Calycanthus Aphrodite Sweetshrub will quickly become your favorite flowering shrubs. From mid summer to fall, the Calycanthus Aphrodite will adorn your garden with large red magnolia like flowers. Living up to its name of sweetshrub, this deer resistant shrub will fill the air with sweet apple scented fragrance. 

The Calycanthus Aphrodite Sweetshrub blooms on old wood, so be sure to prune only for shaping (if needed) after flowering. The glossy medium green leaves make a nice backdrop for the gorgeous red flowers that bloom from mid summer on to fall. Space your new Calycanthus sweetshrub Aphrodite shrubs 6 to 7 feet apart. 

'Aphrodite' Calycanthus PP: 24014 Can. PBRAF

Rose Rosette Disease - What it is and Why it's Affecting Knock Out Roses

What is Rose Rosette Disease?

Rose Rosette Disease is a disease that is fatal to roses. It is a threat to potentially all cultivated roses, regardless of cultivar. Roses with this disease will not recover becoming ugly and misshapen by Rose Rosette in a short amount of time. The only cure for Rose Rosette Disease is prevention. Once your roses have Rose Rosette, the only option is to destroy affected plants.

What does Rose Rosette Disease Look Like?

Rose Rosette Disease can look like some other rose diseases that aren’t as serious, so before you remove any plants it’s best to be sure your roses actually have the dreaded disease.

Here are some things to look for:

• Stressed growth in leaves, canes, and blooms. This appears as growth that doesn’t look normal. Stunted, dwarfed growth in canes, narrow leaves, leaf distortion, and odd looking blooms.
• Bunching of stems, clustering, broom like appearance of stems giving it the name witches broom of roses.
• Bright red leaves and stems (not always abnormal, as many rose cultivars have fresh new growth can is red or crimson). Look for mottled coloration and redness that doesn’t go away. This growth will also appear unusual.
• Overall death and decline of the plant.

What causes Rose Rosette Disease?

Rose Rosette Disease is caused by a virus. This virus is spread by a mite that feeds on roses called eriophyid mite, or the wooly mite. These are not spider mites. They’re much smaller mites that are almost impossible to see with the naked human eye. They move on wind currents from rose to rose.  It’s thought that this virus first showed up in wild, native rose populations in the US. It then spread to multiflora roses which are considered invasive, imported from Asia to serve as a plant solution for windbreaks and screens. From these invasive roses, the virus spread to infect landscape roses including the once thought to be disease resistant Knock-Out Roses series, and the Drift series.

I thought my Knock-Out Roses were resistant to disease!

The biggest feature of the Knockout Roses was that it was resistant to Rose Rosette. However with the extensive propagation of the variety, that feature has dwindled over time. Because gardeners and landscapers have relied so heavily on both the Knock-Out and Drift series of roses for their ease of care and beauty, the Rose Rosette Disease has done a lot of damage in wide areas. It’s not known why some roses still seem resistant to Rose Rosette, but it’s been shown that Knock-Out and Drift roses are not immune.

What do I need to do if my roses have the Rose Rosette disease?

• Destroy the plant - dig up plant and roots, then bag and destroy
• Limit use of the surrounding soil
• Remove multiflora roses within 100 yards of roses - if cannot then try not to plant roses downwind from the multiforas
• Watch for regrowth from any remaining roots and remove
• Avoid planting any new rose varieties back in the same soil

My ag inspector who lives down the road, stopped by recently and we talked about this rose issue. Her information said the soil where diseased plants were located could be tainted for up to 5 years.

How can I prevent Rose Rosette, or treat what I have now?

The mite is extremely difficult to kill, as typical mite killing chemicals don’t often work well on this species of mite. However, some pesticides may offer some protection such as Sevin, bifenthrin, horticultural oils and insecticidal soap when applied weekly during June and July. 

The best course of action is prevention. When receiving your roses, inspect them carefully and look for the above signs of Rose Rosette. Only plant disease-free plants. When planting, give your roses plenty of room to breathe and allow air to circulate, as this can help keep the mites from spreading from one plant to another, although this isn’t very foolproof. And finally, don’t rely on one type of rose in your landscape. We’re not referring to color. Instead choose different species. If there are multiflora roses growing wild nearby, consider destroying them if possible as the mite can catch a summer breeze to your roses.

We hope this helps you avoid and end your infestation of Rose Rosette. It’s a heartbreaking disease, but with proper prevention and planning, you can avoid or diminish its effects on your garden and landscape.

