Asclepias Prairie planting has become quite the rage lately. It is a great alternative to traditional, more high-maintenance gardening. It is also a great way to reintroduce native Wisconsin plants back to your property. Our bird and butterfly friends will thank us by visiting often. Prairie meadows do not require anything special, other than at least a half-day of sun, preferably a full day though if your soil is especially wet or clay. Prairie plants are typically perennials so they will come back for you every year without little to no work. Here are just a few to get you started with your planning. Asclepias Tuberosa (Milkweed) Baptisia (False Indigo) Echinacea Purpurea (purple coneflower) Geum (prairie smoke) Grasses, such as Big blue stem, Carex, Little blue stem, Sorghastrum (Indian grass), Heliopsis (False sunflower), Agastache (hyssop), Liatris, Monarda, and Rudbeckia triloba

Ever see these beautiful containers and wonder how did they know what to plant and what will look good together? We hear this a lot, which is why we are happy to plant your containers for you. Whether it is items you are looking for specifically or you want us to take charge and surprise you. Whatever you decide, we have put together a list of annuals and perennials that always look good in pots. Grasses are always on the top of our list. Whether its purple fountain grass (Rubrum), Pink Muhly (new in 2024), Miscanthus, or Pennisetum, you cannot go wrong. These make great centerpieces. Colocasia, Caladium, and Gryphon Begonias (new 2024) do not flower, but boy do they make a statement. Canna- Great as a centerpiece and if you can bring in your pot at the end of the season, you may get lucky and get it back the following year. Spikes Hostas make great fillers for containers in shady areas. Angelonia, Nepeta, phlox, sedum, and veronica are also great choices. Anything that trails- Sweet potato vine, Lysimachia Goldilocks (creeping jenny) 4"Calibrachoa, Dorotheanthus (NEW 2024)

creeping phlox Perennial ground cover can be a wonderful, low-maintenance garden solution. Ground cover plants tend to do well where some other plants have a hard time growing (slopes, rocky, sandy, clay), since they do not need much depth for their root system to grow. We have put together a small list of perennials that we stock that might be worth taking a second look at. Ajuga -Spreads fast and can become invasive. Chocolate Chip is a great variety. Anemone- Some might disagree with me, but we love this as ground cover. It does spread slowly, and new plants will pop up around the existing plants. They do like mostly sun, but will tolerate some shade but will not spread as quickly. We like that they bloom early and will also bloom again late summer, early fall. Campanula- colorful, whimsical and low-maintenance Galium (Sweet woodruf) It prefers moist soil, but will survive in dry shade. Hostas - We could go on forever about hostas. We will just leave it at that. Lamium - Great for large area as it grows quickly. Works best in shady areas but since it is very adaptable it is a great transition plant between shade and sun areas. Creeping Phlox- (one of our favorites). It comes in a variety of colors. It does prefer full sun or it may not bloom well. It will spread slowly in mounds 4-6" Pulmonaria - One of the easiest ground cover perennials to grow as they do not require a lot of light. they do spread slowly, but the ground does need to stay moist (not wet) for them to thrive. Sedum - Another one of our favorites. They do spread, but not invasive. They do have shallow root system so they are easy to remove. They do not liked to be watered often and do not might rocky soil.

Want to attract more butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden? We offer several perennials that we think you might enjoy. Agastache, Ajuga, Alcea, Aquilegia, Asclepias, Asters, Baptisia, Buddleia, Campanula, Campsis, Centranthus, Cimicifuga, Clematis, Coreopsis, Delphinium, dianthus, Dicentra, Digitalis, Echinacea, Helenium, Heliopsis, Hemerocallis, Heuchera, Hibiscus, Ligularia, Lobelia, Lupines, Monarda, Nepeta, Papaver, Penstemon, Perovskia, Phlox, Pulmonaria, rudbeckia, Salvia, Sedum, Veronica

