THE BLOG: let's talk gardening


APRIL 9 2013 FILED UNDER Annuals	Raspberry Blast Petunia Royale Iced Cherry Verbena Royale Chambray Verbena Lemon Slice Million Bells Wake Up Your Garden It’s time to get things in full spring! Here's some of our top picks to wake up your garden. Raspberry Blast Petunia This new, breakthrough color in Petunias with pink blooms edged in deep cerise violet will make you say 'Wow'. Its trailing habit and low maintenance makes it a winner for both baskets and beds. Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, this bubblegum pink bloom is a must have. Royale Iced Cherry Verbena In all shades of bright cherry pink, this Superbena is a vigorous, heat tolerant, and mildew tolerant beauty. Great in containers this Verbena is also fantastic in landscape beds. While naturally well branched, trimming them back will encourage additional branching, fuller plants, and ultimately more flowers. Royale Chambray Verbena Just like the light blue fabric, this verbena is a beautiful color and offers scent. As a superbena, is a vigorous, heat tolerant, and mildew tolerant beauty. Great in containers this Verbena is also fantastic in landscape beds. While naturally well branched, trimming them back will encourage additional branching, fuller plants, and ultimately more flowers. Lemon Slice Milion Bells Looking like little Petunias, the unique bicolor pattern of white and bright yellow make these million bells a sunny choice for your containers. Covered with hundreds of flowers in yellow and white from early spring all the way through those first light frosts. With long, trailing branches these blooms cascade over the sides of hanging baskets and other containers, and spread over flower beds. Plant in full sun and tolerates the heat well. Caliente Hot Coral Geranium With exceptional heat tolerance this coral geranium is certainly hot in the garden this spring. Thriving in full to part sun, it is pretty drought tolerant once established. This bold eye catching color gives new color to this traditional flower. In a container these geraniums really provide the wow factor. Goldalia Dahlia Produces an unusual orange bloom with white tips and large orangey yellow centers. As a prolific bloomer, this petite dahlia is short and compact but well branched. These blooms look great in the garden or as cut flowers on your dining room table. Photos courtesy of Proven Winners
APRIL 2 2013 FILED UNDER Annuals	Maintaining Your Hanging Basket It's that time of year... time to get hooked on hanging baskets! And, to keep your baskets blooming their best we recommend following these easy instructions. WATER: Watering is the hardest part of maintaining a hanging basket, or any container plant. You can't keep the soil too wet because it will result in root rot, and you can't keep it too dry or the plant wilts and dies. Here are the rules of thumb for watering hanging baskets: Ensure your pot has drainage holes Water only when the top of the soil is dry to the touch Water thoroughly, that means water until it comes out of the drainage holes Never allow your pot to sit in standing water Larger pots will dry-out less quickly than small pots Early in spring when your plants are smaller and the temperatures are lower, you may only have to water every 3 or 4 days. As the plants get larger and the temperature begins to rise, you will water daily or sometimes even twice a day. Also note, you will need to water more frequently on windy days, as wind causes pots to dry out quickly. NUTRITION: Your container plants are only getting nutrition if you provide it to them. After watering, fertilizer is the most important thing to keep plants thriving. We recommend adding McDonald GreenLeaf fertilizer right after they are purchased. This will provide your basket with a good constant dose of fertilizer. Be sure to follow the directions on the fertilizer package to make sure you don't damage your plants. By midsummer, we recommend adding another dose of GreenLeaf. By this time the plants are very large and need a little more food to keep them going. Excess rains or watering can wash out fertilizer, meaning you will need to reapply. TRIM: Hanging baskets can become a bit stretched or leggy over time, even when you are doing everything right. We recommend giving baskets a trim to clean up some of the scraggly pieces. How much you cut off is up to you, a light trim of an inch or two is usually plenty, but there are times when a bigger trim might be good. If you have long trailing pieces that you don't like, feel free to cut them off. Giving the basket a "haircut" will rob you of some flowers, but it will increase branching, tighten the habit, and help keep the basket looking good long-term. Your flowers should come back with in a few days to a week and your plant, given enough fertilizer, is likely to start growing again.
