More work going on...

It seems that the projects never end--and in our case, that's a good thing! At Vander Giessen Nursery, we're growing again. If you drive through the neighborhood with any regularity, you may have noticed some changes in the last few days. I'll write more after Christmas when I have time to upload some pictures and a share more, but be assured--we're growing for you!

Wordless Wednesday

A Hori Hori garden knife is a must-have tool for gardening. Whether planting bulbs, digging holes, chopping through roots or slicing through twine or bulap, it's a great all-purpose tool!

Tips for a Beautiful Christmas

Poinsettias are a beautiful--and safe--plant for Christmas color!

During the winter months, fresh garden life can be hard to find outside as most plants have gone dormant until spring. Thankfully, though, you can add life with some indoor color at Christmas. Whether you use poinsettias, living Christmas trees, or plant an amaryllis bulb with anticipation of color in a couple months—there is still plenty of life to be found at this time of year.

Poinsettias have long been the classic Christmas flower. With options ranging from bright red and white to more unique colors like burgundy or variegated red and white, a poinsettia works great for decorating your home. But what if you have kids or pets and have heard poinsettias are poisonous?

For years, people have believed that poinsettias could poison—and even outright kill—children or pets if they ate parts of the plant. Thankfully, that idea is entirely false. While it’s true that eating several dozen poinsettia leaves or bracts—which are the colored leaves you may call the “flowers”—could give you a stomach ache, so would eating several dozen of just about anything. After all, didn’t your mom tell you if you ate too many cherries you’d get a stomach ache?

In reality, there has never been a documented case of so-called “poinsettia poisoning,” so rest easy—your kids or grandkids won’t die if they take a bite, and given the bitter taste of the plants, your puppy probably won’t venture more than a bite, either. So enjoy a poinsettia!

Now, here’s a tip for poinsettia care: don’t overwater. Most plants you buy come in colorful foil, and while the sleeve is pretty, it can also trap excess water. The best way to know if your plant needs water is to pick it up. Get an idea for how heavy the plant feels after it’s been watered, and when it starts to feel light, add a little bit of water. Remember, if your plant feels too heavy, check inside the sleeve and dump any extra water pooled up inside. Chances are, unless your poinsettia is near a heat source, you’ll only have to water once or twice a week.

For most people, either a fresh-cut or artificial tree is standard fare for Christmas. If you want to enjoy a more lasting option though, try a living tree! Many nurseries around the county carry a selection of living trees that will work great inside the house this year and decorated with lights outdoors for years to come. At Vander Giessen Nursery, a couple of our favorites are Serbian Spruce and Norway Spruce. Unlike many varieties of fir, they transplant well, and unlike several varieties of spruce, have very few insect problems.

'Red Lion' amaryllis--a great gift

If you choose a living tree, give it a day or two in your garage before you bring it indoors to acclimate it. Likewise, do the same when you move it back outdoors after Christmas. To avoid a mess, wrap the rootball or pot in a couple of layers of large garbage bags and use ice cubes placed at the base of the trunk periodically to create a sort of “drip irrigation.”

Finally, Christmastime is a great season to plant amaryllis bulbs for indoor growing. During months when very little grows, amaryllis provide beauty with their large, tropical-looking flowers. At Vander Giessen’s you’ll find ‘Red Lion’ amaryllis, with stunning deep red blossoms that will open in about eight weeks after planting.

December can be a bleak time of year for gardening, thus all the more reason to bring some life to your home for Christmas. From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!  

Jack's for Christmas?

Yesterday I had a customer in who has discovered the difference that good fertilizer can make for her flowers each summer--she uses Jack's Classic. When I saw her grab a couple of tubs of fertilizer off the shelf and set them on the counter, I was curious what sort of plants she was feeding this time of year (since Jack's also works great on houseplants--my African violets can testify to that!).

"Oh, this isn't for me; it's for my son," she explained. Her adult son had admired her flowers this summer and marveled at how she could get them to look so lush and full of color. Knowing he was impressed, she decided that Jack's Classic would make a great stocking stuffer for Christmas.