We get asked this a lot! Why are you are more expensive on mulch than places like Home Depot and Lowes? Well, there are several answers for this. 1. SIZE- Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. All our bags are 2 CF. 2. QUALITY - You will not find any screws, nails, sticks or other debris in our mulch. 3. COLOR -  Our colored mulches are dyed using a carbon-based colorant, making it is safe for the environment, plants, people, and pets. Our black mulch mulch is produced using natural wood by-products. No recycled materials are used. This and the double processing procedure makes the finished product look less fractured and smoother, leaving a finer, uniform, finished mulch. The dye used to color the mulch offers better UV protection to the soil. The UV-resistant mulch is more durable than regular mulch and typically lasts longer. NEW 2024 - Rubber mulch. We have brought in brown to give a try. Once again, look at the size. our bags our 1.5 CF compared to the box stores which are .08 CF. What are some of the advantages/disadvantages to rubber mulch? 1. Long Life Span, up to 10 years before you need to replace. 2. Doesn't Absorb Water. Water passes around the mulch straight into the soil, keeping plants hydrated. 3. Doesn’t Attract Most Bugs 4. Doesn't Blow or Wash Away Easily. It is much heavier than wood mulch, therefore, it's not typically blown away by strong winds or swept out of your garden bed in heavy rain. 5. Inhibits Weed Growth. It's heavy and dense, so it blocks light and compresses the soil surface, discouraging weeds from germinating or pushing up new growth. And it'll help you in your fight against your neighbor's weed seeds, too—because it doesn't hold water, rubber mulch is inhospitable, holding and dehydrating the weed seeds before they can germinate and take root in your soil. 6. Rubber Mulch Is a Good Insulator Well-known for its insulating properties, rubber can hold warmth in your soil for longer. This can extend plant growth and warm the earth earlier in the year for a significantly increased growing season. Plus, you'll get earlier flowers that will keep flowering later into the fall as the soil retains its heat thanks to the rubber mulch blanket. This can also be a disadvantage as well. Because of the the warmth, it can lead to damaged plants and burns on animal paws; it dissuades wildlife from entering the yard, which can be positive or negative depending what you are looking for. 7. Cost. Rubber mulch is significantly more money than wood mulch because of the life span. Rubber mulch is not for everyone, as it depends on your needs. If you are looking for something organic, we recommend using coco shells, cypress mulch , red cedar mulch or pine fines.

I know winter is just beginning around here, but the thoughts of Spring are already on our minds. It sure is nice when we get the first signs of spring and our early blooms start appearing. It also goes to say that later in the summer when other plants have started to lose their luster, we can always count on our late bloomers. Please share with us some of your favorites. Peony Early bloomers Bleeding heart, Pulmonaria, primrose, creeping phlox, iberis, sea thrift, baptisia, bearded iris, cushion spurge, peony, viola and Russian sage Echinacea Late Bloomers Asters, Achillea, Alcea, Amsonia, Astilbe, Baptisia, Buddleia, Chrysanthemum, Cimicifuga, Coreopsis, Delphinium, Dianthus, Dicentra, Digitalis, Echinacea, Echinops, Gaillardia, Goldenrod, Helenium, Heliopsis, Hemerocallis(reblooming varieties), Heuchera, Hibiscus, Ligularia, Lobelia, Monarda, Nepeta, Papaver, Penstemon, Perovskia, Pulmonaria, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Sedum, Viola

Whether you live in the city or in the middle of nowhere, we all have problems with deer eating our precious perennials. Below is a list of just a few items that the deer would prefer not to munch on. Please add to our list, if something has worked for you. grasses Grasses-Deer do not like some ornamental grasses as they may contain natural chemicals that omit a strong scent that humans may not notice and make them less appealing than some sweeter flowers. 1. Erianthus 2. Miscanthus 3. Pennisetum 4. Little Blue Stem 5. Big Blue Stem 6. Blue Fescue 7. Karl Forester 8. Blue Oat Grass 9. Arundinacea (Moor grass) 10. Pancium Virgatum (switch grass) 11. Sorghastrum (Indian grass) 12. Mondo Grass lilac Shrubs-Deer are very sensitive to smell, so they avoid shrubs like juniper and spruce. Shrubs with thorns and sharp leaves will also be a deterrent. Below are a few shrubs that we stock that will also turn their noses up on. 1. Butterfly Bush 2. Forsythia 3. False Cypress 4. Rose of Sharon 5. Elderberry 6. Lilac 7. Weigela ferns Perennials- There are so many perennials that deer do not like based on smell and texture. We have listed just a few here to get you started. Achillea, Ajuga, Asclepias( milkweed), Anemone, Allium (millennium), Astilbe, baptisia, Bergenia, Brunnera, bearded iris, Clematis, Coreopsis, Delphinium, Dianthus, Dicentra (bleeding heart) Digitalis, Echinacea (coneflowers), Ferns, Foxglove, Gaillardia, Goats Beard, Globe Thistle, Herbs such as lavender, rosemary and anise, Heuchera, Hibiscus, Lamium, Ligularia, Lobelia, Monarda (bee balm), Nepeta, Papaver (poppy) , Paeonia, Pulmonaria, Rudabeckia, Russian sage, Salvia, Sedum, Veronica, Viola, Yarrow and Yucca.

