Austrian Pine is medium to fast-growing and can grow 30-60'. Its dark green needles and a dense habit make it an excellent specimen tree. It makes a wonderful choice for a street tree, since it withstands city conditions very well. It is heat and drought tolerant, as well as salt tolerant. Plus, unlike many heat-tolerant trees, it is also quite resistant to snow and ice damage.

Azaleas are easy to love. Their amazing flowers put on an incredible display of color every spring like clockwork, helping to herald in the coming growing season. Whether in a formal or woodland garden setting, azaleas make a great addition to any garden. When these plants are in full bloom, it's almost impossible to see the foliage underneath.

For centuries, azaleas were only grown in Japanese gardens. But then native species were discovered in North America and eventually types from both countries found their way to Europe. In colder climates, the deciduous species (Exbury Hybrids) which are primarily from North America, perform the best.

Azaleas are versatile and can be used in almost any spot in the garden provided they have good drainage. Exbury Hybrid Azaleas can be grown in full sun in all but the hottest areas. Their flowers come in almost every color shade imaginable and the bushes range from 3 to 8 feet high and wide. They also reward gardeners with good fall colors in shades of orange and red. Many also have sweetly scented blooms. If you are short on space in your landscape, consider planting azaleas in containers to add another dimension to your garden.

Azaleas grow well in evenly moist and slightly acidic soil. They perform best when the soil is amended with peat moss or an acid planting mix before planting. They also like to be fed every few months with cottonseed meal or an acid plant food. We recommend feeding from the end of the blooming season through early fall.

Azaleas don't require much pruning if the proper varieties are selected for the desired mature size. If occasional pruning is needed to control size or wayward branches, prune from one month after the blooming season has ended thru August. Pruning any later can remove the new blooms that are starting to set for the following spring, which can start as early as September.

Whether pruned formally into shapes or left natural to blend in with the local surroundings, azaleas make a wonderful addition to any garden with their extraordinary offering of beautiful spring flowers.

Sale of the Week
Emerald Green Arborvitae 5ft. and 7ft.--25% off
Only while supplies last, so don't miss out!

May 1-31
Breast Cancer Awareness Month! We will donate $1.00 for every flat of Breast Cancer Awareness Impatiens sold during May 2008.

May 10-11
Mother’s Day! Surprise Mom with a unique hanging basket and receive 10% off.

May 24-26
Memorial Day! Plant a tree to commemorate your loved one. Save 15% on all evergreens.

Few plants can equal the stunning blooms of a rhododendron. Like jewels on a royal crown, these queens of the shade garden are regal beauties whose stately forms add excitement to any woodland setting. New varieties are continuously sought after--and today number more than 800 varieties from around the world.

Rhododendrons are fairly hardy evergreen plants that can withstand temperatures from as low as -10 degrees to over 100 degrees in the summer. The plants can range in shape from dwarfs that grow only 18" tall, to mounding forms and upright varieties that take on a tree-like quality.

But what sets them apart from the rest of the plant world is their incredible display of spring blooms. The ornamental flowers appear in large clusters called trusses, with each individual flower containing protruding stamens that produce a somewhat spidery effect.

The flowers come in a myriad of colors including shades of blue, purple, lavender, red, pink, coral, white, and yellow. Some varieties produce flowers in a combination of colors. Most bloom from as early as March to as late as June, depending on climate and location. Some varieties are also fragrant.

Rhododendrons prefer a morning sun location with afternoon shade. They are an acid-loving plant that responds well when an acid soil amendment such as peat moss is incorporated into the soil before planting. They prefer a consistently moist (but not wet) soil environment and enjoy being fed with cottonseed meal or an acid food every two months--from after the blooming season has ended until early fall.

So if your shade garden is lacking pizzazz, add a few rhododendrons to the area and watch it come alive with color in the spring. With so many endearing colors to choose from, there's a color that is bound to please even the most discriminating gardener.