Now, think about it--if you've used Jack's, you know how great a product it is. Wouldn't someone you love enjoy a gift this Christmas that they'll actually use? Jack's fertilizers aren't exactly glamorous...but who needs 7 tape measures laying around the house or that extra bag of Christmas candy that they've probably eaten too much of anyway?

This Christmas, check out our selection of gift ideas for the gardeners in your family--and be sure to grab a tub or two of Jack's Classic for their stockings. Come summer, that not-so-glamorous gift will start to show what it's really made of!

Wordless Wednesday

Just arrived--Amaryllis! Give them as a gift or grow one yourself.

Open House This Saturday!

All fountains will be on sale at our Christmas Open House!

It's that time of year again--the Christmas season! This Saturday, December 3, we welcome you to celebrate the season at our annual Christmas Open House. We'll be serving our homemade olie bollen from 10AM-3PM and there will be sales on all kinds of gift items throughout the nursery.

While you're here, be sure to check out our great selection of fresh Christmas trees, wreaths, cedar garland and beautiful poinsettias. 

For more information on the open house, please click here. We look forward to you joining us--and be sure to invite a friend, too. Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Look who just wandered in!

Wordless Wednesday

New fountains have just arrived!

Final Tasks for Fall

I’ll be the first to admit that winter brings a good change of routine—yes, even those of us in the gardening industry tire of yard work. All in all, it’s well worth the effort—there’s nothing quite like the feel of lush, green grass in summer or the beauty of flowers in bloom. But rest is a blessing, too. With the recent hard frosts, the last of the plants still “awake” in your yard should be going dormant—now is the time to finish up yard cleanup and winter preparation.

Save most pruning for spring

One of the most common questions I get from customers this time of year is, “can I prune now?” In our mild climate, you could probably prune most plants just about any time of year. But I prefer to err on the side of caution. Consider this: if you prune now, the open wounds you leave—no matter how small—on a plant will be more susceptible to drying out or freezing over winter. So if you can, wait until late winter to address any major pruning work in your yard.

There is one major exception to that rule: roses. Mid-November—after your plants have dropped their leaves and gone dormant—is a great time to prune. Now is not the time to do a hard pruning like you would in spring, but rather a general “haircut” to prevent snow accumulation and wind damage from breaking long rose canes. A good rule of thumb is to prune your roses back about halfway—straight across. Then, in spring, you can go through and do a harder, more selective pruning to prepare for the new season’s growth.

Speaking of roses, now is a good time to mulch them for winter. Cover the base of your shrubs with bark mulch or well-drained compost. If your roses are in an area heavily exposed to the northeast wind, mulching is an especially important step to protecting them from winter damage or loss. Some sources might suggest using leaves you’ve raked as an insulating mulch; however, wet and rotting leaves invite disease and really can be more problematic than beneficial, especially here in the Northwest.

Fall color this year has been spectacular!

October’s many sunny days and cool nights gave us beautiful fall color to enjoy, but now that we’ve had a hard freeze, the last of the leaves should come down soon. Take some time this month to get outside and rake. As with roses, grass won’t benefit from a layer of leaves on top as it can promote disease and even kill grass if left unchecked. Besides, as much as we all dread raking, it’s good to get some exercise before the season of overeating—I mean Thanksgiving and Christmas—rolls around!

Lastly, take a minute to check your supply of bird seed. Winter is the time when the small songbirds in our area need the most care—and feeding birds is a great way to bring life and interest to your yard this time of year. At Vander Giessen Nursery, you’ll find a high-quality seed brand called Coles. From what we’ve seen at our feeders, birds eat all of the seed instead of throwing half (or more) away—and the best part is that we don’t have to worry about cleaning up sprouted seed under the feeders anymore! Also, to attract a wider variety of birds, be sure to provide suet through the winter—you’ll love watching the wide array of birds feeding.

November is a month of closure for gardening; knowing the best practices for this time of year will help to keep your yard and garden healthy through winter and into next year. 

Almost-wordless Wednesday

A look at the nursery one year ago today--less than 24 hours after this picture was taken, the house was gone!

Wordless Wednesday

'Kousa Pink' Dogwood--beautiful fall color!

