Garden Blogs

Being stuck at home sucks. When you find yourself unable to get out and do everyday things like going to work, the movies and even out to dinner, things can be a little bleak and very boring. The perfect solution – get out in your garden!

Gardening has been proven to relieve stress, boost your mood, and boost your immune system. Given recent events, this is a perfect time for garden work. Here are some garden projects to get you out of your house and into your garden.

Eating organic vegetables doesn’t have to be expensive! You’ve been trying to eat more organically grown vegetables, both to help the environment and to lessen the amount of pesticides you and your family consumes. But take one look at your grocery receipt and you know that buying organic can cost a lot. Luckily, you have an option – grow your own organic vegetable garden!

The benefits of mulching your garden are so numerous that most gardeners would agree that mulch becomes a necessity in every garden.

Gardens come in many different shapes and sizes. Flower gardens add aesthetic appeal, ranging from simple to elaborate. Vegetable gardens are regaining popularity with increasing food prices, and poor food quality. One thing that is common in all gardens, whether flowering or vegetable, they can all benefit from mulching.

Planning your vegetable garden is easier than it sounds, and saves you time and money when planting your garden. One thing to keep in mind is that vegetables grow in different conditions and seasons, which means it’s important to plant your veggies at the proper time!

Vegetable gardening is a very rewarding (and tasty) experience, even for a beginner! The idea of starting from scratch and building your first vegetable plot can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll show you how to start your vegetable garden from the ground up, and soon you’ll be on your way to fresh vegetables grown in your very own garden!

The goal to indoor seed starting is to have seedlings ready to go outside by the time the weather is favorable. This means that timing is everything. You will need to plant your seedlings early enough for them to germinate and start growing before you can transplant them outside.

To start, take a look at the seed packet. Usually on the back, the packet will tell you when you need to plant your seeds. Look for something similar to “Plant inside 6 to 8 weeks before last frost.” Keep your eye out for seeds that say “Direct Sow”, meaning these plants should be planted directly into your arden. These seeds require less labor and mature faster than transplanted crops.

Click here for information on choosing the right seeds for your garden.

Feeding birds in your yard can be crucial to their survival. Here’s our guide to learning how to feed birds during the winter.

In 2007, the US Senate dedicated one week in June as National Pollinator Week. This effort raised awareness of the declining pollinator populations and helped to educate people internationally about the importance of pollinators in the ecosystem.

Americans have a lawn addiction.

Drive through a typical U.S. suburb, and you’ll see dozens of lush, manicured, weed-less yards, watered by clicking sprinklers. The fixation has spread across the nation — estimates suggest that between 30 and 40 million acres of U.S. land are devoted to turfgrass, and we spend roughly $40 billion annually on seed, sod and the chemicals we need to care for them.

Whether you already have a perfect yard or you’re trying to get one, you’ll probably have to invest in lawn products. Vibrant green grass doesn’t weed itself, so we douse it with herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.

In fact, we apply 90 million pounds of fertilizer and around 80 million pounds of pesticides on our lawns every year, which is about ten times the amount spread over farmland. Because we use so much of them, conventional pesticides and fertilizers impact more than our yards — they affect both our health and our ecosystem.

We’ve gathered the details on how — and why — you should care about the type of lawn products you apply to your lawn, along with some tips on how to make the switch from conventional to organic supplies.

When it’s time for some perennials to go dormant it’s time for others to come out in all their glory, and now is the time for fall perennials to shine. Make sure you incorporate a seasonal interest in your yard, blending bloom times so you will have continuous color and appeal throughout the seasons with little effort.

Whether you need foliage or flower, have sun or shade, dry soil or clay; there is a plant for you.  Fall perennials massed together make a statement by adding a border or interspersing splashes of color to keep your yard alive with color as it transitions into cooler weather.

After months of work, you finally have the backyard of your dreams. Maybe you’ve paved a new patio and set out chairs perfect for relaxing in, or maybe you’ve landscaped an immaculate garden and draped glowing string lights from trees.

There are a few tips and tricks to keep mulch looking fresh and vibrant, regardless of weather conditions. In this post, we’ll show you how to care for mulch year-round, so your garden will withstand cold winter days and be ready to bloom in the spring.

Warmer seasons we most associate with gardens and gardening, but fall and winter are just as crucial to making your garden beautiful. Check out our tips for prepping your garden for a successful fall.

In our plastic-taxed world today we need to find a way to shrink our man-made footprint! At Patuxent Nursery, this has been on our minds for several years. We have been working towards a biodegradable pot that can be planted in the ground and will break down in the soil leaving the soil in better condition.

Father’s Day is fast approaching. With this special day comes the opportunity to show your dad, grandfather or father figure just how much you appreciate him. This yearly effort of finding Dad the right Father’s Day gift shouldn’t cause headaches — or worse, break the bank. A potted plant for Father’s Day is a simple and thoughtful gift you’ll both enjoy.

We’ve got you covered in picking potted plants Dad will love, and you will love giving, all with the help of a few expert tips and tricks.

Keeping potted plants alive is a learned skill, and there is no reason you can’t learn to do it, too. To help you out and get you started on your plant-care journey, we’ve put together this tutorial on everything you need to know about how to take care of potted plants. By the time we’re finished here, you’ll be ready to put these skills into practice. So grab your gardening gloves and potting soil and let’s get started.

Looking to add annuals to your garden this year? Use these tips on how to plant annuals to find the best ways to make your annuals thrive.

Looking for a unique gift for mom? Check out these great potted plants any mother will love and stop by our nursery in Bowie, MD.

Keep your lawn green all summer long with these tips for maintaining healthy grass that can stand up to summer weather.

