Cooler weather is a great time to test out your green thumb and become a plant parent. If your green thumb isn’t so green, you may realize it can be a bit tricky to keep your houseplants happy and thriving. Keep reading for some tips on how to choose the best houseplants for you and how to keep your plants thriving!

Choose plants that work with your schedule

If you tend to stay busy, you will want more of a low-maintenance plant. Some ideas of plants that are far from high maintenance are succulents, snake plants, and ZZ plants. If you have extra time on your hands to handle more of a high-maintenance plant, we recommend ferns, orchids, and air plants.

Choose your plants based on light available

You’ll want to choose your plants based on the amount of natural light your home receives. Most houseplants prefer bright, indirect sunlight. However, many can tolerate lower light levels. Some succulents and cacti are some of the few plants that can handle bright, direct sunlight.

Water your plants mindfully

All plants have different watering needs, so it’s important to be mindful of their individual needs.

Fertilize your plants periodically

Much like watering, each different type of plant has their own fertilizing needs. It’s important to know how much you need to fertilize them and when.

Don’t forget to prune your houseplants too

Like outdoor plants, houseplants need to be pruned too. Usually the fall is the best time to prune most houseplants.

Repot your plants when needed

If the roots of the plant are circling the pot, it may be time to repot the plant. Or if the plant has outgrown the pot, it’s best to repot it in a slightly larger pot for space purposes. Be sure to read up on tips for the particular plant you’re attempting to repot.

Get your plants from a reliable source

To set yourself up for houseplant success, you’ll want to get them from a reliable source where you can ensure they were taken care of. In addition, their experts can help you pick out the best plant(s) for you and answer any questions you may have.

We hope these tips help you find the right houseplants for you and your lifestyle, as well as how to keep those houseplants thriving! We’d love to help you pick out some plants for your home at Whispering Springs. Give us a call today at 770-893-1254 for more information on our garden center and any of our services!

When summer nights turn cool, it means it’s time to start preparing your yard for the new season. Is your yard ready for autumn?

Here’s what you can do now to ensure that when spring comes your grass is green and flowers are blooming:

Remove any dead annuals.

Clean up your yard by removing any dead annuals to keep everything looking fresh.

Prune any plants.

It’s also to cut back any dead or wilted stems on your other plants.

Inspect your fence.

In order to prevent any issues in your fence from getting worse during the colder seasons, it’s important to inspect it and fix any holes, chipped board, or broken pieces.

Clean your gutters.

Before more leaves start falling, it’s important to clear your gutter of any debris in the meantime. Then add cleaning your gutters regularly to your maintenance schedule throughout the fall season.

Drain any pools or ponds.

Leaves that fall into pools and fountains can clog pumps, create dirty water, and introduce algae. It’s best to drain them for the season and then refill them once winter comes.

Refill your bird feeders.

As the weather gets colder, it is more difficult for birds to find food! Bring some beauty to your yard with some bird feeders with lots of bird seeds.

Plant bulbs and hardy vegetables.

Planting bulbs and vegetables is an important part of preparing your garden for the next growing season!

Check your driveway.

Ice can majorly damage your driveway, so you’ll want to check for any cracks or potential issues in the fall. It’s important to prevent these issues that can happen in the winter.

Ensure your outdoor lights are working.

In the fall and winter, days are shorter and nights are longer, so you’ll want to be sure any outdoor lights are working to help keep you safe.

Clean outdoor furniture.

Properly cleaning your outdoor furniture regularly helps ensure that it lasts longer against the natural elements.

This list may seem like a lot to do on your own, but we’re here to help! If you need assistance getting your yard in tip top shape this fall, we offer yard maintenance at Whispering Springs. Give us a call today at 770-893-1254 for more information on our yard maintenance services!

Fairy gardens are everywhere this summer! They are so popular because they allow you to connect with your imagination and create a whimsical word of your own. They’re a fun project and easy to escape into.

What is a fairy garden?

Fairy gardens, also known as enchanted gardens, are very tiny plots that include live plants, tiny statues, furniture, fountains, swings, and other accessories. Picture an enchanted garden for a fairy! They can be made inside or outdoors. The best part is, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to create one! You can make one on a budget with things you already own!

How do I make a fairy garden?

You’ll want to start with some sort of container like a pot. The more creative you can be, the better. Some other ideas include an old wheelbarrow, box, basket, or teapot. In that container you’ll want to add soil or sand, and then build a garden using objects in your yard such as sticks, stones, and pine cones. Then you’ll finish off your decorating items you’ve made or purchased. Your fairy garden is what you make it and completely up to your imagination which is 

the beauty of it.

Try these fun ideas for your next fairy garden:

Teacup Garden

A wonderfully crafted vintage teacup would make the perfect host for your fairy garden. You can add tiny succulents and flowers to add colors to the garden.

