks, roses, columbine, delphinium, poppies, and carnations and annuals, such as California poppies, cosmos, petunias, snapdragons, verbena, bachelor’s buttons, Centaurea (sweet sultan), strawflowers, marigolds, Drummond phlox, asters, etc. Shrubs were boxwood, holly, yews, and abelia.
1930's
In the 1930’s the Great Depression stifled many flowerbeds, but large rose gardens were still popular along with hostas, lilacs, and hydrangeas.
Many in this era had their own compost piles to provide nutrient-rich soil for optimal growth and production. Today, this practice is less common. You can still get those same organic benefits and reap the same harvest because we’ve taken the time-consuming process and done it for you. Soft Soil, Wild Valley Farm’s premium blend of topsoil and premium is ready and easily available to add to your garden.
1950's
With the booming economic and suburban growth in the 1950’s, consumerism made its mark. Boxed hedges, gnomes & flamingos dotted landscapes, while garden flowers were over-sized, vibrant and colorful, for instance, large tea roses like Garden Party roses, Tiffany roses, and Chrysler Imperial roses were popular choices.
Giant Zinnias were another popular choice for fence lines. This video shows how to grow them and a few other heirloom varieties.
1970's
In the 1970’s Homeowners sought to do more with the land they had. As a result, vegetable and herb gardens, along with shrubs and trees that produced fruits became commonplace in home landscapes.
While adding smell, beauty, and eye-catching design, that may not have been all that dictated some of the choices of flowers and plants in Grandpa’s garden. Many in generations past understood some of the unique relationships held between plants. Often, plants can mutually benefit each other through pest repellent or environmental factors. This is known as companion planting. Learn more in our article Companion Planting for the 8 Most Popular Plants in Your Garden.
Time spent in our gardens and yard space can pay off in bountiful crops and hearty harvests. To ensure that end, focusing on the condition of the soil they are planted in is essential. Gardens love our wool pellets, providing porosity for optimal and deep root growth while keeping away fatal crop pest like slugs and snail. Read more about wool pellets and the natural release fertilizer they release in 6 Reasons You Should Be Using Wool Pellets in Your Garden Soil.
Heirloom Seeds And Plants
Have you already planted a memory garden or at least a few blooms into your flowerbeds? If so you are joining a movement that has been growing to bring back and keep from extinction many plant varieties. This resurgence has created an industry of heirloom seeds and plants. If you are wondering where you can get your hands on some of these older and less common varieties, we suggest Heritage Flower Farm and Select Seeds. There are also many seed swapping groups that are worth looking into.
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Plant in a container
Give your favorite flowers a place of prominence by planting them in a Nutri wool pot. Different from most potting containers, Nutri Wool Pots are made of natural materials, that protect your plants from overheating and better insulate them from extreme temperatures.
NutriWool Organic Wool Pellets
$10.99
Wool Pellets are 100% Raw Wool from sheep, that adds nutrition to your plants. Wool Pellets are a 9-0-2 grade fertilizer. Wool Pellets will help hold water helping to reduce watering by 25% while still keeping the porosity in your soils. An 8 oz bag will cover about 15 square feet and is enough for at least 6 gallons of soil if used as directed. They are the perfect addition for both your outdoor gardens and your indoor plants.
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Nutri Wool Pot
$11.99
Nutri Wool Pots are a 2.5 Quart fabric pot that are made in the USA. Nutri Wool pots will help air prune roots, and will hold water better than any other fabric pot. Are 100% bio-degradable and will help feed plants when pots are placed in the soil.
You can transplant without taking your plant out of the NutriWool Pot as the pot will breakdown when placed in the soil.
NutriWool Pots will not Bio-degrade unless you place soil on the inside AND outside of the wool felt.
