At Whispering Springs Nursery, we’re here to help with all of your needs for the hottest gardening trends. This year has been all about sustainability and repurposing. Look around your home to see which areas could use a little more life or just an added touch.  Growing your own herbs and plants is one of the best ways to invest in your garden and your lifestyle. Here is a round up of some of the favorites from 2014:

Vertical Integration: Yes, your plants do grow up-and-out of the ground, however, suspend them from something unconventional like a trellis or even an easel. Get creative and repurpose!

Indoor Gardens: For the city-dweller or someone that is very busy. Indoor options are not only chic but a great way to bring the outdoors in. Repurposing different containers for your herbs is a wonderful, and fragrant, way to be bring a natural essence into your space.

Succulents: Yes, succulents are a lovely statement to any garden and are also very low maintenance! Place them in your favorite mason jar, or repurposed vase for an eclectic touch to any room.

Container Planting: Instead of a large garden, try putting some of your favorite plants into different containers around your deck or patio. The varied containers will give an added touch to your garden.

We have everything you need to be up-to-date with all of the hottest gardening trends. As 2014 comes to an end, we think these are trends that could be here to stay. Need some advice or want a quote on some custom garden landscaping? Please contact us for more information.

For 2014 sustainable landscaping is a huge trend. From your residential garden to city-wide initiatives, people are working together towards a common goal of protecting our environment. Are you interested in creating a more sustainable landscape for your home or business? Here are some ways you can have a more eco friendly and sustainable garden:

• Utilize “grey water” for irrigation. This water that comes from your showers and sinks.
• Properly placing energy efficient elements such as shade trees and using natural elements to create wind breaks.
• Recycle wood and materials from other projects instead of buying newly manufactured wood.
• Recycle containers for your plants and other materials to be used as features like paving stones. Think rubber, wood or even glass.
• Composting is a great way to fertilize your garden for free. Using your kitchen scraps and other yard waste.

Another great way to have a sustainable landscape is to create a hardscape as opposed to traditional garden methods. This way, your garden can still be beautiful and inviting but also have sustainability in mind.  If you’re not sure how a hardscape would fit into your current yard or landscape design, our experts can help you with everything from installation to design.

There isn’t a better time than now to learn about how your garden can be sustainable and promote a healthier garden and planet. For more information to get started on planning your landscape, call us today.

Have you been invaded by beetles? Did you use insecticides or Sevin Dust only for the beetles to laugh at you?  You may be unknowingly be supporting a five star beetle retreat. Now is the time to contact us for an evaluation.

Females lay eggs mid to late summer. Japanese beetle females only lay their eggs in sod—so if those are the only grubs you have, your flower roots will be safe. Others, like May and June beetles, lay their eggs in plain old dirt, and their grubs will eat the roots of flowers and veggies.  Talk to us about where to plant each type of plant to avoid these pests. Here is some research at ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact.

Don’t Feed the Bears…or the Beetles!

It’s important to know what kind of plants and trees you should plan and where to plant them. Our experts are here to help you design or redesign areas to keep these pesky pest from ruining your investment. You have put in a lot of time and money into your home. Our experts can help you design a plan to protect it. Check out the Whispering Springs designs in our gallery.

Avoid planting adult beetle’s favorite foods near lawns if you can help it. With Japanese beetles, that means keeping the roses, fruit trees and some shrubs away from the lawn if at all possible. Females will be laying and they prefer moist, low-cut turf. A successful garden starts with a successful design.

We talk more about other common mistakes in our news article top-gardening-blunders.

Share your stories and solutions! Call us at (770) 893-1254.

Groundcovers are plants that are low-growing, spread easily and help to keep weeds from growing in your garden. They come in all shapes and sizes, and work hard when it comes to helping you manage landscaping problems. Here are some great reasons for using ground covers, and some of the best choices for gardens in the Canton area.

Three Reasons for Adding Groundcovers:

• Erosion Control – Ground covers provide excellent erosion control, using their root systems to create a barrier against heavy rainfall. Planting ground covers in combination with adding a retaining wall can help take the slip out of a slippery slope, providing interest as well as keeping your soil from washing away.

• Cover a Hilly Area – If you have a vast canvas that you want to cover, ground covers are particularly useful and work better than larger plants or trees that could topple easily.

• Drought-Tolerant – One of the best things about ground covers is that many varieties are drought-tolerant, needing less water than other plants.

Need some advice on which groundcovers to choose? Here are three of the most popular choices:

• Hens-and-Chicks – Funny name, easy care. These plants are excellent choices on paver patios and walkways, and easily tolerate extremely dry conditions. They grow well in containers but can also be spotted in rooftop gardens and xeriscape gardens, or gardens that don’t require supplemental water from irrigation.

• Mondo Grass – Contrary to the name, Mondo Grass is a plant that grows well in full to partial sun in rich, moist soil. Also known as monkey grass, it works in gardens used for edging, particularly borders, sidewalks and around driveways.

• Lamb’s Ear – We mentioned Lamb’s Ear recently in a post about plants for kids. This perennial is a top choice for areas that receive lots of sun,and it benefits any garden as it deters deer but attracts birds with its clusters of flowers in blue, pink red or white.

