Seasonal

Embrace The Shade

Shade gardens can be a place to retreat from the summer heat—a

 quiet refuge to rest, reflect, and reconnect with nature. Whether

 it’s a dappled woodland, a contemplative Zen retreat, a well-placed

 patio nook, or a garden featuring a bench or hammock beneath

the canopy of mighty trees, there are many options available for

 transforming low-light areas into beautiful outdoor spaces. Shade

 gardens can take many forms. Some have dry soil due to the shelter

 of tree limbs and competition from large roots, while others may be

 cool, damp areas featuring a calming water feature. Determining

 the amount of shade in your garden is an important step in

understanding which plants will thrive in your landscape. Full

shade receives little to no direct sunlight throughout the day. Filtered

 or dappled shade receives about three hours of sunlight, typically

 morning sun, which is less intense than afternoon sun. Partial

 shade receives three to six hours of sunlight, with most of those

 hours occurring in the morning. Some plants have a broad range of

 adaptability and can tolerate varying levels of sun exposure, while

 others are less flexible and prefer greater protection from the sun’s rays.

 Although shade gardens receive less sunlight, they often receive less

 rainfall as well, since tree canopies can intercept moisture before it

 reaches the plants below. Supplemental watering is often essential in

 these areas. Understanding the unique qualities of your shady nook

will help you choose plants that will thrive and create your own

 garden oasis. When selecting plants for your shade garden, consider

 incorporating a blend of evergreen and deciduous varieties to provide

 year-round interest. While your palette may be somewhat limited when

 it comes to flowering plants, there is a wide array of options available

 through rich foliage colors, textures, and shapes that can add beauty

 and depth to your landscape. Come down to the nursery and see

 what we have to offer for your shade garden—discover new possibilities,

 get inspired, and create your own beautiful outdoor oasis!

Designing with Structure

Structure is the foundation—the "bones"—of every beautiful garden,

 providing shape, balance, and year-round appeal. Thoughtfully placed

 structural elements frame views, guide visitors through the landscape,

 establish borders and boundaries, and create inviting focal points

that bring your garden to life. Hedges are one of the most effective ways

 to define outdoor spaces, create privacy, and provide a living backdrop

 that adds beauty in every season, while vertical accents such as

 obelisks offer elegant support for climbing vines. Narrow, upright

plants like Sky Pencil Japanese Holly and Swedish Aspen add height,

 architectural interest, and lasting structure, and even in the smallest

 spaces, features such as benches, decorative urns, birdbaths, and

arbors combine beauty with function to create memorable design

 elements. Whether you're designing a new landscape or refreshing

 an established one, incorporating structural elements creates a strong

 sense of place and provides a timeless framework for your plants to

 grow and flourish. Visit us and speak with one of our friendly associates

—we'll be happy to help you select the perfect hedges, trees, and

structural elements to complement your landscape

 and bring your garden vision to life.

Water Wise Gardening

Creating a beautiful, water-wise garden begins with choosing the

 right plants and giving them the best possible start. While many

 trees, shrubs, and perennials become drought-tolerant once

established, it often takes a couple of summers for their root

 systems to develop. Selecting plants that thrive during the

 Puget Sound's dry summer months is an important first step,

 but healthy soil is just as essential. Because soils throughout our

region range from sandy to heavy clay, amending your existing

 soil with compost or soil conditioner will improve drainage, increase

 fertility, and create the humus-rich growing conditions plants need

to flourish. After planting, water deeply and infrequently—about

every three days during extended dry periods—to encourage roots to

 grow deeper into the soil rather than remaining near the surface,

where they are more susceptible to heat and drought. As plants

become established, they'll require less supplemental watering,

helping you conserve water while maintaining a healthy, vibrant

 landscape. Great choices for a drought-tolerant garden include

 sedums and other succulents, hardy conifers like Bosnian Pine,

 and long-blooming perennials such as Coneflower. Whether your

 garden is in full sun or shade, our knowledgeable staff can help you

 select the best plants and soil amendments to create a landscape

 that stays beautiful while using less water.

