Seasonal

Celebrate the holidays with a live Christmas tree and when the season comes

to an end, you can plant your tree in your garden, preserving the wonderful

memories and providing a living investment in your home's landscape.

Live Christmas trees are grown on farms like corn and other crops and are harvested

each year for the holidays so you can enjoy them in your home.  The following spring,

 more seedlings are planted in the farms' fields to continue the cycle and in turn these

 trees provide a habitat for wildlife while absorbing carbon dioxide and producing

 oxygen which is great for the environment  Coming later this month,

 we will have a wide selection of live trees to choose from available in a

 range of sizes.  Some favorites include Grand fir, Serbian spruce, and,

Korean fir just to name a few.  Call ahead for availability.

Winter Blooming Camellias

You read it right! Not all Camellias bloom in the spring. There are a wide range of

 varieties that bloom in the winter season as well. As this is a very cold-hardy, evergreen

 shrub with brilliantly bold blooms and that makes it a fabulous addition to just about any

 landscape. Camellias are slow-growing shrubs with elegant, dark glossy evergreen foliage.

The bright flowers in rich hues of whites, pinks, reds, and even creams stand out against the

 thick backdrop of waxy leaves. As they mature, they can also be pruned into a tree form, making

 them uniquely versatile in the landscape. Camellias are showy shrubs and are the perfect choice for

 brightening up any shady space in the garden. Some fine examples in stock now are the classic red

 Yuletide, the beauty of White Dove, and the soft pink shades of April Remembered.

Why Fall Is A Good Time Plant

Autumn has arrived and now is a great time to plant perennials, trees, and shrubs.

Fall in the Pacific Northwest brings us cool, wet, mild weather, creating the

perfect conditions for plants to set down roots and acclimate into the garden.

During fall, plants start to slow their growing process and go into dormancy.

The gentle weather this time of year reduces transplant stress which in turn

helps your plants adapt to their new growing conditions, which gives them time

to establish a strong root system before the next growing season starting in spring.

Whether you are dividing and transplanting your existing plants or creating a new

landscape, this is an ideal time to ascertain your garden and make changes that

you have been yearning for.  Also, remember to be sure to add a layer of compost or

 mulch to protect them from the upcoming winter chill.

Garden And Bloome Soil Amendments

Great gardens begin from the ground up.  Understanding soil composition is 

critical for success in both the garden and the landscape.  Decoding the makeup of

our native soil that we are growing plants and trees in helps us determine what

improvements that can be made. The makeup of our soils in the Puget Sound area

varies greatly from very sandy to heavy clay due to glacial activity in the distant past.

Fortunately, Garden & Bloome makes soil amendments that can add texture, structure

and fertility for any soil condition.  Come on down and speak to one of our associates

to find just the right products this fall to amend your soils for next spring.

Heavenly Hellebores

There are so many good reasons to love this warm-hearth, frosty-breath time of year.

 One of the things we look forward to are the abundance of blooms we get to enjoy

 from Hellebores (Lenten Roses).  This evergreen perennial is dainty in appearance but

 tough and sturdy in stature. Gorgeous blooms grace upright stems in luscious shades of

 burgundy, pink, cream, and white. A perfect pairing for the shade garden and containers,

 there are varieties and sizes for any space you may have to fill.  Right now, we have a lovely

selections of these garden favorites in stock now.  These timeless beauties go fast so hurry in. 

November Garden Tasks 

Stay on top of late-season weeds that may be sprouting.

Fall mulching will reduce cold weather stress in our gardens.

Stake trees or shrubs that are at risk of damage during our winter storms

in the landscape.

Be sure to cover tender plants with a frost cloth on extremely

 cold nights to protect from frost damage.

There is still time to plant garlic and spring-blooming bulbs

 such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.

Clean up perennials that have gone dormant or have damaged foliage. 

Lightly prune your roses, particularly climbers, to

 prevent damage during windy weather.

Refresh your containers for the holidays with structural plants like conifers or evergreen shrubs,

 colorful plants with berries or winter blooming hellebore and add texture offered

 by grasses or evergreen ferns that will last through the winter.

Fall is a great time to plant or transplant as we enter the cool and moist months. 

Clean up falling leaves and plant debris. This can be incorporated into

 your compost, with the exception of any diseased material

 which should be disposed of in your trash.

Remember to turn your compost to keep it cooking

 and breaking down the added debris.

It is important to stay on top of slug and snail

 control especially during the rainy season.