Shade Loving Plants for Containers + Baskets

Many people are asking whether this or that plant can be planted in the summer. The fact of the matter is that Louisiana has a climate that allows for planting 365 days a year, with a little understanding of how plants work and what they need. Virtually all outdoor landscape plants follow a seasonal succession of growth stages. Tropicals like palms and hibiscus love the heat and grow very well throughout summer; however, any hardy plants that are planted in summer may require a little additional care. Woody plants like trees and shrubs are growing very actively in spring as they are waking up and putting on fresh growth, and there is a second period of root activity in fall when some plants are converting some of their nutrients into starches to be stored in root and stem tissues as the plants prepare to go dormant in winter. In the summertime, roots are still actively supplying plants with water, oxygen, and minerals, of course, but we can give them a little nudge to make roots grow more quickly at the time of planting. Garden center employees will often suggest buying a root stimulator, good at any time of the year, but especially important in summer when plants are tired and stressed from high heat and long days. Is this snake oil, or some kind of voodoo? The fine print on the label says it contains something called indole-3-butyric acid. What exactly is this? Well, butyric acid is a synthetic plant hormone that very closely imitates the function of the natural hormone, auxin, in plant development. Auxin is the hormone that tells the tip of a stem or root to grow, and there is an auxin receptor at every node and tip of every stem and root. For example; when our roses become leggy and we cut them back to make them “full” again, we are removing the auxin receptor at the end of that branch, forcing all the side buds along the stem to receive more of the hormone. This is what creates new side branching, which are the next stems to grow and produce new flowers. Just as we deadhead or cut back bushes and shrubs to make them prettier, we tell people to trim or tease the root system of a plant that has just been taken out of a container before planting. This breaks off the tips of those roots that have begun to encircle the base of the pot it was grown in and will allow new side shoots to form at the edges of the root system so the newly forming roots can grow outward and downward, instead of continuing in a spiral. When plants are first in the ground they don’t have the ability to reach any of the water in the soil that is not directly against the existing roots. Many people make the mistake of seeing that some part of their flowerbed is moist and think their plant is okay, but the new plant already drank all of the water right next to its roots and there will be a little halo of dry soil surrounding that new plant. This is where Root Stimulator comes in. Hardy, woody plants are not going to grow a whole lot when daytime temps are in the mid-90’s and nighttime lows are 78-85 degrees (heat-loving tropicals are an exception to this rule). Plants really like grow when there are warm days and cool nights and soil temperatures are 55-65 degrees. We can force the plant’s roots to think it’s time to grow, however, by applying the butyric acid. Our root stimulator also contains a wetting agent, which actually helps moisture reach root surfaces, helping those baby roots access every last bit of water available in sun-scorched soils. This will encourage rapid development of new feeder roots and help with easy water absorption while the plant is trying to become established. The fertilizer in root stimulator contains relatively high phosphorus which encourages branching development (think of roots as underground branches), and lower amounts of nitrogen which encourages leaf growth. If roots are what give the plant water, then leaves, which are exposed to the sun and wind, are what are losing it, which is why plants will constantly be thirsty for more. Applying a fertilizer with low nitrogen in summer will reduce that plant’s leaf growth, limiting the amount of water it needs to survive. The larger the root system gets with time, the more water the plant can absorb, even if we are not getting much rain. This is why fully established plants should only ever be irrigated if we are in a serious drought. The surface of our soil may dry very quickly, but the roots of healthy plants are reaching far into the ground to access groundwater not available at the surface. Root stimulator is very easy to use – all you need is a watering can. Simply mix 3-1/2 tablespoons (1.75 oz) of root stimulator into a gallon of water, and water your transplants with it once every two weeks until they get established. Small bedding plants can get about a pint (16 oz) of water, whereas larger plants 2-3 feet tall can get about a half gallon. Larger shrubs and trees will like a full gallon of root stimulator solution once every two weeks. It is important to note that Root Stimulator is not rated for edible plants.  Doing this even once is great for the plant, but it can be repeated once every two weeks throughout the growing season. When days get shorter and nights begin to get a bit cooler in fall, root stimulator will no longer be necessary. By the following spring, your plant should have a well-established root system, and will be ready for conventional fertilizer like tree and shrub food or all-purpose fertilizer.

