Winter is the perfect time to think about spring, the garden, and new plants to add to your mix. But how does one choose from all the varieties that are available? First and for most, consider your light conditions – not only is it sun or shade, but when is it sunny? Morning sun is very different from afternoon sun which is very different from all-day sun. Then I suggest looking to plants that are long-flowering or strong performers in the garden. The best place to look is at the lists of award-winning plants. Following are this year’s winners. 

PERENNIAL OF THE YEAR
It’s always exciting to see which perennial is chosen by the members of the Perennial Plant Association. This year’s is a darling in the full-sun to part-shade garden – Stachys ‘Hummelo’. It’s pretty magenta wands dance above compact mounds of attractive foliage. And though deer find it distasteful, pollinators find it irresistible. ‘Hummelo’ looks best when planted in drifts with ornamental grasses, Echinacea and Helenium. 

Tracy Hankwitz
Horticulturist and general manager of Burlington Garden Center where you’ll find most of these award-winning plants this spring. 
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​GIVE A LIVING GIFT
Unique plants for the Holidays
 
Plants make people happy - even at Christmas. As the outside world lies dormant in shades of browns, whites, and conifer greens, the sight of an indoor, living and growing plant gives the soul, not only pleasure, but hope. And though there is nothing wrong with the traditional  poinsettia which is a commonly given, the following are thoughtful and unique plants for decorating and gifting.
 
Paperwhites
Paperwhites (shown above) are related to the spring-flowering daffodils, but their flowers are dainty, white, and not hardy here in Wisconsin. Use the bulbs to create a natural centerpiece for your holiday table by forcing them into bloom. Paperwhite bulbs need no chilling and will grow quickly, blooming in 3-4 weeks. Plant them now in a shallow container and surround with preserved moss and pine cones for a conversation starter at Christmas dinner.
 
‘Ziva’ is the most common paperwhite, but its fragrance can be too intense for some. ‘Inbal’ is a sweeter-smelling option, but if you want a very unique paperwhite, then ‘Wintersun’ is the one to grow. Instead of pure white, it is white with a yellow cup and has the sweetest fragrance of the three. Paperwhites are easy to grow in soil, but can also be placed in a glass container with pebbles and water. Once they are showing an inch of green leaves, use a 1:20 mix of alcohol to water to keep them from growing too tall.  

 
 

​Closely related to ‘La Paz’, Evergreen Amaryllis has a lime green throat that flares out to slender, white petals. There are usually eight flowers per bulb that bloom at various times extending the season. ‘Evergreen’ has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
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When you gift these bulbs full of potential loveliness, you are giving the best gift possible: the gift of life, hope, and the pure joy of watching something grow.
 
Tracy Hankwitz is a horticulturist and the general manager of Burlington Garden Center where you'll find these and other unique bulbs while supplies last. ​

Gloves - Hestra makes some of the best gloves for working with wet leaves, cleaning up the garden, and digging in the soil. 

The World's Greatest Rake is worth investing in! The 20 tines are flexible (aka they won't get all wonky) and it's moderate size makes it easy to handle. 

Fertilome's Tree & Shrub Systemic Insect Drench - apply now to protect your woody plants from insects for up to 12 months. If you had Japanese beetles eating birch trees, roses, and other ornamentals, this product is the solution! It's easy to apply: mix in a watering can and pour at the base of the plant. No spraying! 

Collapsible Container - everyone needs this handy helper - a pop-up tidy for leaves and garden debris. Available in two sizes. 

This cool, autumn air spurs us on to begin to put the garden to bed. As we cut back, clean up, and harvest one more time, we can also be planting. Now is the best time to plant garlic. 

Why plant in the fall? The advantages to planting in the fall are huge - as in huge bulbs next August when they are harvested. The extra time they spend in the ground now allows roots to develop longer producing larger cloves for next year. Garlic also needs 30-60 days of cool weather for the single clove to form into a bulb with many cloves. Planting in the fall guarantees the cloves plenty of time to multiply.  

Try one of these varieties hard neck varieties:
Spanish Roja is famous for it's flavor. This purple streaked variety produces 7-13 easy to peel cloves. It's one of the best for our climate. 