Here at Greenwood Nursery, we are committed to monitoring all new growth of container roses coming in from different growers. The Knockout and Drift Rose series are anticipated to be in short supply over the next couple of years as many growers will be discontinuing their growing rights for these plants due to this terrible disease. 

I will keep in conversation with my agricultural agent on this topic and update you as new or more information is revealed. In the meantime, the best prevention is to plant different rose varieties and continually search your area for multiflora rose bushes as the source of this problem.

Best Garden Plants to Eat from Your Garden!

Which are The Best Garden Plants To Eat? Creating a garden is a reflection of your unique style and personality. If you enjoy preparing foods with fresh ingredients, you might want to think about incorporating affordable garden plants to eat into your landscape. Planning a garden that includes edible plants can add interest and provide pleasure to your senses, and they can help you make delicious summer recipes to share with family and friends.

Sugar Mountain Kalinka Haskap

For a different garden plant treat, establish the Sugar Mountain Kalinka Haskap and the Sugar Mountain Blue Haskap as a set in your garden because the one pollinates the other. Grow Haskap flowering shrubs in full sun with plenty of water in well-drained soil, At maturity, these five to six foot plants, produce one-inch sweet summer berries that are a wonderful addition to frozen desserts, jams, wines, or just eating as a fresh or frozen fruit.

Nanking Cherry

A nice flowering and fruit-bearing shrub is the Nanking Cherry. It grows six to eight feet tall and about as wide, and the sweet-tart cherries are delicious used in pies and jams. This shrub is hearty, grows well in sun to partial shade, and will tolerate dry, sub-zero winter temperatures very well. The wildlife in your region will enjoy eating the fruit too.

Mint

There are several varieties of fragrant and tasty mint for the garden. You may want to use them for container gardening because frankly, mint needs to be contained or it may take over. However, if you are looking for ground cover plants, any of the mints will work. Try some of the newer varieties such as Pineapple Mint, Chocolate Mint, and Apple Mint, or there is always the old favorite, Blue Balsam Peppermint. They all smell delightful and each has a different look. Mints pair beautifully in fruit dishes and summer drinks. If you are looking to feed the butterflies and bees, several mints bloom mid to late summer and make perfect plants to eat nectar.

There are many edible garden herb plants and small growing fruit plants at our online plant nursery. We invite you to signup for our gardening newsletter and updates, and please feel free to browse our site. You will find lots of information and the perfect edible plants to grow among your already flowering shrubs and ornamentals. If you are landscaping a new garden, we have everything you need to succeed. We are always happy to answer any questions, and we are just an email or phone call away.

Mojito Mint Leaves Make the Best Authentic Cuban Mojito Cocktail Drinks

Prepare for summer entertaining with a selection of mint plants, including the Mojito Mint Plant for making authentic Mojito Cocktails.

If you haven’t tried a Mojito Mint Cocktail, you’re missing out. It is a sweet, fruity alcoholic drink that is very pleasing to the taste buds. Although easy to make, it’s a great way to impress your guests.

This mild flavored mint livens up fruit and grain salads, teas, fruit desserts and makes a wonderfully fragrant garnish for drinks, salads and desserts.

"Each year we add new herb plants and this spring our favorite is the Mojito Mint Plant", notes Greenwood Nursery owner, Cheryl Jones, "Since it really needs to be grown in a container, the Mojito Mint plant is perfect for balcony and patio gardens in part to full sun!"

Visit https://www.greenwoodnursery.com/mojito-mint to get started our video of How to Make an Authentic Mojito Mint Drink and purchase your plants.

 
Steve and Cheryl Jones began Greenwood Nursery, McMinnville, TN, in 1978 as a propagation and wholesale nursery. In 1998, they took their plant catalog online offering a wide selection of garden plants to the home gardener. Greenwood Nursery is now an online plant nursery and garden center that ships plants throughout the continental United States.

For further information or to place an order, please visit https://www.greenwoodnursery.com/ Questions may be sent by email or by phone during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm central time.

Deer Doing Damage to Your Yard?

Many homeowners are having the problem of deer doing yard damage. Cities and towns are extending further into undeveloped regions and wildlife has no place to relocate. So...they begin to survive in new ways which includes eating your garden and landscape plants and deer seem to do the most damage.

Now...that being said, how can you as a homeowner control the deer damage and safely drive the deer away? Use a combination of the following tips as one won't generally do the job.

