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Our Blog

From plant care tips to seasonal inspiration, our blog is packed with expert advice, creative ideas, and practical solutions to help your garden thrive year-round.

Gardening Care

5 Deer-Resistant Plants You Need to Add to your Landscape

Now that the weather is cooler, many gardeners face a familiar challenge: keeping hungry deer from turning their landscape into a late night snack....

Plants

The Right Way to Plant Trees and Shrubs This Fall

Fall is one of the best times to plant trees and shrubs. With more mild temperatures, new plants can focus on developing strong roots before winter sets in....

Plants

Fall Planting Strategies for a Stunning Spring Garden

Just because the temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean your time in the garden is over. In fact, fall might be one of the best times to get your hands dirty....

Outdoor

How to Style Your Porch with Pumpkins

Pumpkins are the ultimate sign of fall. Their colors, textures, and endless varieties bring warmth and charm to any porch, patio, or entryway....

Wildlife

Feeding the Flock: The Best Seeds, Feeders, and Plants for Virginia Birds

Birds bring color, movement, and music to the garden. From the flash of a goldfinch to the cheerful call of a chickadee, these feathered visitors make outdoor spaces feel alive....

Plants

Top 7 Shrubs to Plant This Autumn

Autumn offers one of the very best windows for planting, and it’s especially ideal for shrubs that anchor your landscape....

Plants

The Right Way to Plant Trees and Shrubs This Fall

Fall is one of the best times to plant trees and shrubs. With more mild temperatures, new plants can focus on developing strong roots before winter sets in....

Plants

Fall Planting Strategies for a Stunning Spring Garden

Just because the temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean your time in the garden is over. In fact, fall might be one of the best times to get your hands dirty....

Plants

Top 7 Shrubs to Plant This Autumn

Autumn offers one of the very best windows for planting, and it’s especially ideal for shrubs that anchor your landscape....

Plants

Planting for Fall: The Best Annuals & Perennials for Seasonal Color

As the summer heat begins to fade, fall offers gardeners a fresh opportunity to bring vibrant color and texture back into their landscapes....

Plants

From Summer to Supper: Planting Cole Crops for a Tasty Fall

While we’re waiting on the first cool breeze and trading iced tea for hot cider, fall planting season is here, and it starts with cole crops....

Plants

How to Grow Panicle Hydrangeas Like a Pro

Looking to fill your garden with show stopping blooms that thrive in the heat and ask for very little in return? Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are the answer....

Houseplants

Reviving a Struggling Succulent: Signs, Solutions, and Secrets to Success

Succulents are often praised as the ultimate low maintenance houseplants, but even these resilient beauties can struggle if not given the right care....

Houseplants

Low-Maintenance & High Impact: Why Bromeliads Are Perfect for Any Gardener

Some houseplants require constant attention, watering schedules, repotting, pruning, and the occasional pep talk. But if you're looking for a plant that delivers stunning color and unique foliage and flowers...

Houseplants

Pothos 101: The Easiest Houseplant You’ll Ever Grow

Let us introduce you to the MVP of easy care houseplants: pothos! This trailing vine is practically indestructible, making it the perfect choice for beginners, busy plant parents, or anyone...

Houseplants

5 Indoor Ferns That Flourish in Winter

Winter is a great time to bring some greenery indoors, and ferns are an awesome way to do it. These ancient plants have been around forever (literally, they’re some of...

Houseplants

Multiply the Green: Easy Propagation Tips for Indoor Plants

Ever wished you could turn one plant into many? Propagation is like plant magic, allowing you to grow new greenery from what you already have....

Houseplants

Houseplant Hits: Our 5 Must-Have Picks This Month

If your indoor space needs a new life and a little greenery after the holidays, houseplants are the perfect solution. th, we’ve selected five houseplant superstars that are easy to...

Edible

How to Start a Vegetable Garden: A Beginner’s Guide

There’s nothing quite like snipping fresh herbs from your backyard or picking a ripe tomato you grew yourself. Starting a vegetable garden might feel overwhelming at first, but it’s easier...

Edible

Herb Gardening Made Easy: Grow Culinary Favorites in Small Spaces

Fresh flavor at your fingertips, what could be better? Herb gardening is one of the isfying ways to grow your own food, and the best part is, you don’t need...

Edible

Edible Landscaping: How to Incorporate Fruit Trees into Your Design

As winter settles in and your garden is experiencing freezing days and nights, it’s easy to think that the growing season is a long way off....