(Hint: If you do not want them to bio-degrade keep them on a non-soil surface)
Nutri Wool Pots are available for purchase at www.wildvalleyfarms.com
We already know the benefits that wool can provide as it breaks down over time releasing the perfect amount of nutrients to your tender plants and the barrier to pests like slugs and snails. Now you can have the added convenience of planting directly in these colorful Nutri Wool Pots. They look beautiful on any porch or balcony and because of their dense fibers, they hold the water making them the perfect container for your blooms and crops.
An added benefit of the completely organic pots is the biodegradable factor. These little beauties can be planted directly in the soil when you are ready for making a more permanent home for the plants that grace the steps of your porch. The bright colored pots and beautiful smells from your flowers will bring sweet memories each time you step onto your porch. Read about other great container plants in 15 Plants to Grow in a Nutri Wool Pot or Container.
An added benefit of the completely organic pots is the biodegradable factor. These little beauties can be planted directly in the soil when you are ready for making a more permanent home for the plants that grace the steps of your porch. The bright colored pots and beautiful smells from your flowers will bring sweet memories each time you step onto your porch. Read about other great container plants in 15 Plants to Grow in a Nutri Wool Pot or Container.
Flowers from my grandparents and even great-grandparents that I have planted in my own garden are violas or Johnny jump ups, irises, and buttercups. Each time I see or smell I am intrinsically tied to a time in the past and surrounded by sweet memories of those I love.
Violas or Johnny Jump Ups
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Great Grandma Hill loved her Irisis
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Irises in purple, yellow, and white
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Buttercups for Great Grandma Jones
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Buttercups or Allamanda
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What flowers or plants bring back memories to you? We’d love to hear from you!
Cindy Cloninger
Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most. When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things. No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.
By Cindy Cloninger
Like all good friends, 'vegetable friends' help each other out. Did you know that onions & leeks repel carrot flies? Or that lettuce tenderizes summer radishes? Knowing which plants benefit the other is a secret to successful gardening. And who doesn't love hanging out with a good friend?
There are lots of combinations of plants that grow really well together and have beneficial components for one another. We’ve narrowed this overwhelming and sometimes confusing process down for you. We've compiled a list of the most common crops, with the most beneficial plants to put together to take the guesswork out of companion planting and guarantee you’ll reap the benefits.
There are lots of combinations of plants that grow really well together and have beneficial components for one another. We’ve narrowed this overwhelming and sometimes confusing process down for you. We've compiled a list of the most common crops, with the most beneficial plants to put together to take the guesswork out of companion planting and guarantee you’ll reap the benefits.
What is companion planting?
While you may not have tried it, companion planting is all around us. The most common practice today comes from industrial farming where it is a common practice to plant vetch or legumes in the fall after harvest. Native Americans used this practice but called it, Three Sisters, planting corn, beans, and squash together.
So why go to all the trouble to plant next to each other or in the same space? The main benefits of companion planting are to provide mutually beneficial outcomes in soil nutrients, erosion control, weed control, deterring or attracting insects, and providing shade.
So why go to all the trouble to plant next to each other or in the same space? The main benefits of companion planting are to provide mutually beneficial outcomes in soil nutrients, erosion control, weed control, deterring or attracting insects, and providing shade.
Tomato
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Tomatoes grow tall and can provide shade for the more sun sensitive lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy greens. Basil repels common pests and if basil goes to seed will attract pollinators.
Other beneficial plants are carrots, asparagus, beans, celery, chive, cucumber, garlic, marigold, mint, onion, parsley, peppers. ❌ Tomatoes do not like ? corn, dill, fennel, potato, kohlrabi, and pole beans.
Tomatoes love our Terra Zest, it's our premium organic and all natural blend of manure, sawdust, and hygroscopic fiber (wool).
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Carrots
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Carrots are a great friend to have around as they help tomatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, lettuce, leeks, and beans. They are loved in turn by those same plants in addition to chives, rosemary, wormwood, sage, and flax. Onions and leeks help out by repelling carrot flies.