Why Plant in Fall?

"So what's the big deal about fall being the best season to plant? Isn't spring the best time to plant? Or is the whole "fall is for planting" line I'm hearing just a ploy to sell more shrubs this time of year?"Maybe you've had some of those same thoughts as you read and hear ads for nurseries this season. So, what is the big deal--what makes fall such a great time to plant?

Katsura fall color

First, let me assure you that just about any time of year can be easy to plant shrubs, trees and perennials in our corner of the world. In case you haven't noticed, our seasons don't exactly give us any extremes in heat or cold--in fact, at Vander Giessen's, our thought has always been that unless the ground is too frozen to dig a hole, plant! But fall really is an excellent season for doing so. Here are a few simple (although often unrealized) reasons why fall can be the ideal season for planting.

As the days start to get noticeably shorter this time of year, nearly all plants start to go dormant (except moss, but that's another story!). In dormancy, plants experience very little stress in transplanting--in other words, you're much less likely to have a plant suffer or die from being moved in fall than in spring or summer. Look at it this way: when the plant is asleep, it won't even know it's being moved.

Another reason fall is so great for planting is because although air temperatures are cooler now than in summer, ground temperatures are still relatively warm--and much more so than in early spring when many of us start itching to plant. Warm ground is great for encouraging fast root development, and with strong roots, your plants will be well established by next year.

Yet another reason why you should consider planting in fall is watering. We all lead busy lives, and in spring, you're probably going to have too many other things to keep track of to remember to water new plantings every day. So why not take advantage of fall and winter rains to do the work for you? Planting now means you can let our wonderful, natural irrigation take care of recent transplants. 

'Tiger Eyes' Sumac fall color

Now, one word of caution: if you're looking to plant in a spot in your yard that gets the full blast of the northeast wind in winter, wait. Around here, the biggest killer in winter isn't snow or even cold--it's wind. Winter's "northeaster" winds can do more damage to young plants in drying them out than freezing alone, so if your yard is dangerously exposed, it really is best to wait until spring to plant. Aside from that caveat, get working!

Finally, fall really is a great time to find plants at clearance prices. While you won't find the selection of shrubs, trees and perennials you expect to find at nurseries in the spring, you may find some great treasures at huge markdowns. If you haven't done any shopping yet, stop in at Vander Giessen's and see what we have that might fit your yard and give you a headache-free planting experience!

Wordless Thursday

Since I forgot yesterday...

Coral Bark ('Sango Kaku') Japanese Maple

Take Steps Now for a Great Spring

Like it or not, I think it’s safe to say our summer is over. If you haven’t yet started fall cleanup in your yard, you probably will soon—and in another month or so, the last of the yard work will be complete and you can put your garden tools to rest until spring.

Before you call it quits, though, there are a few items I would encourage you to add to your “to do” list—accomplishing them yet this fall will give your lawn and garden a great start next year. 

First, have you planted any bulbs? Whether you can boast having a green thumb or not, there’s no question you can grow spring bulbs—they’re just plain easy. But if you want to enjoy the color that daffodils, tulips and other bulbs provide in early spring, you need to start planting now. At Vander Giessen Nursery, we carry a great selection of early- to mid-spring bloomers that will finish up just when you’re ready to start planting your other annuals. 

If you have doubts that bulbs are easy to grow, consider the steps: dig a small hole, drop in a bulb, add a little bit of bone meal to fertilize and backfill the hole. No need to water, no additional fertilizing later. You’re done. With the exception of cacti and succulents—and most don’t grow here anyway—there are very few plants that need such little care. So if you haven’t, find a place to plant some bulbs for early spring color in your yard.

Secondly, now is a great time to add lime to your lawn. In order to keep your grass thick and healthy—and keep moss from taking over—you need to make applying lime a regular part of your yearly schedule. This summer, I attended a couple of weddings at the beautiful Evergreen Gardens south of Lynden. If you’ve ever been there, you’ve undoubtedly seen the lush lawns growing amongst the stately evergreens. If you have any shade on your yard, you know how tough it can be to keep grass growing there. Evergreen Gardens’ secret is lime—and lots of it. Shade or not, adding high doses of lime to your lawn multiple times a year will help keep grass thick and lush, even in shade. As we get into the “rainy season,” stop at your favorite local nursery to pick up Super Sweet lime for your yard. In just a few weeks, it will activate to help your fertilizer work better and keep moss at bay.

