the blog

65 years and growing!

McDonald Garden Center began as a partnership between two brothers, John and Kenneth McDonald. It was founded in 1945, as the retail division of LeMac Nursery, wholesale grower of azaleas for the florist industry. After the war, the younger McDonald brother joined the business and opened the retail and landscape center across the road from the nursery. The first small building of the center was completed during the summer of 1946, at the Hampton location on Pembroke Avenue, which was then known as the 39th Street “Super Highway.”

Modern Design Meets Bromeliads

Bromeliads are excellent indoor plants with long-lasting, brilliantly colored foliage. They also readily adapt to the unfavorable growing conditions that exist in most homes. In general they are inexpensive, easy to grow and require very little care.

Colorful Camellias

Camellia aficionados are often baffled over the origin of this historic plant. Many contend that they originated in Japan (hence the species name, japonica) although some botanists insist that these shrubs came from China and were transported to the Land of the Rising Sun by ancient mariners. What we do know is that all camellias hail from somewhere in Asia and that people have cultivated them for more than a thousand years. The Camellia has become a beloved southern staple with graceful blooms enjoyed by Hampton Roads’ gardeners for years.

Pruning Fruit Trees

February through March is the perfect time to prune fruiting trees & plants. Never pruned a fruit tree before, don't worry - it is not as hard as you might think, and it's worth every minute!

Following basic fruit tree pruning instructions will ensure your trees enjoy good health, disease management, and better fruit yield. Pruning will also stimulate shoot growth, control tree size and shape, and improve the quality of fruit.

Repotting House Plants

For gardeners who are itching to get their green thumbs dirty, repotting houseplants can be a great cold weather indoor activity. The main reason for repotting is to give the plant's roots more room to grow. The most obvious sign that a plant needs a new home is when it is physically too large for the pot. Plants will tip and roots may begin to grow out of the drainage holes. A quick check is to turn the pot over, gently pull the plant out of the pot and check the soil ball. If many roots are visible at the outside of the soil ball, the plant will most likely appreciate a larger pot.

Invite Birds Into Your Garden

1. Plants as a food source. Birds are attraced to seeds, berries, fruits and nectar. A successful bird garden includes plants that bear these foods. Remember that a variety of plants attract the greatest diversity of bird species. Some plants to consider include black-eyed susans and sunflowers for their flowers and seeds; tubular-shaped, nectar-producing flowers to attract hummingbirds; trees and fruiting plants such as crabapples, dogwoods, serviceberries, sumacs, and viburnums.

2. A Place for nesting and protection. A variety of bushy shrubs, canopy trees and groundcovers provide the nooks and crannies birds need to nest and find food. These plants provide shade from the sun and protection from wind and rain. Conifers such as pines and spruces provide cover, sap, seeds, and nesting sites; and deciduous trees such as oaks, chestnuts, and hickories provide nuts and good nesting locations.