Choosing the perfect pumpkin is tough! You only buy them once or twice a year so you want to make sure you get it right first (and maybe only) time. Stressed? Don’t worry, here are a few tips to help you keep your cool while searching through the patch.

• Be Firm: Be on the lookout for a firm-feeling pumpkin. Mushy ones or ones with soft spots need to be left behind.
• Spot Spots: Pumpkins with even the tiniest of blemishes are a no-go. These marks could be a sign of potential bug infestation.
  

  photo via flickr

• Orange you glad?: You will be if you go for the pumpkin that is the most orange. While pumpkins come in many different colors, when it comes to the orange variety you want to make sure it is orange all over. Other discolorations may be a sign that your pumpkin is less than perfect and could be damaged.
• Shape matters: Pumpkins can be all different shapes. If you enjoy roasting the seeds after carving a pumpkin, you will want to look for the most round options out there. The less round a pumpkin is, the fewer seeds it will have inside!
• Follow your heart: Choosing a pumpkin is like picking out a new friend! Go with your gut instinct. If your little one picks out a less than perfect pumpkin, embrace it! Each pumpkin is unique!
• Get a handle on it: The handle on your pumpkin should be firm and dark in color. Anything else could be a sign of early rotting.

Now, you’re ready! Grab the red wagon and a cup of hot chocolate, it’s time to get your perfect pumpkin!

One of the best things about each new season is finding new and exciting ways to bring the outside in. The best part about fall is the change of colors and brisk, cool air. Bring those lovely feelings from the outdoors in with some of our favorite decorating ideas:

• Pinecones are a versatile and lovely little statement that can be used throughout your home. As they start to fall more often, take your favorites and spray paint them fun, metallic colors. Silver and gold will be gorgeous all the way through the Winter season, too!
  

  photo via flickr

• Think outside the pumpkin! Decorate with different seasonal squashes too! From Butternut to Acorn, each type has its own specific look (and flavor, might we add) that are lovely to be used in your festive centerpieces.
• Get crafty. Have a scratched up pumpkin basket? Paint it black with matte black paint and voila! You have yourself an adorable, original, chalkboard pumpkin. Repurpose this little trick to house your favorite fall mums on the front porch!
• Bust out the paint! Instead of making a mess with dangerous knives, consider painting your pumpkins to match your own unique style.

Decorating and getting crafty is much easier after you’ve gotten a little inspiration! Decorating your home for fall is a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying the iconic weather.  What about fall inspires you the most?

While it seems that the best time to plant things is in the height of the warm and long, sunny days however, quite the contrary is true for trees and shrubs. Planting trees and shrubs in the fall is one of the best ways to promote strong root development and growth. Tree planting is best done between the months of September and November. Once temperatures drop drastically in the late fall it is advised to not plant as it could harm the overall plant health. Planting trees and shrubs in the fall is beneficial because the conditions are great for growth and you’ll have a jumpstart on the season and how you want your garden to look once they begin to grow.

The cool, wet weather is best for tree growth. Your tree will require less water and will absorb more since it won’t be lost to evaporation due to the heat.  Consistent, cool temperatures are great for helping with root development too. Though it may be cool outside, the soil stays warm long after temperatures drop. This coolness will help roots grow. Additionally, planting a tree in the fall will make it stronger and more able to survive long periods of drought and dryness. 

Besides the strength and growth benefits, planting your trees and shrubs in the fall will enable you to choose your plants based on what will complement your fall foliage best. Some great options for fall include: maple, , horse chestnut buckeye,  spruce, pine, sycamore, linden and elm.

For more information about planting trees and shrubs during the fall or how to get the most out of your fall gardening plans, contact us or stop by today!

