Eco-friendly Plants You Must Have | TN Nursery

TN Nurseries best selling perennials

Ajuga 

Partridgeberry

Periwinkle

Goats Beard 

 

Eco-friendly Landscaping Tips and Ideas

There are excellent reasons why eco-friendly landscaping continues to grow in popularity- it limits your family's exposure to toxins, saves natural resources, and can keep homeowners money in maintenance costs.

Planning landscaping without pesticides, insecticides, and other chemically based "helpers" can take creativity. However, environmentally friendly design can be affordable and aesthetically pleasing.

Survey Your Site

This step is significant to the success of your landscaping design. You will need to see where the sun hits different areas of your yard, how water drains, wind patterns, and the size of your space. You will also want to consider what space will be used for. For example, if the space will be an area for young children or pets will play, you may not want to plant succulents or cacti- ouch!

Planning Your Design

You will either work with a landscape designer or create your plan to lay out your design pieces. You will want to consider what you already have in place and your budget. Plants may work with your design, or you may have to start from scratch. An expert can help you develop creative touches that work with your budget. You will want to use this information to prioritize your goals. Remember to consider water usage, soil types, insect population, and maintenance concerns. The planning stage is a little more involved for an eco-friendly yard, but it will be worth knowing you are doing your part.

Plant Selection/Preparation

The next step involves shopping for the plants and other materials you will incorporate into your landscape design. Using native plants will reduce the need for pest control and work great with your area's climate. Another essential thing to consider is the size of the tree or bush at full maturity- not just the size when you purchase it! To prepare for plants, plan to use a drip system for irrigation. That will take water directly to the roots and reduce wasted water. A rock garden or hardscape-based design can also be a shallow maintenance choice that still produces a beautiful look.

Planting/Maintenance

When ready to plant, dig holes 12-15 inches to promote optimum growth. Add a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch to help conserve water use. Set your timer to drip after 9 pm and before 9 am to prevent evaporation. Use compost as fertilizer and mulch for weed prevention.

Less waste, water conservation, and keeping toxins away from your family are just a few reasons why more people than ever are choosing eco-friendly landscaping. With careful planning and design, your landscape will be beautiful and healthy for our environment.

Source to Buy Plants and Information on Ecofriendly Landscaping

Ajuga Reptans - TN Nursery

Ajuga

The Ajuga Reptans is an evergreen, low-growing ground cover with shoots of purple blooms erecting from the center of the plant. Its adaptability makes it a showstopper in shade and partial sun gardens alike. It goes by many other names, such as bugle weed or carpet bugle. Ajuga, also called bugleweed, Is a low-growing perennial ground cover Ajuga is a low-growing ground cover perennial and a popular flowering plant that forms a dense carpet around tree trunks and shrubs. Bugleweed features beautiful deep green leaves with blue-toned (sometimes purple or white) flowers, perfect for enhancing your garden’s visual impact.  Ajuga Is An Adaptable Perennial Regarding growing conditions, Ajuga prefers to grow in cold, damp soil in a partially shaded area. One of the most exciting features of this plant is that it can thrive in a range of growing conditions, making it suitable for growing almost everywhere. On the other hand, these plants will not grow in dry, wet, or spoiled soil.  Since they grow in shaded areas, ajuga will burn sunny gardens. Ajuga can be planted in containers, beds, or borders when grown in ideal conditions. While quite a few types of ajuga are available to grace your gardens, Ajuga Reptans is probably the most popular option, loved by both new and experienced gardeners due to its distinctive features and numerous benefits.  Features of Ajuga Reptans This plant is one of the most popular flowering plants for several reasons, including Minimal maintenance. Once established, the Ajuga plant is relatively low-maintenance and does not require trimming. However, you must regularly water the plant in spring, summer, and fall until it is established. Ajuga is a Pollinator-Friendly Perennial Groundcover Plant: The small clusters of beautiful blue flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by creating a natural habitat and providing them with food and shelter.  Edible Weeds: Another exciting fact about bugleweed is that it is edible and can be added to salads and other dishes.  At TN Nursery, you can buy these plants for sale and transform your unsightly garden areas into attractive carpets of flowers. Plant these in cooler, partially shaded areas, and they will grow ideally.