Guacamole Though hostas like being in the shade, some hostas do better in the sun than others with the right soil and enough moisture. Here are just a few that we provide that can handle a little light. Allen P. McConnel August Moon Brother Stephan Coast to Coast Dancing Queen Fire and Ice First Blush First Dance Forbidden Fruit Gentle Giant Gold Standard Guacamole Gypsy Rose Hanjas Red Edge Island Breeze June June Spirit Maui Buttercup Montana Aureomarginata Munchkin Fire Orange Marmalade Paradigm Patriot Pauls Glory Rainforest Sunrise Royal Standard Sagae Seducer Stained Glass Sum and Substance Winter Snow Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

Yes, you can grow herbs year round without the worry of frost or not having enough garden space. Your kitchen is probably the best spot if you have the room, but any place will. Planting in small clay pots like the ones pictured here are cute and easily to move. $2.00-$14.99 Once the weather warms up, move them outside and then back again when the weather turns. The best part about growing your own herbs is that you cn use what you need at the moment. Some of our favorites are listed below. BASIL Basil is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors and doesn't need much care. Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It's also a good source of calcium, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. It is known to calm nerves and detoxifies the liver. Basil oil has been known to clear blemishes, treating cuts, wounds and skin infections. Let's not forget about pesto, yummm! Looking for easy recipe, try this one.We think it is a hit! https://thesuburbansoapbox.com/the-very-best-basil-pesto-recipe-and-tips/ ROSEMARY Rosemary is a great source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which can help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation and help with pain relief. Did you know that just smelling rosemary could improve your memory? Keep some all over the house and on the patio as rosemary repels flies and mosquitoes. LAVENDER Lavender is not only pretty but the health benefits are immense. The fragrance is very calming, which can help with sleep, stress, anxiety and headaches. It is best to grow it outdoors as it can get quite large, and the root system is actu ally bigger than the plant itself. Lady lavender is only 10" and stays pretty compact, however we also offer hidcote, munstead and French. Just make sure that it gets plenty of sun and has adequate drainage in the pot. Add some gravel in the bottom of the pot along with some pea gravel or rocks on the top to keep the crown dry. They also like a A “fluffy’ aerated soil as they prefer the dryer side. The best soil is a combination of peat, vermiculite, and perlite. Our Fox Farm Coco Loco Potting Mix is ideal for lavender. DILL Dill is another one that likes a lot of sun and loves the Coco Loco potting mix. Turn your cucumbers into dill pickles, bake delicious breads, or create hearty soups or stews. Having fresh dill on hand is always better than opting for dried dill from the market. Did you also know that it is said to cure hiccups. Mix 1 tsp. dill leaf with a cup of boiled water, strain the leaves and drink. Let us know if this works for you. MINT Mint is greatr for breath, digestion, nausea, headaches, asthma, and acne. It also is a great herb for attracting butterflies and bees. It also repels, ants, mice, ticks, fleas and moths. Mint does have a habit of taking over a garden, so planting in pots is a benefit. Though it does perfer sun, it will tolerate shade and help it from spreading or growing too fast. Mint is also super easy to propagate from cuttings and will readily re-root itself. You can cut out mint where you don’t want it, put it in water until it grows some roots, then transplant it where you do want it. We have many varieties in stock including apple mint, chocolate, lime, mojito, peppermint, and pineapple. THYME Thyme is idea for growing indoors as it stays small. Just make sure it gets plenty of sunshine. If growing outdoors, thyme thrives in dry and rocky areas, helps with soil erosion, and can easily withstand drought and below freezing temperatures. We stock variegated, French, lemon, lime and orange. SAGE Sage prefers a lot of sunshine but will tolerate some light shade. Only water when needed though and let the soil get a little dry. Make sure that your sage has plenty of circulation as it will get a powdery mildew on the leaves. Sage has antiseptic and antioxidant properties which can help with anxiety and fatique. It is also thought to be a memory enhancer. We carry a golden variegated, Berggarten, officianlis, tricolor, purple, honeydew and pineapple. CHIVES Part of the onion family, can help boost your immune system. Multiple studies even suggest that eating allium vegetables, a category that includes garlic and scallions in addition to chives, is associated with a lower risk of developing certain cancers, including those of the prostate, stomach, and breast. Chives are one of my favorite herbs. They grow easily, can be grown indoors, and don't need much light. They grow to be about 18 inches tall, but don't require much space to flourish. Place them in south facing spot, keep soil moist at all times with proper drainage. Try not to let your chives bloom as you will get a smaller crop. Trim as you need them or if you think they are going to bloom, trim and dry your chives. CILANTRO (Coriander) Let's not forget about cilantro. yes, it is a staple in many Mexican dishes and Asian cuisines but it is loaded with fiber and iron which helps clear heavy metals from our body. Cilantro attaches itself to mercury, lead, and other toxic heavy metals and draws them out of our tissues. Cilantro does need deep soil to thrive and can be a challenge to grow indoors. Cilantro generally produces new foliage that you can trim off every 5-7 days for about three weeks before it goes to seed. Here is a great video on how to trim your cilantro. https://youtu.be/0hVt_yaM7n0 Obviously there are so many more herbs and many that we offer, but we wanted to list just a few of our favorites. Join us on Thursday, May 4 at 5:00 PM for our FREE event. https://www.hillsborohosta.com/specialsandevents