APRIL 1 2013	Is it warm enough yet? Is it warm enough yet to put my favorite spring plants outside? We hear this question a lot this time of year and we know that means you are ready to get that garden going! Here’s a few tips to make sure you get the most from your garden this spring. Annuals provide color from the time of planting into early fall. Inexpensive, easy-to-grow and gorgeous ~ annuals are great for changing the look of your garden from year-to-year and filling in around bulbs, perennials and trees & shrubs. A few early-blooming annuals that are safe to plant now include petunias, marigolds, snapdragons, geraniums, million bells, dianthus and verbena. However, some annuals can't handle frosts that occasionally occur in early spring. We suggest waiting to plant them outside until after the average last frost date. These include favorites like hibiscus, mandevilla, coleus, gomphrena, iceplant, portulaca, vinca and most veggies like peppers, cucumbers, squash, and eggplant. These plants thrive in the long, warm days of later spring. AVERAGE LAST FROST DATES FOR HAMPTON ROADS: • Virginia Beach & Norfolk: April 1 • Hampton & Chesapeake: April 10 • Newport News, lower York County and Poquoson: April 15 • Upper York Co. and Williamsburg: April 25 TIP: Hardening Off Helps If your annuals are straight out of the greenhouse and tender, you may need to acclimate them to the outdoors in the sun and wind conditions, before you plant them in the garden. This process is called "hardening off". If you don't take the time to do this, your plants may be stressed when you transplant them into the ground.
MARCH 29 2013	Shooting Star Hydrangea Hyacinth and Tulips Pericallis Scabiosa Hydrangea Azaleas African Daisies Candytuft Hop to it! Set a spring scene inside and out. From the graceful to the bold, these blooms are perfect center stage on your table or to add a springy warm welcome to your entrance or even for spring curb appeal. These bunny approved blooms in all the shades of Easter will make your Easter “egg-tra” special. Shades of White • Orchids • Calla Lily • Peace Lily • Mountain Snow Pieris • Candytuft Vibrant Violet • Purple Alyssum • Scabiosa • Hyacinth • Pericallis Gorgeous Green • Mexican Feather Grass • Ferns • Spring Cactus • Tillandsia • Green Spike Pretty in Pink • Tulips • Pink Dianthus • Geraniums • Mini Roses • Hibiscus • Camellias • Candytuft Sunwashed Yellow • Suncatcher Pink Lemonade Petunias • Daffodil • Tulips • Orchids • African Daisy • Bush Daisy • Forsythia TIP: Remember, any outside bloom can be brought indoors to add a burst of color. We love our Easter Planters that combine Mexican Feather Grass, trailing Suncatcher Pink Lemonade Petunias, pink Dianthus and purple Alyssum and are perfect as a centerpiece but can be planted outdoors to enjoy all spring.