Gardeining In Motion

Ornamental grasses are one of the easiest and most rewarding ways

 to add beauty, texture, and movement to your landscape. Whether

 you have a small garden, a large backyard, or a few decorative

 containers, there's a grass that's perfectly suited to your space. These

 easy-care plants provide interest throughout the seasons, with many

 varieties displaying rich fall color and graceful flower plumes that remain

 attractive well into winter. Their seed heads not only add beauty to

 the landscape but also provide an important food source for birds

during the colder months. From tall, elegant grasses that create

 height and structure at the back of a garden bed to compact varieties

 that soften borders and pathways, ornamental grasses offer endless

 design possibilities. They look stunning planted in groups, where

 they sway gently in the breeze, creating a peaceful, natural feel,

 and they are equally at home in contemporary and Asian-inspired

 gardens or as striking focal points in containers. Whether you're refreshing

 an existing landscape or starting a new garden, ornamental grasses

 are a carefree way to add year-round color, texture, and movement.

 We have a wonderful selection of ornamental grasses in stock, and we'd

 love to help you find the perfect varieties for your garden. Stop by the

 nursery and talk with one of our friendly associates—we're

 always happy to answer your questions and help

bring your landscape ideas to life.

From Garden To Table

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the abundance of fresh

 herbs growing in your garden. Regular harvesting encourages

many herbs to produce even more fragrant leaves, giving you a

 continuous supply throughout the season. Lavender can be

 steeped into refreshing lemonade or soothing tea, while fresh mint

 adds a cool burst of flavor to iced tea, sparkling water, fruit

salads, and homemade mojitos. Rosemary and thyme enhance

 grilled vegetables, chicken, potatoes, and fresh-baked bread,

while oregano and sage bring rich flavor to pasta sauces, soups,

and roasted meats. Dill is a summertime favorite for pickles, potato

 salad, creamy dips, and seafood. Beyond their culinary appeal, many herbs

 have long been appreciated for their traditional wellness benefits. Mint

tea is often enjoyed to support digestion, rosemary contains antioxidants

 and has been associated with memory and concentration, sage is rich

 in beneficial plant compounds, oregano is valued for its antioxidant

properties, thyme has traditionally been used to support respiratory

health, and lavender is cherished for its calming fragrance in teas,

sachets, and homemade bath products. Whether you're trying a new

 recipe, creating a refreshing summer drink, or drying herbs to enjoy

 year-round, your herb garden offers endless opportunities to

 bring fresh flavor, wonderful fragrance, and natural

 beauty into your home.

August To-Do List

Water, water, water! We are in the

hottest and driest time of year

 in the Pacific Northwest,

so don't let up on irrigating

 your landscape, your plants

are depending on you!

.

Aphids and other damaging insects can

be controlled with Neem Oil Spray, a

 safe and effective way to keep pest

populations from damaging

your garden.

Harvest summer crops such as tomatoes,

zucchini, summer squash, and green

 beans while they're at their peak. Pick

ripening berries before the birds do,

and consider using bird netting or

other deterrents to

 protect your harvest.

Harvest fresh herbs now and dry them to

enjoy their flavor throughout the year.

Fertilize your roses and flowering

perennials with Espoma Rose &

Flower Tone Fertilizer, specially

 formulated to encourage healthy

 foliage and abundant blooms.

Divide bearded iris once they have gone

 dormant to rejuvenate existing plants

and create new additions

to your garden.

Prune hedges to keep them neat,

 healthy, and looking their best

 throughout the summer.

 After harvesting raspberries

 and boysenberries, remove the

 canes that produced fruit

 this year. The remaining

 canes will mature and

produce next year's crop.

Deadhead annuals and perennials to

encourage continuous blooming.

Daylilies bloom for just one day,   

removing spent flowers daily

 will keep plants looking fresh.

Continue feeding your vegetable

garden with an organic slow-release

fertilizer such as Espoma Garden

Tone to keep vegetables producing

throughout the season.

Stay ahead of weeds by removing them

before they have the opportunity

to flower and set seed.

Turn your compost pile regularly as you

add fresh garden trimmings to

encourage faster decomposition.

Stay on top of slug and snail control

with Sluggo, a pet-friendly and

 environmentally responsible solution.

Refresh your mulch to help conserve soil

moisture during the heat of summer,

insulate roots, suppress weeds, and

improve soil health with

 G&B Soil Conditioner.