How to Prune Most Common Evergreens

We love potted Evergreens!

The planters add beauty to the simplicity of the plant and the plant stays green all year long which compliments the planter!  The best of both worlds!  The only thing we can’t stand is seeing a beautiful pot with an overgrown, scraggly, lopsided evergreen.  So, if you properly prune them on a regular basis they will look their best for years to come.

Here are some tips like what parts to trim, how much to take off, and when is the best time to trim.

Whether the plant is pine, spruce, rhododendron, or camellia, you need to know where the new growth will originate.  Then trim away any dead branches, cut back to live wood or the base of the plant.  Cut off broken or damaged branches and remove any crossing or rubbing branches.

Arborvitae – Fast growing, tolerates heavy pruning.   Prune in early spring, and reduce a branch by no more than one-quarter its length.  New growth will emerge from buds along the pruned branch.

Boxwood – Thinning is key to maintaining.  Dense growth in the interior of the shrub can cause disease.  Thin it out by cutting overgrown stems no more than one-third each year.  Lightly prune to the desired shape.

Camellia – Slow-growing rarely needs pruning.  If it gets lanky, encourage new growth by trimming each branch back by no more than one-quarter of its length.  Cut just above a node.  The best time to prune is after it flowers.

Pines – produce new growth at the branch tips in spring.  To keep it compact prune each new growth back by one-third to one-half its length.  Don’t prune into woody stems because new growth won’t develop there.

Spruce – Prune in Spring.  Reduce the length of branches by cutting each one back to a lateral branch or bud.  Bottom branches will die with age and can be removed.

Planted Containers

After the last couple of years, we are all starting to spend more time at home.  We are turning our patios and back yards into a safe, comfortable oasis, where we can entertain and share meals.

One of the easiest ways to turn a drab area into something special and functional is with planted containers.  Growing plants in garden containers can be rewarding as well as decorative and functional.
It is worth taking a bit of planning and designing in advance to assure your planted containers will be a success.  If you neglect this, your containers will show suffering and eventually distress.

So, what to do?  Start by deciding where you want containers, how big the pottery should be, and what type of garden pots you want to purchase.  There are so many different things to consider.  Do you need to move the potted plants because of shade/sun issues?  If so maybe you should consider Poly Resin.  These are durable and LIGHTWEIGHT.  32 shades of colors to choose from mean they will match any color décor you already have.

Maybe you want something indestructible and hefty in the garden or patio planters.  How about our American Made Cement Planter.  Custom made to order, with a choice of colors, we ship these across the US.  Since these pots are poured into molds you can get them in huge sizes that can hold trees and more.

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f you aren’t aware of Sandstone garden pottery, you need to check them out.  They are silky smooth looking, super durable, and have a choice of colors also.  We even offer an exclusive line of Frank Lloyd Wright Sandstone Pottery that is stunning.  When you are looking for long-lasting & stunningly unique then consider this line. 

Lastly, for over 20 years we have imported Italian Terracotta clay, Bright glazed pottery, and Mexican Talavera.  All are best sellers.  They won’t hold up to freezing temps but a green thumb gardener would not plant in anything but terracotta.  This material breathes and is super healthy in a natural sense for all your planting materials.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at 800-420-1808

Right now, the earth is quiet.  Winter is upon us and there isn’t much going on in our yard and garden areas.  Let’s talk about adding some décor to our stark and barren landscape planters.  If you think it takes a lot of decorative talent to create unusual and inexpensive garden containers then you would be wrong. 

Below we are going to show you examples of simple, easy, and cheap ways to “dress up” your garden pottery that are doable no matter if you have flower arranging skills or not.  So, let’s dive right in.

One great tip for most of these planters is the word “stuff”.  We recommend that this not be the time you skimp on materials.  When you are filling empty planters for winter, you need to fill them with as many decorative items as you can.  The more the merrier is really germane here.  So, stuff them up!

Berry Branches:  A natural yet simple terracotta garden pot is crammed with all kinds of assorted plant materials.  The main theme is dark green and red.  Fill the pot with branches of assorted conifers, graceful cedar, spiky holly, and juniper.  Drape limp branches over the sides and stand stiff sticks in the center to create height and flow.  Once finished with all the greens, place the berry branches with emphasis on different heights.  You don’t need a lot here just splats of color nestled among the branches.  Simple, natural and truly superb.

Feathers & Pods:  A small low-profile planter is filled with all kinds of fun objects with very little emphasis on greens.  The evergreens are almost an afterthought.  Place bundles of cinnamon sticks, pinecones, moss balls, quail feathers inside the garden bowl till it is filled.  Add bundles of dried pots and curly willow around the bundles.  Finish by adding a sprig or two of limp cedar and eucalyptus in and around the bundles.  Just push anything you can find laying in the yard or around the patio into and between the bigger items.  This is planter arrangement is perfect for a patio table or porch area.

Wire Sphere & Twinkle Lights:  This winter garden urn is for the person who wants elegance for little fuss.  Any empty planter works great for this look.  Purchase a wire sphere from any craft store.  String little twinkle lights around it and that is pretty much it.  Make sure the home and garden urns are placed near an electrical outlet or that one is located close by.  Plug it in and you have an imaginative, impressive and really inexpensive decorative vase.

Winter Window Box Planter:  Another really easy idea to copy.  Take green spruce or graceful cedar branches and start on the outside and front first.  Place the branches inside the planter with the ends sticking out the side and draping over the front of the window.  Then add the top and center, following the same thing.  Just keep sticking branches in until you get the look you want.  Once all branches are mixed together, they will create a woven pattern which helps to keep them all from moving.  Then top them off with a few branches of pussy willow. It adds softness and texture to the overall window box.

