Month: February 2015

About Gardens on the Go

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Welcome to Gardens on the Go, where each container garden design is a living work of art installed and delivered to your home or business.
Our motto is, “If you have a spot for a pot, you have room for a garden.”
 
One of the most valuable commodities in our lives these days is …. time. It’s something not a lot of people have. One of the things that we do is take a small space, a patio, porch,  entrance way, etc… and create an inviting, colorful nook in your home.
 
How do we do that? 
We believe traditional gardens provide structure to your outdoor room, which would be your yard. Much like dressing up your indoor space with furniture you’ll need to accessorize it to pull the space together. That is what container gardens do. They are accessories to enhance the traditional garden that can be changed out seasonally from spring to summer to fall, and even the holidays through the winter. 
When compared with traditional gardening containers have many benefits. They are easier to maintain and they conserve more water. 
 
What’s the process?
We’ll consult with you to get an an idea what it is you are looking for in a container garden. We’ll help you select the appropriate plants for your location. One that is accomplished, we’ll come up with a design concept for your space. From there we will implement the design. Once completed, we’ll give you instructions on how to care for your new masterpiece.
 
Always remember, like we stated earlier “If you have a spot for a pot, you have room for a garden.

Tina Sottolano-Cain is the driving force behind Gardens on the Go.
She has served as a consultant in the garden center industry for more than 17 years.  While earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture at Temple University, she developed a strong passion for small garden design, especially container gardening.  After cultivating her craft at select Bucks County-area garden centers, Tina began Gardens on the Go.  Her company specializes in indoor and outdoor container gardens for your home or office using beautiful mixed plantings designed to the clients needs and taste.  She always tells her clients, “As long as you have a spot for a pot you can have a garden.”

Tina also hosts Gate House Media’s In The Garden, where Tina gives easy tips every Friday on enhancing your home or patio using tropicals and container gardens as well as designing an outdoor garden were you can grow healthy vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs. Whether you are short on time or space you can always spare a minute in the garden.

Follow her blog at www.adirtygirlsgarden.com,
twitter.com/adrtygrlsgarden,
instagram.com/adirtygirlsgarden

facebook.com/gardensonthego

Think Positive Thoughts. Love Your Plants and They will Love You Back!

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FullSizeRender   Not a day  goes by that I don’t talk to someone and they say to me,” Oh I can’t keep anything alive.”  “I have a brown thumb”  “I kill everything.” My initial thought is plants are not that complicated.  A little water, light and occasional feeding is all they need.

We all have the best intentions when we head out to the garden center and browse the plant yard and greenhouse.  You may not know what you are looking for and then it hits you, the most beautiful flower or foliage plant you have ever seen, whether it be for indoors or outdoors, you must have it.  You make that purchase, take it home and then it happens.  You either give  them too much love, or life gets in the way and you forget to give the plant any love at all, until it is too late.  Both options have the same result, death of the plant.  Plants like to be left alone to do their own thing,  grow healthy roots, foliage  and flowers.   They do so by not being overwatered, under watered, under exposed, over exposed, or under and over fed.  With that being said, make sure the plant is right for you and your location.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions to find out how much love to give your plants, knowledge is power.

Always remember to keep thinking positive thoughts, plants are like animals, they smell fear.  The end result,  plants that love you back, beautiful healthy, happy plants!

Plants want to grow; they are on your side as long as you are reasonably sensible.- Anne Wareham

 

Care for Winter Houseplants

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Only 36 days left until spring!  UGH! 36 days, I know I can’t take another minute, let alone 36 days!  I thrive and crave full sun and longer days.  My skin hates the forced dry air from the heater running all the time.  Sound familiar?  Well, if you said yes think about how your tropical houseplants plants feel.

Shorter winter days can be cruel on your indoor houseplants.  Leaf edges can turn brown and the plant becomes out of shape.

I avoid these problems by following these simple rules…

1. Increase Humidity…plants love humidity, especially indoor tropicals.  Make sure you keep plants away from forced dry heat vents.  Increase humidity by placing the plant on a bed of moist crushed stones, cluster your plants together if possible, or mist the leaves 2-3 times per week.

2. Rotate…plants are phototropic, meaning they lean, or grow in the direction of the light.  With  daylight slowing increasing by each day, plants are stretching toward the brightest area.   This forces a normally full healthy looking plant to become irregular.  Make sure you rotate 1/4 – 1/2 spin per week.

What are you doing to get through the next 36 days of winter?

 

 

 

Forcing Flowering Shrub Branches Indoors

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Forcing branches indoors for winter color.

Flowering Shrubs and trees are beautiful to look at when they bloom in the spring, but who wants to wait. Gardeners are looking for any excuse to get outside, why not help mother nature along by bringing the outdoors in and forcing a few cut branches indoors.

