<<< BACK to CURRENT

May

5.27.10 - A Weekend of Planting & Remembering...
Memorial Day Weekend is traditionally a weekend set aside for planting our gardens & landscapes. Generally, it is now safe to plant annuals with the summer sun warming the soil. I thought I would offer a few planting tips for this weekend:
Choose the right plants:
We’ll help you make selections that will grow well in your landscape. Observe sun & shade patterns so you can choose the right plant for your light conditions. In addition, consider the full grown height & width of the plant when making selections.  
Watering
If possible water plants before you plant. Then moisten the soil after planting. Be sure to keep the root of the newly transplanted plants moist. Frequently, I will see where one has watered the entire bed or planting lightly but has not directed the water to the roots. It takes a few weeks for the roots to take hold so when you first transplant them be sure to direct watering to the root ball. I especially like to use a watering wand for this.
Fertilizing
Please do not skimp on fertilizer because it is so important. It will help the stems to be stronger & the roots to grow deeper thus resulting in a healthier plant over all. You will be so much more successful if you fertilize. There are many ways to fertilize. I suggest that you use Plant-tone by Espoma for planting annuals, perennials, vegetable plants & others. You can also use Garden-Tone for vegetables. Both of them are completely organic & easy to use. If you have time constraints consider using Osmocote which is a slow releasing fertilizer that lasts 3 months. For container gardens use either Miracle-Gro or Jack’s Classic fertilizers which you mix with water & apply about every week or two. Please read & follow the directions carefully regardless of the one you choose to use.
Protecting the Gardener
Be sure to protect yourself so gardening will be fun. I encourage you to wear sunscreen & drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Gardening is a great way to release tension, be creative, & enjoy connecting with the earth. Have fun planting this weekend.

In remembrance
Memorial Day is the day we set aside in remembrance of those who died in our nation’s service. In 1915 Moina Michael wrote this poem about poppies which then led to her creating a charity that supported veterans by selling paper poppies.
   
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led; it seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

When I read this I thought it was so appropriate that we celebrate in late May when the poppies are blooming. We give thanks to those who have served & sacrificed to preserve our freedom as well as for those who sacrifice time from their families & the comforts of home to protect our freedom today.

5.21.10 - Flower Power
If you have been reading my weekly postings you know that I love flowers. Even though I am surrounded by flowers in my work environment every day I am still always amazed by the unique attributes of each variety & their beauty.  I surround myself with flowers & plants in my home as well as my gardens & not surprisingly I have many favorites. I especially like flowering plants that are easy to care for. When designing your garden I recommend planning it so you have a variety of shrubs & perennial plants with blooming or foliage color for all seasons as well as annuals & tropical varieties to provide color all summer long in the living areas of the garden.  I thought I would share a list of a few of my favorites for your consideration:

Mandevilla - This is a flowering tropical vine with bright trumpet shaped flowers. It grows quickly & flowers prolifically all summer. Most years it still looks good in late October if protected.  It is available in a variety of colors including red, pink, & white.

Salvia ‘Victoria Blue’ – this is an old fashioned annual with spikes of bluish purple flowers that bloom all summer long & do not require deadheading. You do have to be a little bit patient with them as they are generally not blooming when you plant them & it takes a few weeks for them to get established but they are amazing bloomers & easy to care for.

Zinnias – I love the ‘State Fair’ variety for cutting & putting in arrangements. They grow 36” tall so be sure to leave enough space in the garden. One other variety that I like is named ‘Profusion’. It is a nice border plant growing about 10” high & they are available in cherry, yellow, & orange. They bloom prolifically all summer long, are fairly drought tolerant after they are established & very disease resistant.

Vinca – The flowers look much like an impatiens however they enjoy a hot sunny location. They bloom all summer long & once established they are very drought tolerant as well.

Wave Petunias & Supertunias – These plants are free flowering & vigorous growing with 1 plant covering about an 18” – 24” area. Perfect for beds or pots. They bloom continuously without deadheading. Hint: fertilize with Jack’s Classic Petunia Food to keep them green & lush.

Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ – The airy white flowers of this plant provide a nice filler with other annuals especially in container gardens. It blooms well in sun or shade & is very vigorous growing.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ – this is a perennial geranium that is easy & rewarding to grow. It grows about 20” – 24” tall & wide & it is covered with violet blooms from June to October.

Lavender – this perennial is also an herb which has a lovely fragrance & beautiful flowers. This plant will tolerate poor soils as long as it is planted it in a sunny well drained location.  

Hydrangeas – there are so many varieties to choose from. I really like their big puffy blooms. Some require more shade than others & each has its own unique characteristics. I have found the ‘Endless Summer’ variety will bloom all summer if you keep it well fertilized.  

Buddleia ‘Low & Behold’ – Commonly called “butterfly bush” this variety was a new introduction last year. It will grow about 2’ tall & wide with violet blooms for an extended period in the summer. Best of all they attract butterflies!

And the list goes on … I am sure you have your favorites too! Stop in to see many of the ones I mentioned and others!

5.12.10 - Fun and Easy - Yes, It's Possible!
Hanging baskets, porch pots, window boxes & other container gardens really add a nice finishing touch to your home, porch or patio. They are fun & easy to create in a short period of time. You can be successful & have fabulous containers whether you are an experienced gardener or this is your first time. The key is careful plant selection, regular watering & care.

Let me explain:
When you visit the garden center we can help make suggestions & assist with your selections so it is not confusing. Before you get here, decide if the container will be growing in a sunny or shady spot so you can choose plants accordingly. Second, consider your lifestyle. Are you traveling for several days at a time during the summer or can you water them every day. If you cannot water them every day when it is really hot you’ll need to choose the Premier Pro-Mix Ultimate Container Mix potting soil because it has polymer gel crystals which absorb water & then release it to the plant slowly. This will extend the time between needed watering.  Additionally, be sure to choose plants that are forgiving like geraniums, supertunias, calibrachoa & others. Finally, have fun combining interesting colors & textures together to create a pleasing combination. We like to think of them as “thrillers”, “spillers”, & “fillers”. You can have any combination of these in a pot including just one of them or all three. I wrote about this in an earlier blog but will repeat it. Thrillers add drama & are usually placed in the center or the back of the pot. Fillers fill out the mid area & give the arrangement nice balance. Spillers are the vining plants that cascade over the sides of the pot. Once you have made your plant selections it is time to plant. Be sure to use a container with a drain hole & potting soil. I would suggest using a timed release fertilizer like the Osmocote Pot Shots & then supplementing with a water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Gro later in the season. If you are using supertunias or wave petunias be sure to use Jack’s Petunia Food which will provide additional iron to keep them green & healthy. Furthermore, you may want to create an herb pot or grow a few vegetables in a pot as well. Imagine the possibilities!

Designing & planting container gardens is one of my favorite forms of gardening.  As I walk through the greenhouse I enjoy picking up various plants & imagining how they might look in combination with other plants. I love blending a variety of colors & textures. I have highlighted a few new plant varieties below for your consideration.

I invite you to stop in to explore an incredible selection of exciting plants & containers. Have fun, be creative & send me a picture of your creation.

5.6.10 - "Is it safe to plant?"
Spring is such a beautiful time of year & we are so eager to get outside & plant. Frequently we are asked “is it safe to plant?” which leads into a discussion about when various plants can be safely planted. It is perfectly safe to plant perennials, shrubs & trees right now. Annuals, vegetable plants & herbs are a bit more tender & should be protected from frost or severe cold. I think it is best to get started by planting container gardens & protected locations first. This weekend the forecast is for cooler temperatures. If you need to cover plants that are already planted it is best to use old bed sheets to create a tent using sticks or chairs so the cover is not touching the plant. Additionally, there is a new product called Freeze Pruf which is an easy to spray frost protector that you apply on ornamentals & vegetable plants.It will last up to 6 weeks.

Tribute to Mom …
We've all learned many lessons throughout our lives, but Mom's advice is still the most remembered. Treat others the way you would like to be treated, wash behind your ears & life isn’t fair are just a few that stick in my mind. Many of you know our mother Mrs. Graf & she has often offered advice or a listening ear to staff & guests alike. Perhaps she shared a recipe, or offered suggestions for caring for a plant. She often says that she has helped raise many of the young people that have worked at Graf Growers over the years. It is a special privilege to be part of a family business & work with your family every day. We are so grateful for our Mother’s enduring faith in us & her support of the business. She is an amazing woman & we love her very much!

