Poundridge Nurseries, Inc. - Blog

There is an increasingly vocal group of garden writers making their name by proclaiming the ease of low or no maintenance landscapes, and while a no maintenance garden sounds good, it just isn’t realistic. The truth is that the real work begins after the plants are in and the landscaping crew has loaded up and left.

Landscaping, unlike interior design or architecture, requires a commitment lasting the life span of the trees and shrubs in the design. When you buy a chair or table and put it in your house that’s more or less it. You have to vacuum or polish it now and then but there is no danger that it will grow too big to fit its place. The same is true for windows and walls. You may need to paint or clean them regularly, but you can count on them to stay more or less the same as when they were installed.

Not so for trees and shrubs. (We’ll talk about the pruning issues of perennials in a subsequent post.) Though it may be 8 feet tall with a root ball weighing in at over 400 pounds, a tree purchased from a nursery is just a child, or at best, an adolescent. It is within the first 10 years of what should be a life spanning 50, 60, 70 years. During this time it will grow and change considerably and similar to the way that how people are treated when they are young determines their success and longevity as adults, proper pruning shapes a young tree to be the best that it can be.

“Pruning is an operation which regulates and controls growth, flowering and fruiting, and with its aid the form of a tree or bush is determined.”
George E. Brown in “The Pruning of Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers”

Pruning is the nurture side of the nature vs. nurture upbringing of trees and the home gardener that learns how to properly prune (or hires qualified arborists to do it for them) is like a good parent assuming responsibility to raise their kids right.

A pruner prunes to make a better plant. More specifically, pruning corrects plant growth to create a pleasing shape or form. Pruning keeps a plant in bounds by controlling its growth and it removes dead branches or diseased wood. Pruning can also be part of a cultivation program designed to stimulate the production of flowers, fruit, or finer foliage.

Why am I discussing pruning in the middle of winter? Because winter is a perfect time to prune the deciduous trees and shrubs that make up such an important part of the landscape. With the leaves off it is easier to study the overall shape of the plant when making corrective cuts. In addition, when the plant is dormant large cuts are less of a shock to the system. Best of all, there ain’t much else to do in the garden during a New England February.

So be a good parent to your plants and either learn how to prune them yourself or hire someone who knows how to help you. You’ll be rewarded with healthy and strong, beautiful trees and shrubs that will accompany you well into old age.

By Daryl Beyers

Do you have a pruning horror story? Send it to us in a comment and we will post it online.

Click on this sentence to follow a link to the publisher of George Brown’s book on pruning.

After 15 years as a professional garden designer I feel confident that I know what it takes to grow healthy plants in the landscape. The variables of sun exposure, soil condition, availabilty of water, and seasonal climate are all factored into my plant selections because what each plant needs to grow and thrive is just as important as the aesthetic qualities that make it suitable for a design. I know how to find the right plant for the right place but I must admit that when it came to house plants I often struggled.

Growing house plants is tricky because conditions in our homes are less than ideal for the health and well being of most plants. The right amount of sunlight and humidity are difficult to gauge and control indoors. Windows aren’t always large enough to let in enough light, or they may be shaded by outside objects like large trees or neighboring buildings. On the other hand, a south facing window may provide too much sun and literally cook the plants. Conventional heating systems tend to dry out the air indoors making it difficult to grow plants that need humidity more akin to what we feel outside on a fine summer day.

I killed many house plants over the years but I finally found success as an indoor gardener when I began to match my house plant selections to the conditions inside my house, just like how I choose landscaping plants that are best suited to the growing conditions in my clients’ gardens. This epiphany led me to choose succulent plants–Mediterranean or desert plants that thrive in low humidity and bright sun–as my house plants of choice. Since then I have successly grown (which means I have kept these plants alive, in my house, for more than 4 years) agave, aloe, cactus, and jade plant. I keep them all on a long table above a heat register right in front of a south facing window. My second most successful indoor plant eco-tone is the shady corner. Here things like snakeplant (Sanseveria) or tuberous begonias enjoy low light and moderately dry soil.

Similar to how I tweak my outdoor planting plans I also move my house plants from place to place depending upon how they perform. For example, it took me several months to find the perfect spot for an African violet, but when I saw how happy it was on a pedestal in front of the window in our half-bath I kept it there. Now it blooms every four to six weeks and has grown out of its original pot several times.

House plants help me make it through New England winters. What better way to stay connected to nature when everything outside is cold and dormant than to have a little indoor greenery right in the living room.