Partridgeberry Plant - TN Nursery

Partridge Berry

Partridge Berry is a low-growing, trailing evergreen plant with glossy leaves and small, white to pinkish tubular flowers, followed by bright red berries commonly found in woodland settings. It is a charming and low-growing ground cover that offers several benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. If you're looking for a perennial that will add delicate beauty to your garden all year long, look no further than the Partridge berry plant. If you've ever walked through a forest in the eastern U.S., you have probably encountered this delicate woodland creeper. This flowering vine has beautiful red berries, bright green leaves, and star-shaped, white flowers. It blossoms in the late spring. As a creeper with long tendrils, it's notable because it doesn't use its tendrils to climb; instead, it creeps along the forest floor. It is native to many forests in eastern North America and has been seen as far north as Canada and south as Florida. Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) Has Dark Green Evergreen Leaves This evergreen features small, compact stems under its flowers. Its dark green leaves don't change color or fall on the ground like other plants, so there's no messy cleanup. If you want to attract bees, birds, and other friendly visitors to your garden, you can do it with this attractive, easy-to-grow vine. Partridge Berry Makes A Great Ground-Cover Despite its delicate appearance, this flowering vine is hardy enough to create groundcover that stays attractive in any season. Its glossy green leaves stand out in the fall against the falling brown leaves. Enjoy the beauty and fragrance of its bright white flowers in spring and summer. The bright red berries will remind you of holly and other winter delights. Partridge Berry Grows And Spreads Quickly Partridge Berry Is also versatile. Although it grows thick on the ground, you can use it in borders, walkways, paths, or anywhere you want an attractive, hardy cover. It's ideal in rock gardens or other hardscape settings. Once set up in the soil, it spreads out thickly, rooting itself deeply into the soil and creating a thick layer of leaves. In short, this common vine will bring uncommon beauty and enjoyment to any garden. Partridge Bery Is An Evergreen Groundcover  Where should partridge berry be grown? Partridge berry plants are best sown in shade or part shade with moist, drainage soil with plenty of organic matter. It also works well as a ground cover in shade and naturalised gardens.  Is partridge berry easy to grow Partridge berry is quite simple to grow and requires little care once it's in the ground. It tolerates drought, spreads very slowly, and makes a lush, evergreen carpet, which is great for the shade.  What makes partridge berry a useful garden plant?  Partridge berries stay green through the winter, and they turn red. This keeps the partridge ornamental all year long, and can be used in rock gardens, forests and shaded borders.  Can partridge berries be grown in pots To be sure, partridge berries can be planted in pots if you're using well-drained, rich soil and in a partial shade location. This is a great plant for small gardens or those living on patios or balconies.  What are some companion plants for partridge berries Here are some plants that are excellent with partridge berry plants: ferns, hostas, trillium, and mosses work best with partridge berry plants, as they need a dark, wet place.

Periwinkle - Vinca minor - TN Nursery

Periwinkle Plant

Periwinkle is a perennial vine and a low-growing, evergreen ground cover plant with glossy green leaves and small, violet-blue flowers. It is often used to fill in garden spaces and control erosion. Incorporating it into landscaping offers many benefits that add beauty and functionality to outdoor spaces. This versatile ground cover brings lushness, adaptability, erosion control, low-maintenance care, and soft elegance to garden settings. Periwinkle - Vinca minor is famous for its blue flowers, and this flower is an excellent groundcover. Unlike some groundcovers, it proliferates without becoming invasive. Because of this, many home gardeners and landscape designers like to add this cheery flower to their landscape. Periwinkle Plant (Vinca Minor) Has Many Names It initially originated in central and southern Europe. Classified as a part of the dogbane family, this flower quickly spread to the Baltic States, the Netherlands, and the Caucasus. Today, it is grown around the world as a groundcover. Sometimes, people may refer to this groundcover by other common names, like creeping myrtle or myrtle. Periwinkle Plant Helps With Soil Erosion  Periwinkle Plant is truly a gardener’s delight. Its strong roots help to control soil erosion, and its trailing vines are full of glossy leaves. Because deer don’t usually like it, you don’t have to worry about it disappearing. Plus, it can handle some foot traffic, so it doesn’t get trampled easily. Because it is considered an evergreen, it will keep its glossy, green leaves in the winter. After you plant it, the vines will gradually spread over neighboring areas. While it mainly grows along the ground, this vine can sometimes get up to 16 inches tall. Unlike other vines, it never climbs or twines around trees or walls. Instead, you can enjoy having it as a permanent ground cover in your garden. The Periwinkle Plant Flowers Are Sure to Impress The most notable part of this vine is its flowers. They are typically created between early spring and the middle of summer. Sometimes, you will still notice a few flowers in autumn. All of the flowers have a violet-purple shade and a five-lobed corolla. On some species, you can even find white and pale purple flowers. Periwinkle Is A Drought Tolerant Groundcover With Periwinkle Plant, you will have an evergreen mat in your garden beds throughout the year. The flowers remain for many of spring and summer so that you can appreciate bright blue pops. Thanks to its rapid growth, you don’t have to wait long to see this lovely vine fill empty areas in your yard. Why is the Periwinkle Plant so garden-friendly  They are prized for their beautiful flowers that are available year round and are pink, purple, white or blue. Not only are they maintenance free but they can tolerate most soils and climates.  Can periwinkles grow in shaded areas?  Yes, periwinkles do well in shaded and partially shaded conditions. That is why they are well suited for filling in under trees or any other location where other plants can barely grow.  How do I care for my Periwinkle Plant  Periwinkles require a little care. Water them occasionally, and the soil should be drained well. They are very hardy and, as such, ideal for growers with little experience as well as for the experienced ones.  Are periwinkles good for ground cover?  Periwinkle grows and spreads rapidly to form a dense green blanket on the ground, which makes it excellent for controlling soil erosion and smothering weeds in gardens.  Does Periwinkle Plant bloom all year round  In warm climates, periwinkles can flower almost all year round, offering constant beauty. They are a rewarding and reliable option for your landscape.