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year in North Georgia. From the leaves changing, to the crispness in the air, there is so much inspiration during this time of year, it’s a time to bring what’s beautiful outside, to the inside of your home. Be sure to get your home and family into the Fall spirit this year with these brilliant decorating ideas:

• Fresh flowers are a great way to liven up your home year-round. Try sunflowers and alstromeria for your table this Fall. Keep the leaves below the water line and change the water every few days to maximize the life of your flowers.
• Pressed leaves, foliage and flowers are beautiful decorations for your home as well as a great way to bring the outside in! Press your favorite finds and then frame them for an added DIY touch to any room.
  

  photo via: freedigitalphotos.net

• You won’t need candles for this fresh, Fall-festive project. Suspend leaves from a low hanging chandelier for a centerpiece that will wow your guests. You can check our more directions here.
• Use your vegetables, seriously. Pumpkins, dried artichoke and even squash can be added to your table as a centerpiece, mantle or front door for an added, festive touch.
• Decorate pumpkins! Pumpkins can be carved or painted for a versatile decoration that can be used inside or out.

Bringing the outdoors in is what Fall is all about. Don’t be afraid to play up the colors, holidays or celebration of all things rustic and natural! For more information about decorating your home for Fall, be sure to visit our nursery or contact us today.

Let’s face it, in Jasper as well as the rest of North Georgia the fall weather can sneak up on you. Before you know it, it’s “bye-bye” sweet tea on the porch and “hello” sweater weather. When you’ve invested time, money and energy into making your yard beautiful you want your family and friends to be able to enjoy it safely. If you have a hardscape such as a patio, chances are good that you may have invested in an outdoor fire pit. Fire pits are great ways to utilize this outdoor space when the weather gets cooler.

While it’s a ton of fun to sit outside in the dark while drinking a hot cider or making s’mores, here are a few tips to make sure you can have fun while also being safe:

photo via flickr

• Be mindful of the location of your fire pit. If you have something that is not permanently installed into your hardscape, make sure you are at least ten feet away in all directions from anything that might be combustible. Keep the space clear of pine straw and leaves as they are highly combustible.
• Check the weather before you start a fire. Windy conditions can cause embers to blow onto either a combustible surface or onto somebody’s skin.
• Before starting the fire, have water and/or your garden hose nearby in case of an emergency.
• Use a store-bought fire started to start your fire. It is way too dangerous to use fluids or gasoline close to the home.

Do you want more information or making your hardscape more functional for the fall weather? We’ve got you covered. Contact us or stop by our nursery today!

If you love being in the garden, you probably love living in the garden! Being outdoors among your landscaping is lovely but what about entertaining or even just bringing the whole look together? Hardscaping can be a beautiful to do both while also increasing the value of your home. Here are just a few benefits of hardscaping your yard:

• Features such as retaining walls or knee walls can be extremely beneficial additions if your property is sloped, this feature can greatly add to your planting sites.
• Patios are a great way to add value to your home. Think of it as an extension to your living space, add a fire pit and some furniture and you have an outdoor living room perfect for entertaining. In addition, patios are a great option if you’re looking for something increase the value of your home and is much less costly than building a deck. 
• Walkways and paths are a great feature to consider when looking to tie multiple outdoor features together, particularly patios pools and gardens. In addition to adding to the aesthetics of your outdoor atmosphere, it can add to the accessibility of your garden. 

You work hard to keep your garden and landscape looking beautiful, a hardscape can be a beautiful way to tie all of these features together. Ready to get started on your hardscaping project but need a few other things for your garden too? No problem. Come by and see us for any and all of your landscaping needs.

Water features are gorgeous additions to any landscape. Fountains and pounds can serve as an added source of serenity to your home. However, it’s important to care for these features regularly to ensure that they are functioning properly. As you prepare to winterize your landscape, here’s how to check your water features for any potential damage that may be missed during the cooler months.

Detecting leaks is tricky. Be mindful that while it is still a bit warmer outside, losing a few inches of water due to evaporation is completely normal. During the peak summer months, expect to lose three to five inches each week. As it gets cooler, you can anticipate to only lose one to three inches.

