posted on March 11, 2016 by

Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring Part 1

The temperature is rising, the sun is shining and it’s making us want to get outside and get started on that beautiful garden we’ve been scouring Pinterest for and dreaming of.  While the weather might be right, it’s important to make sure your garden area and tools are ready for their “busy season.” Here are five steps to take to ensuring a fruitful garden this seasn.

 1. Get Your Tools Ready

First thing’s first, prep your supplies. Start saving containers for seedlings, order your seeds and clean your tools. A great way to clean them is add a little oil to the metal then scrub them with a Scotchbrite pad. A neat little storage trick is to store them in a bucket of sand to prevent them from rusting.

2. Remove the debris

When you soil will no long hold a ball (drop a ball on your soil, if the ball stays put, the soil is good, if the ball rolls, it’s time to replace it), rake your lawn and clear it of the debris that has built up. Debris is also a good thing to add to compost.perennials

3. If you have perennials, prep them

Prune your perennials as soon as you see new growth so that the plant stays on its seasonal cycle. If you have any plants that only bud on new growth, prune those plants as well. By cutting the dead stems, it will bring it out of it’s dormant stage.

4. Pull the weedsno weeds!

It’s best to weed while the topsoil is still damp so that you are able to get to them before they seed the rest of the lawn. Be sure to put the
weeds in a pile separate from your compost. If the weeds mix with your compost you’ll be spreading the seeds back into your garden.

5. Test Your Soil

Before you bring any new plants and blossoms to your garden, test the soil’s balance to see what kinds of fertilizers or pesticides you may need. To test your soil’s pH level, take 1 cup of soil from different parts of your garden, add 2 spoonfuls into separate containers then add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the soil. If it fizzes, you have alkaline soil with a pH between 7-8. For more on soil testing, here is a great resource.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized
posted on November 18, 2015 by

DIY Flower Decorations For Thanksgiving

Fall is the perfect time to decorate your house. The bright fall flowers with a colorful mixture of fixtures such as pumpkins, vases and other accessories can great the perfect theme for the holidays! Here are a few DIY flower decorations for Thanksgiving.

diy thanksgiving flowers

  1. Cranberry vases with hydrangeas. These vases are gorgeous centerpieces for any household table! The beautiful purple color mixed with a light green color creates the perfect color palette and mixes well with other pieces.
  2. Pumpkin gourds and flower fixture. Add a little modern twist on decor with this project! Stack them in multiples on your entry table or scatter them throughout the house.
  3. Sunflowers and pumpkin vases. Fall doesn’t have to be for dark colors! Use bright yellow sunflowers to add a little pop of brightness to your home. Pumpkins are a great way to be festive and get creative.
  4. Wildflowers and barrels. Want a more rustic look? Then this is a must have! Great a shabby chic look by adding a large array of wildflowers to a large barrel.

Inspired? Be sure to stop by Whispering Springs Nursery to pick out all the flowers for your decorations! You can visit our site for list of everything we have. You can also check out our Facebook page for updated products! Give us a call at 770-893-1254 and we’d be more than happy to help.

Filed Under: Uncategorized
posted on November 6, 2015 by

Repellex: Your Chewed Up Plant Solution!

We’ve got a lot going on this November, and we’re excited to share it with you! Here’s a few of our deals and a product we’re featuring for hunting season; Repellex!

repellex

November Deals

  • All perennials are buy two get one free, excluding the Tiarella and Heuchera perennials. These two are buy three get 1 free.

Featured Product

One of the great products we have this season is Repellex. Repellex is a pest repellent for plants, so the winter critters won’t chew up all your hard work! Many businesses like ours will push you to buy plants that animals aren’t typically attracted to. But with Repellex, you can buy anything you want without the worry of pests!

Repellex comes in a variety of different products, including the original deer and rabbit repellent, fruit and vegetable animal repellent, mole, vole and gopher repellent, dog and cat repellent and squirrel repellent.

These repellents work because they last from 60-90 days. You can find out more about all Repellex products on their ingredients on their website.

Visit Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, GA for all your plants, perennials, landscaping services and more! Check us out on our Facebook page for updates on products, services, industry news and more. You can also give us a call at 770-893-1254 for more info.

