Ornamental plants are the core of most gardens, and they are often where we find the greatest pleasure. The trees and shrubs, annuals and perennials we plant help create a unique space, all our own. They can provide a respite from our hectic lives and lift our spirits. Though we appreciate them mostly for their beauty, ornamentals also can raise property values, reduce cooling costs and offer us endless free therapy as we putter in the garden.

We all want our landscapes to be lush, thriving and low-maintenance, and while there is no such thing as a no-maintenance garden, there are some things we can do to reduce the amount of work it takes to care for our ornamental plants. The trick comes in the ability to create a beautiful garden that does not become a chore.

First and foremost, it’s important to choose appropriate plants, ones that are bred for disease-resistance, do not require a ton of pruning and are not susceptible to common pests. Don’t be afraid to ask nursery employees questions; tell them the traits you’re looking for in a plant and have them explain several options so you can make an educated choice.

Avoid trees and shrubs with a projected maturation height or width beyond what the area can bear. Be honest with yourself, because contrary to popular belief, pruning is not a good way to keep a plant’s growth in check. Plants are always going to want to grow to their genetically predetermined height. If size restrictions are an issue in your garden, you are much better off seeking out dwarf or smaller-statured varieties of plants. Pruning should be done judiciously, not viciously.

Secondly, design your garden intelligently. Give plants plenty of room to grow; space them appropriately. This improves air circulation and cuts down on fungal issues. Put the right plant in the right place. It sounds like a no-brainer, but shade plants go in the shade, and sun-lovers go in the sun. It’s important to understand the cultural needs of the ornamentals you want in your garden. Putting them in conditions where they will thrive leads to healthier plants that require far less maintenance than stressed-out ones.

And, thirdly, pay attention to cultural practices. This is all the stuff you do in the garden. From fertilizing and watering, to pruning and deadheading, proper cultural practices right from the start lead to decreased maintenance needs as the garden matures. Divide perennials when they need to be divided (often every four to five years) rather than allowing them to grow into overgrown giants, stake taller flowering plants before they flop over, regularly remove weeds to avoid future infestations, prune lightly every year to keep shrub growth dense and in check. All these cultural practices can mean the difference between healthy, flourishing plants and a disease-ridden, overgrown, high-maintenance garden.

Horticulturist Jessica Walliser co-hosts “The Organic Gardeners� at 7 a.m. Sundays on KDKA Radio. She is the author of several gardening books, including “Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control� and “Good Bug, Bad Bug.� Her website is www.jessicawalliser.com.

Send your gardening or landscaping questions to tribliving@tribweb.com or The Good Earth, 503 Martindale St., 3rd Floor, D.L. Clark Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Question: Four years ago, we moved to a new home. Over the past few years, I’ve planted two of my favorite plants: lilacs and peonies. They have bloomed well, but the flowers have absolutely no fragrance. If anything, the lilac has an almost offensive scent. Does this have something to do with our soil or my watering or fertilization habits? Any suggestions?

Answer: You’ve discovered a sad truth, and it’s one that is a hot topic among nursery growers and gardeners in this country and abroad. In many cases, in their quest to breed for disease resistance, large flower size, repeat blooming and growth habit, modern plant breeding has left fragrance out of the equation. The genes that control fragrance often get lost in the shuffle and are ignored in favor of breeding in some “bigger and betterâ€� trait.

There are some stunningly beautiful new lilac and peony cultivars with huge blooms, sturdy growth and incredible tolerance to fungal diseases — but sadly, many of them lack the sweet fragrance of most old-fashioned lilacs and peonies.

These two plant groups aren’t the only ones that have suffered. There may be more non-fragrant roses these days than those with a heady fragrance that can be enjoyed from quite a distance. Some phlox cultivars lack fragrance, as do numerous varieties of the queen of the fragrant garden, the Oriental lily. Again, scent has been accidentally bred out when selecting for other traits.

That being said, some breeders are working to put fragrance back into the garden. They are aiming for a lovely fragrance in addition to disease tolerance, massive flowers, excellent growth habit and all the other positive traits gardeners look for. In other words, they are looking for home runs.

