Heathly Holly...An easy fix to lackluster holly bushes.

Holly is one of my favorite shrubs for its brilliant green foliage for basically all seasons!  If your holly is looking a bit drab there is something you may be missing that is any easy fix!  Holly bushes require some extra care when it comes to fertilization.  Holly bushes thrive in slightly acidic soils that contain high amounts of organic matter.   If no soil test was conducted, follow the label directions on the fertilizer package for broadleaf evergreen shrubs and plants. Various strengths and types of fertilizers will have different application rates. Consult the soil test results if the yellow leaves persist on the holly bush after the addition of fertilizer. The yellow leaf condition can be a result of an improper pH level.  Add an acid based fertilizer each late fall, after a hard freeze, to the holly bush. Over time the acid base nutrients will aid in correcting any pH problem. Add a layer of humus rich compost down around the base of the bush. This will aid in the overall health of the holly plant.  Also, keep a nice mulch layer around the shrub to help retain water around the plant.  I use a very basic fertilizer that can be purchased at most home and garden stores that is specifically labeled for HOLLY.  These products do a wonderful job in keep my holly bushes glossy green and producing the signature, bright red berries.

Growing Hops....Make Any Garden A Beer Garden!

Yes...You can grow hops in your garden!  Hops are a perennial plant, meaning with proper care one plant will produce for many years. Hops like fertile soil, plenty of sun and water, and something to climb on.  And boy will they climb!  A hop garden is mesmerizing to watch grow. Each day there is new growth and never a boring watch. You will find yourself checking them every day, it is that addicting.  These may be a little bit tricky to find but your local horticulture professional can help!  Forget the man cave...you can have a man garden!

Coreopsis 'Mango Punch...Add some fresh,soft, low maintenace color.

Coreopsis

'Mango Punch'

The low, mounding perennial covers itself in summer with mango-orange flowers that have a red blush.

I love the fresh, fruity hue of this new variety. I have it in a couple different places...in front of some Russian Sage as well as mixed in with some white Obedient Plant.  Both plantings are gorgeous! Clip the faded blooms so the flowers will keep coming.

General Description

Low, nicely branched stems with rusty orange daisy flowers describes the Mango Punch tickseed's summer appearance. An herbaceous perennial selected by Terra Nova Nurseries of Canby, Oregon, 'Mango Punch' grows as a low mound with limited winter cold tolerance. The many rusty orange daisy flowers attract butterflies and bees. Promptly trimming off spent flowers ensures a constant flush of new flowers in summer, even into early autumn.

Plant 'Mango Punch' in a well-draining moist to slightly dry soil that is fertile and not highly alkaline in pH. Capable of enduring light drought, water it if both heat and dry soil occur in unison to prevent browning. This sun-loving perennial is well-suited to the front of perennial borders, rockeries, containers or as an edging. Its intolerance of prolonged subfreezing winter temperatures finds it best as a vivid seasonal container plant or bedding annual outside its hardiness range. It does, however, need a winter dormancy to return, even in frost-free gardens.

Characteristics                                       

• Plant Type
  Perennial
• Sun Exposure
  Full Sun, Partial Sun
• Height
  8"-11" / 20.3cm - 27.9cm
• Width
  12"-14" / 30.5cm - 35.6cm
• Native To
  Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH
  Neutral
• Soil Drainage
  Average
• Soil type
  Loam
• Growth Rate
  Fast
• Water Requirements
  Drought Tolerant, Average Water
• Habit
  Upright/Erect
• Seasonal Interest
  Summer, Fall

                                                                                                       

    Special Characteristics

• Usage
  Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Wildflower
• Sharp or Has Thorns
  No
• Invasive
  No
• Attracts
  Butterflies
• Self-Sowing
  Yes

Divide & Conquer...Or Spread The Love!

This is a great time to start dividing your plants!  Hostas and Daylily plants are hardy and easy to divide with a spade or knife.  When you divide you can replant them in another spot, give your bounty to friends, or put them in pots to donate to local gardens etc.  I have donated plants to a garden club plant sale as well as a couple of community gardens.  When you start digging and dividing you may be worried that you are damaging the plant, but fear not they will spring right back and give you a great season!  If you do decide to pot some of these guys, a gallon size pot is a good choice, with good soil, and decent drainage.  Also, make sure they get a good drink!  After a couple of plants you will be a professional!

