Garden Center in Moultonborough Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Stephens Landscaping Professionals

Oct 10, 2022

Elevated Fall Decorations for Your Front Porch

Autumn is one of the most breathtaking and beautiful seasons in New Hampshire. We can recreate a taste of that beauty right at our doorstep by decorating our front porch with a fall display. Your yard is brimming with colorful plants to use, fall annuals are blooming, and the farmer’s markets are loaded with the harvest of pumpkins and squash. All it takes is a little creativity to set up some decor that will harmonize with the season!

Autumn Door Wreath

If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at making a fall wreath for your front door. All you’ll need is a wreath frame, wire or hot glue, and beautiful plants from around your yard. Save your evergreen boughs for Christmas, and instead, try weaving together dried grass, corn husks, burlap, grapevines, or any bendable branches from shrubs, like dogwood and willow.

For color, tuck in fall leaves, pine cones, or fall-blooming flowers like coneflowers, asters, sunflowers, and black-eyed Susans. Add a festive ribbon as a finishing touch, and your wreath will be ready for a welcoming fall display on your front porch.

Front Porch Chrysanthemums

You don’t need to have a pumpkin planter to take advantage of fall annuals on the porch. Chrysanthemums are one the most prized bloomers for this time of year. You can find red, yellow, and orange varieties to match the fall foliage or beautiful color contrasts of magenta and pink. To be extra festive, try dressing up your planters with burlap, ribbons, or bows of dried grass.

Pumpkin Planters

Few things say “fall decor,” like pumpkins and squash. You can make these jewels of the harvest into beautiful porch displays by turning them into planters. Simply cut an opening on the top, carve them out, and drill a hole in the bottom for drainage.

Next, place potting soil with flowers right inside the pumpkin, or hide a small pot inside the shell for your display. Living flowers, like mums, work well, as do cut and dried flowers from the foliage around your yard. Either way, you’ll have gorgeous decor that fits with the season.

Fall Farmhouse Porch Display

Evoke the charm of the fall harvest by bringing a taste of the farm to your front door. Set up a straw bale, an antique lantern, and a cornucopia filled with gourds, apples, leaves, and other symbols of seasonal abundance. A pitchfork, milking pail planters, and a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins are other ideas to play with as you create your display.

Painted Pumpkins

Pumpkins and squash alone are already works of art that can turn your porch into a festive decor display. If you want to practice your creative skills, you can also paint them with unique colors, like silver and white. The broad surface of pumpkins is also an ideal canvas for written messages, like “spooky season,” “falling in love,” or “fall greetings,” to welcome your guests to your porch.

Pumpkin Lanterns

Fall is also a time of increased darkness, but we can use the dark hours to create beautiful nighttime displays. We’ve all heard of Jack-o-lanterns, but pumpkins also make gorgeous lanterns throughout the fall. Save the spooky face for Halloween, and instead carve out heart-warming shapes of leaves, birds, animals, or any silhouette that comes to mind. Instead of a candle, use a small light inside to illuminate your pumpkin lanterns.

These ideas for fall front porch decor in New Hampshire can stand alone or be combined to create unique displays of your own. For any supplies you might need, feel free to visit Stephens Landscaping Garden Center in Moultonborough, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Instagram for updates and featured products.

Oct 03, 2022

How to Use Compost in Your Garden for Maximum Benefits

Garden Center

Compost has endless benefits, from retaining nutrients in the soil to protecting plants from disease. You can use compost in your yard in many ways; it is an excellent additive for crops, and your flower beds and trees can also benefit from enriched soil.

The Benefits of Adding Compost to Your Garden Beds in New Hampshire

You may not notice a difference once you add compost to your garden since it looks so similar to topsoil, but your flowers definitely will! Compost is an excellent natural fertilizer for planters and flower beds because it improves your soil’s structure, adding nutrients that your plants have absorbed through the growing season. With these added benefits, your plants can grow stronger and healthier, increasing their chances against pests and disease!

