Timely tips and ideas all year to inspire you and help you succeed with your garden.
Additional Color for Your Gardens and Great Root Growth We are often asked “What are the advantages of planting perennials and shrubs in the fall?” Fall is a great time to plant perennials and shrubs due to cooler temperatures which put less stress on the plant and enable root systems to grow faster and larger. When we plant in the spring, all plants, perennials, annuals, shrubs, etc. are pushed to get a healthy mass of roots established so they can …
Poinsettias are prefect for bringing Christmas into your home with their long lasting red bracts that work great in any decor setting. They also make the ideal living gift for that person that you never know what to get for Christmas. This enchanting legend of the poinsettia dates back several centuries, to a Christmas Eve in Mexico when a little girl named Pepita had no gift to present to the Christ child at Christmas Eve Service. As Pepita walked slowly to …
Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get your house back in order. But what about the holiday plants that you bought or were given to you as gifts. These can make a nice addition to your home in winter. Some can even become permanent fixtures in your home. You’ll just have to decide which holiday plants are worth keeping and which to let go. Holiday plants such as poinsettia, Christmas cactus, amaryllis, cyclamen, kalanchoe and bulbs will …
Poinsettias are beautiful and easy to care for. Here are a few important things to remember to help keep your poinsettia looking cheerful until long after the holidays are done. Poinsettias can get cold damage very quickly. Keep them covered when transporting them to your home. If you see black edges on the bract, it is likely caused by cold damage during transporting home. To protect the plants, it is best to use a paper sleeve that fully covers the plant. …
The great news is they’re beautiful, they’re safe and they shout Christmas so feel free to enjoy them in your home without worry! No plant is more closely associated with Christmas than the poinsettia. It is celebrated for its beauty but also feared for its toxicity. For years, poinsettias have had the bad reputation of being poisonous. However, poinsettias have undergone extensive testing and there is no evidence that they are toxic or unsafe to have in the house. The …
Did you know that plants make you happier? Improve your health? Help you save money? They do all that and more! Of course, gardening outdoors is only possible during the warmer months so the solution in winter is gardening indoors with houseplants. Gardening has been shown to be a form of therapy. Something that helps fight depression, provides exercise and reduces stress. More than one study has shown the people who grow their own food are likely to make better …
This plant is tough—making it perfect for the forgetful plant owner. This hardy plant is able to survive for months without water and will grow well in any light except direct sun.How to care for a ZZ Plant LIGHT REQUIREMENTS ZZ plants do best in moderate to bright indirect light, but will do fine in extremely low light areas. If the light is too intense for your ZZ, you may see some scaling (brown spots) on the leaves. Curling leaves …
Hardy perennial hibiscus are showstoppers in your late-summer garden. Huge plate-size flowers in shades of pink, red or white burst forth from stout plants in late July/early August. Although the individual flowers only last a day, the succession of flowers can last for up to eight weeks. These amazing blooms have prompted many strangers to knock on my door to inquire about the bush with flowers the size of dinner plates. These Hibiscus flowers are amazing conversation pieces and many …
We are often asked “What can I plant now while it is still cool and our spring weather is somewhat unpredictable?” Listed below are a few options that have proven to do well in Michigan with our fluctuating spring temperatures. These plants are tolerant of dips in evening temperatures and perform well in cooler weather. ANNUALS Ranunculus – An annual in our growing zone, are brilliantly colored flowers with multiple layers of crepe-paper like petals. The leaves of the plants …
Enjoy the fragrance of lilacs 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 vigorous grower will add beauty and fragrance to gardens from spring to fall. When planted in mass they make a great choice for hedges as well. Just like all lilacs, the Bloomerang® will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden, but the Deer won’t care for the taste! And while it …