The lack of scent in your peonies and lilacs has a lot more to do with the varieties you selected than your soil or maintenance habits. If you want a garden filled with fragrant peonies and lilacs, you’ll have to go back to the drawing board and seek out varieties known for their fragrance. In some cases, this may mean turning back to old, heirloom peonies like “Duchesse de Nemours,â€� “Hermoineâ€� and “Mrs. Franklin D. Rooseveltâ€� (all available from Old House Gardens, www.oldhousegardens.com, and other local and online retailers), or heavily fragranced lilacs such as “Edith Cavell,â€� “Yankee Doodleâ€� and “President Lincolnâ€� (available from Fox Hill Lilac Nursery, www.lilacs.com, and other local and online retailers).

Add a handful of these and other fragrant varieties to your garden, but remember to be on the lookout for new introductions in the coming years that focus on disease tolerance and bloom size without forgetting the fragrance.

Horticulturist Jessica Walliser co-hosts “The Organic Gardeners� at 7 a.m. Sundays on KDKA Radio. She is the author of several gardening books, including “Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control� and “Good Bug, Bad Bug.� Her website is www.jessicawalliser.com.

Send your gardening or landscaping questions to tribliving@tribweb.com or The Good Earth, 503 Martindale St., 3rd Floor, D.L. Clark Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Sponsored by the Builders Association of North Central Florida and The Gainesville Sun, the event will feature more than 130 local vendors. Among the trends being seen locally, and on display this weekend, are solar energy panels, smart home systems and garden sanctuaries.

“Whether it’s something to do with windows or paint color or a landscaping idea, this show has all the answers, all under one roof, all in one weekend,” said Margie Krpan, deputy executive vice president of the builders association.

Solar Impact co-founder Elaine Jacobson said solar electricity is steadily rising in popularity. Switching to solar energy, she said, can decrease or even eliminate monthly electricity bills.

“Once people learn their return on investment … it’s a whole 16 percent,” Jacobson said. “It’s one of the few home improvements that has a positive return.”

Installing the panels has become considerably more affordable, which has led to more homeowners opting for solar energy, she said.

Solar panels, and videos showing how installations are done, will be displayed at the Solar Impact booth, along with the company’s customized electric car, Jacobson said.

Moving into the home and inside the kitchen, alternatives to granite countertops have become a main attraction.

Brad Fortune, owner of Haile Kitchen Bath, will have white and espresso-colored cabinetry on display. Fortune said he has seen a big push for kitchen remodeling in recent months and that people are choosing countertop material that is more durable and stain resistant than granite.

The big ones are stone, Carrera marble and quartz countertops, both white. Coupled with white cabinets, remodelers have been going for the “classic white-on-white look,” Fortune said.

In the home-tech sector, Crime Prevention Security, a security and home technology company, will take up four booths with its home entertainment systems.

“The big trend is mobile and being able to control the home, whether it’s security, lights, locks or (the) thermostat, all from the mobile device — smartphones or any kind of tablet,” Marketing Director Bobby McAfee said. “New technology on display this year includes wireless, portable Bluetooth speakers, more interactive features for security systems and smartphone control of lights, locks and thermostats.”

Show attendants will find a “man cave” sporting several TVs and mobile-based home entertainment systems, McAfee said.

Outside of the home, gardening trends include backyard retreats, raised-bed gardens and Florida-friendly landscapes.

Jon George, owner of Cottage Gardens, is working on a garden and pool house combination. He said homeowners have been transforming their backyards into retreat-like sanctuaries, with aesthetic features such as pools or fountains.

“From the landscaping and gardening perspective, we are working with a lot of people now doing makeovers on their homes,” George said. “A lot of people have chosen to stay in their homes rather than move.”

The most popular gardens are made up of native plants that attract wildlife such as butterflies and hummingbirds, making it an interactive space.

The common theme, he said, is “build it, and they will come.”

Wendy Wilbur, Alachua County’s environmental horticulture agent, said homeowners are using container gardening, or potted plants, to grow vegetables, herbs and colored plants near front doors. Veggies also are being grown in raised-bed gardens or in raised box frames in front and back yards.

Wilbur said gardeners also are choosing to blend their edible plants within the regular landscape, such as planting tomato plants within a flowerbed.

“We will be showing what is known as Florida-friendly landscaping,” Wilbur said, which involves “designing a landscape that still looks beautiful and is a lot more sustainable.” Given her agency’s strong focus on water conservation, Wilbur said attendees can learn how to make a rain barrel at the Alachua County Master Gardeners booth.

Keeping with the water conservation trend, drip irrigation systems and artificial turf will be the main topic at Lawn Enforcement’s booth.

Mike Troiano said his booth will showcase plants from Florida natives to exotics.

The home and garden show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4 per person and free for attendees age 16 and younger.

