When a new product comes out, marketers work hard to promote the great aspects that make it "must-have." Whether it's a new car, the latest iPhone or the next great style in clothing, it often takes some time before we know whether it's just hype or really a product worth having.The same rings true in the plant world--while most new plants do usually live up to the marketing hype (after [...]

Daylily 'Exotic Candy'

By the end of July, many people start to see their container plantings looking run down. Whether it was the neighbor kid who forgot to water while you were on vacation or your own forgetfulness in fertilizing, something happened along the way that made your plants look tired. If you think your plants are beyond rescuing, try sprucing them up with some fresh color!Daylilies are great additions to containers and [...]

Q: Why does my dogwood have curled leaves? Is there a disease or insect problem I should be worried about? A: Dogwoods very commonly exhibit curled leaves in summer, so chances are you don't have too much to worry about. If you've planted your dogwood tree in the last 2-3 years, this is completely normal--your tree simply hasn't gotten its roots system completely established. [...]

Hosta 'June' -- $2.00 off!

Have you seen the price of blueberries in the stores? Even during the summer when we can get them fresh from the local farms, they're not the cheapest food to buy. Why not grow your own?While some fruits may be more hassle to grow than you care to deal with, blueberries are incredibly easy to grow in your yard--and beside the great fruit they offer in summer, they're a great [...]

I want to take just a minute to offer a warning about fertilizing for those of you who may use Miracle-Gro. We've seen several cases this spring of overdosed hanging baskets--all fed with Miracle-Gro. If you've got a hanging basket that looks wilted but has never seriously dried out (and may currently not be drinking at all) and you're fertilizing regularly, it could easily be that you've over-fertilized.Whether it's "operator [...]

Astilbe is a great addition to any shade garden--but did you know you can easily use it in a sunny spot, too? Sun or shade, it will work well in any garden that gets adequate moisture. The best thing about astilbe is how easy it is to grow--plant it once, fertilize it lightly each spring, and you'll be rewarded with year after year of colorful, plentiful blooms in early summer. [...]

Neighbors can be wonderful--it's great to have someone to visit with over the fence, someone to get your mail while you're gone and a friend to share a good laugh with. But even if you have great neighbors, sometimes you just need a little privacy.If your patio or backyard could benefit from a little bit of a privacy block between you and the neighbors--or if you'd just like some shade [...]