How To Add Summer Color With Flowers & Ornamental Grasses
Hello, again!
As we get into summer, our 'Gardening II' season is upon us. With the busy spring season, many gardeners like myself didn't get everything planted on time. Well, we're in luck. The garden center has planned our summer production just for us procrastinators. Instead of smaller plants in multipacks, we have options for instant color for the landscape or containers in pot sizes from 4" to 8".
Our summer color crop options range from sun- to shade-loving plants in about any color imaginable. Coleus, caladiums, begonias and impatiens are great shade-loving plants. Vinca, angelonia, salvia, lantana, strawflowers, rose moss, and more will thrive in sunny locations. Our ornamental pepper options can also add a punch of color, and love the heat and sun of summer.
Another way to add color and texture to your garden is with grasses. Now through July 17, you can enjoy 25% OFF our crop of new perennial and ornamental grass options (1 gal sizes and up). Listed below are some of our new options and the plants they make great improvements for. These options are all sterile and non-invasive, so you won't have to worry about volunteer plants germinating in your flowerbed.
Miscanthus giganteus (Giant Miscanthus, Elephant Grass) – This hardy Pampas Grass substitute is a tall, perennial grass originally from Asia. It is considered a sterile hybrid bred not to produce viable seeds.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Bandwidth' (Maiden Grass) – A great Zebra Grass option, it is an appealing, compact grass with narrow foliage with green and gold bands. The upright habit and color lend pizzazz to containers and landscape plantings. Additionally, it has increased rust resistance and was bred to be infertile.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Cabaret' (Japanese Silver Grass) – A fantastic variegated Miscanthus replacement that entertains with its tall stature, variegated foliage, and densely tufted, tassel-like plumes in late summer. Ribbon-like foliage dons creamy-white centers flanked by dark green margins. Creates a powerful focal point. Cabaret is perfect for adding textural interest to your garden landscape. Plant in mass for an attractive screening or stands alone as a remarkable focal point.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Cayenne' (Fountain Grass) – A great substitute for Moudry Pennisetum and Redhead Pennisetum that is sterile to prevent self-sowing. Beautiful planted in sweeping masses or as a specimen plant. Perfect for full sun borders. The seed heads can be used as a lovely addition to fresh and dried flower arrangements.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Etouffee' (Fountain Grass) – A Hameln Pennisetum alternative with tinted pink 8" foxtail plumes that rise in mid-summer above slender arching bright green blades. It quickly becomes a beefy specimen. Foliage turns golden tan in fall. Does not self-seed. Pennisetum Etouffee™ is beautiful planted in sweeping masses but also shines as a specimen plant.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hush Puppy' (Fountain Grass) – Another Hameln Pennisetum improvement with long-lasting pink plumes that shoot skyward atop a neat mound of slender foliage blades. Due to its lack of seed production, its plumes are long-lasting from mid-summer into late fall. Its vigorous yet petite habit provides nice texture and contrast in container plantings.
It's important to feed your flowers to make sure they give long-lasting color and blooms. I've been using Garden Cote from ferti•lome as my container and flowerbed feed this summer. It's a polymer-coated, time-release fertilizer. Lightly mix it into soil, water in, and it'll feed your plants for up to 6 months! It doesn't get much easier. Garden Cote is activated by moisture and soil temperature, and has a balanced NPK and Micros to encourage longer-lasting and greener flowering plants with more blooms. Use Garden Cote on annuals, perennials, garden vegetables, trees, shrubs, bulbs, and more.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
