Brighter Blooms Nursery

Rich Wall Covering for the Great Outdoors

2009-01-13T10:01:00.003-06:00

Soften the harsh look of any masonry structure with the Boston Ivy plant.
Brick, stone and concrete walls are without a doubt the ones that will withstand the elements for the longest span of time. Sometimes, too much of a good thing is too monotonous. You can add ambience a towing brick building. Or add warmth to the barrier presented by privacy walls.

You can rapidly add ageless beauty to even the most unattractive walls.
Boston Ivy will quickly climb and fill in large areas with dark, glossy green leaves from spring to fall. When the chill of autumn fills the air, the entire plant will be radiant red. Imagine this striking accent against the bright yellows and gold fall foliage of shade trees. This easy to grow climber will hold onto those showy leaves longer than many other deciduous plants.

Boston Ivy plants are easy to grow.
Sometimes called Cottage Ivy or Boston Creeper, this beautiful plant does well even in poor soil. Once established, it has good drought tolerance and can adapt to a wide range of climate conditions. In the northern reaches of its hardiness zone, Boston Ivy can be late at leafing out. The richness of those large, shiny leaves makes it well worth the wait. This plant is very popular for disguising unattractive building designs in many locations.

You won’t need to invest a lot of money to soften or cover a cold or ugly wall.
When given the space to spread without restriction, one plant can get up to 50 feet wide over time. You don’t want to grow this on painted surfaces. It is best to plant at least 15 feet away from any such area. The chemicals in the roots of the climber will destroy the paint. In some design themes, this age-old appearance may lend great flair to a time worn patina. Shabby chic is just as wonderful inside as it is in your outdoor living areas.

When shopping for Boston Ivy, you will want to look for larger plants.
Some nurseries will state that you should plant one every two feet for quick coverage. In truth, you will have much more pleasant results if you buy Boston Ivy plants that have well developed root systems. To enjoy the beauty faster, you will want to start out with plants that already a 1-gallon size and plant them at least 10-12 feet apart.

Opulent Spring Bloom Queen

2009-01-13T09:57:00.001-06:00

The beauty of spring is enriched with these big, beautiful flowers.
Professional designers will often find a spot for the Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus) in almost any landscape they work on. This large shrub has many points of interest. Beginning with the white ball-type flowers up to 5 inches across. Flowering so thickly, the plant will look like a late spring snow bank.

The foliage of the Snowball Bush offers good textural interest.
All plants are attractive in flower, but those that have outstanding leaves can heighten the any landscape design. The foliage of this Viburnum resembles three-lobed maple leaves. The coloring will be rich, attractive green over the summer months. As cooler weather arrives in fall, each leaf will turn to sun kissed gold.

For a long-lived shrub where height is needed, this is an excellent plant.
The Chinese Snowball Bush is not only attractive; you will find it very easy to grow. This Viburnum will adapt to a wide variety of soils and growing conditions. These shrubs are quite drought tolerant once established and mature to 8-10 feet tall and wide. You will get the best flowering results when planting this bush in full sun, though it tolerates quite a bit of shade. Viburnums grown in a mostly shady situation will not flower at all.

The Snowball Viburnum works well with many other plants in your landscaping.
To establish a really dazzling early season display, you can pair this beautiful shrub up with almost any other same time bloomer. Consider creating a planting that also features Encore Azaleas and some low growing purple leaved shrubs such as Crimson Pygmy Barberry. To really heighten the beauty of such a landscape planting, add a few perennials to extend the beauty through the season.

You will love the changing beauty of this deciduous shrub in your yard.
The hummingbirds will be most delighted with your choice in plants and feed on the blossoms. Once spent, the flowers of Snowball Bush produce brilliant red berries as a bonus color point. Birds are attracted to the berries as a source of food.

It’s hard to find a landscape plant with so many benefits to offer your yard.
Now you can easily understand why a professional designer will seek out the right spot to include this shrub in almost every yard. The Snowball Viburnum is wonderful as a tall specimen plant or planted as a hedge. It grows rapidly and will fill to offer warm season privacy where it many be needed.

Shopping for Trees?

2008-10-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

If you shop online, you’re automatically classified as a “bargain hunter.” Why? Well, where else can you compare prices of stores across the country, all without leaving your home?

Shopping for trees is no different. When hunting for a good bargain, price is a huge factor, but it’s not the only one. The quality of the plant you receive plays a big part in how satisfied you are with your purchase. After all, you could save money buying a young, weak tree… but why bother if there’s a good chance it won’t survive past the first winter?