If you’re looking at groundcovers as a way to help solve some of your landscaping conundrums, visit Whispering Springs Nursery so we can help you select the best groundcovers for your landscape.

Photo via Flickr.

Instilling a love of gardening (or at least an appreciation of gardening) at a young age is something that not many adults can say they had the pleasure of introducing to kids. In a tech-focused world, it can be hard to introduce gardening basics to children, but with these top 5 kid-friendly plants, you might be able to encourage an appreciation for gardening and for the green world around them. And who knows, you might even have some budding green thumbs on your hands!

Shasta daisies – Is there a child alive who doesn’t want to run right over and pluck a daisy out of the ground? Shasta daisies can often been seen growing alongside of the highway or roads, but ask your local garden center if there are specific varieties that they recommend for growing in your own backyard.

Petunias – Petunias offer a wide variety of gorgeous colors and are so low-maintenance that you can plant them in a container and forget about them for a couple of days and they’ll still do well. Teach kids how to deadhead petunias and watch them get enjoyment out of helping you as well as the positive effects when new blooms emerge.

Zinnias – Like Petunias, zinnias offer plenty of colors to choose from. Recommended for beginning gardeners, they’re a tough annual that simply require full sun, well-drained soil with rich organic matter mixed in. Zinnias come in both single and double flower varieties, and are great for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

Sunflowers – Sunflowers are a favorite for kids with their hearty, giant heads and sunny yellow petals. Sunflowers germinate very easily, so you can have kids start the seeds indoors to see how fast they sprout. Teach them to harvest the seeds or have them watch birds and other local wildlife feast on them.

Lamb’s Ear – Have you ever watched a child touch the leaves of Lamb’s Ear? This plant’s leaves are soft and fuzzy, and kids will get a real kick out of rubbing them against their skin. Lamb’s Ear tolerates sun, shade and even drought and bloom from early summer to frost, providing enjoyment for months at a time.

Grab your kids and bring them by Whispering Springs Nursery so we can help you find these or other plants that are perfect for tiny gardeners. We can’t wait to hear about their new favorites!

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

It’s happened – your once-luscious garden has turned into a hotbed of weeds, and the plants that you do have are looking a little droopy. We know that even the best gardeners have a situation every now and then where they just can’t force nature, and you can avoid common gardening blunders with these tips from Whispering Springs Nursery.

• Drowning your plants. The trick to watering well is to water deeply but not infrequently. It’s a good idea to fill the soil with water for your plants to drink, but after that you should not water again for two or more days. You can check the moisture in the soil by sticking your finger down an inch or two. If it still feels wet, resist the urge to water for another day or so.
• Over- or under-fertilizing. The best way to increase your soil’s fertility is by regularly adding organic matter to it. A lot of organic matter comes with many plant nutrients, thereby negating the need for fertilizer at all. If your garden does require additional fertilizer, it’s a good idea to apply less than the packaging recommends. Start with half the recommended amount and see how your garden fairs. If you need more, you can always add the additional amount.
• Not using mulch. The benefits of mulch are vast – they smother weeds, contribute organic matter to the soil, prevent soil erosion, and preserve soil moisture, to name a few.
• Overkill on pest management. Use of pesticides can be expensive and are often more problematic in the long run, as they kill good organisms in addition to the bad ones. Bees are excellent pollinators (in addition to hummingbirds, butterflies, beetles and even wasps), and other insects like praying mantises and ladybugs are natural insect predators.
• Not rotating your crops. Crop rotations prevent pests and diseases from ruining your plants and helps to prevent garden losses. A simple example of this is to swap your warm-weather crops and your cool-weather crops each year.

If you have committed any of these garden crimes, don’t worry – you can undo your damage! Contact our Canton garden center so that we can help you get you and your garden back on the right track.

Photo via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There’s nothing better than having homegrown vegetables come out of your garden and onto your table. Summer staples like corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and beans are fairly easy to grow, even for the beginning gardener. Home-grown vegetables are a fun way to encourage you and your family to eat more vegetables, and can be a really fun way to introduce gardening to kids! Here are a few of Whispering Springs Nursery‘s favorite tips to keep your garden providing delicious vegetables through summer and the rest of the year.

5 Vegetable Garden Tips

• Use a planting calendar to track the seasons and life cycles of your plants. Think about the weather and be prepared for possible problems, such as spikes or dips in temperature or drought.
• Plant marigolds to keep pests away. They offer color in gorgeous orange and yellow and are also an organic alternative to using pesticides.
• Build a raised bed to improve the quality of your soil and to avoid compacting, which helps in drainage. You should design raised beds so that you can reach all your crops without having to stand inside the bed.
• Make your own organic compost. This can be especially fun for kids, and can teach them important aspects of gardening. Chemical fertilizers should be your last option, since they can be harmful to your health and can burn your crops.
• Test companion planting and grow certain plants together. Beans, carrots, celery, corn, strawberries, and cucumbers are good companion plants. Alternatively, you want to steer clear of certain combinations, like beans and onions, broccoli and tomatoes, and carrots and dill.