Don’t forget these essential tips when adding compost to your soil or sprinkling it along your already-planted flower beds:

Add approximately 1 inch of compost to the soil in the spring.
Apply approximately 3/4 to 1 inch of compost in the fall.
Add compost to your soil at a 25% ratio before planting.

How to Add Compost to Tree Beds

Compost is a stellar organic amendment for any garden plant, and your tree beds are no exception! Tree planting requires high-quality, high-buffer-capacity, moisture-retentive compost made of rich, dark peat. Mix your organic compost from the garden center with your original soil when you plant your trees. You can easily rake your compost into the soil of your existing tree beds; in general, it is a good idea to apply a layer of compost about 1-2 inches deep at the base of your tree beds once per year.

Use Compost on Your Lawn

Your lawn is comprised of literally thousands of individual plants, and they deserve some delicious compost too! Spread compost on your lawn as a topcoat to cover a specific trouble area or the entire lawn for rich growth next year.

The best time to topdress your lawn with compost is right after aerating, but you can topdress anytime when the ground is not frozen. You can apply compost every spring when the lawn is just beginning to green up and in late autumn when the leaves are starting to fall; this will keep your grass looking beautiful all year! You can spread it across small yards with a compost wheel or peat spreader or use your hands to sprinkle it evenly.

Use Compost in a Veggie Garden

Do you want to reap a harvest of delicious-tasting vegetables next season? The best way to achieve that is by adding compost to your vegetable garden soil. Vegetables intake a lot of nutrients from the soil, so replenishing your soil before the next season is essential. We recommend working a decent portion of compost into the soil rather than adding it bit by bit; you want your plants to have access to that goodness regardless of how deep or wide their root systems grow! A 1:4 ratio of compost to soil, so your new soil is about 25% compost.

Add Compost When You Replace Your Mulch

Decomposing mulch will contribute to the soil nutrients in your garden beds, but if you plan on replacing your mulch this year for a refresh, this is a great time to add more compost to the soil; that way, when you plant your bulbs for next spring or more perennials, your soil is ready to go.

There are so many applications for compost in your yard that it’s definitely worth considering buying in bulk! Talk to our gardening experts at Stephens Landscaping Garden Center in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, about how compost can help enrich your garden beds and overall landscape today. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for garden center updates to keep up with our latest news!

Aug 30, 2022

When to Plant Trees and Shrubs

Garden Center · Planting

Trees provide lasting beauty and countless benefits for your property, like fresh air, shade, and a source of wildlife habitat, fruit, and flowers. But planting a tree can be stressful for the tree itself. To set your new tree up for success, it’s essential to choose the best time for planting and support it with proper planting techniques!

When is the Best Time to Plant Trees?

The best time for planting trees and shrubs is when they are dormant in the early spring before leafing out or in the autumn after leaf drop but before the hard freeze. Planting them during dormancy reduces the stress they experience during transplanting and allows them to develop roots during the fall and early spring.

That said, planting trees also works well anytime in the cool autumn season and in spring before hot weather arrives. It’s impossible to plant during the winter when the ground is frozen. The summer also presents a challenge, as heat makes it very difficult for new trees to settle in and get comfortable. Although planting in the summer is harder on the trees, it is still possible to do so, as long as you commit to keeping your tree well-watered.

When to Plant Spring Flowering Shrubs and Trees

The fall is the best time to plant spring-flowering shrubs and trees, like forsythia, lilacs, and crape myrtles, because you won’t be disturbing their blooming cycles. Plant them in the fall, and you’ll get to enjoy their blossoms the following spring.

When to Plant Conifers

The very best time to plant conifers is in the early spring, after the ground thaws. The refreshing rains and cool spring weather give them ample time to take root before the summer heat sets in.

The fall is the second-best time to plant conifers. It will give them both the autumn and spring to set roots before next year’s summer heat. Just remember to water them generously every week until the ground freezes and protect them over the winter with a layer of mulch.

Tips for Successful Tree Planting

1. Choose the Right Location: For the best long-term success, start with a location with the right light and soil conditions for your specific tree and enough space for the tree to grow.

2. Dig Twice as Wide: Help your tree root through the surrounding soil by digging your hole twice as wide as your new tree’s root ball and a little deeper than necessary.

