Plants of the Week September 21st

Pink Flame Phlox is a garden phlox that enjoys flowering from July to September with hot pink flowers. It is powdery mildew resistant and reaches about 24 inches tall. They enjoy full sun (at least six hours) and are great for pollinators in summer. It’s short stature helps it handle our frequent winds.

Lime Glow Barberry is a green version of Rose Glow Barberry where it has green white speckled new growth that matures to green and a wonderful red/orange fall color. This blooms early which is great to feed bees early in the season. Like other barberries they are pretty much bullet proof for the area.

Plants of the Week for September 14th

BougainFeelYa Rose is a rose that resembles the Bougainvilla vines but actually survives our winters! The rich red color goes from May to November. This rose reaches 4 to 5 feet tall and prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight.

Cranberry Cotoneaster is truly for the birds for they love the berries from fall into the winter. The cranberry red berries are striking for our eyes too! The reach 2 to 3 feet tall and spread out to 6 feet wide. The dark green leaves are nice and rich. Cotoneasters are great for English Gardens, hillsides, pollinator/bird gardens and where you need something sprawling with fall interest. Cranbery Cotoneaster enjoys full to part sun and handles our local soils very well.

Plants for the Week of September 7th

Blue Mist Bluebeard is a plant that likes to attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds with it's late summer blooms.  It reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. The blue green foliage contrasts well against mugo pines, dark green junipers and red barberry and is just as tough for hot dry spots. It can also goes well with other perennials for a pollinator garden.  They prefer 6 or more hours of direct sunlight and well drained soils.

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass is a versatile plant for areas that get at least 6 hours of sun.  It is a semi-evergreen so it stays greener than other grasses longer.    Karl also is sterile so it doesn't reseed itself or spreads via rhizomes.  Generally they spread 3 feet wide and are that tall. The tan florescence are striking in the summer and into fall. A true winner of a plant.

7 Ways to Make Next Spring Easier

Fall is a great time to start spring off right, be doing a few preventatives.

1. Prevent aphid problems with the Bonide Annual Tree and Shrub Insect Control.  By applying in August/September this gives the insecticide time to move up the tree and prevent attacks in Spring.

2. Prevent weeds in from growing in winter and early spring by applying a pre-emergent herbicides.  Pre-emergent herbicides prevent weed seeds from germinating.  Applying now, after clean weeding a flower bed will help prevent winter weeds from germinating and popping up in early spring. Products to look into are Greenlight Amaze, Preen, Round Up Extended Control. Make sure to follow their watering instructions on these product's labels for best results.

3. Prevent drought stress by applying Bonide Wilt Stop to your soft needle and broad leaf evergreens. It works like like lip balm for our lips to keep their leaves from drying out. Also mark when to water your evergreens in your calendar, it would be best to set it to once a month November through March.  Use a sprinkler on a hose to water since the irrigation is turned off at that time of year. Yews, photinia, boxwoods, arborvitae, rhodies and others benefit from a monthly drink.

4. Help gain an upper hand with root weevil,  by applying Bonide Eight Granules to kill the overwintering larva in the soil, thus reducing their population to help to keep them in check next year.

5. Green up your yellow trees and shrubs that normally should be green by applying the G&B Acid Planting Mix and G&B Harvest Supreme as a mulch or top dressing. By putting about 2 inches thick to slowly leach nutrients into the soil over winter and spring to catch these plants up on nutrients.

6. Clean up disease issues by spraying areas of the yard that had disease issues like rust, powdery mildew, leaf spot, peach leaf curl in November or February with a dormant application of Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide. This sanitizes the plants to give a fresh start next spring.  For best results make sure to clean up the diseased leaves as well as when you spray, spray the entire plant including the trunk.

7. Get your lawn off to a great start in spring by applying a fall feeding of a Fertilome Winterizer or Fertilome Greenmaker in September/October.  These fertilizers will slowly feed throughout winter to build up the lawns nutrient reserves for a lush push of green growth in spring.

Plants of the Week for August 31st

Rosie the Riveter Rose is a uniquely shaped rose that pays tribute to woman who worked in manufacturing and shipyards during World War II.  We have been very pleased with it's color, amount of blooming and disease resistance throughout the summer.  The gold blend contrasts well against the dark green foliage. It's a floribunda, so it blooms in clusters and is free flowering leaving it to be pretty easy to care for. Like other roses it prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.

Little Miss Miscanthus Grass is a dwarf Miscanthus with very showy florescence and turns red in late summer early fall.  It grows to about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Little Miss prefers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. A fun little show stopper for perennial beds or desert landscapes on drip. 

Plants of the Week of August 24th

Cheyenne Skies Switch Grass is a heat loving grass that starts out green and turns red as the summer wains into fall.  It reaches 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, staying in nice clumps. It's also easy to care just water and fertilizer.  Can be used in low water use gardens.  It prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight.

