plantfiles.info

DirectGardening.com

Directgardening.com offers lots of inexpensive plants, trees and shrubs but many have doubts about the quality of their items. Before i get into that,  I should let readers know that I have ordered from Directgardening.com for 3 straight years now since discovering them and have had good success with 90% of the items I have ordered.  That being said, there are things to keep in mind before trying them out.

Why is it so cheap?

The reason why Directgardening.com is so inexpensive is because they offer bare root dormant plants.  This typically means that you will get something that resembles a “stick” with roots if its a tree/shrub or just the roots if it is a perennial.  They do have some “potted” items but most are quite young. What does all this mean? To put it simply, it means that if you go this route,  you will  need patience to see your plants thrive.   If you want instant gratification or if you need instant landscaping, then Directgardening.com is not for you. Also, do not go overboard on the plant buying.  I highly discourage you from going crazy and spending hundreds of dollars. I do, however, highly encourage you to place small orders in case you are not satisfied it will not be the end of the world. Also remember to keep the packaging in case something dies and you would like a replacement.

What types of Plants are Best?

From experience, I have found that woody type plants are the best to order from them. I have had great success with a variety of bushes and shrubs.   Interestingly enough, the shrubs I have bough from them have more than outperformed nursery shrubs costing many times more.  Bulb, tuber, rhizome type things have also performed great.  Roses also do great from them as well. As far as perennials go, i have had some ok success but no where near as much as shrubs. Definitely avoid anything that is the slightest bit fussy even under the best of circumstances. To summarize, I highly recommend trees (be aware that they will be small), shrubs, bulb/tuber/rhizome plants and roses. Avoid fussy or hard to care for plants.

I have checked places like Gardenwatchdog and have seen negative reviews, what gives?

My personal opinion based on some of the reviews is that a great deal of customers simply do not know that they are ordering bare root plants. They see the colorful catalog and think they will get exactly what’s pictured.  The fact is that all bare root nursery catalogs do the same thing.  Is it bad to order from places with these catalogs? Not at all, it would be pretty difficult to order from a catalog full of bareroot “sticks”!

Another common theme to many negative reviews is that people simply do not have enough patience. They plant their “stick” and expect it to do something overnight. The fact is that it can take 1 to 2 weeks for your “stick” to start showing signs of life. Once it does, you will be amazed at how fast it leafs out and grows!

Yet another common mistake is that many people simply buy way too much. They order hundreds of dollars worth of plants and don’t have a chance or the time to plant them right away. Their plants die and they say the plants were DOA. When planting bare root, it is important to plant as soon as possible or at least place the plant roots in some soil if you cannot plant them right away.  Based on the prices,  buying 300, 400, 500 dollars can mean hundreds of perennials/trees/shrubs to plant!

Finally, one of the biggest complaints I see are people complaining that their plants arrived too early or too late.  It’s is impossible for online nurseries to perfectly time their shipping to your local weather conditions.  The best time to order is mid to late spring. This way you have plenty of time to plant and avoid any late frosts that will kill your newly planted bare root plants.  Fall planting is a bit trickier so unless your weather is pretty predictable, I would avoid bareroot planting in the fall.

Conclusion

Directgardening.com can be a great place to get some excellent inexpensive plants provided you know what to expect and don’t mind waiting a bit longer to see them thrive. I have personally been ordering from them for the last 3 years and have never had a problem.  Some of the first ones I bought are now beautiful large plants and shrubs that would have cost 10 to 20 times more had I bought them from a regular nursery. Did I mention how rewarding it is to see that “stick” grow up to be a full and healthy plant?  Do some things die, sure. I have had expensive plants die from nurseries too. That’s just the nature of gardening.  So if you are on the fence as to whether to order from Directgardening.com or not, I highly recommend trying them out with a small order.  Remember these pointers and you will not be disappointed with the results.

Decorative grasses can make a huge impact on your garden.  The trick, of course, is to find the right grass or grass like plant that will do best in zone 7. The thing about zone 7 is that the weather is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.   With this in mind you have to pick some grasses that are both hardy and heat tolerant.  Below are some grasses that will do great in Zone 7.

Pampas Grass

zone 7 pampas grass

Pampas grass is a zone 7 favorite because it is both heat tolerant and very hardy. In addition, it can have a huge impact on your garden. In fact it can be one of the most impressive plants in your garden collection. It features both thick, lush fountain like foliage and some extremely beautiful plumes that come in white or pink. In addition, the plumes add some winter interest even after the plant has dried and gone dormant for the winter.

