We're no longer counting down the days until Spring because it's already arriving at Garden Supply Company! Everyday we see a little more color around here and we couldn't be more excited to share our plants and landscaping tips with you. That's why we're hosting our big Spring party a little early this year!
Redbud
Redbuds and cherry trees are early bloomers in spring and we’re seeing them bud and bloom now, which can only mean one thing: spring is upon us!
Redbuds are relatively small, ornamental trees with short trunks and branches that spread out. This tree is well-regarded for its hardiness and adaptability. It blooms early with beautiful flowers that last for at least two to three weeks. Redbuds like moist soil and can tolerate full sun to shade.
Weeping Cherry Tree
Cherry trees are also early bloomers that make a striking showcase with their white-pink, fragrant flowers. Weeping cherry trees have slender branches that gracefully arc down to the ground. They grow in to a rounded shape and when covered with blooms, make the whole tree look like one blossom. Cherry trees prefer full sun and well-draining soil.
Both of these trees make perfect specimen plants and their early blooms will signal the start of spring to you year after year. We have a selection of redbuds and cherry trees which are blooming and this is the perfect time to plant them.
Stop by and one of our friendly associates will gladly help you get set up with one of these blooming trees in your garden.
Although it doesn't really feel like it yet, spring has arrived here in the Carolinas. And when you are ready to begin your seasonal planting, we are ready for you. If you're craving a bit of color right about now, there are lots of beautiful blooming plants to choose from. Here's a peek at just a few of our recent arrivals and top favorite picks for early spring. Trees
As you drive around town this week, you may notice that many of the trees, such as the cherries and pears, are in bloom right now. Some of our other favorite trees blooming now are:
Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry
As a weeping tree, Snow Fountains Cherry features cascading branches that dip all the way to the ground, giving it the appearance of a white fountain when covered with pure white flowers in early spring.
Star Magnolia (white) and Red Bud (pink)
Reaching a height of 15 to 20 feet at maturity, the Star Magnolia boasts star-burst white blossoms in March and April, making it one of the true harbingers of spring.
The Red Bud's rosy pink flowers appear in early spring, March-April. Reddish-purple leaves change to dark green, then to yellow. Forms a spreading, graceful crown.
Shrubs
Forsythia
These early bloomers sport the vibrant yellow flowers that have become a fixture of our spring dreams. Their flowers precede their leaves. Border forsythias are fast-growing shrubs with an upright and arching form.
Standard Camelia- Kramer's Supreme
The deep red buds of Kramer's Supreme open to magnificent peony-like, rosy-red blooms with a delightful fragrance. Flowers make a dazzling contrast with the glossy, dark green foliage.
Annuals and Perennials
Pansies
Although a favorite for winter plantings, the pansy will add luscious color to the landscape throughout spring and into the early heat of summer and work well in container plantings, hanging baskets, and garden beds, alike.
Stock
Stock offers a wonderfully spicy, distinctive scent. Plant it in spring several weeks before your region's last frost date -- this annual thrives in cool temperatures and stops blooming once hot weather arrives. It's especially wonderful in window boxes and planters at nose level, where its sometimes subtle effect can best be appreciated.
Candytuft
Perennial Candytuft sends up showy blooms very early in the spring. Flowers are startlingly bright white on shrubby little plants with needle-like leaves, and when in full bloom, they cover the entire plant.
Geranium
Geraniums have been a gardener's favorite for well over a century. The old-fashioned standard for beds, borders, and containers, geranium is still one of the most popular plants today.
Chocolate Chip Ajuga pictured here with 'Anne Greenaway' Spotted Nettle
The Chocolate Chip Ajuga's evergreen foliage is attractive year-round, showing off a satin sheen finish embossed with rich hues of chocolate brown, bronze and maroon. Don't let all this beauty fool you though; it is as tough as it is gorgeous and can even withstand light foot traffic.
For more great blooming plants and all your gardening essentials, stop by the garden center. We've got loads of fresh arrivals coming in weekly and all the gardening help and advice you're looking for. Hope to see you soon at Garden Supply Co.!
It's here! Spring is finally officially here! And with spring comes peak planting time. Time to break out your gardening tools, lawn mowers, and those garden plans you've been pouring over all winter, and get out in the yard! Well.........maybe just as soon as it warms up a bit more, right? But before you get too busy with your spring planting, there are a few things you should do to get ready first. Follow our spring check list now and enjoy successful and smooth gardening in the months to come.
