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'Lady Rebecca Staunton' |
FALL SALE!
30% OFF
All potted daylilies, hosta, and peonies in our garden center!
Through September
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Plant of the Month |
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Hydrangea paniculata
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Hydrangea
Beautiful shrubs for the Garden!!
Old-fashioned Grandeur Hydrangeas have been garden favorites for many years and understandably so! The diversity found in this family of flowering shrubs is impressive. They are usually grown for their large clusters of showy summer flowers but their value in the landscape goes well beyond their beautiful blooms!
The Five Types There are five different types of hydrangea and each has it's own unique characteristics. Most thrive in full sun or part shade and they prefer moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter to perform their best. For pruning purposes, it is VERY important that you know which type(s) you have in your garden - so SAVE the LABELS! See our 'Tip of the Month' for pruning methods.
Hydrangea arborescens - A wonderful species that includes the popular cultivar 'Annabelle' which produces huge white flowers up to 10" across. These hardy hydrangeas bloom from June - August and grow 3'-5' tall. This species prefers partial shade. The flowers are excellent for drying and using in fall arrangements. Zones 4-9. Watch Mark's video tips on growing 'Annabelle' and drying hydrangea flowers.
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Hydrangea 'Annabelle' at Viette's |
Hydrangea paniculata - This tall variety grows as a large, upright, spreading shrub or it can be developed into tree form through pruning. It produces large conical flower clusters from July to September and grows 10' - 25' tall. One of the most cold hardy types of hydrangea. Zones 3-8.
Watch Mark's video
tip on how to train
Hydrangea 'Tardiva' to tree form.
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Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'
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Hydrangea macrophylla - These are commonly grown hydrangeas that produce large
blooms on wood produced the previous year. This species includes the mophead hydrangeas with their huge round flower heads and the lacecap hydrangeas which bear round, flat clusters of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of showy open petals. The bloom color may be pink or blue depending on the pH of the soil they are grown in (blue in acidic soil, pink in basic or alkaline soil).
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Lacecap hydrangea
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The flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla are excellent for drying. This species is less hardy than the other species and in colder regions of Zone 6, they may grow well but not be "bloom hardy" meaning that the plant survives but never or rarely flowers because the flower buds are damaged during the winter. Protect the stems in winter by packing them with straw, tying them together, and wrapping them with burlap.
Recently,
several hardy reblooming cultivars have been developed from Hydrangea macrophylla.
These include
the Endless Summer Collection.
These shrubs bloom on both new and old wood and are hardy to Zone 4.
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Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' is a reblooming form of H. macrophylla
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Hydrangea quercifolia - Named for its deeply lobed oak-shaped leaves, Oakleaf hydrangea is noted for its brilliant deep reddish fall color. Large erect clusters of white flowers grace the shrub in summer with peak bloom in July. This species grows 4' - 8' tall and is hardy in Zones 5-9.
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Oakleaf hydrangea
Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
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Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris - This is a hardy climbing hydrangea which can reach up to 80' tall if left unpruned. The strong vines have attractive cinnamon brown bark and beautiful clusters of white flowers from June - July. They grow well on brick or stone walls, or on arbors and trellises. Zones 4-7.
Bottom Line These are amazing shrubs and every gardener should find a place for at least one or two in the garden! Come visit Viette's and see how magnificent these can be as mature specimens in the garden!
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Gardening Questions? |
Listen to Andre
on the radio every Saturday morning from 8:00-11:00 on
"In the Garden
with Andre Viette"
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Viette Discussion Board
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Visit our
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Tip of the Month |
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Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'
pruned to tree form
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Pruning Hydrangeas!
We always get a lot of questions on the radio, on our discussion board, and in our garden center about when is the correct time to prune hydrangeas. This is a great question because when and how you prune your hydrangeas can mean the difference between having multitudes of glorious blooms or . . .
no blooms at all!
The trick is knowing which of the five different types of hydrangea you have. So, when you plant,
be sure to save the label! That way, when it is time to prune, you can do it correctly without sacrificing the beautiful blooms.
Keep in mind that certain types of
H. macrophylla may never bloom for you if they are not bloom hardy in your area
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Tips for Pruning Hydrangeas
Even though there are
five different types of hydrangea, each of these falls into one of two pruning groups, based mostly on whether they bloom on wood produced in the current year (new wood) or wood produced in the previous year (old wood).
Pruning Group 1
This group includes the species that
bloom on old wood -
Hydrangea macrophylla (aka. mophead, lacecap, bigleaf, hortensia, or florist hydrangea) and
Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea).
