Why Fall is the best time to plant shrubs.

We hear it every year, but do you know why the experts always insist fall is a better time than spring to put in shrubs and perennials?  It’s actually very simple, and well explained by Dr. Douglas Welch, a well-known Professor and Extension Horticulturist.  In his article, “Fall is Ideal for Planting Trees and Shrubs,” he makes it all clear: 

When a plant is put into the ground in fall, it may be facing the cold above ground, but over most of the country, root growth below ground goes right on until the deep soil temperature drops below 40 degrees.  (In about half the country, it never falls that low, and even in the coldest areas, the roots have several months to grow before the temperature underground drops to that point.) 

So the comparison is simple. If you plant a shrub in spring, it must acclimate itself to its new home and begin growing immediately.  At the same time, it has to produce leaves, flowers, and then endure the rapidly arriving summer heat.  Plant the same shrub in fall, and

The Heat is On!

Now that summer heat has arrived, we may suffer from discomfort, but wildflower meadows really don’t.  This is one of the great advantages of wildflower gardening:  As one expert put it, wildflowers are famous for “Waiting for the Water.”  When heat hits them, most established wildflower plants may wilt a little, but it’s something they’re expecting, and unless the heat is prolonged, it doesn’t hurt them.  Of course, you can help.  Regular watering during a heat wave helps, especially to keep the bloom going. (The blooming process may slow

Spectacular New Fall Bulbs this year.

Of course, we still have all the classics and then some.  But just look at what’s new for fall planting!  (They’re all at 50% Off right now, so get your order in before the discount drops.)  An incredible new tulip called “Bleu Aimable” and a mix called “Red Hot” are my favorites of scores of new bulbs from Holland this fall.  And as for daffodils, “Misty Glen” with its green eye is back, and just look at one of our new double daffodil mixes, called “Gold and Silver Medalist.”   (Photo top left.)  Among the favorites in our 09 selection of Darwin Hybrid Tulips, known as the “perennial tulips”, there are also new

Now is Iris planning time.

Have you been seeing the big beautiful Bearded Irises in bloom?  They’re finishing their lavish show right now in most of the country, and as any good gardener knows, plan today for a year from now.  Fortunately, they’re on sale at Half Price right now, for a limited time, so you can save as you plan.  Our bareroot Bearded Irises ship in August, and the discount now at 50% will be falling to just 35% soon. 

It’s Wildflower Seed Planting Time!

Late May and early June is a major time for planting wildflower seeds over most of the country.  If you’re installing a meadow or wildflower border, take a look at our “How to Create your own Wildflower Meadow” –it’s the most complete and authoritative how-to on the web.  You’ll find it’s all easy, but there are a few important things you need to know before you start. Like how to keep the weeds at bay, and how to spread your seed.  Covering all regions, our article is the result of working with millions of wildflower gardeners for over 25 years.  Best of all, it’s in plain English and easy to read.  Happy Wildflower Gardening!

Call this one “Tiger Lily.”

Here’s the REAL Tiger Lily, even though millions of people call various other spotted orange ones by the same name.  Want to get it straight?  Well, this tough, easy-to-grow beauty is the real thing:  With large, down-facing flowers & recurved petals, it’s the big one on a tall stalk up to 5 ft.  with glossy green leaves and brown mini-bulbs (bulbils) forming in the leaf axils.  No other lily is a tiger lily.   The name began for obvious reasons,

National Wildflower Week

It’s that time of year.  The famous Lady Bird Johnson National Wildflower Research Center near Austin, TX has a calendar full of events.  National Wildflower Week actually begins Sunday, May 3, but the center has all kinds of things going on for weeks–plant sales, parties, tours, you name it.  We’ve been members of the Center since its founding, and Mrs. Johnson, herself, encouraged us when we

You’re so vain! Narcissus and the Daffodil

Here’s my most-viewed post ever from several years of blogging.  And now that daffodils are in bloom across a large part of the country, and also on sale at 50% Off at AmericanMeadows.com, I thought I’d bring it back.  Enjoy.

Gardeners know the real name of the daffodil is Narcissus.  But do you know the story?  In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man so handsome the Gods forbade him to view his own image.  One day,

The South bursts into bloom.

Wild Azalea in the NC/TN mountains

Eat your heart out, northeasterners!  What I call spring’s “Wildflower Wave” has arrived in the deep south.  After beginning in the southwestern deserts and lower California in February,  the ancient bloom pattern of wildflowers in North America rolls east.  Right now, you can see it everywhere in the south.  Our corresponding gardeners have sent glowing reports recently.  In north Florida, our lady in Pensacola reports lavish azalea bloom.  Every yard is afire with the common large-flowered Formosa types and others.  A little farther north, in the mountains of No. Georgia, daffodils are finishing up, and the spectacular bloom of Bradford Pear trees is everywhere.  In a few days, it’ll be the native dogwoods–

Dahlias! Dahlias! Free! Free!

Each year at this time, we try to find some great bonus giveaway for our customers in our Perennial and Spring Bulb Sales. (Right now, everything in those two sales is 35% off, but soon the discount will be only 20%, and then full price as spring shipping begins in April.)  Last year, it was a Bearded Iris as a free gift along with the sale savings, but this year, it’s a Dinnerplate Dahlia with any order, large or small.  It seems the Dutch growers do their best on production, but there are always surpluses.  Last year it was irises, this year, Dahlias.  So we’ve brought in a huge shipment of top-size, first quality Dinnerplates at a price low enough to include them free with ANY order this week.  Best of all, the giveaway group includes some world favorites:  The top pink “Otto’s Thrill”,  the famous luscious yellow “Kelvin Floodlight”, and even the most popular classic bicolor, “Mystery Day” (shown above.)  So click in soon and get your free dahlia before they’re all gone!