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It's always exciting to see the first signs of spring. In Middle Tennessee, early spring-blooming plants are abundant. Below, we are sharing 10 of the earliest spring bloomers. Add one (or several) of these to enjoy in your garden in early spring. Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood Gold' Forsythia Brilliant yellow blooms cover this graceful shrub, typically in early March. There are several varieties of Forsythia, which vary in size. Plant in 6+ hours of sunlight for the best bl

Just a little care now can make a big difference later in the season.   STEP 1: Aerate Compacted soil is hard for water, air and roots to penetrate, and that makes it hard for grass. A core aerator is best and can be rented for about a half a day and should cost around $40. This machine resembles a large tiller and uses steel tubes to take plugs of soil from the lawn. Aerating once a year reduces compaction and increases the vigor of your lawn. Warning: This machine is self-p

If you haven't already, now is the time to begin warm-weather vegetable and herb seeds, and we have everything you need to begin.   To Start Seeds:   Plant seeds in Espoma's Organic Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix in biodegradable pots or individual plastic trays. If you use biodegradable pots, dampen the pots slightly before adding soil. Add your seed-starting soil and we recommend adding 3 seeds to each individual pot. As the seeds sprout and develop their true leaves, you

There are 3 main tasks you can accomplish in early/mid-February to help your garden get a great start for spring. Over the next few weeks, there will be several other garden to-dos to take care of (pruning many types of plants being one of them), but today, we are sharing the 3 main gardening tasks right now: Using horticultural oil Amending your soil if needed Adding a fresh layer of mulch (if you aren't planning to plant this spring) Horticultural Oil: As spring nears, it's

Talk about swoon-worthy blooms; Camellias are gorgeous and bloom in the cooler months of the year. We have several varieties currently available that are budding and will be full of blooms over the next several weeks! This shrub would be a perfect Valentine's Day gift for your sweetheart who loves flowers! Camellias love part sun to shade locations. Protection from the afternoon sun is important for these shrubs. Many varieties can reach 10′-12′ tall, making this shrub even m

Late winter is a great time to amend the soil in your garden. There are several reasons you might need to do this, and we will lay out those main scenarios below. New Builds: There are so many new homes being built all around our area! It is amazing to see the growth that is taking place throughout Nashville. This is exciting (unless we are talking about the traffic!), but once the new homes are built, homeowners are often left with soils that are compacted, poor, and in need

Winter is a time of rest for most gardeners. Though the garden may look barren, this chilly season offers a special time for dedicated gardeners, an exciting invitation to dream and prepare for the vibrant seasons ahead. Embracing the quiet moments of winter can spark creativity and set the stage for a flourishing garden in spring. Winter's landscape holds a distinctive beauty amidst its quietness. For gardeners, these still moments are perfect for reflection. In winter's ba

Deciduous trees are prone to suckers, which means (as our photo below shows) that your tree has put forth the effort to produce a new branch or stem, but it's near the base of the tree and is not needed there. Suckers happen on most deciduous trees, especially Crape Myrtles, Dogwoods, Japanese Maples, and younger trees in general. Prune those low-growing stems or branches as soon as you notice them (if you don't want them there, of course) because they "suck" the energy that

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.   More tips for caring for your Peonies: Y ou will not truly prune this shrub until late fall (at which point you can cut it back to about an inch off the ground).