Dear Gardening Friends -

I hope this letter finds you enjoying the fruits of your hard labor this spring.  Of course, we all know that a gardener’s work is never done.  I think that’s because by our nature, we’re always looking to improve our surroundings.  I was finally able to start on my garden this past weekend. Even though the temperature hovered in the 90’s it was delightful to start up my beloved mantis tiller and work some mushroom compost into my beds.

As I toiled in my yard, I was reminded of the how I came to own my tiller. For the month of December, I hinted heavily that I’d really like a Mantis for Christmas.  But, my husband surprised me with a diamond bracelet instead.  As I oohed and aahed over how beautiful it was, all I could think was “for the price of this bracelet he could have bought me a tiller.”   (That’s when you know you’re passion for yard work could possibly be a sickness).  Not to worry though. For my birthday a few days later he gave me my Mantis.  And when he took it in for service this spring, he had them put a kick stand on it and said “that’s for our anniversary, dear.”  Now that’s what I call thoughtful.

This year I tried something different in my mail box bed and added annual grasses.  That made me realize that all too often when we’re designing our beds and containers, we concentrate on colors and overlook textures.  But, by planting different textures, we create more depth to our designs. In your shade garden, ferns and astillbes compliment the smoother texture of the hostas.  Adding grasses to our perennial beds gives them a new height dimension and also movement with the breeze. 

Containers benefit from textures, too.  A serrated leaf coleus mixed with a round leaf impatien and a fuzzy leafed asparagus fern makes an outstanding combination for the shade. When creating or updating your next project, think about textures along with colors and see the difference it makes. 

We still have plenty of good looking annuals, perennials, and shrubs.  And, if your joy of gardening makes you ask for a truckload of manure for Valentine's Day, you know you’re in good company when you come in to see us.

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Sandy's Back Porch has all you need for healthy roses throughout the season. Come see what we can do to promote your roses!

If you haven’t cut back spring bloomers, do so now.

Weed Free Zone – Spray weeds to keep them from going to seed to protect from further problems

Pharm-Solutions “Weed Pharm” Certified organic weed and grass killer kills with food grade organic acid. This is a non-selective herbicide and should only be used in areas that you want total knock down.