❌ But not friends with dill, parsnip, and radishes.
Naturally repel slugs and snails by mixing Wool Pellets into your soil. The microscopic wool fibers are little-barbed shields for all your garden plants. Read 6 Reasons You Should Be Using Wool Pellets in Your Garden Soil to learn more.
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Lettuce
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Lettuce loves tomatoes as we mentioned above, but lettuce and chives are a great combo too. The strong smell of chives will deter Aphids who would attack your lettuce. Adding Asylum will attract those beneficial insects that eat those munching on your leafy greens.
Lettuce is a help to beets, beans, okra, radishes, onions, broccoli, and carrots. Lettuce is helped by onions, beans, carrots, cucumber, strawberries, broccoli, dill, beets, thyme, and cilantro. ❌ But lettuce does not like ? celery, parsley, cress, and cabbage. |
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Peas
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Cucumbers, carrots, beans, corn, radishes, early potatoes, lavender, and turnips are good friends to your peas.
❌ However, peas do not like ? garlic, onions, leeks, and shallots.
Giving your plants great friends is just one layer in the making of a plentiful garden. If you really want to have success, you'll need to make sure the soil is prepped and giving the right nutrients. Starting your plants in Soft Soil, a blend of premium topsoil & compost, your garden will thrive on the full range of nutrients needed to maintain root health.
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Cucumber
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To repel cucumber beetles, sow cucumber and radish seeds together. Get the most from your cucumbers by planting them with marigolds, beets, garlic, celery, dill, carrots, peas, beans, sunflowers, and radishes. Cucumbers also provide benefits to beans, kohlrabi, and lettuce.
Cucumbers and squash spread fast and benefit from being planted in a nutrient-rich soil. Learn how to soften your soil and the benefits and differences in compost in the articles. How Do I Soften My Soil? and Are There Differences in Compost and What are They?
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Our last three have been planted together for hundreds of years so we’ve kept them together.
Squash, Beans, & Corn
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Why not follow the tried and proven process engineered by Native Americans?
The broad leaves of pumpkin and squash spread out reducing weeds and holding moisture. Beans ingeniously convert atmospheric nitrogen into a ready-to-use form for it’s plant friends. And corn gives the beans a place to climb. Squash is also benefited by marigolds, radishes, and buckwheat which will flower and attract needed insects. Beans are also enhanced by beets, cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, marigolds, potatoes, rosemary, peppermint, and mustard. |
Flowers
Adding if flowers around the borders of your garden and in between can attract pollinators, insects that will eat those that are a nuisance, and add beauty and color to the overall appearance of your garden beds.
Watch this great little video to learn why marigolds, buckwheat, lavender, daisies, and hollyhocks are great in your garden. And what some of the best flowers you haven’t even thought of to plant in your garden are.
Watch this great little video to learn why marigolds, buckwheat, lavender, daisies, and hollyhocks are great in your garden. And what some of the best flowers you haven’t even thought of to plant in your garden are.
What are your favorite garden combinations?
Recap the best vegetable friends with this quick slideshow:
Cindy Cloninger
Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most. When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things. No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.
By Cindy Cloninger
Or the best flowers & plants for your garden container and pots. Container gardening has many appeals. With ease of use and convenience in growing herbs and veggies fresh at hand, coupled with less stooping and bending, it’s no wonder potted plants are so popular. Container gardens are beautiful with their differing hues of green and varied shaped leaves. From the bright colors to multi-toned flowers, containers can add interest and be pleasing to the look and smell of spaces both in and outside your home. Container planting is not just limited to the floral variety, but planting herbs, berries, and vegetables in pots are not only beautiful, they can be bountiful as well.
