From the McDonald Garden Center Blog
Gardening in Hampton Roads presents special opportunities when it comes to seaside gardening. With all of the water, there are a few considerations that you should take into account when gardening near the water.Salt – When placing plants, you should consider both salt spray and actual flooding. Salt competes with the plant for moisture and should be washed off periodically. Generally, fine thin leaf plants are more tolerant of salt.
Creating a garden focal point with statuary really brings your garden into focus. What may start out as just a grouping of plants is given definition by adding a focal point. Visitors instantly know where to bring their attention. You may have heard this referred to as 'directing the eye' or 'giving the eye a place to rest'. It's the same concept that we use when designing indoors. Objects of size or interest, like a fireplace, piano, armoire, painting or large screen TV, are positioned to be the first thing you notice in a room.
LUCKY LEMON GLOW LANTANASearching for a colorful, drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plant? Then Lucky Lemon Glow Lantana is the plant to have. This annual delivers vivid color with an abundance of trumpet shaped flowers. With dark green foliage, the Lucky Lemon Glow is a bi-color Lantana with yellow in the center fading to white on its outer edges. The flowers open from knobby yellow buds, and no two are just alike.
Looking for easy ways to add pizazz to your deck or patio? There's nothing better than a container garden to jazz things up. Just follow this classic formula for guaranteed success! First, choose a container as it will set the tone for the space. Container options are limitless, including pots, boxes, baskets, urns, hanging baskets, and window boxes... just get creative.Once you've selected your container, start selecting the real stars of the show, the plants.
Due to the warm winter we’ve had in Hampton Roads, the bugs are expected to be a nuisance this summer. Try treating your lawn to not only make your outdoors more enjoyable for your family but to keep your pets safe too. Bug Blaster is the perfect solution to fight ants, fire ants, fleas, ticks, crickets, chinch bugs and many others. Available as either a granule or a ready to use hose-end, this product will provide a broad spectrum of control. We suggest using the product on lawns, landscapes, and perimeters around homes and buildings.
BOXWOOD BASILFulfill your culinary delights with classical design. Boxwood Basil resembles a miniature boxwood plant with its tight structure and upright shape. And, best of all it is edible. The 12- to 16-inch-tall plant has small, aromatic leaves and, like all basil, grows best in full sun on fertile, well drained soil. It also tolerates heat well and can be shaped into a topiary form.
Add a stylish, focal point to your garden design and give a spot to your fine feathered friends.A bird bath is an artificial 'puddle' or small shallow pond, filled with water. It offers a spot for birds to bathe and 'cool off' as well as, offering a spot for birds to drink from. It is an attraction for many different species of birds, especially during the heat of the summer and during drought periods. A birdbath can also be a garden ornament to add interest in the landscape.
Pack a Punch in your garden with easy to grow Knock Out Roses. This stunning shrub rose has great disease resistance with little to no maintenance required. The blooms range from cherry red to bubblegum pink to sunny yellow and will bloom repeatedly until the first hard frost. What’s not to love!
Things are 'looking up' in the garden this summer and classic vines are 'climbing' in popularity in the gardening world. Vines can add a finishing touch to any landscape, by providing color and vertical interest. Vines are ideal for hiding eyesores, providing privacy, softening the monotony of plain fencing and transforming a plain arbor or pergola into a focal point of your garden. They are also the perfect choice in tight spaces since they grow vertically. Most require low maintenance and often draw the attention of colorful butterflies and delightful little hummingbirds.
