I have had so many calls and emails this week concerning those annoying little critters called Voles.  You know the little beasts! … they’re similar to moles, but they would rather eat the roots of your favorite perennials, shrubs and trees.

There are many commercial remedies on the market to discourage or (heaven forbid) poison them, however I wanted to share with you a short list of tips that have helped me and many of my clients;

• CLEAN UP THE LEAF LITTER! - Make sure that you do not have leaf litter in your borders or near planting beds. Many of us have a natural area somewhere on our property that may collect leaves. Mulch them up! Whole leaves provide a perfect hiding place for their superficial colonies.

• GO EASY ON THE MULCH! - Use minimal mulch. Just enough to beautify beds and provide weed/moisture control. We have many natural predators in this area (owls, hawks, cats) and mulch just like leaves give them good cover to move around among our valued plants.

• PLANT IN CONTAINERS - If you must have plants that are on their favorites list, plant them in containers or plant them in the ground using a smaller gauge chicken wire called aviary wire. This will protect most of the roots. Some clients have had good success using Permatil. This is a sharp material you actually use in the planting hole, but you must use it heavy handedly to be have any success.

• MAKE THEM MAD WITH DAFFODILS! - Believe it or not, they do not care much for daffodils. Plant daffodils heavily in beds that seem to be their favorite as a natural barrier, then you get to enjoy the beautiful flowers and hopefully dissuade those unwanted dinner guests!

Good Luck and let me know if anyone needs further assistance with those hungry pests!

We were on NBC Channel 12 tonight answering gardening questions.  One of the most common questions was concerning lack of bloom for hydrangeas.  The primary concern was with the pink or blue ‘Mophead’ type of hydrangea.  Most of the disappointment with this kind of hydrangea can be attributed to improper pruning.  Most varieties bloom on last season’s growth, and if pruned in fall or spring the blooms for the next year are also removed!  Best advice is to not prune this type.  There are other types of hydrangeas with different pruning requirements. 

Please drop me a note or email if you would like specifics.  Remember, most of the disappointment with blooming shrubs can be attributed to improper pruning time so it is good practice to check before chopping!

A wonderful, easy to grow shrub is now blooming everywhere.  No, I am not
talking about Azaleas! Viburnums are showing gorgeous white, snowball
blooms.  Some varieties have fragrant blooms and some have large dramatic
blooms but either way, they are beautiful and very low maintenance.  They
are accepting of different soil types and a range of sun exposures.  Some
Viburnums are deciduous and some are evergreen.  My favorite fragrant
selection is ‘Korean Spice’.  Last season, we planted for several different
clients a variety called ‘Eskimo’.  This one blooms spring and fall and is
also a semi evergreen.  We have been pleased with its performance!  Next
time you are looking for a new shrub for your garden or landscape, explore
the world of viburnums!

Well it is the first day of April and we are having showers! The flowering
trees throughout Richmond are putting on a spectacular show this year. My
daughter had an assignment for photography this past week, she needed to
simply take photographs of Richmond. We spent a couple of hours just
driving through the city looking for great angles and interesting views. We
visited Hollywood Cemetery, all the bridges, railroad tracks, and city
streets, but my favorite places to stop and enjoy the view were the
residential streets. The display of flowering trees in each neighborhood
brought that wonderful feeling of spring renewal and hope. So anyone
suffering from a bad case of spring fever or still fighting to get rid of
the winter ‘blahs’, take a little drive through your own neighborhood and
maybe everyone else’s too!

But not quite…  Everyday I get more calls and emails…. With all the warm summer temperatures, everyone is ready for summer color.  You will see a selection of our summer favorites at the big box stores (Lowes, Home Depot), but it is a little too soon.  The evening temperatures would surely injure these tender plants.  For the most part, April 15ish is the date to aim for. Even after that date, you should watch the forecast for late frosts.  We have done 2 container garden seminars this spring.  
 

The first was with Stonehenge Garden Club and the second was at the Great Big Greenhouse and Nursery.  We have 2 to go!  The next will be at the Great Big Greenhouse on Saturday, April 12.  Please join us!  

Also, anyone who wants some suggestions for their seasonal containers please just message your conditions and container size and I will send a couple of my favorite recipes!

Well, we are back after a short winter rest and loads of continuing education!  Spring has sprung and we are having the busiest spring season ever.  We are currently working on an installation of a backyard retreat that will be used for the setting of a wedding.  The design was conceived in January and after a few revisions and lots of planning, we break ground this week!  So Exciting!  Please email me with questions or stop by the Great Big Greenhouse, I am there Sunday, Monday, and Thursday….We are also there some Saturdays with our design booth!

Every day someone asks if it is too late to plant….Well, here in Virginia is a perfect time.  The weather has cooled, we are getting somewhat regular rainfall….hard ground freezes are still some time away…plus, most of your plantings are container grown and come with an excellent fibrous root system….fibrous roots are how the plants take in water and nutrients….so….plant on…remember, anytime we have not had a drenching rain, you will need to water deeply once weekly…..dry winter winds are as damaging as hot summer days…..Now, for you northern folks….if the ground is frozen you cannot get good root to soil contact and you should not plant until the ground and the plants have thawed.

So a good rule of thumb is, just because that air has chilled doesn’t mean the plants are shivering … as long as the ground isn’t frozen and you are able to establish that essential root to soil contact then Plant On! …

Absolutely……the weather has cooled, we are getting some good rain (to say the least) ……Dig your perennials ensuring to get an adequate root system…Use a sharp knife or garden spade to divide into pieces which each should have some ‘good roots’…..replant at the same depth as before…no deeper!….do not let the newly planted divisions go through a dry spell….keep them watered consistently until they go dormant, or we reach the cool winter months.  Shrubs should also be dug with an adequate root system and replanted at the same depth they were in the garden….one of the biggest concerns in the industry is the frequency shrubs and trees are planted too deeply….keep the crown up and the mulch back!  Please email with specific questions…Have a good Monday!

Hi there….just wanted to share a little piece of our day….we finished up a ‘retreat’ backyard in the city….we started with a dirt floor and a large maple tree  ….and ended up with several areas our homeowner could enjoy …..a slate patio, drystack stone walls with interesting plantings, small raised perennial bed, an invisible trellis in a grid pattern, decomposed granite flooring, herb garden with a fountain, and a small patch of grass for her dog ‘Bella’ to enjoy!  Also, we wanted to introduce everyone to David Hensel, our project manager.  He does exceptional work and is always professional.  Keep your eyes on the results page for all the pictures!  Would love to hear your comments …

An easy way to add interest to parts of the garden or tie the whole garden together is to add container plantings.  They can be updated and moved easily around the garden when needed….I am thinking of adding some container plantings to a client’s garden to add some late season color….I will tie them together by using the same material in different shapes and sizes….check back to see results!