Search...

Easy-to-grow, gorgeous, and re-grow each year, perennials are an excellent addition to a gardening bed. Below, we are sharing with you some of the best beginner perennials to grow. If you are new to gardening, this list is for you. Perennials come back each year, so you don't have to re-buy as you do with annuals. An easy way to recall the difference between perennials and annuals is by remembering that you buy annuals "annually". It is nice to have a mixture of both perenn

Peonies are such a beauty in mid-spring! After they've finished blooming, there is a simple tip to help them be on their way to creating gorgeous blooms again next year. Deadhead spent blooms by pruning the flower back to the first set of leaves (the first set of leaves closest to the bloom). Do this on each bloom. How to plant Peonies: Plant Peonies in well-draining, fertile soil. If you have clay in your soil (as most of us do here in Middle Tennessee), you will want to a

Are there many things that smell as sweet as a Lilac in full bloom in spring? Fragrance aside, their blooms are breathtaking!! Lilacs will not tolerate the hot summers and very mild winters south of our state, but thankfully, several varieties thrive in Middle Tennessee! In our area with our hot, summer sun, Lilacs grow best in full sun with some light afternoon shade. They love medium-moist, well-drained soil. Their breathtaking blooms put on a spectacular show in April. W

In honor of this being Holy Week, leading up to Easter, we would like to share with you a favorite Southern tale about the legend of the Dogwood tree. This beloved tree is a favorite amongst many gardeners! This story is not Biblical, but points to Christ's sacrifice for humankind and Easter. The legend goes that in the days of Christ, the Dogwood tree was a much larger, strong-trunked tree, much different from the smaller understory tree we are so fond of now. The story co

When you have a gardening space that is on the small side, it's nice because you have less mowing and maintenance; however, it can also be frustrating trying to figure out what plants will stay small and work well in your space without overcrowding. Many homes, condos, and townhomes today have less yard space than they used to, and this is a frequent challenge homeowners ask us about at Riverbend. Many times, homeowners only have approximately a 12′ x 12′ yard to work with, o

As spring nears, it's the perfect time to use horticultural oil. Also known as dormant oil, horticultural oil is used at this time of the year (in late winter/ early spring) as an effective, all-natural insecticide to help keep insects at bay (especially insects that will damage plants). It's also useful to eradicate mites and scale. We use horticultural oil on nearly all of our outdoor plants here at the nursery and love it because it is all-natural, organic, and doesn't hur

In spring, it can be tempting to come to the garden center and pick up one (or three!) of everything in bloom. Maybe not literally everything in bloom, but you understand what we are saying! It can be easy to purchase several different plants and then come home and wonder how to incorporate everything you love into your garden. That's where landscape elements such as repetition, color, texture, and form come into play. Repetition Often, unless it is a focal point, plants loo

Many trees can be planted under electrical lines and never get close in size to needing to be trimmed by the power company. In this post, we will list several tree and shrub varieties that work well to stay under most power lines. Most power lines are above 25' in height, but sometimes they are below this approximation. If your gardening bed is near or under power lines, browse this list and use it as a guide when deciding what to plant. The plants listed below are 25' or le

Privacy screens can be desired for any number of reasons. Whether you want to block an unsightly view, create a cozy gardening space, or need privacy from neighbors, these are excellent reasons as to why you might need a privacy screen. You can use a variety of materials, such as fencing, a trellis, or even a building, such as a barn or shed, to create a privacy screen; however, today, we will share about plants you can use instead (or in addition to one of these structures).