When should you check your yard's light exposure for best landscaping results?

June is the best month to determine the light exposure (generally referred to as exposure) in your yard because it's has the longest days and the sun is at highest angle. By checking now you can better account for hot, sunny summer days that can wreak havoc on shade loving plants or help heat lovers thrive.  It also a good idea to check your exposure every couple of years to account for tree growth or other changes.

Here are the steps to checking your exposure.

1. Download our Exposure Chart.

2. Name the different beds you want to track on the chart.

3. On a leisure day at home, check every hour or so, particularly in the afternoon and fill in the circle for that hour if the bed is shaded. 

4. Once it's all filled out you can now research plants online or at the nursery. You are welcome to show our staff the chart and we can show plants as well.

5. Now plant your new landscape additions when you have time or best luck and watch them thrive.

Plants of the Week for June 1st 2018

Oak Leaf Hydrangea gets its name because the leaves on it look like an oak leaf.  They reach 4 to 6 ft tall and wide.  They enjoy sun but like a little shade around 3 to 4 pm.  They flower white in June and the flowers age to pink over time.  The fall colors are shades of red and is striking.

Rugged Charm Maple is a small tree that actually makes use of it’s helicopters.  They turn red in June so it looks like the tree is flowering!  Rugged Charm grows to 20 to 25 feet tall and about 20 feet wide.  Works great for small spaces or yards.  Handles full sun and wind with no issues.  Fall color is orange red.

Plants of the Week for May 25th

Parade Day Rose is a new variety for 2018.  It's a fuchsia and white striped rose with a strong citrus fragrance.  I like the form and color blend.  It's found in our Hybrid Tea section but it's really a grandiflora which can bloom one flower per stem or in clusters and reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and wide.  Roses prefer full sun and good airflow.  

Cheyenne Privet is typically a hedge plant that responds well to pruning.  It's deciduous with dark green leaves.  What earns it's spot in the weekly highlights is the white fragrant flowers.  The flower are lilac smelling and very strong.    Privets enjoy both full sun to partial sun exposures.  Can be used for privacy or a fragrant back drop. Reaches 12 to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide.

Plants of the Week for May 18th 2018

Here are my two picks for this week going that are going to be vibrant flower colors for a long bloom season.

The Crimson Kisses Weigela is a sun loving hummingbird attracting, bush with a great red flower color.  It stays compact at 3 feet tall and wide.  The foliage is a dark green that contrasts well with red bloom that rebloom throughout the summer. Crimson Kisses is supposed to not get lanky like other weigela varieties, so far it's proving as marketed at staying nice and compact.

The Ignition Purple Salvia is a heat loving plant for hot and dry areas that blooms a rich purple spring through summer.  It can have morning shade but prefers all day sun. Reaches 2 feet tall and about 3 feet wide.  It's works well with Yarrow, Black Eyed Susan and Russian Sage as a brilliant contrast to their flower colors.

Plants of the Week for May 11th

This week was hard to pick out three plants.  Itoh Peonies are in full bloom, salvia are all happy and so were the Matrix lilies. These all receive honorable mention this week.

Our first plant is another one from my yard the Onadaga Viburnum, it has red new growth and in early May white lace cap blooms that resemble a Hydrangea.  Except it lives in full to partial sun.  It's as tough as a Snowball Viburnum.  It grows to 10 to 12 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wall.  It can be a great privacy hedge mixed with Rose of Sharon, Lilacs or even Arborvitae.

The Klondike Exbury Azalea is part of the deciduous azalea group where they lose their foliage in the fall with beautiful fall color.  The orange rhododendron-like flowers are wonderful this time of year.  Klondike gets 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.  They do best with filtered shade at 3 to 5 pm in summer.  

Wine and Roses Weigela is a chocolate or bronze foliage that flowers magenta pink blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies in May. It reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.  For best foliage color, plant in full sun but it will take some shade. Responds well to pruning if it gets raggedy.   Great contrast to blue grey or green leafed plants.   