- Flower buds of these hydrangea are formed in August through October depending on the species.
- These hydrangea do not necessarily require annual pruning.
- Prune these, if needed, right as the flowers begin to fade usually in mid-summer.
- To be safe, DO NOT prune them after July.
- For mature established shrubs, the regular removal of 20% of the oldest stems (cut at soil level) will keep the plant vigorous and blooming well with larger flowers. Do this in the spring.
- Deadheading or removing the spent blooms can be done continuously through the season.
- Some evidence indicates that leaving old blooms on the plant through the winter may help protect the tender buds below them. In colder areas, consider leaving them and removing them in the spring after the shrub breaks dormancy.
- Dead and damaged stems should be removed whenever they are noticed.
- Oakleaf hydrangea does not require annual pruning and should be pruned mainly to remove dead or damaged stems or to limit its height.
- Watch Mark's video tip on "Why Hydrangeas Don't Flower"
Pruning Group 2
This group includes the species that
bloom on new wood -
Hydrangea arborescens (smooth hydrangea),
Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle or PeeGee Hydrangea),
Hydrangea anomala ssp.
petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea), and reblooming varieties of
H. macrophylla such as the 'Endless Summer' Series.
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Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' |
- These species of hydrangea produce flower buds on the current season's growth about one or two months before they bloom.
- In general, these can be pruned after they finish blooming up until they begin producing flower buds in the spring; i.e., fall, winter, or early spring.
- H. paniculata does not require annual pruning except to remove wayward branches and stems. This species can be developed into a single or multi-stemmed tree by maintaining just the desired number of stems/trunks and pruning out all but the upper branches. It can also be cut back to 18" - 24" from the ground to rejuvenate it or to limit its size.
- H. arborescens cultivars such as 'Annabelle' can be pruned to the ground in the fall or late winter before active growth begins in spring. This promotes large flowers! If your Annabelle hydrangea tends to flop over from the weight of the flowers, try pruning to 18" - 24" rather than cutting them to the ground. This will allow the stems to thicken and provide stronger support for the large blooms. Watch Mark's video tip on pruning Hydrangea 'Annabelle'.
- Reblooming types such as 'Endless Summer' can be deadheaded throughout the season to encourage continuous bloom.
- Climbing hydrangea requires little pruning except to limit its growth to the space you have. Early spring or in summer after flowering is the best time to prune this species.
- Dead or damaged stems should always be removed whenever they are noticed.
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August Lectures at Viette's
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Join us at the farm for these informative lectures ...
Saturday, September 19 at 1:30 pm
Gardening in the Fall
If you think that just because it's September, the "flower show" is over, think again! You won't believe how many plants are still looking great and how much color there still is in the garden. Plan for fall color through foliage, flowers, and berries. Use ornamental grasses and hardy mums to give a real feeling of fall. Andre will introduce you to some other wonderful fall blooming perennials and add a little color to your life this fall!
Free lecture
Saturday, September 26 at 1:30 pm
Techniques of Plant Propagation
A wonderful fall hands-on workshop! Plant propagation is an exciting, self-satisfying, and money saving activity! Learn how to landscape your property using your own plants. Mark will teach you the best methods for many different plants including techniques of dividing, taking cuttings, layering, and seeding.
Take home loads of plant divisions! A propagating demonstration tour is included.
Please pre-register by calling 800-575-5538;
$30 fee, two for $50
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From the Viette's Views Blog ...
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Speaking of Goldenrod ...
From the Viette's Views Archives
09-07-2011
As summer comes to a close and the beautiful fall season is upon us, I am enjoying the last blooms of our daylilies,
Coreopsis, hardy hibiscus, and summer phlox. But fall doesn't spell the end of color in the perennial garden. I am eagerly looking forward to the late blooms of
Helianthus, goldenrods, chrysanthemums, sedums, and Japanese anemones.
Read more ...
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A Few Tips for September |
Now that the hot summer days are almost over, it's time to enjoy the garden again.
Extend Your Gardening Season
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Helianthus salicifolius produces masses of vibrant yellow blooms.
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Go out and take a look at your garden - are the blooms fading away? Is the cheerful color of summer disappearing? Maybe your garden needs a face lift!
Now's the time to add some fall dazzle!
September is one of the best times to plant trees, shrubs, and of course, perennials!
Fall Blooms
For your sunny area, the golden petals and deep brown centers of
Helianthus and the
Rudbeckia varieties give you rich, earthy color through the month of October.