By Daryl Beyers

Let us know what you grow indoors or any other tips that help you succeed with houseplants and we will post your comments on our website.

Click on this sentence to follow a link and learn about indoor safe chemicals for house plants:

This is the time of year, as the catalogs arrive in the mail and seed displays pop up in the garden centers, when experienced gardeners start to think about seeds. This is also the time of year when we will be subjected to at least one heart-felt missive from a magazine editor, TV show host, or blogger, describing the magical moment when as a child they discovered the miracle of seeds. Although there is certainly something special about the idea of a full-sized plant, be it a zinnia or an oak, originating from something as small as a seed, it is foolish to carry your sense of wonder any further than that initial bean-sprouting-in-the-cup-on-the-window-sill moment of amazement.

The misconception that seeds are mini-miracles does not serve a gardener well. It perpetuates an ill-conceived notion that making more plants from seeds is better left to professionals like horticulturalists and farmers. Don’t think it. While some seeds are difficult to prompt into action, the majority of those kinds you can buy at a garden center are not.

The best seed starting advice I ever got was from Panyoti Kelaidis, a horticultural philosophizer and avid seed starter from Denver, Colorado. “Seeds want to grow,” he told me. That’s what they are designed to do. All they require of us is that we give them the opportunity. Panyoti’s technique for starting seed is to sow as many as you have in seed trays filled with a nice, light, soil mix. Then set the trays out in the garden and wait. Some seeds, like store-bought annual flowers and vegetables, will sprout right away, while others like self-collected, native perennials may need to go through an entire season exposed to the elements before they finally do their thing. The basic idea is to provide them with the right conditions (nice soil and a sunny spot) and step aside.

This advice has always struck me as more valuable than all those tips and techniques taught and touted on-line, on TV, or in books and magazines. It seems to me that overthinking our faith in a seed only mucks up the works, especially when success can be achieved simply by purchasing a few packets, sowing them in some decent soil, and allowing that miracle–that is really no miracle at all–to take place. Like everything else in life, some seeds will work out. Some won’t. And afterall, aren’t uncertain outcomes part of what makes life interesting in the first place.

By Daryl Beyers

What seeds have you had the most success–or the most trouble–with? We’d like to know.

Send us a comment and we will post it online.

FYI: Panyoti Kelaidis is Senior Curator and Director of Outreach at the Denver Botanic Gardens. For more sage advice from him and the rest of the staff at DBG you should visit their blog at the following link:

www.botanicgardensblog.com/

Here are links to some reputable seed companies:

Botanical Interests
Ferry Morse
Burpee Seeds
Renee’s Garden

It’s winter time and what’s a gardener to do? Cold winds blow outside and snow covers the ground as night time temperatures drop into the teens and twenties. Snow and cold, however, is fine by me. I grew up in a Midwestern state where winter starts in early November and spring doesn’t show any sign of arriving until the end of April, so I am used to hunkering down for a long winter gardener’s nap.

January feels like the quietest time of the year because once all the hubbub of the holidays has passed all we have to look forward to is crossing off those eighty date boxes on the calendar until the first day of spring. Though this down time may prove painful for gardeners, there is an easy way to keep our thumbs green through the dark months–and I don’t mean by snowbirding to Florida. In fact, you can keep your inner gardener alive in the comfort of your own home, nestled in a cozy chair by a fire, (I sit at my drawing table in the designers building here at the nursery) by reading books about gardening.

The canon of good books written by talented gardeners is filled with wonderful works for everyone. The authors range from the ancient (Theophrastus) to the legendary (Vita Sackville-West) to bestselling contemporaries (Jamaica Kincaid). Garden books, like gardens, come in different styles, such as the comedic tales of Bevery Nichols in “Merry Hall” to the philosophical musings of Thoreau in “Faith in a Seed.” Then there are the beautiful garden picture books, the best of which complement their inspirational photography with the insightful prose of experts.

I typically read four or five garden books at a time. Right now I’m in the middle of “Parks, Plants, and People” by New York City public garden designer, Lynden Miller. Also on my stack is John Greenlee’s “The American Meadow Garden” which is filled with awesome photos by my favorite garden photographer, Saxon Holt. Always nearby is “The Patchwork Garden,” given to me personally by the author, and my neighbor, Sydney Eddison. And to maintain my scientific bragging rights, I dip into a book called “Life in the Soil” by University of Illinois Biology professor, James B. Nardi. I bounce between these books when I take a break from working on design drawings–hands down THE BEST winter pastime for a garden designer.

