Rose Care

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Do your roses look as good or better then the following pictures?   If not, perhaps next year, or even this year yet, give them a scoop or two of Fertilome Rose & Flower Food.  I was always skeptical about using fertilizer, except for Miracle Grow, as a waste of money.  Well this spring when it was time to prune my roses, I put two scoops of this fertilizer by each rose bush and what a difference!   My roses, and I have about 15, all look wonderful this year and as of today, June 5th, they have started blooming.   I also used this same fertilizer around many of my perennials and they, too, are looking fantastic.  At first I was wondering why everything looks so good this year, then I remembered that I used this fertilizer.   Well from now on I am a believer and will be using this every spring and whenever else I think a flower needs a boost.  It is recommended to reapply every 30 days.   Stop in at Trees Today and pick up a bag of this fertilizer.  It is a systemic, meaning that it is taken up by the roots of the plant, PLUS it is an insecticide.

Fertilome Rose & Flower Food

 

Red Double Knock Out Rose

 

Pink Double Knock Out Rose

 

Niitty Gritty Yellow Rose

 

Cut back perennials in fall or winter?

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

We have prepared a chart for you in hopes it may help you determine which perennials you should cut down before winter.   If you still are uncertain, you can always “google” your perennial for more information.

 

Click on the “cut back perennials in fall or winter” below and the chart should appear.

 

Cut back perennials in fall or winter?

Fall Favorites

Posted on by Beth

Another growing season is almost in the books as we near the middle of October, but there is still time to plant. Here are a few fall favorites our staff highly recommend adding to the landscape. Check out the links for more information on these fall favorites!

Viburnums 
This plant definitely fits into almost any landscape. Great on their own or combined to create a hedge or screening, viburnums provide interest spring through fall. Flowers, fruit, and fall color are some of the attributes you can expect among the different varieties of viburnum available at the garden center.

Lo Scape Mound Chokeberry
Compact and sturdy plant. Dainty spring flowers precede a small fruit ideal for jams and jellies. Berries are persistent, making this plant a spectacular four-season interest plant.

Hydrangeas
Although recognized for their summer blooms, hydrangeas continue to bloom well into fall. Not only do they maintain their blooms late into the year, but their fall foliage is also worth their weight in gold.

Dwarf Burning Bush
Boasting brilliant red foliage, the burning bush will be the spotlight of your fall landscape! Neighbors and passersby will stop to enjoy the vibrant color this plant offers.

Grace n Grit Roses
There are many different roses at the garden center, but the current showstoppers are the Grace n Grit Roses. They are currently available in pink, pink-bicolor, red, and yellow. These plants are still covered in buds and waiting to bloom!

Stop by the garden center and let us introduce you to our favorite plants for fall! Maybe you too will find your new fall favorites!

 

September has Arrived

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Some of us are happy and some of us are sad to be leaving summer behind. How did your garden do this summer? Lots of mildew due to all the rain we had? The heat and torrential rains were hard on gardens this year. Some of us even had to deal with hail.

Currently roses are blooming, (after August 15 they should no longer be fertilized as they need to go dormant), asters are just beginning their fall show, Black Eye Susans are still blooming, and grasses are spectacular (especially the Shenandoah). Coneflowers are fading fast. Be sure to leave some dried coneflower heads on the stems for the goldfinches to eat over winter.

Were you satisfied with the way your garden looked this summer? If you feel it was missing something, it may be that your garden needs some shrubs. Monrovia Nursery says that experts agree that shrubs are essential to a beautiful garden design. If you are starting a new yard/garden, trees and shrubs should be the first things to be planted. It is also recommended to plant a couple evergreens, shrubs or trees, in your garden for winter appeal and for some summer texture. Also, your house will probably have more curb appeal if you add a few evergreens to the foundation plantings. So, take a look around your garden and if you need some shrubs, Trees Today Nursery has a multitude of shrubs. September is a great time to plant as they will have plenty of time to take root before winter. Come see us for some shrubbery ideas to make your garden look spectacular next year.

 

 

 

Some New Plants in our Inventory, Walberton’s Spirea

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Happy Spring!  Finally spring has arrived.  However it will still be weeks before you should begin to uncover your plants or work in your garden.  In the meantime we will highlight a few plants that are new to our inventory this year or perhaps we added them last year.  Hopefully one or two of these plants may be of interest to you and work in that spot where you need something alive and growing.

This week we have chosen Walberton’s® Plumtastic spirea.  This compact plant is perfect for low borders or edging pathways. Plant it as a single species or in masses.   It works well planted in a small, skinny area that you may have between your sidewalk and house.   Plumtastic only gets around 16″ high and wide.   Outside of being small, it has flushes of pink-cerise blooms that flower continuosly from summer into fall.  The foliage opens to a rich purple and ages to green.  It likes full sun.  Like most spireas it is very easy to grow.  Butterflies and bees love it.  Google this plant and you will see some gorgeous pictures.  We predict this plant to be a hot seller.

What is Wilt Pruf?

Posted on by Beth

Are you seeking a solution to prevent moisture lost in your plants and Christmas decor? We have the solution for you. Wilt Pruf prevents moisture loss by forming a clear, protective layer over the plant’s foliage. This prevents your plant from experiencing severe wilting, shock, and even plant failure.

Wilt Pruf can be used on the following:

Evergreens
Boxwoods
Rhododendrons
Christmas Trees
Christmas Wreaths
Spruce Tops

Stop in now to protect your plants and Christmas decor from moisture loss!

 

 

Staff Picks for Fall

Posted on by Beth

The weather may be cooling down but there is still plenty of time to get those last few additions installed in your landscape. Here are some of our staff picks for fall. Check out the links for more information on these fall favorites!