Deer Control Tips:

• Plant deer resistant plants 
• Deer repellents - direct repellents spray on the plants or are systemic while others are area repellents that emit a foul odor
• Deer fencing - mesh type 6 to 7 feet tall
• Tree shelters - use those at least 48 inches tall
•  Homemade remedies

To read the complete article on controlling deer,click here.

Growing a Rose of Sharon Hedge in Your Garden

Growing a Rose of Sharon hedge in Your Garden is an excellent way of creating a private garden area during the summer season. Changing the appearance of your garden can be easily done. Regardless of the size of your garden, you don’t have to spend more time, money, and effort in improving its appearance. With your knowledge about Rose of Sharon shrubs, your problem can be easily solved.

Like other homeowners, you shouldn’t miss to ignore the benefits of Rose of Sharon bushes. These are the common names of the different species of flowering plants, hardy hibiscus, hibiscus syriacus, and althea. They are one of the few shrubs that bloom in the summer garden.  Compared to others, they are low maintenance and the Rose of Sharon shrubs can grow upward to 12 feet.  Therefore, if you want the shrub to appear as a tree, just prune away the lower branches in early spring. 

One of our favorite things about Rose of Sharon bushes is their appearances. Their flowers have beautifully distinct colors such as blue, red, pink, white, and purple.  Most of these bushes also grow from 8 to 12 feet tall and roughly six to ten feet wide though some varieties have a more columnar shape.  Hardy Hibiscus plants show good pollution tolerance which makes them a good choice for urban gardens. 

Tips on growing Rose of Sharon hedges in your garden:

• Pick Your Planting Site – Rose of Sharon grows in full sun areas. They also grow well in a part sun or part shade areas though blooming may be limited. 
•  Prepare the Planting Site – You can do this through digging the hole approximately 4 to 6 inches deeper than the root system and about a foot wide. If you have clay soil, mix into the fill dirt aged compost or aged manure mix and some coarse sand for drainage.
• Put the Rose of Sharon Shrubs in the Planting Hole – Do this step carefully, fill holes and water. You may need to add more soil around the plant and water it again if it settles too deeply.
• Fertilizers – Fertilize can be applied in spring after the plant begins to leaf out. A balanced timed release is best. If using aged compost and aged manure mixes as mulch regularly, there should be no need for a fertilizer application.

With Rose of Sharon, you can easily change the appearance of your garden. Since these shrubs and flowers are easy to grow and maintain, you don’t have to monitor them regularly. 

Greenwood Nursery Mail Order Nursery offers a great selection of affordable Rose of Sharon hedge plants. With their low prices and helpful customer service, it is easy for you to improve your garden.

Plant a Rose of Sharon Shrub Hedge

For summer blooming, plant a Rose of Sharon shrub hedge. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, Hibiscus syriacus shrubs perform at their best as full sun shrubs and planted in well drained soil. These flowering shrubs provide long lasting blooms from mid summer to frost. Though they will grow in partially sunny to lightly shaded areas, their blooming may be limited. Rose of Sharon or hibiscus syriacus, which is a deciduous shrub also known as Hardy Hibiscus and Althea.

Although Rose of Sharon bushes will lose their leaves in winter, they still make beautiful flowering privacy hedges in areas for summer use such as planting around swimming pools. Their unusually large blooms attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees from mid summer until frost. As these hibiscus bloom much later than most other plants, they are, also, later to leaf out. Expect rose of sharon to leaf out in late spring to early summer.

Aphrodite Rose of Sharon Shrub Flower

Useful Tips to Control Deer Damage

Useful tips to control deer damage and deer resistant plants. When deer are hungry and their food supply is gone, deer will eat anything. Plants known as being deer resistant is a good step in controlling deer damage in the yard. Deer will not find them as tasty and will eat off other perennials  and shrubs before attacking these varieties.

White-tailed deer in Toronto, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In order to get the deer damage under control, it is a must to properly select deer resistant plants. Deer repellents are also a great thing to have and it should be used regularly to have best results. Area repellent emits foul odor that is good in keeping deer away, however it will also keep people away. It is also advisable to use contact repellents. There are so many contact repellents out in the market today that are also environmentally safe and biodegradable that can be used around pets and children. Properly choosing the right contact repellents which will adhere to plants structure, rain resistant and will last for a month is a must.

Greenwood Nursery is owned by Cheryl Jones. It is one of the most dedicated companies in giving deer resistant plants and right tips in order to have the best garden and landscape unlike any other. One of their helpful tips to prevent deer in eating plants is to create deer fence.

