Every year we have numerous customers looking for the so-called Pampas grass that has large white flumes and grows along Wisconsin highways and in ditches. Odds are very good that this grass you are seeing IS NOT pampas grass. Pampas grass usually only grows down to Zone 6, maybe Zone 5. What you are seeing is probably the Miscanthus Sacchariflorus or Amur Silvergrass. This grass produces very little seed but it spreads, and rather aggressively, by rhizomes. It is almost impossible to dig out as the rhizomes are intertwined and very thick. The grass prefers wet sites, along ditches and highways. You will also see clumps of this grass around old farmhouses as years ago the rhizomes were shared and the clumps just kept getting bigger and bigger. Some states have listed this plant as invasive. A plant that looks similar and is sold by most nurseries, including Trees Today Nursery, is the Flame Grass. This grass is not invasive. It is a clump forming grass and over time the clumps spread wider.
Grasses have become extremely popular in the last five years. They are easy to grow, interesting, low maintenance, and look spectactular in fall. There are just so many types of grasses; tall and short, bushy flumes or dainty seed heads, tan leaves or burgundy, warm season versus cool season. We carry a wide variety. Some of the favorites are pictured below.
Listed are a few chores that can be done in the September flower garden.
1) Discontinue deadheading annuals if you want them to reseed.
2) Cut back perennials if they are done blooming except those that provide winter food for wildlife.
3) Discontinue fertilizing plants.
4) Plant spring bulbs in late September.
5) Weed garden and rake up debris.
6) Cut injured or deceased parts of perennials off.
7) Discontinue deadheading perennials that provide winter food for birds.
8) Dig and divide daylilies and hostas.
9) Dig out any bulbs that are not winter hardy.
10) Look at your garden and make notes of wishful improvements.
There are several plants, trees and shrubs alike, that are well known for their early season attributes, but go amiss when it comes to their fall foliage. As we turn the calendar to September and prepare for fall, the garden center is beginning to transition to reds, oranges, yellows, from the typical greens that gather the rest of the season. As you walk around, you can see its more than just the maples, oaks, grasses, and dogwoods turning color, there are common spring and summer staples that are also pulling double duty as we head into fall.
Crabapples
Crabapples are commonly known for their showy spring flowers, but did you know they also have fabulous fall foliage? Flaunting tones of red and orange, crabapples do not receive enough attention for their fall foliage which should be equal to their spring flower. So the next time you are seeking a new tree for your yard don’t forget about the dueling seasonal opportunities a crabapple can provide!
Serviceberry
An under utilized garden gem! Available as a tree or shrub, this specimen boasts beautiful spring florals that lead to edible small purple-black berries. The tree form ‘Autumn Brilliance’ is a beautiful medium sized ornamental tree if you are looking to add diversity to your landscape. The shrub form, ‘Regent’ is a great addition for feeding wildlife in your yard or creating a small hedge or screening. Not only will these plants bring spring color and edible fruit, the blaze red/orange fall color is a show stopper for sure!
Azalea/Rhododendron
Prolific blooms fill these plants early season. Bright pink, purple, white and orange are colors you can expect from these spring flowers. Many people desire the spring impact that the azalea and rhododendron bring to the landscape but many are unaware of the bonus fall color they are in for. Broad, thick leaves bring copper and bronze hues into fall with the next season’s buds adding a depth of texture, what a sight to behold!
So, as we make our way to the end of another year, planning for the next begins. Consider adding a few of these double duty plants to your landscape and enjoy an eye catching spring and fall landscape.
Now is the time of year when beautiful mums appear at Trees Today Nursery, grocery stores, and home stores. These are called “fall” or annual mums. Their colors are an assortment of reds, oranges, bronzes, yellows, whites, and many more. They look beautiful sitting in pots on front porches or placed in gardens. However, they generally do not survive being replanted in the garden in Zone 4 (our area of Wisconsin and Minnesota). If they do survive a winter, chances are they will not survive the following winter. If you succeed in overwintering a fall mum in your garden, to get a bushy blooming mum in fall you need to start pinching it back in July or chances are it will become stringy and lanky.