Early Italian Purple is a purple striped large bulb with many cloves. It does well in cold winters and hot summers. 

Italian Late is a silver skin variety. The cloves are plump and round with extra tight skin that makes it good for storage. It matures later than other varieties. 

German Red garlic is a large bulb with 8-12 cloves that are easy to peel. It has a strong, hot spicy flavor. 

​​Fall is the time to purchase spring-flowering bulbs and tuck them in the ground. In fact, if you are planting perennials now, throw a handful of bulbs in the same hole. Work smarter, not harder. And a final thought: just as a fine wine paired with the right entree provides a pleasurable dining experience, planting thoughtful combinations of bulbs and perennials can give your garden a well-designed look.
 
Tracy Hankwitz
Horticulturist and General Manager of Burlington Garden Center
www.burlingtongardencenter.com

Asparagus is one of the first vegetables in spring to grace our kitchen tables. An asparagus patch can be productive for 15 years or more if well-tended so why not plant your own bed of this delightful edible.

You will need:
* asparagus crowns (males are preferred)
* sunny spot
* composted manure
* shovel 

Asparagus is usually planted by crowns from mid-April to late May after the soil has warmed up to about 50 degrees. Male varieties like 'Jersey Knight' are better producers because they expend all their energy into producing a tender, abundant crop instead of producing seed. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil on the north or west side of the garden where it can remain undisturbed.

Dig a furrow about 6-8 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Add a layer of composted cow manure for a slow-release fertilizer. Place the crowns 1 ½ feet apart in the furrow on top of the manure. Rows should be spaced five feet apart to promote air circulation which will help prevent the spread of fungal diseases.
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Cover crowns with two inches of soil, gradually adding more soil through the growing season until the furrow has been filled. Spears should emerge within one week in moist soils. Asparagus should not be harvested the first year and sparingly the second year. Let the spears develop into ferns which will help produce food for next year’s crop. The ferny foliage also has ornamental value and looks attractive when interplanted with the bright colors of zinnias or the soft pastels of cosmos. 

RECIPE FOR CREAMY ASPARAGUS
2 c. water
2 lbs. asparagus
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 T. flour
2 T. butter
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. parsley
2 T. vinegar
1 tsp. dill
8 oz. sour cream

Cook asparagus; saute onion and butter. Add next 4 ingredients. Gradually add broth. Add parsley, vinegar, and dill. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Reduce heat and whisk in sour cream. Serve at room temperature. 


ASPARAGUS WITH PENNE & TOMATOES

5 garlic cloves, minced       1 pt. cherry tomatoes                        Salt to taste
¼ cup olive oil                       1 T. fresh oregano, chopped             ¼ c. shredded parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter            ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes                     ½ lb. penne pasta, cooked, drained
1 pound fresh asparagus
In a skillet, sauté garlic in oil and butter for 2-3 minutes. Cut asparagus into 1 ½ -inch lengths and cook in skillet for 5 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt; cook until heated through. Add parmesan cheese and mix well. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

The Soil & it’s Amendments
‘I find that a real gardener is not one who cultivates flowers;
but one who cultivates the soil.’ Karel Kapek
 
            When to Work the Soil & When to Plant
One of the easiest ways to know when the soil is ready to be worked is by doing the simple ball test:
form a ball of soil in your hand, then press your thumb into it. If it breaks apart, the soil is ready to be worked. If the ball of soil does not break apart, the soil is too wet, so waiting a little long is best. 

Another common mistake among anxious gardeners is to plant before the soil is warm enough. Some seeds will germinate in soil temperatures of 60 degrees (like peas). Other seeds, like pumpkin and squash, need warmer soil temperatures of 80 degrees to germinate. The best way to know when the soil is warm enough is to use a soil thermometer - it takes the guesswork out . A soil temperature chart is also helpful as it lists crops and their optimal temperature ranges for germination. 

Click here for your free chart!