So the question becomes “Where can I find quality trees for sale at reasonable prices?” Fast Growing Trees Nursery offers a wide variety of unique hybrids, which are grown up to three years at our nursery… meaning you’re getting an adaptable, mature tree. All our trees come with a 90 day warranty as well.

For example, our fruit trees are sold as big as 5-7 ft. in our nursery. With select apple trees, we even have to give them an additional pruning before we send them to you… just so they can fit in a box! This additional pruning promotes more branching for your tree… more branches means more fruit!

The only trees that we don’t grow for several years in our nursery are our Royal Empress Trees. That’s because these amazing trees have grown up to 18 ft. in just one year! We ship these trees between 6 inches and 2 ft. tall so that you can save on shipping. Then, once you plant your empress tree, you can enjoy watching it grow into a beautiful shade tree with colorful lavender blooms in the spring.

When you’re looking to buy trees on the internet, be sure to visit Fast Growing Trees Nursery for quality plants at reasonable prices. Transform your landscape with fast growing trees!

What will they do next with Knock Out Roses?

2008-09-12T15:33:00.004-05:00

This is definitely the smartest rose on the planet.

Not all roses are created equal.

If you have shied away from plating roses in your yard because they require so much coddling, we don’t blame you a bit. Who has time for all that tedious, finicky behavior? Everyone loves roses as a flower but most refuse to be a slave to their plants. Just as with anything else, if you wait a while, a vast improved specimen will come along and change everything.

They named it Knockout for a lot of good reasons.

All roses are beautiful. As performers in your yard the majority tend to fall short of low maintenance. Many rose bushes only flower once a year. Shrub roses are your best bet for low maintenance and reblooming beauty. While there are some great landscape roses available, none of them holds a candle to the Knockout Rose.

Excellent disease resistance makes this one brainy plant.

All shrub or landscape roses are disease resistant, but resistant and excellent resistance is two different things. Knock Out Rose also have exceptionally large flowers for the shrub rose family with showy clusters of blooms opening repeatedly from early summer right through to hard frost. The individual blooms on Pink Double Knock Out Rose measure 3.5”-4” across and lightly fragrant with an expected rosy aroma.

Maintains great shape with only a minimal clipping.

Knockout Roses are naturally a compact and tidy flowering shrub with the blooms forming on new growth at the tips of the stems. Knockouts grow to 3’-4’ high and wide and will flower at maximum proportions in full, hot sun. You can grow your Red Double Knockout Rose in part sun, but bear in mind that you will have less flowers. Roses should always be planted with good drainage to prevent root rot from waterlogged soils.

Azaleas and Rhododendron are Cousins?

2008-09-12T15:21:00.003-05:00

Did you know that Rhododendrons and Azaleas are close kin?

Confusion in family tree is revealed.

If the tag on your new Azalea says that it is a Rhododendron, it isn’t an error. Rhododendrons have eight distinct divisions, two of which are actually what we call Azaleas. You have evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron Tsutsusi), of which there are about 100 different species that originated in the Orient. Then there are the deciduous azaleas (Rhododendron Pentanthera), which represents only about 18 different species that are native to North America. The family tree gets a bit more mixed than that but those are not important at this moment.

DNA studies show long line of evolution at play.

Following the recent discovery of a new native Azalea in Alabama, genetic studies of that shrub’s DNA have led horticulture scientists to test surprising results. The natural splicing of the newly discovered plant’s genes show them that it very well may have evolved to this new species from a well known existing native azalea. The actions of the birds and bees have been causing the evolution of many plants into completely new forms as far back as we have records.

Louisiana man reinvents the Azalea wheel.

Plant evolution in nature takes eons. Plant enthusiasts experimenting with crossbreeding can finish the process in record time. The most superior Azalea ever to appear is the Encore Azalea collection. If it weren’t for Robert Lee whose love of Azaleas and curiosity over breeding them we would still have only azaleas that bloom in the spring. In a mere 15 years of breeding and test trials, Mr. Lee has brought us a blooming wonder that just cannot stop performing until frost sets in.

Encore Azaleas outshine traditional azalea traits.

The first Encore Azalea selections were available for purchase in 1997. By 2002, the work of Mr. Lee and Plant Development Services, Inc. had a total of 13 different shrubs to choose from. Today the Encore Azalea Autumn series offers an astounding 23 different superior shrubs. All of them are evergreen azaleas that begin blooming in spring and continue to repeat the beauty until frost takes out the flowers. Encore Azaleas cover shrub sizes from demure to robust in a dazzling variety of colors.