Cottage Garden

Create a cottage garden using a birdhouse. Adding clay to decorate the front, pebbles to the roof, and moss to the external walls gives it a complete fairy cottage feel.

Washtub Garden

You can create a beautiful fairy garden in a vintage galvanized washtub. Plants and tiny birdhouses can create something magical. 

We hope you create the perfect fairy garden for your home! Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and just imagine what you can create for your own fairy garden.

Summer creates a need to enjoy the outdoors and beautiful weather while we can, but you shouldn’t have to leave home to do so. There are ways you can build your own summer oasis right in your own backyard! We’ve come up with our top 7 ways you can create your own personal oasis:

Incorporate Colors and Patterns

Personalize your deck or patio with water-resistant decor that adds your style.

Lots Of Lounging

Every summer oasis needs a space or few to lounge! It’s a place where you can take a nap, read a book, or just sit outside and meditate.

Keep It Green

Surrounding your oasis with lush greenery makes it feel as if you are no longer in your backyard. It also doubles as privacy!

Incorporate Outdoor Lighting

All summer oases must include outdoor lighting. Not only for safety, but so you can fully use them after the sun goes down.

Stay Shady

Shady spots in the summer are absolutely necessary! The shade can be made in multiple ways including large trees, arbors, pergolas, patio umbrellas, and more.

Add An Outdoor Kitchen

If you love grilling & being outdoors, an outdoor kitchen would be a great add-on to your oasis. Imagine spending all spring, summer, & fall being able to watch your favorite team while grilling.

Ensure Privacy

If your outdoor area has a sense of enclosure, it will make it feel more like an oasis. There are several ways to create the enclosure such as fences, garden walls, pergolas, landscaping, and more.

We hope these tips help you create your own summer oasis right in your backyard. If you need help, we’d love to create the oasis of your dreams. Contact us to see how we can help you transform your backyard.

It’s summer in Georgia, which means hot weather, pool days, and lots of mosquitos. If you don’t want to spend the next few months swatting them away, we have some plants you can add to your yard to keep the mosquitos at bay. Most insect-repelling plants do their job with their natural fragrances, so not only do they keep the mosquitos away, but they bring their wonderful scents to your garden as well.

Try these 10 plants to help keep mosquitos at bay:

Marigold

Marigolds are easy to grow and an annual flower. They can keep away several types of insects and add beautiful color to any garden or home.

Basil

An herb that doubles as a pest repellent! You can plant basil in containers or in the garden – it’s great for repelling pest AND on pizza.

Sage

Not only can sage be planted to ward off bugs, it can also be dried and be used to make homemade bug spray.

Catmint

Catmint, also known as catnip, can thrive just about anywhere. It works as an excellent mosquito repellent and might also help you make so new feline friends.

Rosemary

Another great herb that doubles as a pest repellent is rosemary. While you keep the insects away, you can enjoy the herb’s scent and use it in your kitchen.

Citronella Grass

Citronella grass is the most commonly used natural ingredient in mosquito repellants. It is also a low maintenance plant and can be planted directly in a sunny area in the ground.

Scented Geraniun

Scented geranium a popular repelling plant with a strong fragrance that keeps multiple types of pests out of your garden.

Bee Balm

Bee Balm can attract good bugs (the kinds that pollinate your other plants!) and deter the bad ones. You’ll also get to enjoy their beautiful, colorful flowers all summer long.

Lavender

While many know lavender for their amazing scent, few people realize it can also deter mosquitos. Lavender can endure many climates, though it thrives in a warmer climate in the summer.

Mint

Mint is a great nontoxic option for keeping flies, ants, and mosquitos at bay. The dried leaves can also be used inside your home as a natural pest control method.

If you need help keeping the mosquitos at bay, come see us at Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, Georgia. We have a large variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and specimen plants to keep your yard mosquito free all summer long!

Spring weather is here which means it is time to get outside! If you’re looking for something family friendly to do at home, we have a great suggestion for you. Start a kid-friendly garden! 

A kid-friendly garden doesn’t mean you need to cram it with every toy known to man or make it more kid-like either. This garden gives them a space to let their imaginations run wild, while also learning how to nurture and care for plants. Sometimes it doesn’t take much, just a touch of creativity for kids to have a great time out in the fresh air!

We have a few tips for you on how to start your own kid-friendly garden:

Give them a special place in the garden for their plants!

Give each child their own space in the garden to take care of their plants. They’ll each have their own responsibility and that will empower them.

Give them a say on what to plant in their portion!

Here comes the fun part! Let them pick what they’d like to plant in their portion. Typically, these will be plants they recognize like tomatoes and pumpkins. Plants with large seeds such as beans and sunflowers are easiest for small hands to sow! Or they can pick a theme and you can pick plants that go along with their theme. Of course, do your research on toxic plants just to be sure.

Get them their own gardening gear!

