The following article comes from our own Doug Hensel’s blog from the Great Big Greenhouse in Richmond, originally published on November 28th, 2018. It’s official! The Christmas season is here. Let’s keep it real! Thanksgiving has passed, and December is fast approaching. We are officially entering the holiday season. Buying a Christmas tree is on everyone’s mind…. Read More
It will soon be time to start bringing those indoor plants back in for the winter. You can save a lot of time and effort by getting some things done during this process. Here are some great tips to make that transition from inside to out. Watering Your plants will have to adapt to the… Read More
At this time of year, it is common to see a whitish-gray powdery substance on the leaves of some plants. Powdery mildew can affect any plant, but lilacs, roses, fruit trees, vegetables, begonias, and lawns are particularly susceptible. The term “powdery mildew” actually refers to an entire group of fungi, each one attacking different types of plants…. Read More
Daylilies are not your grandmother’s yellow and orange summer flowers growing out by the mailbox anymore. The genus Hemerocallis (Daylilies) has gone through tremendous hybridization in the past ten years. Many of the daylily species produced for today’s gardeners have been manipulated by adding sets of chromosomes (Tetraploid) to the plant which aids in producing… Read More
A perennial groundcover, Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata), also known as moss pink or moss phlox, spreads to display a thick blanket of blooms in vibrant shades of pink, lavender, red, white, or bluish-purple every spring. Creeping Phlox is a sturdy, low-maintenance plant that camouflages an unsightly slope or other difficult areas in the landscape as… Read More
There’s nothing more beautiful than a patch of bee balm blooming in a summer garden, with various birds, bees, and butterflies dancing around its numerous flower heads. With a little care and patience, bee balm can become a yearly staple in anyone’s perennial garden. About Bee Balm Named for Nicholas Monardes, a Spanish botanist who… Read More
Made for the Shade (and some sun), this versatile perennial has been stealing the spotlight from hosta which for years has reigned as the shady perennial champion. Maybe it’s because of their vast array of foliage colors, or the different combinations of variegated color on their leaves. Maybe it’s the pretty flower spikes that bloom… Read More
Astilbe (also known as false goat’s beard or false spirea) is a perennial all-star for the shade garden. These hardy perennials sport large, fern-like foliage that is very attractive during the growing season, highlighted by feathery plumes of flowers that bloom through the spring and early summer. Astilbe is one of the few perennials that… Read More
From Garden Talk with Doug by our own Doug Hensel, May 2013 This article is inspired by our beautiful, extensive selection of hostas that we have in our nursery. Walking through the aisles of hostas, I realize just how much I admire this perennial and how I enjoy showing them off to customers. I have… Read More
Q: Is it okay to apply lime at the same time as you apply grass seed? A: Yes, they can be applied at the same time. It’s best to first do a soil test to check the pH (which measures acidity and alkalinity of the soil) to determine that lime is needed. A very low… Read More