Year-Round Color in the Garden

The Symphony of Perennials

Perennials serve as the backbone of a year-round garden. These steadfast performers return each year, growing in beauty and stature. With their dependable nature, they offer a slew of benefits:

The Annual All-Stars

Annuals spark excitement in the garden, bringing quick and colorful life to beds, borders, and containers. Their unique advantages include:

• Immediate Impact: Annuals grow quickly and bloom profusely, providing instant color and filling in gaps between perennial blooms.
• Seasonal Flexibility: They allow for the garden’s theme to be changed each year, offering endless variety and the opportunity to experiment with new plants.
• Extended Blooms: Many annuals will continue to bloom for the majority of the growing season, from early spring until the first frost.

Foliage that Flourishes

Plants with colorful foliage are essential for adding depth and texture to the garden. They keep the garden lively when blooms are scarce and provide a contrast to the floral display.

Designing for Year-Round Color

Planning your plantings carefully is essential to achieving a garden that’s a year-round feast for the eyes. Visit our garden center in April, July, November, and January to see what’s in bloom and what foliage stands out. Take note of the plants that catch your eye with their blooms or foliage, and plan your garden to include these elements across different seasons. Incorporate a balance of perennials for stability and annuals for seasonal color changes. Weave in plants with attractive foliage to ensure the garden never loses its luster. Beyond color, consider the texture and shape of foliage and blooms to add interest and movement to your garden.

With a thoughtfully designed garden that includes the reliable beauty of perennials, the seasonal flair of annuals, and colorful foliage, gardeners in Northeast Florida can enjoy a living space that offers beauty every day of the year. By leveraging the unique growing conditions of our region, you can create a garden that not only reflects personal style but also promotes a healthy, sustainable, and colorful ecosystem right in your own backyard

Before and After Backyard: Crafting a Year-Round Paradise in Your Backyard

Fiery Brilliance in a Pot

Discover our April combo 'Hot Spring Mix', a colorful arrangement that captures the essence of the season's warmth.

Centered around the bold Cuphea Sweet Talk Red, this recipe showcases a play of colors and textures. Flanking this eye-catching thriller are the dazzling Calibrachoa Super Bells Double Redstone®, contributing an extra layer of rich, velvety reds. For the perfect balance, the Gaillardia Spintop Orange Halo adds a splash of orange, reminiscent of a sunset, blending beautifully as a filler. Completing this fiery combo is the cascading Sweet Potato Vine Gold, whose chartreuse leaves elegantly spill over the container's edge. This 'Hot Spring Mix' is ideal for anyone looking to add a burst of color to their outdoor or indoor spaces.

1. Cuphea Sweet Talk Red: A novel variety in the Cuphea family, this plant stands as the centerpiece with its striking red blossoms. Known for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies, it's a visual treat and a haven for garden wildlife.
2. Calibrachoa Super Bells Double Redstone®: A new color introduction from Proven Winners, this plant boasts double blooms that resemble miniature petunias. Its deep red flowers are a visual delight and maintain their vibrancy throughout the season.
3. Gaillardia Spintop Orange Halo: This filler plant is celebrated for its daisy-like flowers, which feature a vivid orange-yellow coloration with a distinct orange halo at the center. It's a hardy perennial that brings a burst of cheerfulness to any garden setting.
4. Sweet Potato Vine Gold: As the spiller in this garden recipe, it features heart-shaped, golden-yellow leaves that gracefully drape over the container. This vine is not only known for its ornamental value but also for its rapid growth, quickly filling spaces with its lush foliage.

Creating the perfect lawn in Jacksonville, Florida, is an art that combines science, dedication, and a deep understanding of the essential nutrients required for lawn health. Learn more about the major and minor elements needed for fertilization and their unique roles.

Major Elements of Fertilization

The Big Three: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium

Minor Elements in Fertilization

These might be minor, but their impact is anything but!

Iron (Fe):

• Keeps your lawn looking vividly green.
• Essential for chlorophyll, preventing yellowing.

Magnesium (Mg):

• A core component of chlorophyll, integral for photosynthesis.
• Aids in carbohydrate metabolism.

Calcium (Ca):

• Crucial for strong cell walls, aiding in root and shoot growth.
• Enhances nutrient uptake.

Sulfur (S):

• Integral for amino acids, proteins, and vitamins.
• Supports chlorophyll synthesis.

Manganese (Mn):

• Involved in photosynthesis and root development.
• A key player in nitrogen metabolism.

Zinc (Zn):

• Vital for enzyme activity and healthy root development.
• Regulates plant hormones.

Copper (Cu):

• Plays a role in photosynthesis and overall metabolism.
• Important for lignin formation.

Boron (B):

• Essential for cell wall formation and carbohydrate transport.
• Influences flower and fruit development.

A thriving lawn in Jacksonville combines these major and minor elements, each playing its unique part. Understanding and balancing these nutrients can transform your lawn into a lush, healthy, and resilient green space, the envy of your neighborhood! Remember, a little knowledge goes a long way in lawn care. Happy gardening! 🌱🌿🍃

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Earth Works Gardens | earthworksjax.com |996-0712 | 12501 Beach Blvd.