Losing myself in garden books makes the wait for plant and seed catalogs to arrive in the mail a whole lot easier.(More about them in my next posting.) and as the catalogs slowly stack up on my kitchen table I begin to believe that January will end after all, bringing us one month closer to what every gardener longs for…a real spring thaw.

We’d like to hear what books (gardening or otherwise) you are reading this winter. Send us a comment with some titles and we will share them on this website.

By Daryl Beyers

Life at a nursery changes with the seasons. It begins with a flurry of activity in the spring followed by doldrums through the dog days of summer and then a final mad dash in autumn. In the temperate climate of New England winter has little to occupy a nurseryman unless he or she chooses to rig their trucks with plows. There is, however, one last hurrah that a nursery can experience, and that is by transforming itself into a Holiday Store and Christmas tree lot.

When I first heard that Poundridge Nurseries had a Christmas Store I understood the fiscal reasons why but failed to fully appreciate the extent to which our unassuming garden store would be transformed into a holiday extravaganza. Garden hoses, grass seed, and fertilizers were put away for the season and replaced with a vast selection of bows, wrapping paper, wreaths, stuffed animals, traditional toys, German nutcrackers, miniature villages, collectible dolls, and handmade ornaments. Beginning in October the transformation began and each day I noticed new holiday displays added to the store until it was literally filled to the rafters with pre-decorated Christmas trees and huge poinsettia plants.

Then the animals arrived; a petting zoo complete with three sheep, five goats, and two alpacas in separate mangers. And when Santa appeared on that first weekend after Thanksgiving to hand out Christmas tree seedlings to each visiting child, I knew that the full force of the season was upon us. The smiles of the children who arrived with their parents to pick out a Christmas tree, sit on Santa’s lap, and then visit the menagerie was enough to set a sparkle in this weary landscaper’s eye.

Though spring remains my favorite time of the year because it marks the beginning of the planting season, I must admit that from now on I will look forward to the end of the year too, not because it will mark the completion of another successful season of making gardens, but because I know that December will bring the excitement and cheer of another Christmas Store.

Happy Holidays from Everyone at Poundridge Nurseries.

By Daryl Beyers, Landscape Designer

Tradition plays an important role in every holiday celebration, especially Christmas. It may be a special food, a family event, or beautiful decorations that represent the best of the season to you and yours. I can remember when as a child I used to help decorate our tree with tinsel, carefully placing each strand one at a time on the branch tips. The result was a magical tree and a holiday vision that lives in my memory to this day. But a hectic schedule often makes it difficult to find time to pick up a Christmas tree, let alone tackle the tinsel. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a team of elves to decorate eveything for us while we sit back and enjoy the season free from the stress and strain of putting up the decorations.

Lights, wreaths, bows, and garlands are the traditional trappings of holiday decor and no home should spend the season without a little bit of such Christmas cheer. Thankfully, the creative folks at Poundridge Nurseries will gladly take all the work and worry out of preparing your home for the holidays and decorate your house beautifully, indoors and outdoors. Let our decorating elves put up the tree, string lights, hang ornaments, garlands, wreaths, and bows. They can even create a custom-made fireplace mantle piece just for the occasion.

Poundridge Nurseries would like to be a part of your holiday tradition. Call now to set up an appointment for a free consulation with a designer to discuss how we can decorate your home for the holidays. Daryl Beyers

Savvy gardeners know that fall is for planting. The milder weather is less stressful on newly installed plants, decreasing the need to water them every day to keep their roots alive and to ensure the rest of the plant will thrive. The fact that plants are beginning to enter their seasonal dormancy also helps them make the transition from pot to garden with less trauma for the plant and less worry for the gardener.

Fall is also when nurseries place their remaining stock of plants on sale. Overwintering trees, shrubs, and perennials is expensive and the fear of losing plants in the depths of January keeps nursery managers up at night. As a result, it is more cost effective (and psychically restive) to offer plants at a discount and avoid the work and worry of bedding down stock for the winter. The best part of all this is that the nurseries’ loss becomes the gardener and homeowners’ gain.

Buying plants in fall is a true win/win proposition for the plant purchaser. Not only is fall a great time to plant a tree or shrub, but the discounts offered allow you to get three trees for the price of less than two. That means you can afford ten boxwoods for a hedge instead of making do with five or six, or you can step up the size of tree you buy, turning that ordinary looking six foot pine tree into a stately eight footer.

