Container Gardening

Second Spring in the Garden

If I had to pick a favorite season, my choice would have to be autumn. Cool, crisp mornings and warm sunny afternoons; occasional rains returning and bringing the earthy, welcome smell we call petrichor; and the opportunity to get out in the yard and reimagine gardens and containers for a new season—all these bring me almost as much excitement as the thrill of spring. With a new season upon us, [...]

Summer Color Done Easy

With sunshine and blue skies here, we’re in for a stunner of a weekend, and after a cool, wet spring, I think we can all appreciate the arrival of more warm, dry weather. Along with the sun comes the perfect weather for getting your pots, containers, and flowerbeds planted up with color for summer beauty. As you plan for what you’ll plant this spring, here are five no-fuss plants you [...]

2023 Proven Winners Annuals

At Vander Giessen's, we're proud to grow a wide selection of Proven Winners annuals, our preferred brand for unique colors, plant health, and overall performance where it matters--in your garden! Our selection for 2023 includes over 75 varieties, including the items listed below. Please note that this list does not reflect current stock on hand but does encompass the entire selection of varieties we will be growing throughout the [...]

A Garden Refresh for a New Season

Foolish me—I thought that after all the rain we had from last October through early June, we might just escape the summer wildfire smoke we’ve experienced the last few years. Although some forecasters predicted a cool, wetter-than-normal summer, since early summer it’s been very dry and warm, and with wildfires burning once again in our mountains, even the most rain-weary among us are wishing for a good, soaking rain. With [...]

Showstopping Color for Summer

Talking with a local farmer the other day about just how far behind schedule he and other farmers in our area are in fieldwork and planting this spring, his parting comment struck me. “In my forty years of farming, we’ve always gotten the planting done; we just have to wait a little longer some years.” After a couple of years of early starts in our gardens—both for flower and vegetable [...]

Preparing Your Plants for Cold Weather

With some of the coldest temperatures we've seen in years forecast for the Pacific Northwest in the coming days--and with winter officially just beginning--now is the time to take action to protect any tender or at-risk plants you have outdoors from winter damage. While this is far from a comprehensive guide to protecting plants in winter, here are a few quick tips to keep your plants happy and healthy no [...]

2021-12-22T21:42:49+00:00December 22nd, 2021|Container Gardening, Container gardens, Plant Care, Winter|0 Comments

Planning for Spring in Autumn

With regular soaking rains, cool temperatures, and crisp sunny days marked by the slanting rays of a sun sinking further into the southern sky, there’s little doubt that autumn is here to stay. As you work at cleaning up your yard and getting your garden ready for winter, here are a few items to keep your lawn and garden healthy and thriving throughout the months to come. First, while our [...]

A Golden Month in the Garden

Photographers call it the “golden hour,” that magical first hour after sunrise and last hour before sunset when the lighting is just perfect for photography. If I might, I think we gardeners could borrow the idea for our hobby, for certainly September is one of the “golden months.” With warm days, cool nights, abundant sunshine but occasional showers—this time of year is just about perfect in my book. As we [...]

Four Must-Haves for Summer Color

With long days and warmer weather arriving in the Pacific Northwest, barbecues and evenings spent on the deck or patio will soon be the agenda for summer. As you plant up your flowerbeds and deck pots, here are four of my must-have plants I recommend you check out at Vander Giessen Nursery. First, Beacon Impatiens. One of the most used annuals in gardens worldwide has recently undergone some major upgrades [...]

Dig In To Spring Planting Season

Just in time for spring break to be over, nice weather has arrived—and timing notwithstanding, what a welcome sight to see so much sun and pleasant temperatures in the forecast! As the ground begins to warm, tulips burst into bloom, and spring-flowering trees steal the show, now is the time to enjoy spending time planting in the garden. Let’s dig in! First, the early days of warm spring weather can [...]

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