Heavenly Bloomer Misdiagnosed

2008-09-05T08:23:00.002-05:00

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven ... a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted." Ecclesiastes 3:1

Would you consider your Maple tree as an invasive and dreadful nuisance?
The number one sold shade tree in America and yet those whirlybird seeds can create a forest without some cleanup when they fall. No one plants a shrub around the foundation of their house without expecting to do some clipping to keep it in control. It is common sense to not allow bushes to cover up the windows or creep under the siding.

Good judgment and common sense are used to avoid problems.
Thousands of plants left unchecked, could be labeled as invasive. Yet with common sense and timely tricks, they are not the thugs you can be led to believe. To do away with one of the most fabulous heralds of spring would surely be a crime.

Wisteria in bloom is a blessing of spring.
You can keep this vine in check with a couple simple tasks. First use good sense when selecting where you plant it. This extremely fragrant vine can be trained as a tree with staking and grown in the open where it cannot climb desired trees or creep into your gutters. Plan ahead if you want to grow wisteria on a structure like an arbor. You want sturdy, metal construction that will withstand the weight and twisting nature of the plant.

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
The right time for trimming a wisteria: a light trimming in July and a heavy pruning in October - January. To keep the plant from sending up running shoots simply prune the roots with a sharp spade to a depth of 18" all the way around the trunk at 4-ft. out. Root pruning should be done in late fall and also can make the vine produce more flowers with less top growth.

What makes most wisterias not flower?
In the north (zone 5 and colder), a harsh spring can freeze the buds forming in the stems. The most common cause of not getting flowers is the fertilizers used. Wisteria does not use nitrogen. To coax it to flower or even flower more profusely use a combination of root pruning and a heavy dose of super phosphate fertilizer. Another recommended method is a severe pruning in early spring, which can reward you with a bumper crop of blooms.

Get Extreme Fragrance From a Gardenia

2008-09-05T08:19:00.006-05:00

The curiosity and determination of plant breeders bring continual delights.

Reinventing the wheel occupies many a curious professional mind.
The creation of new and improved long ago spread into the world of ornamental plants. Each spring homeowners looking to improve their yards and gardening buffs hunting for the next big thing shop for the easiest to grow and most beautiful plants they can locate. Everyone looks forward to the new colors and easier to grow ornamental plants that arrive on the scene each season.

Flower lovers everywhere attempt to grow this plant.
The exotic fragrance and pure, snowy blossoms of the Gardenia bush make it a favorite flowering shrub of florists. As a houseplant or in the landscape, the Gardenia plant has always been finicky and heavily dependent on chemical sprays. The powerful scent makes the plant the envy of every person who cannot grow them in their yard. Until recent improvements, this was a plant that only very warm climate gardeners could enjoy the scent of in their personal space.

Southern scentsation improved for the north.
It took only one plant specialist, Don Kleim of Henderson Experimental Gardens in California to discover one particularly cold tolerant Gardenia shrub in the crowd. After some thorough testing around the country, Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy' came on the market. This Gardenia is known for holding its flower buds even through a spring frost. He later developed a similar cultivar known as 'Frost Proof' Gardenia.

Nothing ever stays the same - in life or plants.
Every season brings us new and exciting plants for our yards and gardens. Frost Proof Gardenia is the new Gardenia bush for success and the reward of fragrance all the way into zone 6. These Gardenia plants may suffer a little frost burn on the leaves, but the flower buds will hang on. Frost Proof Gardenia is one hothouse flower that can take the heat and the cold. You'll have the heady fragrance of that singular perfume from spring into fall with this cold hardy Gardenia plant.

Selecting the Perfect Rhododendron for Your Landscape

2008-07-30T15:05:00.007-05:00

Whether you’re looking to add some color to the garden, create a flowering privacy screen, or plant a new focal point for the front yard, a Rhododendron is a perfect selection that millions of gardeners love and recommend.

Before selecting a Lavender Rhododendron or Azalea, be sure to gather some general knowledge about your local climate and temperature conditions. Be sure that your USDA growing zone is proper for the shrub of your choice. Information about your area’s soil, sun, and growing conditions is also essential. You can typically gather this information from the internet, a local nursery, or even other experienced gardeners in your area. Knowledge is power, and having a good deal of knowledge about your location’s gardening conditions will make selecting your White Rhododendron more simplified, and also prevent you from falling in love with a plant that you cannot cultivate in your location.