5.28.09- Made for the shade...
You can create a beautiful garden that will grow & thrive in the shade; however one must be creative & make careful plant selections. Recently, I visited 2 different gardens that were in deep shade. One was very manicured & formal in design & the other was very natural looking. Both of them were absolutely beautiful & thriving. Hosta & ferns are the staples of shade gardens. Both gardens had many different varieties of them & they added interesting texture & color in very subtle ways. In addition, Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ with white flowers that fade to pale green will add a bright spot. For partial shade consider other varieties of hydrangeas as well. If you are looking for a different ground cover consider Lamium that has silver green foliage & white or lavender flowers. Rhododendrons will provide beautiful blooms in the spring. Dicentra ‘Luxurient’ is a hybrid bleeding heart that will bloom all summer. In addition, Astilbe is a beautiful blooming perennial which is just starting to bloom colorful plumes in reds, pinks, & whites. There are many other shade loving plants to choose from…too many to mention. Stop in & to see the great selection of plants for your shade garden.

5.21.09 - Choose the right plants for your lifestyle...
The forecast is for a sunny weekend & we’re all anxious to plant our gardens & prepare our outdoor living spaces so we can enjoy spending time outdoors. It is fun to be creative as we plan & plot what we will plant & imagine how it will look when the plants mature. In my opinion, one of the most important aspects of gardening is choosing the right plant for the location. Consider the conditions…is it sunny or shady, is it always wet or very dry, is your soil clay. In addition consider your lifestyle & if you want plants that are carefree or if you like to spend time nurturing them. Last consider your favorite colors or colors that compliment your home. We’ll help you make selections that meet your needs as well as thrive in your landscape.  

A few tips:
•Since the temperatures are expected to rise I thought I would remind you of the importance of watering newly transplanted plants regularly until they are established. Be sure to carefully water the area where the original root ball is. This will help to get them off to a good start.
•Apply sun screen regularly to protect while you are enjoying the outdoors.
•Get plants off to a good start by fertilizing new transplants with Plant-tone by Espoma. It is all organic with many micro-nutrients which help plants get established faster.

A little something more…
It is Memorial Day weekend which is traditionally a time when we plant the graves, remembering past loved ones. Additionally, let us remember those that have served or are serving our country in the military. We are thankful for the freedoms we enjoy & for the many sacrifices made so we can continue to live freely in this wonderful country.

5.14.09 - Get Creative This Weekend, Create a Container Garden for Your Patio!
If you have been reading this for some time you already know how much I enjoy container gardening. Container gardening allows you to be creative & add color & texture to your patio as well as in your landscape. In addition, it often allows you to grow things in places you otherwise could not. Whether your idea of container gardening is to plant a tomato plant in a pot on a balcony, a window box, or a collection of pots on your porch or patio it is a fun & rewarding way to garden. For me personally, it is all about being creative; combining interesting colors & textures for a beautiful arrangement. Last week I visited a local garden where the gardener used cast iron urns & several obisks to add height & interest in a mixed rose & perennial bed & they were stunning. I thought I would offer a few tips & ideas to get you started:

When planning your container gardens think of the plant selections in three categories:

Thrillers: Usually “thrillers” are tall & stiking creating a focal point for the container. Some of my favorites for this are Pennisutum ‘rubrum’ an annual grass with deep red foliage, Ensete which is a very fast growing leafy plant that reminds you of a banana tree, and of course the traditional Draceana “spike” plant. Another option might be to grow an annual vine like Mandevilla or Black-Eyed Susan vine on a trellis in a pot.
Fillers: These plants are usually bulky & they provide a mid range of color in the container. Most commonly Geraniums, Impatiens or New Guinea Impatiens are used for this purpose however you might consider Sun Coleus, Lantana, hibiscus & others for a different look.
Spillers: These are the plants that are tumbling over the edges. They can be a foliage plant like sweet potato vine, vinca vine, & English ivy or they might be a colorful blooming vine like calibrachoa, supertunia vining petunias & vining verbeana. There are so many choices in this category.

