THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANNUALS, PERENNIALS, SHRUBS, TREES, HOUSEPLANTS, AND BULBS

Kristina Howley, Proven Winners® ColorChoice®

Looking out across the world of plants is thrilling! There are so many different versions of beauty that it can be hard to choose a favorite and even harder to know what to use in your own space. When you head to the garden center to shop for plants, you’ll come in contact with six main plant types. We’ll describe each one and explain the differences so you can better understand what you’d like to grow.

PLANT THIS, NOT THAT!

Lindsay Miller, Gardener's Supply Company

So many of our beloved garden plants are nonnative to North America, and provided they don't become invasive, that's just fine! But we also know that native plants have many advantages over their ornamental counterparts. Hoping to add some newcomers to your garden this season? Consider swapping a nonnative ornamental for a native plant.

WHY DO PLANTS GROW BETTER IN A GREENHOUSE?

Hartley Botanic

A gardener without a greenhouse is a bit like a cook without a stove. Yes, you can manage, improvise, and still be creative, but the greenhouse facilitates much more than you might imagine. A greenhouse allows you to concoct the most divine combinations for your garden, to experiment with your ingredients and nurture the most wonderful plants.

CREATE A HEALTHIER GARDEN WITH THE HELP OF BENEFICIAL INSECTS

Heirloom Roses

Every gardener will face garden pests at some point. Thrips, aphids, and mites can cause quite a headache for rose lovers. It’s important to be on guard with a proactive approach to your garden’s health.

GREAT ANNUALS FOR SUMMER BEDS

Delilah Onofrey, Suntory Flowers

While the container craze may be getting all the attention, it is still worthwhile to plant annuals in the ground – especially ones that are bred to take the summer heat, extending their glory into fall. Suntory’s specialty is heat- and weather-tolerant varieties that will go the distance for three seasons – spring, summer and fall.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT OUTDOOR LIGHTING

Unique Lighting

When it comes to outdoor lighting, do the fixtures make a difference? The short answer is, “Yes!” Whether creating an extravagant design to level up a home’s facade or making a simple upgrade to spruce up an outdoor area, taking time to review lighting options will allow you to choose the right fixtures for your design. Here are a few aspects to think about during the process.

GIVE MOM A SUNBELIEVABLE HELIANTHUS

Monrovia Nursery Company

Looking for something truly special to give the Mom in your life for this Mother’s Day? Forget bouquets or flower arrangements. Make her Mother’s Day shine by giving Mom a SunBelievable® Sunflower. This sunny annual produces 1,000 blooms per plant, adding cheery summer color to gardens all season long.

POLYCULTURE GARDENING IS THE NATURAL WAY TO GROW

Park Seed

Polyculture gardening mimics the diversity found in natural ecosystems. It is an essential and transformative approach for both our gardens and the broader environment. Polyculture offers benefits that extend from the health of the soil to the well-being of the planet.

ENJOY THE TASTE OF SUMMER NOW WITH SPROUTS AND MICROGREENS

Ashleigh Smith, True Leaf Market

A meal crafted from garden-fresh ingredients is unmatched in flavor. However, in the early spring, securing that freshness can be challenging without an indoor growing area. Fortunately, microgreens and sprouts are always viable options for cultivation this time of year.

MAKE THE MOST OF THE FLEETING SPRING GARDEN

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

If your property is mostly to very shady during the summer, then spring – before the trees leaf out – has the potential to be your garden’s sunniest season. Make the most of this fleeting time by going all out with colorful plants.

KISMET CONEFLOWERS RULE!

Dan Heims, Terra Nova Nursery

Hiya campers! We have never done a total focus on the Kismet™ series of echinacea. Well, today is your lucky day! Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding, I mean world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, flower color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. Meet our coneflower clan!

5 NEW SHADE-TOLERANT ANNUALS FOR YOUR GARDEN

Heather Blackmore, Proven Winners

Full of bright blooms, sun-soaked gardens often get all the attention. However, shade gardens can be just as captivating when you add in a few colorful annuals that thrive in lower light. Here are five new flowering and foliage plants that will surely bring life to your shaded spaces.

THRIFTY VERTICAL GARDENING: MAXIMIZE YIELD WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

GrowJoy

Vertical gardening offers an innovative solution to maximize garden space while enhancing both plant health and yield. Anyone can create a beautiful and productive vertical garden.

VIOLETS

Therese Ciesinski, GardenSMART

Let us now consider the lowly, lovely violet. One of the earlier spring flowers to appear, it is often maligned as a weed, especially when it pops up in lawns. But did you know that these perennials are native to the U.S., and play a valuable role in our local ecosystems? 

EXPERIENCE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BARRED OWL FAMILY

Wild Birds Unlimited

We have “egg-citing” news! Our barred owl family has returned. The live-streaming video captures the daily lives of our barred owl family, from first roost to final fledge. Click for more...

GIBBS GARDENS INTRODUCES LE JARDIN: ITS NEWEST GARDEN

Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Gardens

Gibbs Gardens’ visitors are in for a special experience in the Valley Gardens this April. Beyond the Monet Bridge and up a gentle path, Jim Gibbs’ newest garden is a gift for the senses.

SELECT THE RIGHT POTTING MIX FOR YOUR PLANTINGS

Melinda Myers

As gardeners, it seems we are all looking for an ideal potting mix for our houseplants and containers. As with any gardening endeavor, a lot depends on what is available, the plants you are growing, and the type of maintenance you provide. That said, there are some things you can do to increase your success and reduce ongoing maintenance.

GROWING VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS IN THE SHADE

Home Garden Seed Association

There are degrees of shade, which range from 100%, to dappled shade under a tree, or shade in the morning, or afternoon. Your particular scenario will be a factor in what you can grow successfully. Here are a few edible and ornamental plants to try if your garden is sun-challenged, and some tips on how to get the most out of the little sun you have. 

TIPS FOR PLANTING AZALEAS

When thinking about the natural habitat for an azalea we typically think about a lot of humus in the soil. If we're going to plant an Encore Azalea, what kind of soil conditions should we be looking at? More specifically, what do we need to be thinking about when planting it? Watch the video...

A GARDEN TREASURE IN MOBILE

In this episode, GardenSMART visits a beautiful, off-the-beaten-path garden gem in the deep South that is truly stunning. There are a handful of standard bearers in the iconic Southern garden and Bellingrath Gardens is certainly one of them. Learn more...