Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog

Don’t settle for another boring Mother’s Day bouquet of cut flowers! They’ll soon be forgotten once they begin to wilt a few days later. Surprise her with a lasting perennial rose bush that will be bursting with beautiful fragrant blooms for months on end, year after year.

Mom is guaranteed to experience thousands of blooms over the lifetime of these special hybrid roses that are a breeze to take care of.

Our Knockout Roses can bloom for up to nine months and present thousands of gorgeous, deliciously sweet-smelling flowers over the life of the bush. This rose bush is compact and perfect for any area of Mom’s garden, and will even exhibit some dramatic fall foliage.

Knockout Rose bushes are disease and pest resistant, hardy and adaptable. They’re so easy to grow, they practical take care of themselves. Choose from a variety of colors such as hot pink, snowy white, sunny yellow and ruby red.

For a unique and different landscaping design element entirely, offer Mom one of our stunning Knockout Rose Trees. They add vibrant blooms of color to Mom’s garden for six months out of the year, in a stunning tree form atop a small trunk.

This tree has all the same wonderful attributes of the Double Knockout Rose bush, but has been bred as an accent tree. As a plus, it can even be grown in a container for ornamental value on a patio or deck if Mom is tight on garden space.

Drift Rose bushes make another excellent choice when it comes to showing Mom how much you love her this Mother’s Day. Drift Rose bushes are delicate and lovely, super easy to grow and can be used in a variety of ways.

Since it is low-growing, Drift makes superb ground cover and is also perfect for growing in containers or window boxes where it can cascade over the side. Drift Roses come in a variety of brilliant colors and bloom from spring through fall.

The beauty of bestowing a perennial rose bush is that Mom is certain to remember when the gift was given every time she looks at it in her garden. It’s a present that certainly will carry memories and will bring a smile when she sees the bounty of blooms that arrive in an ongoing wave.

All three of these rose varieties are absolutely gorgeous, low maintenance and offer a lifetime of vibrant, vigorous blooms. Your Mom deserves the best, so give her a flowering perennial that will remind her of how much you love her every time she sees it bloom. For Mother’s Day delivery, order yours today.

Don’t bother with a floral bouquet that will die in a week, or the clichéd Easter Lily as an Easter gift. Instead, give the gift of a flowering perennial that will continue to delight. Check out these flowering perennials that burst with flowers… every year!

Knock Out Roses: Why would you give a bunch of cut roses when you know they won’t last long? For the same cost of a pricey bouquet, you can give a pot of our award winning Knock Out Roses that will persistently bloom year after year with little effort. Choose from Double Red and Double Pink Knock Out, sure to bring a massive pop of color in anyone’s garden. You can even choose white or yellow varieties, too.

Caradonna Salvia: Blooming from June through October every year, this Salvia is guaranteed to bring a wave of butterflies to any landscape. Wrap a bow around Caradonna and give it to your favorite nature lover, who will be enchanted by the hummingbirds that will come for a visit. Caradonna Salvia can also be enjoyed indoors, as flower cuttings can be taken and popped into a vase. Gorgeous deep purple spikey flowers! It doesn’t hurt that it’s drought resistant and deer are not a fan of this aromatic plant, too.

Clematis: You might think it a tad unusual to give a vine for an Easter gift, but trust us. Massive blooms take over these climbing vines, and they can easily be trained to scale most any trellis or mailbox for a cheery and welcoming sight. These perennials are truly not fussy and are very easy to for anyone to grow. Armandii Clematis happens to be evergreen in most zones, and has gorgeous white flowers. Jackmanii can handle shade and still send out three months worth of purple blossoms, while Henryii will enchant with blooms the entire summer.

Rosemary: If you’ve got an aspiring chef on your Easter gift list, then Rosemary is the herb plant that will certainly fit the bill. This fragrant beauty can even be grown on a sunny kitchen window sill and does not require lots of water to keep it happy. Whenever a sprig of Rosemary is needed for a recipe, simply snip it off with a sharp scissor and sprinkle it into any meal. Baked bread and Lamb dishes pair perfectly with a dash of fresh Rosemary, and it makes for an exquisite olive oil flavoring. You get cute purple blooms, too!

Lily: If you want to stick with tradition and gift a Lily, why not try something a bit more unusual than the expected white Easter Lily? Our Lily of the Nile comes in white, purple or blue and is truly a unique specimen. This perennial is extremely tough, plus drought and heat resistant. It can very easily be put into a pot and be brought indoors in winter. You won’t believe the birds and butterflies that will be attracted to this tropical looking gem. It produces a ton of flowers each summer, and the leaves are also very attractive when it is not in bloom.

Forget for a moment, the notion that America’s long-standing history with the beautiful Cherry Blossom Tree involves our first president chopping down one of these lovely specimens as a young child.  Whether that account is fable or fact, we Americans cannot deny our deep-rooted devotion to this beloved tree.

At the turn of the 20th century, the mayor of Tokyo offered a gesture of friendship to the American people by bestowing us 3,000 sakura (Cherry Blossom Trees) to our nation’s capitol. Fast-forward about a hundred years, and you will still see this gesture celebrated each year for two weeks in April at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. At this time, the streets of Washington D.C. are literally carpeted in a blanket of delicate pastel pink, crimson and white flower petals.

So, what’s so special about the Cherry Blossom Tree?  Take one look at the flowers on our Pink Weeping Cherry Tree and the answer will be quite apparent–these blossoms, in their varying shades of pale pink and crimson are graceful and wispy, and appear to be spraying out of the tree trunk like a blushing cascade of color.

Now picture this same tree with a blanket of snow white flowers, and you’re talking about the White Weeping Cherry Tree–truly as stunning and classy.

And if that’s not enough to convince you of America’s love affair with the Cherry Blossom Tree, consider our showy Kwanzan Cherry Tree with its clusters of fuchsia blossoms that gives the appearance that the tree is covered in miniature roses.  If you love flowers, the Cherry Blossom Tree is a flowering superstar that becomes the centerpiece in your garden.

