Living in North Georgia, we’re lucky enough to enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the woods and mountains every day. When it comes to landscaping your North Georgia home, you can embrace that same beauty with woodland gardening. Read on to learn what woodland gardening is, as well as some woodland gardening ideas from the North Georgia landscaping experts here at Whispering Springs Nursery. 

What is woodland gardening? 

Woodland gardening is all about creating outdoor spaces that blend into the surrounding natural habitat. Rather than stark divisions between woods and lawns, geometric shapes and straight lines, and identical, carefully shaped plantings, woodland gardening offers a more organic, natural look. 

This approach to gardening is not only aesthetic, but also functional. When choosing plants for a woodland garden, opt for native shade plants that will thrive in the shadow of the surrounding trees. There are also many native plants that are resistant to those pesky deer, and a good woodland garden design will take that into account.

Ideas for woodland gardens

• Embrace the seasons. Clever landscaping will ensure that your yard looks beautiful throughout the entire year, not just in springtime. Planting a mix of evergreens, flowering shrubs, bulbs, and other plants with year-round interest will give your garden a dynamic, yet always beautiful, look. 
• Work with what you have. Rather than fighting the existing environment, go with the flow for a natural look that also requires less maintenance. Woodland landscaping often takes into account the falling of leaves, either allowing them to remain as they fall, or for a neater look, the ability to collect and shred the leaves before re-applying as mulch. 
• Less is more. Part of the beauty of woodland gardening is its simplicity, accentuating what is already there, rather than fighting against it. Just a few thoughtfully-chosen plantings or a stone-lined dry creek bed can polish the look of your yard. 

At Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, Georgia, we specialize in landscaping to fit your home and the North Georgia environment, including woodland garden design, deer-resistant plant selection, and shade plant selection. Visit our nursery or contact us online to learn more about our residential landscaping services! 

When it comes to running your business, even the smallest details matter, adding to the overall impression of your brand. Your commercial landscaping is not a small detail, so give it the serious attention it deserves! These are a few of our top tips from your north Georgia landscape design experts at Whispering Springs Nursery.

What’s in a name? 

Well, when it comes to your business, everything! That’s why the highest priority for your commercial landscaping should be to make the areas around your signs look good. A sloppy, unkempt appearance isn’t going to attract many customers, so landscape maintenance is key. 

However, you should also consider the scale and style of your sign. A big sign will need larger plantings to make it look like it belongs, instead of totally dominating a tiny flower bed or shrimpy bushes. The style of the landscaping should tie in with the style of the sign, whether that is traditional, modern, rustic, etc. While it may seem obvious, it’s also important to make sure your sign is visible! Any landscaping should accentuate the sign, not obscure it. 

Georgia on my mind

When selecting commercial landscaping plants, it’s smart to opt for low-maintenance varieties, which often include drought-tolerant native Georgia plants. Plants that are native to your area are going to require far less maintenance, fertilization, water, and pest control in order to thrive and look beautiful, which means you can save time and money to put back into other areas of your business. If you’re interested in native plant landscaping in north Georgia, our Jasper nursery is here to help!

Keep them coming back

Commercial landscaping can be a huge draw to your business, not only catching the eye of potential customers but also ensuring that when people do visit your business, they have a positive experience and can’t wait to visit again. Creating engaging, beautiful spaces with landscaping and hardscaping will set your business apart from the rest and help you make the best impression possible. 

Check out our commercial landscape design work to see some of our past projects, and give us a call today to schedule a consultation for your business! 

The summer heat in north Georgia is no joke, and it can be as tough on plants as it is on us humans! If you’re looking to scratch a gardening itch without spending time outdoors in the sweltering sun and stifling humidity, check out these hardy houseplants to grow indoors this summer. 

Pothos 

This tropical vine is one of the most popular houseplants for a reason. Pothos can handle low to bright light, although medium to bright light will allow them to develop more attractive variegation on the leaves. They are quite forgiving when it comes to watering, and best of all, they are superstars when it comes to air purification! According to some research, pothos can remove common indoor pollutants released by furniture, carpeting, building materials, and cleaning products. 

Aloe vera

As a succulent, aloe vera requires minimal watering, which means it will be just fine when you come back from your summer vacation. Aloe thrives in container gardens and makes a great addition to a sunny windowsill in your kitchen. If you ever burn yourself on a hot pan or the oven door, snap off an aloe leaf – the inner flesh of the plant produces a gel-like substance that soothes minor burns, aids in healing, and inhibits bacterial growth. 

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa (also known as Swiss Cheese Plant) is having quite a moment on Instagram these days, but it will remain a classic house plant due to its elegant form and tropical vibes. During the summer, monsteras can sprout up to a dozen new leaves, which can be left to trail horizontally or trained on a trellis for more vertical growth. 

What are your favorite houseplants to grow? Whatever you’re looking for, visit us at Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper to shop our large selection of indoor and outdoor plants. We can also help you update your outdoor areas with landscape design and maintenance, hardscaping, and even deer-resistant softscaping, so contact us today to learn more. 