Despite it’s popularity, Pampas Grass can prove a bit tricky to grow. The keys to growing a beautiful clump of Pampas Grass is 3 fold.  Provide it with full sun, give it plenty of room (these grasses can get extremely large) and plant it in well draining soil. The first 2 may prove easy enough. The last no so much. Many a starter plant has met its doom because it is planted in a soil that does not drain well.   This is particularly important during the winter as a clump will quickly die on you during the winter months if not planted in well draining soil.   If you have nothing but clay,as is the case in much of zone 7, then some good soil amendments will be required.  As an alternative, it can be planted at the top of a slope where the water will drain nicely.  Many if the well established grasses here in Tennessee are planted at the top of sloping landscape.  Nicely sized plants are quite common in big box stores and local nurseries so finding some quality plants should prove quite easy.

Zebra Grass

Zone 7 Zebra grass

Zebra grass is prized for its white striped weeping foliage, hence the name. This grass grows very nicely here in zone 7 as it is both hardy and heat tolerant. Another nice quality is the fact that it is tolerant of varying soil conditions, so it will grow in all but poorly draining soils.

As with many large decorative grasses,  zebra grass should be grown in full sun conditions for best results. That being said, it will tolerate a bit of shade without any problems. These grasses can get up to 7 feet tall but will remain somewhat compact spread wise, getting up to 4 feet wide.   This grass is non invasive so it can be planted along other plants in garden bed type setting.  Despite its nice growth habit and ease of care, it does not seem to be quite as popular as the pampas grass so you can still have so you can plant this yet still be original. Like the Pampas Grass this can be found at many big box stores and local nurseries.

Japanese Forest Grass

Japanese Fores Grass

Japanese Forest grass is perhaps one of the most stunning grasses you can plant. The lime/yellow waterfall like foliate  is truly amazing , quite beautiful and really stands out amongst green foliage plants.  In my opinion, the best looking grass that can be grown here in zone 7.

Unlike many decorative grasses, this one needs to be grown in part shade to part shade conditions.  This Japanese native grows on the wet, rocky cliffs in the mountains of the southeast Honshu, Japan so it will not tolerate long exposure to the hot sun here in zone 7. That being said, it is quite easy to grow provided you plant it in some rich well draining moist soil.  This grass will be right at home planted amongst your Hostas. Finding this grass at the big box stores can be difficult, so you may want to check out your local nurseries.

Bulbs are and easy and inexpensive way to get some great fast growing plants. The awesome thing about bulbs is that you don’t have to wait long for them to make an immediate impact on your garden. Many spring planted bulbs will give you great foliage or blooms.

Most people are familiar with spring blooming bulbs which are typicaly planted in the fall but many gardeners neglect the summer blooming variety that are planted in the spring.   So just as your spring blooming bulbs are fading, the summer blooming variety are just starting. This allows for a good looking garden throughout the entire growing season.

Lilies

Lilies

Lilies are some of the most popular Spring planted bulbs and for good reason. There are countless varieties to choose from and come in  many different colors.  Large blooms and tall stalks really make them stand out in the garden! Perhaps my favorite reason to plant lilies is that they reproduce quickly, so each season you will have more of them FREE of cost! Many will will double in quantity so you will have plenty to transplant or share with friends and family.

Caring for lilies is extremely easy and very tough. They are set them and forget them type of plant.  Simply plant them in some well drained soil and watch them take off.   They do well in full sun to part sun depending on the variety which makes them very versatile.  They can be planted as early as late March or early April here in Zone 7 and they can take a late freeze without damage.  Bloomingbulb.com has some beatiful lilies to choose from so I suggest you check them out.

Cannas

Cannas

Cannas are another spring planted favorite here in zone 7 and for good reason.  They are fast growers and will bloom all summer long with a little care. Large foliage also ads to their exotic look and feel. Like regular lillies, they also reproduce profusely so you can be sure to have lots of cannas and blooms for years to come.  Gardeners who enjoy tropical looking plants will love cannas because they are one of the few tropical look plants that do great here in zone 7.

Cannas are easy to grow though they do require a little extra care.  They should be planted in full sun in well fertilized soil. You should also make sure you water then regularly because they really enjoy moist soils.  Canna gardeners will need to keep an eye out for canna leaf rollers because they can really do a number to the foliage and prevent them from blooming.  Cannas are best planted after the danger of frost has passed, late April is a great time to plant Cannas. Check out this great selection of Cannas should you decide to try some out this year.

Caladiums

Caladiums

Caladiums are one of the best looking Summer foliage bulbs for the shade garden.  They produce large colorful foliage that will last the entire summer.  While they are not hardy outside of zone 9, they can still be enjoyed here in zone 7 due to the hot summers and early springs.  These are also great multipliers so you will end up with lots more bulbs at the end of the growing season.

