From the McDonald Garden Center Blog
This winter has been harsh and we've been getting lots of questions on what plants will have damage and what to do if they are. We've compiled all the best tips from our experts to help you identify your next step. Remember, you can always visit a McDonald Garden Center location and speak with an expert regarding your individual situation.GENERAL TIPS FOR WINTER PLANT DAMAGE
DO-IT-YOURSELF STRING GARDENSSome call it string art, some call it Kokedama and some just call it unique. Whatever you call it, these interesting moss-covered gardens held together with string find their roots in the century old art form called kokedama. A form of bonsai, the Japanese have enjoyed moss balls for centuries and just recently the West has caught on to this unique art.
MAKE MARCH YOUR TIDY-UP TIME IN THE GARDEN.by Kathy Van Mullekom, a lifelong gardener and gardening writer living in York County, VirginiaI used to faithfully clean up my perennial garden in late fall, cutting stems down to the ground and cleaning up any fallen debris – that is, until I got into pollinators and beneficial insects and the whole healthy environment thing.After reading how beneficial insects can spend winter hunkered down among the stems and foliage of dormant perennials, I changed my ways.
Imagine getting up in the morning and harvesting the makings for breakfast -- fresh spinach and eggs for an omelet and honey and peaches for yogurt or pancakes. Later in the day, you pull a few onions to garnish baked chicken and grab some mixed greens and a couple tomatoes for a dinner salad. Do this on any scale and you are part of the fast-growing “urban farming” movement that promotes backyard-grown food and good health. We invite you to learn more about urban farming and living the good life, indoors and outdoors, during our 21st annual Outdoor Show this weekend.
GARDEN-TAINMENT: The new outdoor trend we love!Outdoor living spaces continue to take center stage as more and more people are ready to move the festivity outdoors. From outdoor spaces with furniture and even televisions to outdoor kitchens with fancy grills on the rise, outdoor spaces are becoming more and more personalized. The National Association of Home Builders predicts home sizes will shrink 10 percent in 2015. With less square footage indoors, outdoor living spaces are becoming even more important for cooking and entertaining.
FORCING SPRING-BLOOMING BRANCHESTired of waiting for spring and the beautiful blooms it brings? Now you don’t have too! By forcing spring-blooming branches to bloom, you'll get that early color you've been craving. The process of encouraging early flowering is appropriately called 'forcing'. To force plants to bloom early, simply bring them indoors to mimic springtime conditions.
Did you ever stop and think about the meanings behind your favorite blooms? Throughout history, people have given flowers to each other as a symbol of their longing, devotion, love and friendship. When choosing a flowering plant as a gift, consider what message it communicates. We've put together a guide to help you find the perfect way to say it with flowers!Roses: I LOVE YOURoses are the traditional symbol of love and the most popular flower given on Valentine's Day. Consider giving the one you love a rose bush, rather than cut roses.