 

Filed Under: News & Events
posted on October 22, 2015 by

It’s Deer Season…And We Have Deer Resistant Plants!

It’s deer season, and while this is a highlight of the year for many, it’s unfortunate for those who have their garden eaten to shreds. But did you know? Deer-resistant plants do exist! Here’s a little breakdown:

Something to keep in mind: Remember, plants are never completely deer resistant. They just have a much lesser chance of being severely damaged! There are plants that help lessen the damage. For a full list of deer-resistant plants, click here.

deer resistant plants

What plants to deer like? 

  • Perennials
  • Shrubs
  • Food, foraging and browsing crops
  • Trees

What plants to deer dislike? 

  • Poisonous plants. Not surprisingly, deer stay away from poisonous plants. Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are among these that emit toxins deer don’t enjoy.
  • Scented plants.  Herbs like sages, ornamental salvias, lavenders, peonies, and bearded irises come across as “smelly” to deer.
  • Prickly plants. Just like humans, deer don’t like the prickly plants! It causes them to feel threatened. An example of this could be a lamb’s ear plant.
  • Bleeding perennials. This perennial is one of the best deer-resistant plants out there.

Luckily for you, Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, GA specializes in deer-resistant plants! Give us a call at 770-893-1254 or visit our website services for more info! You can also check us out on our Facebook page for updates, tips and tricks and more.

 

Filed Under: Education
posted on October 8, 2015 by

5 Ways To Use Pumpkins In Your Yard This Fall

It’s fall, and what’s more a  more signature statement than a plump pumpkin? While most stick to carving, lets get a little creative. Here’s a few things you can do to incorporate pumpkins in your yard!

pumpkin garden

  1. Make a pumpkin totem! Well technically, they’re called a pumpkin tipsy pot. Essentially, you gather a large pot filled with soil, stick a rod in the middle, and stack a bunch of pumpkins on it. You can stick flowers in each pumpkin or decorate the pumpkins to your liking!
  2. Succulent pumpkin DIY! Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkins and throw in some succulents.
  3. Hang them! Consider hanging pumpkins on plant hangers, garden hooks or even on your door.
  4. Spray paint them! Whether it’s craft paint or spray paint, adding creative touches will make your pumpkins unique.
  5. Plant some yourself! Surprisingly growing a pumpkin garden is actually very easy.

Need some pots and other items to get you started? Stop by Whispering Springs Nursery! We have a full variety of plants and landscaping items perfect for fall. Give us a call at 770-893-1254.

Filed Under: Uncategorized
posted on September 23, 2015 by

11 Flowers To Plant This Fall

Here are a few perfect fall plants for your garden this season!

  • Toad Lilly. These flowers grow great in the shade, and they’re beautiful! Their spotted leaves will add some great texture to your garden, especially in areas that are dying.
  • Colchicum. This flower’s cup shaped head will add style and uniqueness, as well as color and shape.
  • Asters. The great thing about asters is that they come in a variety of colors, so you’ll have no trouble finding colors to spruce things up. Bees also love them, so you’ll have visitors even late in the season!
  • Perennial Sunflower. This yellow will look great in your yard once the leaves start changing color, and keep your garden looking happy even when the weather isn’t!
  • Blue Star Amsonia. These are whitish-blue flowers that scatter across your yard. They provide a sort of cool and calming texture, which fits the fall theme perfectly.
  • Red Spider Lily. These are one of the brightest red flowers you’ll ever find. Despite it’s ugly name, the bright red petals will provide great accents to your garden.
  • Goldenrod. This is such a traditional seasonal change flower. It’s pretty and tough, so it will stay alive without much maintenance on your end.
  • Helenium. This is another strong flower, and easy to grow. It’s multicolored, so it’ll stand out among the rest!
  • Beautyberry. This perfect combination of green and purple is perfect for fall and will truly tie the whole garden together.
  • Garden Mums. These can also be kept in flower baskets! They look luscious and fill provide a full look to your yard.
  • Sedum. These are perfect to plant at the end of summer because they bloom best during the fall. They will add a great highlight to the rest of your garden.

