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Community Corner

Share Your Dirt: Calling All (Weekend) Gardeners

Make this your first Patch commentary. Quickly weigh in on today's best dirt, plants and service in town.

OK, so right, I know, it's late in the season to be harassing the worms and spiders in the thistle and shamrock bed I keep in the middle of the yard. It's nothing against the Irish, but I'm tearing it out and today, getting my farmer on. So it's going to happen fast. Need your help.

I need your dirt. Not literally. Tell me where you like to get your dirt, fertilizer, plants, flowers and garden grit fix.

I'm determined not to make the same mistakes as last year when my was new. Won't plant the peas in the dark. Won't buy one-off mature plants like Brussels sprouts and a turnip. I will come to the aid of my tomatoes when their posture starts to sag and they need support.

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I'm starting to collect amazing advice at a dizzying pace on my lowly Facebook query, so I want to bring the discussion here where we have the added benefit of you and your knowledge, as well as links and easily mapped directions.

There are great local places ready to help; the in Shorewood has beautiful things and gardener's tools and gloves. Match that with a run to or CVS and you can seriously get started with fertilizer, dirt, plants and seeds. But in my experience, even the most urbane of us North Shore farmers still wants this quest to be more challenging. They want to feel the grit of gravel under the tires, and smell the sweet air of seedlings and plants as the large industrial fans blow across the fronds.

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There are bigger, established stores like , Home Depot, Stein's, Menards — all of which offer a nice blast of air-conditioning, sometimes a hot dog, clearly marked items with instructions, no required conversation, and coupons. All nice things. But if you're looking for the lesser known gems that are close by, with conversation, advice, and possibly fewer unknown chemical elements, check out this list.

Here's what I'm looking for:

Best service: Missy Ugland of Whitefish Bay says that she likes Wagner's (on Green Bay Road and Bender Road) because of the customer service.

"They're locally owned, so I'd rather go there," she said. 

Best plants: Kellner's has lush hanging plants and many varieties of vegetable plants and seeds for the gardener, as well as fertilizer. The perk here is that Bliffert Lumber and Alterra are in the vicinity as well. Caffeine and a Hammer deal is still going on.

Weber's has hanging baskets that look like my dad's ex-girlfriend's felting projects (see picture, I do mean that in the best way — weird and delightful) as well as rows and rows of tiny, life-affirming sprouts that will remind you why it's called a nursery.

Best dirt: Someone's got to have dirt on dirt. Does anyone use a soil PH meter for the garden and titrate with garden lime to get your dirt to a seven, or do you freely fertilize and have good results?

Best greenhouse fix: Jury's out on this one. Where do you go to smell the greens?

Best back story: Weber's is locally owned and supports Shorewood's charter school at Shorewood High School. I'll bet Kellner's and Wagner's have stories, too.

Best blister care: This is proof that I was out there with my trusty trowel, and now the heel of my hand has a horrific giant red blister on the way. What do I do? I guess garden gloves help prevent that. And not using the wrong tool...

Best kale recipe: I know some of you get garden deliveries now that those have started up from CSAs, and there is going to be kale. Besides a garage liner to protect the concrete, or as organic parchment paper for baking, any uses where you actually ingest the stuff? Deep fried as kale-tempura? Curious.

Now, your personal successes. What works for watering and how much? Do you mulch? When do you replant for a second wave of summer wonders? What are these words I'm using? Big faker, but interested in your sage advice? (Didn't ask about best luck for herbs...)

Let me know, and jump in this discussion. It's safe, I promise. The only dirt here will be worked into your fingernails. Be sure to wash up before .

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