Soil Amendments
Soil pH is probably the most important factor in how well a plant will grow. If the pH is out of wack, then plant roots are unable to break down nutrients in the soil and make them available for the plant to absorb. Our soils in southeastern Wisconsin are naturally alkaline, so adding lime to the soil before planting is not necessary. Most likely soil will need to be amended with sulfur or peat moss in order to lower the pH, but rather than guess how much, a simple soil test should be done. You can do this yourself with a pH tester available here at Burlington Garden Center. If you want a more exact analysis, then a soil test can be taken and mailed away and analyzed for a cost. Ask us for information and a free envelope if you want to pursue this. 

How to achieve the best soil? Once you know that the pH is in line with the crop you are growing, the next best thing you can do is feed the soil. By feeding the soil, in essence, you are feeding your plants. In fact, by adding organic matter, your soil becomes more alive with microbes that break down nitrogen - which is necessary in order for plants to use it and grow healthy green leaves.

Adding organic material in the form of compost is the best way to feed the soil. If you have a compost pile, add compost to the soil in the fall or in the early spring.  If you don't make your own compost, then here are a few we recommend:

Leaf compost
(nature's black gold)

Nature's Blend w/Alfalfa & Humates
(a wonderful mix of cottonburr compost, cow manure, alfalfa, and humates)

Mushroom compost
(use every 3 years to avoid a build up of salts)

Chicken or cow manure
(aged for a year is best)

Cotton burr compost
(not only is this a great soil amendment, but many gardeners use it as a mulch around their perennials)

Worm Castings
(are another good source of microbial activity) 

All of the above amendments are available here at BGC. Remember, healthy plants begin with healthy soil. Let us know how we can help you make this year your best year growing in the garden. And in the spirit of Mr. Craven "When you see a bit of earth you want,. . . take it, and make it come alive.”

- Tracy Hankwitz
BGC General Manager & Horticulturist

Basic Steps to Growing Wildflowers


1. Decide what to plant
      If you want color the first year, choose a mix that contains annual flower varieties. Perennials will bloom the second year from seed. For lots of color, sow the heavier recommended amount. 

2. Where  and when will you plant?
      Most wildflower seed mixes require a site that receives at least six hours of sun.  Sow in spring when the soil has warmed - mid to late May and into early June. 

3. Clean and prep your site
     Remove existing vegetation, then till shallow or loosen soil with a rake or hoe for good seed-soil contact. On sloped areas use a mat for erosion control.  

4. Sowing tips
     It is best to sow wildflower seeds with a carrier like sand. Milorganite works even better! Mix approximately one handful of seed with one quart of carrier. Lightly rake the seed in not covering more than 1/8" to 1/4". Keep area moist for several weeks until most seeds germinate. 

5. First year care
     Seedlings will emerge in 2-3 weeks. You'll see flowers in 6-10 weeks. If it has become a weed patch by mid-summer, mow with the deck set at the highest setting before weeds set seed. During dry spells, water deeply every two weeks. After the flowers have set seed in the fall, mow at 4-6" to scatter the seed. Do this only the first fall. 
     

A fresh snow brings the landscape to life. Statuary and other garden ornamentation can add character and charm to a rather bland palette. In the photo above, taken a couple snowfalls ago, a lilac and hydrangeas dance around a young birch while a statue of Hebe watches in the background. The heart filigree in the wrought iron fence offers it's own beauty to the winterscape.   

Cold and flu season is upon us as are long stretches of sunless days. To fight off illness and depression, take an active approach to cultivate natural remedies into your lifestyle. Following are a few suggestions:
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Houseplants
Surround yourself with green medicine - houseplants.  All indoor plants have the ability to purify the air to a certain degree, but some are more beneficial than others, removing up to 90% of toxins from the air. By adding a 10-12” size plant for every 100 square feet in your home, it will make a difference.  Try these easy-to-grow plants for starters.

• Aloe vera (has healing properties)
• Dracena varieties (do well in low light)
• Golden Pothos (one of the top three most effect houseplants)
• English Ivy (good for those with asthma and allergies)
• Snake plant (does well in low light and little water)
• Philodendron (another in the top three)

​Herbs
Another plant family known for its health benefits is herbs. Used in teas and essential oils, these natural remedies are worth learning more about. For example, did you know peppermint can soothe headaches, relieve sinus pressure, and calm an upset stomach? Lemongrass aids digestion, regulates high blood pressure, and helps cold symptoms. Lavender, marjoram, sage, garlic, ginger . . . the list goes on. Start planning which ones you will grow this year. 

