Cool weather is creeping in, and now is the perfect time to consider some new additions to your garden. Monkey grass is a great, low-maintenance form of ground cover. It’s also perfect for bordering flowerbeds or the walkway to your front door. Monkey grass also provides color through the winter, ranging from deep greens to lighter shades of green.
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.
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!
