Planting season will be here soon – thankfully. No more frozen grounds, snow and ice to navigate up here in the north Georgia mountains. If you live nearby in Jasper in Big Canoe or any of the other surrounding communities, you know that there is a constant fight against our local wildlife to prevent them from chowing down on your favorite plants. Whispering Springs Nursery specializes in planting deer-resistant landscapes, so here are our favorite plants to use that your wild neighbors will stay away from.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, very few plants are considered “deer proof.” There are the plants that we have experienced that deer typically stay away from.

• Chrysanthemum is a beautiful fall blooming plant that will add plenty of spectacular color including tones of red, rust, orange, and yellow.
• Dianthus is a perennial that will perform for you during all of the warmer months of the year. They’ll show off their colorful blooms in spring, summer and/or fall.
• Goldenrod may be one that some of you have to avoid for allergy reasons, but if you don’t have that problem than you definitely want this one in your garden. It explodes with bright yellow flowers in late summer and early fall.
• Hens and chicks – no, not the kind that lay eggs. These are super easy, drought tolerant ground covers that you can plant and forget about.

Have you always wanted a beautiful landscape, but you’ve given up the fight against the whitetail deer population? Give us a call today and schedule a landscape design consultation for your Jasper, GA home. 

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We’re about to experience a hard freeze here in Jasper and the surrounding north Georgia areas. Thankfully, this isn’t something we have to deal with on a regular basis here, but because of the fact that we aren’t used to dealing with temperatures much before freezing, our landscapes might have a hard time handling the cold. Whispering Springs Nursery has some tips for you to give your landscape a hand against the frigid temperatures. 

If you have anything rated for USDA Zone 6 or higher, it’s going to need some help. All of your plants that are potted in containers or hanging baskets should be moved indoors, or at least into the garage out of the wind during a cold snap. If you have small annuals, dig them up and pot them to bring them indoors. They will be more likely to survive with this method, rather than leaving them to fend for themselves out in the wind. Anything that can’t be brought inside should be completely covered to protect it from the wind.

Typically, we would say that you should water everything that must be left in the ground the night before the freeze, but we have had so much rain lately that the ground is wet and this is not a necessary step. Watering plants before a hard freeze will allow the water to freeze around the roots which acts as an insulator and protects them from damage.

As soon as the dangers of the hard frost have passed, uncover all of your plants, put your containers outside, and let them soak up the sunshine!

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The cold winter January weather is settling into the north Georgia mountains here in Jasper, GA but if you want to keep busy in your garden, there are plenty of things you could be crossing off of your to-do list if you’re brave enough to stand the cold. Whispering Springs Nursery has a list of things to keep your thumb green, even when the leaves have gone brown.

• Prepare your beds for bare root roses that will soon be in the nurseries. Dig holes that are four feet wide by twelve inches deep and backfill them with plenty of soil conditioner to help them grow.
• When all of the leaves have dropped off of the trees in your landscape, it makes it easy to see their structure. Mark the ones you’d like to prune off and step back to make sure everything looks right before you get out your loppers.
• If you have a clump of unwanted kudzu or bamboo, now is the time to attack it. Chop it to the ground now and apply weed killer to the leaves in April.
• Make sure you’re watering all of your pansies and other winter annuals before each hard freeze. The water helps to insulate their roots and protect them from the damaging cold.
• If you’re allergic to poison ivy, you can’t let down your guard even though the leaves are gone. The dry vine can still give you a nasty reaction.
• Prune your fruit trees including apples, pears, and grape vines.

Do you have things on your January to-do list that we left off? Share them with us in the comments below!

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Have you ever actually been kissed under the mistletoe? Have you ever wondered where this little holiday tradition originated from? Today, Whispering Springs Nursery has the facts on mistletoe’s origination. Make sure you don’t forget to string up some of the stuff before the big day next week!

• With over 1,300 species across the world, there are only 2 species of mistletoe that grow in the US.
• The direct translation of mistletoe is not as romantic as its story. Translated directly in Anglo-Saxon it literally means “dung twig.”
• The tradition of stealing a smooch under the mistletoe is proposed to be of Greek descent, as the believed that the plant has the power to give life and bestow fertility.
• In the 18th century, the English began using mistletoe in beautifully decorated Christmas balls under which a lady could not refuse to be kissed.
• If a lady found herself standing under the mistletoe and did not receive a kiss, the story goes that she would spend the next year unmarried.
• Mistletoe is an essential part of healthy forest ecosystems.
• It’s toxic to people! But, the leaves and berries are a source of high-protein food for many animals.
• The tradition of mistletoe kissing has no connection with the religious history of Christmas.
• Not to be confused with holly, mistletoe has thin, rounded leaves and white berries.

