Blogs by Year

Vitex (chaste tree) is a beautiful, small deciduous tree or large multi-trunked shrub. Often mistaken for butterfly bush, this beauty grows to about 15 to 20-feet tall and wide, with a sprawling growth habit. Gray-green foliage and large spikes of lavender to purple flowers appear during the blistering heat of summer/late summer and into early fall. Its foliage and blooms are irresistible to bees and also draws visits from butterflies and hummingbirds.

It’s that coneflower time of year, and while other plants may be taking a break from our summer heat, coneflowers (echinacea) are flourishing. If you are a coneflower lover (and even if you’re not), then you’ll love these colorful coneflower selections in sunset shades of orange and pink.

As the threat of Isaias approaches, we’ve prepared a checklist to prepare your landscape for the winds and flooding Hampton Roads may experience. Download now and stay safe!

Written by McDonald Garden Center Founder, Eddie Anderson McDonald Garden Center founder Eddie Anderson has always had a passion for plants, especially houseplants and tropical plants. Eddie is still involved in houseplant buying as well as offering strategies on merchandising and selling to the McDonald Garden Center stores and Garden Markets.

Today’s Crepe Myrtles are available in an extraordinary range of colors and have long flowering seasons from mid-summer well into the fall. Plus, they are available in a wide variety of sizes and forms and can be used in many parts of the garden, from large screens to lawn specimens, shrub-beds to container plantings. If you’re looking for a tree that offers vivid color, good size and good disease resistance, then check out crepe myrtle Double Dynamite.

Struggling to find plants for those shady spots? No worries! Shade offers the opportunity to grow some wonderful, unique plants that not only tolerate lack of sun but actually prefer it. Large trees and shady areas in your yard can present a challenge to even the most creative gardener, but growing in the shade doesn’t have to be frustrating. Liven up your shady spaces with these shade-loving annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs that can be enjoyed year-round. WHAT IS SHADE? NOT ALL SHADE IS CREATED EQUAL

Any gardener will tell you that a good set of tools makes your gardening tasks that much easier. The right tools can turn a difficult job into a “piece of cake" and can save you time. But what gardening tools do you really need? A trip to the local garden center can present you with a dizzying array of choices, but don’t panic- you don’t need every tool on the market. Garden Guru, Mike Westphal, shares his top three essential gardening tools to help make your gardening tasks easier and whip your landscape and garden into shape. Dramm Watering Wand

Did you know that 90 percent of every plant is composed of water? This should give you some idea of how important watering your plants really is. Follow these watering guidelines to ensure your plants stay hydrated and healthy all season long: Lawns

Butterflies and other pollinators are a beautiful and important addition to any garden. With the right plants and understanding of their needs, you’ll not only have these winged beauties in your backyard, but you’ll learn how to get them to stay longer! Before creating a butterfly garden, it’s important to consider which perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, and pollinator-safe solutions are best to support and attract butterflies to your garden all season long. SOIL

Tropical style is easy to achieve when using the right plants. No matter the climate, there are plenty of plants suitable for creating a tropical vibe in just about any space whether it be indoors, on a porch or patio, or in the landscape. Plants used do not necessarily have to be tropical in nature; they just need to contribute to the overall tropical feel.