Edible

Our Top 6 Veggies in Stock

Our Adventures in Veggieland have started today so we wanted to explore the top six Chef Jeff brand veggies we have in stock right now to help you find a...

Edible

10 Herbs to Get Your Kitchen Garden Started

This week, we're diving into the wonderful world of herbs , those magical plants that not only add flavor and aroma to your dishes but also bring life to your...

Edible

Your Guide to Strawberry Gardening

Now that the spring season is here, we're diving headfirst into the sweet world of strawberry gardening. Growing strawberries is a fun growing experience as it is not only fruitful,...

Gardening Care

5 Deer-Resistant Plants You Need to Add to your Landscape

Now that the weather is cooler, many gardeners face a familiar challenge: keeping hungry deer from turning their landscape into a late night snack....

Gardening Care

The Mulch Matchmaker: Choosing the Right Mulch for Your Garden Beds

Mulch is more than just a finishing touch for your garden beds, it’s the secret to happier plants, fewer weeds, and a polished, professional look....

Gardening Care

Prep Your Lawn for Fall: Why Weed & Feed Matters Now

It may still feel like summer, but your lawn is already looking ahead to the ths. Late summer is the perfect time to prep for fall, and one of the...

Gardening Care

Summer Garden Survival: Watering Tips to Beat the Heat

When summer temperatures rise, your garden can feel the heat, literally. With a few smart watering strategies, you can protect your landscape, conserve water, and keep your plants thriving....

Gardening Care

The Do’s and Don’ts of Winter Pruning

Winter is a time of rest for many plants, but for gardeners, it can be the best season to shape up the garden for the year ahead....

Gardening Care

Fall Mulching Myth Busters: What Not to Do and How to Do It Right

One key task for fall garden prep is mulching. Mulch not only helps protect your plants from frost but also enriches the soil, retains moisture, and prevents weeds....

Seasons

Your Southeastern Summer Garden Checklist

Late summer in Southeastern Virginia means high heat, high humidity, and long days, but it’s also the perfect time to start preparing your garden for the ths ahead....

Seasons

5 Must-Have Annuals for a Stunning April Garden

April is when gardens start to wake up and what better way to celebrate than with bold, beautiful blooms? Annuals are your go to for instant color and nonstop flower...

Seasons

Spring Garden Checklist: Essential Tasks to Kickstart the Growing Season

Spring is so close to being here, and that means it’s time to get your garden in shape for the growing season ahead! Here’s a comprehensive guide to essential tasks...

Seasons

Bring the Holidays to Life with These 5 Festive Houseplants

Holiday houseplants are a simple way to decorate as well as bring a little extra holiday cheer into your home. From colorful blooms to lush evergreens, the five plants we’ll...

Seasons

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree

The holiday season is here, and there’s nothing quite like the sight (and smell) of a fresh cut Christmas tree to bring the magic of the season to life....

Seasons

How to Prepare Your Garden for Cooler Temps: A Fall Checklist

As the crisp fall air settles in and temperatures start to dip, your garden needs a little extra love to transition smoothly into the ths....

Outdoor

How to Style Your Porch with Pumpkins

Pumpkins are the ultimate sign of fall. Their colors, textures, and endless varieties bring warmth and charm to any porch, patio, or entryway....

Outdoor

How to Create Stunning Fall Mum Arrangements for Your Porch

When fall arrives, one plant takes center stage: mums! With their bold colors, long lasting blooms, and versatility, mums are the perfect way to dress up your porch and welcome...

Outdoor

Beyond the Porch: 7 Creative Ways to Use Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets are a classic way to add a splash of color to your porch or patio, but they can do so much more than just hang by the front...

Outdoor

How to Prepare your Landscape for the Summer Months Ahead

Make a Plan: Summer is a great time for fast growth in trees, shrubs, and especially perennials. One way to ensure they have everything they need to take off, is...

Outdoor

Transform Your Yard with Hardscaping: Paver Patios, Walkways, Rock Gardens, and Natural Stones

Hardscaping is an essential aspect of landscaping that focuses on the non living elements of your yard. It involves the use of materials like natural stones, pavers, rocks and other...

Outdoor

The Best 5 Outdoor Plants for a Gorgeous Spring Garden

Spring is the season of renewal, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by filling your garden with vibrant blooms and lush greenery....

Wildlife

Feeding the Flock: The Best Seeds, Feeders, and Plants for Virginia Birds

Birds bring color, movement, and music to the garden. From the flash of a goldfinch to the cheerful call of a chickadee, these feathered visitors make outdoor spaces feel alive....