And what’s not to love? Cherry Blossom trees are relatively fast growing. They are hardy, easy to grow, and enjoy full sun best, but will tolerate partial shade.  Plant one as a dramatic focal point or several around a patio or terrace, and you’ll find it provides aromatic and aesthetically pleasing décor all wrapped up in one glorious tree.

Remember, these deciduous trees are as eye-catching in the fall with their fiery bronze leaves as they are in the spring, when you’ll be the envy of the neighborhood with your ornamental Yoshino Cherry Tree blanketed in snow white blossoms.

Passersby will do a double-take, while birds and various other forms of wildlife will be attracted to your gardens by the fragrant and colorful blossoms as well as the succulent fruit.

It’s a no-brainer to consider one of our Cherry Blossom Trees for your next landscaping addition. It will add both beauty and value to your garden.

Vertical Gardening adds life, depth, and a touch of whimsy to an otherwise horizontal existence in the garden.  For people living in an apartment or small outdoor space, it also creates more space to grow your beloved plants and brings in a touch of artistic style.  As an additional bonus, you are raising the plants up off the ground, preventing cats and some insects from damaging the plants and it thwarts rabbits from eating your bounty.

The godfather of vertical gardening, French Botanist, Patrick Blanc foresaw the need for creating a new way to grow and raise plants.  This need led him to create the concept of vertical gardening.  Since then, he has created living works of art on such structures as the Museum of Science and Industry in Paris and the French Embassy in New Delhi.  His works are not only ingenious in their practicality, but they are also stunning visual displays.

Now our vertical garden will most likely not be as dramatic as a Patrick Blanc work, but it can still be both beautiful and functional.  Here are a few basics that will allow your gardening creativity run wild…

First off – The Benefits

1. Great for a small or limited space.  With a vertical garden, you can turn even a concrete shared common area into a mini utopia.
2. Avoid mutilation by fauna.  As mentioned before, it discourages animals, such as cats and rabbits, from eating the plants or using them as their own personal privy.
3. Create a work of Art.  Vertical gardens provide depth and visual backdrops to an outdoor, as well as an indoor, space.
4. Great for indoors.  This type of garden also lends itself well to indoor spaces.  An added benefit is that is cleans the stale indoor air and adds a touch of the outside into your home.
5. Provides easy access to those with limitations.  By bringing the plants within easy reach off the ground, vertical gardens allow many people the ability to garden.  Just make sure to arrange them so that they are not too high.

Structure Types

Trellis & Teepee Stakes

Most people are familiar with trellises and teepee stakes to support the growth of vines and some vegetables.  If this is a structure you use or have used in the past, then you have been vertical gardening without even knowing it.  Trellises are wonderful for displaying flowering vines such as the Yellow Jasmine Vine on brick walls or as an outdoor room divider.  Teepee stakes on the other hand can create depth in the outdoor space by lifting flowers and vegetables, such as zucchini and bell peppers, up off the ground.  For heavier fruiting plants, such as melons, encase the ripening fruit in a net and hang from the supports.  This will keep the weight of the vegetable from breaking it off from the stem and allow it to continue to grow.  Another advantage to growing vegetables away from the ground is the fact that the side of the vegetable that would be touching the earth will not become white, and thus a more beautiful harvest.

Tubes

Tubes may a bit unorthodox, but create a new and unique way to grow plants vertically.   One plant that is well suited to life growing from holes cut in a PVC pipe is strawberries.  Just cut holes along a tube of PVC pipe, cap one end, fill with dirt, cap the other end, plant the strawberries, hang the planter and water.  For detailed instructions, see this article on how to create a strawberry planter.  Strawberries not your cup of tea?  Try hens and chicks or experiment with different plants to get the desired result.

Small Wall Mounted Planters

There are a multitude of planters that can be hung from walls.  Whether they are wooden walls, brick, concrete, or stucco, you are limited only by your imagination.  You can try the traditional, such as clay pots hung from the wall or try growing chives or rosemary in a nontraditional container such as a sconce.  Beware, though, of the beautiful glass bulbs that just beg to be used in your artistic vision.  There is a reason why they earned the nickname, “glass coffins”.

Other great unusual containers can be created from hanging canvas shoe organizers or similar plastic structures.  Think, also of a square made of wood or plastic with individual slots for various plants.  Both ideas make for good containers for herbs like tarragon, peppermint, dill and basil.  Place this piece of living sculpture along a wall on the balcony or in your kitchen for an aromatic work or art.

Are your creative juices flowing yet?  Then take a moment to think about a vertical element you would like to incorporate into your garden.  Just a few things to remember:  Vertical gardens require watering more frequently due to the lost of moisture from runoff and evaporation.  Also, plants growing on the outside wall of your home have a hidden advantage, insulation.  During the summer months, they absorb the sunlight causing the house to be a touch cooler.

Do you have some tips or a success story you would like to share for creating a vertical garden?  Then please leave a comment and let us know what is on your mind.

Spring is near, and that means preparing for vegetable planting.  Be sure to consider these five factors when starting up your garden…

Preparing the garden area

Choose a well drained garden area.  Then prepare the soil by plowing and discing.  If a fertilizer is needed, such as animal manure, it should be added before planting.

Watering your vegetable garden

The moisture level of the soil below the surface could be different from what’s above the ground. Dig down deep in a spot, feeling the dirt.  If it’s dry, irrigation is needed. The best irrigation methods to help conserve water are trickle irrigation and drip irrigation.

Soil airflow is important

Earthworms can be a gardener’s best friend! Worms work like mini aerators to help maintain the airflow in soil.  If they aren’t cooperating, aeration can also be achieved through plowing or using a manual aerator.

Better soil ph through liming

To lime or not to lime – that could be the question. The Ph (acid level) of soil should be maintained to achieve optimal results, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The soil conservation office can test soil samples to determine Ph. Liming should be done at least every two years.

