Author Archives: Jessica Snell

The Cutting Garden

Tips and Tricks for Creating a Cutting garden

 

Plant with good compost (Bumper Crop is our Favorite) to naturally feed and as the season continues feed with either a granular flower food (Flower-Tone) or a liquid food (Jacks Bloom Booster). Heavy bloomers require more food, roses are a great example of this.

When planting annuals, succession planting helps provide continuous blooms. Repeat sowing 2-3 weeks for zinnias, and cosmos to name a few.

Perennials and shrubs are also great for blooms and foliage, just make sure to plant enough so the blooms won’t be missed outside. We recommend 3 of the same shrub and 5 or more of the same perennial.

Tips to increase the lifespan of cut flowers

  1. Cut flowers in the early morning before they transpire and loose moisture. (Evening is the next best time, while mid-day is not preferred)
  2. Use a sharp pair of scissors or shears (ARS snips are great!), and submerge into water immediately
  3. Remove any foliage from the base of the stem (no leaves should be underwater)
  4. Re-cut stems before putting them in the vase
  5. Make sure you disinfect glass jars in between uses
  6. Place arrangements in a cool room out of direct sunlight
  7. Add Prolong to the water to preserve flowers

Interior Styling with Houseplants

Not only will styling an instagram worthy room make your room more beautiful but it helps set the mood so you can be more relaxed and feel refreshed.

This season take a few extra minutes to stylize your houseplants. Below are a few key points to stylizing but remember trust your eye, after all you are doing this for you! Love your home space and add some greenery!

Add a raised focal point with the trendy macrame hangers. Hanging your houseplant is the perfect solution for those short on space or when your

little one with paws won’t leave the plants alone. Use a trailing plant that gives a full overflowing look. This creates instant drama with texture in the air. Create a jungle vibe by grouping 5 or more plants, be sure to vary the heights. Our go to’s: Pothos, Vining Philodendrons, Sugar Vine, Wandering Jews, and Spider Plants.

Create an elegant entryway. Choose a tall vertical plant, that won’t get in the way but will add a warm welcome for your guests. Our favorite picks: Fiddle Leaf Fig, Snake Plant, Fish Tail Palm, Parlor palm, and Draceana.

For all those who have lots of small to medium plants, create a curated look by gathering them on a beautiful shelf. Don’t forget to mix in a beautiful watering can, mister, or houseplant book! Just be sure that the plants have drip trays or that they are in cache pots (no drainage holes).

Fill that bothersome corner with a cluster of plants. You know that corner that looks bare but when you put a piece of furniture there it looks too full? Houseplants make the perfect statement piece, use a plant stand for elevation. To make your corner look sharp choose the right pots! Pick either matching or harmonious pots to make the corner look intentional.

Who needs cut flowers when lush green foliage lasts forever? For fabulous Table-scapes choose either a 4″ or 6″ upright houseplant. Pair it with a textured planter, for longer tables use multiple plants either two matching or three unique plants. Our Favs include Calatheas, Snake plants, Ferns, Peperomias, Chinese evergreens and succulents. Don’t forget to add a cork saucer under the planter to protect your furniture from moisture and scrapes. 

Poinsettia Care

Poinsettias for the Holidays and Beyond

Poinsettias are a favorite for dressing your home up for the Holidays! With so many new and fabulous colors you are sure to find one to suit your decor!

Light

Poinsettias prefer Bright Indirect Sunlight. This means the sun’s rays don’t travel directly from the sun to your plant but, instead, bounce off something first.

Water

This can vary because everyone’s light situation and house temperature is different. Poinsettias like to me continually slightly moist but never soggy.

In brighter light, they require more frequent watering. In lower light give them time to dry before watering again. It’s always a great idea to test the soil with your finger to test the moisture level.

Temperature and Humidity can also affect watering. The colder the house the slower the plant will dry out, and cold poinsettias hate to be over watered. As Poinsettias are tropical plants they love high humidity and don’t like to be in areas with drying heat ( fireplaces, near heat vents). If you wish to create more humidity for them you have two options. Grouping plants together naturally increases humidity as they themselves transpire. Creating a pebble tray is also a great option. To do this grab an extra plant saucer, fill it will small pebbles  (1-2″) then keep it filled with water. Place the plant on top of the pebbles, as the water evaporates the humidity around the plant increases.