We love annuals! They add something special to a landscape, border and/or container for seasonal color. With our summers about to heat up, it’s important to select annuals that love heat as much as our state does. Here are 10 of our all-time favorite spring-summer annuals: Pentas Pentas are large star-shaped flowers in vibrant colors with velvet/fuzzy-textured evergreen foliage. They are great in containers and attract a rush of butterflies and hummingbirds! They are full-sun lovers that mature to 14-20’’ tall by 10-24’’ wide, and bloom summer-fall while growing rapidly. Angelonia Known to many as the “summer snapdragon,” Angelonia are on the list of LSU Superplants. The Alonia Big Series boasts large blooms, while the original has lovely dainty blooms. Both puts on a show of color with the either white, purple or pink blooms gracing the long stems. They love full sun, and grow rapidly to about 12-18’’ high and 12’’ wide. Blue Daze With the heat of summer, the cool blue blooms and light foliage brings a cool feeling to summer. This is a trailing plant, so ideal for flower boxes and containers. Both the stems and the small, oval-shaped leaves are dense covered with short, downy hairs, which gives a silvery appearance. Many small, sky blue, funnel-shaped flowers cover the plant. It loves full sun, matures to 1’ tall by 2’ wide, grows rapidly and blooms summer-fall. Zinnia Zinna flower are super colorful and a long-lasting addition to a flower garden. They also make exceptional cut flower arrangements. With both abundance of bright, vibrant flowers in a variety of forms and sizes, and a love of high heat, zinnias are All-Stars! They love full sun, bloom spring-winter, and get to be 12-18’’ tall and 18’’ wide. Salvia Salvia grows in low clumps of aromatic green foliage with a profusion of colorful stem-like flowers that re-bloom. Makes great borders, or specimens in containers. They make excellent cut flower arrangements, and attract butterflies. They love full sun and mature to 18-24’’tall by 15’’ wide. Begonia Not all summer favorite annuals are sun lovers. Begonias are sun/shade/partial sun lovers and add color to those shady spots! They are made up of a bright mix of colors with dark, bronze/green foliage. Few other annuals can beat begonias for hardiness and continuous color throughout summer. They mature to 8-12’’ tall by 10’’ and will bloom until a frost. SunPatiens SunPatiens are robust, sun-loving, heat-tolerant Impatiens that offers profuse blooms from spring-frost. They are show-stopping in mass plantings and can be used to border or for a walkway. They love part sun, and will mature to 2-3’ tall and wide. Enjoy their brightness in containers, too! Marigold Enjoy a flower that mimics the yellow sunshine? Plant marigolds for shades of yellow-gold-orange! They are brilliant flowers and outstanding performers in gardens and/or containers. They love full sun, matures to 12-18’’ tall by 12’’ wide, and will bloom from spring through fall. A great way to encourage more blooms is to deadhead. A great bonus is to plant them in vegetable gardens to repel pests. They are also great pollinators and bees love them! Coleus These foliage plants are show-stoppers for shade. Whether grown in containers or in the ground, used as specimen plants or as partners in a combination, these multicolored beauties perform like nothing else in the garden. They love part shade/full shade, and grows rapidly to 15’’ tall by 12’’ wide. Vinca Vinca boasts large flowers and overlapping petals with bright colors. The semi-trailing growth habit makes them ideal for baskets and mixed containers. They love full sun, matures to 18’’ tall by 10’’ wide, blooms spring through fall, and blooms showy flowers.  Torenia Torenia, or Whishbone Flower, boast bell-shaped flowers with bright green foliage to add bright colors to a shady area. These annuals have a mounding habit, and do well in both containers or in ground, maturing to 12-18’’ tall and wide. There are some varieties that trail adding another level of interest as a spiller in containers or ground cover.