MARCH 28 2013 FILED UNDER Edibles	A juicy garden favorite Who doesn’t love strawberries? Those juicy red berries are a sure sign that warm has arrived! One of our favorite berries, are Chandler Strawberries. And, did you know that Chandler is the leading strawberry variety sold in supermarkets. They produce fruit that is conically-shaped ranging in size. When ready to be picked, the berries are red, firm, juicy, sweet and tangy. The number of berries per plant will depend on the size of the plant and overall condition of the roots and stems. Chandler strawberry plants drop their fruits in late May or early June. Chandler strawberry plants thrive in the southern states during the spring. They require full sunlight, sufficient water and well-drained soil; too much water can cause the roots to rot. We recommend planting in single rows about 8 to 14 inches apart or in double rows that are 1 to 2 feet apart. Healthy, mature plants have shallow roots and stems that grow to about 8 inches tall. Strawberry plants can also grow from seed or clippings; plant them in small containers with fresh soil. Available in strawberry baskets for $19.99, or individually at $2.99. Be sure to join us this Saturday, March 30 at 11:00am to create your very own strawberry jar using Chandler strawberries. Get the juicy details >>
MARCH 26 2013 FILED UNDER Shrubs	Double Take Orange Storm Quince Double Take Orange Storm Quince Bloomerang Lilac Bloomerang Lilac Double Take Orange Storm Quince Double Take Scarlet Storm Quince Hello Spring Blossoms Introducing color that pops in the landscape just in time for spring. These shrubs will add bold color in the early spring days. Not only can you enjoy these blooms through your window, but branches from these shrubs look stunning in a vase to add color inside your home. We’ve decided that these two blooming beauties are a must have for the garden! Double Take Quince With big, richly colored, double flowers this shrub provides a stunning early spring flower display. Drought tolerant once established, it may be pruned to shape after it blooms. Available in Pink Storm, Orange Storm and Starlet Storm, the Double Take Quinces are easy to care for and easy to love. This deciduous shrub is thorn less and deer resistant. Plant in part sun to full sun. Any of these branches are great to use for cut flowers. Developed by Dr. Tom Ranney and his team at the Mountain Crops Research & Extension Center in beautiful North Carolina, Orange Storm and the other Double Take Quinces are sure to brighten spring gardens across North America. In stores now, $24.99. Bloomerang Lilac Get ready for some major blooming with this reblooming lilac ~ the Bloomerang Lilac. Bloomerangs bloom heavily in spring, taking a brief resting period, and then start up again in mid-summer continuing until cold weather sets in. Now you can enjoy classic lilac fragrance for months instead of weeks! While traditional lilac varieties bloom for a few short weeks in spring, Bloomerang's fragrant flowers continue until frost. This compact, mounded variety fits easily into any landscape. Reaching just 4 to 5 feet tall, it is ideal as a foundation planting or as part of the mixed border. You can even include it into perennial beds. Lilacs are easy to grow in full sun and average, well-drained soil. It is great as cut flowers for arrangements and even attracts butterflies. It is also deer resistant. In stores now, $26.99. Check out more of our shrubs in stores now >> Photos courtesy of Proven Winners
MARCH 22 2013 FILED UNDER Container Gardening	Candytuft Bush Daisies Dianthus Snapdragons Scabiosa, Pincushion Flower Color Your Containers Since spring has officially arrived, let's get a jumpstart on our container gardens. Try these bloomers that tolerate the cooler early days of spring and get your containers if full spring. These flowers will work great in the early unpredictable days of spring and last all the way until the heat sets in, in May. Candytuft A small evergreen shrub with clusters of small flowers, Candytuft thrives in full sun areas with well-drained soil. Candytuft is great for a rock garden where they can tumble about and over rocks. They are also excellent as edging in a border and are well-suited to growing in pots. Bush Daisy Add a burst of sunny yellow flowers in spring with this bright bloomer. Not only will this plant give you flowers now, but it will reward you again with flowers this fall. It is very tolerant of cold and can go down to about 28 degrees, so on these cold nights that we are having now, they will handle these nights near freezing. They will not come back reliably outside over winter but they are great as container plants, on their own or in a combo. Just set them in a protected spot in winter (garage is fine) for more flowers in spring! Dianthus This perennial offers a long blooming season. They will begin in early spring and continue all the way until frost, if deadheaded regularly. Blooms stand up above the grassy blue-green foliage with sturdy stems. These bold blossoms sparkle in borders, beds, window boxes and containers. Prefers full sun and well drained soil. Available in a range of colors from coral to red to pink to even white, some Dianthus also carry a scent. Snapdragon This vertical annual, offers great hues in a variety of colors. The abundant spikes of lovely flowers come red, yellow, orange, pink, white and crimson. They are excellent in beds, edging and in containers and they are popular as cut flowers too. Plant in full sun, well drained soil. Scabiosa, Pincushion Flower This charming perennial is easy to grow and produces loads of large blossoms. Almost frilly in their look, the blooms sit atop a long graceful stem. These are long and profuse bloomers that begin flowering in early spring and go long into summer. For repeat flowering you do need to dead head. With its compact, tidy habit, it is ideal grouped together as a border and the more you plant together the more impact they make! We love these as cut flowers and left it in the garden to attract butterflies. Scabiosa prefers full sun and well drained soil. Mariposa Violet is a double violet color but Butterfly Blue (one of the most popular) is a single bloom in a chambray color.
