It’s February! Every day brings us closer to spring and to getting our hands back into the lovely dirt! Though the ground is still frozen and snow covered, that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start making notes about the changes you’d like to make to your garden. Though you may be antsy (like us!) to prepare for a new growing season, now is an excellent opportunity to use the stillness of winter to prepare.

Think about how your garden fared last year. What did you love about it, and what would you like to change? Are there any plants your friends or neighbors grew that you’d like to try in your own garden? If you have a vegetable garden, now is a wonderful time to figure out your beds and place your seed orders.

Also, start to think about hardscape and bulk material. It’s good to take an early assessment if you can see bits of the ground even though all the snow has yet to melt. What is quality of your mulch — will you need a fresh application in the late spring? Have you assessed walkways for loose pavers or gravel, or seen any driveway stone wash out?

Making a checklist and taking early inventory can help you prepare. That way, if spring comes early or on time (fingers crossed!) you’ll already be a few steps ahead of the game.

In some areas of New Jersey, forsythia, cherry trees, and bulbs have begun to emerge.  Spring seems to have come early this year – way too early.  What does this mean for plants and trees that should be blooming closer to April?

The duration of warm weather we’ve been having hasn’t been seen in quite some time, so one can only speculate how Mother Nature will respond.

Some say that the warm, humid temperatures can increase the growth of fungus, which can perhaps be difficult for dormant trees and shrubs to fend off, which could cause damage.

If there are buds or flowers present and we get a hard freeze, there will be far fewer spring flowers, and new growth.  Flowering trees, shrubs, and bulbs need a dormancy period of about 115 days to produce a full flush of flowers.  For bulbs, if the tips have emerged but no flower, you will most likely still see a spring bloom, but the edges of the leaves may look cut off from ‘winter burn.’

Aside from the potential lackluster spring blooms, another important thing to consider is our pollinators. Fewer spring blooms means less pollination, and less food for honeybees that may have used up more honey reserves in their hive due to being more active in the warm temperatures.  For a  list of plants for pollinators, click here.

Are your flowers blooming?  Post your pictures on our Facebook page!

Creating property borders or privacy screens with evergreens do much more than provide a natural look.

Typically, municipalities require permits for installing fences over six-feet tall.  That said, there are no municipal regulations on planting evergreens as a fence, or how high they can grow.

Obviously, if there are power lines above, or structures nearby, you have to put some forethought into the type of evergreens you choose to plant and consider their growing habits. At Rutgers Landscape Nursery, we have lots of options to choose from to help create the privacy screen that’s right for you.  Stop by!

Autumn is the time to plant your spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and snowdrops.  Tulips should be planted a little later in October.  Bulbs are easy to plant and provide a spectacular show in the spring, especially when planted in groups. They also look lovely as a border planting. Be sure to pay attention to the different heights of each when incorporating into your garden.

Bulbs prefer a sunny location, and well-drained soil. Be sure to amend the soil with peat and compost so that the soil contains nutrients, and is well-aerated. To plant, simply dig a hole wide and deep enough for each bulb.  Measure the bulb from base to tip and triple the number – that is the planting depth.  Place the bulb into the hole with the top (narrow part) facing up.  Space bulbs at least twice their width apart.  Cover with soil and water them in. There is no need to water continuously after planting.  Now all you have to do is wait until spring!

If you haven’t noticed yet, fall foliage has already started to pop up throughout our region.  Leaves are beginning to get early gold and red tinges, and the chilly morning air really is getting that lovely fall smell.

Fall this year however, has come a bit early. Foliage typically peaks mid-October and lasts through early November, but the dry weather we’ve had has sparked the change early.

Though we instruct folks on how to properly water their trees/shrubs in the first year, one thing to heed especially during this time is caring for young trees. The dry conditions can be quite hard on them, so staying on top of watering is very important.

Although Mother Nature is ahead of the game, you can too with a little extra TLC to ensure happy trees.  Until then, sit back and enjoy the early fall colors!

The summer heat has made springtime seem like a distant memory.  Though a lot of gardeners start their beds early in the year, the fall is an excellent time to plant as well. The air temperature is milder, and the ground is still warm which makes for excellent growing conditions, especially for trees and shrubs.

Much of a plant’s root growth happens in the summer and fall, helping it establish.  A plant with an established root system is much hardier when it comes to standing up to heat and wind the following year. There is also much more dependable rain fall and ground moisture (plus, you don’t have to water as much since plants are gearing up for winter dormancy).  Additionally, populations of certain insects and pests diminish with cooler temps.

So get out your garden gloves and galoshes – there’s planting to be done!

A lush Queen Elizabeth Maple between two beetle-eaten trees!

Who gets the royal treatment when it comes to conquering Japanese Beetles?

The Queen Elizabeth Maple!

Not only are they super hardy when it comes to these crawly, hungry friends (as the picture above illustrates!), they also make an excellent shade or street tree, with an average height reaching a modest 25-30.’ Its low branching and dense foliage makes a stunning addition to any landscape, especially in the fall when the leaves turn vibrant shades of gold.  Stop by the nursery to check them out!