Last month, I wrote about some of my favorite dwarf conifers for growing in containers--you can read that post here. If you've ever struggled with knowing what to do with your pots in the winter or don't like having to change out your plants each season, growing small evergreen shrubs in your containers may be for you.This month, I've got another list of more of my favorite dwarf conifers for [...]
As we slog through the days of "April Showers" it's easy to get a little giddy when the sun comes out. After all, it's almost time to plant, so why not get started and put out your geraniums, petunias and impatiens...right? Well, you may be eager to push spring along and get your planting done, but unless you want to replace all your flowers in a couple weeks, it's best [...]
It’s that time of year again—the primroses you put out on your front porch in February are beginning to fade, but it’s still too early to get planting your summer annuals. In this “in-between” season, now is your best opportunity to enrich the soil of your flowerbeds, fertilize shrubs, and add compost to your vegetable garden for the season ahead. If you’re wondering what’s best for you, here are [...]
Add year-round interest with dwarf conifers!When it comes to container gardening, most people think of spring and summer annuals--and with good reason. Nothing adds quite the splash of color to a pot like trailing million bells or brightly-colored impatiens. Unfortunately, though, annuals alone in a pot are a fleeting pleasure--come winter, your pots stand empty.If you've struggled with the "what-to-do-with-my-pots-in-winter" conundrum, have you ever considered dressing them up with some [...]
Simply put, I love new plants. Whether it’s a different flower color, dwarf version of a classic favorite or a hybrid that’s produced some other interesting characteristic, new plants are just fun. With spring weather upon us (it may not be all sun, but it is spring!), it’s time to get outside. And what’s more fun to look forward to in the garden than new plants? As you get started [...]
We're blessed to have enjoyable, hardworking employees at the nursery--and we're blessed to get to work with such beautiful plants each year. Today was exciting--our small crew planted nearly 4000 geraniums, 500 gerberas and 500 New Guinea impatiens...and that's just the start. We believe quality plants deserve the best care from the start, so we grow all of our own annuals in our own greenhouses. And on a day like [...]
Remember the long-range weather forecasts last fall? Some said to expect a colder, wetter winter than normal. Others made predictions entirely to the other end of the spectrum. As it’s turned out—at least thus far—our winter has been quite mild, with only a couple of dustings of snow and just a week where the temperatures dipped into the 20s. And with the mild weather comes just one thing: an [...]
Nothing says spring quite like the cheerful, bright colors of primroses. And they're now available at Vander Giessen's! We're fully stocked with a great assortment of colors in primroses--and we have a couple types of beautiful double primroses available as well.With mild weather, spring will be here before we know it. Welcome it with primroses from the nursery today. Remember, we're back to our normal hours, which means we're open [...]
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we never really experience the “dead of winter.” Unlike large swaths of the country, our lawns never turn completely brown and evergreen shrubs and trees keep our yards somewhat colorful. But as we go through the more barren months, you may be wishing for more life outdoors. Caring for wild birds is a great complement to gardening. Especially during the winter months, birds like chickadees, [...]
Winter is a great season for rest when it comes to gardening; after many months of work outside it’s nice to take a break. But if you find yourself missing the opportunity to exercise your green thumb—or want to plan ahead for those days in late winter when you’re sick of the dark, rainy weather and need a pick-me-up—there are great options you can take advantage of right now.For many [...]