It seems to be a never-ending desire to add interest to the landscape, but choosing plants for the High Desert is not without its challenges — cold winters, hot summers, intense sunlight, drying wind, alkaline soil, limited water and so forth. Using succulents, which include but are not limited to cactus, can be a way to address these issues on a grand scale, in small containers or anywhere in between. Considerations for growing succulents include sun exposure, soil, water and irrigation, and design. Succulents make great gardening enhancements for front yards, pathways, side gardens, slopes and terraces. Succulents tend to grow toward the direction of the greatest sun exposure. Applying this knowledge

can help keep the plants from encroaching into areas they don’t belong.

For succulents to thrive rather than merely survive, they need soil with adequate drainage and infrequent watering (once or twice a week during the growing season, and every two or three weeks when they are dormant). I tend to let “Mother Nature” take care of the watering during the winter, which allows them to dehydrate slightly, helping them to withstand freezing temperatures a little better. I have a container with a variety of succulents in it. I tend to water it once a week or so, and I bring it inside when the temperatures dip into the 20s, since I don’t know that all of them will take the cold.

Succulents offer a rainbow of colors provided by the leaves and flowers. Sizzling leaf colors can be bronze, blue, silver, crimson, chartreuse, lavender, green and variegated, and the flowers can be even brighter. And, many of them change their colors in response to season, climate and growing conditions.

Succulents are an easy plant to include in themed and specialty gardens. Whether you are landscaping for fire safety, desert and cactus gardens, labyrinths, geometric patterns and more, succulents can offer the shapes, colors and textures to create a number of dazzling effects. If your gardening space is limited, they even work well in potted arrangements, wreaths and topiaries.

An important thing to consider for those of us wanting to grow succulents in colder climates (remember winter) is to remember to check the labels for cold hardiness when you purchase succulents or any other plant. Just because you can buy them here, doesn’t mean they will grow here. Succulents that are appropriate for cold climates include many cacti, yuccas, agaves, ice plants, Lewisias, sedums and sempervivums. An author I especially enjoy, Debra Lee Baldwin, has written three books that offer a plethora of possibilities for lending more visual appeal to the landscape

— “Designing with Succulents,” “Succulent Container Gardens” and Succulents Simplified.” The author does a great job of describing, and illustrating with photographs, the many characteristics of succulents, and the books even include sections about plants that will survive the USDA zones 8 and below (the High Desert is, for the most part, USDA zone 8b or Sunset zone 10/11), something that is often ignored in other books. Happy gardening!

High Desert resident Micki Brown is a drought-tolerant plant specialist with a master’s degree in Plant Science. Send questions to be answered in the column to HorticultureHelp@aol.com.

How does one predict the landscape design trends of 2014? Well, they look at some of the most popular trends of 2013.

In the past, the landscaping was a row of perennials or shrubs around the foundation of a house, some nice shade trees and lots of lush green lawn. In 2014, gardeners are seeking more from their landscape by trying to create an outdoor living space, which has been trending for a while. A place to drink their morning coffee, watch the birds and have family gatherings.

This leads to the first prediction: fire pits or fire grill, because who doesn’t want to enjoy the outdoors while grilling a steak or keeping warm on a cool night. These can be very easy for homeowners to install and come in an array prefabricated kits.

The sustainable gardener will rule in 2014 by conserving water and preventing runoff and erosion. Rain barrels will be placed under gutter spouts to collect the rains of the spring for the droughts of the summer. If it doesn’t rain an inch every week, then it is advised to give additional water to the landscape to keep the plants in good health.

Many gardeners may be contemplating installing drip irrigation to save time and conserve water. According to Colorado State University, drip irrigation is 9 percent efficient in getting the water where it needs to be compared to sprinkler irrigation at 50-60 percent.

Rain gardens and permeable walkways may also experience a spike in popularity. Rain gardens are designed to capture storm water runoff from roof tops, drive ways or parking lots. Instead of going into local water ways, the water is recycled back to recharge the ground water and filter out pollutants. Plants like swamp milkweed, cardinal flower, penstemon and Culver’s root should be employed in a sunny rain garden. For a shade rain garden, use native ferns, Jacob’s ladder and wild ginger.

Gardeners may also use permeable walkway pavers, pervious concrete or open-celled concrete blocks instead of an old fashioned slab of concrete to help reduce runoff and erosion. They still provide the solid base but allow the water or melting snow to seep into the ground rather than wash into the storm gutters. If walkways or drive ways are near trees, this will allow the water to get to the roots.