In addition to this factual information, you may wish to discuss Red Rhododendrons with local gardeners in your area. Find out which varieties they have found to be successful where you live, as well as their recommendations are for care and maintenance. Typically, local gardeners will also be able to give you specific information about how long you can expect blooms, etc. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this in person, get on the internet and locate a gardening forum for your area that you can participate in.

Once you have an idea of what you like and what will work in your location, visit or investigate the nursery of your choice. Local nurseries will have a limited selection of Yellow Rhododendron on hand; however they will be “tried and true” varieties that the nursery has found to be ideal for your area. However, bare in mind that some nurseries stick to “what works” and don’t update their inventory as fast as new and improved cultivars are being developed. So just because the variety you are interested in is not available at your local nursery, this does not mean it won’t work for your area.

Again, this is why knowledge is power.

If the nurseries in your area do not carry the Rhododendron or Azalea that you like, consider an online nursery. Not only will you find a vast selection of shrubs, you will also have the convenience of having them delivered to your door.

Following these simple steps should allow you to select the ideal Rhododendron for your yard. Your new flowering shrub will provide you with beauty and joy for years to come.

Encore Azaleas Bloom up to 9 Month a Year

2008-05-05T12:08:00.002-05:00

Encore Azaleas bloom up to 9 months a year, while improving your landscape and increasing your property value. The dwarf compact size of Encore Azalea makes it the perfect flowering shrub. Encore Azaleas also grow in most areas of the United States.

Evergreens for Year Round Color

2008-02-28T09:18:00.003-06:00

We all know at least one person whose yard looks like a barren wasteland in winter. Their perennials and annuals have died back, and their shrubs and bushes are bare sticks. Becoming the proprietor of such a dismal landscape, however, is quite easily avoided with just a bit of foresight. If you want year round color, it is essential that when selecting shrubs and hedges that you ensure what you are purchasing is an evergreen.

When you hear the word "evergreen", you may think of boring green shrubs with no personality. But planting an evergreen landscape does not have to mean a lifetime of ordinary green foliage. There are dozens of bright, colorful selections to choose from. And there is an evergreen option for any area, regardless of the location or purpose of the planting.

Flowering shrubs are probably the best example of how you can plant a yard full of evergreens and simultaneously have the prettiest, most inviting landscape in town. Plant an assortment of encore azaleas, rhododendron, and camellia and you'll have a yard bursting with blooms of every color. Best of all, as evergreens, they will still be lush and green even in the coldest months of the year.

If a flowery landscape isn't quite what you're going for, but you're still looking for a burst of color, choose an evergreen with some punchy fall color, like the Loropetalum or Nandina. These gorgeous shrubs turn all different shades of red and purple during the fall season.

And for those out there that would really prefer a simple landscape with some basic evergreens, then juniper, boxwood, and yew will always be classic selections.

Winter Blooming Shrubs And Perennials

2008-02-28T09:15:00.002-06:00

While homeowners all across the country drop thousands of dollars on landscaping each year, few take into account just what their yard will look like in the cold winter months. Plants tend to die back and trees go dormant, creating a dismal landscape that one must contend with all winter long. This can be avoided however, if during your initial landscaping plans you choose to include and put emphasis on shrubs and perennials that will provide visual interest in the wintertime.

One of the most effective ways to go about this is to plant shrubs and hedges and perennials that bloom during the winter months. Unlike standard evergreens that few people pay attention to, these unique winter blooming specimens will delight your visitors and bring color and warmth to an otherwise cold and barren landscape.

Quite famous for its winter blossoms is the Lenten Rose, or Helleborus. This gorgeous perennial boasts large, almost tropical looking flowers that bloom in late winter. You can find Lenten Rose in a few different colors, making it easy to coordinate with your current landscape. Those in search of a beautiful winter bloomer typically find what they are looking for with Helleborus.

However, your winter interest selections go far beyond the Lenten Rose. According to Justin French, Project Manager of Bright Blooms Nursery, Camellia are just as good a selection, with plenty of colors from which to choose! "Camellias come in an immense array of colors. There is little to no chance that you will not find at least one Camellia you can't go without." French explains what make the Camellias such a good choice for homeowners seeking to add blooms to there landscape in the winter months. Camellia sasanqua is the fall-winter blooming variety of Camellia and will provide large richly colored blossoms to really draw attention to your landscape. However, if you happen to fall in love with a Camellia japonica variety, which is the spring variety of Camellia, these will work for you also. They have been known to bloom in late winter." French also recommends Loropetalum and Aster for their cold hardy blooms.