Wild Valley Farms has put ingenuity to work once again and created Nutri Wool Pots from completely recycled wool felt. Different from most potting containers, Nutri Wool Pots are made of natural materials, that protect your plants from overheating and better insulate them from extreme temperatures. We already know the benefits that wool can provide as it breaks down over time releasing the perfect amount of nutrients to your tender plants and the barrier to pests like slugs and snails. Now you can have the added convenience of planting directly in these colorful Nutri Wool Pots. They look beautiful on any porch or balcony and because of their dense fibers they hold the water making them the perfect container for your blooms and crops. An added benefit of the completely organic pots is the biodegradable factor. These little beauties can be planted directly in the soil when you are ready for making a more permanent home for the plants that grace the steps of your porch. With a list of benefits like these, Nutri Wool Pots are a win, win for your planting needs.
$10.99
Wool Pellets are 100% Raw Wool from sheep, that adds nutrition to your plants. Wool Pellets are a 9-0-2 grade fertilizer. Wool Pellets will help hold water helping to reduce watering by 25% while still keeping the porosity in your soils. An 8 oz bag will cover about 15 square feet and is enough for at least 6 gallons of soil if used as directed. They are the perfect addition for both your outdoor gardens and your indoor plants.
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
Free Shipping on orders of 4 or more!
$11.99
Nutri Wool Pots are a 2.5 Quart fabric pot that are made in the USA. Nutri Wool pots will help air prune roots, and will hold water better than any other fabric pot. Are 100% bio-degradable and will help feed plants when pots are placed in the soil.
You can transplant without taking your plant out of the NutriWool Pot as the pot will breakdown when placed in the soil.
NutriWool Pots will not Bio-degrade unless you place soil on the inside AND outside of the wool felt.
(Hint: If you do not want them to bio-degrade keep them on a non-soil surface)
One major drawback to plants in pots is watering. Plants in containers have limited root space and require more watering, sometimes twice daily in hot weather. Installing automatic drip irrigation systems or bulb watering that releases over time can help, but perhaps the easiest solution is adding wool pellets to your soil.
Wool Pellets, though small, pack a major punch in gardening benefits. As part of their innate make-up, wool pellets soak up water. As a result, this creates added porosity for root growth and lessens watering by 25%, taking container gardening to a whole new level of ease. It’s no wonder that Wool Pellets have gained national attention and awards. Read about their journey from anonymity to acclaim in Wild Valley Farms Keeps Busy Bringing Wool Pellets to the World - 2017 Year in Review If you haven’t tried them out yet, you will love the work they provide and be pleasantly surprised at how well plants thrive when wool pellets are part of the soil make up. Not convinced? We have 6 Reasons You Should Be Using Wool Pellets in Your Garden Soil
Creating the vision
Container growing can be as simple as a single plant or crop in a container on your step to a layered visual and pleasantly scented arrangement of many types of plants. Some key steps experts suggest to getting that pleasing look out of your containers are planting in three areas. The thriller, filler, & spiller.
- Thriller this is an anchor plant with some bulk or height that is the main focal point
- Filler the smaller plants that and bulk, color, and dimension to the planter
- Spiller plants are those trailing ivy or other plants that trail over the edges
Keep in mind colors variety, layer bulbs and plants that flower at different times, and note water and sunlight needs in order to plant like plants together.
Flowers and shrubs
Visually stunning and creating shape, shrubs can be the anchor of your containers. With the wide varieties that exist, and the portability of containers, you can plant most anything you desire. Here are some showstoppers and proven winners in this category.
Hibiscus
The Hibiscus can grow in the wide range of zones from 5-11, making it a widely popular house plant. With naturally shallow roots and large blooms they make the perfect potted plant. While in bloom they require more watering, good thing we have wool pellets in soil.
Hydrangea
The most popular plants for containers, are those that grow everywhere, the hydrangea is one of those. With its dense clusters of flowers that come in a variety of colors the Hydrangea looks great in any large container.
Lavender
Lavender needs full sunlight and is beautiful when it blooms in late June through September. Its slightly mossy and serrated silvery foliage that looks marvelous in landscaping. And the soothing smells are incredible. Pruning is needed once it starts flowering to encourage growth. With careful pruning and training, Lavender can be shaped into topiaries for a unique look. The uses for this old world plant are many.