Weather is friend and foe to vegetable gardens

Weather plays a large part in the success of a vegetable garden. Too much rain can rot the roots. A dry season will cause it to look like the Mohave Desert. Choosing a well drained garden spot will help if it rains a lot. Installing an irrigation system will be time well spent if the season turns out dry.

Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to enjoy an abundance of vegetables in your garden!

Forget exotic grasses and high profile flowers – choose a low maintenance flowering shrub if you want a long lasting plant that won’t break your back.  Producing vibrant blooms and lush foliage comes easily to the flowering shrubs listed below.  These are perfect for any skill level and are easy to grow in any type of soil.  Let them grow natural or prune them to your desired size and shape.  A flowering shrub can make a captivating focal point for any type of garden.

1.  Double Knockout Roses

Not your average rose bush!  Double Knockout Roses are naturally disease and pest resistant, able to withstand extreme weather conditions, and consistently produce an abundance of vibrant red blooms.  These plants will deliver pure satisfaction for even a beginning gardener.  Want maximum appeal?  Plant these in groups of 3 for a dramatic effect.

2.  Lynwood Gold Forsythia

With no effort at all, the Lynwood gold Forsythia flowering shrub will produce yellow-studded eye candy for you and all your neighbors to admire.  Fast-growing, long-living, and early blooming make this a no-brainer for those seeking a super low maintenance flowering shrub with curb appeal. Let them grow freely or prune to your desired size.  Think big, bright, bliss.

3.  Butterfly Bush

Try a fun Butterfly Bush if you are looking for something unique and low maintenance.  It adds a whimsical quality to your garden.  Kids will love these plants and local butterflies will be attracted to the big bunches of delicate flowers from midsummer to fall.  Butterfly Bush flowers create interesting cut flower arrangements as well.

4.  Frost Proof Gardenia

Surprised?  Yes, this award-winning Gardenia variety requires minimal sweat.  Beginning in late spring, pairs of huge white flowers emerge that are sure to impress beginning gardeners and seasoned growers alike. The new Frost Proof Gardenia is naturally resistant to disease and insects, deer won’t be a problem, and neither will the weather.   For something new, these low maintenance flowering shrubs are a must-have!

5.  Blue Muffin Viburnum

Viburnum is a garden staple and main ingredient for any low maintenance gardener.  The Blue Muffin Viburnum features dark green foliage in spring, fluffy white flowers in summer, and charming blue berries in fall and winter.  Consider the Blue Muffin Viburnum as the bread and butter of a low maintenance garden.  You’ll be delighted with colorful butterflies and sweet song birds all year!

For country gardeners and city gardeners abound – try any of these flowering shrubs and they’ll quickly prove why they’ve landed on the list of low maintenance garden plants.  Fancy flowers can be sensitive and disappointing if not maintained properly.  Exotic grasses and basic shrubs may lack the color your garden needs.  Find the best of both worlds – colorful flowers and attractive greenery with the structure of a bush – with Double Knockout Roses, a Forsythia bush, Butterfly bush, the new Frost Proof Gardenia, or the Blue Muffin Viburnum.

Everyone loves citrus fruit. They’re great as a snack, or as a side for a meal. Since they’re tropical plants, not everyone knows that you can grow citrus trees anywhere in the country. Just pot them up as a patio plant, and then bring them indoors during the cold months.

That way, no matter where you live in the country, you can grow your own citrus trees. Here’s how…

Variety

Choose dwarf varieties for container growing so that they’re maintainable when you bring them indoors. Also, look for pest resistant varieties (to avoid spraying) and cold hardy plants. Low-maintenance varieties like the Improved Meyer Lemon Tree or Key Lime Tree are ideal.

Container

Any container will work, keep the weight of the pot in mind. Remember, you’ll be moving this plant indoors during the winter. Water remaining in the bottom of the pot will rot roots, so make sure the pot has sufficient drainage holes. Choose a large container allowing lots of room for roots to grow. Plan on repotting the citrus plants every 3-4 years as it grows larger. Increase pot size by 20-25% each time.

Soil

Use well-drained, soilless potting mix for outdoor plants. Avoid those with high levels of peat and dense material. Bagged potting mix is fine if it contains perlite or composted bark for drainage. Feel the bag. If it’s hard and dense, don’t use it. Perlite and double or triple shredded bark added to a standard purchased mix (such as Miracle Grow potting mix or Pro-Mix) works fine. Mix in green sand, an organic soil amendment mined from the ocean floor full of minerals and trace elements. Finally, add Mycorrhizae to this mix to help the plant produce fine hairs on the roots for more efficient uptake of fertilizers and water.

Fertilizer

Citrus plants should be fertilized in the spring and not the fall (which forces new growth which can be harmed by lower temperatures or stresses the plant at a time when it should rest). Use a slow release fertilizer on the soil surface or carefully brushed into the mixture and water well. Avoid plant stakes that can damage or burn roots.

Planting

Plant one plant per pot and make sure the crown roots are slightly above the soil surface. In a large pot recycle package peanuts in the bottom for drainage and to make the pot lighter. Spread out or cut through any roots that are circling in the original pot and spread them out inside their new home on a mound created in the pot and fill in the rest of the mixture. Press the soil down so it is firm around the roots. Water well.

Sunlight

Citrus plants need 8-10 hours of direct sunlight a day. Less will produce spindly weak growth and less fruit and put it at risk for diseases and pests. When first placing the potted citrus out in the yard start with part shade and gradually move to full sun over a few days. Indoors they need a south window or better a greenhouse. In regions with cold winters, make sure it is moved outside in the summer, but remember to acclimate it to the full sun it gradually.

Water

Lots of water is needed to grow great juicy fruit. Water when an inch or two of the soil is dry, less when it is resting. Test daily and don’t guess. Size of plants, container, temperature, humidity and wind affect how much water the plant uses. Also, don’t let the plant stand in drainage water.

