Category: Flowers

Why Not Plant Fruit Trees in Your Front Yard?

Have fun with fruit trees in your front or back yard. You don’t need acres of ground to experience the taste of freshly picked fruit. With today’s dwarf & semi-dwarf rootstocks, everyone can grow at least one fruit tree no matter how small your yard. Consider planting a fruit tree or two in your front yard.

We still have a good stock of many varieties available, and Fall is a wonderful time to plant a tree.

Single fruit trees make wonderful accent points in a mixed border with their spring blossom and summer fruit. Persimmons make wonderful, small shade trees. Dwarf fruit trees grow very happily in large pots or half barrels.

Amaryllis Belladonna Lilies – Water-Wise Bulbs

Amaryllis Belladonna is a late summer/fall blooming lily which grows from a large bulb. They can survive with absolutely no additional water once established, putting on a lush display of strap-like leaves as soon as rains fall in November. By the dry days of summer, they shed their leaves again and remain hidden and protected to emerge in July as naked stalks reaching skyward to about 2 feet, then they bloom.

These amaryllis bulbs are hybrids, so they bloom across the pink spectrum; beautiful July, August, and into September.

Culture

amaryllisAmaryllis grow in full sun to light afternoon shade. You can find them naturalizing around old homes and wooded areas, a testament to their longevity without care.  They can do well with or without regular water, but they don’t want to sit in water or moist soil.

We have enormous bulbs ripe with potential.

 

Succulents in the Garden

Succulents are easy to grow, beautiful, and popular. And that is not hard to understand when you see all the advantages they offer, especially here in our Valley.

Why are Succulents so Grand?

Low Water – Succulents can withstand drought better than soggy soil. These plants thrive where others wilt from lack of water. Your water district recommends these plants as an essential part of landscaping and gardening water conservation.

Low Maintenance – These plants are about as close to “plant it and forget it” as you can get. Most are native to the harsh southwestern desert where they have learned to fend for themselves. If your time for gardening and landscaping is limited, succulents belong on your shopping list.

Versatility – These plants are equally happy to be in your garden, landscaping, containers, and inside your home as houseplants. As long as you keep in mind, they do have some special needs. Most require at least 6 hours of sunlight others morning sun only; all require fast-draining soil. Location is important, and some will need protection during the colder months.

Good Looks – Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice appearance for all these benefits. Succulents are some of nature’s most beautiful and exotic plants. Outdoors, your succulents will liven up your garden and give your home an original look. Few plants attract as much attention as these. You can use them as dramatic accents or go all out and create a complete desert garden motif. Inside, dish gardens with succulents can provide an attractive tabletop decoration that is sure to be a conversation starter.

Off-Season Blooming – When most other plants are in their dormant cycle, and the rest of your landscaping has the winter color blahs, many of these plants are at their colorful best. The aloes are in their glory from December to January; the cacti, puyas, yuccas and agave flower from April to June. A well-chosen selection and placement of cacti, succulents and their cousins will give your landscaping a year-round color look your neighbors will envy.

Here at Alden Lane, we have a large selection available for you to combine or we can suggest combinations for you. With their wide variety of architectural forms, succulents are a great garden addition.

We also have many color selections. You may like the blues, bronzes, purples or pinks of the Echeverias or the fuzzy feel of the Kalanchoe. 

These plants are among the most versatile of drought-tolerant garden offerings. They can express your artful side or your whimsy, whatever you choose. Also, they combine well with other low-water-use plants to make a lush garden display. Come in and catch on to this ongoing trend.

Spectacular Salvias

Salvia Black and Blue

The salvia family is endless! Salvias add water-wise color & texture. There are ornamental, edible and native members of this expansive family. Salvia display a variety of colors both in flowers and foliage. You can often enjoy wonderful aromas from the leaves as well.

Salvias are sun loving with a few varieties appreciating a shade break in the afternoon.

Many are long blooming, attract hummingbirds and butterflies and require very little care once established.

Favorite Salvias:

  • Salvia greggii – Known as Autumn Sage, this variety is available in a number of flower colors – red, yellow, pink, white and purple. Erect growth to about three feet with medium green foliage. Plant in full sun.
  • Salvia microphylla – This salvia is more leafy and dense than the Salvia greggii. Bright red flowers are borne in 4-6 inch clusters. The plant itself can reach 3-5 feet tall. This salvia is easy to grow and can be cut back almost to the ground if needed without harming the plant. It has a very long bloom season in mild areas. Hummingbirds love it!
  • Salvia leucantha – This variety is commonly known as Mexican Bush Sage. Long velvety purple spikes set with small white flowers crown the top of arching gray-green foliage. Long lasting bloom from summer to the first frost. Makes a good background plant in a border or large planting bed. Cut back in winter if stems have become too woody.
  • Salvia guaranitica – The ‘Black & Blue’ variety is a 3-4′ shrub with spikes of dark blue and black flowers. This is a long bloomer, hardy to 20 or 25 degrees.
  • Salvia elegans – Known as Pineapple Sage requires a bit more water than many of its saliva relatives although still fairly drought tolerant. This is a hummingbird favorite – blooming in late summer to early fall (August to October) when food sources may be less abundant.