Plants of the Week of April 27th 2018

Percy Wiseman Rhododendron has bright colored flowers of pinks and corals.  Rhododendrons are shade loving evergreens in our area, needing to be shaded from noon to 5 by trees or buildings.  Percy reaches about 4 feet tall and wide. Likes soils that moist but not boggy and acidic soils.

Kimono May Snow Azalea is a new azalea with large pure white blooms.  They flower later than standard azaleas and behaves like a ground-cover keeping to about 16 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Like Rhodies, they are best planted in noon to 5 shade. Likes soils that moist but not boggy and acidic soils. Azaleas are semi evergreen in our area where they can loose their leaves if the winters are cold enough.

President Grevy Lilac is a "blue" lilac with a strong fragrance and lots of blooms!  Lilacs handle full sun to part sun conditions.  President Grevy is tall growing to about 8 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide.  It makes a great backdrop to other plants or can be used as a hedge mixed with either evergreens or summer blooming plants. Lilacs love alkaline soil and chili winters, so our area is great for them.

Plant of the Week of April 20th

Hoki and High Noon are both Tree Peonies.  These are shrub type peonies that do not need staking or caging.  You also don't cut them to the ground at the end of the growing season either.  Tree Peonies are a woody shrubs that reaches about 6 ft tall.  Slow growing and does well in full sun to part sun conditions. Tree peonies bloom before garden peonies, in mid to late April. 

Headliner Blueberry Swirl Petunia is a mounding type petunia with a great bicolor bloom of purple and white.  Heat loving and flowers from spring into fall.  Reaches 10" tall and spreads to 24 to 30 inches wide.  Easily filling a bed or pot with a great color show.  Does not need deadheading to keep flowering. Feed and water regularly to keep happy. 

Plant of the Week of April 13th

Champagne Bubbles Poppy is a mixture of colors for a plant that likes well drained soil.  They love full to partial sun.  To encourage more flowers remove spent flowers as they fade. Also allow the poppies to reseed themselves to extend their life.

Black Mamba Petunia is a spreading petunia that doens't need deadheading and offers a rich purple black color.  Reminds me of black felt. Great to contrast white flowers or sweet potato vines. Like other petunias they prefer full to partial sun. Routine fertilizing is best for petunias. 

Orange Storm Quince is a thorn less, fruitless Quince that offers coral orange flowers to welcome spring!  The color is striking that runs along the branches. They reach 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. They prefer full to partial sun. Let Orange Storm be a backdrop to perennials or smaller shrubs.

It’s time to feed your plants!

Early April is when the irrigation water come back online is a great time to feed you trees, shrubs, and perennials.

For your plants you can use granulated fertilizers or fertilizer spikes.  Which ever is easiest for you to apply.  I find it faster and easier to use granulated; this is mainly because I have a lot of shrubs and my soil is very rocky.   I just measure the size of plant and give it the appropriate amount listed on the label and then onto the next plant. Once I am done fertilizing I run my irrigation system to activate the fertilizer. 

Three of my favorite plant foods for trees, shrubs and perennials are the Fertilome Azalea, Camelia and Rhododendron Food, the Fertilome Start n Grow and the G&B Paradise (organic).  The Fertilome Azalea, Camelia and Rhododendron Food is great for plants that like acidic conditions like Rhodies, Dogwoods and Maples; you apply this one three times a year April, Memorial Day and Mid August.  The Start-N-Grow is a good universal plant food full of trace elements that you only have to apply twice a year April and July. Paradise is a granulated organic fertilizer that is full of enzymes and trace elements to feed plants, apply in April, June and August. Any of them will yeild happy well fed plants!

Plants of the Week of April 6th

This weeks plants are very durable plants.

Burkwood Viburnum is a fragrant bloomer that reaches 10 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.  It's a cousin of the Snowball Bush but blooms earlier and very fragrant, some liken it to jasmine.  To contrast the blooms it has glossy green leaves that in fall turn yellow and orange.  Prefers full to partial sun.

Scarlet Storm or Double Take Scarlet Quince is a thorn less and fruitless Quince that is more garden friendly.  Older Quince varieties could be nasty with the thorns but not any one of the Double Take series of Quince. The dark red blooms emerge before the leaves.  Great for a backdrop with perennials in front.  Reaches 6 feet tall and wide.  Prefers full to partial sun.