Now the garden is in process, they need their own gear. This will get them really excited to take care and nurture their plants. Have them pick out a couple things to garden with and they’ll be a full-time gardener in no time!

We hope these tips help you build a kid-friendly garden that will have your entire family enjoying the outdoors! If you need help getting your garden started, come see us at Whispering Springs Nursery in Jasper, Georgia. We have a large variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and specimen plants.

There are two main elements that make up outdoor living spaces, hardscapes and softscapes. While these two categories are made of of vastly different components, they are both necessary to make a landscape fully functional.

To better explain what they each are, hardscape is the hard stuff in your yard. Think concrete, bricks, rocks, and stone. Softscapes are the soft, growing things. Some examples include flowers, shrubs, succulents, and trees. Another way to think of it is that softscapes are living, hardscapes are not.

Hardscapes

Once you know the difference between the two, the characteristics of hardscapes make more sense. Among them include:

• Hard, yet moveable parts of the landscape
• Inanimate objects
• Solid and unchanging

Other examples of hardscapes include retaining walls, pavers, outdoor kitchen, water features, gazebos, decks, and driveways.

Softscapes

Plants are available in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. When selecting softscapes:

• Consider these your living and growing components of your landscape. This can include flowers, shrubs, trees, ground covers, etc.
• They are softer to the touch literally. Think about touching the leaves of a tree or flower, they are soft.
• They change and evolve constantly. They grow and adapt to the climate and their conditions.

In an ideal world, a well-designed landscape incorporates a balance between these two elements. At Whispering Springs, we can assist you with both! For hardscapes, we offer several services including waterfalls, ponds, rock gardens, decks, retaining walls, walkways, and more! For softscapes, we offer perennial beds, seasonal color beds, landscape design including hardscapes and plantings, and deer-resistant plants. Contact us today to see how we can help your outdoor living space!

The greenest of yards in the spring were truly made in the winter. If you haven’t started already, now is a great time to start prepping your yard for spring time. There’s still plenty of time before spring to prepare your lawn to make sure it looks great all spring long. 

Here are some things you can do now to prepare your yard for spring:

• Clear out debris and plant matters
• Cover all of your shrubs and plants with a frost covering, and be sure to remove the frost covering once chance for frosting has passed
• Apply a generous layer of compost over any garden soil to increase fertility levels and improve water retention
• Cover the ground with an inch or two of mulch to protect any plants from freezing
• Right now and early spring is a perfect time to get any weeds under control before they take over
• Plant any winter-hardy vegetables so they’re ready to harvest in the spring
• Get your soil tested to be sure you know how to improve the soil structure as much as possible
• Prune all your shrubs and trees
• Clean your gutters of any fallen leaves
• Add some new plants so they’re ready for spring
• Aerate your lawn closer to the end of winter after chance of frost is completely gone, this will help increase airflow and improve drainage
• Be sure your irrigation system is in top shape

This list may seem a tad overwhelming, but we’re here to help. If you need assistance getting your yard in tip top shape for spring, we offer yard maintenance at Whispering Springs. Give us a call today at 770-893-1254 for more information on our yard maintenance services!

Is there anything that gets you more into the holiday spirit than the sight of a beautiful Christmas tree, covered in twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments, surrounded by piles of gifts just waiting to be unwrapped? The centerpiece of your Christmas festivities shouldn’t be an afterthought – and there are so many great options to choose from! We’ve gathered up our favorite types of Christmas trees to help you decide which one should be the star of your holiday season. 

Types of Christmas Trees

Did you know that more than 35 types of evergreen trees are grown in the United States for Christmas decor? The availability of each type varies depending on where you live, and each one has its own unique features. These are a few of our favorites:

• Douglas Fir –  Compact branches give the Douglas fir a full, lush look that makes it an instant classic. It is long lasting (which means less cleanup of those pesky pine needles) and is widely available in most regions of the U.S.
• Noble Fir – Another Christmas classic! The Noble fir has less prickly needles than some of its evergreen cousins, while still being sturdy enough to support you precious ornaments.
• Scotch Pine – If you’re looking for a low-maintenance tree that won’t drop all it’s needles if you forget to water it once or twice, a Scotch pine is perfect for you! This is the perfect tree for the busy family who doesn’t want to spend their holiday season circling their tree with a vacuum.
• Fraser Fir – For dramatic decorators that believe that more is more, the Fraser fir’s strong and sturdy branches are the perfect fit! Deck the halls to your heart’s desire – this hearty tree can handle all the lights and baubles you throw at it.
• Grand Fir – If your favorite part of Christmas is the fresh, piney smell of an evergreen tree, choose a Grand fir to bring home! It’s an elegant option that will give your space an immediate touch of holiday cheer.

No matter which tree you choose, don’t forget to keep safety in mind when it comes to displaying, decorating, and discarding your tree. Happy Holidays from the Whispering Springs family!