Clean Up Those Garden Beds
It's a good idea to clean up your garden beds before too much new growth occurs with the onset of warmer weather. As the new growth emerges, prune away any dead, winter-killed leaves and shoots, and compost them or bury them in the vegetable garden.
Press back any plants that may have frost-heaved over the winter. Maintain a 2-inch layer of mulch around your plants. Keep the mulch away from the crowns and directly away from the stems to avoid rot.
Dig up, divide, and replant any established plants if they've become too crowded. A key sign of crowding is if flowering has been sparse. Some fast-growing perennials need to be divided between one and three years after planting.
Tune Up Those Lawn Mowers
Soon, it will be time to break out the lawn mowers, but before you do, it's a good idea to give them a tune-up. Plan to service your lawn mower yourself or take it to a lawn repair shop. A few of the items that should be looked at include:
Pull Out Those Weeds
Handpull or spot treat any winter annual weeds that may have already sprouted in your lawn and bedding areas. These pesky little invaders are not only unsightly, they actually pull moisture and nutrients out of the soil, robbing your plants of needed benefits.
Check Those Garden Tools
Dull and broken garden tools are a side-effect of working in the yard. Of course, it's downright difficult to, say, prune with dull shears. But shears that won't cut will pull and tear instead, which only damages your plants, leaving them vulnerable to disease. So inspect your garden tools and repair where you can, and replace if necessary.
For more gardening tips, be sure to visit the garden center. Our friendly staff is on-hand seven days a week to help with all your gardening needs.
Happy Spring everyone!
Hi everyone! Looking to add some spring-flowering trees to your landscape and wondering what might be blooming in our area right now? This week? Today? Here are a few outstanding choices available for mid April blooming that reach their peek of beauty just as the Redbuds begin to fade and well after the Bradford pears have lost their luster. We've got them all down at Garden Supply. The first option, that I'm sure you've noticed while driving down almost any semi-wooded street in town, is the glorious Dogwood tree (Cornus genus).
The Dogwood tree boasts a profusion of full white blooms every spring. Deep green leaves turn scarlet in fall, making your dogwood a beautiful sight in all seasons.
This breathtakingly beautiful blizzard of white blossoms is an excellent choice to plant along streets, near large buildings, next to patios or as a property border. An especially eye-catching tree when planted in rows.
This tree rewards all through the year!
| • | Beloved blooms welcome spring from Massachusetts to Florida... from east to west |
| • | Stunning scarlet leaves add to the color show in the fall |
| • | Red berries appear in the fall and winter attracting songbirds – up to thirty-six species are known to be attracted to the dogwood’s fruit |
Matures at 15-30 feet…grows in partial shade or full sun. Grows in most soils including acidic, loamy, rich, sandy or even clay.
Did you know?
– The White Dogwood is a native tree cultivated in 1731. – George Washington planted it at Mt. Vernon, as did Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. – Early Native Americans made medicinal teas from its bark
You’ll want to consider making this all-American tree part of your own landscape.
Another fabulous choice for mid April blooming is the Yoshino Flowering Cherry tree, a rapid-growing vase-like deciduous broadleaf tree.
• Stunning white blossoms • Adaptable to various soil types • Drought resistant
The Yoshino Flowering Cherry Tree is widely used as an ornamental tree; valued for its abundance of soft, white flowers in spring.
Its Oriental branching pattern displays a pure white cloud of delicate flowers that make your landscape look like springtime on parade…
Chose this tree to –
• Border driveways • Accent small areas in your lawn. • Highlight outdoor living areas
These trees line the streets of Washington, DC, and along with its cousin, the Kwanzan Cherry, are the stars of the city's Cherry Blossom Festival. Held each spring, this festival displays thousands of blooming cherry trees along the city's walkways.
When you plant this tree, you get the same effect at your home!
Plant in a row to give you a line of breathtakingly stunning white flowers. This tree is regarded by many horticulturalist as the best flowering tree you can find.
Did you know?
– The Yoshino is a native of Japan, – Was introduced to America in 1902. – There is a Japanese legend that each spring a fairy maiden hovers low in the warm sky, wakening the sleeping Cherry Trees to life with her delicate breath.
Another fabulous April-blooming cherry tree is the Kwanzan cherry.