Temperature

Generally, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia. Cooler (but not cold!) temperatures will be better than hotter areas, but you must avoid sudden chills (close doors that get open to outside) . Temperatures between 68-70° Fahrenheit are great for them.

Another tip is that Poinsettias prefer room-temperature water, and smaller pots need watering more often than big ones because they dry out faster. Remove any excess water that is still in the saucer (or planters that don’t drain) after 10 minutes.

After the Holidays

Keep up with the watering of your Poinsettia. In April prune it back hard to about 4″. Then keep it in the house. In May you can repot it and keep it in a cool (65-74 degrees F) and light place over summer.

Middle of October to beginning of November its time to “force” or encourage the Poinsettia to Bloom. It will require 12 hours of bright daylight followed by 12 hours of complete darkness. This will tell the bracts to turn colors.

 

Gifts For Her

Gifts For Her

Decorative Throws –  add a Book to make a Winter Package she will enjoy all through the colder months.

Thymes Products- Come in so many wonderful scents they are sure to be a win! Thymes products include Grab and Go gift sets of lotions or Frasier Fir signature scent. They also have perfume, lotions, soaps, candles, bath salts and more.

Hummingbird Feeders

Garden Gloves pair great with a beautifully wrapped bar soap

Botanical Interest Seeds

Windchimes

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetable Garden Tips

Quick vegetable garden tips for June:

If you haven’t planted warm-weather veggies and fruits such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and blueberries, there is still time!

For those empty spots in the garden plant warm-weather herbs like basil, chives, thyme and rosemary. Not only can you use them in drinks but they are great for grilling too! Did you know that planting basil by your other veggies will keep bugs away?

Harvest early-season staples like strawberries, lettuce greens, radishes and peas as they ripen, leaving them on the plant can signal them to stop producing.

Harvest herbs before they flower, they’ll taste better. Prevent Basil and other herbs from flowering by trimming frequently and keeping them on the cooler side by watering or providing shade.

Keep your tomatoes tied up to stakes or place tomato cages over them so they do not spill on to your other vegetables. Try collapsible cages that make storage easier.

In the summer providing your tomatoes with deep and consistent watering (once a week)  will produce the best tomato.

Watch out for pesky bugs in the garden, the sooner you catch them the easier it is to get rid of them.

Fertilize the garden with tomato tone every 3 weeks during June, July and August.

 

Grow Asparagus

Asparagus is one of the longest living vegetable you can have in your garden, it can live 12-15 years. Take advantage of this valuable, early vegetable that is adapted to freezer storage and plant some today!

Since asparagus is longer lived it generally takes longer to get growing. While you can start them by seed we strongly recommend starting with asparagus crowns that are 1-2 years old. We carry only the male varieties of asparagus as they are better producers.

Inspect the crowns when you are purchasing them, making sure they feel full and moist. Once you purchase the crowns be sure they don’t dry out by keeping them moist but not soaking. Misting occasionally and keeping them in a shady & cool but not freezing location will keep them healthy.

Choose the Perfect Site

The most important part about planting asparagus is choosing a location where they can live for the length of their life. Since the asparagus foliage grows tall in summer and can flop, make sure you place them where they will not shade other sun loving vegetables. This means the perfect spot for them in a vegetable garden is the northern side. If that isn’t available the next best area is the western exposure.

Ensure that site has full sun ???? (6 hrs +) and has good drainage (clay should be broken up with pine mulch) . Enrich the bed with good compost (our favorite is Bumper Crop).

Traditionally, asparagus crowns are set in a trench 12-inches deep and 12- to 18-inches wide, with 4 to 5 feet between trenches. But many gardeners are successful placing crowns in the bottom of a 6 inch trench. Crowns should be spaced 15 to 18 inches apart and raised slightly above the roots. Remove any rotted roots before planting. Spread the roots out over a 2-inch mound of soil at the bottom of the trench and cover the crown completely with soil. Firm well and keep the bed well watered.

It is important to keep the weeds at bay, especially before the first shoots come up. If need you can use corn gluten which prevents weed seeds from germinating and is organic.

