Garden Blogs

Although spring is famous for being the time to garden, fall can be equally as beneficial. You just need to know what to plant and how to prepare your fall garden.

Anyone with a green thumb will tell you that pest issues are inevitable. Here are some tips to help you identify some common pests in your garden. Keep a close eye on your garden so you can catch and combat these pests before they do some real damage.
While there are chemical insecticides on the market, and available at Patuxent Nursery, that can control and kill intruders, there are organic and preventative measures that can be taken.

In this blog, we will explore the different uses of stones and pavers to create a balanced effect in your landscape.

When it comes to creating the outdoor landscape of your dreams, there are a few key things to keep in mind that will help you bring it all together. While a great deal of attention is paid toward selecting beautiful flowering shrubs and perennials, many people fail to realize you are going to be way better off choosing your trees first. The plant experts at Patuxent Nursery have done the work for you, and highlighted a few specimen trees worthy of planting in your garden or landscape this year!

In full bloom this week: the bodacious butterfly bush. From June to October, each shrub flaunts long conical clusters of vibrant blooms that are irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds.

Choosing the right flowers for your climate is a key factor when creating any garden. While some areas of the country experience a steady climate and temperature throughout the year, the mid-Atlantic region can be a bit tricky. For those who live in Hardiness Zones 5 to 7 and Heat Zones 3 to 6, you’ll want to find the right flowers that are suitable for all conditions.  Our four season climate means gardens should be able to withstand the cool spring mornings, summer’s dry and humid heat, and fall’s transition to the unpredictable harsh winter. While the Mid-Atlantic region experiences ample amounts of rainfall, it can also go through a drought phase. 

Another factor to consider is the soil quality within the Mid-Atlantic region which tends to be made up of clay, chalk, loam, and sand. We understand that these are a lot of things to consider, but the Patuxent Nursery’s plant experts are here to help. These top performing perennials are not only beautiful, but also low-maintenance and hardy. Save yourself the hassle, and see what Mid-Atlantic flowers are best for your forever changing outdoor space!

The old saying goes “April showers bring May flowers,” and at Patuxent Nursery, it’s no different. Summer is coming (although, some would say it’s already here) and our flowers are ready to shop! Let us help you add a green touch to your space.

Keep reading to see what’s new this week at Patuxent Nursery, and get a sneak peek at what’s yet to come.

With so many gorgeous flowers blooming, we are thrilled to re-open to the public. Mother’s Day is forecasted to be sunny and in the upper 60s, so it’s the perfect opportunity to bring your mom out for some garden shopping. Our 10″ annual hanging baskets are 20% off until May 10th but we have a wide variety of flowering shrubs, perennials, and trees available at the farm.

Gifts from the garden can last a lifetime. For Mother’s Day this year, give your mom something that she can appreciate for years to come. Plants are a popular gift for their sentimentality; that rose bush or lilac shrub that you plant together will become a lifelong symbol of your relationship. You can watch it grow over the years and can even pass it down from generation to generation. 2020 is the year to take inventory and reflect on the things that really matter. The resounding cure for many of our ailments will always be the love we share with our family. Being outside is one of the activities we can still share safely so whether it’s Mother’s Day or just the next beautiful May afternoon, get together with your loved ones and plant a new garden to memorialize the year that the world stopped and nature took the reins.

Annuals are a great way to add color to your garden season after season. Whether you like to honor the season with blooming Annuals or whether you like to stick to a certain color scheme, here are 8 ways you can add seasonal color with Annuals.

Where do you retreat to get away from life’s stresses? A reading nook, your kitchen, maybe your own art studio. Why not turn your backyard into a beckoning oasis for you to spend time with family, friends and even alone? Build your own backyard retreat.

Throughout history, gardening has been a staple activity that people have flocked to during times of great stress. Whether suggested for someone who’s retired and bored at home or someone who is struggling with their health, more and more scientists are confirming what avid gardeners already knew – that gardening is a great way to keep your body, and mind, healthy. Here are 6 ways we believe prove the health benefits of gardening.

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.