When I ventured into work this morning and looked out my office window, I saw our resident rabbit casually munching away on a patch of clover with not a care in the world.   Fortunately for him, he hasn’t sampled Lisa’s perennials yet, but I know she’s had to chase him a couple of times when he has gotten close.   I, on the other hand, think he is adorable (I love every kind of rabbit, even when they’re in my garden), but I know a lot of people who don’t.   Whenever I make any mention of rabbits, the guys in the office pretend to grab their shot guns, sound effects and all, and fire away.  One of my co-workers, Mike, even snuck over to my computer one afternoon while I was out, and changed my screen saver to say, “Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit!”  We’re not all Elmer Fudd’s, Mike!

That being said, there are a few remedies that seem to work wonders on keeping the bunnies from eating our plants.   One of the best methods that I have found is to use a spray called Liquid Fence.  For those of us worried about chemicals in the garden, Liquid Fence is all natural, environmentally friendly, and bio-degradable.  It is even safe for pets!  It is fairly easy to find in most garden centers, and it is easy to use as well.  Another bonus? It is great for keeping deer at bay.  I will warn you upfront, Liquid Fence has an extremely pungent smell right after applying, so you may want to hold your breath while you spray!

Another option you could try is planting rabbit “resistant” perennials in and around your other plants.  But keep in mind that rabbits, just like humans, tend to have different tastes in different areas.  Some perennials that I have found to work well are: salvia, astilbe, bee balm, catmint, alliums, and daffodils.

With these few helpful tips, the next time you see a bunny in your backyard, don’t think ”rabbit stew” or “where’s my shot gun?!”, but “Oh, what a cute little rabbit!”

Rebecca Conrad

I’m sure everyone is glad that summer is here. School’s out, there are plenty of picnics, pool parties, and vacations planned. Which means the last thing anyone wants to be doing is watering their lawns and gardens. But with all of the heat and humidity that define summers in the Lehigh Valley, I thought it would be a good idea to brush up on the best ways to water our plants.

Many clients ask us, “how often should I be watering my new plants?” When temperatures and rainfall are pretty average, the best answer would be a couple of times per week. However, when the temperature is 90 degrees and it hasn’t rained in weeks, that answer changes. The best way to monitor soil moisture is to simply get your hands dirty! Pull the mulch away from the base of the plant and feel the soil with your hands. If it is dried out or cracking, the plants need water. On the other hand, if the soil is still wet or even muddy, it does not need to be watered. Overwatering is just as bad as not watering enough.

Another good tip is to set the hose at the base of the plant and let the water trickle out, rather than spraying water over the plant with a sprinkler attachment. This insures that the water is going directly where it needs to, the roots. It also eliminates run-off, which is wasteful.

When it comes to the best time of day to water, earlier is definitely better. The sun hasn’t reached its peak, so not only is it cooler, but there is less evaporation.  The plants also have the entire day to absorb the water. If you can’t water first thing in the morning, then do it as soon as you get home from work at the end of the day. But the absolute worst thing you can do is water the plants at night. Watering once the sun goes down not only promotes rot and mildew, but can encourage pests (think slugs! or snails!) or other diseases to take hold.

Hopefully with these few helpful techniques, your watering will become less tedious, and before you know it, you’ll have thriving, beautiful plants that will require less water over time.

Now that the weather is getting warm and it seems like spring is here to stay, I’ve been anxious to get to work in my garden.  One thing that I absolutely love about gardening is all the various wildlife that you can attract.  My weak spot happens to be hummingbirds. 

I’m sure most people just assume that hummingbirds appear in the summer, and so that is when they bring out their bright red feeders.  In actuality, hummingbirds begin their 500 mile non-stop flight from Mexico as early as February!  By the time they reach our area, it is late April to early May, and after that long trip, they are HUNGRY!  So now is the perfect time to be putting out your feeders and preparing your garden for these cool little birds.

As far as feeders go, anything that is red will really grab the hummingbird’s attention.  A ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar is the perfect solution for them.  Most experts recommend using granulated white sugar, NOT honey or brown sugar.  I also shy away from the pre-packaged mixes you can buy at the store, just because you never know the negative effects that different dyes and chemicals can have on them.  