Frida Kahlo Rose is a floribunda (flowers in clusters) with red blush and gold stripes honoring the famous Frida Kahlo of Mexico who once said, "I paint flowers so they will not die.".  It's a heavy bloomer and has had very disease issues at the nursery. The swirl pattern is delightful.  Like other roses they prefer at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.  This grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.

Plants of the Week of August 17th, 2018

This week is a Rose of Sharon twofer.  It's Rose of Sharon season and pollinators love them as you can see with the huge bumble bee. Rose of Sharons reach about 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide.  They prefer to be planted in full sun but can tolerate morning shade.  They are great for focal points or privacy screens. They flower from July to September, while it's hot out.

Lavender Chiffon is a double lavender variety that has a full petal count.  It's one of the fullest of the double bloomers.  A vigorous grower that wants to flower when it's hot out. 

Blue Chiffon is a blue lavender semi-double bloom.  Not quite as full as the Lavender Chiffon but the color is a good blue for July gardens to celebrate the Fourth of July. 

Plants of the Week of August 11th

Since it's been hot out, here are a couple more sun lovers that prefer at least 4 hours of sunlight a day.

The Asian Moon Butterfly Bush is a sterile butterfly bush that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.  It's blue lavender flowers start in July and bloom through September for a long show.  It reaches 7 feet tall and wide, so it works well for a summer backdrop with perennials in front of it.  Great for a pollinator garden as well.

The Sombrero Adobe Orange Coneflower has a bold color orange for spots that need to be lit.  The orange color is striking on this compact coneflower with a height of 20 inches and a spread of 2 to 3 feet. It flowers throughout the summer and would work well with ornamental grasses, daylilies, daisies or other sun loving perennials.  Easy to care for. 

Plants of the Week of August 3rd

This week's featured plants are both sun lovers preferring at least 4 hours of sunlight a day to all day sun.

Kim's Knee High Coneflower is a dwarf coneflower that reaches 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide with a rich rose pink flowers that bloom mid to late summer.  Attracts butterflies and bumble bees!  Easy to care for and maintain.

Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea is a sun loving hydrangea that bloom white in July/August and when it cools down in Sepetember the blooms become strawberry ice cream pink, so don't be too hasty on pruning the old flowers off.  This one is a compact grower that grows to 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. 

Plants of the Week of July 27th

Tie Dye Hibiscus is a sun loving, high blooming perennial that loves our hot weather.  The hotter the better as far it's concerned.  Tie Dye starts blooming in July and goes until the weather cools down.  Again it needs at least 6 hours of sun preferably in the afternoon. It is a medium water user like a rose bush, but can be used as a bog plant on pond shelf.  So if you have wet spot in full sun this is your plant.  Reaches about 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.

Last Man Standing Daylily is a non yellow daylily that has large blooms in July.  It likes full sun to partial shade.  Last Man Standing gets 26 inches tall and about 3 feet wide. The color is outstanding with light and dark pink colors.  It does re-bloom but it is a short season of July.  Great to mix with lavender or catmint for a color contrast.

Plant of Week for July 20th

Lucifer Crocosmia is a multi interest plant with sword like foliage and red flowers.  It always reminds me of a floral arrangement.  They look great in mass or alone.  Flowers from mid to late summer and prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight. Reaches 36 to 42 inches tall.

Whoops-a-daisy Daisy is a dwarf shasta daisy that flowers from early to mid summer with deadheading. It has a dense habit to give it more of a fuller appearance.  Only reaches about 15 inches tall and like at least 6 hours of sun.  

Plants of the Week for July 13th

These two summer blooming "trees" love the sun and stay less than 12 feet tall, making them work were a tree look is needed without the size of a tree.  I say "trees" because they are really shrubs trained into trees.

The first "tree" is the Phantom Hydrangea a vigorous growing tree that blooms heavy white cone shape flowers. It grows to 8 to 10 feet tall and wide.  Phantom enjoys full sun to partial shade. Cold hardy to negative 30 degrees F, so it will weather our winters with no issue.  Starts flowering in late June and July, then the flowers dry to a blush pink for a lasting effect.

The second "tree" or shrub is the Tahiti Rose of Sharon has a semi double lavender flower.  I have a tree form in my yard since 2015 and it handled the hard winter very well.  Rose of Sharons prefer heat, so plan to plant this in at least 6 hours of sunlight.  You will enjoy the flowers from July to September. Reaches 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

First Year Watering Guide

Watering for the First Year

In the first growing season, all new plants (including drought resistant ones) need extra water to allow them root into the surrounding soil. Make sure to deep soak the plants enough with a sprinkler on a hose; so that your soil is moist to 12 inches below the surface of the dirt a day after you have watered. You want your moisture to soak in this deep so that your plant’s roots develop deep and can handle not being watered for a few days in case there are problems with your irrigation system. If in doubt, you need to dig down 12 inches with a shovel, trowel or use a soil probe to make sure you are soaking in deep enough.