If you’re planning on being in the garden for long hours, make sure you wear a hat to shield your eyes from the sun, and slather on that sunscreen, particularly between the strongest hours of 10am-4pm. On extra hot days, drink extra water to keep yourself hydrated.

If you have any questions about vegetable gardening or container gardening, give us a call or stop by our Jasper garden center and one of our experts will be happy to help!

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you could design the perfect landscape to compliment your home, what would it look like? Would you have trees and shrubs that frame your house, or would you prefer to have one or two specific focal points, drawing the eye to a specific tree or plant? The good news is, the possibilities are endless when it comes to landscaping your Canton home.

Woodland Landscapes are our Specialty 

At Whispering Springs Nursery, we specialize in native woodland landscapes. This means that our landscape designs work with the existing habitat, blended in your garden space for a natural, never-forced look.

When planning your landscape design, ask yourself questions that will help you determine the overall look you want to achieve:

• What design elements are must-haves? Do you want to include a water feature, or have an arbor built? These are often the focal point of a design, and will impact the other elements like plants, shrubs, and stones.
• What do you want the theme of your landscape design to look like? Do you like the look of a Japanese garden, or is country-casual more your style? A theme will help you determine layout and placement, and will help you achieve the representation you’re looking for, whether it’s a calming zen garden or a colorful oasis.
• Do you want to incorporate something larger in your design, such as a stone walkway or deck? Choosing a landscape designer that also builds decks and patios allows you to have your design completed by one company instead of keeping track of more than one designer.

If you’re not sure where to start with your landscape design, contact Whispering Springs Nursery so we can help you design a yard that will complement your home perfectly.

Hummingbirds are one of nature’s most sought-after pollinators, as they’re both beautiful to look at and have a positive effect on your garden. These tiny winged creatures have grooved tongues perfect for getting nectar out of flowers or feeders, and can provide backyard entertainment that benefits both you and the ecosystem. Offering nectar feeders in combination with nectar-producing plants will help you maximize the number of hummingbirds that visit your yard. Take a look at some of Whispering Springs Nursery‘s tips for attracting hummingbirds to your Canton backyard.

While it’s true that hummingbirds are naturally drawn to the color red, there are a variety of plants and shrubs in all colors that will help bring them to your yard, including:

• Bee balm – Bee balm is a favorite among late-summer herb gardens and for flower borders. This perennial grows well in full sun and attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, which are all important pollinators.
• Butterfly Bush – This beauty is easy to grow and produces flower spikes in a number of colors, including purple, pink, white and blue. This shrub is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, making it a great choice for attracting both butterflies and hummingbirds. However, you should check local restrictions before planting Butterfly Bush, as it’s invasive.
• Delphinium – With dozens of blooms on each stem, Delphinium wows at the back of a mixed border, as a vertical accent or in a container. Delphiniums also make excellent cut flowers, so fill your garden with them and then bring a few stems inside to enjoy as well.
• Salvia – Listed as one of the top 18 best plants for attracting hummingbirds, salvias are another excellent drought-tolerant option for summer gardens.
• Phlox – Phlox features clusters of fragrant blooms that come in pink, red and lavender. Best grown in amply moist soil, pair it with dwarf varieties of butterfly bush for the ultimate backyard hummingbird destination.

These are just a handful of the variety of plants and shrubs that will attract hummingbirds and other pollinators to your yard. For more information about what varieties will work best, contact us or visit our nursery.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Once the north Georgia mountains consistently hit those summer highs in the 90s, most gardeners are already concerned about their beautiful plants and flowers getting enough to drink. Each summer, we have those extra-hot, extra-sticky days that make us uncomfortable, and gardeners see the affects in their gardens as well. Luckily, there are a variety of drought-tolerant plants to choose from that ensure beautiful color in your garden year-round.

What to Look For in Drought-Resistant Plants 

The key to choosing drought-resistant plants is to look for plants that can handle both the desert-like conditions as well as take in all the water once the rain returns. Therefore, trying to outsmart the weather by planting a lot of cacti or other desert-dwellers won’t work – those plants may literally drown because their roots won’t be able to suck up the water fast enough.

Look at the Leaves

The leaves of a plant are the main source of water loss. Natural elements like sun and wind causes water to evaporate, so the roots are constantly working to pull moisture out of the soil to replenish the leaves. Drought-tolerant plants have many defenses to prevent water loss in their leaves, including smaller and fewer leaves, which require less water. Additionally, plants with a coating of fuzz or a waxy layer have adapted through time to protect them against water loss.

When Should You Plant?

When it comes to protecting your garden against drought, early spring and fall are the best times to plant. By planting before those scorching temperatures hit, your plants will have a chance to get their roots established. And keep in mind, even the most resilient of perennials will need a solid year to get their roots established to a point that will allow them to withstand a drought easily.

For suggestions on which drought-resistant plants will work best in your Jasper, GA yard, contact Whispering Springs Nursery or come on by so we can help you select beautiful, yet adaptable options.

Photo via Flickr.