Greenscape Gardens Green Blog

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

GARDENING IS THE SLOWEST......OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thanks again. The weather starts to warm up and the website is getting hot. Hooray! 31,000 web site visits. Plus over 108,000 web page views. We intend to keep adding new features and daily updates via the green blog. The weekly Internet Gardening Coupon returns with savings galore! Watch for it on Fridays.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HOUSEPLANT CARE

Re-potting

When should a plant be re-potted? Some plants may need re-potting each year while others may not need it for many years. Also, some plants seem to do well when pot-bound while others do not.

Here are some indicators for when a plant needs to be re-potted.
• Roots begin to grow through the drainage holes.
• Roots appear on the soil surface.
• The soil mass is filled with roots.
• New leaves are smaller than normal.
• The plant wilts between normal waterings.

Timing is important. Re-potting is best accomplished when the plant is actively growing. Typically this is done in spring or early summer. Sometimes it is best to simply replace the old and tired plant, especially if it is too large for the space. You may purchase a new one, or depending upon the plant type, make a new plant using the correct propagation technique.

Gently knock the plant out of its container and look at the roots. For root-bound plants, cut and/or unwind any circling roots. If there is a salt buildup (crusty white residue) on the soil surface, remove it carefully by scraping away the top inch of old soil. Then replant into the new container using fresh potting mix. Make sure the plant is re-potted at the same depth it was grown in the old pot. Gently press the soil around the roots and water immediately. Also, leave a little room at the top of the pot to allow for easy watering.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

HELLEBORUS 2005 PERENNIAL PLANT OF THE YEAR

The Perennial Plant Association has named “Helleborus xhybridus” 2005 Perennial Plant of the Year.

The common name of this marvelous shade plant is Lenten Rose. It is an evergreen, late-winter or early-spring flowering member of the buttercup family. Lenten rose is hardy in the St. Louis area. Mature plants can from clumps that are 18” to 24” tall and 24” to 30” wide. Long lasting blooms are available in many colors and appear as single or double forms. Mature plants often have 50 or more flowers per plant. This evergreen perennial performs best in partial to full shade, but makes an outstanding combination plant for adding color, texture, and habit to the ornamental landscape.

For additional information check out the Perennial Plant Association Website.

Greenscape Gardens has a great selection of Helleborus in stock. Hurry in for the best selections.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

MOVIE TRAILERS --- I'm not talking about the kind you pull behind a vehicle.

Can't get enough of the movies! Try this website to see some of the best highlights of the best trailers.