Finally, the last predicted trend is less grass and more native plants. You don’t have to be an experienced gardener to know that having a lush green lawn is a lot more work than creating gardens of native plants. Native plants do not need as much water, fertilizer or regular mowing; get considerably less pests and diseases; and, once established, can be home to wildlife like birds and butterflies.

For more information on:

• Rain Barrels – http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gardenerscorner/issue_02/summer_04_06.cfm
• Rain Gardens – http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/homeowners/051007.html
• Native Plants – http://urbanext.illinois.edu/wildflowers/nativeplants.cfm

For information and answers to your horticulture questions, phone the Coles County Master Gardeners at the Coles Extension Office, 217-345-7034, or visit our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ccdms/,

Eco-forum on landscaping with native plants March 13

Published Date

ALBANY — Join the March 13 Tin Mountain eco-forum at noon as local landscaper and artist Carol Jowdy and NRCS’s Nels Liljedahl go over the basics of landscaping with native plants at the Tin Mountain Nature Learning Center in Albany.

Driving through town on a summer day, you are likely to see flower gardens and landscapes filled with leaves, berries and blooms of exotic plants from all over the world. Although aesthetically pleasing, many of these plants become invasive, taking over the natural plant habitats for surrounding wildlife. Imagine instead your own yard as a lush green landscape speckled with brilliant native wildflowers, shrubs and trees.

What wildflowers attract monarchs and other colorful butterflies? What trees entice cedar waxwings to rest and feed during the winter months? Which fruiting plants will provide delicious treats during the heat of the summer? The reality of creating such a landscape is much easier than you would think and extremely beneficial. Landscaping with native plants allows you to beautify your yard, helps to fight invasive plants, and creates vital habitat for New Hampshire’s native wildlife including birds and butterflies.

The Tin Mountain EcoForum lunchtime lecture series is sponsored by The Flatbread Company of North Conway, and Frontside Grind Coffee. EcoForums are free and open to the public and are presented each month at the Tin Mountain Nature Learning Center in Albany.

For more information on Tin Mountain visit www.tinmountain.org, friend us on Facebook, or call 447-6991.

HAMBURG — The flowers will be blooming, the smell of the dark, musky earth will surface and the warmth of a simulated spring will be abundant at this year’s Plantasia garden and landscape show, the “official sponsor of spring.”

Winter frost and icy layers may still be coating Western New York, but as the clocks have sprung forward for an extra hour of sunlight, it is nearly time to call the landscaper or dust off those gardening gloves.

Western New York State Nursery Landscape Association – now known as Plant Western New York – will kick off the event on the spring solstice, and will run from Thursday – Sunday, March 20 – 23 at The Fairgrounds Event Center, located at 5600 McKinley Parkway in Hamburg. Now in its 14th year, Plantasia will sport the theme “Party in the Garden.”

“Basically, it’s the feel that you’re out in your yard, having a party,” said Plantasia Chairman Chris Zeisz. He began working in a greenhouse when he was 7 years old, and has now been employed in landscaping for 35 years. Zeisz is the owner and landscape contractor for Snyder Ridge Landscaping and is also the owner of American Beauties Florist, both based out of Buffalo.

He was a part of the small group that developed Plantasia, kicking it off with the first production in 2001. Initially held at an event center in Clarence, the show has been housed at The Fairgrounds for nine years.

Zeisz, a member of Plant WNY, explained that the purpose of the event is to continue the education within the industry, to help donate to organizations and establishments such as the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens or the Buffalo Zoo, and to raise money for community projects such as planting trees in the local area or providing scholarships for youths who are interested in horticulture.

“It has grown quite a bit in terms of the number of vendors and quality of landscape displays,” Zeisz said.

As of this year, Plantasia will feature approximately 185 vendors and 16 landscaping displays. The “Children’s Discovery Garden,” presented by the Aurora Waldorf School, has expanded. A clown and an Easter bunny will also be available, for children’s entertainment.

For adult attendees, this event is held for those intrigued about landscaping to “come and see what we do,” according to Zeisz.

Educational seminars about landscaping, gardening and nursery-related topics will take place. Certified professionals will be present to hire, and information will be available for people who choose to take a “do-it-yourself” approach.

Educational seminars will range from how to take care of lawns to the right place to sow a plant. A schedule of these events and a list of topics may be found on Page 24 and on the event’s website.