High temperatures aren’t just an annoyance for us humans in these hot Georgia summers; the heat can also take a toll on trees, shrubs, and other plants. While you can’t change the weather, there are ways to protect plants from heat stress. At Whispering Springs Nursery, we love helping our clients grow their green thumbs, so check out some tips to help you keep plants alive during the hottest parts of the summer. 

Know the best way to water plants.

• Give trees and shrubs (especially those under 3 years) a good watering once a week during hot, dry spells. If they are mulched, place hose under mulch to ensure water is reaching the roots. 
• Avoid overhead watering – using a hose, sprinkler or watering can to water the plant from above. It’s more effective to water the soil directly, minimizing water loss to evaporation and ensuring the water is reaching the roots where it’s needed. This can also protect your plants from foliage diseases like blight and mildew. 
• Herbaceous perennials should be watered when the soil has mostly dried by placing the hose in the soil about an inch. 
• Water first thing in the morning to reduce evaporation loss and give your plants the water they need to make it through the hottest part of the day. 

Mulch generously. 

• There are many reasons to mulch your landscaping; it reduces the need for maintenance chores like weeding, encourages strong growth, and most importantly, protects plants from heat damage. 
• Mulch protects plants from the ravages of harsh, direct sunlight. 
• Mulch helps retain water and reduce evaporation by trapping the moisture under the mulch, near the roots. 
• Don’t over-mulch – keep wood mulch at least 6 inches away from the main trunk/stem of trees, shrubs, or herbaceous perennials, and maintain a mulch depth of 2-3 inches. 

Don’t stress your plants. 

• Heat and drought are more than enough stress for your landscaping plants to take. Don’t further stress them by fertilizing, pruning, or transplanting them.
• Avoid spraying weed killer when temperatures are above 85 degrees; the poison can drift and damage your landscape plants. 

Whether you’re looking for landscape plants that can survive hot Georgia summers, yard maintenance to keep your lawn looking its best, or native woodland landscape design for your North Georgia home, we’re here to help! Feel free to contact us or stop by to visit our Jasper plant nursery.

Summer in Georgia is famously hot and humid, but all that sunshine and humidity also gives us a super lush summer season. Apply your sunscreen, grab your hat and sunglasses, and find out what to plant in your summer garden!

• Tomatoes – Is there anything more luscious than a home-grown tomato fresh off the vine? Once you grow your own, you’ll never want to go back to the flavorless tomatoes found at most grocery stores. The best part of growing tomatoes is that there are so many options! From heirloom tomato varieties to patio-friendly plants that even apartment dwellers can cultivate, we can help you find the right plants for your garden.
• Beans – Pole beans, lima beans, snap beans – why choose just one? Beans are a great addition to your summer garden.
• Pumpkins – Get ready for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving by planting pumpkins now! By the time autumn arrives, you could have your very own Great Pumpkin – or several!
• Other good additions to your summer garden include okra, cucumbers, squash, and corn.

To keep your crops going strong through the hot summer months, try to water deeply, but less often. This will help to alleviate drought stress and save wasted water from ineffective irrigation. Mulching your garden will also help conserve moisture when you do water.

Summer is also the time to start planning your fall garden! Give us a call if you’re interested in our landscape design services, or visit our Jasper plant nursery to pick out your new garden additions!

Summer is the season of outdoor fun on the lawn, porch, or patio. From catching fireflies and playing in the sprinklers to grilling with neighbors and sipping iced tea on the porch swing, keeping your landscaping maintained will ensure you get the most out of each and every one of your home’s outdoor spaces this summer. At Whispering Springs Nursery, we love helping our clients and customers create their ideal environment with landscaping, a lush plant nursery, and yard maintenance.

Of course, keeping your front, side, and back yards in good shape can be a big job, especially if you let it go for too long. Sticking to a checklist of summer yard maintenance can help keep your lawn looking great and make the work less daunting than waiting until your yard looks like a jungle. With our summer thunderstorms, the “jungle” can develop more quickly than you might think!

Summer Yard Checklist

• Mowing and edging the lawn – Mowing the lawn isn’t just an aesthetic chore, it can actually help your grass grow healthier and more lush.
• Pruning shrubs and small trees – Learn how to prune like a pro, or leave it to us – it’s important to prune trees and shrubs the right way for proper growth.
• Planting bed maintenance – This includes weed control, mulching, properly-timed fertilization, leaf removal, and seasonal maintenance like dead-heading perennials.
• Cleaning and maintaining water features – Ponds, fountains, and other water features are a beautiful addition to the landscape, but require regular care to keep them functioning properly and avoid hazards like mosquito nesting.

If you need some help keeping your yard maintained, or just want to take lawn care off your plate so you can enjoy more time for what you love, get in touch! We provide lawn maintenance in Jasper, GA and surrounding areas, and would be happy to schedule an appointment with you.