Third, hold off on your fall fertilizer for just a few more weeks. Chances are you’ve probably seen and heard the box stores advertizing fall fertilizer for the last month or more, but for our area, it’s still too early to apply it. Fall fertilizer is designed to store nutrients in the grass as well as promote root growth for a quick green-up in spring, so for many parts of the country, that means applying in September or October as lawns go dormant. Around here, however, grass grows into November, so I encourage you to wait. Apply Scotts Super Turf Builder Winterguard in mid-November to see the best results—and if you’ve already done it, you may need to reapply. 

Finally, October is still a great month to plant shrubs, trees and perennials. Fall clearance pricing continues at many local nurseries, so take advantage of deep discounts to fill some holes in your landscaping.  

This month, take a few simple steps to make next spring beautiful. With minimal effort, you’ll have a healthy lawn and colorful flowerbeds as another new season begins. 

Wordless Wednesday

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

We've just finished picking and washing gourds and mini pumpkins--and they're now for sale! While supplies last, they're 99 cents apiece or 6 for just $5.00.

Wordless Wednesday

'Suminagashi' Japanese Maple

More Color for Fall

'Burgundy Bunny' fountain grass

This time of year, it's easy to get jealous of New England. Autumn in that part of the country looks--at least according to the pages of magazines like Country--like a kaleidoscope of color. And to be honest, compared to the soggy browns many of us are used to seeing around our neighborhoods in fall, it is. But it doesn't have to be that way. With a little planning you can have a garden full of autumn color as well.

As I've already written about, there are many great options for adding color to your yard this time of year. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Here are a few more of my favorites--and ones that are easy to grow, too!

First, barberry is a great plant that provides beautiful color in autumn. Depending on the variety you choose, you'll see fall colors range from hot pink to bright orange to rich crimson. One of my favorites is 'Helmond Pillar.' With a maximum height of five to six feet, it's great for the back of a flowerbed--but its narrow profile of just two feet wide will fit even the smallest space. In autumn, the deep burgundy leaves of 'Helmond Pillar' mellow out to beautiful shades of glowing red. At Vander Giessen's, we have this and many other varieties of barberry available--all with great fall color.

Speaking of red, another gorgeous shrub this time of year is the classic burning bush. My favorite is euonymous alata 'Compacta'--the dwarf burning bush. Throughout spring and summer, it holds slightly serrated deep green leaves on thick, woody stems. In September, the leaves start to fade out to pale green, but with the first cool nights, they flame up with bright crimson tones. Easily pruned to any shape or size, dwarf burning bush is drought-resistant and has no issues with insects or disease, so even when it's not "on fire" it's an attractive plant to grow.


If smaller perennials are more your taste in gardening, fall is an exciting time as well. Ornamental grasses like feather reed grass fade to golden brown; purple fountain grass shows off its fluffy seed heads and as I've written, 'Burgundy Bunny' grass reaches its peak as well. For a more robust-looking perennial, try a sedum like 'Autumn Joy.' This very drought-tolerant succulent has pink flowers just coming into bloom, and long after it has faded in a couple of months, it can provide winter interest as well.

Blueberry bush fall color

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite plants for four-season interest: blueberries. Sure, we all think of growing blueberries as a fruit crop. But have you considered planting them simply for their ornamental value? In spring, blueberries are loaded with beautiful bell-shaped flowers. In summer, you're treated to tasty, sweet fruit. And in fall, the shrub turns shades of brilliant red-orange. Follow that with stems that turn a bright red in winter and the common blueberry bush becomes a great standout in any garden. Moreover, if you choose to plant blueberries in your yard, the addition of the new 'Pink Lemonade' variety can add even more interest. With its golden-orange leaves in fall and yellow winter stems, it makes a great compliment to traditional blueberry varieties!