“There’s a lot involved [in landscaping],” Zeisz said. “Sometimes, people will buy things because they like them, and then [those things] die. They get discouraged about things because of that.” He added that Plantasia and the services available will help educate green thumb folks and give direction for better luck and long-term success.

Plantasia will be held from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Thursday – Saturday, March 20 – 23, and from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 23. There is an admission charge; children 12 years old and younger may attend for free.

For more information and a discount coupon for the event, visit www.PlantasiaNY.com or call The Fairgrounds at 649-3900.

Sponsored by the Builders Association of North Central Florida and The Gainesville Sun, the event will feature more than 130 local vendors. Among the trends being seen locally, and on display this weekend, are solar energy panels, smart home systems and garden sanctuaries.

“Whether it’s something to do with windows or paint color or a landscaping idea,

this show has all the answers, all under one roof, all in one weekend,” said Margie Krpan, deputy executive vice president of the builders association.

Solar Impact co-founder Elaine Jacobson said solar electricity is steadily rising in popularity. Switching to solar energy, she said, can decrease or even eliminate monthly electricity bills.

“Once people learn their return on investment … it’s a whole 16 percent,” Jacobson said. “It’s one of the few home improvements that has a positive return.”

Installing the panels has become considerably more affordable, which has led to more homeowners opting for solar energy, she said.

Solar panels, and videos showing how installations are done, will be displayed at the Solar Impact booth, along with the company’s customized electric car, Jacobson said.

Moving into the home and inside the kitchen, alternatives to granite countertops have become a main attraction.

Brad Fortune, owner of Haile Kitchen Bath, will have white and espresso-colored cabinetry on display. Fortune said he has seen a big push for kitchen remodeling in recent months and that people are choosing countertop material that is more durable and stain resistant than granite.

The big ones are stone carrera marble and quartz countertops, both white. Coupled with white cabinets, remodelers have been going for the “classic white on white look,” he said.

In the home-tech sector, Crime Prevention Security, a security and home technology company, will take up four booths with its home entertainment systems.

“The big trend is mobile, and being able to control the home, whether it’s security, lights, locks or thermostat, all from the mobile device — smartphones or any kind of tablet,” Marketing Director Bobby McAfee said.

“New technology on display this year includes wireless, portable Bluetooth speakers, more interactive features for security systems, and smartphone control of lights, locks and thermostats.”

Show attendants will find a “man cave” sporting several TVs and mobile-based home entertainment systems, he said.

Outside of the home, gardening trends include backyard retreats, raised bed gardens and Florida-friendly landscapes.

Jon George, owner of Cottage Gardens, is working on a garden and pool house combination. He said homeowners have been transforming their backyards into retreat-like sanctuaries, with aesthetic features such as pools or fountains.

“From the landscaping and gardening perspective, we are working with a lot of people now doing makeovers on their homes,” George said. “A lot of people have chosen to stay in their homes rather than move.”

The most popular gardens are made up of native plants that attract wildlife such as butterflies and hummingbirds, making it an interactive space.

The common theme, he said, is “build it, and they will come.”

Wendy Wilbur, Alachua County’s environmental horticulture agent, said container gardening, or potted plants, are being used to grow vegetables, herbs and colored plants near front doors. Veggies also are being grown in raised bed gardens, or in raised box frames, in front and back yards.

She said gardeners also are choosing to blend their edible plants within the regular landscape, such as planting tomato plants within a flowerbed.

“We will be showing what is known as Florida-friendly landscaping,” Wilbur said, which involves “designing a landscape that still looks beautiful and is a lot more sustainable.” A big focus being on water conservation, Wilbur said attendees can learn how to make a rain barrel at the Alachua County Master Gardeners booth.

Keeping with the water conservation trend, drip irrigation systems and artificial turf will be the main topic at Lawn Enforcement’s booth.

Mike Troiano said his booth will showcase plants from Florida natives to exotics.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4 per person and free for ages 16 and younger.

By Sarah Cosgrove
Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Essex-based Stewart Landscape Construction has scooped the top award at the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Awards 2014.

The APL Awards top winner – Gothic Victorian rectory by Stewart Landscape Construction

The company’s work on the grounds of an imposing Gothic Victorian rectory in Suffolk was hailed as a complete transformation.

The winners of the Bradstone-sponsored awards were announced at Gibson Hall in London earlier today.

