Spring Preparation
Spring Preparation

Spring is slipping up on us and many of us may not be fully prepared. While it has not been a particularly cold or snowy winter the last few weeks have been threatening on a daily basis. Every weather news cast seems to call for a chance of snow, freezing rain, cold days, cloudy, with very few days of warm sunny…

Lawn Care Calendar
Lawn Care Calendar

Some of the most asked questions we receive concern the proper time to apply fertilizer, lime, seed, etc. to the yard. With that in mind, we developed the following calendar.  It can be printed and saved for future use. Click here for a printable version: Gary’s Garden Center Lawn Care Calendar

Pruning – When? How much?
Pruning – When? How much?

Pruning is a such a broad subject that there have been entire books devoted to the subject. Obviously, it is hard to begin to answer all the questions we are asked on the subject in just a few paragraphs. The following are a few general tips. Pruning Basics: A good rule of thumb is that spring blooming plants normally are…

Medicinal Plants
Medicinal Plants

Just for fun, here’s a list of 15 popular plants with traditional medicinal properties, and their uses. Aloe: Fights Baldness and Wrinkles Anise: Cures Indigestion Basil: Relieves Headaches Bayleaf: Cures Deafness Chamomile: Relieves Upset Stomach and insomnia Fennel: Controls the Appetite Garlic: Increases Physical Strength Marigold: Improves Eyesight Oregano: Aids Digestion and Stimulates the Appetite Parsley: Sweetens the Breathe Rosemary:  Improves Memory Sage: Cures Fever…

The ABC’s of Composting
The ABC’s of Composting

Practice the ABC’s of Composting The American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) says that compost heaps cut down on landfill usage, and provide you with a rich and renewable source of nutrients for your garden. Starting a compost heap is something you can do any time of year, and with the three steps described below it’s as easy as A-B-C! Step…

Crepe Myrtles
Crepe Myrtles

Crepe Myrtles are one of the South’s favorite trees. Visit any old southern farm, and you may see crepe myrtles that exceed 100 years of age. They can be found growing from the Gulf Coast to as far north as Baltimore and Philadelphia. Crepe Myrtles offer full season appeal and are easy to grow. They have many outstanding features such…

Lavender
Lavender

A little whiff of fresh lavender or spirits of lavender oil is said to calm the soul, relieve tension, or cure a headache. The scent of lavender can reduce the stress level of an entire room of people. Try using lavender in a mist bottle in the office to lower the tension and calm the nerves. Lavender-beautiful, fragrant, tasty and healthy!…

Grass Seed Selection
Grass Seed Selection

There are many choices of seed on the market. You have old standbys such as Kentucky 31 (KY-31) and Kentucky Bluegrass. There are many selections of the so called tall turf type fescues as well as Bermuda grass, Zoysia, and lots of rye grasses. How do we decide which is the right one for us to plant? In my opinion,…

Planting Dogwoods
Planting Dogwoods

The loss of a newly planted dogwood can usually be traced to one of two problems, improper planting or improper watering. Improper planting means the tree was planted too deep or that dirt or mulch was piled up around the trunk. Let’s look at how to plant first. Dogwoods are shallow rooted trees and it would be difficult to plant…