3. Plant at the Proper Height: Take care to plant the tree at the proper depth. Backfill the hole before planting, as necessary, to ensure the tree is neither too deep nor sticking out above the ground. The trunk flare at the base of your new tree’s trunk should be flush with the surrounding earth.

4. Supplement with Biotone: Biotone is a fertilizer that encourages root growth. You can add it to the hole of the tree at the time of planting.

5. Straighten the Tree: Step back and look at the tree from several angles to ensure the trunk is straight, and adjust the tree’s position until it is. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to straighten the tree after planting.

6. Mulch Your New Tree: Add 2-3 inches of mulch around the tree well to keep moisture in and protect it over the winter. Remember not to mound the mulch around the base of the trunk, and keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent any rotting of the tender, young bark.

7. Water and Water Again: Water the new tree generously after planting and continue to water every day for 1-2 weeks. After two weeks, continue watering every 2-3 days, and water at least weekly in the fall until the ground freezes. If in doubt, check the moisture level below the mulch. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water. If you’re going away on holiday, set your sprinkler on a timer, or ask a neighbor to help with watering.

As the temperatures cool down this fall, it’s one of the best times to plant new trees and shrubs in your landscape. Visit our Moultonborough, New Hampshire garden center to view our selection, and follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more updates!

Aug 22, 2022

How Well Do You Know Your Soil?

Garden Center

As gardeners, we often focus on the beautiful flowers and plants above ground, but what’s going on in the soil is essential to everything else. This living layer of earth is where the plants get their stability, water, and nutrients to grow. It’s worthwhile to understand the different types of growing mediums, learn which ones are best for which plants, and discover ways to amend the soil. Here’s what you need to know!

What Is Topsoil?

Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil in a garden, lawn, or anywhere in nature where plants are growing. It’s composed of a rich mixture of minerals, organic material from decomposing plants, and billions of microorganisms. Topsoil is essential for biological activity on the planet, as well as a healthy garden.

The topsoil you find in garden centers is harvested from the top 1-2 feet of soil from new construction sites or areas under development. The rocks are screened out, and it’s packaged for sale.

What is “Garden Soil”?

You’ll also find products labeled “garden soil.” This is topsoil enriched with compost, other organic material, or nutrients to benefit specific garden plants. When building a new garden bed, garden soil makes an excellent growing medium, or you can create your own mixture of topsoil, compost, manure, etc. Garden soil is not the best for potted plants as it’s too dense and retains too much moisture, resulting in root rot.

What is Potting Soil?

Potting soil is a growing medium best suited for potted plants, both indoors and outdoors. It may or may not contain actual “soil” harvested from the earth, depending on the blend. Most blends include a lightweight mixture of organic materials, like shredded bark, peat moss, and sphagnum moss combined with perlite, vermiculite, or pumice for drainage. The mixtures are sterile, meaning they’re free of pathogens or fungi that could infect the plants.

Different Kinds of Potting Mixes

Besides regular all-purpose potting soil, you’ll find specific potting mixes designed for the needs of specific plants. Cactus and succulent mixes contain a higher ratio of sand to improve drainage and imitate desert conditions. Orchid mixes contain more shredded bark to mimic the habitat where orchids usually grow. You’ll also find seed starting mixes, which are finer, lighter, and don’t have as much nutrient content as a regular potting mix.

How to Amend Your Garden Soil

To amend your garden soil means to add materials to improve nutrients or to fix a problem like poor drainage or unfavorable pH. Generally, if your plants are thriving, you won’t need to worry about amendments other than a yearly addition of compost or manure to replenish nutrients.

If you see your plants are having a problem, and you suspect it’s a soil issue, it’s worthwhile to have your soil tested to find the proper diagnosis. Your local county extension office can provide a soil test for a minimal fee.

Amending for pH

Proper soil pH is essential for plants as it allows them to absorb nutrients from the soil. If your soil pH is too acidic, you can add lime to bring it back to neutral. Or, if your soil is too alkaline, you can lower the pH by adding sulfur. This process should be done in stages, not all at once, so your plants can adjust slowly.