Native Salvia Favorites:

  • Salvia apiana – White Sage is much loved for its distinctive foliage.
  • Salvia clevelandii – Fast growing and highly aromatic.

Plant Fall Decor – Start a Crop of Sunflowers

August is surprisingly good time to plant sunflowers from seed. Warm yellow sunflowers popping into bloom set the mood perfectly as days shorten and fall arrives. Make plans now for a seasonal transition.

Many sunflowers planted this past spring have already sprung, their flowers are fading, and seed heads are forming. Thanks to our mild California climate we can enjoy a bumper crop and second harvest by planting sunflowers a second time. Planting sunflowers from seed now will give an abundant crop of bouquet-ready blossoms for the fall table.

The best varieties for fall color are generally the shorter ones and the multi-branching ones. “Autumn Beauty” is a moderate grower with multi-branched habit and color perfectly suitable for the season. Sunflowers are easy to grow in any soil. Water to establish and expect blooms in six to eight weeks.

Feeding Roses – The Ultimate Recipe

The ultimate recipe for feeding roses includes a variety of ingredients meant to nurture your roses into spectacular bloom with healthy vibrant foliage.

Inspired by our friend, local rosarian, the late David Lowell, this program provides for general plant vigor and wonderful looking roses! For use on established roses only (planted for at least 6 months).

Feed now and exhibit in the Mt. Diablo Rose Society Fall Rose Show on October 14th & 15th here at Alden Lane.

davesrosemarch[1]Apply in AUGUST and MARCH.

For each rose apply:

  • Use a 5-5-5 for the August Application – 1/2 cup/rose (4# box for about 9 roses)
    Use a 16-16-16 for the March Application – 1/2 cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses)
  • Bone Meal – 1/2 cup per rose (4# bag for 18 roses)
  • Sulfur* – 1/2 cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses)
  • Gypsum – 1/2 cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses)
  • Magnesium Sulfate – 2 Tbs. per rose (5# bag for 70+ roses)
  • Chicken Fertilizer – 1 shovel per rose (1 bag for 9 roses)

*To supply sulfur, use one of the following: Iron Sulfate, Iron Plus*, or Soil Sulfur. Iron containing products can stain. Wash off adjacent paving after application. (*Iron Plus is non-staining.)

Make sure to water your roses the day before feeding. Sprinkle the first 5 ingredients around each rose and mix into soil if possible. Then sprinkle the chicken fertilizer around each rose and water everything in.

Do NOT combine this recipe with systemic rose fertilizer. It poses a serious health risk to pets if ingested. Pets are attracted to the bone meal and may ingest systemic rose food if it is included in this recipe or applied other months in the same area.

Alden Lane Nursery recommends applying Master Nursery Rose and Flower Food monthly, April through July and September (skipping August for Spring and Fall Fertilizer Program above).

Summer Container Watering Tips

Container plants in the heat of August Dog-Days can dry out in less than a day.

Test soil around plants before watering
Soil should be only slightly moist before liberally applying water to any plant, whether in your garden or a container. Poke the probe of a moisture meter about 1″ deep around different parts of the pot to get an accurate sense of the moisture levels.

Water each plant
At the nursery, we water frequently in the summer heat. The correct procedure is to flood the containerized plant until the water runs slightly over the top sides of the container and drains out the bottom of the pot. If it drains quickly, then water it twice.

How often do I water?
You can become the best judge because you know the surroundings better than we do. Test the soil around the plant. Water thoroughly if needed. Check the soil moisture frequently and allow the plant to go slightly dry before watering thoroughly again. After 2 or 3 times of following this procedure, you will know the intervals of days the plant can go without watering again. On excessively hot days check plants two times!

Watch the Weather

Remember, if there is a drastic change of temperature; either way, it will affect your watering schedule.

Add water-holding polymer
Soil Moist to all your container plantings of flowers and shrubs. It will help cut your watering in half.

Container Gardening

Almost everything that grows in the ground will also grow in containers, and the portability of container gardening means you can bring plants to the patio, and enjoy a summer retreat with the beauty, color, texture, and vibrance that living plants bring.

Containers allow you to have a portable garden that you can rearrange whenever the mood strikes. Containers also provide perfect drainage, so plants thrive as long as you provide adequate water and correct sun exposure.

Perennial Gardens
Colorful annuals with perennials in containers make a winning combination. Annuals provide constant color and perennials give interesting textures, foliage color, and flowers. Perennials come in many different sizes and can provide dramatic foliage as a focal point for your moveable garden. Perennials bloom at varying times of the year, so there’s always something of interest blooming in your containers. And as the perennials grow, they provide a bigger and more beautiful display every year.