June is a great season for gardeners, and though much of the early season planting is already finished by June 1, there is much more care a garden needs throughout the month to have the best results for top produce, pungent herbs, and the most beautiful blooms. In the garden, June is the time to… -Plant summer, heat-loving annuals. -Plant tropical shrubs & vines. -Deadhead roses to ensure repeat blooms -Feed blooming shrubs and flowering plants with a water-soluble fertilizer. -Mulch, mulch, mulch. -Adequately water the garden with a weekly deep, thorough soaking instead of a daily light sprinkling. -Water between 6am-10am to avoid evaporation. -Water lawn in the morning to prevent disease from watering before dark. -Keep birdbaths clean and full of water. -June is peach month! Continue a recommended spray schedule to help keep the tree healthy all year. -Check gardenias for whitefly. It's a black, sooty mold that normally indicates an insect infestation. We can help! · Deadhead Blooms Trim off spent blooms from annual flowers to encourage additional blooming and extend their growing season. · Trim Bulbs Once spring blooms have finished flowering and the foliage is completely brown, trim the foliage to make room for summer flowers and to keep beds looking neat. · Prune Flowering Shrubs After spring flowering shrubs have stopped blooming, prune them appropriately to keep their desired shape. · Adjust Watering As spring rains taper off and summer temperatures heat up, adjust watering schedules as needed. Soaker hoses are ideal for beds and gardens, and lawns should be watered deeply but less frequently to encourage strong root growth. · Plant Warm Season Crops Fruits and vegetables that require warm soil are best planted in June, such as corn, pumpkins, beans, squash, and cucumbers. · Deepen Mulch Add additional mulch to gardens and flowerbeds to conserve water and minimize weed growth. Grass clippings are a good, inexpensive option. · Divide Perennials If perennial plants are becoming too large or need better control, they can be best divided in June and transplanted to new locations. Now is also a great time to add new perennials to the yard. · Harvest Spring Produce Cool season fruits and vegetables will be nearly spent in June, but there is time for one last harvest of strawberries, radishes, lettuce, and spinach. · Thin Seedlings Before new crops get too dense, thin rows and beds to give them appropriate room for robust growth. Thinning blossoms and early fruits on trees will encourage larger produce instead of stunted crops. · Keep Weeding Weeding is a never-ending task, and it is important to keep up on the chore in June when the garden is still getting a strong foothold. Regular weeding now will help crops get a good, sturdy start for better results in autumn. · Stake Plants As new crops get taller, loosely stake thin or floppy plants to keep them from tipping and breaking. June is also the best time to begin training vines and climbing plants to keep them under control. ·  Watch for Pests June is when pests come out in force, including slugs, aphids, and a variety of funguses and diseases. Watch for these pests carefully, and take steps to eradicate problems before they grow out of control.

Now is a great time to add bedding plants to your landscape, but it’s important to choose plants that are able to thrive in the intense heat of a Louisiana summer that is coming toward us! Summer bedding plants come in a variety of heights, textures and colors, and they are adapted to grow in everything from moist, shady areas to hot, dry, sunny locations. You can create cool, elegant color schemes with pastels, or an explosion of bright, vibrant colors full of excitement with more vivid colors. Summer plants can be used in flower beds, mixed borders, containers and hanging baskets to provide the color you crave wherever you want it. Check out the following plants and many other delightful choices for summer color here now! Angelonia are among the most reliable and heat-tolerant plants for sunny, well-drained locations. Create a patriotic garden: Plant white Angelonia! Blue Daze is a low-growing, shrubby bedding plant that loves summer heat and sun. Neither insects nor diseases bother this plant, whose grayish foliage and clear, blue flowers add a cool note to the garden. The flowers tend to close up in the afternoon during the intense heat of midsummer, but the plants stay neat, attractive and free from pests from the time you plant them until the first freeze. Create a patriotic garden: Plant blue Blue Daze! Pentas stay in constant bloom all summer and into fall, with flowers in shades of white, pink, rose, lavender and red. They are absolutely carefree other than trimming occasionally, and they are simply irresistible to butterflies. Create a patriotic garden: Plant red Pentas! The common Lantana or ham and eggs (Lantana camara) has been refined into a number of garden varieties that are among the best plants for summer color. Few