January
1.26.12 - Pruning in January?
This week I received an email with questions about winter pruning. I was surprised because these questions usually start popping up in March not January. Although it is unusual to have such mild weather in January it is a good time to get outdoors & take advantage of it to get a jump start on spring gardening chores. Here is the answer to his question and a few other suggestions for winter gardening.
Winter is a good time to prune deciduous shrubs like red twig dogwood & burning bush. The only caution is if it is a deciduous shrub that is known for its blooms such as viburnum or lilac. Each blooming shrub is different but usually they are pruned right after they finish blooming before the buds set for the following year.
If you left ornamental grasses standing for winter interest you can cut them back any time during the winter. It is best to cut them back before they start to grow in the spring.
In my garden some weeds have continued to proliferate during the periods of warm temperatures this winter so therefore I will be spending a lot of time weeding. It is a good idea to get ahead of this now so they do not become overwhelming in the spring.
Clean up remaining fall leaves & debris in landscape & garden beds.
Add a layer of Sweet Peet® or your own compost to vegetable gardens so the rain & snow can help it absorb & fortify the soil over winter. Sweet Peet® is a locally produced organic product made of composted animal manures, green waste, & finely ground up wood which will add texture & nutrients to replenish your garden soil.
If you are strictly a warm weather gardener, then enjoy sitting back with a cup of tea & a good gardening book or attend the Winter Gardening Seminars to plan ahead for spring. The next one is this Saturday at 10:00 AM and the topic is Landscape Ideas for Outdoor Living presented by my brother Craig & I. It is a great way to learn about new plants, products, & techniques to get ideas for your garden as well as it is a time for sharing your interest in gardening with other gardeners.
1.19.12 - Garden Resolutions for 2012
In early January I was outside planting bulbs that I did not get planted last fall. It was such an unusual time to be in the garden digging & planting. It felt so good. I was amazed by the weeds that are growing in a few spots and the cool weather perennials that were not completely dormant. While I was out there I started daydreaming about ways to improve my garden & gardening experience in 2012. I thought I would share a few of my thoughts as a way to inspire you to give consideration for changes in your landscape.
I resolve to try a few new annuals & perennials … I tend to get in a rut with planting my favorites in the same spot every year. This year I will plant my favorites however I will mix in a few new varieties for interest.
I resolve to replace plants that are frustrating me … the pulmonaria under my tree is prone to disease issues & the baptisia along the fence seldom blooms. Life is too short for stressing over these plants while trying to coax them to do what I want them to do.
I resolve to add lighting to my backyard so I can enjoy it in the evenings when I am home.
I love working in my garden. It is so therapeutic for me to dig, plant, nurture & watch things grow however I forget to enjoy & relax in my garden. This year, I resolve to spend quiet time in my garden. Perhaps I could spend time sitting in the chair I placed in the garden rather that just looking at it.
I resolve to share my garden by entertaining more often & taking bouquets to neighbors & friends. It has long been my goal to have my garden featured in a magazine or tour but I realized that I could start by sharing it with friends & family. While I tend to focus on what needs to be done in my landscape I think my guests will focus on the beauty of the garden.
One of the best ways to be inspired & get ideas for your gardens & landscape is to attend the winter gardening seminars. The first one is this Saturday at 10:00 AM and the topic is Combining Perennials in the Landscape for Season Long Interest. It is a great way to share your interest in gardening with other gardeners & learn about new plants, products, & techniques.
Email me & share your gardening resolutions for 2012. I will compile & share them.
1.28.11 - Springtime in Columbus
This week many of us went to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show in Columbus, Ohio, where we attended educational seminars and visited a trade show. We experienced a little taste of spring being surrounded by blooming crab apple trees & rhododendrons as well as pots of daffodils and many other evergreens & spring blooms. It was so refreshing and it truly felt like a mini “spring break.” We welcome you to take a break from winter too … stop in and walk through the greenhouse and experience a little taste of spring.
