When the sun is shining and the breeze is warm, you’ll most likely find me enjoying some fresh air and exercise in the garden. There’s always something to do there–gardening is a process, not an event. Here are seven essential summer gardening tasks I make a habit of doing, and you might want to consider, too, in order to keep your garden looking sensational all summer long.
Their flowers may look similar, but not all petunias grow and perform the same way in the garden. Likewise, the alluring scent of sweet alyssum may be equally sublime across all varieties, but some bloom longer than others. Why is that? The secret lies in their genes. Let’s take a closer look.
Spring gardening tasks might not be the most glamorous or fun things to do in the garden, but they can be the most rewarding when you see the results. Let’s take a look at ten things you can do now to get your garden off to a great start this spring.
If you love using Argyranthemum in container designs as much as I do, you are going to love the new Pure White Butterfly™ as an option. The large, crisp white daisy looking flowers explode with beauty and are a perfect choice for a thriller in annual container designs.
Warning…This post may make your mouth water and leave you feeling hungry. That being said, let me introduce you to the Decadence™ series of Baptisia brought to us from the Proven Winners® Perennial line. As of Winter 2013, there are four ‘flavors’ / varieties in the Decadence™ series, they are: DECADENCE™ Baptisia ‘Cherries Jubilee’, DECADENCE™ Baptisia ‘Blueberry Sundae’, DECADENCE™ Baptisia ‘Dark Chocolate’, & DECADENCE™ Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’.
Lo& Behold® Buddleia ‘Blue Chip’ has been a top seller for the past 5 years and now it just got ‘better’. Why better you ask? We have loved the fact that ‘Blue Chip’ was a compact, sterile Butterfly Bush, and the only thing that could make it better is to be even more compact.
When space is limited we recommend compact plants. That being said compact space can be a little different for those who live in the big city who may be lucky to have a 10×10 garden or those who live in an urban area with a slightly bigger back yard. I am going to concentrate on shrubs that have been breed to take less than 3 foot of space, where in the past may have reached heights and widths of 5-8 foot.
For many urban gardeners the thought of shrubs is just not even a thought, shrubs just get way to big! In the past that may have been true, but now there are several ‘old’ shrubs that have been breed to have compact/dwarf habits. Again I will remind you “You don’t have to give up your dreams, you can just shrink them.”
I know you are thinking how many pink Petunias does one really need or want. But what if I told you they just keep getting better. Your old tried and true may no longer be the best thing out there. You’re paying for the plant, why not get the best plant for your money!
You may be asking what is so super about Supertunias®? Why does Garden Crossings make such a big deal out of them? We really do think they are super and we stand behind that statement by planting hundreds of them in our very own landscape, both at the Garden Center/Greenhouse and at our home, every year!
What is a Supertunia®? A Supertunia® is a petunia that has been breed and tested for excellence in performance, flower power, and overall habit by the folks at Proven Winners®. Petunia Supertunia® is marketed by Proven Winners® and has been proven to perform well all over the county. These plants are an excellent choice for use in ground plantings, hanging baskets and in combination planters. Supertunias® have a trailing habit with the exception of the Vista® series, theirs is a mounding habit.
Finding the perfect plant for all sun and shade areas can be tricky, but new for 2014 Surefire™ Red Begonia is the plant for all areas. Begonias are well suited for both landscape plantings and container designs.
It is a sure bet that Surefire™ Red Begonia will work in almost any planting application that you desire for it. I was fortunate enough to receive from Proven Winners®, a plant to trial in my garden. I must say that Surefire™ Red, planted directly in the landscape was just as amazing as planted in a container combination. One plant in the landscape, in full sun, stood approximately 18 inches tall and wide and put on a show from June, when it was planted, until late in the fall when the frost finally got it. A nonstop bloomer, a must have!