Playing in the soil
As you pot up those herbs and houseplants, you will probably notice a lift in your spirits. Recent studies have shown that soil bacteria can act as antidepressants, boost immune systems, and increase learning abilities. So digging in the dirt is an act of wellness, too. Growing your own vegetables is another way to increase exposure to those beneficial soil bacteria as they may be contained in the food – that’s a good thing!
 
Whether you take a houseplant to the office, end the day with a cup of herbal tea, explore the use of essential oils, or just play in the dirt, make this a year of cultivating wellness the natural way. Start by attending our Gardeners' Retreat on Saturday, February. 17 where the focus is this very topic! Learn more at www.burlingtongardencenter.com. 
 
Tracy Hankwitz
Horticulturist and General Manager of Burlington Garden Center

Perennial of the Year - Allium 'Millenium'

The ornamental onion has long been used in the garden for it's whimsical purple globe-shaped flowers. Though it shares the same family name as the common chives, most ornamental onions used in the landscape are sterile and will not spread prolifically by seed. From the hundreds of Allium varieties, the Perennial Plant Association has named A. 'Millenium' as the 2018 Perennial of the Year.  Developed by Mark McDonough, fondly known as the onion man, 'Millenium' has neat and tidy mounds of shiny, deep green foliage. In mid summer, a profusion of rose-pink globes will attract butterflies to your yard. Alliums in general are deer and rabbit resistant, love the sun, and mix well with other perennials and ornamental grasses. 

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Color in the landscape at this time of year can be a rather limited palette. Various shades of white (depending how dirty the snow is) mix with shades of brown and gray. No wonder we look forward to spring when the earth teems forth with life-giving greens and a Crayola box of color. While we wait, it's encouraging to look at the hues that have been chosen as Pantone's colors for 2018.

​As a gardener and manager of a garden center, imagine my delight at the color of the year selected by Pantone: ultra violet. Purple has a regal and majestic meaning to it, but ultra violet was chosen to reflect "originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking" according to Pantone VP, Laurie Pressman.  "It leans more to blue than red and that speaks to thoughtfulness, a mystical quality, a spiritual quality."

Hmmmm . . . thoughtful, mystical, and spiritual sound great, but what if you just like the color purple? For those of you kindred lovers of all things purple, here is a sampling of new perennials and annuals to add to your garden in spring:

‘Pikes Peak Purple’ Penstemon x mexicali is a hummingbird magnet! The tall spikes of grape-colored, nectar-rich flowers bloom throughout summer. This adaptable and versatile Plant Select® winner will reach 3 ft. tall when flowering, 2 to 3 ft. wide, and is hardy in zones 4-7.

Will we see more originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking as the year unfolds? Will ultra violet live up to its expectations?  Let’s be positive and hope that it does. At least we know it will in the garden. 
 
Tracy Hankwitz
Horticulturist and General Manager of Burlington Garden Center
 
For more 2018 Pantone colors, visit pantone.com . ​

Every spring we try to offer new varieties of petunias, geraniums, and other annuals. This spring is no exception. Read on as we share which annuals we are excited about this spring. 
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Lady in Red (Athyrium)
•Tolerates dry soil as well as full sun in moist soil
• Grows 18-30” tall
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Pair the Japanese Painted Fern with the glossy, broad leaves of Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense), a groundcover for the shade. 
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Wake Up the Garden
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Burlington Garden Center
What to do in the garden in March & April to get your garden off to a great start and save time later.
 
Vegetable Garden

• Clean off beds if you didn’t do it in the fall.
• Do a soil test.
• Add a layer of compost and other amendments. When soil is ready to work, turn amendments under and work in a slow-release fertilizer at the same time.
• Start pepper seeds (April 1) and tomato seeds (April 15) indoors.
• Plant asparagus roots mid April.
• Rhubarb: divide in mid April; spread well-rotted manure around plants.
• Activate the compost pile (April).

