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

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…

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.

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.