At Vander Giessen Nursery, you'll find all of the aforementioned varieties of shrubs and perennials--and right now, they're all on sale! In our neck of the woods, fall can be a gloomy time of year, but with a little planning, you can grow a garden sure to brighten even the darkest autumn day.

A Splash of Color for Autumn

Burning Bush fall color

Midway through last month, I told my California-native wife, “I’m sorry, but we’re just not going to get much summer this year.” Thankfully, I was wrong! As we enjoy this beautiful late summer, you’ve probably already started to notice a few changes in the season hinting that autumn isn’t too far off. From heavy morning dew to a smattering of gold and orange on maple trees, fall will be here soon. So what can you plant to add a splash of color to your yard for autumn? Moreover, is it safe to do so?

First, let me assure you that fall is a great time to plant. Whether you’re looking to add a few shrubs to your yard or redo an entire landscape, September and October are great months to work outside. Cooler nighttime temperatures and more regular rain (soon enough!) make autumn an ideal time to get work done in your yard. And while the nicer weather lasts, warm soil is great for encouraging rapid root development for your new plants.

In the past number of years, ornamental grasses have seen a surge in popularity among gardeners. One of my favorites is one called ‘Little Bunny.’ A small mound of finely-textured green grass, its delicate, puffy seed heads resemble bunny tails. This year, a brand new introduction is called ‘Burgundy Bunny.’ It bears all the same characteristics as ‘Little Bunny’ but with added color. In summer, a splash of red on the leaves will first catch your eye; in autumn, the entire plant will turn red. Use it as an accent in a sunny flowerbed or show it off in a container—its small size will fit most any space.

Another great plant for fall color—and interesting texture—is a relatively new variety of sumac called ‘Tiger Eyes.’ In spring and summer, its soft, velvety branches hold lacy leaves of bright green or gold colors—that alone makes it showy. But come fall, the foliage lights up with intense scarlet and orange shades sure to brighten any rainy October day.

Like I mentioned above, you may have started to see the first hints of fall color on maples as you drive around the county. If you love the interest maples provide but simply don’t have the space for a full-size version, there are still great options. First, ‘Lion’s Head’ Japanese maple provides great shape, texture and fall color in a small package. Very slow growing, this variety tops out at 10 feet—but it may take 30 years to get there! In fall, its tightly crinkled leaves turn bright shades of coppery orange, and even after it drops its leaves, the robust branches provide great structure to your garden through the winter.

If an upright Japanese maple isn’t right for the space you have, try a weeping laceleaf variety. One of my favorites is ‘Viridis.’ Green through spring and summer, it will turn the brightest of orange shades in autumn; with its small stature, it can fit in most any garden space.

Finally, if you have space for a beautiful shade tree—and with this weather, that sounds good—try a katsura. In fall, its small round leaves turn a beautiful shade of gold with touches of orange.

Whatever the amount of space you have available in your garden, adding some extra fall color can brighten up a dark day and extend the beauty of your landscaping into a new season. Stop by your favorite local nursery to check out what’s on sale and what you can add to your yard today!

Fall Clearance Sale!

Have you started to notice a change in the weather? It's here--whether we're ready or not, autumn is arriving! Along with the new season comes a great new sale at Vander Giessen's--our fall clearance!

Starting today, nearly our entire selection of in-stock trees, shrubs and perennials is on sale at 25% off! Excluded plants include fall flowers and fresh-stock emerald green arborvitae. Other than that, every other plant is on sale!

During our fall clearance, popular plants sell out fast, and we've already got a tight supply on many key items, so stop in soon to take advantage of great savings on your favorite plants. While you're here, check out our new selection of spring bulbs--now is the time to start planting them--and pick up some fall fertilizer for your lawn. As always, we look forward to serving you!

Wordless Wednesday

Check out our selection of beautiful succulents!

Wordless Wednesday

Black-Eyed Susans looking great at the nursery!

Keep 'Em Looking Nice

This time of year can be a challenge for gardeners no matter how passionate you may be about plants. Annuals are beautiful and can give you months of color if you treat them right, but by late August, you're just tired. Sound familiar? Here are a few simple tips to keep things looking nice and avoid the uphill battle it can sometimes feel like.