A general deep soaking schedule for sand loam soil (the main soil texture for Tri-Cities) it is listed by day time high temperatures
 

50 ̊F or less once a month for evergreens, check every two months for deciduous plants 50 to 70 ̊F deep soak once every two weeks after foliage emerges or drops on deciduous

70 to 85 ̊F deep soak once a week for one hour
85 to 95 ̊F deep soak twice a week for two hours
Above 95 ̊F soak three times a week for two hours
After all wind storms when temperature highs are above 85 ̊F go check the soil moisture.
**For Clay or compacted soil you will need to shorten you water run time and increase the amount of time your water to get the same effect**

Plants of the Week for July 6th

E.H. Wilson Mimosa (Silk Tree) is one of the most cold hardy mimosas offered on the market.  We have been happy with the variety for a number of years and we enjoy the dark pink blooms in the summer. E.H. Wilson reaches 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide. If prefers full sun.  Fun characteristic is the leaves fold up when the plant is dry.   It enjoys our hot summers but sometimes in harsh winters can take some damage.  It gives a tropical look to the yard.

Glowing Embers Hydrangea is a shade loving Hydrangea that flowers in July.  It is an old wood bloomer so it only blooms once but has a sharp dark pink color and large blooms.  It reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. Prefers to be shaded from noon to 5 pm.  Glowing Embers doesn't need any soil pH adjustments in the Tri-Cities to keep it's color. This is one of my favorite Hydrangeas.

Plants of the Week of June 29th

Midnight Raider Daylily is a reblooming bi-color daylily that reaches 30 inches tall with sturdy scapes to support the burgundy blooms.  Does well in 4 or more hours of sun just like other daylilies. Daylilies can handle all sorts of soil conditions and exposures. 

Fireworks Rodgersia is a shade perennial with cool foliage interest.  It does have pink flowers in summer but I think it looks like a dinosaur plant.   Reaches 3 feet tall and spreads 5 feet wide. Would work well with Hostas and Hydrangeas.

Drop Dead Red Rose is a floribunda rose (blooms in clusters) that blooms heavily true red blooms.  It's glossy color compliments it's the flowers as well as it is very disease resistant. One of my favorite red roses.  It grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.

Plants of the Week for June 22nd

This week's plants are all from the same species.  They are all types of Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). In our area they prefer afternoon shade from noon to 5 pm. 

Peacock is a black stemmed variety that flowers on new and old wood. It boasts very large blooms on sturdy stems.  It can very in color from pale pink to blue depending on soil pH. 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.

Fire Island  is a compact Hydrangea that grows 3 by 3 feet tall and wide.  It's multi tone pink blooms are gorgeous.  It also repeat blooms through the summer.

Blushing Bride is a white re-blooming hydrangea that is great for moonlight gardens. It has large flowers and has a clean white color.  Though if you acidify your soil it will have a blue tint to it.  Grows to about 3 to 6 feet tall and wide.

Plants of the Week for June 15th

Easy Spirit Rose is a floribunda rose that flowers very pretty cream white and is very disease resistant.  I like the form of the flower and look forward to seeing these roses in a few years when they are fully loaded with flowers. It flowers in clusters May to Nov, reaching about 3 to 4 feet. Prefers at least six hours of sun and best if it gets more.

Hot Summer Coneflower is an orange colored coneflower that reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It likes hot and dry spots and flowers from June to August. Hot Summer needs at least 4 to 6 hours of sun, preferably in the afternoon. Pair with catmints, black eyed susans and day lilies. 

Sea Breeze Fleabane is a coastal native that enjoys sunny spots, so it will like it here.  It likes spots that get at least 4 to 6 hours of sun.  Sea Breeze flowers from June into fall, taking a break in high temps. It's lavender pink blooms are stunning!

When should you check your yard's light exposure for best landscaping results?

June is the best month to determine the light exposure (generally referred to as exposure) in your yard because it's has the longest days and the sun is at highest angle. By checking now you can better account for hot, sunny summer days that can wreak havoc on shade loving plants or help heat lovers thrive.  It also a good idea to check your exposure every couple of years to account for tree growth or other changes.

Here are the steps to checking your exposure.

1. Download our Exposure Chart.

2. Name the different beds you want to track on the chart.

3. On a leisure day at home, check every hour or so, particularly in the afternoon and fill in the circle for that hour if the bed is shaded. 

4. Once it's all filled out you can now research plants online or at the nursery. You are welcome to show our staff the chart and we can show plants as well.

5. Now plant your new landscape additions when you have time or best luck and watch them thrive.