Hosta 'Frozen Margarita'

Add some sizzle to your hosta collection with the 'Frozen Margarita' selection available this season!  The crisp white margins of the leaves make a bold contrast for any hosta fan.  I have already put some on order.  I am starting a hosta collection section in one of my gardens!  Planting season is right around the corner.  Time to start planning your plots!

Upcycled Wine Bottle Hummingbird Feeder

For all of you hummingbird fans out there this is a really great little feeder that recycles those wine bottles that are so plentiful during the social summer months! Great gift idea too! Glass beads for the handle to hang all over garden make for a flurry of activity!   You can get one here:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/72565022/upcycled-wine-bottle-hummingbird-feeder  

Petite Perennials....Smaller Scale Favorites

Perennials have long been a popular choice for adding color to gardens.  However, today many homeowners don't have the space or the time for extensive perennials borders.  You can still incorporate many of these perennials if you choose your cultivars carefully.

Bold colors of Phlox have been introduced in cultivars that are both compact and disease-resistant, including the Flame Series and the Volcano Series.

Bee Balms which are a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies can be an amazing color show but most varieties are quite tall making them too large for the small garden.  There are pint-sized selections such as Fireball and Petite Wonder that will suit any small space with vibrant grace.

 

Explore the new plants and new cultivars.  There are so many options and choice sure to fill any space!

Everything Goes With Black....BLACK VELVET PETUNIA

I think I am in love!  These are incredible!  The world's only black petunia. A 'goes-with-everything' petunia to pair up with other sun-lovers. What a dramatic statement alone or mixed with bright pinks, corals, and yellows!  Game on...I am on the hunt for these!   Stay tuned for planter pictures~

Add Texture & Color With Lamium...Showy Ground Cover

One of my favorite fast growing perennials to be used as a ground cover!  Lamium (Spotted Dead Nettle)  prefers a semi-shady dry area with well-drained soil but will tolerate a wide range of soils and moisture.  It is best to cut this plant back after the first bloom to promote compact growth. This plant is also deer resistant & can also be used in containers with ease for a trailing addition of soft color and texture. 

Lamium is one of the best choices for a tough yet showy perennial ground cover. This selection forms a spreading patch of small silver leaves with a narrow green edge. Clusters of soft salmon-pink flowers appear in spring, then continue off and on until fall. Fairly tolerant of dry shade, once established.  Stems will root into the ground where they touch, and any new plants that form can be easily moved in spring or fall. Also easily divided.

Colors of Peonies

The peony comes in a variety of colors that add texture and dimension to any garden.

Of all the flowers you can grow, peonies are often the most luxurious and spectacular blooms in an early summer garden. Among the many reasons to grow peonies are fragrance and color. Doubles are extremely fragrant whereas single blooms are much lighter. Some have no scent at all. Colors range from white, cream and ivory through myriad pinks and roses. Several lovely yellows, which are intersectional crosses between herbaceous and tree forms, are also available, though the cost for these rare peonies is high.

Pinks

Peonies come in a large range of pinks, all the way from soft baby pink to stunning, bright fuchsia pink. The Albert Crousse variety is a double-flowered peony that comes in a light pink, is mildly fragrant and is a graceful addition to any cut arrangement.

Peonies come in many shades of pink.

White

White peonies come in variations of crisp whites and soft creamy whites. The Amalia Olson variety is an all-white variety that may have a tinge of blush upon opening. This variety is very sturdy and highly fragrant making it a favorite for cut arrangements.

Peonies also come in several variations of white and cream.

Yellow

The yellow varieties of peonies are a stunning addition to any garden. These varieties are a bit more rare and will be more costly. The Itoh Bartzella is a vigorous, bright yellow variety that can have blooms up to 6 inches in diameter, making for a stellar show. It is also used as a cut flower with a mild, spicy fragrance.

Yellow peonies are a relatively new color on the market.

Multiple Colors

You can also find varieties of peonies that have multiple colors among their blooms. The Bric Brac variety has twisted petals of cream to white with magnificent cherry colored, streaked ruffles along the edges of the petals. This peony brings both color and texture to the garden.

Taming Forsythia

Taming Forsythia....Not as hard as it may seem.  Forsythia is very durable and could be cut back at any time really.  BUT...it is getting ready to bloom shortly so you may want to wait until you get the best benefit of the vibrant yellow flowers before you trim back.  After that feel free to prune away!

Are Hydrangeas Salt-Tolerant?

 By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 16, 2011

Chosing the right hydrangea for salty conditions is important to keep plants in excellent health.