Pruning

Prune weak growth, damaged limbs or any rubbing branches. Rule of thumb is never more than a 1/4 – 1/3 of the plant at a time. If you want to keep the plant a certain size, periodically remove the plant from the pot (another reason for dwarf varieties) and prune back the roots 2-3 inches and repot…a good time to also add more mycorrhizae.

Freezing Temperatures

Watch the weather, especially nights. Move citrus to shelter if the temperature dips below 32 degrees. Remember potted plants are more susceptible to cold temperatures.

Fruit

Remove some of the small immature fruit the first few years. This keeps the plant from a cycle of overproducing and resting.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to enjoying a lifetime of juicy citrus… no matter where you live!

Endless Summer Hydrangeas are versatile, easy to grow, and nearly maintenance free!

These hydrangeas blooms on old and new growth, making them the only hydrangea capable of gracing lawns across the country with prolific blooms from mid-summer to hard frost. They produce huge 8 to 10 inch blooms and grow up to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide, so you can plant them alone, in mass, in containers or as multi-colored heavy-blooming hedge rows.

Growers can control the color of their blooms by altering pH levels of the soil. Want blue hydrangeas in the hedge and pink hydrangeas for accent? Easy! Simply adjust the pH of the soil; Lower the pH for blue hydrangea blooms, and raise the pH for pink hydrangea blooms.

Endless Summer Hydrangeas are easy to grow in nearly any soil type including clay and sandy soils, and can grow in partial shade to full sun. Northerners will want to make sure the plants receive six hours of light, while growers in the south will see the best results when the hydrangeas are partially shaded from the hot afternoon sun.

Tired of pruning hydrangeas? The Endless Summers are low maintenance flowering shrubs that do not need fall pruning, and only need to be fertilized once during the season.

Use Endless Summer Hydrangea cuttings for long lasting color that will brighten any vase, arrangement or pot. Once the blooms are done for the year, the leaves continue to delight, turning bright orange and red before falling off for the winter.

These new hydrangeas make a colorful addition to any garden or landscape!

As the winter winds down, the promise of spring awaits behind every plant and underneath the fallen leaves.   What better way to chase the gray away than splashes of vibrant early spring flowers?  To take advantage of plants that bloom in the early part of the season, research plant blooming times and the colors you wish to enjoy and you will be able to benefit from the beautiful colors, not only in spring, but throughout the year.

Many people think they have to plant tons of perennial and annual flowers to get stunning spring displays, but this is not true.  There are a myriad of shrubs and trees that offer a dramatic burst of color to chase the gloom of winter away.  Take a look at the top 5 blooming plants for beautiful early spring color.

1. Forsythia. This stunning yellow shrub should be in every gardener’s landscape.  Try the hardy Lynwood Gold Forsythia and let it grow to enjoy its wild look or trim it into neat blocks.  Either way, the color will burst onto the early spring scene to liven up any yard.
2. Azalea. Part of the genus Rhododendron, the azalea is a champion bloomer known for its vibrant blooms and hardiness.  Dubbed by many gardeners as “Old Faithful” for its blooming reliability, it’s no wonder that azaleas, such as the Autumn Embers, are seen in gardens across the country.
3. Frost Proof Gardenia. The Frost Proof Gardenia is so picturesque you will not be able to stop yourself from taking pictures of it against any background.  Old gardenias are insect prone and finicky, and the occasional late frost comes and wipes out your blooms for the whole season. New Frost Proof Gardenias are unaffected by cold snaps and thrive on neglect. They adapt to a variety of soil conditions… do great in full sun or partial shade… and resist insects and disease. Even deer leave them alone.
4. Peach Tree. Enjoy showy peach blossoms in the spring and delicious fruits afterwards, with trees such as the Dwarf Elberta Peach Tree.  Dainty pink flowers are the harbingers of spring and yield plenty of fruit for making jam or enjoying straight off the tree.
5. Weeping Cherry. Known for its graceful sweeping branches, the Weeping Cherry is prized as the main attraction in residential neighborhoods.  When planting this beauty, make sure to let it stand out by planting a solitary tree in a prominent location.  The comments you will get on this tree will roll in as quickly as it blooms.

Whether it is a multipurpose plant, such as a peach tree, or a plant like the azalea that boasts beauty to spare, these five plants are sure to please the senses and drive away the doldrums of winter.

Blueberries are known for their many health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants and high in fiber and are a recommended part of a healthy diet. Growing them at home is an effective way of having plenty of fresh, delicious blueberries to eat all season long.

Once you decide what blueberries you want to plant, growing them is easy. Blueberry plants love sunlight and will require a full-sun location.  Blueberries grow best in fairly acidic soil with a pH of around 4.5. In most cases your soil will need amending to achieve this. Pete moss and sulfur as well are acidic fertilizers may help get your soils pH to the desired level.

Blueberry plants have shallow root systems and like to be planted in loamy soil (approximately 4-7 percent organic matter) with good drainage. If you have clay soil in your area or poor drainage you may want to consider a raised garden bed or as an alternative you can hill up the plants.

Many blueberries are self pollinating but for the best fruit yields you should plant multiple bushes. Blueberry plants typically reach their fully productive stage when they get to be about 6 years old. For the first two years after planting it is recommended that you remove the blossoms to prevent fruiting, this promotes vigorous and strong root systems.

With a blueberry garden you can enjoy years and years of sweet, healthy, delicious blueberries fresh from your own home. Pick your blueberries when they become large firm and dark with a whitish hue to the skin. The darker and more ripe the fruit, the higher they are in antioxidants.  Mega Blueberry

Sources for this blog include:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1422.html
http://howtogardenguide.com/2008/02/22/grow-blueberries/

Fall is here and so is our 15% flowering shrub sale. With over 50 different plants available, you are sure to find something to fit your needs.