Peony
Peonies are extremely cold hardy, and thrive in zones 3-8 making the worry of moving them inside if you get a cold snap void. A peony's fragrance varies, but most peonies have a sweet, clean scent. Pink peonies usually have more fragrance than red peonies. Look for peonies to start blooming early May to June.
Sedge
Sedge is a member of a family of plants that are related to grasses and are grass-like in many respects, but are not true grasses.
Sedge, or fake grass, are grass-like in many respects, but are not true grasses. You may not know its name, but this plant is a familiar part of many gardens. With over 100 species to choose from, you can add height and variance in hues of yellow, green, or blue.
Columbine
 |  Columbine offers unique depth and comes in a purples, pinks, yellows, and reds. |
Columbine, or Aquilegia came from the Latin word for eagle, perhaps because the petals look like eagle talons. Columbine have hardiness in zones 3-9 and are among the easy to grow plant category. With their unique shape and 'nodding' heads Columbine are real 'thrillers'.
Snapdragon
Snapdragons are the perfect plant for to fill that 'thriller' space in your planter. With their long and thin stalks that burst with color when in bloom they are sure to draw attention. Flowers come in about all shade except true blue. Many are vibrant toned but also come in soft pastels and bi-colors. They bloom in early spring or late fall, when temperatures are cool. Snapdragons are perennial in zones 8-9 but are most commonly grown as annuals elsewhere.
Dahlia
 |  Natives of Mexico, Dahlias have 42 species with countless hybrids. |  |
Dahlias have a wide variety of options not only in flower shape, from robust rounded blooms to spindly petals, but in the many bold, soft, and bi-toned colors. Making this beauty an easy pleaser. Keep the tubers inside through the winter any you can enjoy them year after year.
Geranium
I'm picturing a warm July summer day, red and white geraniums in a rich blue Nutri Wool Pot. Sigh. Just can't wait. They can be annuals or perennials and are the most common plant for hanging baskets and planters. Perfect. Geraniums feature five-petal flowering blooms. They generally grow to be between 18 and 36-inches tall with some varieties measuring shorter and others measuring taller. They can also spread to cover up to 36 inches, making them both a 'filler' and a 'spiller' depending on the variety.
Cape Primrose
With its broad velvety leaves (look at the texture 😍) and the tight clusters of flowers Streptocarpus, or Primrose makes a stunning 'filler' in any container. There are literally hundreds of varieties and many colors to choose from. The primrose flourishes in low light making it a popular choice for windowsills and a great companion in planters.
Ivy
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Hedera, commonly called ivy, is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing plant. Ivy has an easily identifiable shape and adds green color in rich, pale, and variegated hues. Don't pass over this plant because of the lack of flowers, in autumn ivy puts on a show. Gardeners love it because it is easy to grow, doesn't mind some neglect, and spreads nicely.
Begonia
Begonias grow well in zones 3-11 and are common loved house plant. This easy-to-grow annual does well in a variety of conditions and needs little to thrive. Provide it with light shade, rich well-drained soil, and ample water. The wax begonia, is the more popular variety of begonia, and can be found in sizes to fit just about any space (from as small as 6 inches to nearly 3 feet tall). Flower colors are as plentiful as size options.
Petunia
Petunias come in spreading, trailing and mounded varieties. Dwarf petunias also ad brightly color petite flowers to your containers. I recommend the trailing variety for the beautiful trailing effect in your planters. Available in almost every color, you can mix and match to fill you planter perfectly.
Bulbs
 Lilies come in a variety of colors and offer a distinct fragrance. |  |  Layering bulbs creates ongoing colors all season long |
Bulbs have been planted in containers for years. Layering early and late blooms along with different varieties in one container can give you pots bursting with color and fragrance that will last long into autumn. Bulbs need to spend time in the cold in order to bloom. Make sure to check our chart and find key tips about How to Force Bulbs Like a Pro. Some of our favorite bulbs are tulips, crocus, and lilies.
