Category: Ornamental Gardening

Tree Leaves – Are They Treasure or Trash?

The old saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. It was never more true than with tree leaves. Soon they will be raining down (if they haven’t already) and you can cast your vote. Perhaps a case can be made for both perspectives.

Lawn Fertilizer and Pest Control Products in 2022

The past 22 months have brought a tremendous burden to the U.S. and other countries around the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the unforeseen issues is the spillover effects that the supply chain problems and worker shortages have had on the lawn and landscape industries.

Kind Cleanup for the Critters

in order to promote pollinators and other beneficial organisms, a perennial garden that is left too tidy over the winter will lower the potential for retaining and benefitting bees, wasps and other insects.

Blooming Lilacs in October!

It is not unusual for some plants to blossom out of season.  Magnolia, crabapple, lilac, and forsythia are notably spring-blooming plants, but stressful growing conditions can instigate a type of dormancy that pushes flowering to later in the season. Lilacs are a great example this year. To better understand why this happens, it is helpful…

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Container Plantings Winding Down

It’s the end of September in eastern Nebraska, which signals the very near end of patio plantings and container plants in the out of doors. There are several reasons for this:

Seven Sons in Fall

In the fall, there are just simply fewer landscape plants that offer great appeal. Sure, goldenrod, asters, plumbago, turtlehead, sedums and mums should be a part of just about any landscape, but the ratio of spring and summer bloomers is probably about 3:1 or even more. For that reason, let’s highlight one more fall appealing plant – the Seven Sons tree/flower/shrub.

Patio Planter Care in Mid-Summer

In mid-summer, especially when a hot, dry week is predicted, (like this upcoming week), patio planters and houseplants need a little TLC. Four actions are involved:

Hedges Are Bad, But if you Must…

Ask any classically trained horticulturist, and they’ll tell you – hedges are bad. Why? This approach to plant care runs afoul of all of the proven plant health techniques that are used in gardening.

Foliage on Spring Flowering Bulbs

Tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and crocus are great for spring color. Nothing says spring like these bulbs. In order to keep them coming back strong year after year, one or maybe two steps are required after bloom. What are they?

Plant Not Where You Want It?

It happens all the time; good looking plants are interspersed in your landscape, just not where you want them or where they are best suited. This is especially true for folks who just bought a home, spent their time and money fixing the deck and changing out the curtains, and have now turned their attention to the landscape.