Nursery professionals say that fall is the best time to plant your shrubs and hedges. This ensures your roots have ample time to grow before the heat of summer arrives next year.  Even though the shrub may not be growing on the top, you can bet the roots are branching out and establishing their place in your home landscape.  Once spring arrives you will be rewarded with explosive growth, amazing blooms and a large healthy shrub.

Click here for more info on shrubs and hedges

Fall is here and so is our 15% shrub sale. With over 50 different plants available, your are sure to find something to fit your needs.

Nursery professionals say that fall is the best time to plant your shrubs and hedges. This ensures your roots have ample time to grow before the heat of summer arrives next year. Even though the shrub may not be growing on the top, you can bet the roots are branching out and establishing their place in your home landscape. Once spring arrives you will be rewarded with explosive growth, amazing blooms and a large healthy shrub.

for more information on click shrubs or flowering shrubs or browse the email…

Full grown in less than 5 years makes the Royal Empress Tree one of the fastest growing trees in the world. This tree provides you with instant shade and hundreds of fragrant lavender blooms in the spring.

This Empress Tree is a tree you do not have to baby. Just plant in the ground and watch in amazement as it takes off… growing up to 15 ft. per year. Its huge leaves block out the sun providing you with cooling shade in the summer.

Click here to learn more about Royal Empress Tree…

As a thank you for being a previous customer of Brighter Blooms Nursery, we would like to offer you this one-time savings coupon. This coupon code will allow you to shop and receive 10% OFF all items in the store.

Choose from over 300 varieties of flowering shrubs and hedges, perennials, rose bushes and ground covers. We carry new varieties of Knockout Roses, including the Sunny Knockout Rose and the Double Red Knockout Rose. We also have a huge selection of flowering shrubs, like the Endless Summer Hydrangea that blooms from spring through fall and the Annabelle Hydrangea with its 10″ flowers!

click here to learn more about flowering shrubs…

These are the most amazing roses I have ever planted. The Knockout Roses bloom nonstop from spring through frost with absolutely no maintenance. That means no spraying, no picking of spent blooms, just months of bright color.

To learn more, click Knockout Rose…

They not only smell great, but they’re incredibly resistant to pests and diseases. These flowering shrubs and flowering trees are chosen for their incredible resistance to pests and disease, which means you never have to spray. Remember to plant several of these for a wonderful fragrance you can smell from a distance.

To learn more click fragrant shrubs…

Last year a friend and local farmer was over run with more than 60,000 daylily bulbs. His grandchildren removed all his plant signs and all his buyers cancelled their orders, since he could no longer tell what varieties they were.

Many people were touched by his story and unfortunate situation. You reached out and you bailed him out of a difficult situation.

To learn more click Daylilies

As with all Knockout Roses, these newest introductions are just as hardy and disease resistant as their cousins.

You get the same great benefits such as: cold tolerant in most climates, never needs spraying, resistant to insect and disease and produces an abundance of blooms for up to 6 months!

Click to learn more about Knockout Rose Bushes.

This flowering vine is one tough cookie. Wisteria vines are able to withstand extreme soil conditions and thrives on neglect. Plant in clay, sand and even rocky soils and your Purple Wisteria will exceed your expectations.

To learn more click Wisteria Vines.

Yes, I’m a plant geek. But this is amazing stuff. Nothing adds color like Azaleas. But the best bloomers only last for 2-3 weeks, and then you wait a whole year.

New improved, Encore Azaleas give you a bright, thick mass of color for 3 seasons. Plus you can grow them almost anywhere in the USA. They’re trouble free and extremely easy.

To learn more click Encore Azalea

Last summer our nursery manager Paul grew way too many Knockout Rose Trees. Due to a colder than average winter we were unable to sell as many as we had projected for Valentine’s Day.

This is where you come in. We are offering a special 25% discount on low maintenance, easy to grow Knockout Rose Trees. These Knockout Roses are resistant to most pests and diseases that affect other types of roses. That means you don’t have to spend your free time spraying, you just plant and enjoy.

To learn more click Knockout Rose Trees.

You might think it would be expensive to create an authentic oriental theme.
Some of the commonly used plants like Black Bamboo and Red Japanese Maples are very expensive plants to purchase. You’ll be delighted to know that there is an affordably priced and easy to grow evergreen shrub that works just as well.

The Nandina domestica or Heavenly Bamboo is really authentic to Asia.
This super drought tolerant plant was actually imported to the US direct from the Orient for its exotic beauty over 100 years ago. The reason it is called Heavenly Bamboo is because the Chinese grow it around their temples. It is common to find these Nandina shrubs beside the front doors of their homes. It was thought the shrubs were there to protect the homeowner from bad luck. Actually they are just there for beauty.

Heavenly Bamboo does well in sun or shade so you can grow it anywhere.
In the Orient, these landscape shrubs are specially clipped to mimic regular bamboo. This is easily done to give an authentic Oriental theme in your landscape too. Just keep all the lower leaves of your Nandina bushes clipped off and leave only the top fringe of foliage on each cane. There you have it a fast growing, authentic theme plant discussed as a common shrub.

Don’t think you have to fly to some distant shore to enjoy tropical beauty.

The most cold hardy banana tree in the world is the Basjoo Banana. Actually, bananas aren’t trees but the largest perennial in the world. Their “trunk” is created from tightly packed unfurled leaves that work to form an upright stem. The Basjoo or fiber banana will thrive even in winter chills of -20°F. So no matter where you live in the US, most likely you can grow ornamental bananas in your yard too.

These exciting tropical plants are very easy to grow.

The Basjoo Banana tree grows so fast it is incredible at 2 feet per week. You can enjoy them in a container where they’ll reach 6-9 feet tall. For that awesome banana tree accent in your cold climate landscape Basjoo will soar to 16 feet tall when planted in the ground. These cold hardy bananas are known to do well all they way up into Canada! If you live in zone 4, it would be a wise idea to mulch the roots heavily for winter. That way, no matter if you have good snow cover or not, your Basjoo Banana will thrive for many years.