We hope these few ideas can help you to create artistic garden planters for your porch, patio, home or garden areas.  Just because it’s pretty sparse outside doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up a bit!  Share your thoughts below. We love to hear from you!

Now your Fall garden planters around your home and yard should be looking pretty spent.  The mums may have started to fade and the grasses have been beaten by the wind.  We would like to make a few suggestions on how to transition into your winter containers.

The main focus is to plant the containers with plants that will last thru the harsh winter temps and still look presentable and decorative.  In many cases, you only need to plant on center evergreen and then add a bunch of decorative items to make the whole container more dazzling and lively.

Birch branches are always a big addition.  You can tie them together to create a cluster and stick in the center of the planter.  This gives the planter height, a stark white contrast to the deep green plant that is unique.  Berry Branches are also stunning when sticking out of an evergreen.  You can cut them off an existing bush or purchase them at the local craft store.  Holly is a wonderful addition to any winter planter.

Pods and Seed Heads are very decorative.  They add a dried touch to the yard pots and can be sprayed with spray paint that matches your décor. Red, Gold & Greens look lovely for the holidays while the natural earth tones will last into the new year and still look lovely.

Conifers in all varieties are the very best.  Cedar, spruce, and boxwoods are the perfect addition to any winter container because they can handle the harsh weather and fill your planter with lots of earthy green color and texture.  Junipers, ornamental cabbage, and kale are large and work wonderfully planted around the outside of your pottery.

Now that we have given you a few suggestions for turning the Fall planters into Winter planters around your yard, patio or porch we think it is time to try thinking outside the box.  Look around your yard or your neighbor’s yard and see the different types of plants, shrubs, berries, and branches that are growing.  Try adding them into your design and create a planter that will last for many months to come.

If you are considering changing out your summer containers into fall planters and just visited your local garden center you will see there are a lot of garden mums in multiple colors to choose from.  White, Yellow, Pink, Lavender, Red and Bronze are all in full bloom.  Here are a few tips that may help so you can keep your fall garden containers looking good till Winter.

Fall mums are great for garden pottery during the cooler Autumn months.  Their colors compliment all other plant materials like ornamental kale and cabbage, cornstalks, rustic grasses and evergreens.  When shopping for mums looks for plants with buds that are just starting to open.  These will last approximately 6 weeks.

As your potted mums start to grow, look for spent blooms and prune when they are faded and dried looking.  Remember to water your potted mums regularly.  Fall mum containers will stay prettier and be happier if they don’t dry out. 

You won’t need to fertilize your mums since the grower has already taken care of.  If you prefer to keep your potted mums indoors then place the vase near a window with indirect light. Check for moisture and keep them watered but not soggy.  That pretty much is it.  Fall mums that are planted in your garden pottery are the easy and colorful solution.

There are many things you need to consider when choosing garden containers for your home and garden needs.  Let’s start with the obvious and that is what is the planter going to be used for?  Are you looking for a garden pot to grow herbs and vegetables in?  Is this planter more for beauty and décor or is it to fill a blank area on the patio or porch. 

Terracotta garden pottery has been around longer than any other substance besides baskets.  It is made out of clay that breathes and is considered most healthy for a plants root system.  Terracotta is rustic and natural looking and comes in many styles and sizes.  As you must know a clay garden pot can only come so large. This is because they are fired inside a kiln and kilns are only so large. The larger the clay pot the more issues with cracks forming while being fired.

So, if you want a large garden planter you need to consider them made from mixes that can be poured into molds and cured over time instead of being fired in a kiln.  Concrete, Sandstone and Poly Resin can all be made in huge sizes since they are made with molds.  They are durable and long lasting which is what you want and need if you are using a large planter.

Glazed or ceramic colored pottery is great because it comes in shiny, colors and finishes.  Blue, Red, Green etc and so many more, where you can match your garden pottery to your home or landscape décor.  These pots are usually durable but only frost resistant which means they can’t handle the cold freezing temperatures.  Glazed garden pots are perfect for indoors where they add interest and beauty along with function to your homes design and décor.

Do you live in an apartment where you need a lightweight container where you can move it around, fill it up or take it with you when your needs change over time?  Then poly resin is the way to go. This is not an ordinary plastic pot but a commercial grade non-fade, will never crack, chip or warp or break.  With 32 color choices these are the super choice for indoors or outdoors.

We hope we gave you a few things to think about.  Call 800-420-1808 if you have further questions.

How to prep your garden containers for Fall

It’s much easier to turn a spent Summer garden container into a Fall planter than you think.  Just follow some easy tips provided below and create wonderful Fall planters.

Don’t leave your entryway garden containers empty this time of year.  Now is perfect for seasonal color and rust grasses.  Evergreen foliage will add life to any type or style of landscape container.  When you visit your local garden center you should see lots of Fall colored mums.  Bright yellow, orange and reds, deep burgundy, purple and gold.

Simply by adding a center mum and surrounding it with pumpkins, gourds and succulents you can create a wonderful Fall planter that will take you into winter and welcome your guest with warmth and beauty.  Plant rustic grass in the center of a terracotta planter then surround it with ornamental kale and cabbage with dark deep greens and purple leaves. 

Instead of just planting typical green houseplants in your entryway planters how about herbs like cilantro, thyme and oregano?  They can all handle the cooler weather.  Plant trailing ivy, gold mums and red flowers in your garden container of choice and then set pumpkins and gourds around the outside of the pot.  You don’t even have to plant anything.

Try mixing dark purple and deep green of kale and cabbage and fill around the outside of the pot with mini WHITE pumpkins and create a purple and white display of color. Stunning & elegant!

One tip that you can never fail at it to over stuff your pottery. Mix lots of plants, greens and ornamental items without space between them.  This creates a full and colorful display.  By using a neutral based color planter like terracotta or taupe you can mix tons of colors in the pot and they will all look grand.