"Patience" Is The Key Word

"Patience" is the key word after a winter that we just experienced. There are many landscape plants that take a cold, snowy and windy winter harder than others. In many cases, patience will be required to let these plants show their new growth and beauty in your landscape once again. For example, let's look at some plants that we've received many calls about that will require your patience and weeks of consistent warm weather to flush back out again (typically mid-June).

Otto Luyken Cherry Laurels

Note the wind damaged leaves on the left which will eventually fall off, but on the right we see that it is pushing out new promise of leaves and flowers as well. Once the temperatures stay in the 80's this plant will flush out with many new leaves and look brand new! This holds true for Skip Laurels as well.

Itea

Itea's took it especially hard this winter. Although a deciduous flowering shrub, in previous years they have flushed out new growth before late April. This year however, they have been slow to regain new leaves. You can see though on the right that given the patience it requires it is now beginning to show promise of new growth.

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental Grasses typically do not show a lot of growth in early spring. This year is no different especially with the cooler temperatures we've had this spring. Given time and patience and much warmer weather, grasses will once again show new foliage. Have you cut back last years growth yet? If not, you will want to do this now to further promote the new growth to rise to the occasion once the temperatures remain consistently warm and the soil temperatures warm up as well.

There are other landscape plants that will require your patience as well this year for example:

Redbuds

Zelkova

Oaks

Honey Locusts

Are you seeing winter damage on other plants in your landscape such as Hollies, Rhododendrons, Andromeda's?

Click here to view common plants that will require patience and prolonged warmer weather to show improvement.

Today in the Gardener's Journal - April 26th

April 26th, 2011 - Today in the Gardener's Journal

After a long winter it's about time we've stepped back out into our gardens and rediscover the magic of nature that we've missed so much.

 Is it my imagination or have Magnolias really put on a show this year?

The rising temperatures in the past week have made the deciduous trees and maples start to leaf out in splendor!

The addition of leaves in my garden beds during winter has shown to be a worthy task as my perennials are producing much more foliage than the years prior when I have not amended their beds before winter.

It would appear that snow cover is indeed a great insulator as this PJM Rhododendron and the ferns mixed in with the pachysandra are producing many new flowers, leaves and fronds this year.

Surprises in the garden are always such a treat. For example this peony that suddenly appeared growing in a pachysandra bed!

Early spring is a great time to plant spinach and peas. Don't forget to buy extra packets for a fall planting too!

Last winter I pruned this Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry back hard as there were many branches damaged in a previous storm. It bloomed with a vengeance this spring looking beautiful with its new shape. A refreshed tree that is now leafing out after its show of beautiful white flowers.

Not only did my viburnum survive the tough winter but it was saved from the hungry deer that seemed to have tried everything this past winter due to the prolonged snow cover that hid their normal vegetation.  

Finally, a sure sign of spring! A nesting Robin in the rafters!

What's going on in your garden?

This Just In!

Here's a beautiful specimen of an evergreen shrub. Can you guess what it is by the following photos?

Almost looks like a rose flower doesn't it?

Would it surprise you to learn that this beautiful evergreen shrub is a

Camellia Japonica

This particular variety, "National Arboretum Pink" is a hardy pink flowering Camellia. A naturally compact variety with green glossy leaves. Camellia's are naturally slow growing broadleaf evergreens that will enjoy part sun and rich, moist soil. Plant Camellia's in a protected area in your landscape and enjoy the beautiful flowers this specimen produces in spring and the rich, green foliage the rest of the year!

Magnificent Magnolias

Have you ever considered adding a Magnolia tree to your landscape? They are among one of the most beautiful landscape plants available.  Why plant a magnolia? There are several reasons to consider.

- They have spectacular flowers (many are fragrant).
- Many have unique, brightly colored fruits
- They have attractive gray bark
- Virtually disease and insect resistant
- They serve as a focal point in the garden

Magnolias are best suited in areas of the landscape that offer:

- A sheltered area away from strong winds
- Full sun to part shade
- Well-drained, moist soil, rich in organic matter

Among the many types of Magnolias available at Rutgers Nursery, we've spotlighted a few that will catch your eye!

Leonard Messel

Magnolia x loebneri

A slow growing magnolia reaching 15-20' in height and width. Has beautiful star like pink spring blossoms with excellent disease resistance.

Royal Star

Magnolia stellata

A double flowering magnolia. Lightly fragrant star-shaped, white flowers. A slow grower reaching 12-20' tall by 12-18' wide. These magnolias have multiple trunks which grow in an oval, upright fashion when young, as it matures the branching forms more of a mounding shape.

Vulcan

Magnolia X Vulcan

A show stopper of a magnolia bearing purplish-pink, fragrant, showy flowers. When young, this tree is more upright but will mature to a more rounded form growing 15' tall by 10' wide.

Bracken's Brown Beauty

Magnolia grandiflora

No doubt you've admired this particular magnolia before as it bears dark green and cinnamon brown leathery like leaves. Not only is this magnolia known for its rich foliage, but its creamy, white flowers are exotically fragrant as well. This evergreen magnolia will do well in a protected area of your landscape and requires full sun. A moderate growing magnolia reaching 30-50' tall by 15-30' wide. The Bracken's Brown Beauty will also do well in wet areas of your landscape.

With all the beautiful choices of magnolias how can one resist not to find a perfect location in your landscape?

Let's Plant Lettuce!

Growing lettuce is a snap!
It's one of the most versatile early spring vegetables. Not only does it look great in the garden, but it's delicious on the table as well. Growing lettuce is best when the weather is cool and sunny. It also grows well in containers of any shape or size.

Let's plant lettuce following these handy tips..

- Plant lettuce plants or seeds when nighttime temperatures stay above 30 degrees. Choosing a site that gets full sun in spring. If planting later in the season, plant in partial sun.

- Till your garden thoroughly, breaking up soil clumps. Dig in compost or well matured manure.

- Plant in well-drained soil yet moisture retentive soil and rich in nitrogen which will be necessary for good leaf development and growth.

- Depending on the variety, generally you should plant lettuce 8 to 16" apart.

- Avoid watering at night as this can lead to disease. Lettuce will not tolerate drying out, thus keeping a good watering schedule will help to keep your lettuce productive.

- If planting in containers, use a good potting soil or mix and fertilize every three weeks with fish emulsion or a compost tea.

- You can start harvesting lettuce as soon as it's big enough to use in your salads. Pick lettuce in the early morning when it's cool and the leaves are crisp. Cut leaves from the outside of the plant leaving the inside leaves to flourish. When harvesting head lettuces, wait until the head is firm and fully formed then slice them off at ground level with a knife.

Start your garden today with a nice crop of early spring lettuce and let us help you!

April Landscaping Tips!

Get ready! April is officially the month that kicks off the spring gardening season! Are you ready? Here are some landscaping tips to keep you ahead!

When the ground has thawed out, start digging/prepping new beds

Remove all winter mulches and composts

Start weeding, where necessary

Water all new plantings frequently (2-3x/week) and thoroughly (30+ min)

Plant trees, shrubs and perennials, containers or ball and burlap

Replant shrubs, trees and perennials that have "heaved" out of the soil

Finish all transplants (must be done before buds have pushed out)

Finish cutting back ornamental grasses

Formative prune all summer and fall blooming shrubs

Cut dead wood out of hydrangeas, cut all live branches back to 2 buds

Transplant and divide summer and fall blooming perennials

Re-mulch all beds

Add compost to perennial beds

Plant annual seeds

Repair lawn patches that need seed/sod

Deadhead spring flowers, prune when done flowering

Are you ready to get your hands back in your garden?