Don't be afraid to tuck your favorite herb of vegetable in amongst your other plants. Some flowers may do well the entire season in the 2.5 quart Nutri Wool Pots, but when roots have outgrown the pot, simply place into a larger pot or into your garden soil.
Cindy Cloninger
Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most. When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things. No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.
By Cindy Cloninger
Starting seeds indoors or germinating seeds inside is the next segment in our Planning Your Garden series.
It’s time! Time to start those seeds to sprouting for your summer garden and springtime planting. You’ve been dreaming it up all winter long and the time is finally here. What better way to shake off those after Christmas, ‘winter will never end’ blues than to start planting your seeds now! Be sure to read the first article in our series Planning Your Garden - 5 Things to Consider When Planning Your Garden to map out all you need.
You’ve got your lists, you’ve got your seeds, now here’s your go to resource with the next steps you'll need for your perfect garden. There are several different approaches you can take in this part of the process, but don’t worry, we’ve got it all laid out for you and you can customize the best approach for your space, lifestyle, and equipment you have available. That makes it SO EASY!
PRE-SPROUTING
Pre-sprouting is the process of placing seeds in between layers of a moisture rich and warm environment free of soil. This technique allows you to see the actual germination of seeds as they sprout before you place them in a growing medium.
Pre-sprouting can cut germination time significantly. If you have packets of seeds that are older and you’re questioning whether they are worth planting, this can help you easily test and plant those that are still viable. This is a great way to avoid waste and frustration in using materials and space for seed ‘duds’.
Pre-sprouting can cut germination time significantly. If you have packets of seeds that are older and you’re questioning whether they are worth planting, this can help you easily test and plant those that are still viable. This is a great way to avoid waste and frustration in using materials and space for seed ‘duds’.
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To do this, simply place seeds in between two layers of moistened paper towels. Muffin bakery containers are the perfect place to sort, label and observe your seeds while they germinate. Or you can simply place them in a ziploc bag. Most seeds need between 65º to 75º to germinate, making the top of your refrigerator, a heated seed mat, or near another warm heat source the ideal place. Left in this humid, warm environment you’ll be pleased to see how quickly germination happens. Check daily to make sure the paper towels remain damp and spritz with water as needed.
I love skipping the thinning out process! When seeds have sprouted, carefully transfer to containers filled with moist potting soil.
If pre-sprouting is not for you, this step can be skipped and you can plant un-germinated seeds directly in moist Intelli-soil potting soil.
I love skipping the thinning out process! When seeds have sprouted, carefully transfer to containers filled with moist potting soil.
If pre-sprouting is not for you, this step can be skipped and you can plant un-germinated seeds directly in moist Intelli-soil potting soil.
CONTAINERS
 Salad, berry, and bakery cartons have a readymade lid. |  |  Don't forget about condiment & yogurt cartons. |
Let your imagination and inner recycler run wild here. Gather containers from around your home, the possibilities are limitless. Some favorites are: egg cartons, plastic cups, salad and bakery containers from grocery store, toilet paper rolls, berry containers, muffin tins, milk jug, rotisserie chicken container, ice cube trays, newspaper trays, NutriWool Pots or more traditional seed starting trays.
Whatever choice you make to house your little plants, be sure to wash them using warm, soapy water and rinse well. If the container you choose does not have a lid, cover with plastic wrap or place in a rubbermaid container with lid. Skip the covering if you pre-sprouted your seeds.