Deer fencing is now available in all sizes, shapes and prices.  One of the most common types is the mesh type. This type of deer fence is more flexible and it can also be attached in nearby posts and trees. More often, 6 to 7 foot in height is frequently used for deer fencing. Tree shelters are also called as deer guards and they are proven effective in keeping deer away. Everyone can also take advantage of homemade deer repellent remedies.

There are so many steps that should be considered in controlling deer in the landscape or garden. The first step is properly selecting deer resistant plants that are appropriate in the garden and landscape. Greenwood Nursery ensures that everyone will have the best deer resistant plants that will suit in anyone’s garden.

Blue River Lavender Blooms To Early Fall

Plant this small growing Blue River Lavender Plant in all sunny areas of your garden. The Blue River Lavender plants are comfortable growing in containers, in garden borders and filling in nook and cranny areas. The deep purple fragrant blooms of the Blue River Lavender stand strong from mid summer to early fall.

As with other lavender plants, the Lavandula angustifolia 'Blue River' is deer resistant, rabbit resistant and attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. With its low water requirements, the Blue River Lavender is an excellent choice for growing in pots. 

Dave's Candles Now Available at Greenwood Nursery

Dave's Candles come in a wide range of intensely fragrant, long-burning varieties. There's something to suit virtually every candle lover's preference! These 100% soy candles feature crackling wooden wicks for long-lasting burn time.

Each and every 100% soy wax candle with crackling wooden wick is handmade by Dave. Fans love his candle creations, which have a very unique scent personality.

Join the many Dave's Candle lovers today and try one of these fragrant, long-burning soy candles, now available through Greenwood Nursery.

Pink Perfume Lavender Perfect for Small Yards

The Pink Perfume Lavender Plants are certain to make a show in your yard all summer long. Plant along your front sunny walk way and the Pink Perfume Lavender will greet your guests with its wonderful fragrance. Separate areas of your garden with a low growing hedge of Lavandula angustifolia 'Pink Perfume'. 

The Pink Perfume is perfect for small yards, container gardens, cut flower gardens, and butterfly gardens. Use the rosy pink flower stems as cut flowers or dry for potpourris. Plant in well drained soil. The Pink Perfume Lavender is drought tolerant and blooms from May to September. Pink Perfume attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.

Winterberry Shrubs Provide Food for Wildlife in Winter

Winterberry Shrubs are the "queens" of fruiting shrubs world when ranked for ornamental value. From early fall through winter, the branches are covered in bright-red fruits. The fruiting branches are great for decoration in the garden or in the house. Winterberry Shrubs provide food for wildlife in winter. These plants have multi-branches, so clipping a few doesn't take away from the appearance of your mature plants. Or leave the branches for the birds since over 40 species of birds are known to eat the fruit, including: bluebirds, brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, flickers, gray catbirds, mockingbirds and robins. The dense branching also provides shelter, cover and nesting spots for birds.

The leaves of Winterberry plants are thick and dark green and contrast well with the red fruit. The foliage stays healthy all summer and isn't bothered by insects. The leaves drop off the plant in late fall to expose the beautiful berries. You'll need both male and female plants to produce fruits, with one male for up to 6 nearby females. Plant in sun or part shade. They like moist to wet, slightly acid soils. Winterberries are native to North America, no garden should be without them. Hardy from Zones 3 to 9.

Plant your Winterberry Shrubs in full sun to part shade in moist, garden soil. Can tolerate wet conditions. Space 3 to 4 feet apart. To get berries, be sure to plant one male for every 6 nearby females. Berries will be on female plants.

Get started with your winterberry plants by ordering our Ilex Berry Nice and Jim Dandy female/male plant kits.

Phenomenal Lavender Proves to Be Cold Hardy

Introduced in 2012, the Phenomenal Lavender will prove to be one of the hardiest lavenders available. Lavendula x intermedia 'Phenomenal' does not experience winter die back as seen in varieties such as Munstead and Hidcote. With its proven winter survival, the Phenomenal Lavender is hardy as far north as zone 4, which is unusual for lavender plants.

Phenomenal Lavender was named a 'Must Grow Perennial' for 2013 by Better Homes and Gardens.

The uniform mounded shape of the Phenomenal provides a silvery base for the late spring to early summer blooms of deep blue to purple. Growing 12 to 32 inches tall with a spread of 24 to 32 inches, this hardy new lavender variety will stand up to dry, moist and well drained soils. 