🍂🍁💛🧡❤️

 

Wentworth Viburnum

Wentworth American Cranberrybush                     Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries®

This specimen poses excellent in the landscape by itself or as a hedge or screening. Petite early season flowers precede large red fruit which can be used in making preserves or fresh eating. Wildlife will love this plant and so will you!

Rainbow Sensation Weigela

Photo by Trees Today

Rainbow Sensation Weigela      Photo by Trees Today

The Rainbow Sensation oozes decadence. This medium sized shrub checks in with a height and spread of three to four feet. Light pink flowers “pop off the page” in contrast to the variegated green/yellow foliage. When fall makes an entrance, the foliage begins to take on a pink tone that stands out and pairs superb with perennial grasses or dark colored shrubs.

Berry Poppins Winterberry

Berry Poppins
Photo courtesy of www.provenwinners.com/

What a beaut! A great compact plant that has multiple seasons of interest! Aside from the beautiful yellow fall foliage from Berry Poppins, the main eye-catching event is the flourish of berries that decorate the winter landscape.

 

 

Fall is the Season for Grasses

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Grasses have become extremely popular in the last five years.  They are easy to grow, interesting, low maintenance, and look spectactular in fall.   There are just so many types of grasses; tall and short, bushy flumes or dainty seed heads, tan leaves or burgundy, warm season versus cool season.   We carry a wide variety.  Some of the favorites are pictured below.

 

Prairie Dropseed grass
Photo courtesy of Baileys Nursery

 

Miscanthus Red Silver Grass
Photo courtesy of Baileys

 

Korean Feather Reed Grass
Photo by Trees Today Nursery

 

Karl Foerster Grass
Photo by Trees Today Nursery

 

Little Bunny Tails Dwarf Fountain Grass
Photo by Trees Today Nursery

 

Miscanthus Flame Grass
Photo courtesy of Baileys

 

Aureola Forest Grass
Photo courtesy of Baileys

 

Overdam Feather Reed Grass
Photo courtesy of Bailey’s

 

Northwind Switch Grass
Photo by Trees Today Nursery

 

Spring Flowers & Fall Color: Double Duty Plants

Posted on by Beth

 

There are several plants, trees and shrubs alike, that are well known for their early season attributes, but go amiss when it comes to their fall foliage. As we turn the calendar to September and prepare for fall, the garden center is beginning to transition to reds, oranges, yellows, from the typical greens that gather the rest of the season. As you walk around, you can see its more than just the maples, oaks, grasses, and dogwoods turning color, there are common spring and summer staples that are also pulling double duty as we head into fall.

Crabapples

Crabapples are commonly known for their showy spring flowers, but did you know they also have fabulous fall foliage? Flaunting tones of red and orange, crabapples do not receive enough attention for their fall foliage which should be equal to their spring flower. So the next time you are seeking a new tree for your yard don’t forget about the dueling seasonal opportunities a crabapple can provide!

Serviceberry

An under utilized garden gem! Available as a tree or shrub, this specimen boasts beautiful spring florals that lead to edible small purple-black berries. The tree form ‘Autumn Brilliance’ is a beautiful medium sized ornamental tree if you are looking to add diversity to your landscape. The shrub form, ‘Regent’ is a great addition for feeding wildlife in your yard or creating a small hedge or screening. Not only will these plants bring spring color and edible fruit, the blaze red/orange fall color is a show stopper for sure!

Azalea/Rhododendron

Prolific blooms fill these plants early season. Bright pink, purple, white and orange are colors you can expect from these spring flowers. Many people desire the spring impact that the azalea and rhododendron bring to the landscape but many are unaware of the bonus fall color they are in for. Broad, thick leaves bring copper and bronze hues into fall with the next season’s buds adding a depth of texture, what a sight to behold!

 

So, as we make our way to the end of another year, planning for the next begins. Consider adding a few of these double duty plants to your landscape and enjoy an eye catching spring and fall landscape.

Serviceberry Fall Foliage

Crabapple Fall Foliage

The Place to Shop

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

This week (June 1st) we unloaded two semi’s full of perennials, shrubs, roses, and etc.   So if you are looking to update your yard or replace those tired, old looking shrubs, stop in and shop at Trees Today Nursery.   The products we just received are high quality and beautiful. We must have over 200 coneflowers in stock.  Our Blue Marvel Salvias are an intense blue and blooming along with the yellow tickseed. What a striking combination the blue and yellow will make. The peach drift/carpet roses that arrived are to die-for.  We carry so much more then the normal run-of-the mill plants.  Our variety of shrubs and perennials is huge.

Kelsey’s Dwarf Dogwood

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

If you found this past winter that your yard looked kind of blah, then plant this new variety of dogwood. In winter it provides dramatic color with striking bare red stems that will put that needed punch in your dull landscape. It gets about 24 – 30 inches tall and wide with a rounded shape.  Foliage grows all the way to the bottom of this plant. It is great for erosion control and tolerates wet soil.  Very hardy to Zone 3.

Velvet Viking Japanese Maple Tree

Posted on by Marietta Buchner

Finally, a Japanese Maple that is a zone 4.  This is a dwarf maple that was discovered growing in a yard in Minneapolis by a landscaper. The maple was about 4 ft tall and 8 ft wide. Obviously this tree survived some very harsh winters, even the polar vortex.  The Velvet Viking was named for its rich velvety color and after the Minnesota’s Viking football team.  Monrovia Nursery received some cuttings and began the long process of bringing this plant to market. (-MPLS Star-Tribune 6/13/20) Presently there is only a limited supply of these trees available to the public.  Be the first in your neighborhood to plant this tree.  Since they are a dwarf variety, they also make beautiful patio plantings in a pot.