Winterizing your Garden

In autumn or before the first hard frost, remove all annuals from beds, borders and gardens. These may be added to a compost pile.  Hand pull weeds, bag and dispose elsewhere. In autumn or late fall when perennials have finished flowering, cut back top-growth to the ground or crown of plant unless you leave seed heads for birds to feed on. Clear weeds from the surrounding soil, leaving beds and borders neat and tidy. Quick Tip: If it’s brown, cut …

Garden Maintenance

Perennials  Late March/early April cut back dead plants and apply a general purpose fertilizer. Every 3-5 years divide and transplant your perennials. Dig entire plant and cut into sections (2-3 growth buds each).  Tangled growth, holes in center of plant (middle is dead) or reduced flowering indicates it is time to divide.  Keep transplanted divisions moist until established. Remove spent flowers throughout the season. Prune stems back to crown of plant.  Some perennials will bloom again in fall if this …

Groundcover Spacing

How Many Plants Do I Need? Ground covers need to be spaced at an appropriate distance so that plantings will be easy to maintain and so that all areas of the planting fill in at the same rate.  To calculate the number of plants needed, use the chart below.  This chart should be used based on the recommendations found next to the container size of each plant.  Spacing is based upon rate of growth and mature spread. In general, these …

Beginner’s Garden

Everything you need to get growing…below is a guide for beginners that will lead you down the garden path. Sun The majority of flowers and vegetables need at least six hours of sun. This suggests a spot in your yard that faces south or west.  As you shop for plants keep two basic terms in mind, annual and perennial.  An annual grows blooms and dies the same year.  A perennial comes up every year.  Most annuals and perennials are sun …

Bed Preparation Recipe for Annuals and Perennials

Customers who use the Wenke recipe have only one common experience, their plants look and bloom like three-year old established plants in only one season!   Try experimenting and see what you can cook up: Site – Select an area then take note whether it’s located in full sun, part sun or shade.  Specific plants require varying amounts of sunlight and moisture for proper growth. Prep – If necessary remove sod and till soil to loosen and aerate. Amendments – Add …

Basic Plant Care

Annuals vs Perennials It is best to know the difference between the two so you can make the most of these gorgeous flowers in your garden. An annual is a plant that lives for just one season. Whether you plant from seed or purchase seedlings to plant, an annual will sprout, flower, seed, and then die – all in the same year. Annuals tend to bloom all season long, until first hard frost, and are often bright and showy. Perennials, on the other hand, live …

Strawberries

An incomparable sweet fragrance, fresh red color and superb flavor make strawberries just about everybody’s favorite berry. Strawberries are one of few fruits that originated in the United States. About 7 inches tall with roundish green leaves and white flowers, the plants are pretty enough for pots and planting dishes. Varieties Many new varieties have been developed in the short time the strawberry has been in cultivation. Most require two years in the ground to produce fruit.  Spring-planted ever bearers …

Perennials for Fall Interest

Fall can be just as exciting as any other time in the growing season. As the days get cooler and the nights get longer, many plants are energized and triggered into their glory. The contrast of autumn perennials among falling leaves can be magnificent. When a fall perennial looks its best will depend on the variety, its location and the type of weather we are experiencing.  Some will begin in mid to late August. Others will wait almost until frost. …

Pansy Care

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 …

Fall Planting Guide for Mums

Planting in Flower Beds Choose mums that are still tightly budded. Gently tease the roots apart as you set out mums in their planting hole. Mums grow best in rich well drained soil. They prefer a position in the garden with at least a half day of sun. They also require plenty of air circulation around each plant. No fertilizer is required during the fall season. Water newly planted mums immediately after transplanting. During dry spells water as needed to …