Here are some tips on forcing branches indoors.

Choose branches that are young and have many swollen buds along the stem. Make sure you choose wisely, cut branches that are crossed or protruding outward detracting from the natural habit of the plant. With a sharp pair of pruners cut branch a 1/4” above the bud. Make sure to cut branches 18” or longer and in multiples of 3’s. This makes arranging in a vase easier. Recut stems on an angle and place in container with warm water. To preserve freshness of the water add 2 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of chlorine bleach and mix in quart of water. If you do not have fresh lemon juice on hand you can substitute white vinegar. Place container in medium to low, indirect light and keep cool, between 60-65 degrees. Keep water levels consistent. Once buds begin to crack, place container in bright, indirect light. Always keep an eye on the water level and keep branches cool. This will help prolong the life of the blooms.
Here are a few of the most common flowering shrubs that are easy to force right now,

Shrubs                                                                         No. of Weeks

Forsythia x intermedia, Forsythia                                2
Yellow Flowers

Chaenomeles sp. Flowering Quince                              4
Red or orange flowers, long lasting

Lindera benzoin, Spice bush                                           2
Fragrant light pink flowers

Hammamalis vernalis, Witchhazel                               2
Yellow colored strap-like petals

Spirea prunifolia, Bridal Wreath Spirea                     2
Small, white flowers in spray
Double flowers last longer than singles.

Salix sp. Pussy Willow                                                     2
Fury white buds

Trees

Malus sp. Crabapple                                                         4
Pink or white fragrant flowers

Pyrus sp. Flowering pear                                                4
Clusters of white fragrant flowers

Flowering shrubs and trees best cut and forced

in March,

Shrubs

Lilac Syringa sp. Lilac                                                      4
Fragrant purple or white flowers

Rhododendron sp. Rhododendron                                 4
Large blooms is a wide range of colors

Trees

Cornus florida, Flowering Dogwood                             5
Pink and white flowers

Prunus sp. Cherry                                                              3
Pink and white flowers

Magnolia sp.                                                                        5
Magnolia
Pink, white and cream colored flowers

Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud                               2
Purplish, pink flowers

Garden Trends in Two Thousand Fifteen

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As the winter doldrums set in and we eagerly await the the arrival of spring. You may be wondering what will be the “It” thing to do or grow in your garden in the year 2015.  Here are a few concepts trending in the garden industry.

Edible gardening.  Gardening with edibles continues to be on of the strongest trends in 2015.  People continue to focus on a healthy lifestyle with a purpose and growing sustainable vegetables and herbs is at the top.  According to the Garden Writers Association Survey 58% of the American people plan to grow some of their own edibles in 2015.  That number has increased considerably within the last 2 years.  According to the National Gardening Association in a 2013 survey only 35% of Americans were planning to grow vegetables.

Garden naturally.  Create gardens that look effortless.  Introduce native  plants into the mix. By doing so you will create a more diverse and balanced environment.  Natives attract natural wildlife and adapt to their natural environment by using less fertilizers and conserve water.  Some species to consider are, Heliopsis helianthoides, False Sunflower, Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly weed.  Ilex Verticilata, Winterberry Holly, Native blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum, Highbush Blueberry, Viburnum sp.

Container Gardening.  Gardening in containers continues to be a strong trend for 2015 and Millennials along with Baby Boomers are the driving force.  Millennials are becoming known as the generation of “NOwners”.  They prefer to rent rather than own their homes therefore portability of gardening in containers affords them to
move at will.  Baby Boomers continue to downsize and have limited time and space to maintain a full landscaped yard.  Containers are the perfect solution.  They allow for high impact design with a pop of color.  Portable enough to move around the landscape, patio or balcony.

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Edible Container Gardening. Growing vegetables in containers continues to grow in popularity especially within the last couple of years.  Two notable plant varieties worth growing are ‘Patio Baby’ eggplant and ‘Indigo Ruby’ tomato.  Both known for their compact habit and rich flavor.

Garden Living Room.  According to the Garden Media Group the US demand for outdoor plants and outdoor products is expected to grow between $4 – $7 billion in 2015. People are utilizing every space of the home, especially the outdoors. That includes potted containers, terrariums as well as redesigning the garden and patio.  Again the Millennial generation is the driving force. A Casual Living Apartment Therapy Outdoor Decorating survey found out that 62% of Millennials spend their time outdoor and 85% rank outdoor rooms extremely important.  A percentage considerably higher than previous generations.

Color in the Garden.  Pantone’s color for 2015 is Marsala, it is no surprise that the color trending in the garden this spring will be varying shades of  deep wine to pink.
Hopefully this will inspire you to start planning your garden today.