Pink Flowering Almond, is actually more related to a cherry than an almond.  The double pink blooms cover the branches in early April.  Tends to be a little shrubby but can be pruned to be tamed after it has finished blooming.    Reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and wide.  Prefers full to partial sun.

Plants of the week of March 30th 2018

Baby Tears Sedum is a succulent ground cover that loves full to partial sun and dry spots. The small foliage is where it gets it's name for the leaves are the size of baby tears.   In summer it's green and as the temps cool down they turn bronze. In late spring into summer they flower small white flowers. At most only a few inches tall.

Tasso Red Bellis (English Daisy) is a biennial that flowers red blooms through spring and into summer, if you cut the spent ones off.  It works great with tulips and other perennials.  Can be used in borders or containers.  Prefers full to partial sun.

Evergreen Shooters are an assortment of little evergreens that will work well for container gardens, miniature gardens, bonsai or fairy gardens. There are many different species but they are so fun to work with.  I can't get over how the pot reminds me of those little desserts in shot glasses. Exposure varies with species of the Evergreen Shooter. 

Plants of the Week for March 16th!

Magical Gold Forsythia is a large flowering Forsythia that is compact at 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. It's also tends not to get lanky like the larger varieties. It likes full sun to part sun conditions.  When it flowers in early March it is covered with large golden yellow blooms, a great way to start spring!

Kramer's Rote Heather is an evergreen that starts blooming in February and goes into April with dark pink flowers.  It stays low at a foot high and spreads to about three feet. It prefers afternoon shade in our area.

Marianne Red Anemone is a perennial with gorgeous red blooms.  It flowers in March.  They reach about 1 ft tall and about 2 to 3 feet wide. In our area they do well in afternoon shade and morning sun. Don't freak out that they go dormant when it gets hot out. 

Plants of the Week for March 9th

Here are three plants we wanted to share this week.

Gold Tide Forsythia is a dwarf Forsythia that stays low and spreads.  It’s an early bloomer ahead of some of the taller growing Forsythias.  Full Sun to Part Sun.

Cardinal Redtwig Dogwood is a full size Redtwig Dogwood that has orange red stems throughout the winter.  It is striking against snow and winter gray.  Full Sun to Part Sun.

Pink Dawn Viburnum is a early flowering shrub that smells like lilacs.  It grows tall and can work as a screen or early spring show piece.  Full Sun to Part Shade. 

Use Google Maps to Help Find the Right Tree for Your Yard

Google Maps is a wonderful tool for directions but did you know if use it to measure distance?

The answer is yes, yes you can if you house is a couple years old. Simply go to maps.google.com and type in your address. Then click over to satellite view to see you yard details.  Then with your mouse or track pad, right click and select "Measure distance." When a white dot appears, drag it to where you want to start your measurement like your house, click then drag the second white dot to where you want to plant the tree.  This gives you the distance.  Now you can do your research on trees based on their diameter. A tree is best planted half it's diameter away from homes, buildings or pools. 

Steps to use google maps to measure distance

Gardening by Soil Temperature

This is a practice to help you be more successful with you seeds and transplants.  All you need is a soil thermometer to track the soil temperature three inches down.  This tends to more effective than planting by calendar, or if the air feels right for spring.  The weather and seasons don’t always follow our calendars.  The weather can be warm but if the ground hasn’t warmed up yet, your transplant won’t root and the seeds won’t germinate!   

On the parent page to this one, we mentioned Cool Crop Veggies, Warm Crop Veggies and their differences. Now lets look at their soil temperature requirements and this will help plan, plant and grow easier.  

Cool Crop Veggies seeds will germinate between the soil temperatures of 40 to 90 degrees F.  Cool Crop Veggie Transplants can be planted at about 50 degrees F.  

Warm Crop Veggies seeds germinate between the soil temperatures of 60 to 100 degrees F.  The Warm Crop Transplants prefer to be planted when the soil is about 65 degrees F.

When the soil is at proper temperature for your crop, generally the weather is also at the proper conditions for it to survive and grow.  Remember to be patient and follow the directions of your Thermometer.

By Alex Job