Goat's Beard Plant - TN Nursery

Goat's Beard Plant

Goat's Beard Plant is recognized for its feathery plumes of small, creamy-white flowers atop tall, upright stems and fern-like foliage, which add a graceful touch to gardens and landscapes. It is a charming and beneficial type with several advantages in landscaping projects. This perennial belongs to the Rosaceae family and is admired for its striking plume-like flowers and attractive foliage. One of the primary benefits of incorporating it into landscaping is its captivating appearance. The whimsical, fun aesthetic of the Goat's Beard Plant makes it a lively contribution to any landscape. It is a welcome addition to any home or commercial garden, with striking fern-like foliage reminiscent of a goat's beard. Goat's Beard Plant (Aruncus dioicus) Is Easy To Plant Landscaping does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. By picking the right ones, you can easily enhance any landscape. Thanks to the fluff-like flair of this perennial flower, you can add a dash of eye-catching style to your lawn without the need for extensive digging or hardscaping. Scientifically known as Aruncus dioicus, this blossom is perfect for adding elegance, grandeur, and effortless sophistication to a garden. Goat's Beard Plant Can Reach 6 Feet Tall With an impressive height of 3-6 feet, the Arancus dioicus gives your garden an earthy, magical feel. Its flowers bloom in a rich cream color on groups of clustered branches; though delicate, they are unmistakable and sure to capture anyone's attention as they stroll through your garden. On a sunny evening in summer, these flowers, often called bride's feathers, boast plume-like foliage that sway in the breeze. You'll usually find them growing in woodland areas, forests, and meadows. For gardeners dreaming of a natural, wild feel for their landscape, this is a marvelous addition to their botanical collection. Attract Pollinators With Goat's Beard  In addition to their gorgeous blossoms, these flowers also sport strong sets of leaves that range from large to small, raising the stem and creating visual depth and fullness. Grouped, these flowers can form a gorgeous family of blossoms that enhance any landscape. Partnered with other flowers, particularly those in vibrant blue, orange, and pink hues, they are breathtaking features in any scenery. Goat's Beard Plant Blooms May To June Goat's Beard Plant flowers bloom from May through June, offering a beautiful display of plush, airy blossoms. Easy to grow and maintain, they are often popular among gardeners who like meadow-inspired flora and have large spaces they wish to fill with native species. Does a Goat's Beard Plant Grow Fast  The goat's beard plant grows relatively fast, especially when grown under the right conditions. It usually takes 2-3 years to grow into maturity, after which it develops pretty foliage and magnificent plumes of white flowers when in bloom.  Where is the best place to plant a goat's beard plant?  Goat's beard does great in part to full shade and prefers rich, moist soils that are well-draining. It is great for woodland gardens or shaded borders.  What Is The Lifespan Of A Goat's Beard Plant  Proper care of a goat's beard assures it can survive for several years, often lasting about 10-15 years or even more. The plant grows year after year, which means that it will make a lasting impression in your yard.  Should I prune the goat's beard plant?  Trimming is not required, but if done, it will ensure that the plant assumes the right shape and supports growth.  How To Maintain A Goat's Beard Plant  Goat's beard can be grown by watering it when the conditions are dry and applying a layer of organic material over the top to help the soil retain moisture. Frequent but light feeding is recommended in spring.

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