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Colorful
Echinacea varieties
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Add some of the
Echinacea cultivars for large, vibrant splashes of purple-red, orange, yellow, and white. Then there are the many varieties of our old favorites, the
Asters, in their vivid purples, pinks, and blues; the
Sedums, with their large, handsome blooms and interesting succulent foliage; the beautiful blue-gray, aromatic foliage of
Perovskia with its graceful spikes of silvery-blue flowers; and the beautiful cobalt blue blooms and contrasting red fall foliage of
Ceratostigma (Plumbago).
Add a Garden Showpiece
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Crape myrtles come in all sizes and bloom colors. |
If you need a large "centerpiece" for your fall garden, consider the spectacular
hardy Hibiscuswith its huge, colorful flowers or the long-blooming
butterfly bush,
Buddleia davidii, with beautiful flowers in many shades of purple, pink, and white that will continue to
attract flocks of beautiful butterflies until frost. An excellent specimen tree or shrub for the fall garden is
crape myrtle,
Lagerstroemia indica. This exceptional deciduous ornamental has a long blooming season of showy flowers, a stunning fall season of blooms and colorful foliage, and a winter season of dramatic architectural beauty highlighted by distinctive cinnamon-colored exfoliating bark. What more could you ask for?
Fall Color for the Shade
For the shade garden, you must try
Anemone japonica and
hardy begonia,
Begonia grandis! What wonderful late blooming perennials to compliment your
Hosta,
Astilbe, and other shade loving favorites.
Color From Foliage
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Sourwood tree dons brilliant red autumn foliage. |
Don't forget the perennials which have such colorful foliage that they know no one season. Enhance the border garden with the beautiful red foliage of some of the new
Heuchera varieties or the striking peach colored foliage of
Heuchera 'Caramel'. The silvery
Artemisia adds a softness to the stronger colors of Asters,
Echinacea, and other perennials. The beautiful dwarf shrub,
Spiraea 'Gold Flame', turns from fiery gold in spring to a dazzling red, copper, and orange in the fall.
Sourwood,
Oxydendrum arboreum, turns a brilliant scarlet in the fall. It is a lovely understory tree to add to your landscape.
So many others ... Visit the gardens at Viette's or a public garden or arboretum near you to get more great ideas!
Don't miss Andre's talk, "The Garden in Fall" on Saturday, September 19th at 1:30 PM
Dividing and Transplanting ...
Not only is September a great time for planting, it is also a great time to divide many perennials because the warm soil, increased likelihood of rain, and fewer insect and disease related problems combine to make perfect growing conditions for your new divisions. New roots will grow all winter and, come spring, will be strong enough to support lush new top growth. These divisions, supplemented with new perennials, can be used to create a new bed or to extend an existing garden.
When transplanting and/or dividing perennials that are already planted in the garden, you will want to cut the foliage back so the plant's energy can be directed to the roots instead of to the foliage and flowers. It will also reduce water loss through the leaves.
Always water deeply every 7-10 days after transplanting until the new plants have become established. Apply a 2"-3" cover of mulch after planting (except for peonies and tall bearded iris).
In general, fall blooming perennials like Chrysanthemums, Japanese anemones, ornamental grasses, and asters should be divided in the early spring before they begin growth.
Don't miss Mark's Plant Propagation Workshop
on Saturday, September 26th at 1:30PM!
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Travel with Andre and Claire Viette in 2016!
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Budapest on the banks of the Danube
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The Imperial Gardens
and Treasures Tour
September 18 - October 1, 2016
Featuring the Imperial worlds of the
German and Austro-Hungarian Empires
Visit Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany
Tour highlights include:
Budapest - Enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful city on the Danube; visit a botanical garden; spend a day in the Puszta - land of the Hungarian cowboys and be treated to an equestrian show and gypsy music
Vienna - From Budapest, we will travel up the Danube by hydrofoil boat to Vienna where you will see the famous Lipizzaner Stallions, the
Schönbrunn Gardens, and enjoy a concert of Strauss and Mozart at the
Schönbrunn Palace
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Cruising on Berlin's River Spree
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Prague - We then travel north to Prague by way of the scenic Wachau Valley. Tour Prague, its famous castle, the Charles Bridge, and magnificent gardens. End the day with a three-hour cruise on the Vltava River!
Berlin - On the way to Berlin, we will stop at the city of Dresden. In Berlin, relax on a cruise on the River Spree, enjoy a candlelight dinner and concert at the Charlottenburg palace, and take a walking tour of Berlin. You can even opt to join Andre and Claire on a visit to the largest private botanical garden in Europe.
Andre will give a series of gardening presentations throughout the trip.
Space is limited to 42 persons so this trip will fill up fast!
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