Wildlife

How to Plant a Pollinator Garden

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even moths play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems thriving. By helping plants reproduce, they support the entire food web, including us!...

Wildlife

Bee Our Guest: Container Combos Pollinators Can’t Resist

Looking for a way to support pollinators and add instant charm to your outdoor space? A pollinator friendly container garden is the perfect solution....

Wildlife

Late May Blooms That Steal the Show (And the Pollinators)

, the garden has officially entered show off season. The early spring blossoms have had their moment, and now it’s time for the stars of the late spring stage to...

Wildlife

How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Transforming your garden into a pollinator paradise is an exciting way to help the environment while making your outdoor space more beautiful and bountiful....

Wildlife

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Bees

Bees, the insect that consistently amazes us with their various abilities, are an integral part of our environment. As nature's tiny superheroes, bees work tirelessly to create wonders that amaze...

12 Days of Holiday Magic: Decor and Gift Ideas for a Beautiful Season

The holidays are the perfect time to embrace the magic of festive décor and thoughtful gifts that bring joy to your home and garden....

Deck the Halls in Style: Make Your Perfect Lifelike Wreath or Garland in 5 Simple Steps

When it comes to holiday decorating, wreaths and garlands are the crown jewels of seasonal charm. Adorning your front door, mantel, staircase, or dining table with lifelike greenery offers a...

5 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Porch with Pumpkins This Fall

Fall is here, and there's no better way to welcome the season than by decking out your porch with pumpkins. These versatile gourds come in all shapes, sizes, and colors,...

From Desert to Decor: 5 Unexpected Aspects of Cacti & Succulents

In the world of houseplants, there's one category that stands out for its ability to thrive in almost any environment: succulents and cacti....

How to Make a Fresh Cut Wreath

Creating a beautiful wreath to adorn your home is an essential activity during the holiday season. With just a handful of materials and a dash of creativity, you can craft...

The Unbelievably Entertaining Journey of the Poinsettia: From Fever Fighter to Festive Decor

Ah, the poinsettia, those vibrant, red plants that seem to pop up everywhere during the holiday season. They grace many places around the United States from the halls of the...

Community & Events

Unwrap the Magic: What to Expect At Our 2023 Holiday Open House

The holiday season is officially here at our McDonald Garden Center Christmas Shoppe! What better way to kickstart your festive spirit than by the Holiday Open House from November 3rd...

Community & Events

Staff Fall Favorites of 2022

Kaityln & Philodendrons James & Bloodgood Japanese Maple Xavier & Fall Seeds Fall is a great time of year to plant, decorate, and, of course, enjoy the beautiful Hampton Roads...

Community & Events

A Hampton Roads Fall Favorite – Inside look at Events at McDonald Garden Center

It’s fall y’all and there are lots of awesome events going on at the garden center these next few ths. It’s fall y’all and there are lots of awesome events...

Community & Events

Staff Fall Favorites of 2021

The weather is getting cooler and the colors of the season are starting to change. It’s finally that time of year where our Green Team staff can share their fall...

Community & Events

Fall Events You Don’t Want to Miss

Since the season has changed over to fall, we are thrilled to share our fantastic set of fall events with our favorite people: our customers!...

Community & Events

The Veterans of McDonald Garden Center on Memorial Day

Memorial Day is so much more than having a barbeque and an extra long weekend. On Memorial Day, we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and...

Laxmi Jayaraj (Lux)

Jul 2025

McDonald Garden Center feels like a second home. Plants are always healthy and well cared for. Staff are warm, patient, and generous with their wisdom.

K. F.

Feb 2025

Had a great time at Plantopia HousePlant Adoption Day. Plants are top notch, great selection. Staff are awesome, friendly and knowledgeable, and give great tips.

John Vaquerano

Jan 2023

Marissa and Erin treated us like long lost nursery mates. I got great advice, and will definitely be back. I highly recommend this place.

Elizabeth Cannon

Jun 2025

Associate helped me pick the right planter, fertilized him, and topped with decorative rocks. All for an incredibly reasonable price and caring smiles.

Sebastian Mot

Jan 2020

This place is MASSIVE and has anything you could ever want. The succulent selection is huge, and the staff is very helpful.

Joyce Drakeford

Jan 2019

So knowledgeable. Friendly service each and every time. Find the perfect plant for every spot in your yard. Been a customer for years.