Shrubs and Hedges to Protect Against Cold Winter Winds

2008-02-28T09:11:00.003-06:00

Due to the steady rise in heating and cooling costs over the past decade, homeowners are taking advantage of every money saving idea that comes there way. One of the most popular methods in recent years is landscaping for energy efficiency. Shade trees that block the sun and lower air conditioning bills and privacy screens that double as wind barriers for the cold winter months have become staples in the attempt to save energy and funds through landscape.

Another method that is utilized far less often, yet is every bit as effective, is foundation planting for insulation. Perennials planted alongside your home are beautiful in the summer, but planting dense shrubs will deflect cold winds from chilling your home and insulate your foundation. Not surprisingly, this simple act can lower your heating costs by as much as 20%.

Ideal for this purpose are thick, lush evergreen shrubs, such as American Boxwood. The density and form of this boxwood make it perfect for holding those winter winds away from your home, automatically stabilizing the temperatures inside through insulation. Other fantastic selections are Privet, Osmanthus, and Yew. However, if the idea of plain evergreen shrubs does not appeal to you, there are plenty of flowering bushes that will add some visual interest along with practicality. Camellia and Rhododendron are both fantastic evergreen shrubs that come in a wide variety of bloom colors.

When utilized properly, your "insulation shrubs" can pay for themselves in just one cold season. Pair the idea of foundation shrubs with a wind barrier in your yard, and you'll be saving up to 60% on your heating costs this year.

Winter Activities For A Jump On Spring

2008-02-28T09:09:00.002-06:00

For passionate gardeners, this cold time of year cannot pass quickly enough. However, there are several things you can do all season long to prepare for the coming of spring that can actually improve your gardening endeavors far more than you may thing. Plus, they'll keep you busy and make the cold season fly right by!

The first thing you'll want to do is draft any new plans for your landscape. If you would like to make changes or repairs, begin the process now. Figure out exactly what you'd like to do, and you'll be able to jump right in when the weather breaks.

The next thing you'll definitely want to do during the winter is get any gardening equipment cleaned and serviced. The last thing you're going to want when spring arrives is to find that the lawn mower is broken. Any damages can be repaired and upgrades made long before you actually need to utilize your equipment.

You may want to have your soil tested before the actual planting season arrives, especially if you've had any growing difficulties in the past. This test will assess what, if anything, you need to add to your soil. Then if you need to amend the soil in any way, you'll have plenty of notice and time to do so.

Be sure to clean and prepare flower beds. You may also want to do this in any areas of your yard that you believe you will want to plant perennials, vines, or ground covers. Preparing the area beforehand will speed the planting process when spring rolls around. Prune any deciduous trees, shrubs and hedges You will also want to prune any fruit trees or bushes you may have. Also, give any ornamental grasses a gentle, annual trim.

Follow these steps and you'll have a great head start on your spring gardening and landscape plans.

With Fragrance, Charm, And Undeniable Romance - The Classic Rose Can't Get Any Better, Can It?

2008-02-28T08:54:00.003-06:00

The rose is a stand alone in the gardening world, historically and today. Arguably the most popular flower in American history, it is rare to find an experienced gardener that has not tried their hand at the cultivation of a rose bush. With fragrance, visual charm, and undeniable romance... the classic rose is just a flower that cannot get any better, right?

Well, that may be a matter of debate. Since their debut in 2000, Knock Out Roses have taken the gardening world by storm. Particularly, the Double Knockout Rose. With up to twenty-five petals per single bloom, the Double Knockout is easily twice the size of your average rose. Apparently, it's now aimed at becoming twice as popular as well.

Size, however, is not the only thing the Double Knockout rose has going for it. The Double Knockout boasts an extended bloom period that can stretch into all four seasons. More compact than even the original Knockout rose, the Double has a home in even the most modest of planting spaces. Becoming increasingly known for pest and disease resistance, drought tolerance, and being the ultimate in low-maintenance, it's no wonder gardeners all over the country have fallen head over heels for this amazing cultivar.

Available in classic rose hues, you won't have to forgo that long cherished elegance with the Knockout roses. Looking for that romantic, cherry red? The Red Double Knockout rose will deliver all the time honored tradition with twice the size and glowing with color. If a softer, more feminine bloom appeals to you, you will find all that and more with the Pink Double Knockout rose.

With all the looks and attributes one could ask for in a rose, it's certainly not hard to see why the Knockout roses are becoming more popular by the day. And it looks like a sure bet that they will have a place in gardens and landscapes for generations to come.