Another option is to do a pot with all one type of plant. This can be very attractive & simply elegant as well.

For a different look try a few new or different plants. Herbs like lavender, dark opal basil or a variegated mint variety will add color & fragrance. Perennial Heuchera (common name: Coral Bells) is available in many different foliage colors which offer a unique color pallet. In addition, Hostas are beautiful as a single specimen in a pot in the shade garden. The great thing with perennials is they can be planted in the garden in the early fall.  Evergreen shrubs like boxwood & Alberta Spruce are very elegant in urns & frequently last through the winter. Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’ or “Knock-out” Roses will bloom all summer in a pot & will create a stunning display.

If you have budget constraints this year you can still have beautiful container gardens. Wax Leaf Begonias, Petunias, & Impatiens are inexpensive & available as small starter plants. They will fill out & grow into beautiful container gardens. You only need a few plants to start however the container will look a little sparse until they grow & fill in.  

Grow vegetables & herbs in pots for easy access. Consider a Topsy Turvey Planter as a fun novelty or plant a “Spaghetti Pot” with plum tomatoes, globe basil, oregano for fun.

If you travel frequently or if you have trouble keeping containers watered consider using the Pro-Mix Ultimate Container Mix potting soil which has water crystal granules that will absorb water & release to the plant slowly as needed. You can also accomplish this by adding a product named “Soil-Moist” to regular potting soil. This helps to extend the time between watering to make it easier to keep up.  (We carry both of these products)

Fertilize, Fertilize, & Fertilize…to keep container gardens looking their best be sure to fertilize regularly. Choose the method that is best for you Miracle Gro Bloom Booster & Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster are water soluable powders that you mix with water & apply every 7-14 days. Osmocote, is a slow releasing pellet that you sprinkle on top of the soil & it will last 3 months.

Stop out this weekend & see the great selection of plants & products for container gardening.

5.8.09 - In celebration of Mother’s Day I would like to extend a special thank you...
to my Mom, Janice Graf. Many of you know her from shopping here. As I was growing up & became interested in gardening she encouraged me. One of the first experiences that I recall was when I was in my early teens. I decided it was time to remove the pachysandra that she had nurtured for many years so I could plant flowers.  She allowed me to do this & I was hooked. Later, when she & my father bought the business we worked side by side. In the early years, we planted together, cleaned tomatoes together & spent many late nights merchandising to get ready for the next day. She always prefers being in the background rather than the limelight. She is our families guiding light providing loving support, encouragement & Motherly advice from time to time. She has nurtured her four children & three grandchildren as well as countless other staff members over the years. We all share special memories of the Moms in our lives. It has been an extraordinary priveledge for all of us to work with her & grow with her guidance. Thanks Mom…we LOVE you.

5.1.09 - April showers bring May flowers.
With April Showers bring May flowers. Have you noticed all of the trees & shrubs that started blooming this past week? As I drove down West Market Street in Fairlawn I was in awe of the beauty of the flowering pear trees. Additionally, I was reminded of the importance of adding white flowers in the garden which are beautiful in the evening. Do you have a lot of spring blooming trees & shrubs in your landscape? If not, this is a great time to make selections & add them while they are blooming so you can see their colors. Choose from crabapple trees, pear trees, azaleas, creeping phlox & more. This will allow you to enjoy spring blooming plants while they last. While they are blooming plan ahead & plant for continuous color in your landscape all summer with the addition of summer blooming annuals, perennials, & shrubs. Consider plants with extended blooming times like Knock-out Roses which are available in Double Red, Pink & Yellow as well as a new member of the Knock-out Rose family named “White Out” that is white. These plants are well known for their incredible hardiness & prolific blooming. In addition, the perennial Geranium ‘Rozanne’ will bloom all season & Heuchera (commonly known as coral bells) are available in a wide range of foliage color from red to neon green & they will add interest until the snow flies.  Colorful annuals, porch pots & hanging baskets will bloom & flourish all summer long. Buy them early so you can enjoy them longer. While we are enjoying moderate temperatures right now, be sure to protect tender annuals & vegetable plants from frost as needed.  There are so many other plants I haven’t mentioned that you will want to stop in & learn about. We want to help take the mystery out of gardening & are here to help.