MARCH 21 2013 FILED UNDER Annuals Plant of the Week	Sweet Alyssum Sweet Alyssum for Early Spring Blooms If you're looking for early spring blooms that like the temperatures a bit cooler, you'll love Sweet Alyssum! A member of the mustard family, it's quite fragrant and packs the blooms in early spring. White is the most planted color, but it is available in pink, lavender, and darker shades of violet. This annual grows best in full sun and cooler weather, but will tolerate partial shade. Growing only a few inches high, Sweet Alyssum will spread to fill the space with its ever blooming flowers. This plant will survive light frosts. The bright white pairs well with lots of other springtime favorites like Bush Daisy, Candytuft and Petunias. Be sure to check out our newest variety ~ Lobularia 'Blushing Princess'. Fragrant, just like the traditional Alyssum, this one goes into the summer heat! It’s a good sized grower - getting up to 24-36" wide, and capable of trailing down in a basket. Its pretty vigorous so chose its partners wisely. And, it does not require dead heading. Look for these in stores this week!
MARCH 18 2013 FILED UNDER Container Gardening	From Sun to Shade It’s just about time to perk up your porch with springtime container combos. The secret to a great container is start with the right soil mix. We recommend using our Premium All-Purpose Potting Soil that has been specifically formulated for Hampton Roads. This is also available in a natural & organic blend. After choosing your container and soil mix, you'll need to choose a showy *thriller* plant to be center-stage. It should be taller than the rest and stand out. Next, tuck in *filler* plants around to add sparkle and depth. Finish off your planter with a *spiller, a plant that will cascade along the pot’s edge. For optimum results, we always recommend our Greenleaf All-Purpose Plant Food. Like our soil, this slow-release fertilizer is also formulated specifically for this area. Containers are easier than you may think, so dig in and get those pots in full spring! Here's a few of our favorite plants to use in your spring and summer container combos:* FOR SUNNY CONTAINERS, WE RECOMMEND: THRILLERS: • Juniper Topiaries • Hibiscus • Geraniums • Ornamental Grasses FILLERS: • Diamond Frost Euphorbia • Marigold • Petunias • Lantana • Dusty Miller SPILLERS: • Trailing Sweet Potato Vine • Verbena • Trailing Petunias • Million Bells • Bacopa ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FOR SHADY CONTAINERS, WE RECOMMEND: THRILLERS • Ivy Topiaries • Rita's Gold Fern • Majesty Palm • Camellia • Red Sister • Yew FILLERS • Impatiens • Begonias • Coleus • Ferns SPILLERS • Trailing Coleus • Ivy *Also, try using evergreens in containers so you only have to swap out the fillers and thrillers each season. These evergreens make great thrillers!* • Yew • Camellia • Spruce • Green Tower Boxwood • Sky Pencil Holly • Curly Leaf Ligustrum
MARCH 13 2013 FILED UNDER Perennials Plant of the Week	An Early Spring Perennial Favorite We know spring is close when you start to see the lavender blossoms of pincushion flowers. Also called Scabiosa, they get their name from the interestingly shaped flowers, which resemble little pincushions. This charming perennial is easy to grow and produces loads of large, double, deep violet blossoms. Almost frilly in their look, the blooms sit atop a long graceful stem. These are long and profuse bloomers that begin flowering in early spring and go long into summer. You may even see some repeat blooms in fall. With its compact, tidy habit, it is ideal grouped together as a border and the more you plant together the more impact they make! We love these as cut flowers and left it in the garden to attract butterflies. Scabiosa prefers full sun and well drained soil, but it will tolerate some shade. Hellllooooo spring!