• Hardiest of all cherry trees • Rapidly grows to a mature height of 30-40 ft.
The Kwanzan Flowering Cherry Tree is easily the showiest of all Cherry Trees. Its flowers aren’t just pink… but “Double Pink,” meaning you get twice as many blooms as found on other trees.
Your new Kwanzan Cherry Tree blooms in large clusters of 3-5 flowers! These clusters are the thickest of all pink flowering trees and look similar to carnations.
Your Kwanzans will begin to bloom in April. Also a delight in the fall, when it will give you golden autumn leaves that grab everyone's attention.
One of the easiest flowering trees to grow! Thrives in almost any soil and climate. Easily grown in zones 5-9. A tree for many seasons!
Stop by the garden center to find these lovely trees in full bloom, ready to lighten and brighten your gardens this season. Talk to our experts about the best tree planting guidelines for these species, and pick up our handy planting guide, available in the Greenhouse. We have everything you need to ensure your new trees get off to a great start and get your yards looking in tip-top shape this season.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.
Good morning everyone! It looks like the start to another beautiful day here in the heart of North Carolina. Perfect for a day of gardening or perhaps a stroll through the nursery here at Garden Supply. Or, why not a little of both? With all the wonderful new plants we have arriving daily, how can you help but want to get your garden on? I know I can't resist. If a stroll through the garden is right up your alley, then the Chapel Hill Spring Garden Tour, being held April17-18, is just the ticket. Presented by the Chapel Hill Garden Club, the tour includes 8 gardens in the Eastwood Lake area, as well as the NC Botanical Garden.
Since their first tour in 1996, over $100,000 in proceeds have been donated to the NC Botanical Garden. Their continued efforts help the Garden furnish their new Education Center, plant new landscapes, and provide additional programs for garden lovers of all ages. Tour proceeds also help fund the educational and community outreach projects of the club, including teaching elementary students with their Seeds Program, maintaining a planter on Franklin Street, and purchasing garden tools for new owners of Habitat for Humanity houses.
Now in their 79th year, the Chapel Hill Garden Club continues to be an integral part of the social fabric of our community. They have an open membership policy and welcome anyone interested in gardening or learning about gardening. For membership information and details about the garden tour, please visit their website.
We, at Garden Supply, are pleased to support the efforts of the Chapel Hill Garden Club and are thrilled to offer 2 free tickets to the upcoming garden tour. Simply upload your favorite Garden Supply photo to our Facebook page before April 15th to be entered in our random drawing. Winner will be announced at 12:00 pm.
Thanks so much for stopping by everyone! I'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.
Hello everyone! All of us at Garden Supply hope you had a wonderful Easter holiday with your families this past weekend. We are so excited down at the garden center as we gear up for our busiest time of year. Truck loads of new plants are arriving daily and the nursery is full to bursting with beautiful blossoms. Stop by for a visit and see for yourself! Annual bedding plants are now in stock. We have tons of plants to choose from. And although it's turned hot these last few days, keep in mind that the last scheduled frost of the year is April 15th, still a week away. Look for these friendly reminder posts while selecting your plants. Our experts are on hand with advice and suggestions to get you through these last few cool nights.
For a larger flowering form in a shrub/tree variety, why not check out the elegant Tulip Magnolia. Blooming now, this little charmer is sure to make it's mark in your garden landscape.
This stunning hybrid has deep burgundy tulip-shaped flowers that appear in early spring before its 4- to 6-inch-long leaves unfurl. It makes an excellent small specimen tree, growing to 20 feet tall. It can be topped to form a hedge, and works well in large containers.
And for news from the Greenhouse, here's another peek at our collection of Penny McAllister spring folk art figurines.
Penny McAllister’s whimsical and sweet collections bring new charm to folk art. The sewing bug bit Penny at the tender age of 5. Nearly 50 years later, the former elementary school librarian has woven her passion for folk art into a dream occupation, making paper mache creations full of wit and whimsy.
“The chip on my nose, the worn paint on my clothes…they’re all supposed to be there! I was designed this way, lovingly aged” by Penny McAllister
Here are a few other goodies that caught my eye this week in the Greenhouse.
What wonderful home decor items and gifts are to be found here. And don't forget, We offer free gift wrapping and we have gift certificates available in any dollar amount.
Thanks for spending a little time with us today. Hope to see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.