I would like to personally invite you to come to the Impatien Sale tomorrow morning. The impatiens look great, the store is overflowing with beautiful plants & it’s an exciting way to kick-off the gardening season with Graf’s!

5.30.08 - Your annuals may be struggling through this weather so give them a boost...
We have experienced a cool, damp spring with frequent showers & lower than average temperatures. If you planted annuals earlier in the month they may be struggling along. As the temperatures get warmer the next few days you should see an improvement as they will quickly begin to grow & flourish. A few suggestions to help them along.

*Give them a boost with Miracle Gro or Jack’s Classic water soluble fertilizer. If you used Osmocote at the time of planting it most likely has not released yet but will start to with heat & water.
*Trim dead flowers & marginal or damaged leaves so the plant can use all of its energy to grow new roots & get established.
*Prune long or leggy branches to encourage better branching & bushier plants.
A little TLC will go a long way in encouraging your plants to grow beautifully all summer long.

If you haven’t planted yet this year you still have plenty of time to do so & the selection & quality of plants are prime. You will enjoy them all summer long!

June is Perennial Gardening Month & with good reason. Many of the summer perennials begin blooming in June so you can see their flowers & make better color selections. It is still a good time to plant & you can enjoy them all summer! I will talk more about some of my favorite perennials in the coming weeks.

5.23.08 - It's finally time to start planting!!
When I first started working in the industry (too many years ago to mention) Memorial Day was the official start of the planting season for annuals in northeast Ohio. Over the years that date has been moved up to earlier in May but this year the stretch of cold weather we have experienced has delayed planting times for many & it seems as though this will be the official planting weekend for many! Do not despair, there is still a great selection of plants & plenty of time for your landscape to grow & flourish!

Vine It!
Climbing vines can be a great way to add vertical interest in the landscape whether you are covering a blank wall, providing shade over a pergola, growing on an oblisk or covering a fence. If you are interested in a permanent vine consider roses, climbing hydrangea, clematis or honeysuckle vines. Each of them has unique characteristics that you will want to consider before you plant. The climbing hydrangea will grow well in the shade & the honeysuckle will bloom intermittently all summer which will attract hummingbirds. If you want a colorful vine that blooms all summer consider a few annual vines which grow very quickly & cover a trellis fast. The tropical mandevilla vine with red or pink trumpet shaped blooms or the black eyed Susan vine with daisy shaped flowers with dark centers are good choices. In addition, consider the cardinal climber which has bright red flowers that attract butterflies & hummingbirds. There are several other varieties of annual vines to choose from as well. I encourage you to look for a spot in your landscape & try one!

5.16.08 - For great container gardens just add thrillers, fillers & spillers.
I love container gardening because you can be very creative & enhance your home with colorful flowers in places where flowers might not ordinarily grow like hanging from a porch & on a patio. Furthermore, the great selections of containers that are available make it fun!  However, it can be overwhelming for some to know where to begin when planting their containers & often gardeners will take a safe approach with a very traditional planting of geraniums & vinca vine.  If you wish to mix it up this year & try something new read on.

A few tips for great container gardens!
Soil
Start with a well drained potting soil. We prefer the Pro-Mix Potting & Seeding Mix. If you travel or have limited time for watering choose the Pro-Mix Ultimate Container Mix which has the moisture granules in it which absorb water & then release to the plant slowly as needed to help keep plants moist longer. This is a great product but if you haven’t used it before be sure to check the plant for watering needs & water only when dry so you do not over water.

Drainage
Be sure all outdoor pots have a drainage hole & if you are using a saucer be sure to empty any left over water right away. You can use a little gravel in the bottom of the pot to keep the hole from clogging or a broken curved clay pot piece over the hole will do the same. If you do not use anything that is okay but check it regulary to be sure it is draining well.