Hydrangeas are widely used shrub in many landscape applications. They possess the ability to combine structure, color and interest within one plant, filling their growing space with bountiful beauty. Some varieties are often listed with more salt-tolerant plants, while other varieties may not be as tolerant of saline conditions.

1. Hydrangea Macrophylla

   • Some hydrangea varities have a thicker leaf cuticle which allows them to be more salt tolerant.

     Hydrangea macrophylla has been shown to tolerate salty conditions quite well. This variety of hydrangea is used in many home landscapes as well as commercial applications. This variety generally has a mop-head flower and blooms most of the summer season. The flower heads can be dried as well.

   Hydrangea Serrata

   • Some hydrangea varities are not very tolerating of salty conditions and may sustain damage.

     Hydrangea serrata, commonly called the woodland hydrangea is another good choice for salty conditions. This variety of hydrangea tolerates salt just as well as Hydrangea macrophylla. Hydrangea serrata originated in the mountains of Japan and Korea and is said to be generally more hardy than Hydrangea macrophylla.

   Hydrangea Arborescens

   • Hydrangea arborescens, commonly called smooth hydrangea responds poorly to salty conditions. This rapid-growing variety of hydrangea is a common choice for landscape shrubs. However, if regularly exposed to salty conditions this plant will likely suffer damage and will most likely struggle to survive.

   Hydrangea Paniculata

   • Hydrangea paniculata, commonly called the pee gee hydrangea is the only variety of hydrangea that can be pruned into a tree form. Unfortunately, this variety will not thrive under salty conditions, in fact it is the least salt tolerate of the different varieties. If exposed to salty conditions the foliage will become necrotic and the plant most likely will not survive.

Is Flowering Quince Deer Resistant?

 

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 19, 2011

Deer resistance does not mean deer proof.

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is an attractive shrub that blooms in early spring. Surprisingly, the flowers emerge from bare stems, before any leaves appear. This shrub has been nicknamed the Cinderella of spring as its bright blooms appear very early in the spring season. This shrub is commonly known to be deer resistant.

1. Deer Resistant

   • The term deer resistant does not mean that deer will never cause damage to the plant. No plant is completely deer proof. Deer resistant simply means that deer are much less likely to forage on your plants and shrubs. However, if they get desperate there are no guarantees that they will completely ignore any plant.

   Conditions That Force Deer To Forage

   • In the past several years new houses and community growth has crowded the deer population into the shrinking wooded areas, and the deer are forced to go into the nearby lawns for accessible meals. This has been an increasing trend causing landscaping headaches for many homeowners.

   Keeping Deer Out of Your Landscaping

   • Many homeowners opt to install fencing to keep the deer population at bay in the wooded areas. There are also many products on the market to deter the deer from foraging. It may become a costly venture to deter deer, but one thing to remember is that deer will return out of habit and if you can deter them enough they will hopefully develop the habit to avoid your garden.

   Other Pests

   • Deer may leave your Flowering Quince for last choice, but the bunnies will help themselves.

     Rabbits will forage on the leaves of the Flowering Quince leaving foliage damage. They are also

How Tall Is a Burning Bush?

By Annelise Ford, eHow Contributor

updated: March 26, 2011

Learning the growth habits of landscape shrubs is an important step to the planning process.

The Burning Bush is a highly ornamental shrub that features mottled bark and attractive winged fruits or showy foliage and white berries, varieties of euonymus can climb as vines or form small trees or low-mounding shrubs. It is a popular choice for landscape planning as many of the varieties have brilliant fall color that becomes a centerpiece in the late season garden.

1. Euonymus alatus Compactus

   • Annual pruning may be necessary to keep shrubs at desired sizes.

     Slow growing, Compactus can eventually reach a considerable size even though smaller than the species. Old shrubs that are never pruned can reach 8 feet in width and nearly as tall. Fortunately, they respond well to shearing and shaping, and can be used either as loose hedges with pruning, or as natural specimens allowed to take their full natural broad layered shape.

   Euonymus alatus Rudy Haag

   • Brilliant color is a must have in any fall garden.

     Rudy Haag Burning Bush has an excellent habit and form making this a popular selection. This variety is quite compact with average heights of 4 to 5 feet with equal widths. The fall color can be spectacular. The small, yellowish green flowers that appear in May are not showy much like the small fruits that appear in the fall. This very compact, slow growing shrub performs best in full sun.

   Euonymus alatus Nordine Strain

   • Consulting a local nursery or landscape professional is a good place to start in deciding which shrubs suit your landscape needs.