 And it doesn’t hurt to plant some flowers near the feeder as well.  The more things to attract the hummers, the better!  Red, orange, and pink flowers are most attractive to hummingbirds, but there are certain ones in particular that they love.  These include: monarda (bee balm), honeysuckle, annual salvia (the ones with bright red flowers), coral bells, and cardinal flower.  Planting them in groups will increase your chances of success because they will be drawn to the bright color.

Hummingbirds can visit up to 1,000 flowers in just one day!  Once they find a garden that they like, they will continue to return to it year after year.  So start your hummingbird garden now and enjoy these winged jewels for many seasons to come!

Contact me if you’d like to find out more information or need help with any other landscaping ideas.  Rebecca Conrad

Are you energetic and good with tools?  Do it yourself landscaping may be a great way to improve your home, raise it’s value, and have a great outdoor living area or gardens.  The key to success is having a great, well thought out landscape plan.  Making proper selections on plants and landscape materials, is necessary to create a project that will keep its function and value over time.  If  it is your first effort, having a step by step game plan will save a lot of wasted time, work, and money.   Getting the right materials, in the correct quantity, and at the time you want can be difficult.  Working with a professional and purchasing materials in blocks with phased delivery times can save many headaches and be cheaper in the long run.  It also will let you use your work time efficiently.  Done right, this can be a very rewarding  and enjoyable experience.

Happy holidays from all of us to you and yours. We are grateful for your interest in our company and look forward to serving all your landscape design, build and maintenance needs in 2010. Please be sure to check our website for landscaping news and advice, and if you haven’t already signed up for our e-newsletter, make that your gardening New Year’s resolution!

Winter is a great time to get inspired and prepare for all your landscape projects, whether they are large and small. To help you with this process, we recommend the following web resources and blogs:

National Gardening Association’s Mid Atlantic Regional Report & Blog

National Geographic’s Green Guide Home & Garden Page

HGTV Landscaping Ideas Page

Garden Web’s Garden Voices Blog

For more great landscaping and gardening ideas from Plantique, visit our FAQ, aftercare and news pages.

Want more great landscaping and gardening news and information? Become a subscriber to our e-newsletter.

You have probably heard the old saying “Fall is for planting.” It’s an annual reminder to homeowners and gardeners in the Lehigh Valley and beyond that this season is the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. But have you ever wondered why this is so? Well, for starters:

• With slower leaf and flower production in the Fall, plants allocate their energy to root generation and growth as long as soil temperatures remain warm, so they establish themselves better in your landscaping.
• With shorter days and slow (or no) leaf production, less water is required by the tree or shrub.
• Rain and snow melt will give your trees a great start for Spring.
• There will be less stress on plants due to cooler temperatures.
• You can often reap theh benefits of Fall color before plants go dormant.
• Plants fare better because they have two growing seasons, Fall and then Spring, before they get hit with harsh Summer heat.
• Plantique’s Fall schedule is less busy than in Spring, so schedule backlogs are shorter and installations are done sooner.

Plantique’s 16 acre nursery is brimming with beautiful trees and shrubs and pricing has never been better! Contact us today to learn more and enjoy a professionally designed and installed planting scheme, or just call and schedule a delivery and installation of that special plant that you have been thinking about!

We’ve all got Spring Fever. And why not? This winter was a long, cold one! Spring in the Lehigh Valley is really beautiful, and since we

all want to make the most of our landscaping, I’ve put together some seasonal tips based on frequently requested gardening advice. I hope

they help you enjoy your landscaping this year.

Safeguard suspect trees. If your deciduous trees and shrubs had insect or mite infestation problems last season, dormant oil sprays may

help prevent or control the problem this year. These oils can be used as dormant treatments or throughout most of the season, although

when the weather warms up, a lighter rate of these materials should be applied. Contact our Forever Green tree care division for a diagnosis

and treatment options.

Flowering forsythias = crabgrass control time.

My rule of thumb is, when you see the yellow explosion of the forsythia blooms, it’s time for crabgrass control. Our trained technicians have

several options when it comes to treatments, depending on weather conditions and when they are able to put down the application.

Mother’s Day means flowers. Mom’s Day is usually a safe bet for planting less cold hardy annuals, such as impatiens and geraniums.

