Have you seen the price of blueberries in the stores? Even during the summer when we can get them fresh from the local farms, they're not the cheapest food to buy. Why not grow your own?While some fruits may be more hassle to grow than you care to deal with, blueberries are incredibly easy to grow in your yard--and beside the great fruit they offer in summer, they're a great [...]
I want to take just a minute to offer a warning about fertilizing for those of you who may use Miracle-Gro. We've seen several cases this spring of overdosed hanging baskets--all fed with Miracle-Gro. If you've got a hanging basket that looks wilted but has never seriously dried out (and may currently not be drinking at all) and you're fertilizing regularly, it could easily be that you've over-fertilized.Whether it's "operator [...]
Astilbe is a great addition to any shade garden--but did you know you can easily use it in a sunny spot, too? Sun or shade, it will work well in any garden that gets adequate moisture. The best thing about astilbe is how easy it is to grow--plant it once, fertilize it lightly each spring, and you'll be rewarded with year after year of colorful, plentiful blooms in early summer. [...]
Neighbors can be wonderful--it's great to have someone to visit with over the fence, someone to get your mail while you're gone and a friend to share a good laugh with. But even if you have great neighbors, sometimes you just need a little privacy.If your patio or backyard could benefit from a little bit of a privacy block between you and the neighbors--or if you'd just like some shade [...]
Attention t-shirt holders! If you have our 2012 Washable Coupon, stop in to Vander Giessen's today through Friday (6/20-6/22) to save on dwarf Asiatic lilies! When you stop by with your t-shirt on, you'll instantly save 20% off any and all dwarf lilies you purchase--no limit. These plants are loaded with buds and blooms, so pick up some today to enjoy in your garden this summer and for years to [...]
They say there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. For us in Western Washington, though, I’d like to add a third: June gloom. You can count on it like clockwork—summer likely won’t really arrive until our Fourth of July picnics are over. So what can you do in your yard this month to brighten your flowerbeds and your spirits? Annual flowers are great—nothing provides quite [...]
Check out this brand-new evergreen candytuft! Fittingly named 'Absolutely Amethyst,' this great new variety from Proven Winners is an attractive departure from traditional white varieties. With a later bloom time than white candytuft strains, it will add late spring or early summer color to your garden as well. Check out this beautiful new variety at Vander Giessen's today.
'Blue Lake' pole beans have long been the standard for pole beans in vegetable gardens. But in the last several years, 'Blue Lake' hasn't exactly performed. Maybe you've noticed: many of the beans tend to be flat, hollow "meatless" and stringy--essentially worthless for fresh eating or canning. So what to do? Give up on pole beans?No!The problem is, 'Blue Lake' has been around for so long, many of the plants [...]
Last summer I published a blog post about water-soluble fertilizers versus slow-release options and which type would work best for your plants. I spent a fair amount of page space writing about care for your annuals and hanging baskets--but what about the shrubs and trees in your yard? The truth is, most plants--especially flowering types--will benefit from regular (even if only once a year) feeding to keep them looking their [...]
Little by little, we’re finally seeing sunnier, warmer days. In fact, some of the weather over the last few weeks has been downright warm! Thankfully, this spring hasn’t been quite as cold and wet as last year, and (fingers crossed) long-range forecasts for summer indicate a nicer season ahead. If you’re a gardener, May and June are an exciting time as you decide what to plant and watch your [...]
