Dear Gardener...

Think spring! Our spring bulbs are in, and now is a prime time for planting them. Most bulbs can be planted until the ground is frozen. We have an assortment of spring blooming bulbsdaffodils, tulips, hyacinth, special deer resistant assortments, and giant allium bulbs.

No matter what the size of your garden, there's always a spot to plant some bulbs. Plant some in borders to provide a burst of color in the early spring. Planted amidst taller perennials,

Discard the woody old centers of plants along with any sections that have soft, rotted root segments. The younger roots and offshoots growing at the edges of the clump have more 'vigor'; they'll recover faster after division and are more likely to produce strong, healthy new plants. Each new division needs to have two or three new shoots and a good segment of healthy roots. Plant the new divisions at the same depth that the old plant was growing; water them in well and keep the soil adequately moist for several weeks while new roots are forming.

Here are a few general guidelines for the most common flowers.

Astilbe: This moisture loving plant prefers to be divided every 3 to 4 years. This will help the plant to continue to grow in the following years. Dig up the entire plant and then divide into sections. Spring is the ideal time for dividing astilbe.

Daylilies:  You can divide daylilies any time except in the heat of summer. Most need to be divided every 5 to 7 years. Dig up the clump in one large piece. Cut foliage back so that only four to five inches remain. Also cut off all scapes. Cut roots back so that only three to four inches remain. Remove all dead foliage from plant. Use a spade or knife to cut the clump into four to six divisions. Each division should have one or two strong foliage fans.

Grasses: To divide grasses, cut the foliage back to 4-6 inches. Dig the entire clump up from the ground. Use a sharp spade, a large knife, an axe, or in some cases a chainsaw to cut through the core and halve the clump completely. Then proceed to quarter it. Separate living divisions from dead or diseased tissue by hand and make sure each division has a good root system still attached. Dead core material should be disposed of or composted. Replant divisions as soon as possible, water well, and protect with mulch up to 3' deep.

Hostas: It's preferable to divide hostas in the late summer and early fall, roughly 4 weeks before first frost. Start with a clump that is at least three years old. Begin dividing the clumps by washing all the soil away from the roots. Try to keep as many leaves and roots as possible on your new divisions. Pull any easily removable stems or 'eyes' from the crown. Then keep pulling the different sections in half until you get to the number of stems you want. If you cannot break the clump apart, a sharp knife will have to be used, making sure your cuts are through the crown, but not into the roots.

Phlox: Most phlox need to be divided every two to four years if they're growing well. Ideally, the best time to do this is in spring, before new growth begins. Each division should consist of three to five vigorous shoots with roots attached. Position them as you would new plants, with the crowns an inch or so below the soil surface. Space them eighteen inches apart to ensure adequate air circulation.

Siberian Iris: You can divide Siberian iris either in spring or in late summer. To divide, dig out the entire clump and then cut it into sections. Place one section into the original hole and save the remaining sections for other bare areas in the garden. Be sure to dig a hole that's wide enough to allow plenty of room for the spreading roots and the large clump that will develop over time.

As a general rule, most perennials should be divided soon after they finish blooming, but while there is still enough time for the roots to get established before winter.

On the other hand, there are some plants which should not be divided. They include Asclepias, Dictamnus, Echinops, Baptsia, or any plants with a long tap root.

Fall is time to prepare your plants and gardens for winter. Our Fall To Do List has lots of helpful information to assist you in making sure your plants will have the best chance of surviving a northwoods winter and come back bigger and better in the spring.

Ornamental Grasses have always been a part of the natural landscapes of the earth. Because of their versatility, they are being used more and more frequently in the home garden. They can be used as fillers or specimens, border or background plantings, as ground covers or screens, or they may be grown as container plants. Their adaptability and beauty make them perfect companions to flowering plants and woody ornamentals.

With ornamental grasses, looks aren't everything. They add a dimension of motion and of sound to your landscape. The gentle waving motion of the grasses, and the accompanying sounds create a very peaceful atmosphere within your garden. The grass's animated movements will change with the seasons (dry and living grasses appear and sound quite different).

Ornamental grasses are available in a wide array of colors, shapes, textures and sizes. Each grass species has it's own unique form. They may form low compact mounds, tall screens, or densely spreading mats. The foliage colors include various shades of green, blue and red, as well as variegated varieties having red, white or yellow foliage banded with ivory or yellow stripes. In the fall, the spring and summer colors change to hues of red, beige, or brown, providing a great winter garden accent. The flower spikes (also known as an inflorescence) are excellent for drying. The colors are different shades of maroon, red, pink, silver, white, yellow, or beige.

For summer blooms, Feather Reed Grasses are a good choice. One of the first grasses to start growing in the spring, C. 'Karl Foerster' is an early bloomer, which is an asset in areas with a short growing season. Another great choice for summer is C. 'Overdam', a variegated grass with beautiful creamy-white vertical stripes along the sides of the leaf blades. It blooms in early to mid-summer with very attractive ivory colored flowering spikes.

For edging, Festuca grasses work well.  'Elijah Blue' is a clump-forming silvery-blue ornamental grass that holds its powder-blue foliage color throughout summer, being drought & heat tolerant. 'Boulder Blue' is a cool season, clump forming grass with intense blue narrow blades. Growing 8-10' tall, it is more upright than 'Elijah Blue'.

Grasses that work well in shade include Hakoenechloa or Japanese Forest Grasses. We carry varieties with white or yellow variegated foliage, and 'All Gold' which is a golden-yellow with arching foliage. Carex 'Bowles Golden' and 'Oehme' can also tolerate full shade.

One of the best grasses for providing great winter interest is Miscanthus 'Silver Feather'.  Reaching 6-9', the tall silver plumes are excellent for a screen or specimen plant, and are decorative in dried arrangements. Plant them behind roses and lavender, for a striking combination.

Once established, ornamental grasses require very  little care. These durable, low maintenance plants will not only add distinction to your landscape during the summer months, but they will be quite dramatic in the winter landscape as well.

We have a large assortment of ornamental grasses in stock, many in well-rooted gallon sizes to get them off to a good start before winter sets in.

Refer to Our Ornamental Grasses Planting Guide for information on specific grasses for different growing conditions, instructions on how to plant as well as maintain them for years of enjoymenyt.

Our annual Autumn Splendor event will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 1st and 2nd. This is a great time of year to visit our display gardens and enjoy the beautiful early fall color and cooler temperatures. It is also a good time to refresh your containers. Join our 'Keep Cool' workshop on Saturday at 11:00, where you can fill a container with a variety of frost-tolerant plants that will flourish in the cooler temperatures. The $30 registration fee includes a container and assortment of annuals, perennials and grasses. Pre-registration is appreciated. 'Berry Magic' is a free seminar at 1:00 on Saturday where you can learn all about trees and shrubs that not only provide food for the birds, but add color and interest for fall and winter landscapes.

Our fall mums are now starting to bloom. For adding a spot of fresh color to your garden, or for mixing with other fall decorations around your deck or patio, these humungous mums can't be beat! This is also a great time to pick up a few packages of bulbs to add a burst of spring or summer color to your garden.

Now through the end of the season you can take advantage of some great sales: 25% off All Trees, Shrubs and Roses; 50% off Selected Trees, Shrubs and Roses; 25-50% Off Selected Perennials; 50% Off Selected Gift Items and Pottery.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
 - Albert Camus