plants combine constant flowering, heat tolerance and ease of care as well as lantana does. Lantanas are irresistible to butterflies and are an important plant to include in flower gardens planted with these delightful insects in mind. The Bandana lantanas are Louisiana Super Plant selections that are especially compact and floriferous. The narrow-leaf Zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) is usually a brilliant, in-your-face orange. But it also comes in yellow and creamy white and loves hot, sunny areas. It is low-growing, is constantly covered with flowers and looks particularly nice cascading over the edge of raised planters. Also look for the excellent Profusion zinnias and Zahara zinnias in many colors. They are especially disease resistant. A versatile and reliable plant that does well in part shade to shade is the wishbone flower, Torenia . This annual plant provides a tremendous display of blue, purple, lavender, rose, pink or white flowers over an extended period. The Louisiana Super Plant selection Kauai series torenias are outstanding. They make ball-shaped plants under a foot tall and come in a variety of beautiful colors. Along with torenias, Begonias are also a great choice for shade. BabyWing begonia is a Louisiana Super Plant selection that is vigorous and blooms prolifically. Coleus, caladium and impatiens are additional plants that provide abundant color in partly shaded conditions. Also look for these other great heat-tolerant plants for colorful summer flower beds here: Low-growing (less than 2 feet tall) – Mexican heather, ornamental sweet potato, coleus, impatiens, periwinkle, dwarf cosmos, wax begonia, dwarf pentas, dwarf globe amaranth, Victoria salvia, marigold, portulaca, blue daze, perennial verbena, purslane, abelmoschus, narrow-leaf zinnia, wishbone flower, caladium, balsam, gaillardia, celosia, lantana, scaevola. Taller-growing (over 2 feet tall) – butterfly weed, rudbeckia, angelonia, shrimp plant, cleome, Fireworks gomphrena, melampodium, four o'clock, cosmos, hardy hibiscus (mallow), sunflower, salvias, cigar flower, Mexican sunflower (tithonia). Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit! Article by LSU Ag Center. Visit online here.

Keep the color going in your summer landscape with these easy tips… Flowers in the Landscape Adding flowering plants to the landscape is the quickest way to add visual appeal. "Planting flowers" can mean different things to different people, but no matter what type of plant they select, everyone wants their flowers to last as long as possible. It’s important to choose plants that do well in our area’s summer conditions. There are lots of options, depending on the need/want for annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs, etc. Use Annual Flowers and Foliage for Colorful Accents Before extending the bloom season, it's important to know what the bloom season should be. Annual flowers produce blooms soon after sprouting from seed, and continue flowering throughout their short single-season lifespan. Most trees, shrubs and perennials have a more compact bloom season, and even re-blooming varieties have bloom/rest cycles that preclude a constant color show. Optimizing the bloom season requires a slightly different approach for each of these categories. Learn more on the difference between annuals and perennials from our blog here! Choose the Right Annuals A key to keeping annuals blooming heavily for several months is planting those species that are coming into season. At any given time there are species that are coming into their bloom season and others that are finishing up. For example, in the South pansies and begonias may both be seen in garden centers in late February; but pansies will soon peter out because of the heat, while it is just getting warm enough to plant begonias. Use Perennials for a Punch of Color The great benefit of perennials in the landscape is that they come back year after year, however they tend to have a shorter bloom season than annuals. While annuals are best used in limited pockets to add a punch of color, perennials are best peppered throughout the landscape to add subtle change and bright "sparks" throughout the season. Re-blooming Plants Extend the Flowering Season One way to extend the flowering season in the landscape is to plant re-blooming shrubs and perennials. These cultivars outperform their old-fashioned peers by flowering on both old (last year's) growth and new (this year's) growth. Plant re-blooming varieties of roses, hydrangeas, azaleas and others and you will enjoy flowers from spring through fall. Mix Seasonal Bloomers Mixing spring, summer and fall bloomers of different species into a blended border is a fantastic way to extend the bloom time of the planting while adding dramatic seasonal change. Maintain Good Fertility Fertility is an important component for bloom production. Annuals, perennials and shrubs each have their particular needs. Feed annuals a granular time