 
Perennial Beds

• Cut back any stems and seed heads left for winter interest.
• Cut back ornamental grasses before they green up.
• Pull weeds as soon as they appear.
• Apply pre-emergent to control weed seeds.
• Divide/transplant in April. Amend the soil as you go. We recommend Nature's Blend with Alfalfa & Humates.
• Watch for heaving crowns on Heuchera (Coral Bells). Mulch them or set them back into the soil.

 
Trees & Shrubs

• Prune non-spring blooming shrubs now before they leaf out.
• Cut back spirea and potentilla down to 6”.
• Annabelle Hydrangeas can be cut back to 18” from the ground.
• Fertilize trees and shrubs in March before growth begins.
• Plant new trees and shrubs in April when soil is workable.

 
Fruit Trees

• Check the base of trees for signs of vole/rabbit damage.
• Fertilize late March/early April before growth begins.
• Check plums and cherries for black knot by April 1 to prevent the release of spores. Disinfect pruners between cuts.
• Time to prune!
  • Remove broken, crossed, damaged branches.
  • Remove suckers and water sprouts.
• Begin spraying apple trees to prevent apple scab and other insects/diseases.
  • Spray dormant oil when temps are at least 40 degrees.

 
Lawn

• Rake lightly when soil isn’t wet.
• Seed/overseed lawns mid April to mid May.
• Apply crabgrass control when soil temps reach 52-55 degrees (do not use if you plant to seed the lawn).
• Wait until late May to fertilize.

Happy fall!  As we wait for autumn to put on it's magnificent show in full color, I've been contemplating the versatility of a rather common perennial - sedum. 

​Although found in almost every back yard, upright sedum, also known as border sedum, has so many things going for it. It is easy to grow and it is not demanding. The sedum family in general doesn't need much water or much of your time. It's easy to propagate, and transplants well.  It's a staple in the perennial garden, just hanging out rather unassumingly until fall, when it turns from lime green to shades of pink, red, and rust. This year I've begun to notice it more - appreciating it's clean, well-behaved habit in spring, admiring the lime green hue all summer, and enjoying it's transformation as it takes on it's fall color. 

One of my favorite compositions in my yard is in the photo below. I've been watching it all spring, summer, and now fall and am enjoying the changes in color with each season. Conifers, like this weeping blue spruce, is a good match for sedum. 'Coppertina' Ninebark, 'Shenandoah' Switch grass, 'Autumn Leaves' coral bells, and a pot of annuals complete the colorful scene. 

Lately there’s been a lot of buzz about pollinators. Over the last few years, awareness has grown of the important role they play in our daily lives. At the same time, we are seeing a decline in population due to many causes including the misuse of pesticides and loss of habitat.

Bees are the most well-known pollinators with honey bees, bumblebees, and mason bees topping the list. But there are approximately 4,000 different species of native bees that also pollinate our plants. In addition, birds, butterflies, and bats also carry pollen from one plant to another aiding in the pollination of 75-90% of flower and food crops. That calculates to one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat and beverages we drink is thanks to the work of pollinators. Think of that the next time you eat an apple, pepper, squash, or even chocolate. So knowing their importance as well as their struggles, what can we do to help the pollinators?

Enter the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. This nationwide call to action is designed to preserve and create garden spaces, big and small, that help revive the health of pollinators. Several non-profit organizations have formed the National Pollinator Garden Network and have a goal to register one million public and private gardens that support pollinators. You can be one of them!  Here’s how:
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-     Plant a Pollinator Garden. Use plants that provide nectar and pollen. A few that attract pollinators are asters, bee balm, butterfly weed, coneflower, lavender, and yarrow. Native perennials to grow are Joe Pye Weed, Liatris, and Penstemon.
-     Provide a water source.
-     Sunny areas with wind breaks.
-     Establish continuous blooms using perennials supplemented with annual flowers.
-     Plant a large area with native perennials and shrubs.
-     Minimize pesticide use.
-     Register your garden at www.millionpollinatorgardens.org.

From a small planted container on a balcony to a five acre field planted with plants for pollinators, each of us can ‘BEE one in a million’. All you need to get started is a list of pollinating plants and you're on your way!

Tracy Hankwitz
Horticulturist and Store Manager of  Burlington Garden Center