We are always on the hunt for new soil. Not just everyday day potting mix that you can buy at any box store, but something unique and something that really works. We feel like we have struck gold with a product that we brought in this year. Coco Loco Potting mix - The coir in Coco Loco behaves like little sponges making water available as needed by the plants. Coco Loco Potting Mix has the ability to hold more than its weight in water - while still draining well. Lower humidity reduces the possibility of attracting mold and root rot, as well as leaving insects less likely to bother your potted plants. It also includes more good stuff like aged forest products, perlite, earthworm castings, bat guano, Norweigan kelp meal, oyster shell and dolomite lime. I am not a scientist, but I know this stuff works! What is Coir? It comes from coconuts. It is the fibrous husks of the inner shell of the coconut It's what makes up the fibrous husks of the inner shell of the coconuts and is becoming very popular in soils and soil amendments.

Garden Phlox I don't know about you, but I cannot wait to get my hands dirty and this snow is not helping matters. With that being said, as the summer winds down, I do get tired of watering and just want to sit back and enjoy my hard work. I get asked a lot, what flowers bloom all summer? 1. Garden Phlox- They establish quickly with full sun, are low maintenance and long blooming. 2. Zinnia- Grow these jewel tones annuals in a sunny location. They do need regular watering but you will be happy with the results. 3. Petunias- Love them or hate them, they have one of the longest flowering seasons from late Spring to mid-Fall. 4. Hydrangeas- Large long-lasting blooms all summer. Please when the growing season is over they even look pretty dried out. 5. Cone Flowers - Flowers all summer into the fall and can be harvested to make an herbal tea. While you are at it, check out our FREE event May 4, 2023- Perennials for your well-being. https://www.hillsborohosta.com/event-details/exploring-perennials-for-wellness (https://www.hillsborohosta.com/event-details/exploring-perennials-for-wellness) 6. Yarrow- Oh the health benefits of Yarrow! They add color and have a long blooming season. Cut the flower heads though if you do not want them to spread, as they do self-seed. 7. Lavender, is one of my favorites. Grows through late summer, smells amazing and beneficial for the bumble bees. 8. Coreopsis. The colors are almost limitless. They bloom all summer in full sun and have a bushy growth habitat. 9. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) - Plant in full sun and they will keep blooming until the first frost arrives. 10. Catmint, not Catnip. Do not get the two confused. Catmint is a small shrubby perennial that blooms into the fall that has a beautiful fragrance. 11. Daylilies - One of the easiest perennials to care for if you want all summer-long flowers in your yard. They come in an array of colors that really don't need much care. They are drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun. Each bloom does not last really long, but each plant will continue producing throughout the summer and into the fall.

Mr. Mister Hosta(new2024) I get asked all the time if we have a list of our hostas. Unfortunately, they change so often that we do not. We have over 300 varieties in stock that change from season to season. I cannot keep up with what may be in stock or out from week to week. Therefore, I have decided to make a list of Mini hostas (under 8"), Giant hostas (30"+) new hostas and $10.00 and under hostas. This is not our entire list since, we have many small, medium and large hostas also available so please come and visit us to enjoy the full experience.