While we were there we visited with various suppliers & saw several new plant introductions, which we are so excited to share with you this spring. In addition, the landscape team gathered ideas & learned new techniques. This is all part of our commitment to learning and growing each year so we can help you be a more successful gardener. Before you know it we’ll all be outside digging in the dirt.
1.20.11 - It's time for a...
Wintervention (win’-ter-vent’-ion)n. Help for those who are looking for the 1st signs of spring.
This is a term I heard this week that caught my attention. At this time, most of us feel like we could use a little break from winter. Some may be lucky enough to travel to a warmer climate to get a little break, but for those of us that are here why not bring a little touch of spring indoors and create your own “wintervention”. Brighten up your surroundings with a grouping of pretty potted primroses or cyclamen with long lasting blooms. Add a little bit of drama with a blooming orchid or freshen the air with a houseplant. Put them in a pretty decorative pot to match your décor. If you really need a little gardening fix try starting some seeds indoors. This is an especially a fun activity to do with children. Spring will not seem so far off after all.
 
1.13.11 - Trick Yourself
Your home does not have to know that it’s January. The holiday decorations are tucked away for another year and your home looks a bit empty or fresh depending on your perspective. Chase away the winter blahs & liven things up with plants. Create a centerpiece with a fresh houseplant in a pretty decorative pot or create a miniature indoor garden with assorted blooming & green plants on a tray or in a basket. Enjoy watching an amaryllis bulb or paperwhite bulbs grow & bloom before your eyes. They will look pretty and they’re natural air fresheners too! You’ll trick your home (and maybe yourself) into thinking it’s almost spring!
1.6.11 - Happy New Year
Wishing you a beautiful start to a bright new year! I enjoyed the warm temperatures this past week which made it possible to get outside and plant a few remaining bulbs as well as finish up a few gardening chores. It felt wonderful to be outside digging in the dirt even if my neighbors were raising their eyebrows. Since it is very unusual for me to be outside gardening in late December & early January, I marveled at the resilience of many of the perennials & shrubs as I observed the winter garden. I was fascinated by the birds that were aflutter adding graceful movement & color to the barren garden. A few of the deciduous shrubs had tiny buds developing that will emerge into leaves in the coming spring. I was thinking that that is very similar to us as we hibernate in the winter. We work on winter projects indoors, enjoy time reading & rejuvenating to prepare for the sunny days of spring. Like the buds, we are ready to emerge & enjoy the outdoors when spring arrives. Don’t wait for spring to get outdoors … seize the opportunity to take a walk through your garden this winter & observe the structure & shape of the plants as well as the winter inhabitants.
1.25.10 - Yes, there is more daylight!
Have you noticed that the days are getting longer? This is always a good reminder for me that spring is coming. While you wait for spring why not enjoy a little indoor gardening with a few blooming or foliage plants to accent your décor. Plants provide the added benefit of a natural air freshener as well. Cyclamen have a very long blooming cycle indoors spanning several months if you keep the soil moist making them a very good value. Reiger begonias will bloom for a long time indoors as well. Then in mid May you can plant them in outdoor container gardens. They’ll bloom again & last all summer. Finally, my very favorite is primrose. Their bright bold colors & cheerful blooms just scream spring! Stop in & have fun putting several plants together in a basket or tray with ferns & ivy to create an indoor garden or just set a pot in a spot where it will make you smile.
Last Saturday over 50 people attended the Container Gardening seminar. It was great to see so many people excited about gardening & anxious for spring just like we are. Please join us on Saturday mornings from 10 – 11:30 for our Winter seminar series. The topic for January 30th is Small Space Gardening. It is a great way to overcome cabin fever, get ideas for your garden & share with fellow gardeners.
1.23.09 - A useful tip for 'Green' gardening!
We have been meeting this week to select new plant varieties & review what we have already ordered for the upcoming season. It has been incredibly fun to learn of all the new varieties & see industry trends. Shorter more compact plants & longer blooming times seem to be a common theme with new varieties. I can’t wait to tell you more about them in the coming months. There are also a number of new introductions that are more disease resistant which makes them more carefree & environmentally friendly. If you are considering ways to be more environmentally friendly planting disease resistant varieties & good cultural practices are one of the easiest ways to accomplish this however there is so much more to learn. Join us this Saturday morning for the seminar “Going Green” and learn other tips & how to compost from an experienced gardener.
