Garden Blogs

As you plan out your winter garden, please remember our feathered friends that live in our Maryland backyards. Since food, shelter, and water are more difficult for them to find in colder months, we can step in and help! Learn how to prep your garden to be bird-friendly, how to set up a squirrel-proof bird feeder, and how to attract backyard birds consistently this winter.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a beacon of hope and holiday cheer. For the first time ever, the Christmas Tree selected hails from our home state! Learn all about the towering giant from Elkton, Maryland. Could you grow the next Rockefeller Tree?

Gardeners don’t need much to get the job done, but there are certain tools that will make gardening even easier to enjoy. Read on to learn the top tools every plant enthusiast will love, and bonus gift ideas too!

Match your plants to your personal sense of style. Or, these days, you can let a professional plant stylist do it for you! Learn how these creatives help plant parents make sure their spaces feel balanced and their plants thrive.

As fellow gardeners, we understand the time, effort, and patience needed to maintain a healthy landscape. So when weeds pop up, we too go into battle mode, ready to rid and defend our lawns from the pesky intruders.

What do cinnamon, coffee grounds, and eggshells have in common? They are all used as natural solutions to common garden and houseplant problems!

Pollination is the act of moving pollen grains from one flower to another in order to fertilize and eventually produce fruit and seeds. While pollen can be carried from flower to flower by wind, it is more often carried by insects and other animals which rely on these plants for nutrients. Read More…

Annuals offer fast growing, bright blooms, if only for a single season. When cold weather arrives, we tend to say farewell to our beloved annuals until we can replace them the next year. But what if we didn’t have to? Read more…

As the world slowly crawls its way back to an upright position, and we all return to our in-office jobs, there are ways to ensure your houseplants thrive, even if you aren’t around all day to care for them.

The one thing that can be tricky when handling cut Hydrangea flowers is keeping them from wilting. Unfortunately, Hydrangea flowers wilt easily, but there are a few steps you can take to avoid this! Learn how to properly cut, care for, and revive your hydrangea flowers and enjoy them in your home. Want to know how to dry Hydrangea flowers? Read more…

Your ornamental plants, flowers, and shrubs in your garden should be eye candy, not the candy store for the local deer population. Although it is important to note, it is impossible to completely deer-proof a garden; you can do your best to fill it with plants known for being the least desirable to these furry forest creatures. Not only are deer-resistant perennials resistant to deer, but because they are, you increase your chances of escaping pest damage.

We all love the look houseplants provide in our home, but many species can be toxic to animals like cats and dogs, or as we like to call them, your “Furry Friends.” Pets are pretty much unpredictable, and you never know when they might get a sudden urge to munch on a leaf or two of your beloved houseplants. Check out our top 10 pet-safe houseplants offered at Patuxent Nursery.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to avoid this giant mass of cicadas if you live in one of the affected areas. However, the good thing is that cicadas are not here to destroy your plants; they are here to mate and end their life cycle.

Houseplants are not only beautiful to admire, but their leaves boost air quality by producing oxygen and filter out harsh chemicals. Houseplants jumped in popularity in 2020, and we assure you their popularity is not going anywhere anytime soon. Here are the houseplants we think are must-haves in 2021. 

Spring is here, the birds are once again chirping, and the smell of freshly cut grass is all around. Meaning one thing, it is time to prepare your garden for the warmer season. Similar to giving your home or car a good spring cleaning after the long winter months, your garden needs a little freshening up as well.

Poinsettias are a top holiday flower pick for their beautiful array of shades and colors. They have traditionally been the winter holiday’s most popular plant, the sure and steady standby, but do you really know about the Poinsettia? We bet you don’t! Here are 5 things you didn’t know about Poinsettias:

As the cool breeze sets in, there is warmth and comfort felt as the trees transform around us. The leaves are painted in reds, oranges, and golds that are only found in a gallery. Add this fall color to your garden by simply planting one of these 5 trees and now is the best time to do it! These awe-inspiring trees are all in-stock and on sale now at Patuxent Nursery in Bowie, MD!

Once the cool, crisp evening air arrives in autumn and pumpkin spice cycles back to the market, porch flower planters become a staple of every household. The relentless heat of summer made it difficult to give your container plantings enough water to make up for the constant scorch of the summer sun. Thankfully, the autumn sun is much more forgiving and your container garden can reemerge with a plethora of foliage, fruit, and blooms.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

Do you feel that chill in the air? Fall has arrived and it’s time to decorate! Decorate both inside and out, for the season. Bring the warm colors of fall into your home and your garden with the help of our fall annuals and decor. We have pumpkins, gourds, mums, pansies, violas, corn stalks, and straw bales!

Happy first day of Fall everyone! We just LOVE fall. It’s the time of year when leaves start to change, perennials return to the ground, and some shrubs just plain show off with a beautiful display. Today we’d like to share our list of the best shrubs for fall color with you.

Did you know that fall is the best time of the year to make your old lawn look better than ever or to establish a new lawn? Early to mid-fall is a great time to take on the important job of a fall lawn renovation. The soil is still warm and yet the air is cool; the perfect combination for grass seeds to germinate and turf to take root quickly.

Nothing signals the arrival of fall quite like the changing leaves. With deep, burgundy-red and vibrant, pumpkin-orange foliage, trees and shrubs can easily be the star of your fall garden.