released fertilizer at planting time to keep the foliage looking great, and supplement with a liquid "bloom food" throughout the season. Perennials and shrubs should be fed general purpose plant food as they begin to grow in spring and after removing spent blooms. We can help show you which is which in our Plant Health Care room! Deadheading Helps Plants Flower Longer "Deadheading" is the practice of removing spent blooms. Cutting or pinching these old flower heads away helps the plant focus its energy on flower production, instead of ripening seeds. Deadheading can reduce the time between flower cycles by several weeks in the case of many re-blooming shrubs and perennials. It also helps keep annuals looking neat and tidy. Many flowers, such as zinnias, coreopsis, marigolds, salvia, scabiosa and others, bloom longer when you deadhead them. Weed Weed out what you don't want, so favorite flowers don't have to compete for nutrients. Prune For heavy bloom production, hard pruning can be a real help. Pruning stimulates branching, and more branch tips means more flowers. Pruning can be as simple as deadheading, or it can be much more aggressive. Shrubs are often pruned hard at some point (depending on their flowering time) to maintain their size and stimulate branching (read: blooms). Perennials, too can be cut back hard after their first bloom cycle to rejuvenate foliage and stimulate a secondary bloom cycle. Watering Is Key to Bloom Production Stressed plants are capable of flowering rather intensely. This is probably a survival instinct that ensures the plant reproduces. Don't use this instinct as a strategy. Maintaining a healthy soil moisture level will ensure both good bloom production and the longevity of the plant itself. The generally used rule of thumb is one inch of water, from a combination of rainfall and irrigation, per week. Container Plantings Colorful containers are wonderfully flexible, but require a bit of extra attention to provide consistent color. Water and fertilization will need to be provided perhaps twice as often, or more, compared with in-ground plantings. The good thing is the ease of popping out tired plants and popping in new ones as the season progresses. Our Potting Station can help create a beautiful piece for you! Or, you can visit our garden center to shop our pre-made containers! Click here to read our blog on how to create a container garden! Foliage Plants If a colorful, visually appealing landscape is your goal, flowers aren't the only game in town. Consider the effect that foliage can have on the overall picture. Bold colors and textures, structure and even motion are some of the benefits that leaves bring to accent flowers. Foliage lasts all season without the maintenance requirements of flowers, and many of the "foliage plants" offer flowers of their own, like the ornamental flower/seed heads on this purple fountain grass. A Colorful, Mixed Landscape Long-blooming flowers are beautiful, all the more in a well-mixed landscape. Strategically placed annual flower beds, well positioned containers filled with color, expansive perennial gardens and shrub borders all bring their own unique presence to a well-cared for landscape. Providing for their basic needs and tweaking your maintenance habits will ensure that they all maximize their effects on the big picture.

Although we complain when it starts to warm up, it is the heat that allows us to grow some of the most amazing plants - blooming tropicals! These plants can be planted in your landscape or containers while taking our heat and bloom all summer long! We define tropicals as woody stem shrubs and vines that perform at their peak when it's hot and humid. There are lots of plants that fit this description; by far the three at the top of the list are Hibiscus, Bougainvillea and Mandevilla. These beauties come in an array of exotic colored flowers. They bloom either perpetually or in cycles from at least May through September. Other popular tropicals include Ixora, Allamanda, Jatropha, Cordyline, Shrimp Plant and Bird of Paradise. Unlike most other plants, the heat actually makes these plants actively grow, so you can plant them well into the summer and have them thrive! Tip: Since these plants grow and bloom in the hottest time of the year, proper fertilization is important for optimum plant health and performance. Ask us for the right products, and we'll point you in the direction of success. Do yourself a favor and create a Backyard Paradise with tropicals in your landscape and relax just like you would if you were on a tropical vacation. Here are some tropical plant choices! These and more available at our garden center! Hibiscus (Shrubs and Tree Forms) Bougainvillea Learn more about Bougainvillea & Hibiscus from our blog here! Mandevilla Ixora Duranta Princess Flower (Tibouchina) Allamanda Elephant Ear Banana Plant Shrimp Plant Cordyline Palm Trees Bird of Paradise (Orange & White) Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit!

