Jan 5, 2016 | Blog, Winter
Do you traipse out into the cold December air, all bundled up with your family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree or do you drag the tree down from the attic and do your best to reshape the branches each year?
If you’re the “real tree type,” you’re faced with a variety of evergreens to choose from. Some species are grown right here in Northeast Ohio, while others are shipped from out of state to tree farms throughout the area. According to about.com, these are the top five best-selling Christmas trees in North America:
#1 – Fraser Fir
#2 – Douglas Fir
#3 – Balsam Fir
#4 – Colorado Blue Spruce
#5 – Scotch pine
To better assist you in your selection process, here are two excellent resources:
http://ohiochristmastree.org/
http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/AllAboutTrees/FAQs.aspx
Picking out a Christmas tree can be an experience; and for some, it’s a special family tradition. Before you venture out, don’t be caught without the supplies you may need to get your tree home. Spend some time online researching your options. It’s also important that you take measurements before you go, particularly the ceiling height in the room where the tree will be displayed. The trees in the field look smaller when the sky is the ceiling. Be careful not to overbuy.
And here’s to A Charlie Brown Christmas – celebrating 50 years – and his most perfect tree!
Nov 3, 2015 | Blog, Mulch News, Winter
Winter mulching differs from spring mulching in that you’re attempting to protect your plants from harsh winter 
conditions – freezing, thaws and winds – by actually shielding it from the warmth of the sun. Steady temperatures help to keep your plants in dormancy and prevent them from triggering new growth during brief warm-ups.
So what can you use to winterize your beds? Try sticking with loose, insulating materials, like straw, pine needles or shredded leaves, so you can easily rake it aside and remove it come spring. If your beds don’t freeze until after the holidays, consider using cut pine boughs from your Christmas tree. Snow cover is also a great protector; and even better, requires no effort on your part!
Mulching should take place after the soil has started to harden, which is typically after the first hard frost when temperatures drop below 25°F. At this point, spread 2-4 inches of mulch around the base of your plants. Most people don’t make time for this step in the fall. However, if you’ve recently planted new shrubs, roses, etc. in your beds, consider taking this step until those plantings are more established.
The mulch needs to be removed once all threats of a hard frost are past. This can be difficult to judge, as we’ve all witnessed an occasional winter storm in April! Once thawing takes place and you can smell spring in the air (or mud), start raking and removing the mulch so the ground can begin to warm and new growth won’t be inhibited.
Sep 24, 2015 | Blog, Fall
Hard to believe the fall season has arrived; and with it brings warm apple cider, colorful autumn leaves, hayrides, 
apple pies, smoky bonfires, leaf piles, and PUMPKINS!
You’ll know it when you see it…the perfect pumpkin for carving your jack-o-lantern! Have you ever watched a family pick out their pumpkin? It’s quite a deliberated process! There are countless of locations to find pumpkins; but why not make it a memorable experience and take your family to a local farm, a pumpkin patch, or a fall festival?
If you’re specifically looking for a carving pumpkin, here are a few things to keep in mind, courtesy of allaboutpumpkins.com:
• Choose a pumpkin that feels firm and heavy for its size.
• Choose a pumpkin that has consistent coloring throughout.
• Turn the pumpkin over and place pressure on the bottom with your thumbs. If it flexes or gives your pumpkin is not fresh.
• Look for soft spots, mold, wrinkles or open cuts that would indicate damage or early spoilage.
• Choose a pumpkin with a solidly attached stem.
• A green stem indicates a freshly harvested pumpkin.
• Place your pumpkin on a flat surface to check to see if it will sit flat after being carved.
Once you’ve chosen a location to find your perfect pumpkin, call ahead and ask a few questions. When is the best time to come? Do they accept cash or credit? If visiting an actual pumpkin patch, do you need to bring your own knife or pruner? And if you’re planning on getting a few pumpkins, consider bringing a wagon along – easier to haul pumpkins and tired kids!
Enjoy all of the sights, sounds, and smells of this beautiful season!
Sep 2, 2015 | Blog, Fall, Summer
Heading back to school is a sign that summer is rapidly coming to an end. But it’s also a great time to score some deals on all sorts of merchandise. Make a list of items that you need (or want) for your garden and outdoor living space for next season. Just about all of the major retailers and locally-owned stores have begun marking down prices.
If you look around, you’ll probably be able to find almost every unaffordable plant that you wanted at the beginning of the summer at a price that will make the risk worth taking. 
Don’t let scraggly blooms deter you from purchasing. When it comes to perennials (like lilies, roses, hostas, etc.) the plant needs a strong root base, so don’t be overly concerned if the plant looks to be struggling a bit. (Retailers typically don’t water as often as they did earlier in the season.) Plant the roots as soon as you get home and give it plenty of water and plant food. It should bounce back beautifully in the spring. You should definitely avoid purchasing annuals, even if they’re dirt cheap. (No pun intended.)
Other end of season items you may wish to consider purchasing for the outdoors includes: patio furniture, grills and grilling supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid, etc.), lawn/garden ornaments, pool supplies and toys, grass seed, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and fertilizers. As with any bigger purchase, make sure you have a place to store the items during the winter months.
Jul 18, 2015 | Blog, Flowers, Gardens, Spring, Summer
If you’ve ever driven by a nursing home or an assisted living facility in the spring or summer months, you may notice 
a resident or two sitting outside enjoying the grounds. According to the University of Minnesota, “Roger Ulrich, a professor and director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A & M University, found that viewing natural scenes or elements fosters stress recovery by evoking positive feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively holding attention/interest, and blocking or reducing stressful thoughts. When viewing vegetation as opposed to urban scenes, test subjects exhibited lower alpha rates which are associated with being wakefully relaxed.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to lend a hand in creating those therapeutic environments for our seniors?
Why not call a local nursing home or assisted living facility – perhaps they’re looking for individuals to water, weed, prune, plant and mulch to help maintain their gardens. Chances are, they’d be willing to work around your schedule if you’re willing to volunteer your time. Or, if you have a loved one in a facility right now, and they do not have a garden, consider spearheading the effort to create one. Given the benefits noted above, why not share your gift of gardening with others.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a helpful link to help you locate a nearby facility — https://www.caring.com/. You may also find some volunteer opportunities on this site — http://createthegood.org/
Jun 30, 2015 | Blog, Flowers, Summer
Hosting a patriotic party over the coming weeks? Don’t forget to spruce up your front porch or backyard patio with 
some planters or containers. A spirited planter or two will add to the festive look!
In the summer heat, remember that planters dry out fast, so to help retain moisture, add several handfuls of compost or peat to the potting mix. Place plants from tallest to shortest in pre-moistened soil. Flowers you may wish to include in your planter include Shasta daisies, Red zinnia, ‘Techno Blue’ lobelia, ‘Watermelon’ sun coleus, ‘Supercascade White’ petunia, and ‘New Wonder’ fanflowers.
Feeling crafty? Purchase some buckets that are red, white and blue; add drainage holes to the buckets; and then fill 
with potting soil and flowers. Don’t have a green thumb? Simply purchase mini American flags and place them among your own planters and throughout your flowerbeds. Whichever route you go, get the kids involved, too – make it a family project. Talk about what it means to celebrate July 4th!
And remember…there are lots of patriotic gardening ideas on Pinterest! Go get inspired!