• Resists crown rot, downy and powdery mildews
• Deer resistant
• Rabbit resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Humidity tolerant

Great uses for the Phenomenal Lavender:

• Garden borders
• Low hedges
• Winter interest
• Containers
• Cut flowers
• Attracts butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
• Medicinal
• Culinary
• Fragrant

The Phenomenal and other lavender plants are available at GreenwoodNursery.com.

Greenwood Nursery announces the addition of Dwarf Pampas Grass. This beautiful pampas matures at 5 to 6 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet wide, making it an excellent choice garden plant for small gardens. Pair your Dwarf Pampas Grass with Yucca plant varieties for an attractive desert or Mediterranean landscape. Wind and drought tolerant. 

Now booking for spring shipping.

Best Winter Gardening Tips

Greenwood Nursery is offering the best winter gardening tips that will help everyone in getting a head start on their spring as well as summer yard care. Greenwood Nursery offers factual tips in order to help everyone in making their garden beautiful and one of a kind.

The first step in having a great summer is to prepare the garden creatively. Kindly turn the shrubbery and tree lines into something of beauty having light pruning. It is advisable to mulch the perennials and win fight against weeds before they even get the chance in infiltrating the yard. Next winter gardening tips is to sketch the new garden ideas for landscape then formally start building.

Cheryl Jones is the owner of Greenwood Nursery and she is also well experienced when it comes to planting and gardening. She also created useful and factual tips in order to help people in creating beautiful landscape and garden.

Building raised bed for annuals or vegetable planting is also one of the best winter gardening tips. Drawing out new plan for plant placement and jotting down ideas for new plants to add in is also advisable. After that, start building compost. Kindly protect animal attracting plants by means of having wire cages and wrap thin bark trees which are susceptible to cold weather damages. Another important tip to follow is pruning the plants which have lost their leaves except those spring flowering trees/shrubs in order to have a great look. Cutback ornamental perennials and grasses are also advisable for planting in the yard as they add ambiance. Protecting evergreen from the winter burn should also be properly done.

After protecting the delicate garden plants during the worse part of early spring and winter temperature fluctuations and then having a plan for the garden design, it is the right time to put everything in action. Following the tips above will eventually help in achieving everyone’s goal. By doing this, everyone will be relaxed knowing that the garden will be in great shape when spring hits.

7 Underused Plants To Add Lasting Fall Color

7 Underused Plants That Will Add Long Lasting Fall Color Into Your Landscape Year After Year:

• Autumn Brilliance Ferns
• Autumn Leaves Heuchera Coral Bells
• Red Wall Virginia Creeper
• Nandina Dwarf Firepower Evergreen Shrubs
• Burning Bush Shrubs
• Oakleaf Hydrangea Shrubs
• Pin Oak

Ornamental Grasses Are Low Maintenance Plants!

Ornamental Grasses are the perfect low maintenance plant for any landscape.

Our favorite ways to use Ornamental Grasses:

• For privacy 
• To define property lines
• Soften corners
• Create interest within a landscape
• Small grasses make good border plants
• Great backdrop plantings
• Create informal hedges 

Ornamental Grasses

Gardening is Good Exercise and Good for Your Health

Everyone is on a kick to be healthy, but rarely think about gardening to become healthy. Granted, the food you grow in your garden will be better than store-bought, it’s the weeding, watering, and trimming that keep your body in great shape. If you want to lose weight, garden for a month or two. 

You can’t go wrong with gardening, even if you have a brown thumb.  All plants need are light, soil, water, and nutrients.  Some plants don’t even need nutrients since Mother Nature supplies all the food they need to eat. Garden plants can easily be added to your dinner table.

If you just want to tone your body, gardening can to that, too. You lift plants around, hull the water hose around, lean over and weed, and plant seeds, which work all the muscles in your body. What a great way to lose weight and put food on your dinner table.

In several studies it has been shown that gardening help 9 out of 10 people lose inches in their waist after just one month of gardening. You can tell it helps because the next day your muscles will be sore. If you continue to garden, those muscles will tighten up and tone your body. You can have that beach body in a few months and fill your dinner table with all the food you need.

Not to mention how much fun gardening is when the whole family joins in to raise all the tomatoes you can eat or planting beans and peas for the table. The kids will love watching the seeds sprout up and spring into a veggie they like.  It also teaches them responsibly when they have to water and weed their very own garden patch.

So, you see how much gardening can help your health? Plus, it’s  fun to watch tiny seeds growing into a giant watermelon, carrot, or any other type of vegetable or fruit.  You can also garden in apartments, condos, and houses whether you have a large or small plot of land.

