Advice and tips to help you garden without the guesswork!
Pansies are the best kept secret for fall landscapes. Being winter hardy like mums, pansies will survive the frost and the cold winter nights of Michigan. With very little care, pansies will provide beautiful color in fall and again the following spring. Please Note – Pansies will not survive the winter in containers. They must be planted in the ground. It is not recommended to keep them more than one year as they dislike hot weather and get very leggy and untidy …
So, why is fall the best time to plant trees and shrubs? Not as much watering is needed Young plants need plenty of water. It is best to give good, long soakings rather than frequent, light watering. A typical rule of thumb is to provide at least 1 inch of irrigation per week. Summertime planting requires close attention to moisture levels and much of it can evaporate with the heat of the day. Autumn’s cooler temperatures and shorter days may …
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 …
No doubt about it! Mums are the divas of the autumn garden. Mums can quickly and easily add beautiful fall colors to your home. Because of their tight, mounding habit and stunning bloom colors, garden mums are perfect for mass plantings. Although technically considered perennials, the garden mums that brighten up our landscapes in the fall are commonly treated as annuals. Because of the way they are bred, the likelihood of them surviving the winter and blooming within your desired …
Want beautiful color that will survive the cool temperatures of late-fall and early-spring? Look no further than the tough, cold-tolerant, and colorful pansy. Available in many beautiful shades of white, blue, yellow, purple, red-solid blooms and blooms with “blotches” of contrasting color in the center, pansies and violas will brighten any fall through spring landscape. Our pansies are all fresh and especially healthy as they are grown locally at our own growing division right here in Kalamazoo, MI. Pansies are …
Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas and add beauty and warmth to any home during the holiday season. Poinsettias are a tropical plant with long-lived bracts (vivid color leaves) and golden yellow flowers. To ensure that your poinsettia retains its beauty, keep these tips in mind. Place in a room with bright, indirect light. Avoid temperature extremes. This includes heat from registers as well as cold drafts below 50° F. Water plant thoroughly when soil surface is dry 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 …
Follow These Tips for Seed Starting Success! Start seeds 7 weeks before their normal planting dates. Example: Tomatoes and peppers are safely planted around May 30th; start the seeds around April 12th. Broccoli, cabbage and other cool season crops are usually planted the last week of April; start the seeds about March 15th. Follow all instructions on the seed pack. Seeds will vary in: Germination time Planting depth Pre-treatment requirements such as Soaking, Scarification (nicking the shell), and Stratification (chilling) …
Plant tags are your key to success when choosing and growing plants. If you don’t understand all the things you see on a label, you’re not alone. Unravel the mystery of plant label lingo – and take the guesswork out of selecting and placing plants in your yard. Plant labels may be different, but often they contain similar information. Here are some of the common words you’ll see on plant labels – and what they mean to you. When shopping …
Cannas add energy and excitement wherever they’re planted. These lush, tropical plants have big glossy leaves and exotic-looking flowers that are loved by hummingbirds. Cannas come on strong in late summer and fall when most annuals and perennials are starting to fade. Their bold foliage and brilliantly colored flower spikes keep gardens looking great right until frost. Cannas can be used to create a living hedge to define an entrance, hide an unwanted view or divide one garden area from …
