What to do With Tropical Hibiscus in Spring

“I brought my tropical hibiscus that I bought last year into the house in September,” the caller asked. “What do I do with it now?” Soon our greenhouses will be filled with these showy, easy plants that are summer annuals in this area. They make great patio and porch plants in sunny locations and many…

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Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

The Top Ten Reasons to Plant Cabbages and Kales In September: 1. These autumn annuals remain beautiful in the garden well into winter. 2. They take up a lot of room in window boxes and pots so you don’t need many to make a big statement. 3. As the temperatures fall the cabbage and kale…

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Fall Color…Mums and BEYOND!

At this time of year many people want to refresh their gardens, pots, and window boxes.  The weather in our seaside region is usually warm well into November after all, so we will enjoy our autumn landscapes through Thanksgiving and beyond.  Although most people commonly think of mums as the fall flower, there are many…

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Measuring Pleasure

Some customers came up to me at the garden center today with a tropical hibiscus plant. “Are we just wasting our money to plant this on Cape Cod?” the man asked. “Well, if you’re asking if this plant will survive the winter,” I replied, “the answer is no, they won’t live through cold weather. But…

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Charmed by Watermelon Charm Petunias

On our recent trip to Pleasant View Gardens in New Hampshire we were excited to see several wonderful new Proven Winners introductions for 2013.  Brenda Barnhart, who is Country Garden’s display and container design expert, was particularly attracted to the Watermelon Charm petunia. “It’s a really striking color,” she says. “I like the fact that…

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Finding Inspiration

Three members of our Country Garden Green Team visited Pleasant View Gardens in New Hampshire today. We toured the demonstration gardens and learned about several new introductions from Proven Winners. Some of the plants we’re excited about will be featured in upcoming blogs so check back soon for  a peak at some wonderful annuals that…

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August Gardening Dos and Don’ts

Here’s what you can do to keep your yard and garden looking good during the dog days of summer and beyond. Water deeply but not every day. Avoid hand watering except for newly placed or seeded plants…the reality is that hand watering doesn’t soak deeply or in a wide enough area to hydrate your plants.…

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