Harvesting Asparagus

  • Harvest Asparagus lightly in their second year for only 3-4 weeks, as the root systems are still developing. If you harvest too heavily while the plant is young it will become weakened.
  • If planting from seed do not harvest for the first two season, and only lightly the third.
  •  When the asparagus plants are in their fourth season, harvest for 8 to 10 weeks per year.
  • Harvest spears daily during the harvest period. The 6- to 8-inch spears should be snapped off just below the soil surface. If the asparagus is allowed to get much taller, the bases of the spears will be tough and will have to be cut. Cutting too deeply can injure the crown buds, which produce the next spears. To blanch (whiten) the spears, mound soil around them or otherwise exclude light so they do not form chlorophyll in the stalks.
  • Allow the spears to grow once the harvest is over (after 8 to 10 weeks). Some gardeners prefer to support the growing foliage with stakes and strings to keep the bed tidy. In high-wind areas, it is a good idea to plant the rows parallel to the prevailing winds so that the plants support each other to some extent.

    • There are several ways to extend the harvest period

      • Plant at different depths (4”, 6”, 8”, 10”). The shallower plantings will come up first and can be harvested while the deeper plantings are just forming. This method will result in a slightly longer harvest, but the plants may be less vigorous.
      •  Remove mulch from half of the asparagus bed and leave mulch on the other half. The exposed soils will warm up more quickly, and the crowns will sprout earlier. Remove mulch from the second bed when spears begin to appear.
      • Plant double the amount of asparagus needed for your household. Harvest half of the plants as you normally would in spring and early summer and allow the ferns to grow in the other half of the asparagus planting. Then, cut the ferns in the un-harvested plot in late July. The crowns will send up new spears, which can be harvested till late in the season. Keep plants well-watered. A light mulch will aid in spear emergence. When using this method, harvest the spring bed only in spring and the fall bed only in fall. Otherwise you risk weakening the crowns.

 

Grow Your Own Veggies Guide

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Growing your own fresh vegetables is such a rewarding process. If you are a beginner, it can seem overwhelming at first but the best way to learn is to try! If you are a seasoned gardener there is always something new to learn or a new challenge.

Plan the Garden & Select a Site

Growing vegetables requires a lot of light and good soil. Sometime we are limited by our space but don’t give up as you can grow in containers or raised gardens. Choose an area that receives at minimum 6 hours of sunlight a day, is well draining and is near a water source. Start small and expand when ready, a great starter size is 50-75 sq feet. Be realistic and select vegetables that you and your family enjoy eating.

What to Grow

In Maryland we have “cool-season” veggies that grow in early spring (i.e., lettuce, spinach, root veggies) and “warm-season” veggies that aren’t planted until the soil warms up (i.e., tomatoes, peppers).  Cool season vegetables can handle air temperatures as cool as 40 degrees, typically they are planted 2-4 weeks before the average last frost date. Warm season crops need the air temperature above 50 degrees and grow best when air is 75 degrees or above.

Top 10 Easy Vegetables

  1. Lettuce (cool season)
  2. Green Beans (warm season)
  3. Radishes (cool season)
  4. Tomatoes (warm season) Bush & Cherry types are the easiest
  5. Zucchini (warm season)
  6. Peppers (warm season)
  7. Beets (cool season)
  8. Cucumbers (warm season)
  9. Chard, Spinach, Kale (cool season)
  10. Peas (cool season)

Prepare your soil and plant

Remove any sod and dig in at least 2” of compost our favorite is Bumper Crop.  Not only does compost add nutrients that the plants will need, it also retains moisture longer than topsoil. It’s always a good idea to test your soil so you know the nutrient and PH levels. If gardening by seed be sure to plan ahead according to seed packets, while seed starts can be purchased when you are ready to plant. Follow planting guide lines for seeds, our Botanical Interest seed packets have great detail on the inside of the seed packet (some even have recipes!). If planting seed starts make sure you harden them off before planting. When planting tomatoes they can be planted extra deep, up to their first set of leaves. Other vegetables should be planted at the same depth as their pot. All vegetable starts benefit from the soil being dug twice the width of their root-ball and then incorporating a handful of compost and an application of Tomato-Tone around them.

