Not what I planned
It’s looking pretty sad.
We’ve got a couple of large potted hydrangeas on my patio that we’ve been enjoying for several years. One blooms raspberry-red late in the spring, and the other blooms pure white starting at the peak of summer.
It was coming into full bloom and looking pretty amazing a few weeks ago when the storm with the crazy winds blew through. It’s safe to say, large blooms hanging out on the ends of long stems aren’t designed to hold up well to intense winds. They got the crap beat of them!
It’s not horrible looking, but it’s not exactly the same as the pre-storm version that previously graced our patio. Amazingly, the blooms are still impressive, intact and pretty stunning. But, the overall plant looks pretty beat up. What was once a full, upright-growing flowering showpiece, has just one lone standing stem and is now a sad melted version of its previous self.
For now, we’re still enjoying the flowers, despite the droopy appearance. I’ve cut some of them and brought them inside to enjoy. They do make a pretty amazing display.
The rest are riding out the remainder of their time, hanging in place. As their colors fades, I’ll probably trim them off. Removing the weight of the large blooms should help and allow the stems to spring back up a bit. Next spring, I’ll reshape it a bit more and by next summer, things should back be amazing again... and not so droopy!
This gardening thing doesn’t always work out according to plan. For me, that’s part of what keeps it interesting. Sometimes things thrive and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they thrive but still disappoint. Sometimes they thrive too much ... And, well, sometimes they end up a little droopy!
Things could be a lot worse!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Like I said in our last newsletter, some opportunities come unexpectedly. There’s no point to being frustrated in a situation like this. The game has been played, and maybe it didn’t go the way we planned, but the outcome is what it is.
And there’s always next year.
In meantime, we’re enjoying a bit of the garden inside. A vase full of hydrangea blooms wasn’t the original plan, but it’s not a bad outcome. Not a bad trade off.
That’s a little update from our garden. (See what else is going on in the images below.) Hopefully, you’re enjoying yours as well, regardless how it chooses to give back.
We’re starting to roll some new crops in for fall. If you need anything come see us!
—Cameron
my Garden Tour
“Thymely” advice
prep areas for overseeding
It may be a hot summer; but, sooner than you think, fall will be upon us.
As the leaves start to change and the temperatures become cooler, so begins the fall lawn seeding season. Whether you’re completely renovating your lawn or reseeding, preparation is key. Who doesn’t want a lush, green lawn to be proud of?!
The time to start getting your lawn prepared is now— so, there’s no time to wait! You want to start with a clean slate, so to speak, if you really want to make the most of this seeding season.
One of the best ways to get a lawn full of great-looking grass, without the unsightly weeds, is to make sure all of the unwanted stuff is killed off and out of your way before seeding. Start by spraying the difficult areas with a non-specific weed and grass killer. Something like Hi-Yield Killzall will do the trick. If you have stubborn Bermuda or Zoysia grass to contend with, multiple treatments may be needed to completely eradicate them. Following the directions on the label, make sure that you are allowing 7 days in between each treatment to give the product time to work.
It is also helpful to make sure those pesky weeds and grass have enough water. I know… you’re asking yourself, why would I water weeds? Well, herbicides work best on actively growing plants, and that includes weeds. It’s also a good idea to hit the area again if you still have weeds that are green after a few weeks. Once you’ve treated the area and killed off all the grass and weeds, it’s time to lightly rake and seed.
Preparing your yard to be the best it can be takes a little hard work and patience, but its worth it for the healthy, full lawn that everyone is after. I know what I’ll be doing for the next few weeks. What about you?
As always, we are always here to help and our knowledgeable staff would be glad to answer any questions that you might have during any step of this process.
—Melissa Anderson