There are thousands of vegetables, fruits, shrubs, and trees that can make your garden a lovely place to relax, have a picnic, or grow a culinary herb garden. You can use any type of container or plant your garden right in the ground.  You can also grow vertical gardens  up walls, fences, and the side of a house or apartment.

You can let your imagination sore to new heights while supplying your dinner table with fresh herbs and vegetables or a lovely bouquet of flower for any surface. The amount of scents you can enjoy while your garden shines with a plethora of colors to lighten up any day. 

Plants That Will Grow Under Black Walnut Trees

Are you seeking plants that will grow under the Black Walnut trees on your property?

Black walnut trees can be a tricky plant for gardeners, as this species of plant produces a toxic substance called juglone via its root system. Other trees that emit this toxic substance include butternut and Persian walnut trees that are grafted with black walnut. (Notably, persian walnut seedlings that are grafted onto persian walnut rootstocks do not produce deadly toxins that kill other plants.)

The juglone leaches out into the surrounding soil and it can kill nearby plants within a period of just 30 to 60 days. Some of the most susceptible plants include: Tomato plants; Blackberry bushes; Azalea; Mountain laurel; Apple trees; Blueberry bushes; Potato plants; Rhododendron bushes.

The toxic zone can extend up to 80 feet from the trunk of a large mature black walnut tree, though the typical no-grow zone usually extends 50 to 60 feet. This tree's tendency to kill off nearby plants is enough to leave many gardeners scratching their heads, wondering "what can I plant that will grow under a black walnut tree?"

Not to fear! Not all plants are sensitive to the juglone that's produced by the black walnut tree. There are a number of trees, annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines and ground-cover plants that are resistant to juglone.

Some of the most popular plants that are often planted near a black walnut tree include:

Arborvitae

Bugleweed

Christmas Fern

Cinnamon Fern

Daylily

Crested Wood Fern

Eastern Redbud

Elizabeth Sedum

Creeping Phlox

Creeping Stonecrop

Grasses

Heuchera

Honeysuckle

Hosta

Japanese Maple

Viburnum

Lamb's Ear

Tartan Honeysuckle

Virginia Creeper

Forsythia

Wisteria

It appears that the black walnut tree actually enhances and promotes growth in a limited number of plant species, especially grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass.

Despite the fact that the black walnut tree's toxins can kill many nearby plants, they are still favoured by many for their beautiful appearance and their ability to prevent soil erosion and offer shade, particularly on pastures. They are especially popular in pastures.

It's important to note, though, that juglone is present in the black walnut tree's wood, bark and leaves. The wood chips can cause problems in some animals, particularly horses.

Composting black walnut leaves will result in the degradation of the juglone toxin, which breaks down in 2 to 4 weeks when the leaves are composted alone, or up to 2 months if they're mixed with soil and other compost matter. So it's generally safe to use fully-composted leaves on juglone-sensitive plants.

Planting Around the Patio

When deciding to plant around the patio, the type of patio you have is what sets the mood or tone of the landscape when using perennials. If you have a stone patio, it will be look and feel different than a wood deck patio. The type of material the patio is made from is the bones for the containers, flower beds, and borders which may or may not include pathways, trails, and walkways.

Using perennials around the patio gives you the opportunity to mix and match colors, or use one perennial with different colors or one color. Perennials are plants are hardy and will grow for many years. So, you don’t have to replant them each year. 

There is nothing wrong with growing plants for a couple of months, then replacing them with another plants. Perennials are easy to pot up for a couple of months, move to a permanent place and replace with another perennial.  It keeps a variety of colors and textures that are easily mix and matched with other plants.

Perennials are great for patios  since you can change them out with other flowering plants when the original stops blooming. Planting smaller sized blooming perennials in small pots in the ground can be swapped out with later season bloomers. Moving the spent blooming perennials to another location.  They can perk up a dull patio in the dead of winter or add a spicy look in the spring and summer.

Fragrant herbs to plant around sitting areas are oregano, rosemary, mints (in pots of course), lemon thyme, and lavender. Herbs add a gorgeous smell to a patio, plus, you can use them in the kitchen. Most perennials are great to decorate a pathway or border with such as creeping mint or lemon thyme.  They are also good for rock gardens.

There are many varieties of low and high growing perennials that can be used on a border that will bloom all summer long. When they are done blooming you can easily replace them with another perennial for fall and winter. That will bring you color and texture all year long. 

Visit Greenwood Nursery for a wide selection of plants for your porch or patio.