 Egg cartons make transplanting easy. |  Muffin trays & ornament boxes make separating seeds easy. |  Put a few holes in the bottom & plastic cups are an instant go to. |
SOIL
New seedlings are especially vulnerable to disease and pathogens. This makes it important to provide the right soil, rich with nutrients and free from introducing potential threats to cultivation and harvest of your new plants. Because of this, it is best to steer clear of soil from your existing garden or reusing potting soil from other plants. We suggest you start with Intelli-Soil, a premium premixed potting soil. This nutrient rich soil is now available, just in time for all your spring and summer potting needs. Mixing Wool Pellets into your soil add the tri-fold benefit of nutrients, root boosting porosity, and water wicking - protection from overwatering.
LIGHT
Now that you’ve got germination and your seeds in soil, let’s get them into the light for growing. New seedlings need at least 12-16 hours of light each day. You can choose natural or artificial light.
| ARTIFICIAL LIGHT If you have space and are interested in setting up a more permanent system to use year to year, learn how to build a grow light system for starting seeds indoors. Plants should be placed at least 2 inches below lights.   | WINDOW SEAL Don't have the extra space or cash for lighting? No problem. Just place your seedlings on window seals or near widows in a heated room.   |
ROOT GROWTH & FERTILIZING
Keep the soil damp but not soggy in the earliest stages of growth. This is where the addition of wool pellets really makes a difference. Water from the top, initially, using a turkey baster, spray or condiment bottle. As the seedlings grow, encourage root growth by adding water to the bottom of the leak proof container. Be careful not to let the soil become waterlogged and drown new plants. Wool pellets help to wick away water from your tender and susceptible seedlings, protecting them from harmful mold growth. Thin plants so that just one plant, the strongest, remains in each container. You get to skip this step if you pre-sprouted you seeds. Yay! At this stage you can remove and coverings for seeds planted directly in the soil.
Seedlings get nutrients from the seed's endosperm when it is newly sprouted and begins to grow. When the second leaves, or ‘true leaves’ appear you may begin fertilizing with Super Compost Tea or another organic fertilizer.
When the second leaves, or ‘true leaves’ appear you may begin fertilizing. The wool pellets you mixed into your soil will start doing some serious work here. Over time, wool pellets break down releasing a fertilizer value of 9-0-2 NPK. (NPK refers to the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (N,P,K) it contains)
These 100% organic waste wool pellets absorb water creating porosity that helping create needed space in the soil for root growth. If you're not convinced to add these little gardening superheroes to all of your garden and flowerbed soils, this next function in their makeup will do the trick. Wool pellets have the added benefit of decreasing watering by 25% saving you time and energy. Bonus! Wool pellets are available on website and garden centers across the US and Canada.
These 100% organic waste wool pellets absorb water creating porosity that helping create needed space in the soil for root growth. If you're not convinced to add these little gardening superheroes to all of your garden and flowerbed soils, this next function in their makeup will do the trick. Wool pellets have the added benefit of decreasing watering by 25% saving you time and energy. Bonus! Wool pellets are available on website and garden centers across the US and Canada.
Plants can absorb nutrients in Super Compost Tea 10 times more efficiently through their leaf surfaces than through their roots. As a result, spraying foliage with Super Compost Tea can produce remarkable yields. For best results, spray plants especially after transplanting, and during blooming time and just after fruit sets. Find out more by reading What is Compost Tea?
Many plants will require transplanting into new pots before they are ready for outdoors as they outgrow their containers. When the need for watering is almost constant or roots fill up their current containers, move them into something bigger, like the colorful NutriWool Pots. Keep reading to learn more about these little garden gems.
TRANSPLANTING OUTDOORS
Strong and healthy plants are our end goal, and after all the hard work you’ve put in thus far, you won’t want to miss this important step. When plants are ready to move outdoors it’s time to allow a weeks worth of time for ‘hardening’ or getting the plants ready for the harsher environment found outdoors. No longer will they have the soothing and consistent warm temperatures, watering and fertilizing will be less, along with wind, rain, stronger heat from the sun, and colder temperatures at night
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Begin by allowing your plants a few hours outdoors each day in a protected and preferably shaded area. Decks and patios make the ideal spot. Gradually move and expose seedlings to more and more direct sunlight, gentle breezes, and time outdoors while still bringing them indoors and away from the colder night air. Check the soil frequently to avoid drying out throughout the hardening process.