     The compact selection called Nordine, was introduced because of the abundance of fruits it produces. Nordine is another example of a more compact version with heights and widths much like the Rudy Haag selection. This variety may be harder to find locally and may need to be ordered through a plant nursery.

   Euonymus alatus Phellomanus

   • Euonymus phellomanus has small inconspicuous flowers in spring, followed by vivid lipstick-pink fruit in autumn, which split to reveal conspicuous orange seeds. This specimen will reach heights of 8 feet with widths at 6 feet. Another notable feature is the corky, winged stems which are particularly eye-catching once the leaves fall in the winter.

Heirloom Lettuce...The Salad Trend Is Everywhere!

This beautiful variety steals all the attention in the salad garden. In Europe, this Austrian heirloom is called Forellenschluss romaine and is one of the most prized of all varieties. A dark green leaved romaine splashed with wine-red speckles. Imagine dipping a paintbrush in red paint and giving it a hard shake onto your romaine lettuce. You've got the picture. Your taste buds will like it too, for its rich buttery flavor.  I have ordered some of these seeds and will get them started to go into the lettuce planters for the farm market!  Salad is in...now if I could only convince my boys that it is not poisonous!

Ornamental Peppers...Colorful and Interesting Trend

Ornamental peppers are another trend growing interest for the garden and especially spicy for container gardening!  There are many varieties out there.  Some are edible and some are not...read your tags! 

Depending on the variety, the peppers appear in shades of white, purple, red, orange, and yellow -- often with multiple colors on the same plant. They like rich, well-drained soil that is evenly moist.

Railing Planters...TOO COOL!

New planting toys!!!  I love this planters!  Cool colors AND more places to put flowers!!!  Again the perfect thing for those of you with limited space in apartments, condos etc!  Also perfect for people like me who can never have enough flowers everywhere!  Game on...hurry warmer weather...these are going along the fence filled with Verbena!

Praying Hands Hosta...The MUST HAVE Hosta!!!

I am generally not a hosta freak BUT I do like this hosta a lot!  It has some great potential for giving height in containers!  This is definitely a MUST HAVE for those who collect hostas!  Amazing! Perhaps we should call this the un-hosta, as Hosta 'Praying Hands' is the most un-hosta looking hosta to ever hit the market. Each small, 18" wide clump is composed of strangely folded, dark green crinkled leaves, each with a narrow, creamy yellow border. Indeed, a clump resembles a multitude of hands folded in prayer. Due to First Amendment concerns, it cannot be planted near courthouses in Alabama or near any Federal government building. The upright clumps are topped with 18" spikes of light lavender flowers..a hummingbird treat in late summer. This sets a new standard for "unique" in the hosta world.   Gotta have it!  Ordering 2 trays of liners to get growing!

2011 Perennial Plant of the Year

Amsonia hubrichtii grows 36 inches tall and 36 inches wide in a mounded form. This hardy perennial grows in hardiness zones 4 through 9 and is a versatile North American native.


Amsonia offers a variety of features throughout the seasons. From late spring to early summer, two- to three-inch wide clusters of small, light blue, star-shaped flowers are borne above the ferny foliage. The alternate-arranged leaves are bright green in spring and summer, but turn a bright yellow-golden color in fall.

• Light – Plants thrive in full sun to partial shade
• Soil – This plant performs best in average, moist well-drained soil but tolerates less moisture. Once established, it can tolerate drier conditions.
• Uses – This perennial for the seasons is an asset in borders, native gardens, cottage gardens, or open woodland areas. It is best when massed. Arkansas blue star is attractive when mixed with ornamental grasses and plants that have attractive seed heads.
• Unique Qualities – Light blue flowers in spring are followed by marvelous foliage in summer. Golden-yellow fall color is second to none among herbaceous perennials.
• Hardiness – USDA Zones 4 to 9

I do not have this in my garden but I have a dozen on order to put a couple in my gardens and share!  I am anxious to watch this perform through the growing season and to see the fall coloration.

Veggie Wall

There are many creative ways to achieve a vertical garden.  This style of vegetable garden has found its own niche as many people crave the garden fresh veggies but have limited space.  This unique garden opens up all kinds of ideas and new uses for materials as well as a chance to repurpose materials you have.  I will be using this in my garden this year along my fence for all kinds of fresh salad greens.  Not only to conserve space but to keep the bunnies from eating my fresh crops!  Put on your thinking caps and incorporate this in your garden for more space and also creative ideas to recycle materials.  I have some extra gutter material that I am going to attach to the inside of our fence and plant with greens and herbs.