April 27, 2011
April 22, 2011
Rain Got You Down? Try These Plants!
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| 'Admiration' Barberry |
First, a couple of tips on planting. One of the most common questions I hear is, “Can I plant this now?” Here’s the scoop: start now with perennials, shrubs and trees; wait to plant annuals. I know we’re all eager for warm weather, but unless you have a plan to protect your annuals from frost—which can happen until around the first of May—it’s not worth your time and investment to plant flowers yet. Practice patience until the first of the month and you’ll be glad you did!
Annuals aside, other plants for your garden won’t mind the occasional frost we get this time of year. Consider this: whether it’s sitting in a pot outdoors at a nursery or in the ground at your house makes no difference to a plant—in fact, it would likely be better off in the ground starting to take root so it can grow as soon as the weather turns nice.
Keeping that in mind, take a look at your yard and determine where you can make room for some exciting new plants—and this year there are plenty of new selections to choose from. First on my list are a couple of great new varieties of barberry. ‘Orange Rocket’ is a columnar type with unique, dusky-orange leaves all season long. It has very upright growth reaching four feet while spreading just over a foot across. ‘Admiration’ is a dwarf barberry introduction—with beautiful gold-edged red leaves, it tops out at around two feet tall and wide.
If flowering shrubs are more your thing, you’re in luck! This year, I’m excited about ‘Bombshell’ hydrangea, a re-blooming dwarf variety well-suited for full sun to full shade. Once it starts blooming in early summer, it won’t stop until frost. Add to that the fact that it only reaches three feet tall and you have a great addition to your garden regardless of available space.
For perennials, there are a several brand new (or new in the last couple years) plants I’ve grown to love in particular. The first is a brand new hosta: ‘American Hero.’ This army-green and cream variegated plant displays bold contrasts throughout summer on slightly twisted leaves. If you love hostas, this is a great addition to your garden—furthermore, you’ll support a charity that provides lawncare to the families of our troops stationed overseas.
A final selection that I think you’ll enjoy adding to your garden is a dwarf bleeding heart. While bleeding hearts are often considered old fashioned, this plant redefines nearly every aspect of the species. ‘Burning Hearts’ displays deep burgundy flowers set atop fine, silvery blue foliage—and since the plant stands at only a foot tall, it’s excellent for the front of a flower bed or in a patio container.
While we wait for warmer spring weather to come, now is the perfect time to get started planting shrubs, trees or perennials in your yard. With plenty of new introductions in every plant category, this season of gardening is one you’re sure to find exciting. Between rains, find a few minutes and stop by Vander Giessen Nursery to see what you can use!
April 21, 2011
Good grief, it's been too long...
I just happened to look at the blog to see what I'd posted in the last few weeks...and it looks like other than my "Wordless Wednesday" posts, I haven't been a very good blogger lately! I'd try to use the excuse that I've been too busy--which I have--but that's no excuse. So, what's been going on at the nursery?
In the last few weeks, we've been waiting out the weather and hoping for some spring weather. Not that there's any reason to panic--it's never safe to put annuals out before the first of May, anyway--but some warm weather would be appreciated, for sure! In the meantime, we've been busy working in the greenhouses, by and large, and let me tell you, we've got a great spring in store!
At Vander Giessen's, we work hard to grow premium plants, and this year is shaping up to be one of the best on record. In all humility, we're really excited about how well everything is looking--when you start shopping for your flowers, you'll find that everything is in bloom, well-branched and stress-free. Despite the crazy weather outside, the plants inside have had a great start, which means they'll do even better in your garden.
Aside from the quality you'll find at the nursery, we're also excited to offer many new plants and varieties that we've carried before. Some of what you'll find this year includes:
Now, I know you're probably excited for planting annuals--we could all use a good dose of spring right now--but now is a great time to plant your perennials, shrubs and trees. After all, plant them now and you don't have to worry about watering for the next while! We're fully stocked with beautiful plants for any area in your garden, whether you're looking for the basics or a brand-new showpiece.
If you need garden amendments, we've got those, too. Check out our great selection of bagged potting soils, chicken and steer manure, topsoil, bark and play chips as well as our bulk bark, topsoil and composts--including mushroom compost for your vegetables.
Like I said, we've got a great spring in store at Vander Giessen's. As you get going with your yard this spring, check out what solutions we have for your garden--we're here to help!
In the last few weeks, we've been waiting out the weather and hoping for some spring weather. Not that there's any reason to panic--it's never safe to put annuals out before the first of May, anyway--but some warm weather would be appreciated, for sure! In the meantime, we've been busy working in the greenhouses, by and large, and let me tell you, we've got a great spring in store!
At Vander Giessen's, we work hard to grow premium plants, and this year is shaping up to be one of the best on record. In all humility, we're really excited about how well everything is looking--when you start shopping for your flowers, you'll find that everything is in bloom, well-branched and stress-free. Despite the crazy weather outside, the plants inside have had a great start, which means they'll do even better in your garden.
Aside from the quality you'll find at the nursery, we're also excited to offer many new plants and varieties that we've carried before. Some of what you'll find this year includes:
- 'Pretty Much Picasso' petunia
- Supertunias
- Double impatiens
- Dragonwing begonias
- Heat-loving trailing white lobelia
- 14 varieties of calibrachoa ("Million bells")
- Great new colors of geraniums
- A whole new coleus section with totally unique colors, shapes and textures
Now, I know you're probably excited for planting annuals--we could all use a good dose of spring right now--but now is a great time to plant your perennials, shrubs and trees. After all, plant them now and you don't have to worry about watering for the next while! We're fully stocked with beautiful plants for any area in your garden, whether you're looking for the basics or a brand-new showpiece.
If you need garden amendments, we've got those, too. Check out our great selection of bagged potting soils, chicken and steer manure, topsoil, bark and play chips as well as our bulk bark, topsoil and composts--including mushroom compost for your vegetables.
Like I said, we've got a great spring in store at Vander Giessen's. As you get going with your yard this spring, check out what solutions we have for your garden--we're here to help!
April 13, 2011
April 6, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
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| 'PJM Compacta' Rhododendron--a beautiful dwarf rhody and one of the earliest to bloom! |
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