With their decorative foliage, sculptural form and seasonal blooms, shrubs make beautiful additions to container gardens. Baby Cakes Blackberry Baby Cakes is a dwarf, thornless blackberry perfect for patio pots, staying in the full sun, with its compact habit. In summer, large, classic and sweet tasting berries present on the plant in a fireworks-like spray of fruit. As a bonus, this blackberry will produce twice- in summer and in fall! Confederate Jasmine If you’re looking for something to take your garden to “new heights,” confederate jasmine is for you! Plant it on a trellis in a container so it can grow up, while remaining an evergreen and blooming sweet-smelling white flowers in Spring-Summer. Japanese Aralia Bold, tropical foliage that is resistant to frost and will thrive in shade under a patio. Mature size: 4 feet tall, 3 feet wide. Ideal growing conditions: part to full shade, moist soil. Acadiana Holly This upright, compact holly makes an attractive cone shape with very little trimming. The hybrid variety makes an abundance of berries every year to brighten winter yards. Deep green foliage remains elegant year-round. Can grow in full sun or part shade, and needs moist, acidic soil. Drift Roses Drift roses are compact roses that bloom nearly year-round in our climate. Stick to the classic red for the most blooming power and easy care, but there are other colors to “grow” with such as white, apricot, coral, yellow, and pink. Enjoys full sun, well-drained soil and regular fertilizing throughout the growing season. Sunshine Ligustrum A wonderful, problem-free addition to southern landscapes, this Ligustrum had lost everything that people didn’t like about the common privet but retained the hardiness. Golden-chartreuse leaves on a compact, adaptable plant. Keep in at least 6-8 hours of sun to retain color. Bird-of-Paradise Not truly a shrub, this tropical, rhizomatous perennial can be a little too waterlogged of yards don’t drain well. Very easy to grow in a pot, they may actually bloom sooner and more often, as they like to be a little root-bound. Requires full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Indigo Flair Mahonia Mahonia is great for shadier yards or northern exposures. This lacy, delicate evergreen shrub is actually a tough, easy care performer. Fragrant, yellow flowers in winter are a welcome bonus. Mahonia does not like afternoon sun, and soil needs to be well-drained. Pygmy Date Palm This compact, reliable palm is easy to grow in containers. Sudden hard freezes may damage it, so growing one in a large pot that can easily moved indoors may be preferable to planting in the ground. Pygmy Date enjoys full to part sun and well-drained soil. Fertilize with a palm-specific fertilizer. Coppertone Distylium Related to witchhazel, this relatively unknown evergreen is sure to be a future star of southern gardens. Quite simply, the plant seems to be completely free of any disease or insect problems. Deep green leaves endure heat and frost, and the glossy texture is a natural complement to most other plants. Enjoys full to part sun and rich, moist soil that is well-drained. Pugster Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) Enjoy full size flowers on a dwarf plant! Only reaching 2’ tall and wide, it still has the large, full flowers normally seen on a much larger plant. It blooms non-stop from early summer through frost. Thanks to thick, sturdy stems, the Pugster® series offers vastly improved hardiness and winter survival over other types of dwarf butterfly bush. Daisy Duke Gardenia This rebloomer will make you feel loved all summer long, as you enjoy extended flowering time. Low to no maintenance required for this beautiful pottery worth piece! Pro tip: to maximize bloom, trim lightly just after the first blooms have finished. Little John Bottlebrush The texture and interesting blooms, which resemble a bottle brush, will add a WOW factor to the full sun container it’s planted into. Plus, hummingbirds will flock to it, and the best part? They will remember it and will revisit year after year! Lime Sizzler Firebush Performing well in a container, the Firebush features green and yellow variegated foliage with sizzling red-orange flowers from late spring through fall. The foliage is intriguing enough, but the red flower spikes are enjoyed by the hummingbirds, which you will enjoy!  Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit!