Camellia shrubs are fast becoming one of the most popular flowering shrubs.

We have selected these varieties to provide you the ability to have a show of blooms from October through April.

That is over 6 months of colorful blooms!

To learn more click Camellia Shrubs…

Here are some of the birghtest and most popular trees for fall color.  These fast growing trees will product a spectacular color this fall.

From the deep red colors of maple trees to the bright yellow foliage of the Tulip Poplar trees, you are sure to find a fall colored tree to fit your home.

To learn more about fall colored trees click Fall Color Trees

A friend and one of the top Daylily breeders in the country let his grandchildren play in his fields during a recent visit.

What a great place for kids to experience.

Unfortunately they pulled up all of his Daylily signs so now he can’t say for certain what varieties they are. Many are Premium grade, collector quality plants that easily sell for $11.95 or more.

Well his buyers canceled orders on 60,000 plants. He just wants to cover his cost.

To read more about this story click Daylily Bulbs…

If you have never planted daylilies before click Planting Directions…

OK, Apple didn’t breed the Knockout Roses or Frost Proof Gardenia, but they are amazingly easy to grow. Plant them… neglect them and they bloom like crazy. No chemicals, no frost cloth, no fuss.

And if your looking for a phone, buy the iPhone. I’m a technologically illiterate farmer. I refuse to read directions or manuals. Within minutes I was checking emails, creating maps, getting weather forecasts and making calls.

Don’t you love it when things do what they’re supposed to do.

To check out more click, Knockout Roses or Frost Proof Gardenia

Fragrant Blooms smother this plant.

Everyone loves Gardenia shrubs, but old varieties can be finicky and not bloom if they get hit with a late frost.

New Frost Proof Gardenias solve these problems, plus give more blooms to enjoy, smell and display. No spraying or babying.

Buy several for a fragrance that can be enjoyed from a distance. Plant near a patio or window. They also make great property dividers. These are new and improved varieties you can’t find in stores.

To learn more about Frost Proof Gardenias, click the link…

Yes, I’m a plant geek. But this is amazing stuff. Nothing adds color like Azaleas. But the best bloomers only last for 2-3 weeks, and then you wait a whole year.

New improved, Encore Azaleas give you a bright, thick mass of color for 3 seasons. Plus you can grow them almost anywhere in the USA. They’re trouble free and extremely easy.

Read more about the amazing Encore Azaleas…

A friend and one of the top Daylily breeders in the country let his grandchildren play in his fields during a recent visit.

What a great place for kids to experience.

Unfortunately they pulled up all of his Daylily signs so now he can’t say for certain what varieties they are. Many are Premium grade, collector quality plants that easily sell for $11.95 or more.

Click here to find out more information about daylily bulbs…

Yuletide Camellia in bloom

Enjoy spring a month early. These Camellias are the first to bloom and will give you 2 months of colorful flowers. Beautiful green foliage adds interest all year round. These large blooms appear before most shrubs have even thought about flowering.

Camellia shrubs are extremely drought and disease resistant, you just plant and forget.

Click here to learn more about Camellia shrubs.

Yes, I’m a plant geek. But this is amazing stuff. Nothing adds color like Azaleas. But the best bloomers only last for 2-3 weeks, and then you wait a whole year.

New improved, Encore Azaleas give you a bright, thick mass of color for 3 seasons. Plus you can grow them almost anywhere in the USA. They’re trouble free and extremely easy.

Click to learn more about Encore Azaleas.

Soften the harsh look of any masonry structure with the Boston Ivy plant.
Brick, stone and concrete walls are without a doubt the ones that will withstand the elements for the longest span of time. Sometimes, too much of a good thing is too monotonous. You can add ambiance a towing brick building. Or add warmth to the barrier presented by privacy walls.

You can rapidly add ageless beauty to even the most unattractive walls.
Boston Ivy will quickly climb and fill in large areas with dark, glossy green leaves from spring to fall. When the chill of autumn fills the air, the entire plant will be radiant red. Imagine this striking accent against the bright yellows and gold fall foliage of shade trees. This easy to grow climber will hold onto those showy leaves longer than many other deciduous plants.

Boston Ivy plants are easy to grow.
Sometimes called Cottage Ivy or Boston Creeper, this beautiful plant does well even in poor soil. Once established, it has good drought tolerance and can adapt to a wide range of climate conditions. In the northern reaches of its hardiness zone, Boston Ivy can be late at leafing out. The richness of those large, shiny leaves makes it well worth the wait. This plant is very popular for disguising unattractive building designs in many locations.

You won’t need to invest a lot of money to soften or cover a cold or ugly wall.
When given the space to spread without restriction, one plant can get up to 50 feet wide over time. You don’t want to grow this on painted surfaces. It is best to plant at least 15 feet away from any such area. The chemicals in the roots of the climber will destroy the paint. In some design themes, this age-old appearance may lend great flair to a time worn patina. Shabby chic is just as wonderful inside as it is in your outdoor living areas.

When shopping for Boston Ivy, you will want to look for larger plants.
Some nurseries will state that you should plant one every two feet for quick coverage. In truth, you will have much more pleasant results if you buy Boston Ivy plants that have well developed root systems. To enjoy the beauty faster, you will want to start out with plants that already a 1-gallon size and plant them at least 10-12 feet apart.

The beauty of spring is enriched with these big, beautiful flowers.
Professional designers will often find a spot for the Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus) in almost any landscape they work on. This large shrub has many points of interest. Beginning with the white ball-type flowers up to 5 inches across. Flowering so thickly, the plant will look like a late spring snow bank.

The foliage of the Snowball Bush offers good textural interest.
All plants are attractive in flower, but those that have outstanding leaves can heighten the any landscape design. The foliage of this Viburnum resembles three-lobed maple leaves. The coloring will be rich, attractive green over the summer months. As cooler weather arrives in fall, each leaf will turn to sun kissed gold.

