Arbor Day is right around the corner, always the last Friday of April in Massachusetts. Get in the swing of spring by planting a tree that will bloom and attract bees and other pollinators. Most of these species will also shelter pollinators in winter, such as oak trees with their ridged bark. Many other native trees are recommended…
This year we made the decision to fold our nursery growing operations. I will be moving in late 2022 to Hager Homestead, a new senior cohousing community that will be built in Littleton. We’re left with odds and ends of 20 years in business: selected shrubs and many perennials. Please peruse the list on the Plant Order…
Finish planting bareroot stock such as roses, raspberries, asparagus, and fruit trees Keep transplanting and dividing late summer and fall-blooming perennials Plant containers with frost-resistant varieties Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials Finish pruning and fertilizing roses Prune hydrangeas and scratch in an acid-loving fertilizer to promote bloom Topdress winter damaged broad-leaved evergreens with compost and…
Turf lawns aren’t planet-friendly. Even in our temperate northeastern US climate, lawns require lots of water, and they often involve fossil fuel-guzzling lawn mowers, pesticides, herbicides, and fossil fuel-based fertilizers. Join us for this program presented by Mark Richardson, Director of Horticulture at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA, to learn why and…
It seems high time that I wrote about a vine! With the lengthening days, native honeysuckle vines are beginning to show buds now. This is the time to prune them back hard, as they bloom on new wood that will be produced this spring and summer. The vines will climb to about 10’ a season…
Usually, I’m writing about indoor bulb shows in March. This year, the big shows were canceled with the pandemic. So let’s all try something new this year and look for outdoor bulb displays! Check websites as advance timed tickets are often required for entry. A friend tipped me off that the snowdrops were blooming at…
We’re so happy to introduce a new supervisor: Coleman Wadsworth. He will be with us four days per week and has lots of fine gardening experience to share. Coleman has great experience with installation and planting projects but also enjoys pruning and ongoing garden maintenance. In his spare time, he enjoys experimenting with fermenting foods, making salsa, and learning…
We’ll be opening up beds by raking and trimming back browned stalks of perennials. There are many plants that need pruning at this season: Butterfly Bush, Caryopteris, Smoke Tree, Honeysuckle Vines (see article below), Colored Twig Dogwoods, White Hydrangeas, and subshrubs such as Candytuft and Germander, plus woody herbs including Lavender, Winter Savory, and Sage.…
Q: What will happen to my bulbs if a late snow comes after they’ve sent up new growth, or worse, if they’re already blooming? A: Bulbs are surprisingly resilient and can tolerate cold temperatures well. Emerging bulb tips or stems will simply stop growing and wait for better weather conditions. While snow may knock blooming bulbs over temporarily, they…
That is, as soon as the snow and ice are about out of the way! Aim to finish before new buds emerge in March. Begin by cutting out all dead canes to the base of the plant. These are very visible during this dormant season and will have a different color and lighter feel than live canes.…