1.16.09 - Are you hibernating indoors during this cold weather?
After the holidays when we put everything away & the garden is resting our homes can look very plain. Why not add a little life & help clean the air with a new house plant or a blooming plant. It is proven that plants clean the air naturally & they add beauty. It is an inexpensive way to brighten up your home & they are easy to care for. Check if the lighting is bright or lower light so you can choose the best plant for the location. If you are looking for a blooming plant I especially like Cyclamen because they bloom for an extended period of time (usually several months) & they’re beautiful. The key to keeping them looking their best is regular watering. Stop in & we’ll help you make selections that will work for you.
1.9.09 - Let's start planning for the new year!
It’s a New Year & a time of renewal as many are getting their house in order & spending time inside. At Graf Growers it is a time for planning & planting as we prepare for the upcoming spring gardening season. We spend a lot of time behind the scenes working on the business, attending educational seminars, ordering & growing new products and so much more! In addition, we get a little more rest & enjoy a less hectic pace. We are excited about new plant varieties & new products which I will be telling you more about in the coming months. I would encourage you to join us for the upcoming gardening seminars that interest you. It is a great time for a little arm chair gardening as you learn more & spend time planning to make your garden the best ever in 2009!
1.25.08- Tips from the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show!
This week many of our staff members & I traveled to Columbus to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show where thousands of green industry professionals gathered to attend seminars & see new plant & product introductions. One of our newer staff members asked me how many times I had attended. Although I am not exactly sure, I know it has been more than 15 times. This really got me thinking about why I look forward to going to the show each year. I am always excited to learn new things & see the latest plant introductions as well as meet up with industry friends. This year was just as exciting as the ones in the past. I am thankful that after so many years in the industry I still have a great deal of enthusiasm for it. I decided that the reason the industry remains exciting for me is the same reason people enjoy gardening & spending time in their landscape. Every spring brings a new beginning as we look forward to bulbs popping, grass greening, emerging leaves on trees & spending time outdoors.
One trend that was mentioned often is that the landscape is really an extension of the home & is looked at as an outdoor room. I totally agree that many people use their patio & backyard as an extension of the home for entertaining & fun. Where meals are shared & many retreat after a stress filled day. Take advantage of these winter days to think about your outdoor living space & plan ahead to make changes to enhance your landscape. Look through books & magazines for ideas, walk through the landscape & look at the winter structure of the plants & beds to identify changes needed. Additionally, you may want to attend the seminar on Landscape trends that Tom Kriska & I will be presenting on Feb. 2nd.
1.17.08- It's time to spruce up your houseplants with a little TLC!!
Are your houseplants looking a little pale? If so, take time to trim thin straggly stems (depending on the variety), remove damaged leaves & fertilize them with a houseplant fertilizer the next time you water. Leaves will turn a darker green & as the days get longer the fertilizer will encourage new growth.
This coming week many of our staff members will be traveling to Columbus to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Show where thousands of green industry professionals will gather to attend seminars & see new plant & product introductions. Additionally, some staff members will be taking tests to become certified landscape technicians. It is always exciting to learn & see what is new so we can provide you with the latest & greatest! I will share more upon our return.
1.11.08- Happy New Year!!
It’s a new year of gardening as well. A few days ago I planted tulip & daffodil bulbs that I didn’t get planted in the fall. It was a rare opportunity to dig in the dirt in January & it felt great! Another way to get a “gardening fix” in the winter is to attend the upcoming gardening seminars. It is a great way to learn more about your landscape & get ideas so you can try new things this year. The first seminar is on Native Plants & this is especially helpful if you have areas with special needs in your landscape.
As we look ahead to the spring season I am always amazed at the plethora of new plant varieties & gardening products available each year. This week we have had several meetings to discuss new plants, products & ideas for the spring season. Although we are still in the planning stages, I cannot wait to share them with you as soon as I can. Stay tuned…
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