It's time to change out tired, cool-season annuals with heat-loving summer annuals such as: Angelonia, pentas, portulaca, vinca & much more. Planting tropical sun lovers like hibiscus is ideal now, too. To encourage more rapid re-blooming, pinch off old flowers on bedding plants after their first flower cycle is complete. MAY TO DO LIST: -Plant warm-season bedding plants. Vinca can now be planted for best results! Don’t know which warm-season bedding plants will be best for your area? Come visit us for a wide selection and knowledge to be successful! -To encourage more rapid re-blooming, pinch off old flowers on bedding plants. -It’s a great time to plant a crape myrtle tree for great summer flowering. -Prune & feed azaleas & camellias once their blooming has finished. -Sow seeds for heat-loving annuals and watch them begin to grow! This is a fun kid project, too, once school is out. -Now is the time to plant all kinds of summer-loving vegetables. -Prune & shape all winter-flowering shrubs and vines. -Mulch all garden beds well to help regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and keep weeds at bay. An excellent mulch to try, in addition to Grade ‘A’ Cypress or Cedar, is pine straw. To effectively suppress weeds, apply mulch 2 inches thick. -When in the garden, wear a wide brim hat and apply sunscreen. -Plants you had indoors for cool weather can now reside outside. -Place houseplant containers in an area that receives bright shade- not direct sun. -Don't forget to fill bird feeders with seed! -Watch for insect problems on roses. Aphids may develop on tender new growth, thrips on flowers and cucumber beetles on foliage. Let us know and we'll set you up with the proper treatment. -After spring bulbs finish flowering, wait until the foliage turns yellow before cutting it off. This is because food is being manufactured and stored for next year’s blooms. Don't forget Mom! Mother's Day is May 11! Click here to read some of our Mother's Day Must Haves !

We all love the tropics- the bright colors and inviting tones! Bring that feeling into your garden with two of the best-looking tropical bloomers! Bougainvilleas enjoy to be “root-bound”, meaning they are an excellent choice for a container or hanging basket! They flower the heaviest when the roots are slightly crowded in the container. If they are planted in the ground, you’ll notice they tend to stay more green. If you have some from last year and want to encourage it to bloom, a simple tip is to “tip prune” off about ½ inch of the stem tips. This encourages more branching and ultimately more flowers! Another fact about Bougainvilleas is they flower the heaviest when they are water-stressed. This may not make much sense to you because we like to care for our plants and give them drinks often. However, there are some plants, like these, that enjoy being more drought-tolerant. Think of them like a desert plant: they are under water-stress, then water pours into them and BOOM- they bloom! Withhold water for extended periods to force the plant into bloom. Our advice would be to wait until you see the leaves slightly wilting. At that point, it’s ready to receive a thorough watering session so it can perform for you! Hibiscus bloom on new wood, so it’s always important to “tip prune” them back. Also, pinch off old flower buds to help the plant perform best with less “baggage.” Pests like aphids and white flies effect their blooms as well, so preventive measures work best. We can help provide you details. One of the most common questions we get from concerned customers is that their Hibiscus’ leaves are yellow. Yellowing leaves is an indication of overwatering or underwatering. In the summer, it’s usually underwatering. Just like us, plants need lots of water in the hot summer months. We have a homemade superbloom tonic when you want to kick-start your Bougainvillea and/or Hibiscus to bloom: 1 gallon of water 2 tablespoons of Fertilome all-purpose plant food 2 tablespoons of Fertilome Blooming & Rooting 2 tablespoons of Epom Salt Fertilize with this mixture every other week for results!  When your Bougainvillea and/or Hibiscus are already blooming, and you want the blooms to continue, our recommendation is to maintain a slow-release fertilizer schedule, every 3 months during their growing season. Our best slow-release fertilizers formulated for these specific plants are HibisGain and BouGain. As always, we want to help you know it to be able to grow it! We are always here to provide the education and products to ensure gardening success and a green thumb you can be proud of! Please come visit us to DIG IT!