It is that time of year again and one of the most common questions we get is how much mulch do I need? We have the answer – learn more!

Outdoor living spaces are peaceful spots that allow homeowners to enjoy fresh air and open space. Approximately 90 percent of homes in the United States have some kind of outdoor living space, and about 70 percent of those spaces are used at least once during the season. Are you looking to add an outdoor space of your very own?

Christmas Day is just around the corner! Have you decided what to buy your loved ones this year? Often, the presents that are the most appreciated are the ones that come from having a deep knowledge of your loved ones’ hobbies, likes, and interests. Check out gifts we recommend!

If you ever stroll through a greenhouse, you will likely walk by a selection of plants that look like they are from another world.  Their leaves look plump and rubbery. They often have vibrant, almost iridescent, colors or patterns. These, my friends, are succulents.

Succulents, by definition, are plants that store water in their foliage – hence the thicker, more substantial looking leaf.  When I think of a succulent, a cactus is always the first thing that pops into my mind – one of those big ones that looks like a person standing with their arms in an awkward upward position…you know the ones I’m talking about.  BUT, cacti are not the only type of succulent.

During the colder weather here in Maryland, birds have to find their own food. Berries, seeds, and habitats in protected tree limbs are not as plentiful as they are during the warmer summer months. But, there’s an easy solution to this problem: planting trees and shrubs for birds to get sustenance from throughout the cooler weather.

A retaining wall is used for supporting soil and allows you to maintain soils at two different levels. While retaining walls are considered structural, there is no reason they can’t be an attractive element in your landscape. Keep reading to see how you can make your retaining wall attractive in your landscape.

Do you enjoy watching the birds flitting about your yard? I certainly do. To keep the beautiful robins, cardinals, finches, jays and other backyard beauties in my yard, I feed the birds year-round.

Not much evokes the holiday feeling than the feel and smell of a live Christmas tree. If you are going to get a live tree this year, here are some easy tips to ensure that it’s as beautiful on day one as it is after the holidays are over.

The scientists at NASA have been working on finding solutions to the issues of indoor air pollutants and they’ve discovered that some houseplants can actually help clean the air for us, with the added benefit of bringing a bit of nature’s beauty inside. A great and inexpensive way to combat a very real problem.

Early to mid-fall is a great time to take on the important job of a fall lawn renovation. The soil is still warm, which encourages quick germination, and yet the air is cool, which allows the young grass to grow without drying out. Check out our top tips on how you can successfully renovate your lawn this season.

Patuxent Nursery is proud to announce that we are a Top 100 Independent Garden Center in the US and Canada according to Garden Center Magazine. About the Award Garden Center Magazine’s Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List is based on 2016 retail revenue as reported by garden centers in North…

We’ve always been told to plant in spring and fall but warmer temperatures are still a good time to add interest to your landscaping beds. It only takes a little extra attention and a few simple techniques to help new summer plantings thrive.

There’s something timeless and carefree about a wildflower garden. Wildflower gardens are full of beautiful annuals and perennials, a celebration of natural beauty. It can be intimidating to think about creating one in your landscape but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, planting a stunning wildflower garden doesn’t have to be hard at all. Check out this blog to learn more!

When we walk outside into our yard it is always nice to have a little privacy.  But not everyone likes the expense or the look of traditional fencing. Over the years, we have had countless customers looking for creative ways to add privacy to their yards with trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs create a natural barrier that not only looks beautiful, it is also functional. Here are some of our tried and true tips for adding screens to your yard with fast growing privacy trees and shrubs:

Ready to start your garden but you’re short on space? Maybe you live in an apartment or townhouse or space is limited in your yard. Or, you just want to add an extra pop of color on the patio or porch. No worries – container gardening can be an easy and quick fix. All you need is the container, soil, fertilizer and plants

Nothing announces the coming of spring quite like a freshly mulched yard. However, mulch isn’t just for aesthetics; it is also very beneficial to your plants and soils. Here are just 6 reasons you should mulch this spring:

You’re a weekend DIY warrior and you’re ready for your next project. With warm weather approaching, you’re mulling over the idea of installing a new paver patio. There are a ton of articles online with instructions for getting this job done. While you certainly can do it yourself, the bigger question is, should you?

Your new paver patio will enhance your outdoor living space so you can entertain family and friends and spend more time outdoors. But, putting in your own patio is NOT a weekend project. Shoveling, planning, designing, selecting pavers, hiring a crew, getting the equipment together and weather conditions can make your patio project last months instead of days. Plus, it takes a lot of strength and stamina to operate the equipment needed to install a patio. Hiring an expert will ensure that your patio will be installed quickly and correctly, while designed to fit your budget, space, and lifestyle.

We’ve had a mild winter so far in the Mid-Atlantic area, but the colder weather still takes its toll on your patio and patio furniture. Getting your patio in shape can seem like a chore, but it’s not as bad as you think. Here are a few ways to get it done effectively and efficiently.

First, remove everything from the area including grills, patio furniture and décor. Sweep the patio surface and then scrub with an appropriate cleaner as recommended by your paver manufacturer. Read instructions carefully and follow them. Pressure wash it off or use a strong garden hose.

Now that your surface is clean, it’s time to focus on cleaning your patio furniture. There are different types of patio furniture and we’ll tell you how to best clean and care for plastic, metal, wooden and upholstered furniture.

There is no better time than right now to start putting the pieces together for your next landscaping project. You know you want to make some changes but what do you do first? Should you get a professional landscape design? We’ve answered your questions and outlined the steps for you in this blog post.

Winter weather can hurt your paved surfaces if you’re not careful. Even if you can’t use your patio for a few months, you still want to protect your investment by preparing for winter weather. This can eliminate unnecessary damage and prolong the life of your pavers.