End the hardening off process by allowing seedlings to remain outside overnight when nighttime temperatures stay above freezing.
End the hardening off process by allowing seedlings to remain outside overnight when nighttime temperatures stay above freezing.
Cool loving vegetables such as peas, beans, beets, lettuce, and broccoli can endure frosts once they are planted and like nighttime temps around 45 degrees.
Warm loving vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and melons only tolerate nighttime temps around 65 degrees, so keep these plants indoors longer or grow them entirely in containers inside.
Warm loving vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and melons only tolerate nighttime temps around 65 degrees, so keep these plants indoors longer or grow them entirely in containers inside.
Prepare your soil for transplanting ahead of time:
At this point you've invested a large amount of time and tender care in nurturing the growth of you plants. You may feel your work is almost done, but prepping the soil outdoors is vitally important to reap the benefits of a great harvest.
Check off these items in your preparation:
Check off these items in your preparation:
- Address issues of soil that is hard and learn about fixing it by reading How Do I Soften My Soil?
- Find out the best types of compost and why it is an important part of your soil in Are There Differences in Compost and What are They?
- How best to use wool pellets in your garden and the 6 Reasons You Should Be Using Wool Pellets in Your Garden Soil.
- Should you add compost and mulch and what is the difference? Read What is the difference between compost and mulch?
- We’ll have your garden and flower beds looking beautiful in the final layer by understanding Why Does Mulch Fade in the First Season? And what you can do about it.
GROW IT IN A CONTAINER
If you have a very short growing season, no room for planting, or want to double your growing times, you can grow and harvest your plants entirely indoors in containers.
Some of the easiest plants to grow in containers are tomatoes, herbs, peppers, strawberries, squash, melons, beans, and most of you leafy greens. In addition, root vegetables like potatoes, onions, carrots, and beats love container growing too.
Some of the easiest plants to grow in containers are tomatoes, herbs, peppers, strawberries, squash, melons, beans, and most of you leafy greens. In addition, root vegetables like potatoes, onions, carrots, and beats love container growing too.
| You can start your plants in the same manner as other seedlings, transferring them into a large enough container for full growth. Using Itelli-soil, and planting in NutriWool Pots your plants will thrive. Given the added nutrients absorbed through the wool pots, add in Wool Pellets to save your watering by 25 times (which is always a hassle with indoor plants) and balancing their nutrition with Super Compost Tea you’ll be on your way to a lush and plentiful harvest in no time. |  |
| New from Wild Valley Farms this year are NutriWool Pots - these unique containers are made from recycled wool felt and are able to insulate the root zone from hot and cold temperatures as well as allow the root zones to “breathe”. The tight wool felt will absorb and hold water in the root zone but will not let the water pass through, keeping the outside of the pot dry. Plant directly in them and keep all season long or place them directly in the soil for easy transplanting. Not only are they useful, but NutriWool Pots come in an assortment of beautiful colors to add interest to your front porch, patio, and home. |   |
Have you tried growing tomatoes indoors? Read these 6 Tips for Growing Tomatoes in a Container to get the best results.
What are your favorite seed starts?
Look for our Wool Strips spring of 2018. What are Wool Strips? They are wool with seeds pre-measured, spaced and ready to be added directly to your soil. Gardening has never been easier! Look for these little garden helpers full of carrots, and herbs in March.
Cindy Cloninger
Virtual Assistant, blog manager, email & social media marketing assistant, web development. I enjoy hiking, fresh fruits & veggies, planting flowers, cooking great meals. But I love being a wife and mother the most. When I'm not doing all of those, I love to read and try new things. No matter the forecast, live like it's spring.
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