It’s hard to believe, but in just a couple weeks, summer will be over—at least for those of you who have children going back to school. In reality, though, summer in our corner of the world typically runs from July through September, so summer is only halfway over. Now the big question: are your flowers looking up to the challenge of the second half of summer weather? If not, [...]
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 [...]
Finally, it’s here—summer weather! After a seemingly interminably wet June, July has given us a good share of sunny, warm days. As you take advantage of the nicer weather to enjoy more time out in your yard, it’s important that you also keep up on some maintenance of your lawn and flowerbeds to keep things looking their best. Here are a few easy tips to keep your yard looking [...]
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. [...]