Landspace that had three wins, for hard landscaping, overall design and build and £25,000-50,000 project. The company also won a highly commended in the £25,000-£50,000 category.
Mark Chapelhow of Wildroof Landscapes in Cumbria is young achiever of the year.

Chair of the judges Richard Barnard said: “I never cease to be amazed at the constant high skill levels in producing such a variety of inspiring schemes by APL members.

“As we hopefully exit the economical restraints of recent years we are hit by atrocious weather conditions, yet this year’s awards show the strength and determination of companies in producing schemes of outstanding merit. The ceremony is an inspiring day for the industry.”

The awards, now in their 18th year, recognise and promote the best in landscaping undertaken by APL members in categories that range from small projects, special features and garden maintenance to contracts of over £250,000.

This year’s judges were Richard Barnard from Hillier Landscapes, Bob Sweet, former RHS Head of Garden Judging, Sorrel Everton from Gardens Illustrated, Robin Templar Williams of Robin Williams and Associates, and James Steele-Sargent from Arun Landscapes.

The winners are:

Supreme Award, sponsored by Bradstone

Stewart Landscape Construction Ltd

Project value under £15,000

• Winner: Twigs Gardens

• Highly Commended: Living Gardens 2008 Ltd
• Highly Commended: Red River Landscapes
• Commended: Garden Box Landscape Design
• Commended: Muddy Wellies
• Shortlisted: The Real Garden Company

 

Project value £15,000 – £25,000

• Winner: Tendercare Nurseries Ltd
• Highly Commended: Garden House Design
• Commended: Arbworx Ltd
• Shortlisted: MJT Design Landscaping

Project value £25,000 – £50,000

• Winner: Landspace
• Highly Commended: Landspace
• Commended: Oakley Landscapes
• Commended: Robert Charles Landscapes
• Commended: Robert Charles Landscapes
• Shortlisted: TKE Landscaping

 

Project value £50,000 – £100,000

• Winner: Garden Builders
• Highly Commended: The Teamlandscapers
• Commended: Hambrooks

Project value over £100,000 – £250,000

• Winner: The Teamlandscapers
• Commended: Outdoor Space Design
• Commended: Millhouse Landscapes Ltd
• Shortlisted: Linden Landscapes Domestic Gardens Ltd

Project value over £250,000

• Winner: Stewart Landscape Construction Ltd
• Highly Commended: Garden Art Design

Soft Landscaping

• Winner: Big Fish Landscapes

• Commended: Tendercare Nurseries Ltd

Hard Landscaping

• Winner: Landspace
• Highly Commended: Millhouse Landscapes Ltd
• Highly Commended: Shore Landscapes
• Highly Commended: TKE Landscaping
• Commended: Liverpool Landscapes Ltd

Overall Design Build

• Winner: Landspace
• Highly Commended: Garden Art Designs
• Highly Commended: Garden Builders
• Commended: Roger Gladwell Landscapes
• Shortlisted: Frogheath Landscapes

 

Special Feature

• Winner: Roger Gladwell Landscapes
• Highly Commended: Vandenberg-Hider Landscape Design and Construction
• Commended: Amenity Trees Landscapes

Young Achievers Award

• Winner: Wildroof Landscapes: Mark Chapelhow

• Highly Commended: Hambrooks: Steve Pidgeley

The Fairview community is invited to take advantage of a unique opportunity by joining Mitch Hampton at Bowie Nature Park for the final event of a three-part series on winter gardening. The hands-on class will be this Saturday, March 15 from 1 – 2 p.m. The three-part series will include classes on winter pruning, moss gardening, and getting your garden ready for spring.

Getting Your Garden

Ready for Spring

Spring is just around the corner, the work we do now is what sets the tone for the rest of the growing season. So in this month’s class, we will share tips that will help to make your landscape look better and save you a little or a lot of money in the long run.

March’s promise of warmer days has life stirring, so getting leaves off of plants, cutting back, dormant oil sprays, etc. become important. Join us as we get the grounds of the Nature Center ready for spring.

A lifelong gardener and naturalist, Mitch Hampton has been following his passion of natural landscaping for the last 13 years. His company, Greenman Tree Care Landscaping, specializes in shade and natural gardens.

He also has a background in formal landscaping tree work. This combination has given him a wealth of knowledge that he loves to share. His gardens have been featured on Volunteer Gardener, magazines and several garden tours.

The event is free, but pre-registration is required due to limited space. Call 615-799-5544 ext. 0 or e-mail programdirector@fairview-tn.org to register.