Garden Blogs

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.

I’ll let you in on a little gardening secret… plants grow. Shocking, right? Eventually, your houseplants will outgrow the beautiful containers you put them in and need some more room to stretch their legs. Repotting will boost your plant’s vigor and promote the development of a healthy root system. However, it is important to know when and how to properly replant a houseplant in order to effectively encourage plant growth.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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:

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.

If you have a deck area outside of your home, you should feel truly lucky. It makes for a great spot to retreat after a tiring day at work and just relax, or hold a party with some relatives and friends there. Take your time to design a comfortable and good looking area outside of your home, and you will greatly benefit from the opportunities it presents.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner – and what better way to celebrate the favorite women in your life than to gift her with something beautiful for her yard or home garden.

Springtime in Maryland can be unpredictable! This year we’ve seen everything from warm, picture-perfect days to typical rainy days to downright cold and snowy days. It’s the middle of April and we are still getting frost. This kind of weather takes its toll on your garden and your plants. Even if you cover your plants with frost cloth and protect them with mulch, temperature swings like this can be too much for some plants to handle.

If you have frost-bitten plants in your garden all hope is not lost. There are things you can do to help your plants recover. If you see brown, drooping foliage, it’s dead. But, and this is important but, if the plant has a woody stem, the stem and the root system could still be in good shape. The plant can recover and produce new foliage once the dead stuff is trimmed away.