Whispering Springs wants to know, do you plan on getting kissed under the mistletoe this holiday?

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“The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, in anticipation that St. Nick will soon be there.”

By now, your Jasper, GA home is probably full of Christmas cheer – the Christmas tree has been set up and decorated, your doors are all hung with fresh evergreen wreaths, and you’ve started to fill up your tree skirt with gifts. If you still want to add a little something to your home right before your guests arrive to make your home welcoming, bright, and cheery, Whispering Springs has 3 easy ideas to add just a touch more of Christmas to your home.

1. Candle Lit Walkways

Luminaries have long been used to light the weary traveller’s way, and the tradition carries on today. Create luminaries simply out of paper bags weighted with a little sand or stones, and a tea light candle. For a more permanent option, Get large glass candle holders, fill them with fake snow and a layer of cranberries, set them atop a bed of fresh greenery, and set a large candle right in the center of each one. Light your luminaries at dusk, just before your guests arrive to make their walk up to your home from the driveway just a little bit more magical.

2. Give it Some Green

Here in Jasper, you have pine trees galore at your fingertips. Cut some lush branches and use wire to wrap them around your handrails up your front steps. Finish them off with a big red bow and you’ve added some style and some delightful fragrance to your front porch.

3. Make a Burning Bush

Where did you put that string of Christmas lights that was so tangled you just couldn’t use them? Don’t throw them away! Lay the lights on top of some soil, then insert some dried twigs, branches, and weeds to make a bush-like appearance. When you plug the lights in, it will look just like a burning bush!

These are just a few more fun ideas for your Christmas decorating. We still have ball and burlap trees available at our Jasper, GA nursery so if you haven’t put up your tree yet, these are a great option that won’t just die after the holidays. Plant it in your landscape to remember Christmas 2013 for years to come!

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This season, Whispering Springs invites you to join us at our Jasper, GA nursery to start a new holiday tradition: choosing one of our ball and burlap Christmas trees to let your family’s 2013 Christmas spirit live on for years to come. Choosing a ball and burlap Christmas tree allows your family to plant the tree in your landscape after the holidays have passed so that you can remember Christmas 2013 forever. If you are used to choosing a cut tree or if in past years you have gone with a fake tree, you’ll need to know these tips about ball and burlap Christmas trees to keep them alive and healthy before you plant them in your landscape.

• Always carry the tree by the root ball, not the trunk. Carrying it by the trunk can damage the roots. Be prepared to ask for some help to move your tree – it will be heavy!
  

  A small Norway spruce in a planter.

• Try to keep the tree as cool as possible. Even letting it rest in your unheated garage or basement for a few days before bringing it inside will help it adjust to going indoors.
• Keep the root ball moist! It is important to give the tree enough water, but not drown it. Just water it thoroughly so that the root ball is moist, and water again a few days later when the water is almost gone.
• Dig the hole for planting your tree as soon as you buy it, not after the holidays. This is so you make sure that you have a place to plant your tree when Christmas has passed, just in case the ground has frozen at that point.

Choosing ball and burlap Christmas trees is a fun way to keep Christmas alive all year long. Once you plant your tree in your landscape after the holiday, you’ll always be able to look at it and remember the fun and memories that you made this Christmas. Whispering Springs Nursery is carrying Norway spruce trees and Deodar cedars as ball and burlap Christmas trees, both of which grow great in Big Canoe, Bent Tree, and Jasper, GA areas. 

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Thanksgiving brings to mind two things for us here at Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, GA – turkey and Christmas trees!

We are ready for you to come by on Friday after Thanksgiving and pick out your family’s Christmas tree. While we don’t carry the traditional frasier firs, we’ve got something even better. Our Christmas tree lot is full of Norway Spruce, Deadora Cedars, and Hemlocks all with root balls wrapped in burlap. We think that the best way to do Christmas trees is by adding them to your landscape after the holiday is over. If you’re going to pay upwards of $100+ for a tree that will loose all of its needles in just a few short weeks, why not pay for a tree that will be beautiful for years to come?

When you pull up to Whispering Springs Nursery you may notice that our entire landscape is peppered with Hemlock trees. That’s because for years we had the family tradition of buying a live, ball and burlap, Hemlock that we potted and decorated as our Christmas tree. After all of the presents had been unwrapped, the ham was eaten, and the kids were happily playing with their toys, we all gathered outside and chose a special place to plant our tree. This way, we were able to remember that Christmas for years to come as the hemlock grew and became a beautiful addition to our landscaping.

Start a new family tradition this year, and purchase a live Christmas tree from Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, GA! We can’t wait to see you after Thanksgiving!