Selecting the Plants - Now the Fun Part Begins…Just Add Thrillers, Spillers, & Fillers!
When choosing plants start by selecting a plant that we will refer to as a “thriller” which will add height or interest to the container. This might be a spike or ornamental grass like Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ , a canna or it could be a hibiscus tree or mandevilla vine or many others. I especially like a purple spikey flower called Angelonia which blooms well all summer. Then choose the “filler” plants. These are plants like geraniums, New Guinea Impatiens, Sun Coleus & others which provide bulk & fill out the middle portion of the pot. There is a newer plant called Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ which has an airy white flower that blooms all summer & looks similar to babies breath this is a great accent filler. Last add “spillers” which are vining plants to hang over the edge. This might be something like ivy or sweet potato vine or it maight be a flowering vine like verbeana, super petunias, scavola or others. There are so many choices, so I find it easiest to start with a color scheme, then choose from a selection of light & dark colored flowers & foliage in that theme to provide contrast & interest. Be sure to choose sun loving plants for sunny areas & shade plants for shady areas. We have a great selection of plants for containers of all kinds. In addition to annuals you can add house plants, perennials & shrubs for added interest! Be creative & have fun…you’ll love the results!

Care
Many of the plants that are for container gardens are very vigorous growing so they require extra fertilization & the Proven Winner series benefit from extra iron. You can fertilize according to directions with a water soluable fertilizer like Miracle Gro Bloom Booster or Jack’s Classic or a slow release pellet like Osmocote. All of them work well so just be sure to use them regularly according to directions. Use liquid Ironite to provide iron for Proven Winner varieties.  Furthermore, keep container gardens evenly moist with regular watering. Check watering needs daily on hot sunny days & more when over 90 degrees or if a container is small & dries out quickly. Cut back straggly stems & remove dead blooms to keep them looking their best all summer long.

5.9.08 - The past few weeks have been a real challenge for our family...
...while our father was critically ill in the hospital. During this time I was reminded of the importance of our surrounding landscape as each day we would get a breath of fresh air in the courtyard. I was overcome with the beauty & fragrance of the blooming trees & bright yellow tulips. Then when I returned to the nursery I was comforted & rejuvenated by walking through the greenhouses & rows of plants in the store. I was reminded of the renewal of life. Our father was a farmer raising vegetable crops. He loved the smell of freshly tilled soil, the awe that came from seeing fresh seedlings pop out of the ground miraculously & the thrill of the harvest. He taught us to love the land & the satisfaction that comes from growing things.

As you spend time in your landscape & visit the garden store I hope you are rejuvenated by the beauty & fragrance of the plants. The rhododendrons are starting to bloom, hanging baskets are overflowing with blossoms, herbs offer fresh scents & the hibiscuses are decidedly bold & beautiful. I encourage you to experience the joy of growing whether you have a few patio pots or an entire landscape.

5.2.08 - This weekend kick’s off our “New for You” promotion...

.... where we will highlight new plants & products all season long with a stork (pictured). I thought I would tell you about a few of those new items that you might want to consider. Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ (Perennial) The deep burgundy foliage with rose colored blotches intensifies with color during times of cool temperatures make this more beautiful in early spring & fall. Heuchera, commonly known as coral bells provide color & interest to the landscape from early spring until snowfall. They grow in full sun to light shade. Rose ‘Sunny Knock-out’ This new yellow rose is the first yellow variety in the knock-out series & they have a wonderful soft fragrance. They are known for their prolific blooms & easy care including disease resistance & winter hardiness. Bougainvillaea ‘Vera Light Pink’, ‘Vera White’, ‘Elizabeth Angus Purple’, ‘Juanita Hatten Red’ (annual) Beautiful tropical flowers with larger, more vibrant blooms than older varieties. They like a warm sunny spot. Anisodontea ‘Elegant Lady’ commonly known as Cape Mallow (annual) Beautiful pink flowers that remind you of hollyhock, this plant loves full sun & grows 24” – 36” tall.

Penny Royal (herb)
New to Graf Growers, this herb is used as a natural mosquito reppellant & can be used to create a natural flea collar for pets. It can be grown trailing out of container gardens or in beds.

Acer palmatun ‘Shishigashira’
I can’t pronounce it either. Just remember the common name Lion’s Head Japanese Maple. The foliage is heavily curled & tight with great texture for the landscape. This is a unique tree that grows best in filtered or indirect sun. You just have to see it!

There is many more so you’ll want to stop out & have a look.

