Nothing makes a spring garden sweeter than pops of color from flowers or shrubs. A member of the Rhododendron genus, azaleas are the perfect plant for making your garden come to life this season. They can be found in almost any color imaginable, and make a great year-round border for your front yard. Want to make your garden stand out this spring? Check out these simple tips to grow your azaleas!
International Dog Day came along this week and photos of man and their best friends spread on social media like wildfire. We love dogs (and cats) but we're all about our fir babies (not our fur babies) right now. Why? For one, the fall is the best time of year to plant trees and shrubs to promote healthy root growth during milder temperatures. So give us a minute and let us to do a little show and tell before winter is among us and you're out in your yard with the scissors looking for trees and shrubs to trim for arrangements and wreaths. Check out the slideshow below to see eight fir trees and other evergreens we think make great choices to plant for both landscapes and winter cuttings.
You can make her breakfast in bed, but you know what goes best with a cup of morning Joe and a stack of flapjacks? That's right! Fresh cut flowers. So this Mother's Day (it's this Sunday, y'all!), why not get mom a gift that keeps on giving and buy her a shrub for the garden and one that you can pick gigantic, gorgeous flowers off of most of Spring?
If you're from the South, your yard has to have at least one azalea but chances are you've got them everywhere. When these evergreen shrubs begin to light up our landscapes with pops of color, this is how we know that Spring has sprung!
If you're anything like us, you've already got Spring fever. This weather has us putting on our gardening gloves and ready to play in the dirt. If you're looking to add color to your yard this time of year, try planting a row of azaleas. They come in hundreds of shades ranging from deep magentas to pure white. Take a look at our tips to be sure you maximize your ROI (return on investment)...
During the winter months, we're all looking for ways to add pops of color to our North Carolina landscapes. That's why we're crushing on camellias (of the Japonica variety to be specific). These evergreen shrubs make excellent borders in landscapes, keep green foliage year-round, provide large, stunning blossoms in thousands of shades from whites to pinks to deep reds and even candy-cane stripes during this time of year and they're perfect for cut flower arrangements during the winter and spring months too.
There are two types of camellias–Japonica and Sasanqua. Japonica camellias bloom during the winter and spring while the Sasanqua camellias bloom in the fall.
Looking to add a little color to your garden this winter? Here's what you need to know about Japonica camellias...
trees and shrubs
As we begin to transition from summer to fall, now is prime time to plant trees and shrubs. If planted now, trees and shrubs will put all their energy into root growth. Roots will grow throughout the winter months to store nutrients for next season. Trees and shrubs need less water during winter, because shorter and cooler days decrease the rate of photosynthesis. Trees planted in the fall are better able to withstand the heat and drought of the next summer. Soil is warmer now than it was in the spring, and it will remain warm even after air temperatures start dropping. Pick a good location for your tree or shrub that will provide it with the appropriate amount of sun or shade and meet its moisture requirements. Dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper (the top of the root ball should be above soil level). The root ball will lower a bit as the soil settles, and you don’t want it to end up too low in the ground. If planted too deeply in the ground, the plant can suffocate because not enough air will reach the root system. Break apart and loosen the roots if they are pot bound, so that they can more easily spread out once in the ground.
Once your hole is dug, use the shovel a few times in the bottom to loosen the soil and make it a little easier for the roots to expand outward. Amend the soil with composted cow manure, soil conditioner and organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer is good to use in the fall because it contains a healthy dose of good bacteria and micro-nutrients, so it isn’t going to drive a lot of foliage growth, but will help the root system immensely. The mixture should end up being composed of a third of the existing soil, a third cow manure and a third soil conditioner. In addition to that mixture, we suggest using Espoma Bio-Tone. This is a starter fertilizer that contains myccorhizae (a type of fungi that roots rely on to help them gather nutrients) and other beneficial micro-nutrients that will help the plant establish a bigger and healthier root ball.
Spread a couple inches of mulch over the area to protect the roots and water well. Trees and shrubs have high water needs as they attempt to establish a strong root system.
Any tree or shrub that has been grown in a container or has burlap around its root ball can be planted in the fall. Do you have more questions? Stop in and see one of our friendly staff members who would be glad to assist you with your fall planting needs!
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.!
