When walking through our greenhouse, you can often find Eddie Anderson, McDonald Garden Center owner, with his hands deep in the soil potting plants and experimenting with new gardening ideas. Today, we found him creating what he calls, Root Globes…. a project any plant lover can try at home.
Winter weather may be dreary, but your landscape doesn’t have to be. Cone-bearing trees and shrubs, known as conifers, can transform landscapes from ordinary to extraordinary with their assortment of sizes, shapes and textures. Conifers come in a variety of colors including green, yellow, blue, orange and purple. Some conifers are lacey; while others have rigid needles. Conifers that are hardy in the Hampton Roads area include: juniper, arborvitae, yews, hemlock, false cypress, and of course, pine, fir, and spruce.
Bird has become one of America's fastest-growing hobbies, and backyard bird feeding is a convenient way to enjoy these fine-feathered friends. Surveys reveal that nearly half the households in the United States provide food for wild birds.
Did you know that you should use rainwater to water your houseplants? Why you ask?
Our expert growers feel that rainwater is best due to the low pH in rainwater. The low pH makes it easily absorbed by a plant’s root system. Rainwater can also leach away excess salts and minerals that have built up in the potting soil.
Think orchids are too hard to grow? Well, think again. It doesn’t take a high-tech greenhouse or a horticulture scientist to successfully grow and bloom these exotic beauties. Growing orchids is no harder than growing any other houseplants - it's just different. But like most plants, you just need to give them what they need – adequate light, humidity, water and ventilation. With proper care, they will grow and re-bloom, rewarding you with their stunning color, form and, sometimes, fragrance. If you cannot identify your orchid, then start with these six basic care guidelines:
