Ferns come in numerous varieties.  Their variation in their foliage is fascinating and they have incredible diversity.  From the delicate colors of the Japanese Painted Fern to the dramatic new growth of the Cinnamon Stick Fern, ferns are stunningly beautiful plants.

What ferns need

Widely planted and generally hardy, ferns don’t ask for much.  They need moist, loamy soil that drains well and dries slightly between waterings.  They prefer shade to protect the sensitive fronds so they don’t scorch but they need a bit of morning light or filtered sun.  Add a little nitrogen-based fertilizer to their watering scheduling and they will grow happily.

Indoor ferns

Indoor ferns are very popular houseplants since they stay green and full year-round.  House ferns like the Boston Fern are happy to live the winter inside but can also spend the warmer months outside.

Be careful with the amount of light you give an indoor fern.  However, once you find the right kind of light, your fern will want plenty of it.  Look for a spot that gets indirect or filtered light.  Try putting your hand in the light and look at the shadow it leaves.  The edges should be fuzzy and the shadow should be a bit light in color.  (The official description says the light should be between 1100 and 1800 foot candles, a measurement of light.)

Indoor ferns grow best when it’s warm but not hot.  The range from 73 to 86 degrees is where they are happiest.  Indoor air can sometimes be a little dry for ferns so consider spritzing them with a light mist of water once or twice a week or use a cool mist humidifier and keep them away from heat vents and radiators.

Despite their need for moist air, don’t be tempted to overwater.  Ferns do not like wet feet and can be easily damaged by fungus.

Outdoor ferns

Heavy soil, damp soil, dry shade: these are the toughest spots to fill in a garden but ferns don’t mind any of them.  Hardy outdoor ferns are the epitome of the low maintenance garden plant.  All they ask it that their roots be in the shade and that they be watered regularly.  Most outdoor ferns prefer a neutral to alkaline soil but there are acid-loving exceptions.

Dividing ferns

When ferns become crowded, they need to be divided.  This is true for both houseplants and garden plants.  The process is the same for most ferns.  Remove the plant from the pot or dig up the clump from the garden.  Using a sharp spade or knife, cut the root ball in half leaving a part of the crown whole in each section.  Replant immediately and keep moist, but not wet.

Once you see how easy these beautiful plants are to grow, you might just fall in love with green.

The post Great Green Ferns appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

A specimen plant is the opposite of a bedding plant, edging or border plant.  These are planted in mass groupings.  A specimen is something special, a plant that your eye will single out as an item of interest.  It will be “center stage” in the garden.

Specimen plants are used as focal points in the garden.  They can be used to create something interesting for the eye in an otherwise blank section.  They can add height or drama to a blank space.  They might bring color to a green space.  There are any number of ways a gardener might use a specimen plant.

Trees

Trees are often used as specimen plants.  They can help give dimension to a lawn and shade to a home.  Blooming trees can add a great deal of color and fragrance to a landscape.  A tree can balance the architecture of the structure as well.  Here are just a few colorful or interesting trees to use as specimen plants.

• Crepe Myrtle.  Summer blooming, medium sized, vase shaped tree available in several colors.
• Tulip Poplar.  Fast growing and tall, offers brilliant yellow fall color as well as big spring blooms.
• Weeping Willow.  Graceful, cascading branches give interesting texture where there is plenty of water.

Shrubs

A shrub can also be used as a specimen plant in the garden.  Shrubs can serve as an anchor for a planting bed.  They can decorate a mailbox or highlight a gate.  A few notable specimen shrubs are listed below.

• Snowball viburnum.  Medium sized shrub with big, long lasting, globe-shaped flower clusters.
• Gardenia.  Medium to small evergreen shrub with extremely fragrant, waxy, white blooms.
• Burning Bush Euonymus.  Medium sized shrub with brilliant scarlet fall color.

Plants

Many plants can serve as specimen plants when properly placed in a garden bed.  They will not have the showy drama of a larger shrub or tree but by properly placing a plant, it can have a lot of impact.  Try using a plant in a bright color in a bed of green ground cover.  A textural grass could serve the purpose as well.  Perhaps a specimen vine could cover an arbor or climb a trellis for an eye-catching effect.  Here are a few interesting plants that could serve as specimen plants.

• Clematis.  Visually interesting, textural and colorful blooms available in many colors on a twining vine.
• Elephant ear.  Huge leaves and tall stalks available in several sizes and colors.
• Cinnamon fern.  Unusually shaped new growth resembling cinnamon sticks in a uniquely sun-tolerant fern.

If there’s a spot in your garden or planting bed that needs a little extra something, consider finding an interesting specimen plant.  Just make sure that the sunlight and water needs of the specific plant will be met in the space before you buy.

The post Using Specimen Plants in Your Garden appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Sunlight will naturally vary to some during the course of a day or over the span of a year due to cloudy days and other weather patterns.  However, a gardener can usually determine the average exposure a particular area receives without much trouble.

• Full sun.  Full sun is defined as 6 or more hours of sun exposure in a day.  This includes open areas of lawn and areas not blocked by walls or structure.  Perennial for full sun include daylilies, sedum and salvia.
• Partial sun or partial shade.  Used interchangeably, this category receives anywhere from 3 to 6 hours of sun exposure.  If it is on the lower end of the range, we typically say “partial shade” and the higher end is referred to as “partial sun”.   Partial sun/shade perennials include holly fern, ajuga and some hostas.
• Dappled sun/shade.  An area of dappled sun or shade is usually under the cover of high deciduous trees, as in a wooded area or beneath an established oak.  It gets several hours sun but in a filtered way.
• Full shade.  Receiving less than 3 hours of direct sun exposure in a day, a full shade area is limited in what light it receives.  The sun may be somewhat blocked by your home or thickly wooded.  Some hostas and the painted fern like full shade.

You can purchase color changing exposure meters to help measure your available light.  They can cost just a few dollars for a simple device or quite a bit more for a fancy digital version.  You can also map your garden yourself for free.

Just make a rough sketch of your garden on paper and check the light at several intervals during the day.  Use a pencil to shade in areas where the garden is no longer getting direct sun.  Check at least four times: early morning, midmorning, early afternoon and late afternoon.  More frequent checks will give you better results.

Once you know how much sun your planting beds are getting, you can begin to choose perennials to fill them.  Look at the tags on plants or the descriptions if you are ordering online.  Many will give a range, like “full sun to partial”.  This means the plant has a preference for the first but will tolerate the second.  (Keep in mind, full sun perennial will need a little more water than shade.)

Putting your perennials in the right place will help you grow the lush garden you want.

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Benefits of blueberry bushes

The blueberry is an attractive, moderately sized shrub with pretty foliage and flowers.  A typical bush can grow to a mature size of 4 to 12 feet tall, depending on the variety.  It makes a good landscape plant on these merits alone.  But this bush also produces one of the tastiest, most healthful berries you can eat.  Known for their amazing antioxidant properties, they may also fight cholesterol and cancer cells.

Planting a blueberry bush

Spring is the best time to plant a blueberry bush.  Choose a spot that gets a day’s worth of full sun.  These shrubs need the sun’s energy to flower and produce sweet, plump fruits.  They prefer a slightly acidic soil.  A pH measurement of around 4.0 to 4.5 is considered ideal.  (Soil testing can help you determine your soil’s pH levels.)

This amazing shrubs isn’t picky about the soil outside of its pH.  It actually likes a little clay or rocky soil so many gardeners will have success with blueberries where other plants fail.  As with any other plant, work some organic matter and compost into the planting area.  Give the bushes some space, around 5 feet between shrubs should do.

Choosing a variety

There are many varietals of the blueberry plant.  Some are hardier than other and mature sizes can vary.  Pick the one that is right for your landscape.  Here are a few dependable and popular options:

• Rabbit Eye.  A big shrub at up to 12 feet, this blueberry bush produces early fruits but need to be planted in multiples for pollination.
• Pink Lemonade.  This fun variety has fruit that is bright pink when ripe and is small enough to be grown in a container.
• Sweetheart.  This blueberry “refruits”, producing in both summer and fall.
• Toro.  Toro is a good choice for northern gardeners as it is hardy in zones 4 through 7.

Caring for blueberry bushes

If you have existing shrubs, spring is the time to gently prune and fertilize.  Buds will have formed in the previous summer and fall on second year wood so a hard pruning will damage fruit production.  Keep this in mind before you cut.  Simply remove dead wood and trim back slightly if air circulation is needed.

This is also a good season to plan for the protection of your harvest.  Most animals won’t bother them but birds are especially fond of blueberries and can fly off with most of your berries.  Netting is an inexpensive and fairly effective means of keeping the berries on the bush till you harvest.

A little work in the spring will bring you a bumper crop of sweet and nutritious fruit when summer finally arrives.

The post Spring Care for a Bountiful Blueberry Season appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Choosing a style

There are a number of landscape styles that homeowners and gardeners can choose.  They range from structured and formal to nearly wild.  Each has its own beauty so there is not “wrong” choice.  However, each also has its own challenges so it’s best to choose wisely when first planning a garden so you don’t end up removing valuable plants later.

Consider the architecture of your home and neighborhood before choosing a style.  You should also keep your climate zone in mind.  For example, a formal rose garden will be very hard to grow in a desert climate.

Gardening Styles

Formal style.  A formal garden is structured and orderly.  It is typically symmetrical and based on geometrical shapes and right angles.  Plantings are neatly pruned and walls or paths are often used to define the space.

This style is elegant and traditional.  It works well with Georgian style homes and other symmetrical architecture styles.  Formal garden rely on traditional plants like roses and clipped privet hedges for color and structure.

This style requires a good deal of upkeep.  Pruning and tidying will be frequent tasks.

Example of a formal garden

Informal style.  Informal style uses curved lines and gives a more relaxed feeling than a formal garden.  Softer mass plantings create a more naturalistic setting but this style still conforms somewhat to a plan.

Informal gardens complement a wide variety of current architectural trends.  They more relaxed nature of this style allows asymmetry to balance transitional style homes.  It still requires upkeep, though less than a formal garden.

An informal garden

Cottage or English Garden style.  A cottage garden is loose and free flowing.  It has its roots in the formal English style, but is lacking in the structure and rigid lines that characterize formal gardening.  This style often incorporates culinary herbs to be used in cooking.

Cottage gardens are low maintenance and colorful.  However, they can easily go from whimsical to downright messy.  Cottage plants are often perennial or annuals that reseed themselves so the garden takes less care.  This style works well with cottage-style homes and beach houses but will look a bit odd if paired with a more formal home.

A cottage garden

Asian style.  Minimal in appearance but highly planned, Asian style gardens seek to replicate all of nature in a small, controlled space.  They typically incorporate all the elements of nature including plants, trees, stones and water elements.

This style can look bare to the Western eye but there is beauty in the simplicity.  Elements are in balance but not symmetrical.  It may not complement Western architecture as well as some other styles but it is often very easy to maintain.

An Asian-themed garden

Eco style.  Also called xeriscaping, this style is designed to make use of available resources without taxing the natural environment.  Use of drought-tolerant plants is common as well as native grasses.

Extremely easy to maintain, this style has a natural look.  Some of the plants common to xeriscaping might be prickly and unwise for small children, like cacti and saw toothed grasses.  However, this style needs no supplemental watering and almost no maintenance after planting.  It is ideal for desert climates and coastal areas.

Typical plants in an Eco garden

No matter what style you choose, make sure it works with your climate and native soils.  While there is a lot that can be done to amend and alter the soil, you will always be fighting Mother Nature.  Few gardeners win against this formidable foe.

The post Styling your Outdoor Space appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

A garden can engage all of our senses, not just our sight.  We can touch the velvet petal of a rose as well as see its deep, rich color.  We can hear the rustle of the junipers and the birds that call them home.  We can taste the herbs and vegetables we grow.  And we can smell the incredible scents that a garden encompasses from sharp pine to sweet floral to spicy herb.

Principals of Scent Gardening

One interesting and popular trend in garden design for the senses is scent gardening.  Scent gardening is planning the fragrances of a space rather than leaving them to chance.  It prioritizes the perfume of a plant over its appearance.  This approach has been used to create amazing gardens that are equally appreciated by those with typical vision as well as those who are visually impaired.  The Brooklyn Botanic Garden created the first example back in 1955.

Garden designers can spend vast amounts of time planning a scent garden.  There are so many options for fragrant plants and trees.  There are plants that only perfume the air when in bloom (like a rose) and also those that give off a scent when crushed, cut or brushed (like rosemary).  Add in the changing choices for changing seasons and you could be in for a seriously long planning session!

At-home Scent Gardening

Most home gardeners won’t have the know-how or the time to create a complete, four-season scent garden.  However, we can incorporate some of the principals in our own gardens.  Here are a few ideas for the at-home scent garden.

• Plant a fragrant shrub beneath your windows.  A gardenia makes an attractive foundation shrub but its scent is even more beautiful drifting in through an open window.
• Consider the seasons.  While a wisteria vine will give you an entire spring season of fragrance, its blooms will be spent by midsummer.  Plan for another specimen to take over the job of pleasing your nose for the next season.
• Remember to add variety.  While you might think of sweet-smelling flowers first, other plants can also provide a wide range of scents.  An herb like creeping thyme could be used to fill the gaps in a rock walkway, providing a burst of spicy scent with each step.

Don’t limit your garden to a visual experience.  Consider all your senses when you plan your garden this spring.

The post Planting for Perfume – Fragrance in the Garden appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Your soil is the garden’s source of both nutrients and moisture.  Every plot of soil has a different profile and personality.  Even in a small yard, the soil can differ drastically from one side to the other.  Soil testing give you the information you need to get you garden performing at its best.  A soil test can tell you where you need to amend your soil and with what materials.  It can also help you decide what to plant.

What is soil testing and why do I need it?

Soil testing is the process of analyzing what nutrients are present in the sample provided.  The results can help you decide what fertilizer(s) or amendments are necessary to give your soil optimal balance and fertility.

Is it expensive to test my soil?

Soil testing is generally quite reasonably priced.  A reliable and fairly comprehensive test can cost as little as $5-$10 in many areas.  Testing kits may be available from your local cooperative extension office.  (A link to the United States Department of Agriculture’s list of cooperative extension offices can be found here.)  You may also be able to find private agencies locally that offer similar services.

What will a soil test tell me?

A typical test will tell you the pH of your soil, its nutrient content and its percentage of organic matter.  The readings your test reveals will tell you what to do about the conditions.  One thing a test will not likely tell you is the level of nitrogen in your soil.  This can change very quickly and very dramatically.  You may have to request this test and pay a little more to have it performed.

How do I use the information I get back?

Most flowers and vegetables like a soil that is slightly acidic.  (A neutral soil level, neither acidic nor alkaline, is 7.0.)  So if you want to grow these and your soil is alkaline (more than 7.0) you would add materials to lower that number like garden sulfur.  If your number is too acidic, you might add lime to counteract the acidity.  Many soil test reports will give you specific advice on what to add to balance your soil.

How do I collect a sample of my soil for an accurate test result?

1. Use a trowel and bucket that are not zinc-coated.  (Zinc-coated instruments will skew your results.)
2. Remove the surface layer.  Scrape back mulch and leaf litter.
3. Dig out a wedge about 6 to 8 inches deep and set it aside.
4. Scrape about an inch of soil from the bottom of the hole and drop it in your bucket.
5. Replace the wedge you set aside.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 in *various locations of the garden.  About 5 to 10 digs (depending on the size of the yard or garden) scattered across the testing area should do.
7. Mix the contents of the bucket together well so it becomes a single sample.
8. Fill the soil test vial, bag or other container and fill out the accompanying paperwork then drop it in the mail as directed by your testing agency.

*Certain spots should not be included in your testing sample.  Back-filled areas like ditches, soil under fence lines, wet soil, heavily or recently fertilized areas and patches of soil where grass or plants have died suddenly should be avoided.

Once you have received results, you should have a better understanding of your soil and garden.  You can use this information to choose plants, schedule and choose fertilizing treatments and care for you garden.  It’s a big payoff for a little bit of effort.  Get the inside dirt on your soil this spring.

The post Soil Testing for a Better Garden appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Many gardeners find that their fruiting trees and shrubs, once established, provide more produce than the gardener or his family can consume.  Think about how often you’ve been given a few extra tomatoes or zucchini.  Even a single fruit tree can produce more than you can eat, even if you preserve the fruit.  Community food banks and local shelters are often the grateful beneficiaries of gardeners’ over-production.  If you choose to plant fruiting shrubs or trees, please consider calling some of these charities to see if they might have needs you can fill during the harvest season.

Before you harvest, you first must plant.  Planting fruit trees and shrubs isn’t drastically different from any other tree.  Here are the basic instructions for planting a tree.

Selecting the location.

Fruit trees needs a lot of sun.  The more sun, the better!  The light from the sun helps the tree develop the sugar that will make your crop sweet and tasty.  If your tree or shrub doesn’t get enough sun, it may not produce good fruit or it may not give you a harvest at all.  Find a sunny place for your fruit tree.  Most will need a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day and well-drained soil.

Consider the mature size of your tree when you plant.  A rabbit eye blueberry bush may seem small when first purchased but it will be about 10-12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide at full maturity.  It’s not a small plant like a strawberry.  A large tree like an Arbequina Olive can be 20 feet tall and 12 wide.  Give your tree or shrub plenty of clearance from your home and any other structure, power lines and other trees too.

Digging deep.

Set the tree in a bucket of water while you prepare its new home.  This will allow the roots to absorb some much-needed water before it experiences the inevitable (and hopefully short-lived) transplant shock.  Cut through the covering, usually burlap or a similar fabric, in an X-shape to help encourage the roots to explore.

Cut the sod from the surface in a circle about twice the diameter of the root ball and put it in the compost heap.  Once this area is clear of sod and weeds, you can start digging.  Dig a hole big enough so that root ball can sit in it without touching the sides.  One and a half times to two times the size of the root ball is a good rule of thumb.  Make a pile of the top soil first (usually darker in color) and then one of the subsoil (usually lighter in color).  Rough up the sides of hole with your shovel or pick so the roots can find places to grab.

Water the hole.  Give it some moisture now.  The tree will need it and watering will help soften the soil at the bottom.  Give the hole a quick rinse and don’t let it flood.

Locate the graft if your tree has one.  This is the point where the root stock and cultivar have been grown together.  If it bows at the graft, point the bowed area towards the prevailing wind.

Place, don’t drop, the tree in the planting hole.  Layer the soil back into the hole, subsoil first and then top soil.  The graft should be at least 6 inches above the surface.  You may need to stake it loosely and low on the trunk for stability and flexibility.

Water, DON’T fertilize.

Water the tree in well so that there are no air holes in the soil.  Keep it well watered for the first several months.  Supplement the rainfall until the end of the tree’s first summer when it begins to go dormant.  Don’t fertilize just after planting.  The roots are too new and sensitive for fertilizer.

Protect.

Your tree may need horticulture oil or other protection against insects.  Ask at your local garden center or county extension office for recommendations for your zone and specific location.

Be patient.

Some trees and shrubs will produce in the first growing season, but many take a year to become established.  Be patient and wait.  The results will be worth it.

Soon you’ll be sharing the fruits of your labor with you family and friends and hopefully your community as well.

The post Planting and Caring for Fruit Trees and Shrubs appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Late frost

A late cold snap can kill plants and your gardening budget in one fell swoop.  Fruiting shrubs, perennials and annuals alike are sensitive to frost and can be severely damaged by a late or “killing” frost.  Here are few tips to keep from losing plants to frost.

• Plant in the right place.  Don’t plant cold-sensitive plants where they will be encouraged to bud early, before the last frost has passed.  For example, plant a blueberry bush on a north-facing slope where it will be the last to feel the effects of spring.
• Use later blooming cultivars.  There are usually early, middle and late blooming versions of a plant.  Research before you buy.
• If all else fails, cover them up.  If the forecast calls for a late frost or freeze and your shrubs or plants are vulnerable, cover them at night.  Use newspaper or a cheap, thin cloth like muslin instead of plastic.  These will allow the plant to breath and won’t burn it if you’re a little late getting up in the morning.  Get the covers off the plant as early as you can.

High winds

Powerful winds can wreak havoc on a tree.  Limbs can be twisted off or they can even be ripped from the ground.  Many spring thunderstorms come with high winds and can produce a particularly strong wind called a microburst.

A microburst is a localized column of rapidly sinking air.  The air drops straight down till it hits the ground, then it goes straight out.  One can last for a few seconds or a few minutes and it can rip a tree right out of the ground.

Spring is also tornado season in many states.  The winds produced from a powerful tornado are far too strong to be fought with simple measures so these solutions will be geared more towards the less severe thunderstorm winds.

• Choose trees wisely.  If you live in an area prone to windy conditions, be sure to pick deeply rooted trees that are less likely to be uprooted or trees with strong trunks.
• Plant in the right place.  Plant the trees on the side of your home that is best protected from the typical direction of the wind.
• Don’t get fancy.  Trees and shrubs prunes into unnatural shapes are more susceptible to breakage.  Avoid complicated topiaries unless you have them in pots that be brought indoors in bad weather.
• Choose an alternative.  Some plants like certain native grasses do very well in windy conditions.  Lower growing shrubs may also work better.

Standing water

Spring storms can leave puddles in your garden.  If you have low lying spots or heavy soil, the water could stick around for a while.  Many plants like clematis simply won’t tolerate standing water.

• Amend the soil.  Add organic matter and till it into the existing soil to improve drainage.
• Divert the water.  Add a wet weather creek bed or French drain to divert the water from the area.
• Pick plants that don’t mid wet feet.  Irises, astilbes and hydrangeas love the extra drink and red twig dogwoods and hostas will tolerate a little flooding.

Prevention is the key to getting ahead of weather issues.  Keep some old newspapers on hand for late frosts and plan your landscaping for the weather your zone produces.  It’s much easier to plan ahead that pay for repairs.

The post Defenses from Unpredictable Spring Weather appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Arbors take many forms.  They can be as simple as a sheet of lattice attached to a wall or as complicated as the builder’s skill allows.  There are numerous plans available online, some are available for free and some for a fee.  Alternately, you could check out your local library or home improvement store for building plans.  If you don’t happen to have construction or carpentry skills, the home improvement store may have some ready-made options or contractors available to hire.

Choose your spot

The first task is to choose where you want to place your arbor.  Traditional placement is often arching over a path or a gate.  You can also have a flat version dressing a blank wall.  Putting one over a patio can provide a bit of dappled shade to relive the summer heat.  Just don’t forget that your arbor will also be visible in the winter so make sure it will look appealing in all seasons.

The spot you pick should have good soil for the vines that will soon be growing over it.  You can provide this with large pots or planters at the base or by amending the soil.  Don’t till up the earth so much that you no longer have a solid foundation for your arbor.

Choose your vine

This is probably the most fun you’ll have in this process.  The variety of vines is amazing and each one seems more beautiful and fantastic than the next.  From low maintenance ivies to fragrant yellow jasmine to the showy purple queen bougainvillea, the choices seem endless.  Here are a few things to take into consideration before making a purchase.

• Soil conditions.
• Light requirements.
• Care and training needs.
• Hardiness and viability in your zone.
• Required support.
• Pruning.

Read up on the vines you like before buying.  Make your choice on the facts, not just the pretty blooms.  Here are a few vines that are reasonable easy to grow and tolerate many conditions.

Vines for shady spots.

• Purple Wisteria.  Fragrant with masses of lavender blooms.
• Climbing hydrangea.  Thick and lush with delicate white clusters of flowers.
• Virginia Creeper.  Does not flower but grows thickly and turns brilliant scarlet in the fall.
• Star Jasmine.  Highly fragrant with small, waxy white blooms and shiny dark leaves.

Vines for full sun.

• Henryi Clematis.  Stunning brilliant white blooms in a fast growing vine.  This one likes its top in the sun but its “feet” in shade.
• Scarlet Honeysuckle.  Exotic fragrance, fast growing and attracts hummingbirds.
• Passionflower.  Otherworldly purple blooms that defy description.
• Morning Glory.  Exceptionally easy to grow with purple blooms that only last a day, opening in the morning and twisting closed by lunchtime.

No matter what you choose, planting a vine on a vertical arbor will add dimension and drama to your landscape.

The post Get Growing with Flowering Vines appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Once spring arrives, it’s time to get back out in the garden.  Gardening is relaxing and can help lower your blood pressure.  Gardening is good exercise and the results will make you smile all season long.

There are a few tasks you might want to tick off your to-do list early in the season.  A little preventative maintenance now will save a lot of headaches once it’s too hot out to fix a problem.  So take a few afternoons to complete some of these early spring gardening projects.

Structural Maintenance

Spring is a good season to take care of any structural issues in your garden.  The weather isn’t hot enough to drive you back inside in the middle of the day.  Materials won’t typically be in short supply this early in the season either.

Check the wooden structures in your garden like arbors, fences, gazebos and decks for signs of insect infestation and rot.  In the early spring, your perennial plants won’t be in the way and you won’t have to worry about your annuals being trampled.

Clean out the waterways in your landscaping.  Clear the gutters and downspouts in the early spring.  Remove any debris from your drainage ditches or dry creek beds.  Clear out all the winter rubbish and get them ready for spring showers.

Weed

Weeding is the least favorite chore of many a gardener but it is vital to the health of your plants.  If you get rid of the weeds while they are young and have weaker roots, they are easier to pull out.

Prune

Your trees may need to be pruned in the early spring.  A word of caution is needed on this topic, however.  Many flowering and fruiting trees have already set buds by springtime and should not be pruned.  Cutting back can mean losing your harvest or spring bloom.

Spring is a good season for pruning late blooming trees like the crepe myrtle and for cutting back hardwoods and evergreens.  Make sure you trim back any branches that are cracked, diseased or broken.  Get rid of branches overhanging your roof so pests don’t use them to gain access to your eaves or attic.

Some shrubs like hydrangeas can also be cut back in the spring.  You will be able to tell exactly where the winterkill ends and new buds have formed.  Allowing these shrubs to bud first tells you exactly where to prune.

Get ahead of pest problems by patrolling your landscape thoroughly before they become active.  Look for signs like the tunnels of termites and old hornets nests and take appropriate actions.   Apply horticultural oil to shrubs and trees with histories of aphid, scale and spider mite problems.

Take advantage of the beautiful spring weather to get started on your gardening chores.  When you see the results, you’ll know it was well worth your time.

The post Early Spring Gardening Projects appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Vacant Areas

There are spots in the garden that may not be as lush as you’d like.  This can happen when the soil is a little problematic or there is a transition from one bed to another.  Steep slopes can also be a planting challenge.

Groundcover plants can address these challenges.  Steep slopes can be conquered with hardy ground covers like junipers.  These tough evergreens will grip the soil and prevent erosion.  Vinca is another hardy plant for hillsides with variegated growth that blooms in pretty periwinkle from spring till fall.

Vinca will also tolerate less-than-ideal soil conditions.  Another happy-go-lucky groundcover is Pink Muhly Grass.  This tough grass is a drought-tolerant problem solver.  Its rich color and interesting texture provide interest year-round.

Filling In the Gaps

Taller perennials and shrubs make a big statement above ground but their legs aren’t always pretty.  A shrub’s trunk and a perennial’s stems can be camouflaged with groundcovers.  A fluffy favorite is Emerald Pink Creeping Phlox.  This plant isn’t fussy and fills in the lower layers of your landscape with a carpet of brilliant color every spring.  The entire plant will be enveloped in blooms if you plant it in full to part-sun.

Minimizing Maintenance

Some gardeners prefer to enjoy their landscape rather than work in it.  Investing in plants that require little in the ways of care is their first priority.  Groundcovers typically have few needs other than water, soil and sun.  They also help smother out weeds and made the landscape a little easier to manage.

Carpet roses provide a big impact with a small amount of maintenance.  Drift Roses are easy to grow and bursting with color.  They are hardy and disease-resistant repeat-bloomers that are willing to spread.

Investing in a good groundcover will make your landscape even more beautiful.  Assess your needs to choose the best one for your yard.

The post Flowering Groundcovers for Your Landscape appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

Bulb-borne flowers are some of the brightest and most dramatic plants of springtime.  They can also make winter glow with scent and color.  When forced indoors, bulbs make spring seem like it’s just around the corner.

Forcing bulbs isn’t as harsh as it sounds.  It’s simply the process of coaxing them into bloom before their proper season arrives.  Think of it as tricking them in to thinking that spring has already arrived.

The process of forcing is fairly simple and straightforward.  Just choose a variety that works well for forcing and a container that is appropriate for the bulb.  There are specialized vases that are made just for this purpose but they aren’t strictly necessary.

Most bulbs will require a chilling period in order to get a full bloom.  Ask your grower if their bulbs come pre-chilled or if you will need to start the process at home.  An unheated garage or cellar works in cooler areas but in warmer climates, bulbs should go in a fridge.  Make sure onions and apples are not stored in the same fridge as the ethylene gas they produce may damage the bulbs.  Here are a few bulbs that will give you great results.

Daffodils

Daffodils are an excellent choice for forcing.  They are typically very eager to bloom and grow well indoors.  They require a lot of light to bloom well so choose a spot that will make the most of the winter light.

Try grouping a few bulbs in a pot and cover with just enough soil to reach the tips of the bulbs.  Water enough to moisten the soil but be very careful not to overwater.  Their vivid yellow blooms of a variety like Dutch Master will bring sunshine back to your home long before the temperature rises.

Tulips

Tulips are another bulb easily brought into bloom.  They will also need a chilling. Find a very sunny window as these bulbs also like a lot of light.  They come in a huge variety of colors, some are patterned with fancy stripes like Pink Petticoat and others, like Blue Moon, are painted in bold solids.

Tulips will bend significantly toward the light, both before and even after they are cut.  Rotate the container every few days to get a strong and upright plant.

Hyacinths

Perhaps the one of the most fragrant flower bulbs, the hyacinth can fill an entire room with scent from a single bulb.  They are a classic forcing bulb that has been favored since Victorian times.  Both their incredible perfume and the range of available colors have kept them popular.  Hyacinths can be found in shades from pure white to bright pink to dee

p violet.  These bulbs can be grown in nothing but water, making them very easy to force.

Start hyacinths in the dark with the base just touching water and keep the water level steady.  Keep them a cool, dark spot for 4-6

weeks or until a good root system is established.  Then bring them into bright light.  The stems are hollow so you may need to stake them if they begin to flop.

When winter becomes dreary, don’t despair.  Bring a little of spring’s joy into your home this winter with bulbs.

The post Forcing Bulbs for Winter Blooms appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Give Mom a Lifetime of Blooms on Mother’s Day appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Top 5 Perfect Perennials for Easter Gifts appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Why the Cherry Blossom is America’s Favorite Flowering Tree appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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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.

The post How to Create Your Own Vertical Garden appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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!

The post Top Five Tips for Growing Veggies in Your Garden appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Top 5 Low Maintenance Flowering Shrubs appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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!

The post Tropical Citrus Plants Thrive Anywhere in the Country when Grown Indoors appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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!

The post Featured Bloomer- The Endless Summer Hydrangea appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Top 5 Bloomers for Early Spring Color appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

The first signs of spring are just beginning to appear and many of us are anxious to see the incredible color of our Double Knockout Roses but don’t get in a hurry to plant just yet. For plants to thrive, they need a good start in healthy soil.  You’ll need to get your garden ready for spring first.

The post Top 5 Tips to Get Your Garden Ready for Spring appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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/

The post Growing Blueberries Is Easy appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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…

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To learn more click fragrant shrubs…

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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.

The post New Knockout Roses (Fragrant and Classic) appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

To learn more click Wisteria Vines.

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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

The post Encore Azaleas appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Knockout Rose Trees appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

The post Easily Created Oriental Landscape Accent appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

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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…

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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

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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…

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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

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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…

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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…

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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…

The post Grandchildren turn $11.95 Daylilies into 1.99 ones. appeared first on Brighter Blooms Nursery Blog.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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