I survived Danny’s vacation week – and so did the rest of the crew. We had a delightful surprise from one of our favorite customers who brought us wonderful homemade baked goods. Cherry crumble, a wickedly good, chocolate chip/cream cheese dish, crunchy homemade candy covered in white and milk chocolate, and double fudge chocolate chip cookies. Thank you Susan, your baking skills rock!!!
The sudden heat we experienced along with several ill-timed sprinkler issues and irrigation pipe breaks were challenging with Danny gone. We also tend to get “testy” when it first gets hot – it happens every year. Everything becomes a bit harder to do, and not having all sprinklers working didn’t help. I finally had to call Danny, which I didn’t want to do, and armed with better info we were able to fix everything.
We’ve continued to receive plants regularly – Drift roses, Sunny and Double Red Knock Out Roses, Snow Indian Hawthorn to name a few. The selection of annuals and perennials is still strong. The hummingbirds are very appreciative too!
We received a small shipment of contemporary pottery which was scheduled to be here in mid-March, better late than never??? And…I received an email about our ceramic pottery shipping out this week – which will help fill up our shelves.
One more note, we will be closed this year on Sunday, July 4th. We’ve found that when a holiday falls on a weekend our customer count decreases significantly. So, this year we’re all going to be able to celebrate the 4th somewhere other than The Home & Garden Center!!🎆🎇🎆
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This is one of my favorite heat loving plants. The blooms are stellar – in size, in color and in number. Pictures of mature plants covered in blooms don’t look real, but they are.
We have a mature hardy hibiscus on the endcap of row 2B in the nursery. It is full of buds and a few are flowering now. Once it is in full bloom, the popularity of this plant soars.
There are compact varieties that only reach 3’ tall and work very well in large planters, and others that will reach 5 tall and make excellent specimen plants throughout your beds.
Hardy hibiscus are perennials, so they die back during the winter and return the following year in late spring. They start blooming around mid-June and continue to do so through fall.
They require full sun, but in the heat of Texas do enjoy some afternoon shade. Without the shade they can show some wilt in the afternoon and no amount of water will stop this in the Texas heat.
The blooms can be 4 – 10 inches in diameter and come in white, pink, pink swirls, red, burgundy accompanied by green, burgundy or variegated leaves - just an overall stunning combination.
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After so much cool weather accompanied by so much rain your plants were in for a shock with the abrupt rise in temperatures and no rain. You may have seen some changes – drooping leaves or plants, loss of leaves, dulling leaf color or worse.
Most of us had our sprinkler systems off and had not been watering much if any at all. It doesn’t take long for saturated soil to dry out when its windy and hot. Now’s the time, if you haven’t already, to check your plants / lawn and probably adjust the amount and frequency of water to their needs.
Your lawn needs between 1 – 1.5 inches of rain per week, and more when the temps are extreme. Keep this in mind when determining supplemental water needs.
Newly planted shrubs and trees will require more water their first year after planting. A sprinkler system alone rarely delivers enough water for new plants – getting out the water hose is usually necessary.
Outdoor potted plants need water either daily or every other day depending upon their variety and if they are in the shade or sun. In extreme heat some may need watering twice daily.
Your plants will tell you when they need water – look for these signs,
- Wilting leaves
- The green color of the leaves on annuals changing to a grayer, duller color.
- The tops of the stems drooping and turning downwards.
- Dry, crunchy leaves
- Dry leaf tips
As summer continues to heat up, you will need to watch your plants and lawn for signs and make adjustments to your sprinkler system or watering habits to keep them healthy.
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(Top Row, L to R) Hot Pink Vinca, Tropical Hibiscus, Yellow Portulaca
(Bottom Row, L to R) Gazania, Pink Portulaca, Pink Petunias
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Kauai Torenia brightens up shady areas in your flower beds or containers with their tube-shaped blooms. They are the perfect height to use as a border plant, as mass plantings in a bed or as the flowering “filler” in containers.
They bloom continuously throughout the summer and into the fall, with multiple flowers on each plant. An added bonus is that hummingbirds and butterflies love them too.
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Every 7 to 14 days. They grow quickly and need plenty of food. Without fertilizer, your plants won’t reach their potential. Lack of fertilizer causes fewer blooms, poor bloom color, yellowing leaves, and leggier-looking plants.
A well balanced granular fertilizer specific for bedding plants (Fertilome Premium Bedding Plant Food) or a liquid, water-soluble fertilizer (Schultz Bloom Plus Water Soluble) will keep your plants healthy and blooming throughout the growing season.
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After missing so many prior opportunities, I finally was able to take photos of Ginger’s design work before they were delivered to their new home! She can design and plant your existing pottery or new pots to compliment your outdoor space. Pick up and delivery is available for your convenience.
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