First, make sure you're keeping up on watering. By late summer, your hanging baskets and planters are (hopefully!) burgeoning--you should have plenty of plant material falling out of your containers. Lots of plants means lots of water, though, and if you forget for just a couple of days, it might be too late to save them. Spare yourself the headache of trying to revive toasted annuals by moving any containers to a spot you're sure to notice--and water--them each day. Also, for hanging baskets, water until the water drips out the bottom of your pots. A few squirts of water might have been enough early on in the year, but not now!

Second, give your flowers a haircut. By late summer you may have annuals that have started to get "leggy" or stretch and become unsightly. For plants like geraniums, pick off any flowers and buds and chop back long stems. With warm weather they'll bounce back in no time and you'll end up with much more compact, full plants. For trailing plants like petunias and million bells, don't be afraid to give them a haircut either. Trim off 1/3 of the length, and again, you'll end up with fuller, more vigorous plants in no time.

Finally, keep up on fertilizing. This is really the most important step. Like I mentioned in my main article this month, now is the time to start using Jack's Blossom Booster or Petunia Feed if you haven't already. At Vander Giessen's we love Jack's Classic 20-20-20 as a well-balanced "staple" in fertilizing your flowers, but as we get later in the season, you don't need to encourage so much plant growth. Instead, you're likely more interested in keeping them blooming--right? That's why Jack's Blossom Booster is so great--it will still fertilize for plant growth, but it does so at a lesser rate and does more to encourage blooming. For your petunias, million bells and bacopa, Jack's Petunia Feed will help to promote additional flowering and keep the leaves from turning yellow as they're prone to do this time of year even with regular feeding.

You've put a lot of time and effort into making your home look beautiful with flowers this year. Now that the weather is finally nice, take a few simple steps to keep them looking great the rest of the season--you'll be glad you did!

Solving Common Garden Problems

Red Thread Damage

I think it would be an understatement to say the weather this year has been strange. Of course, the cooler summer has been great for keeping lawns green. Unfortunately, it’s also given us our fair share of gardening problems to deal with.

For starters, although you might have a nice green lawn, you may also be battling a fungus called “red thread.” Noted by pink-tinged brown patches in grass, this fungus does more aesthetic damage than anything else and can easily be remedied. First, make sure you’re watering properly. Fungi thrive in cool, damp conditions (welcome to Washington!) so water early in the morning rather than at night. Evening watering will leave grass damp all night long, allowing fungi to thrive. Additionally, make sure that you’re watering no more than every other day rather than daily to give red thread even less chance to grow.

A second step you can take to reduce the severity of red thread is to collect and dispose of your lawn clippings rather than mulching them back into your lawn. Although mulching helps keep nutrients recycled back into your lawn, it’s also an excellent way to spread red thread spores, so when you see the fungus show up, start bagging!

Finally, keep up with fertilizing. Yes, you can buy fungus control products for your lawn, but the results are often mixed—you’ll see immediate die-off of the fungus, but in a few weeks, it’s back. A better solution is to use Scotts Super Turf Builder to “burn” the fungus out. The high nitrogen levels in the fertilizer easily overtake and kill red thread—and you’ll get a beautiful green lawn as well.

Another significant problem I’ve seen a lot of this year is aphids. This time of year is always bad for aphids—warmer weather and plenty of new plant growth make populations explode—but this year seems to be notably worse. Look for light green or dark brown bugs about half the size of an ant clustered on flower buds or new growth; you can also keep an eye out for the white “skin” they shed as they molt.

Fortunately, aphids are easy to control, provided you take swift action. For vegetables or other edibles, try Natria, an environmentally-friendly spray that works fast and dissipates quickly. On flowering shrubs, perennials and annuals, use Bayer Insect, Disease & Mite Control, a very effective spray that also provides some systemic protection for up to a month. Your best option, though, is to treat your plants with systemic liquid insecticide or insect spikes—products like Bayer Rose & Flower Care will protect for up to two months (essentially the rest of the growing season) and can be found at Vander Giessen's.