One other thing, many people ask if they can plant the impatiens they are purchasing. It is our recommendation that you plant them after the 15th of May depending on the weather forecast. We suggest you keep them outside in a lightly shaded area, water them regularly & protect them from frost as needed. If you have a protected landscape you may be able to plant them now however be prepared to cover them in case of frost.

5.25.07 - All you need to do is water!
All you need to do is water! Watering is a very important part of getting plants established and since we have had hot sunny weather this week it is even more important. When planting perennials, shrubs & trees concentrate water near the roots of the plant until plants are established. It is best on shrubs & trees to place the hose near the base of the plant & let the water run slowly for 15 – 20 minutes to really soak the root ball. This can be done once or twice a week depending on the plant needs & soil conditions. For annuals, hanging baskets & containers these will need to be watered frequently especially right after they have been planted.  With hot sunny days it is best to check the soil for watering needs every day. Once again, it is best to soak the soil thoroughly when watering. A little trick to help you determine if hanging baskets need watering is to lift them. If they are dry they will be very light & if they are heavy they most likely are still wet but touch the soil to be sure.  Miracle Bloom Booster  can be applied every 7-14 days as part of your watering routine to keep them healthy & lush with blooms. (Adjust this recommendation to less frequent applications if you have applied Osmocote or other fertilizer.)

5.18.07 - Plant Combinations & Weather Watch
Plant Combinations
When designing a landscape one of my favorite things to think about is choosing plant combinations that compliment one another both in growth habits as well as visually. Whether you are choosing plants for a container garden or designing an entire landscape there are a few things to think about for a more desirable outcome. First & foremost you want to choose the right plants for the location. For example, plant sun loving plants with similar watering needs together. Then begin thinking about the foliage & flower color, bloom times, plant shapes & textures needed to get the desired effect. Choose plants with contrasting foliage for an eye-catching grouping or for a more subtle area choose similar shades of the same hue.  It is very common & striking to use plants with gold & burgundy foliage together however gold foliage can offer a more subtle contrast when combined with blue green foliage like a Globe Blue Spruce & Gold Mound Spirea. For a soft & delicate combination in the shade combine the soft blue green foliage of Lamium with the ever blooming bleeding heart Dicentra ‘Luxuriant which has delicate pink flowers or for a more bold statement in a shade or part shade area use the  brilliant Heuchera ‘Key Lime Pie’ which has beautiful green – gold foliage.  Pennisetum ‘Rubrum’ a deep burgundy annual grass is often combined with lime sweet potato vine & others however it is also beautiful & more subtle when planted with tall (36”) Verbeana ‘Bournariensis’ with airy lavender flowers & a soft pink annual in front. Bloom times & extending the season with foliage & flower interest is another consideration. For example planting peonies with perennial geraniums extends the blooming time or plant lilies between alchimillia mollis which has gorgeous blue green foliage which is a great host for a mid summer surprise of lily blossoms. I could go on & on but it will be a lot more fun if you come in & discover combinations for yourself. Hopefully, I have inspired you to look at your garden with new eyes!!!

Weather Watch
We are expecting cooler night time temperatures this weekend so watch the weather reports & cover tender annuals if temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. It is best to cover with old bed sheets or newspaper rather than plastic & create a tent over plants so frost does not penetrate cover. It is also helpful if you make sure the soil is moist because plants are more tolerant of the cool weather if they are well watered.

5.11.07 - Yes, it's safe to plant - to an extent...

Is it safe to plant? This continues to be the question of the week. It is a great time to plant perennials, shrubs & trees & some cool tolerant annuals like pansies, snapdragons, petunias & others. If you want to get started planting other annuals watch weather reports & cover them with a sheet if temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. We recommend starting with container gardening or planting in protected areas first so you can cover them easily if needed.

5.4.07 - Is it safe to plant?

This is the question of the week. It is a great time to plant perennials, shrubs & trees & some cool tolerant annuals like pansies, snapdragons, petunias & others. If you want to get started planting other annuals watch weather reports & cover them with a sheet if temperatures drop below 40 degrees F. We recommend starting with container gardening or planting in protected areas first so you can cover them easily if needed.