There is, however, one caveat associated with these fall savings. The selection of plants available in fall is never as diverse as what you can find in the spring, but you will be surprised at how many great plants are still at your local nursery. It seems foolish not to take advantage of the season and add a few plants to your landscape at bargain basement prices. Come spring when that new tree, shrub, or perennial blooms you will be glad you did, and so will your pocket book, unless, like me, you contract a case of “discountitis” and go on a spree. “40% off?! That’s practically free!”

Poundridge Nurseries, Inc.
FALL SEASON SALE
Starts Saturday, October 3rd
40% OFF All Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, and Bubs
All Outdoor Furniture, Pots, Statuary, and more!

Daryl Beyers

Planting bulbs in the fall for spring flowers is a long standing tradition with many gardeners, but it is a tradition that has slowly declined in popularity. Many new homeowners–and therefore new garden owners–long for the spring show of tulips or jonquils (daffodils) that they remember from their mothers’ or grandmothers’ gardens, but most don’t know how easy it is to have the same flowers for themselves. What they don’t know is that planting fall bulbs is one of the easiest ways to grow a plant because bulbs are, quite simply, a plant waiting to be. All the plant parts and the energy needed to make a flower are stored in a self contained package, the bulb. Bury one in the ground and a flower will emerge in the spring. It’s as simple as that. There is no need to water or fertilize (though a little Bulb-tone at planting time can be helpful).

Of course there are some pitfalls when it comes to planting bulbs, such as planting them the right depth (make the hole three times as deep as the bulb is wide), and the right way up (usually self-evident, but look for shriveled roots and you’ve found the bottom). Yet, even a bulb planted too deep and upside down will struggle to right itself and push its way to the surface somehow. The best thing about planting bulbs is that it provides the satisfaction of doing something in your garden that is not a reactive “chore” like pruning a shrub or weeding. Planting bulbs in autumn is a preemptive strike for beauty and a little sweat in September will go a long way to enjoying some flowers in April or May.

My favorite bulbs for big gardens are daffodils because the deer won’t eat them and because in time they spread naturally. I like crocus for close up spots along a walk way where I am sure to see them, and swaths of scilla or snowdrops beneath a special tree. Tulips are great for a formal bed near the patio because I can enjoy their unique shades of color up close while keeping the deer at bay. Hyacinths are another great bulb to plant close to the house because their strong fragrance is always a pleasure.

So go plant some bulbs this fall. It’s your first step towards a beautiful spring garden.

–Daryl Beyers

Gardening, like most every other pastime, is an on going learning experience. Much of what good gardeners learn comes from what we read in books or magazines, which we then put to the test in our gardens. Yet, some of the best lessons are passed along to us from other gardeners. Simple lessons such as the best time to prune a hydrangea (this depends on the type of hydrangea you have), what to feed dahlias to ensure vibrant blooms, and just how much direct sun a hosta can tolerate are a few of the things learned during the regular course of a budding gardener’s career. We can learn a lot from friends who garden but those who are new to the game can find gardening friends by attending local gardening classes in their community.

Continuing education programs, county extensions, and botanical gardens all offer a wide range of courses at convenient times and locations. A few of us at Poundridge Nurseries regularly teach local gardening courses. We invite you click on the course listings in this blog which will link you to the website with more information. Or visit the website directly at www.wiltoncontinuinged.org.

1. Deer fencing is the best way to keep deer and other unwanted animals out of your garden.

2. Keeping deer off your property greatly reduces the risk of Lyme disease

3. No one likes the smell of deer repellent and with good fencing you won’t have to buy that stinky spray ever again.

4. If deer damage has turned you into a frustrated gardener a deer fence will allow you to plant many different perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees.

5. If you want to grow a vegetable garden or a cutting flower garden in Westchester or Fairfield counties a deer fence is the first step toward success.

6. There are a few options for deer fence materials but the most economical solution is cedar posts with nylon netting–also known as a C-flex.

7. Custom wood or metal fences look great and can be built by a qualified installation team, but the cost can be pricey.

8. Late winter or early spring is the best time to install a deer fence so it is ready for the growing season, but if you can’t do it then, summer is also a great time to install.

9. A designer can determine the best location for your deer fence to get the most protection for the lowest cost.

10. Most importantly - Poundridge Nurseries installs deer fences!

By Poliana Danila, Landscape Designer