Gardeners Confidence Collection

Tips for the Times: Investing in Your Garden

by Cheryl Aldrich

In today's economic times, the net worth of your property can make an impact on your bank account as well as your outlook on life. Most of us need a bright spot in our sights, so take a look at your garden for something that gives back no matter the Dow Jones average. Getting back to basics will also prepare your garden and landscape for later additions when the time is right. Here's a few To-Do's for your garden, where you can really make a positive statement!

1) Protect your Assets - First impression can be everything. Care for your home investment by adding plants to your landscape to increase curb appeal and add value to the property.

2) Make Deposits - Add mulch year round to retain moisture, insulate roots from extreme temperatures and reduce weeds. Fertilizing in spring will help give them extra nutrients to flourish.

3) Save a Little - Mixing drought tolerant varieties into your landscape plan can help to save on watering. Plants will need to be well established before they can withstand true drought conditions. Overwatering is actually one of the most common problems and can cause yellowing of leaves and eventually root rot.

4) Add Interest - Repeat blooming shrubs can yield flowers throughout the seasons. They also alllow you to create easy arrangements from your own garden to add color inside the home.

Keep color all year long with a mix of evergreen shrubs for beautiful foliage during dreary, winter months. Use evergreen foliage in purples and dark greens as interesting fillers for bright colored vases and vessels.

5) Appreciation is Key - Choose colorful shrubs that will come back year after year and require little pruning. Some shrubs even offer spring flowers as well as bright fall foliage or berries that creates interest for multi-seasons. With little maintenance once established, these choices are the easiest way to increase your property value.

6) Return on Investment - Choose plant varieties that are tested for best performance and disease resistance to ensure a maximum profit for your landscape investment.

7) Check with an Advisor - There are plenty of great gardening websites available with free advice on landscaping tips. Don't be afraid to do a little research to find the right plants that are best suitable for your area. It's easier than you think!

Also check with your local County Extension Agent. They have a wealth of knowledge based on your specific region.

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In The News

Late Summer Edition

Facts and Reflections

The term "cool as a cucumber" is apt. On hot days, the inside of a cucumber on the vine can measure as much as 20 degrees cooler than the air outside.

Mosquito repellents don't actually repel. They block the mosquito's sensors, so they can't tell you're there.
The flower called "impatiens" gets its name from the Latin word Impatiens, in reference to the ripe pods tendency to burst open at the slightest pressure, helping to aid in the dispensation of its seed.

Back in the late 19th century some towns in England had laws that reduced a persons taxes if he planted flowers and shrubbery in his yard to beautify it. If the person next to him did not do the same, his taxes were raised. With these laws, the towns became attractive for visitors and towns folk alike.

Keep the color showing
in the heat!
Container gardens are one of the best ways to enjoy blooms without expending too much energy in the heat.
The Razzle Dazzle^® collection of crapemyrtles is budding up now and ready to explode into color soon. Great for containers in full sun. Also, if you have a shady spot, Mini Penny^TM Hydrangea has beautiful light pink or blue mophead flowers and will rebloom into fall.

Available nationally at participating garden centers and online. Mail order is available with Cottage Farms Direct.

Calendar of
Upcoming Events
Garden shows and events.

Click here for more info on these events and be sure to check with your local county extension agent and your local botanical gardens for events in your area.

runs through Sept 30
Chocolate: A Dip into History
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
Oyster Bay, NY

Sept 13
Barbara and Vince Dooley Host
"A Gardening Experience"
A tour of the legend's garden
Athens, GA

Sept 19
Orlando Home Show
Orange Co. Convention Center
Orlando, FL

Oct 1-4
Portland Fall Home & Garden Show
Portland, OR

Oct 15-18
Tacoma Fall Home & Garden Show
Tacoma, WA

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About our contributor

Cheryl Aldrich is self-described as an 'Avid Plant Geek', as well as being a horticulturist with 27 years of experience in the horticulture industry. She worked with two of the top retail garden centers in the metro Atlanta area for over 17 years; the Atlanta Hastings Nature and Garden Center, 'A Southern Institution since 1889', as well as the award winning and eclectic Habersham Gardens of in-town Atlanta. She has since moved to the wholesale side of the industry, joining the family owned McCorkle Nurseries, Inc. based out of Dearing, Georgia. She is a graduate of Michigan State Department of Horticulture, but loves the south and promoting all the plants and new varieties available to grow in the southeast.

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