Lastly, we’re nearing the time of year when your annuals and hanging baskets can start to look worn and tired. If you’ve forgotten to water or fertilize from time to time, your plants may be stressed and susceptible to insects or disease. Add to that the morning dew that we’re starting to see more frequently and, much like with your lawn, fungi can be problematic. Use the Insect, Disease & Mite Control mentioned above to help control common fungi like powdery mildew (noted by a white film on plant leaves), black spot or mold. Follow up with a fertilizer like Jack’s Petunia Feed or Blossom Booster to rejuvenate your flowers and keep them blooming well into fall.

Like it or not, what summer we’ve had will soon be drawing to a close. Take a few steps now to keep your lawn and garden healthy and you’ll get to enjoy it yet for months to come!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Blueberries are ripening--take a couple bushes home today!

Wordless Wednesday

All perennials are currently on sale--buy 3, get 1 FREE!

Wordless Wednesday

Shasta Daisies are in bloom!

Use Hydrangeas for Summer Color

Hydrangea 'Cityline Rio'

In our part of the country, we’re blessed to have so many varieties of flowering

shrubs and trees—from rhododendrons and azaleas to flowering cherry and plum trees, if you’re looking for color it’s easy to find. Yet look at those names I’ve just mentioned; do you see what they have in common? They’re all spring-blooming plants. That’s great—with our dreary, dark winters, we need a good pick-me-up in spring. If you’re looking for summer-blooming shrubs, however, give hydrangeas a try.

Chances are, hydrangeas aren’t something entirely new to you. If you don’t have one in your yard, a neighbor probably does. As common as hydrangeas are, however, I’ve found that for many people, they aren’t very well understood. For starters, there are far more varieties of hydrangea than your basic blue “mophead” variety. In the last few years, hydrangea breeders have introduced several exciting new types of hydrangea, available in different colors, sizes and shade requirements.

First, there are a couple of great hydrangeas that give color all summer long. Whereas most hydrangeas bloom in July and August only, “everblooming” varieties start in June and bloom until the first frost. ‘Endless Summer’ has been around for a few years—it’s a standard mophead (meaning large, rounded flower heads) with rich green leaves and beautiful deep blue flowers. Another exciting new variety I wrote about this spring is ‘Bombshell.’ This bright white everblooming variety only gets two to three feet tall—and it’s good for full sun to full shade, too!

Speaking of sun, hydrangeas are commonly thought of as shade-loving plants. It’s true to the extent that nearly all hydrangeas will do fine in shade. But many varieties like ‘Bombshell’ also thrive in full sun. Recently, growers have introduced an entirely new series of hydrangea by the name of Cityline—each specific variety bears the name of a different world city (e.g. Berlin). These hydrangeas prefer full to partial sun and like ‘Bombshell’ top out at three feet.

Aside from differences in size, color and sun preferences, not all hydrangeas are alike when it comes to pruning, either. If you’ve ever had a hydrangea that refused to bloom, you may have been pruning it improperly. In the most basic terms, there are two types of hydrangeas: those that bloom on old wood and those that bloom on new wood. Knowing the difference can save next year’s flowers when it comes to pruning.

Mophead hydrangeas as well as lacecap varieties—distinguished by a ring of larger blossoms around a center of tiny flowers—typically bloom on old wood only. For this reason, it’s wise to prune these varieties in late summer as the blooms begin to fade. Just like with rhododendrons and azaleas, many hydrangeas set their flower buds nearly a year in advance, so pruning late summer will allow your plants a chance to put out some new growth and still set buds for the following year.

Other hydrangeas—namely ‘Annabelle’ types and varieties like ‘Limelight’ and ‘Bombshell’—will bloom on new wood, meaning you can prune them in any way at any time. Obviously, a hard pruning right before summer will greatly delay blooming, so it’s best to plan ahead and do that work in early spring.

With so many choices available today, hydrangeas are a great option for your garden regardless of your color preferences, sun exposure and space limitations—not to mention the color of your thumb! This month, stop in at Vander Giessen Nursery and check out the many varieties of hydrangeas in bloom and find one to suit your yard.