 

Caring for your Garden

  • Water deeply around the base of your vegetable plants, as necessary, to keep the roots systems moist. Frequent, shallow watering is good only for newly planted seeds—not mature plants.
  • Water in the morning when possible. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation system to reduce water use.
  • Fertilize as necessary based on your soil test recommendations.
    • Tomatoes are heavy feeders and benefit from multiple applications of Tomato-Tone.
  • Control weeds by laying down organic mulches, slicing or chopping weeds with a hoe, and hand-pulling. Start early, as soon as weeds appear.
  • Support tomato, pepper, and cucumber plants with stakes or trellises to save space.
  • Monitor plants regularly for problems

Enjoy the Harvest

Hello November

While the season may feel like its winding down there are plenty of fun outdoor & indoor gardening activities. Here are some of our top recommended gardening tips for the month of November.

1. Transplant Cool-Season Flowering Plants

Remember those Mums and Asters you bought earlier in the fall? If you didn’t already plant them in the ground. consider finding them a spot in a garden bed. This way the protection and warmth from the ground will give them a great chance of over-wintering. Want to give them the extra Loving care they deserve? When you dig the planting hole make it twice as wide as the rootball and mix in BumperCrop Compost around the plants new root zone. Bumper Crop will give the plant all the nutrients it needs to grow big and strong. Add a “Blanket” over your newly planted mums, they prefer 3″ of pine fine mulch right over top of their roots.

2. Late-Season Plantings

Don’t forget to take advantage of the best planting season of all; FALL! Plants love being planted in fall, since the soil still has warmth which allows their new roots to grow! Remember as long as you can dig in the soil, you can plant perennials, trees and shrubs. Garlic is a great crop to plant in November for a large June harvest!

3.Complete the last Fall Harvest

November signals the end of Fall vegetable crops. Watch the weather and harvest those last

few veggies! Typically Kale, Char, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, & Parsnips will handle a frost or two, but get these harvests in before the deep cold comes! (it can sneak up on us)

Don’t forget to harvest those last apples that are hanging off the tree! Don’t have an apple tree yet? Plant one this fall -it’s not too late- it’s actually the preferred time by horticulturists.

4. Fall Clean Up

After several frost have occurred, cut back any perennials that may have had diseases this season. This will help prevent bacteria and fungus from over wintering in your garden. Be sure not to compost those leaves (burn or trash them). Prune limbs that are damaged or crossing but don’t be overzealous by shearing the whole plant. It can cause winter damage.  Clean up old annuals that won’t return in spring. If you don’t want volunteer plants make sure to clean up old fruits and flowers or they may seeds my take off next spring.

5. Plant Amaryllis & Paperwhite Bulbs

These gorgeous flowers add cheerful color during the holidays, adding to your stylish home decor. They also make great gifts, especially if you need a last minute hostess gift! Place a few around your home, you will feel like you took home the florist’s shop, on a budget!

 

6. Weed & Mulch Flower Beds

By getting those weeds out, you’ll get a jump start on spring cleaning and their roots will be smaller and easier to pull. Top the beds with 2- 3 inches of pine mulch, to keep your plants warm all winter long. Pine mulch is the best for plant and soil health because as it breaks down it releases nutrients.

7. Winterize Birdbaths, Fountains and Irrigation systems

These gorgeous flowers add cheerful color during the holidays, adding to your stylish home decor. They also make great gifts, especially if you need a last minute hostess gift! Place a few around your home, you will feel like you took home the florist’s shop, on a budget!

 

 

 

 

Fall Tree Collection

Did you know Fall is the best time to plant Trees?

When you plant in fall, you take advantage of warm soil temps and milder air. Also more rain and moderate temperatures equals less watering. And when spring comes around, your plants will already be in the ground, with established root systems and ready to grow when the sun hits them.

‘October Glory’ Maple

This fast growing maple provides vibrant long-lasting fall color of scarlet-red. This tree makes an excellent lawn or street tree. Plant in Sun to Part Sun reaches 40′ high and 35′ wide.

‘Dura Heat’ River Birch

‘Dura Heat’ is a more heat and drought tolerant form of this species, with superior insect and disease resistance. The pyramidal form features dense, glossy leave that fade to clear butter yellow in fall and striking winter bark that is a pinkish orange with prominent exfoliation. Great as a focal point tree or shade tree. Fast growing to 40′ tall and 25-35′ wide.

 Kousa Dogwood

 Kousa Dogwood features showy clusters of white flowers with white bracts held atop the branches in late spring. It features an abundance of magnificent pink berries from early to mid fall. It has bluish-green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. Slow to medium growing tree reaches 15′ tall and 12′ wide.