Garden mums are the perennial mums hardy to Zone 3. At Trees Today we carry Mammoth Mums that were bred at the University of Minnesota for endurance and cold. Once planted in your garden they may grow to 3-3 1/2 feet wide by 3-4 feet tall. Their colors are limited, but their abundant blooms are very showy and last for weeks. Also, these mammoth mums do not need any pinching.
Look at these beauties! Is there something missing from your landscape? Are you struggling to find a plant small enough to round out your garden borders? The perfect plant does exist, it’s a dianthus! Petite in size these plants give off enormous amounts of color. Typically found in hues of white, red, pink, and purple.
Check out these dainty beauties while supplies last!
I wanted to see a caterpillar turn into a Monarch and discovered how easy it was. First, into my new garden I planted some bright annuals to attract Monarchs and some Swamp Milkweed (red milkweed) for the Monarchs to lay their eggs on. I also planted some butterfly weed to feed the future Monarch butterflies. About a month later I discovered several Monarch caterpillars on the milkweed. I ordered a net cage from Amazon and put a caterpillar inside the cage with leaves from the milkweed plant. The caterpillar ate voraciously for the first couple days, then stopped eating. The next thing that happened was that he was hanging from the top of the net cage and then formed a “J” shape. A few hours later when I looked he was in the halfway point of spinning himself into a cocoon. On the 11th day when I checked, he had just emerged from the pupa into a butterfly but since he was still wet, I kept him in the cage for another hour and then released the Monarch. Stop at Trees Today Nursery as we have many, many varieties of butterfly plants in stock in spring of the year.
Look at this beauty! A customer snapped this picture of their Pink Splendor hydrangea from 2020, stating “This brings a pop of color to my patio!”
A great addition to a small garden or as a patio plant, the Pink Splendor will quickly reach a height and spread of 4 feet. This hydrangea thrives in morning sun and afternoon shade or filtered sun.
If you are looking to give this one a try, stop in and pick one up, we just received a fresh shipment.
The perennial tables have been looking a little bare lately, but not any more! New shipments of coneflower, sedum, salvia, and hibiscus and many more items have arrived!
Here is a preview of some of the spectacular colors now available!
Sweet Sandia Coneflower
Solanna Golden Sphere Coreopsis
Apex Pink Salvia
Apex Blue Salvia
Barbican Yellow Red Ring & Barbican Red Blanket Flower
Mid-July is time for hydrangeas to show off and they take center stage. In the plant world, new hydrangeas are being developed constantly. One of my favorite compositions is when I see multi-colored hydrangeas blooming next to each other. An example is the photo below which was taken at Trees Today Nursery. When I see this, I imagine and wish for my whole yard to be planted in pink, blue and maybe some white hydrangeas. Stop in and see the many, many different hydrangeas available.
Pink & blue hydrangeas Photo by Trees Today Nursery
Finally, some well needed rain is reaching us here in the coulee region! It may be a dreary day, but fear not, your landscape doesn’t need to leave you will the same feeling. We have numerous shrubs and perennials in full bloom that will brighten up your landscape on days like today. Stop in and brighten your landscape today!
Peach Drift Rose
Grace n' Grit Yellow Rose
Invincible Mini Mauvette Hydrangea (center) Pink Double Knockout Rose (left, right) Bubblegum Phlox (back)
Seaside Serenade Fire Island Hydrangea (front), Bloomstruck Endless Summer Hydrangea (left), Twist-n-Shout Endless Summer Hydrangea (right)
We just wanted to share a picture of this gorgeous lantana tree taken by a customer last summer. The tree was purchased from us in spring of 2021. They are always in bloom, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Each year we get a few of these trees in. They are a tropical tree but customers have had luck in carrying them over thru winter. Just google “Lantana trees” for some information if you are interested in trying to carry one over thru winter. Place them on your deck or patio and you will find hummingbirds visiting them within a couple feet of you. We have just a couple of these trees left in stock.