Interested where you can find these? Well Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, GA is your place! Come explore our large variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and specimen plants. Give us a call to see what we have or take a look at our nursery page for more information!

Filed Under: Uncategorized
posted on September 10, 2015 by

Your Ultimate DIY Tree Pruning Guide!

Most of you all are putting away your tools for the fall…but don’t be so quick to retire! Did you know that colder weather is the perfect time to prune? The foliage is gone, and the branches are clearly visible! The tree is dormant, so there is no bleeding of sap, and there are quite a variety of trees less prone to disease in the cold. Here’s everything you need to know!

small shrub

Prune your shrubs this fall with these simple tips!

What Do I Need?

  • Hand Pruners: Used to remove small branches (up to the size of about your middle finger).
  • Loppers: Used to remove 2-3 inch branches.
  • Pruning Saws: These are specialized saws whose teeth are spaced widely. Good for 5-6 inch branches.
  • Chain Saws: Used to remove large branches.

What’s My Reason For Pruning? 

A guide to live by is the Five D’s: dead, dying, diseased, deformed or damaged. These are all valid reasons for needing to prune. Do a check up every once in awhile, things change quickly!

Why Should We Prune?

  • Strength. This means pruning to make sure the branches are strong and stable, eliminating the possibility of damage by rain or snow. Look for branches that are rubbing together, and remove one branch. Rubbing together causes open wounds that lead to disease. Also remove water sprouts of suckers, and don’t forget to look at the base of the trunk!
  • Form. Many trees will thrive once some of the interior branches are removed. It allows for air circulation and sunlight! Remove a few leaders, which are branches near the top that grow vertically. Also remove inward growing branches, or those growing downward.

Don’t want to take on the task yourself? That’s great, because Whispering Springs Nursery can do it for you! We specialize in the pruning of trees and small shrubs. Give us a call at 770-893-1254 and we’ll help you out. Check out our other services as well, we do it all!

Filed Under: Education
posted on August 27, 2015 by

4 Things To Know Before Creating A Rock Garden

Rock gardens are a great and creative way to add unique shapes and textures to a garden landscape while giving it a natural feel! The combination of rocks, plants and flowers is an inexpensive way to enhance the beauty of your rock garden design. To maximize your rock garden, there are four aspects to evaluate; drainage, sunlight exposure, existing house exterior design and trees and flower beds.

rockgarden

                                  Be unique by combining flowers and rocks into your own rock garden!

Drainage

Rock garden design requires a location that has good drainage. Areas that are slightly raised (like slopes) are perfect for designing attractive rock gardens. Plants may not thrive and/or rot in areas that stay wet for too long!

Sunlight Exposure

Sunlight exposure is usually critical for most plants and flowers although some plants grow well in shade. If your backyard or front yard has bright and shady areas, it is a great idea to design few different rock gardens.

Existing House Exterior Design

A large rock, brick and stone wall look beautiful, natural and enhance the visual appeal of a rock garden design. A good rock garden design requires an attractive background that you can add. A natural rock garden can be created without it. Need some inspiration? Here’s 20 Rock Garden Design Ideas!

Trees and Flower Beds

Trees and flower beds provide colors. And with the changes of the seasons, your rock garden will constantly be interesting, surprising and beautiful! Rock garden plants with an informal design add a natural charm and simplicity yet still looking elegant.

Inspired? Let Whispering Springs help you out. We can create a rock garden for you! Visit our hardscape services page to find out more information, or give us a call at 770-893-1254!

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized
posted on August 5, 2015 by

Avoid Mistakes In Your Container Garden

Container gardening has been a great way of gardening for as long as we can remember. It’s quick, it’s easy and you can make it your own by arranging pots with your own style! While container gardening may be slightly easier than planting into the ground, simple principles are often overlooked. Here’s a few things you may have overlooked!

pansy-260837_1280

image via pixabay

1. Move the big pots first, then fill! Luckily once filled with soil and plants, little pots are still fairly easy to move. But once the large pots are filled, they will be extremely heavy to move. Try to find a place for the large pots first before filling it, and assume it will stay there. You’ll save your muscles a lot of energy!