Fragrant Herb Gardens
Make your herbs a decorative centerpiece this summer. Arrange your favorite herbs in a ceramic planter, wine barrel, or fill a hanging moss basket with herbs. Put thyme, rosemary, and oregano on the sides of the basket and borage, parsley, sage, basil, and chives in the top of the basket. Fertilize twice a month. We suggest that you use Master’s Pride Professional Potting Soil and E.B. Stone Sure Start Organic Fertilizer. Both products will help you grow the best herbs in the neighborhood. Once you’ve selected your container and you’re ready to plant, remember we carry a large selection of herbs including some of the favorites such as basil, chives, dill, fennel, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and tarragon.

Sweet Scented Citrus Gardens
If you’re looking for a plant that does it all – look no further than citrus. It’s a plant for all seasons. You have shiny leaves, fragrant flowers, showy fruit and to top it off you can plant the dwarf varieties in large containers. Lemons, limes & kumquats do well in partial shade while sweeter citrus such as oranges, grapefruit, tangerines need full sun. Citrus shows off its colorful fruit in winter when many plants are dormant.

Small Trees There are a number of smaller trees that are very happy to live in containers and can add visual “green” interest to a place where that might be missing. In addition to the citrus mentioned above, consider a “Little Ollie” non-fruiting olive tree or perhaps a Japanese maple.

An excellent soil mix is Master’s Pride Professional Potting Soil with the addition of Soil Moist water holding granules. The granules absorb many times their weight in water and release it as needed and will cut your watering frequency in half. These products will help you grow bigger, tastier vegetables and more beautiful flowers.

July Color in the Garden

Aaahhh summer! The living is easier.

Summer is definitely the time to enjoy your garden and patio. July is the summer midpoint and a good time to take a second look at those flowerbeds – do they need a face-lift? We have just what you need in the blooming department. 

By adding Soil Moist granules in the planting soil you’ll save 50% of your water.

Marigolds – Marigolds are summer blooming flowers whose colors range from pale yellow through bright orange and then dark rust. They are a favorite for full sun, coming in various heights from 6 to 24″. Brushing against the leaves releases its unique fragrance. Marigolds are said to be excellent companion plants, repelling some of the undesirable small sucking insects.

Petunias – Petunias fill a niche beautifully with their saucer-shaped flowers with a range from pinks through reds and purples. Petunias like sunny locations and can tumble nicely down the side of a pot or basket.

Zinnias – Zinnias make a brilliant addition to the summer flower garden, loved by novice and expert gardeners alike. The pollinators love them too! They bloom effortlessly from summer to frost, and the more you cut, the more they branch and bloom. Keep zinnias consistently moist but not soggy; allowing the top inch of soil to dry between watering once plants are established. 

Vinca – If you love the look & profusion of impatiens but need something that thrives in full sun, annual vinca is a great choice. Enjoy an abundance of small, colorful flowers all summer long and well into our warm fall.

Loads of flower colors to choose from and the deep green leaves are always attractive.

Cosmos – White, rose or dark pink “daisy style” flowers. It is available in a variety of sizes from compact to nearly 4 foot tall. Cosmos have finely textured foliage and is capped by the colorful blooms each with a sunny-colored ‘eye’. hardy through the first frosts.

Crape Myrtles Flourish in the Heat

Some plants perform best when the heat is on; Crape Myrtles revel in the sun and heat. They are summer show-offs.  In full bloom this beautiful shrub/tree radiates color, sporting a full head of crinkled, “crepe” like blooms in various shades, and there are more talents to this tree.

Crape myrtles are drought tolerant once established, but that does not mean they want the water turned off.  New trees require even moisture.  

Earlier in the year, Crape Myrtles give another show when the new foliage breaks with a coppery red tone; and as the season progresses, the bark often splits to reveal a spring pink undercoat. In autumn the handsome green foliage of many varieties changes to either red-orange or maroon before dropping to the ground.

It is, however, the mass of summer blooms, which makes Crape Myrtle worth growing. They range in colors from white, pink, lavender, and purple to almost brilliant red. If it’s white you like, ask for Natchez. Catawba produces a deep purple and for a hot pink choose the Pink Velour.

Another choice is the brilliant red crape myrtle called Dynamite. It’s cherry red flowers, crimson buds, and leaves will leave no doubt that it will create an eye-catching display in your garden. As the red flowers age, they will create an explosion of color.

If powdery mildew has been a problem in the past on your crape myrtle, fear no longer! These mildew resistant varieties are available now in good supply. Muskogee has a lavender pink blossom and produces the most brilliant fall colors of scarlet, orange and yellow. Tuscarora is more upright and produces coral-red blooms in huge flower trusses.

For smaller spaces, enjoy some of the smaller crape myrtle bushes and patio trees. Any of these varieties will add an abundance of color to your summertime landscape. We have many Crape Myrtles in a variety of sizes.