Every garden has at least one tricky spot where most plants do not perform well. These spots tend to be either too wet, too dry or too rocky. Luckily there are plants that not only can tolerate these unusual conditions but can thrive in them. Spaces in the garden that are constantly wet or tend [...]
Container gardening is different from planting in the ground. The space is limited which affects the amount of soil the plants roots can reach to absorb water and nutrients. Keeping this spatial limitation in mind there are a couple of important factors to take into account when container gardening including the size of the pot, [...]
When it comes to buying potting soil keep an eye out for labels that say fertilizer starter charge and slow release fertilizer included in the mix. These phrases sound similar but refer to an important often overlooked difference in potting soils. A soil labeled fertilizer starter charge contains a minimal amount of fertilizer mixed into [...]
It is time to delve into the dark dirty secrets of soils! This series of blogs are dedicated to demystifying the many varieties of soil and help you pick which one is best for your garden and budget. Here at Hook’s we know that choosing what type of soil to buy can be tricky considering [...]
Plants have specific nutrients needs for healthy growth and development, most of which are taken up from the soil by the plants roots. These nutrients are the building blocks for plant tissues. Overtime, watering leaches nutrients from soil and fertilizer is needed to replace them. This process happens especially fast in potted plants. There are [...]
It is time to start thinking about soil preparation for the spring planting season! We know soils can be tricky and with so many options to choose from it’s hard to know what works best. Here are our recommendations for how to prepare soil for a vegetable garden and for a flower garden. There are [...]
The base of any garden is its soil. While a few plants can thrive in clay or sandy soil conditions most plants prefer well draining nutrient rich soil. Here are our recommendations for amending clay or sandy soil conditions: Clay soil - 1/3 - ½ volume of sand to help with drainage as well as [...]
Hanging baskets are a great way to add instant color to a porch or garden. They last longer than cut flowers and with proper care can last the whole season. Here are a few tips to pass along to help keep hanging baskets looking great all summer long. Picking the right plants for the right [...]
Planting a Tea Planter so all your fresh herbs are right on your back porch! We planted Mojito Mint, Lemon Grass and Chocolate Mint all in the same container. With heavy shearing and consistent use, the mint will maintain good control in this planter.
Sometimes shady gardens seem like a curse but there are many fun and exciting plants that can be used in this location. When looking at the sight it is important to think about shade gardens for one of their finest attributes, the potential to look like a peaceful woodland sanctuary! There are many perennials that [...]
All plants have different preferences for sunlight, soil type, and water requirements which are all important for growing happy plants. While measuring sun exposure for plants is not an exact science, the definitions below are the generally accepted standards for determining sun exposure in the garden. Full Sun: At least 6 hrs of direct, unfiltered [...]
Are deer munching on your garden? Deer can devastate a landscape especially if planted with their favorite snacks such as hostas, daylilies, azaleas, rhododendrons, roses, burning bushes, tulips and pansies. When planting deer resistant landscaping remember this tip for picking out plants. Deer do not like fine, fuzzy and fragrant plants. Here at Hook’s we have [...]
Rabbits are adorable critters that can cause problems in the garden. No plants are completely rabbit proof and young plants are particularly vulnerable. That being said, some plants are generally considered rabbit resistant. These plants tend to be thorny, spiny, heavily aromatic or that secrete a milky sap which makes them less appetizing to rabbits. Here at Hook’s we [...]
Spring is here and grass is starting to take off. Here are a couple of Hook’s Tips to help get your lawn looking its best! In general, we recommend only bagging lawn clippings if diseases or fungi problems are suspected. Leaving lawn clippings allows them to be a free compost and return nutrients to the soil. [...]
The season is just getting started and seed potatoes are here at Hook’s! Potatoes are a great cool season crop that can be planted 2-3 weeks after the last frost. We sell seed potatoes can be cut into pieces and planted, as long as each piece has an eye it will grow. We recommend planting [...]