Caladium care is quite easy.  Plant them in a shaded to mostly shaded spot.  They grow best in well fertilized soil that drains fairly well.   Caladiums should also be watered regularly during drought conditions.   Since they are not exactly hardy below zone 8-9, they should be lifted in the fall.  If you rather not deal with the hassle, you can treat them as annuals.  Again, Blooming Bulb has a fabulous Caladium selection at excellent prices.

It’s cold and there’s still snow in the ground but the planting season is just around the corner. With this in mind it’s time to start thinking about what we want to plan this season.

As with every year, this is about the time the 2010 plant catalogs start rolling in and if you are like me, you always have your eye out for that something special that will set you apart from the rest. So lets take a preview at those special plants that will make our gardens stand out from the rest.

Hydrangea Forever and Ever Red

Hydrangea Forever and Ever Red

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular shrubs for Zone 7 but if you are tired of the old fashioned white variety, here is a new variety that will stand out in your garden.

This stunning new Hydrangea variety start with red blooms that gradually turn purple. Another awesome feature is its ability to set blooms on new growth. NO need to worry about damaged flower buds with this variety.  This is actually quite important for blooming as it is very common for “old” growth blooming hydrangeas to suffer damaged flower buds, thus leaving you with a bloomless shrub. I have one in my yard which I have never seen blooms from. This particular variety is sure to bloom from from summer until frost.

As with other Hydrangeas, this will do best in part shade with and well drained rich soils in zones 4-9. So if you like Hydrangeas and want to try a new variety, then this one is for you. Avaliable from DirectGardening.com

Kleim’s Hardy Gardenia

Gardenia Kleim's Hardy

Ever wanted that wonderful tropical Gardenia fragrance in your garden but figured that Gardenias only grew in warm climates? Well, think again because this variety will do just fine here in Zone 7. Not only will it do fine, it will even stay green for you all winter! Mine have survived single digits and several snow storms without minor leaf damage. So I can vouch that this is one strong little plant.

Unlike tropical gardenia shrubs, this is a small variety that grows up to 3′ wide and 3′ tall.  As you can see, the blooms are also different from standard Gardenias but the fragrance is unmistakably all Gardenia! In addition to the lovely blooms, Kleim’s hardy features tough and attractive dark green waxy evergreen leaves. Perhaps the best thing about this little shrub is that it is very easy to grow.  Simply plant it in a shade to part shade area in your garden, give it some rich soil, water it during droughts and it will reward you with nice growth and great smelling blooms.

It should be noted that many local garden centers carry similar “hardy” gardenias but it should be noted that those are no Kleim’s Hardy and thus not nearly as hardy as these.  This is new for 2010 from DirectGardening.com

Hibiscus, Turn of the Century

Hibiscus Turn of the Century

Don’t let the tropical look of this awesome perennial fool you because it’s capable of growing perfectly well all the way down to zone 4.  Despite such exotic blooms, seeing these in every day zone 7 gardens is extremely rare.  So if you really want to stand out, this is one you have to consider.

If you have never seen a temperate hibiscus bloom in person, then you are really missing out because they are extremely large, growing up 10″ across!  I know the first time I saw these in person I was shocked and could not believe these could actually grow here.  Another plus is that their stems are quite strong so they are more than capable of supporting such large blooms.

Simply plant them in rich soil, either sun or part sun and watch them take off.  These are late bloomers so when everything else is fading, these will just begin to take off.  Other pluses include drought tolerance and deer resistance. This one is a real treat and I highly recommend it. Local availability may be tough but they are available through DirectGardening.com

The air is crisp and the days are getting shorter. It’s that time a year when everybody should start planting their bulbs for that Spring color, but why not be unique this year? Why not choose some unique bulbs that will set your garden apart next spring? Here are some bulbs are will surely turn heads, but you better HURRY before fall shipping ends!

Unique Bulbs for Fall Planting
Get 20 Lavender Mountain Lily for just $1.99	Get 4 Daffodil, Rosy Clouds for just $2.99	Get 50 Carpet Mix, Red & White for just $14.99
Get 10 Tulip, Deidre for just $2.99	Get 6 Tulip, Carnaval de Nice for just $2.49	Get 6 Tulip, Double Beauty Apeldoorn for just $2.49
Get 10 Tulip, Pastel Mix for just $2.99	Get 6 Tulip, Lilac Perfection for just $2.49	Get 5 Tulip, Blue Parrot for just $3.49