Good afternoon everyone! For those of you interested in herb gardening, we have received several wonderful shipments of plants this last week. Just about any herb you may be familiar with, and perhaps a few varieties you haven't heard of, have made their way to Garden Supply.
And although our last frost of the season is scheduled for April 15th, you can get started on your gardens now with just a bit of tender care. Come talk to our friendly experts. They are always on hand to answer all your questions.
You are going to love our herb variety. We've got 4 types of thyme: Silveredged, Archer's Gold, Golden Lemon, and English. 4 types of sage: Common, Tricolor, Berggarten, and Pineapple. Hidecote and Goodwin Creek lavender. Parsley, catnip, mint, orange mint, spearmint, chives, and cilantro.
And don't forget the rosemary, or the Italian and Greek oregano. So many choices to be found here!
Another newcomer to the garden center this past week which I find absolutely charming are these fun strawberry baskets.
These adorable baskets can sit on your patio or deck table as is. The plants will bloom and berry right in the basket, giving you an instant, edible centerpiece. When the plant is done for the season, you can transplant them to your yard where they will happily return next year.
Those are just a few of the arrivals this past week. As always at this time of year, new plants are showing up daily. Hope you'll stop by the garden center and check us out.
And for news from the Greenhouse, we still have a few Easter decor items in stock, although hurry in....these little beauties are hopping out of here. 
Be sure to stop by our Facebook page. Upload your favorite Garden Supply photos and enter a random drawing to win two free tickets to the upcoming Chapel Hill Garden Tour on April 17-18th. Show us your favorite plants you've planted from our garden center, your kids potting up their new tomato plants, or a shopping trip using our totes. We'd love to see! All photos uploaded between now and April 15th are eligible for the prize drawing.
Thanks so much for stopping by! We'll see you back here soon!
With Spring being our busiest time down at Garden Supply, it seems impossible to walk the nursery without seeing more new plant arrivals, more goodies in the Greenhouse, and more beautiful blossoms in bloom. And although the weather has turned a bit cold on us again, there are lots of options for planting right now, including cold-hardy choices and plant protection products. Come see what we have available, and as always, our experts are on hand with the answers to all your gardening questions. Here are a few of our latest and greatest that caught my eye this week.
Take a look at this very beautiful Lilac Daphne. It has gorgeous lavander flowers which are not fragrant but make up for it on a bright spring day. This lovely plant would be very showy in your perennial bed.
More choices for the shade garden are arriving, too. These ferns would be beautiful in your woodland landscape, or in hanging pots from your porch.
And a true gardener's favorite, the tomato plant, is starting to arrive.
These little guys are still going to benefit from a bit of cold-weather protection. We have just what you need.
These Dalene season starters have been around for years, and owner Keith Ramsey swears by them. Fill the outer chambers with water and you are set to go. They protect the plants when overnight temperatures drop below freezing. Ideal for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons and other vining plants.
We also recomment giving your tomato plants a dose of self-release fertilizer. You will grow bigger and juicier tomatoes with just one feeding of Dynamite Organic Mater Magic Premium Plant Food. As always, we have everything you need to get started.
Thanks for stopping by everyone! I'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden.
Hello everyone! Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and are enjoying the burst of wonderful weather we've had to officially welcome in spring. We've had a great time this weekend at Garden Supply as we wrapped up our big week-long Spring Garden Party yesterday. Thank you to everyone who participated and to everyone who stopped by and helped make our annual party a huge success! We couldn't have done it without you! Now that spring is truly here, it's time to turn your thoughts to a bit of yard prep and lawn care. If you haven't yet done so, now is the time for fertilizing fescue grass. Some lawn fertilizers contain pre-emergent crabgrass killers, which should go down within the next 10 days. We recommend you use Fertilome Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food. Use Fertilome Classic Lawn Food if you have already applied crabgrass preventer. We've got everything you need down at the garden center.
While over-seeding should wait until mid-September, you could work on seeding small, bare spots now. This will require careful attention to watering in dry weeks, especially as we get into summer.
Cool weather weeds, especially chickweed, which blooms with a small white daisy, are gaining maturity now. It's easy to get them by pulling the clumps by hand or by hoe. It is blooming already, so it's a good time to get out as much as you can before the seeds go flying. Come talk to our gardening experts for solutions.