The risk of overnight frost or freeze damage is usually gone by this point – although you should still check the local weather reports, just

to be safe. If frost threatens, cover plants with cardboard boxes, cold frames or plastic containers from dusk until morning. Potted plants can also be brought indoors.

What zone am I? The Lehigh Valley and its surroundings fall into a sort of gray area on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which can

sometimes make plant selection and installation confusing. Technically, we fall into zones 5a & 5b. However, the mountainous regions sometime act more like they belong to a cooler zone, while our cities and southeastern sections sometimes more closely resemble warmer ones. Low-lying spots, exposure to the elements, and sheltered areas in your yard are other factors that may affect landscaping conditions. Check with your designer if you are unsure about plant hardiness where you live.

Help for the horticulturally-impaired.

Here are some excellent resources that can assist you, whether you’re an avid gardener or yard-work phobic:

• Penn State Cooperative Extension

(Lehigh Valley): (610) 391-9840 or

http://lehigh.extension.psu.edu

• USDA’s Home Gardening web page:

www.usda.gov/news/garden.htm

• Plantique’s Newly Updated Web Site:

www.plantique.com

• Plantique’s Forever Green division: ??????

610-481-9882, or 610-861-8566

(CC) Audrey Michael/Flickr

National Geographic’s The Green Guide currently has a great article on landscaping and gardening products that are more eco-friendly than some traditional choices. “Greener Garden Supplies” covers a wide range of products, including garden tools, hoses, fencing, patio furniture, composting mixes and rain barrels. There’s even information about pest-eating insects that you can buy, for those who are looking for chemical-free alternatives to insecticides.

According to the article:

More and more people are choosing to garden organically. So it’s somewhat troublesome that garden tools and supplies are often made of materials that are decidedly not environmentally friendly. Just try to find a composter, for instance, that’s not made of a material like polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The wooden handles of garden tools and the fence and other materials we buy require trees, of course, to manufacture. And therein lies the gardener’s dilemma: Must we contribute to environmental degradation in our quest to till the soil? The answer, happily, is no.

For more information on greener landscaping practices and products, please check out Plantique’s tips and advice:

• Plantique’s Green Initiative Page
• Forever Green’s Organic Lawncare Options
• Our Rain Garden Guide

Get ready for an exciting 2009 landscaping season! Plantique will be blogging about many creative and practical landscaping design ideas, as well as useful gardening ideas and news for the greater Lehigh Valley region and beyond.

For more great winter gardening ideas from Plantique, click here.

image license

Want more great landscaping and gardening news and information? Become a subscriber to our e-newsletter.

The Lehigh Valley is in the midst of a severe cold spell. In case any of you haven’t already done so, we suggest you take a moment to make sure all garden hoses are disconnected from the spigots around your house. The danger in leaving the hoses connected is that they can cause the spigots to freeze and break. If this happens, water can leak inside the home when the spigot is finally turned on in the spring, potentially causing lots of damage.

To prevent them from bursting or breaking in freezing winter temperatures, it’s best to store your garden hoses out of the elements and completely drained of water. If they must stay outdoors, at least make sure they are empty.

For more great landscaping and gardening ideas from Plantique, visit our tips & FAQs, newsletter archive and photo pages.

These beautiful trees offer this homeowner about $112/year in environmental and economic benefits.

Thanks to a handy new Internet tool at i-Tree, you can now calculate the benefits of planting various trees on your property before you invest.

By entering information about the type and size of tree installed on your property, you can learn about the specific benefits it can provide to your home. For example, a red maple with a 12-inch diameter (measured 4 feet from the ground) installed near a single family house will provide $52/year in benefits from the get-go. This figure comes from a combination of stormwater, property value, energy, air quality, CO2 reduction and ecological savings, all of which are detailed by the site search. Once that same tree reaches a 23-inch diameter size, its benefits will increase to $132 annually.

Go try it out for yourself here.

For more information on the benefit of trees, check out our recent newsletter article on trees, or go to the USDA’s Urban and Community Forestry’s website.

Thanks to Plantique President Mike McShane for sharing this link. For more great landscaping and gardening ideas, visit our tips & FAQs, newsletter archive and photo pages.