Spring may feel far away in Kalamazoo, but late winter is actually a great time to prepare your garden beds for a successful growing season. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, or shrubs, healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. But how do you know what ingredients to add?

For many Michigan gardeners, deer browsing can turn a beautiful landscape into a scene of frustration. While there are various methods of deterring these beautiful but destructive creatures such as mesh wraps, fencing, and repellants, starting with a foundation of plant choices that deer naturally avoid can give you a head start to preventing an all-you-can-eat buffet.