Amending Soil Texture

The best soil for most garden plants is called loam, which is neither too dense nor too sandy and is just the right texture for good moisture retention, drainage, and airflow.

A simple way to test texture is to pick up some soil in your hand and squeeze it. You’ve got good loamy soil if it forms a ball before crumbling away. If it doesn’t form a ball, it may be too sandy. If it compacts into a ball and doesn’t crumble, you could be dealing with dense, clay-based soil.

The best way to amend either clay or sandy soil is to add organic material, like compost or manure. This helps sandy soil retain moisture and improve density. It also loosens up clay-based soil, allowing more room for air and water to flow through. Plus, overall, compost and manure add essential nutrients and microbial activity that improve any soil type.

For more information on the best soil for your plants, drop by our garden center in Moultonborough, and keep in touch through Facebook or Instagram!

Jul 25, 2022

Fragrant Native Plants for Your Landscape

Garden Center

Nothing is better than sitting outside in your yard and catching the sweet aroma of wild bergamot in the breeze. With these native plants, you can breathe in the natural fragrance of our home woodlands. They’re hardy, low-maintenance, and benefit the wildlife of our larger ecosystems. Here is a taste of the beautiful scents and colors you can enjoy right in your garden!

Woodland Phlox

In April and May, Woodland phlox displays a dazzling carpet of small white or pink flowers. The cloud of blooms is a feast of early season nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies, especially the tiger swallowtail. This low-maintenance native plant thrives in semi-shaded areas and provides good groundcover in woodland gardens or between other perennials.

Anise Hyssop

This anise hyssop unfurls towers of lavender blooms from mid to late summer. This fragrant native plant exudes a unique anise scent, which will waft through your garden and attract pollinators from far and wide. Easy to care for and drought-tolerant once established, it’s an ideal, long-blooming perennial for your wildflower garden. Plus, you can eat the leaves as a herb.

Wild Bergamot

This aromatic native perennial blooms with purple-pink flowers in early summer. Though they look like tufts of petals, they’re actually a mass of tubular flowers, which butterflies and hummingbirds love to feed on. You can use the fragrant leaves as an herb, similar to oregano, or brewed for a soothing, minty-oregano tea. They thrive in well-drained soil and full or partial sun.

Buttonbush

Both intriguing and adorable, this native plant features pom-pom-like fragrant flowers that draw pollinators in like a magnet. An excellent choice for damp soils, buttonbush is a moisture magnet that also helps to control erosion in the landscape. The whorls of glossy ovate foliage and red, ball-shaped fruit of this native shrub remain attractive outside of its June through September bloom period.

Common Milkweed

This native wildflower blooms with spherical tufts of mauve flowers from June through August. The fragrant blooms are a magnet for pollinators, and the whole plant is essential to the life cycle of monarch butterflies. During their cross-continental journey from Mexico to Canada, they lay their eggs on the milkweed, which the larvae exclusively feed on as they mature. Besides attracting insects, these easy-to-grow wildflowers bring clumps of color and fragrance to any naturalized garden or perennial border and are an excellent addition to a pollinator garden.

Swamp Azalea

This delightful native shrub is a great choice for multi-season appeal in the landscape. Clusters of funnel-shaped white or pink-tinged flowers emerge in the early summer, releasing a perfume so potent it can be enjoyed from a nearby patio. In the fall, the foliage takes on brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and purple that meld whimsically with the New Hampshire autumn scenery.

Aromatic Aster

Asters shine brightly at the end of the growing season when other flowers are fading; they are aptly named with the Latin word for ‘star.’ They display vibrant violet petals with yellow centers, similar to daisies, from late summer into fall. They are both host plants and an important source of late-season nectar for butterflies and bees. They are low maintenance, easy to grow, and drought tolerant once established. This particular species of aster is well-loved for its especially fragrant flowers.

Come into our Moultonborough garden center to see and smell these fragrant native plants in person. We promise that you’ll love the sweet scents they bring to your garden, and they won’t cost you any extra effort or maintenance. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more news and updates!