posted on April 29, 2016 by

Reclaim Your Landscape from the Wild

overgrown shrubsNature has a mind of its own. It’s easy to step outside on a bright spring morning, only to realize that the thriving garden you planted all those years ago has taken on a mind of its own. Weeds spring up, perennials grow unruly, and deer munch on trees, flowers, and shrubs. Lucky for you, Whispering Springs Nursery is here to help you reclaim your landscape from the wilds of Jasper.

Tips for Redesigning the Landscape

  1. Set goals. Why do you want a thriving landscape? To attract bees and birds, to give the kids a place to play, or to enjoy its beauty from the kitchen window? Taking a serious look at your lifestyle will help you plan the ideal garden.
  2. Consider what went wrong. Do you have drainage issues? Curious wildlife? No time to prune? Take these problems into account when designing a new landscape. Deer around your property won’t miraculously disappear, but if you plant deer-resistant shrubs, you may encourage them to look elsewhere for supper.
  3. Out with the old. Before you start planting flowering shrubs, clear away the brambles. Remove weeds, trim unruly plants, and uproot any vegetation that makes your yard look messy. Get rid of hardscaping eyesores like moldy bird baths and broken garden ornaments.
  4. Ask the pros. Whether you need tips on choosing the right annuals or an artist’s eye for your landscape redesign, Whispering Springs Nursery is here to help. Our retail center is full of knowledgable staff who are happy to help with your plant selection. We also have a landscape artist, James Grno, whose keen eye and artistic mind have transformed many a yard into a vital landscape.

Whispering Springs Nursery has everything you need to redesign your landscape this spring. Visit us for garden inspiration, landscaping tips, and the best selection of plants in Jasper.

Overgrown Yard

Filed Under: Uncategorized
posted on April 10, 2016 by

Holiday in the Sun

Keeping plants healthy when they’re fully exposed to sunlight can be a challenge, but knowing which plants are suited for full sun is the key. Try sticking with native plants, as well as plants that are tolerant to heat and drought. Then, simply plan an arrangement and put that green thumb to work!

Full Sun Annuals

sunflowerBecause of their tendency to be tough and drought resistant, many annuals make popular and fitting choices for planting in full sun. Kansas’ state flower, the sunflower, isn’t picky about soil condition, making it a great choice for easy-going gardening in direct sunlight. Marigolds are similarly low-maintenance and come in different styles such as French, African and Triploid.

Full Sun Perennials

Plenty of perennials also fare well in hot, sunny conditions. Lavender loves hot, dry conditions, and smells wonderful anywhere you plant it. Any area that is nutrient-challenged is a great place for hens and chicks, or sempervivum, a unique style of succulent. The mother plant of this species always stays attached to its babies, helping them grow, so planting these with your children is a fun way to teach them about gardening.

Sunny Border Plants

The smaller, shorter plants used for edging and borders in your garden can often be susceptible to direct sunlight, but not with our help. It’s very important to keep soil type and moisture in mind when choosing your border plants. Yarrow, while technically an herb, is great for garden borders and is nearly care-free once planted. The beautiful daylily, which now has over 35,000 different hybrids, is another gardener’s favorite that needs little attention after you plant it.

For more help with your lawn and garden, contact the friendly gardening pros at Whispering Spring Nursery, or check out our services online any time.

Sunflower

Filed Under: Education, Uncategorized
posted on March 25, 2016 by

Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring Part 2

Have you completed the first 5 steps?

All good things come with time and work. Here are the final steps for prepping your garden to be the best on the block.

6. Divide Necessary Plants

Now is the time to divide any plants (such as Boston ferns) you were hoping to split. Plants can tolerate more stress earlier in their growth cycle and recover faster than later in the season.

7. Stake Your PlantsPlants on stakes

While it may not be everyone’s favorite visually, now is the time to stake your plants. It’s better to have them grow in the direction you want now than wrestle them later in the season when they are more mature.

8. Mulch!

If your soil is warm and dried up, this is the time to add mulch. Mulch = vitamins for your garden. No, they don’t need it, but there is a significant difference when used. Mulch helps increase growth and vibrancy by helping conserve water, feed the soil, smother weeds and cool the plants.

9. Finishing Edgefreshly edged garden

This final step isn’t necessary, but it adds a finished touch that is always noticed. Edge your garden. It makes it look more polished and elevates it’s appeal.

10. Plant your plants

If you haven’t already, pick your plants and get to digging! We recommend planning the placement first by placing the plants in their temporary containers in their planned spaces before planting -just to make sure it looks as beautiful in real life as it does in theory. Now bust out that shovel and plop them in the ground.

If you need help planning your garden, whether it’s picking plants, mulch, or tools, stop by or contact us. We’d love to help you create the garden of your Pinterest dreams!

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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 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 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!

 

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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
posted on July 8, 2015 by

How-To Start Your Own Vertical Garden

garden upWhat is a vertical garden?

Essentially, a vertical garden is exactly how it sounds; your garden will grow upwards versus lying horizontally on the ground. Trellises attached to the ground or to large containers allow you to grow flowers, vegetables, etc., just like a regular garden.

What are the advantages of a vertical garden?

  • There are smaller beds to prepare and maintain. With horizontal gardening, there are spaces of soil between the plants that soak up nutrients that your plants could have. With vertical gardening, the size of the base will fit the size of the root perfectly.
  • It saves space! If you don’t have a lot of space in your backyard, this is a great alternative. A lot of people use it to cover an unwanted view, like a beat up wall or fence.
  • Fewer pests and diseases. Lifting your goods off the ground will make pests less destructive, and make it easier to spot an infestation if it appears.
  • Reducing the soil footprint needed to grow plants while encouraging denser growth.
  • Less pain on your own body make it easier to harvest. Harvesting flowers and fruit that are within waist and eye level prevent your back from feeling like it’s breaking!

Where do I start?cans

The great thing about a vertical garden is that anyone can do it! With just a few materials, you can easily create your frame for under $15.

For instructions on starting your own basic garden, here are 9 steps to get yourself started.

Looking to get creative? Here are 39 Insanely Cool Vertical Gardens.

Whispering Springs Nursery wishes you luck on your vertical garden process! Please contact us today or stop by sometime to discuss how we can help you!

castle

Filed Under: Education, Uncategorized
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