For a long-lived shrub where height is needed, this is an excellent plant.
The Chinese Snowball Bush is not only attractive; you will find it very easy to grow. This Viburnum will adapt to a wide variety of soils and growing conditions. These shrubs are quite drought tolerant once established and mature to 8-10 feet tall and wide. You will get the best flowering results when planting this bush in full sun, though it tolerates quite a bit of shade. Viburnums grown in a mostly shady situation will not flower at all.

The Snowball Viburnum works well with many other plants in your landscaping.
To establish a really dazzling early season display, you can pair this beautiful shrub up with almost any other same time bloomer. Consider creating a planting that also features Encore Azaleas and some low growing purple leaved shrubs such as Crimson Pygmy Barberry. To really heighten the beauty of such a landscape planting, add a few perennials to extend the beauty through the season.

You will love the changing beauty of this deciduous shrub in your yard.
The hummingbirds will be most delighted with your choice in plants and feed on the blossoms. Once spent, the flowers of Snowball Bush produce brilliant red berries as a bonus color point. Birds are attracted to the berries as a source of food.

It’s hard to find a landscape plant with so many benefits to offer your yard.
Now you can easily understand why a professional designer will seek out the right spot to include this shrub in almost every yard. The Snowball Viburnum is wonderful as a tall specimen plant or planted as a hedge. It grows rapidly and will fill to offer warm season privacy where it many be needed.

This is definitely the smartest rose on the planet.

Not all roses are created equal.

If you have shied away from plating roses in your yard because they require so much coddling, we don’t blame you a bit. Who has time for all that tedious, finicky behavior? Everyone loves roses as a flower but most refuse to be a slave to their plants. Just as with anything else, if you wait a while, a vast improved specimen will come along and change everything.

They named it Knockout for a lot of good reasons.

All roses are beautiful. As performers in your yard the majority tend to fall short of low maintenance. Many rose bushes only flower once a year. Shrub roses are your best bet for low maintenance and reblooming beauty. While there are some great landscape roses available, none of them holds a candle to the Knockout Rose.

Excellent disease resistance makes this one brainy plant.

All shrub or landscape roses are disease resistant, but resistant and excellent resistance is two different things. Knock Out Rose also have exceptionally large flowers for the shrub rose family with showy clusters of blooms opening repeatedly from early summer right through to hard frost. The individual blooms on Pink Double Knock Out Rose measure 3.5”-4” across and lightly fragrant with an expected rosy aroma.

Maintains great shape with only a minimal clipping.

Knockout Roses are naturally a compact and tidy flowering shrub with the blooms forming on new growth at the tips of the stems. Knockouts grow to 3’-4’ high and wide and will flower at maximum proportions in full, hot sun. You can grow your Red Double Knockout Rose in part sun, but bear in mind that you will have less flowers. Roses should always be planted with good drainage to prevent root rot from waterlogged soils.

Did you know that Rhododendrons and Azaleas are close kin?

Confusion in family tree is revealed.

If the tag on your new Azalea says that it is a Rhododendron, it isn’t an error. Rhododendrons have eight distinct divisions, two of which are actually what we call Azaleas. You have evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron Tsutsusi), of which there are about 100 different species that originated in the Orient. Then there are the deciduous azaleas (Rhododendron Pentanthera), which represents only about 18 different species that are native to North America. The family tree gets a bit more mixed than that but those are not important at this moment.

DNA studies show long line of evolution at play.

Following the recent discovery of a new native Azalea in Alabama, genetic studies of that shrub’s DNA have led horticulture scientists to test surprising results. The natural splicing of the newly discovered plant’s genes show them that it very well may have evolved to this new species from a well known existing native azalea. The actions of the birds and bees have been causing the evolution of many plants into completely new forms as far back as we have records.

Louisiana man reinvents the Azalea wheel.

Plant evolution in nature takes eons. Plant enthusiasts experimenting with crossbreeding can finish the process in record time. The most superior Azalea ever to appear is the Encore Azalea collection. If it weren’t for Robert Lee whose love of Azaleas and curiosity over breeding them we would still have only azaleas that bloom in the spring. In a mere 15 years of breeding and test trials, Mr. Lee has brought us a blooming wonder that just cannot stop performing until frost sets in.

Encore Azaleas outshine traditional azalea traits.

The first Encore Azalea selections were available for purchase in 1997. By 2002, the work of Mr. Lee and Plant Development Services, Inc. had a total of 13 different shrubs to choose from. Today the Encore Azalea Autumn series offers an astounding 23 different superior shrubs. All of them are evergreen azaleas that begin blooming in spring and continue to repeat the beauty until frost takes out the flowers. Encore Azaleas cover shrub sizes from demure to robust in a dazzling variety of colors.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven … a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Would you consider your Maple tree as an invasive and dreadful nuisance?
The number one sold shade tree in America and yet those whirlybird seeds can create a forest without some cleanup when they fall. No one plants a shrub around the foundation of their house without expecting to do some clipping to keep it in control. It is common sense to not allow bushes to cover up the windows or creep under the siding.

Good judgment and common sense are used to avoid problems.
Thousands of plants left unchecked, could be labeled as invasive. Yet with common sense and timely tricks, they are not the thugs you can be led to believe. To do away with one of the most fabulous heralds of spring would surely be a crime.

Wisteria in bloom is a blessing of spring.
You can keep this vine in check with a couple simple tasks. First use good sense when selecting where you plant it. This extremely fragrant vine can be trained as a tree with staking and grown in the open where it cannot climb desired trees or creep into your gutters. Plan ahead if you want to grow wisteria on a structure like an arbor. You want sturdy, metal construction that will withstand the weight and twisting nature of the plant.