Most leaks and damage occur at one of two places, either the waterfall or the streambed. Check the streambed for wet spots and inspect the liner for any damages. Often times, the liner has slid out of place. This is easily fixable by using stones to prop it up.

The same approach may be used when checking the waterfall for leaks. Walk along the edges of the waterfall and check for stones that may have slid out of place that are forcing water to splash outside of the stream.

If stones slipping off-stream don’t appear to be the problem, you should reach out to your installer to make sure that the plumbing system is functioning properly.

At Whispering Springs Nursery, we can install your water feature and can provide you with the perfect accents for your garden. For more information about having a custom water feature installed, please contact us here.

As the fall is approaching, it’s a good idea to inventory your plants in your garden and prepare for the cooler, winter  weather. Here is a quick list of ways to prepare your garden for the North Georgia fall and winter seasons.

• Bring tender plants indoors and some annuals and perennials will not be able to survive in the cooler months and won’t be able to grow back the following year.
• Protect evergreens especially evergreens in pots. If their roots happen to become frozen, they may not be able to grow back the following year. Be sure to keep them watered throughout the year so they don’t dry out.
• Cover vegetable seedlings. Once temperatures really drop at night (think mid 20s) a blanket over your seedlings will help prevent them from dying out.
• Be mindful of your herb garden, while many can do very well in more mild winter conditions, Rosemary and Thyme may not fare as well.
• As winter approaches, be sure to clear out your clay pots. Remove the soil and clean them with a solution of bleach and water.

As the cooler weather approaches in Jasper, be sure to come to Whispering Springs to winterize your garden, landscape and even water features. For more information about our nursery or services, contact us here. 

Let’s be honest, very few plants are what we could truly call deer-proof, however there are options that are less palatable to our furry friends. Let’s run down some of the best deer resistant plants for your garden or landscape:

• Butterfly Weed: This plant is lovely lives up to its namesake. That’s right, it’ll bring the butterflies but the deer will avoid this plant. They’re relatively low maintenance and won’t die in extreme heat or drought which is definitely a benefit considering the long, Georgia summers. Plant these in full sun with well-drained soil.
• Caryopteris: This is a beautiful, low maintenance plant that blooms a lovely blue- violet flower in the late summer/fall seasons. In addition to needing little maintenance, this plant does very well in the heat as well. Caryopteris does best in full sun with well-drained soil.
• Chrysanthemum: This well known flower can bloom in a variety of hues. Chrysanthemum do very well in the fall, their fragrant smell will help keep the deer at bay when they try to come by for a quick snack. Plant these in full sun with well drained soil for the best results.

Gardening in the North Georgia Mountains may harbor issues that city gardeners don’t have to face; at Whispering Springs Nursery, we are committed to helping you find the best plants to fit your gardening needs. No matter where your garden may be, we’re here to help any and all gardeners address any issues they may have to ensure they grown the most beautiful plants.

If you have more questions about deer resistant plants or how to beautify your garden even more, stop by today!

It’s been a beautiful summer in North Georgia! While being out in the sun has been lovely, we’re ready to say hello to fall! Gardening in the fall has many benefits as there will be less frequent rain and pests and weeds will be making themselves scarce. As you transition your wardrobe and trade your iced tea in for apple cider, consider transitioning to these plants for your garden.

Spring bulbs: Bulbs need the cold weather to grow. If you have an abundance of wildlife that may try to eat your flowers, consider getting plants that critters don’t care for such as daffodil and hyacinth.

Pansies: Pansies do very well in the fall as their roots get their strength in the warm soil. By planting them in the fall, you’ll get to en
joy them through two seasons!

Cool weather vegetables: Several of your harvest time favorites thrive in the cool, fall air. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, rutabaga and kale are just a few. Consider planting these while the soil is still warm and to check your seed packets before planting.

Trees: The fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs! The warm soil is great for root growth and the air is cool. Be sure to keep these very well watered until the official start of winter when they go dormant.

At Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, GA, we have everything your garden needs to transition into fall. For more information on our hours and inventory, please contact us here.