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Most of the soil here in north Georgia is our wonderful red clay. It you aren’t knowledgeable about the proper types of plants to install and don’t provide them with the correct soil amendment and fertilizers, you’ll have a tough time trying to create a beautiful landscape. Thanks to the University of Georgia Extension office, you can get help with understanding the mineral content of your soil and what types of fertilizers you’ll need to bring it to the proper concentration to encourage plant growth.

Why Test Your Soil

Soil testing is free to everyone – whether you are just a backyard gardener or a commercial landscaper. Getting your soil tested is as easy as reading the instructions on the UGA Extension office website and mailing in your sample. You’ll hear back from the office in a about 10 days and you’ll have clear instructions on what types of fertilizers you should be adding to your soil to help make your landscaping efforts a success.

Who Should Test Their Soil

Everyone should take advantage of this cheap and extremely helpful resource provided by your local extension office. Whether you are planting a vegetable garden, installing sod, or trying to grow a food plot to invite wildlife closer to home, all of you can benefit from getting your soil tested. The test results will help you apply the correct amounts of fertilizers and lime so that you aren’t over spending on supply costs, or causing more damage to your soil.

Whispering Springs Nursery recommends soil testing to all of our landscape design customers. If you’re ready to turn the backyard of your Big Canoe home into an oasis, give us a call! We’d love to come out and work with you to create the perfect garden for your afternoon escape.

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Winter can be cold, grey, harsh, and downright dreary. When the temperatures turn to freezing, most of us will stay cuddled up inside near our fireplaces with a good book and a hot cup of coffee. That time of year is when you can really appreciate a pop of color in your home or landscape. Bring the beauty from the outdoors in by forcing bulbs indoors. Whispering Springs has the tips on how to make beautiful bulbs bloom in glass containers in your home.

Types of Bulbs That Can Be Forced

Many types of bulbs can be forced, but some will have to go through a chilling time in the refrigerator. Smaller bulbs like crocus, grape hyacinths, miniature daffodils, iris, and tulips are easy to force, but they’ll need several weeks of chilling depending on their variety. Others  such as the amaryllis or paperwhites don’t need this simulated winter and can be potted up according to the package directions, watered, and set in a bright spot to grow and bloom.

Growing in Water

Paperwhites and gladiolus can be forced without soil, in just water and some rocks. These make for a really unique center piece or unique holiday gift for a fellow gardener. To force these bulbs, start with a a few rocks in the bottom of a vase. Add one bulb per vase, setting it on top of the rocks. Pour a small amount of warm water into the vase, to just below the bottom of the bulb – you don’t need to get the bulb wet. In a few days, the bulbs should start putting out roots and as the roots take up water, continue to add a little water at a time to the vases. Now, just watch your bulbs grow and flower! Don’t forget to keep providing them the water that they need.

Looking for more great ideas on planting bulbs? Come see us at Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, Georgia! We’d love to help you get creative with your garden this winter so that you have a pop of color all season long. 

Img via Flickr. 

Most of your landscape will go dormant this winter which means that it is a perfect time to prune your trees and shrubs, both for their health and to maintain their shape, if necessary. Whispering Springs Nursery has tips for you on the plants that you should and shouldn’t get your clippers out for when the weather turns cold.

Fruits

North Georgia is wine country. Many people have grapes growing in their backyard, whether for wine making or just for fun, and the benefit from a healthy dose of pruning in the winter. Training the plants to develop a main stem with several lateral arms is best for their health and production. Prune close to the lateral arms to produce the best fruit later in the year. Your amount of pruning should be relative to the amount of growth the particular grape variety typically produces.

Blue berries and other bush berries produce best on stems that are three years old or less. Each winter, cut about a third of the oldest stems off at ground level to encourage new growth.

Your deciduous fruit trees should be pruned midwinter. You’ll be removing some of the blooms, but allowing more light into the plant to produce a better crop of fruit. To prevent disease while pruning, dip your garden shears into rubbing alcohol.

Roses

Leave your roses to fend for themselves until after their spring bloom. This is the only time that they should be pruned to prevent damage.

Hydrangeas

Most veteran gardeners know that hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so if you prune them in the winter or early spring you’ll be removing flower buds. The best time for pruning is before midsummer, unless you’re growing an Endless Summer Series in which case the timing of your pruning is less critical because they bloom on both new and old growth.

Summer-Blooming Trees and Shrubs

Crape myrtles, butterfly bush, and potentilla produce their flowers on the new growth from the current season. This fact means that winter is a great time for pruning while the plants are dormant. You can even cut them all the way to the ground in late winter and they’ll still bloom in the summer.

Do you have a question about how to prune a particular plant in your landscape? Give us a call at Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, Georgia. We’d be happy to talk you through what your plants need from you this winter. Or, schedule us to come out and take care of your landscape maintenance for you and all you have to do is appreciate your freshly trimmed plants!