2. Don’t over water your plants. Not enough water can kill plants, but so can too much! Signs of over watering include yellow leaves or limp plants. Try to buy containers that have drainage holes. Also, check the moisture requirements for the plant you have, and follow those instructions accordingly.

Rule of thumb: Before watering, check if the soil is moist! To do so, stick your index finger two inches beneath the soil. If it’s dry, water them!

3. Don’t under water your plants! In the summer especially, most containers need watering at least once a day. Smaller ones or hanging containers may need more, because there is less soil to hold the water. Try to water until you can see the water coming out from the bottom of the container.

4. Buy healthy plants! When buying starter plants versus seeds, make sure your plants aren’t sick (disease and pest free). Buying at nursery like us is a great place to start, as we have staff who can offer valuable advice!

5. Have realistic expectations. How much time do you expect to dedicate to your garden? Will you be gone from your house for long periods of time? How much will this cost? It’s easy to jump into it and get excited, but make sure you choose what works for your lifestyle!

Considering planting a container garden or need help? See Whispering Springs Nursery! You can bring your containers in and we will be happy to plant them for maximum wow factor or we can help you choose the plants to do it yourself. Call 770-893-1254!

Filed Under: Education
posted on July 22, 2015 by

Perfect Pallet Vegetable Gardens

furnitureA DIY trend that has been prevalent online this summer concerns using pallets for creating furniture and all sorts of things. So Whispering Springs Nursery wants to share another DIY use for pallet with you. In this blog we will discuss creating a Vegetable Pallet Garden!

To begin with, you will need to get supplies. Pallet gardening is very simple, all you need is a wood pallet, some seeds and some good soil. Pallet gardening is excellent for new gardeners to try, is a great project for children and is good if you simply want to mix things up a little bit.

Tips for Choosing a Wood Pallet

New Pallets- if you prefer to start your garden with a new pallet, a quick Google search can help you find a distributor in your area. Generally, these pallets can be purchased for around $10.

(Looking for a bit more do-it-yourself fun? You can always stop by her local supply store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s, and get the wood and supplies you need to build your own wood pallet. However, sometimes it’s cheaper to go ahead and buy one already made.)

Recycled Wood Pallets- If you decide to use recycled pallets, check on the side to see if the pallet has been stamped with “HT.” This means that the pallet with heat-treated, instead of chemically treated. However, even if you do find the HT stamp, there is still no way to tell if chemicals were spilt onto your wooden pallet. To try to kill bacteria and remove chemicals from your old pallet, scrub the wood with a mix of bleach and soapy water (beware of rusty nails or staples); then let the pallet dry out completely before using it to plant anything. *Browse recycled wood pallets in Georgia here.

palletPlanting Your Garden

After you have selected your pallets and decided how many you are going to use, place the pallets on a flat surface in your yard. Adding landscape fabric / cloth or even a plastic barrier to the back of your pallet is optional. (Side note: one of the amazing advantages of pallet gardening is that you can put the pallets on the ground, on tables for easier reach or you can even use it as the base for a vertical garden.)

Fill your pallet with good quality potting soil or a container mix; using regular garden soil designed for planting beds is NOT recommended as it is too heavy for a pallet garden. Now it is time to plant your seeds or plants, whichever you have. Be sure your plants are positioned firmly in place. If you are planting a salad garden, you may want to plant one type of vegetable in each pallet so you can easily differentiate between them (of course a garden sign will help too). That is it! It really only takes a few simple steps to create a perfect pallet garden.

Plant Suggestions  

If pallet gardening seems like it is for you, here are a few suggestions of what others have found to grow well in pallets:

Bell peppers, eggplant, candlelight hot peppers, bush beans, spinach, cabbage, bush squash, summer squash, lettuce, cabbage, radishes, peas, beets, kale, scallions, ‘Tiny Tim’ and ‘Patio Hybrid’ tomatoes, to just name a few.

Be sure to try and choose plants that come in pest and disease resistant varieties. If you are unsure about these varieties, please feel free to contact us at Whispering Springs Nursery anytime! We are always happy to help fellow gardeners and love hearing about your new garden projects!
We hope you’re having a wonderful summer, and as always, happy gardening!

Filed Under: Education, Uncategorized
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