Weeping Willow

Graceful and refined, easily recognized by its open crown of ground-sweeping branches. Leaves are light green above, grayish-green beneath. This willow grows especially well near water, reaches 30′ – 40′ tall, 35′ spread.

Cherry Trees

‘Kwanzan Cherry’ is one of the most popular cherries and is known for its beautiful pink double flowers that bloom in spring. It has lovely fall color and makes a wonderful specimen that can be planted in large containers, near walkways and in the yard.

Double Weeping Cherry:  Graceful, long weeping boughs sway like willows in the breeze, densely packed with large magenta buds that open to perfect double pink flowers in spring. Blooms later than some, making it less prone to bud damage from a late season cold snap. Plant as a focal point or use pairs to frame entries.

‘Okame’ Cherry is one of the most delicate and finest flowering trees available. One of spring’s earliest flowering trees, you’ll be the envy of everyone on your block when the cloud of gorgeous pink blossoms erupts in your yard. Very showy because the fluffy carmine-pink flowers are made up of petals up to one inch wide… which bloom in clusters of two to five. Thrives in a wide variety of climates and provides a beautiful fall foliage display when the leaves turn yellow, orange and red.

 

This is just a few of our wonderful trees. Also not pictured:

Black Gums

Redbuds

Tulip Poplars

Elms

Snowbells

Why Bumper Crop Compost is Amazing

Why Bumper Crop Compost is Amazing:

Not only does it break up compacted clay soil, it retains moisture so you won’t have to water as much. It provides natural nutrients to help feed your plant’s root system. The added calcium from lobster shells is important for good leaf development. It also contains the beneficial fungus called mycorrhizae. This fungus creates a symbiotic relationship with the plants roots, that will increase the surface area, allowing the roots to uptake more water and nutrients.

CONDITIONING YOUR SOIL

Bumper Crop® Soil Builder can greatly improve the quality of your garden soil. It will loosen clay and other hard, compacted earths, improving drainage, planting texture, and aeration. It will help bind sandy or rocky soils to promote water retention. In all kinds of garden soils, Bumper Crop® Soil Builder will make cultivation easier, provide better moisture absorption and retention, increase all-around soil aeration and provide a beneficial environment for micro-organisms.

INGREDIENTS

Endomycorrhizal fungi colonize approximately 80% of the world’s plant species, including most vegetables, fruit trees and shrubs, flowering plants, grasses, legumes and many more. Ectomycorrhizal fungi colonize approximately an additional 7% of the world’s plant species including most conifers and a few broadleaf trees such as oak, elm, poplar, birch and beech. For more information about mycorrhizae visit: https://www.usemyke.com. Store this bag in a cool, dry, shaded place, avoiding direct sunlight.

Contains 135.11 viable mycorrhizal propagules per cubic centimeter (cc) of the following organisms:

Ecto Mycorrhizae species:
Pisolithus tinctorius @105.04 spores/cc
Rhizopogon roseolus @005.00 spores/cc
Rhizopogon subscaerelescens @005.00 spores/cc
Rhizopogon villosulus @005.00 spores/cc
Rhizopogon vulgaris @005.00 spores/cc
Scleroderma cepa @005.00 spores/cc
Scleroderma citrinni @005.00 spores/cc
Endo Mycorrhizae species:
Glomus intraradices @ 00.07 spores/cc

Worm Castings are full of biologically activated minerals, the best manure for the soil comes from the soil! Lobster and Crab Shells are rich in chitin and help make plants strong and disease resistant. Kelp Meal stimulates soil bacteria helping to increase soil fertility. Dehydrated Poultry Manure is great for growing green and vigorous plants. Sphagnum Peat Moss provides a stable environment for root growth and helps hold water and maintain pore space. Composted Cow Manure brings active biology and is rich in organic matter plant roots need. Aged Bark provides organic matter in the form of spongy pieces of decayed wood and bark adding structure and holding moisture. Dolomitic Lime added to adjust pH.

What to use it for?

Almost everything! Bumper Crop is especially beneficial when growing vegetables, but will also help you grow beautiful perennials and shrubs. When planting, mix up to 50% BumperCrop to the existing soil. If your soil has poor drainage, add in 25% pine fines mulch and you have yourself a recipe for success!