With Easter being two weeks from today, now is the time to stop by the Greenhouse and check out our adorable holiday decor. We have a huge selection of beautiful and unique items to spruce up your homes and decorate your tables for the season.
And look what else I discovered while strolling the Greenhouse yesterday afternoon. A sale! Always love a sale!
This lovely selection of pottery is now 30% off! Just think of all the plant arrangements you could make for your decks and front porches with these. Or thinking ahead, what wonderful Mother's Day presents these would make filled with flowering blossoms.
Thanks so much for stopping by! We'll see you back here soon for more snippets from the garden!
Hi everyone! Happy Friday and welcome to the start of the weekend. And what a great weekend it will be. Our annual Spring Garden Party kicks off tomorrow, and we could not be more excited! We have a ton of fun for the entire family with live music, food, kids activities, guest artists, and more. Not only that, we will also have a whole community of gardening experts on hand to share their expertise and answer all your questions. And that's still not all. How about some really good news? *SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE*
That's right! We're having a sale! Starting tomorrow through March 20th, enjoy 15% off your entire tree and shrub purchase.
And for a bit of extra Garden Party fun, keep your eyes peeled for pink flamingos. They may very well be marking some additional specials and discounts on plants throughout the nursery.
We have so many gorgeous plants for you to choose from. The garden center is bursting with fresh beauties. We have perennials and annuals, fruit and vegetable plants, and an amazing assortment of shrubs and trees. We are proud to offer one of the best selections of plants found anywhere.
Come check out our new arrivals of Japanese Maples. We've got a couple dozen species of standard or bigger maples for the landscape, plus we're super excited about the 30-40 rare and unusual varieties we have in, some of which we may never see again.
We also have a true collector's grouping of rare conifers. Walk the grounds and prepare to be amazed!
And if you're looking for a real showpiece for the garden, be sure to ask to see our Chrysantha-Edgeworthia "Paper Bush" shrubs for a real unique treat.
Here's a few glimpses of some of our other new arrivals.
Isn't that metal planting container gorgeous? Our helpful gardening staff would be happy to put one together for you.
Don't forget about all the beautiful blossoms inside the greenhouse, too.
We are so excited to get this Garden Party started! You can see the full calendar of events here. Hope to see you all tomorrow.
Good morning everyone! Happy Monday! Here's wishing you a great beginning to a new week. And it's a very exciting week at Garden Supply. Our annual Spring Garden Party begins in just 6 days, on Saturday March 13th at 10 a.m. Be sure and mark your calendars because you guys are not going to want to miss this! We can't wait to see you there. And in the mean time, we have tons going on down at the garden center. New plants are arriving daily and the Greenhouse is full to bursting with beautiful spring and Easter decor. Take a look at this glorious shipment of Variegated Winter Daphne that has just come in.
This lovely plant is noted for its fragrance, which carries long distances and can often be smelled before you even see the plant in early spring. The flower buds are purple and as they open will reveal an almost white center which is very beautiful.
It is an evergreen, so will keep its leaves year-round. The leaves are decorative, as well, in dark green with white edges. It is very dense and has a rounded form that will grow from 2 to 4 feet tall and about 2 to 4 feet wide. This particular shrub is said to be one of the best of its kind. With its smaller size it would work well around patios or in a small yard. It is hardy to zones 6 to 9. If you like fragrance, this would fit the bill!
If you're looking for a burst of color and greenery, we've got you covered. The Greenhouse is filled with a wide array of flowers and plants that are sure to please. We've got pansies, orchids, begonias, tulips, hyacinths, hydrangeas, cyclamens, ranunculus, and primroses in full bloom. It is absolutely magical in here.
While you're in the Greenhouse, be sure to check out our collectible Penny McAllister figurines. They are guaranteed to bring a spring smile to these last lingering days of winter.
Penny McAllister's whimsical and sweet collections bring new charm to folk art. The sewing bug bit Penny at the tender age of 5. Nearly 50 years later, the former elementary school librarian has woven her passion for folk art into a dream occupation, making paper mache creations full of wit and whimsy.
"The chip on my nose, the worn paint on my clothes...they're all supposed to be there! I was designed this way, lovingly aged" by Penny McAllister
As always, there is more to see and do at Garden Supply. Stop by and pay us a visit! We'd love to see you! And be sure to check back here soon for more snippets from the garden.