You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.
The right time for trimming a wisteria: a light trimming in July and a heavy pruning in October – January. To keep the plant from sending up running shoots simply prune the roots with a sharp spade to a depth of 18″ all the way around the trunk at 4-ft. out. Root pruning should be done in late fall and also can make the vine produce more flowers with less top growth.

What makes most wisterias not flower?
In the north (zone 5 and colder), a harsh spring can freeze the buds forming in the stems. The most common cause of not getting flowers is the fertilizers used. Wisteria does not use nitrogen. To coax it to flower or even flower more profusely use a combination of root pruning and a heavy dose of super phosphate fertilizer. Another recommended method is a severe pruning in early spring, which can reward you with a bumper crop of blooms.

The curiosity and determination of plant breeders bring continual delights.

Reinventing the wheel occupies many a curious professional mind.
The creation of new and improved long ago spread into the world of ornamental plants. Each spring homeowners looking to improve their yards and gardening buffs hunting for the next big thing shop for the easiest to grow and most beautiful plants they can locate. Everyone looks forward to the new colors and easier to grow ornamental plants that arrive on the scene each season.

Flower lovers everywhere attempt to grow this plant.
The exotic fragrance and pure, snowy blossoms of the Gardenia bush make it a favorite flowering shrub of florists. As a houseplant or in the landscape, the Gardenia plant has always been finicky and heavily dependent on chemical sprays. The powerful scent makes the plant the envy of every person who cannot grow them in their yard. Until recent improvements, this was a plant that only very warm climate gardeners could enjoy the scent of in their personal space.

Southern scentsation improved for the north.
It took only one plant specialist, Don Kleim of Henderson Experimental Gardens in California to discover one particularly cold tolerant Gardenia shrub in the crowd. After some thorough testing around the country, Gardenia jasminoides ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ came on the market. This Gardenia is known for holding its flower buds even through a spring frost. He later developed a similar cultivar known as ‘Frost Proof’ Gardenia.

Nothing ever stays the same – in life or plants.
Every season brings us new and exciting plants for our yards and gardens. Frost Proof Gardenia is the new Gardenia bush for success and the reward of fragrance all the way into zone 6. These Gardenia plants may suffer a little frost burn on the leaves, but the flower buds will hang on. Frost Proof Gardenia is one hothouse flower that can take the heat and the cold. You’ll have the heady fragrance of that singular perfume from spring into fall with this cold hardy Gardenia plant.

Whether you’re looking to add some color to the garden, create a flowering privacy screen, or plant a new focal point for the front yard, a Rhododendron is a perfect selection that millions of gardeners love and recommend.

Before selecting a Lavender Rhododendron or Azalea, be sure to gather some general knowledge about your local climate and temperature conditions. Be sure that your USDA growing zone is proper for the shrub of your choice. Information about your area’s soil, sun, and growing conditions is also essential. You can typically gather this information from the internet, a local nursery, or even other experienced gardeners in your area. Knowledge is power, and having a good deal of knowledge about your location’s gardening conditions will make selecting your White Rhododendron more simplified, and also prevent you from falling in love with a plant that you cannot cultivate in your location.

In addition to this factual information, you may wish to discuss Red Rhododendrons with local gardeners in your area. Find out which varieties they have found to be successful where you live, as well as their recommendations are for care and maintenance. Typically, local gardeners will also be able to give you specific information about how long you can expect blooms, etc. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this in person, get on the internet and locate a gardening forum for your area that you can participate in.

Once you have an idea of what you like and what will work in your location, visit or investigate the nursery of your choice. Local nurseries will have a limited selection of Yellow Rhododendron on hand; however they will be “tried and true” varieties that the nursery has found to be ideal for your area. However, bare in mind that some nurseries stick to “what works” and don’t update their inventory as fast as new and improved cultivars are being developed. So just because the variety you are interested in is not available at your local nursery, this does not mean it won’t work for your area.

Again, this is why knowledge is power.

If the nurseries in your area do not carry the Rhododendron or Azalea that you like, consider an online nursery. Not only will you find a vast selection of shrubs, you will also have the convenience of having them delivered to your door.

Following these simple steps should allow you to select the ideal Rhododendron for your yard. Your new flowering shrub will provide you with beauty and joy for years to come.

Encore Azaleas bloom up to 9 months a year, while improving your landscape and increasing your property value. The dwarf compact size of Encore Azalea shrubs makes it the perfect flowering shrub. Encore Azaleas also grow in most areas of the United States.

We all know at least one person whose yard looks like a barren wasteland in winter. Their perennials and annuals have died back, and their shrubs and bushes are bare sticks. Becoming the proprietor of such a dismal landscape, however, is quite easily avoided with just a bit of foresight. If you want year round color, it is essential that when selecting shrubs and hedges that you ensure what you are purchasing is an evergreen.

While homeowners all across the country drop thousands of dollars on landscaping each year, few take into account just what their yard will look like in the cold winter months. Plants tend to die back and trees go dormant, creating a dismal landscape that one must contend with all winter long. This can be avoided however, if during your initial landscaping plans you choose to include and put emphasis on shrubs and perennials that will provide visual interest in the wintertime.

Due to the steady rise in heating and cooling costs over the past decade, homeowners are taking advantage of every money saving idea that comes there way. One of the most popular methods in recent years is landscaping for energy efficiency. Shade trees that block the sun and lower air conditioning bills and privacy screens that double as wind barriers for the cold winter months have become staples in the attempt to save energy and funds through landscape.

For passionate gardeners, this cold time of year cannot pass quickly enough. However, there are several things you can do all season long to prepare for the coming of spring that can actually improve your gardening endeavors far more than you may thing. Plus, they’ll keep you busy and make the cold season fly right by!

The rose is a stand alone in the gardening world, historically and today. Arguably the most popular flower in American history, it is rare to find an experienced gardener that has not tried their hand at the cultivation of a rose bush. With fragrance, visual charm, and undeniable romance… the classic rose is just a flower that cannot get any better, right?