When you craft container arrangements, in order to be visually pleasing, it is important to include variation in height, color and form.  Ornamental grasses can be a great way to add height and texture to a container arrangement. There are several advantages to planting grasses in containers. When planted in the ground, grasses spread quickly and can often dominate a landscape. Grasses are easily reigned in when planted in containers. Grasses can also be planted beyond their zone tolerance when placed in containers. When the weather becomes too cold, simply move the containers into a sheltered area.  Or, plant the grasses as an annual.

Planting

Grasses are not too picky about their soil. However, care must be taken not to overwater the plants. Your container should provide adequate drainage and your potting media should allow water to move through without becoming very soggy. Regular potting soil, which is sold in garden stores should work.  Never use garden dirt in a container.  Water is essential when you pot the grasses, but after that grasses can be fairly drought tolerant. Always check the soil a few inches deep to make sure it is dry before you water. Also, make sure your container is large enough to accommodate the root ball with some room for growth.

Variety

There is an incredible variety in ornamental grasses. There are different colors of foliage, including red, green, silver, blue and striped. Height can range from a few inches to several feet. Some grasses mound and cascade while others stand erect. Many grasses put on a beautiful show in fall, with changing foliage and flower spikes.

Suggested Grasses

The University of Maryland Extension suggests  Juncus effuses, called ‘Quartz Creek’ as an excellent grass for containers in zones 4-10. This grass will complement any color combination with its green foliage and grows up to 2 feet tall.   Stipa tenuissima, or ‘Pony Tails’, will thrive in zones 6-10. The University of Maryland Extension describes Pony Tails as “graceful, breezy grass with soft feathery bright green foliage.” Its height ranges from 12 to 18 inches.

For deeper color, red fountain grass is suggested by about.com. Fountain grass will add shape, rounded height and color to a container arrangement. It is only hardy as a perennial in zones 9 and 10, but can be grown as an annual anywhere.

Garden Guides recommends Blue Oat Grass paired with burgundy colored cannas. The blue oat grass is hardy from zones 4-10. Its flowers appear in June and tower 1-2 feet above the foliage. The foliage is a metallic blue color, and the grass can grow 12-18 inches high.

These are just a few suggestions for varieties, there are many more possibilities.

Dividing

Depending on the hardiness in your zone, the grasses can be left outside in the winter or moved to a location that will not freeze. In early spring Maureen Gilmer, in an article for HGTV, suggests dividing the mass of roots using a spade. Make sure each section is large enough to plant and the dead portion in the middle is cut away. When repotted, the grasses will return as the weather warms up and you can enjoy them for another season.

Your Turn to Share

Grasses add variety and  elegance to any plantscape. Are there any varieties of ornamental grasses you like to use in containers? What do you like to pair with other flowers? Have you faced any challenges growing grasses in containers?

Photo “Ornamental Grasses” by Tanya Impeartrice

Easter is coming up next Sunday and many people celebrate spring by giving gifts of Easter Lilies or decorating their homes with Easter Lilies. They are prevalent in grocery stores, flower shops and nurseries. If you are wise about the lily you choose, and take good care of it, you can keep it in your home long after Easter and even plant it in your garden to enjoy for years to come. The Easter Lilly is rather hardy, and will survive in a number of planting zones. You can even plant Easter Lilly bulbs in containers and enjoy their blooms during the summer.

Selection

According to the Easter Lily Research Foundation, you should choose a plant that that has a variety of buds in differnt stages of progression. The Foundation states,

“For example, the best selection would be a plant with just one or two open or partially open blooms, and three or more puffy,  unopened buds of different sizes. The ripe puffy buds will open up within a few days, while the tighter ones will bloom over the next several days.”

They also caution to look for foliage that appears dark green and healthy all the way to the base of the plant.  You should also check the moisture level in the soil. Often, the lilies are overwatered. If the potting media in the container is soaking wet, the bulb and roots could already be rotting. This is especially true if the container is wrapped in a decorative foil. These foils prevent the water from draining causing the plant to remain too wet.

When you take your Easter Lily home, be sure to remove the decorative foil when you water the plant. The Easter Lily Research Foundation suggests removing the foil and holding the plant over the sink to water it. Allow the plant to drain a bit before replacing the foil. You can remove the flowers when they are spent, and keeping your plant in cooler temperatures 60-65 degrees will help it stay vibrant longer.

Planting

Once the plant is done flowering, and there is no longer any danger of frost in your area, you can plant the lily outside, in the ground. An article from the Sioux City Journal lays out a few steps for successfully planting your lily outside. First, cut off all of the remaining spent flowers. Next, plant the lily in a hole big enough for the bulb to have room to grow, then pile 2-3 inches of dirt on top of it, above the soil line. When the plant begins to turn brown, cut the lily down to the last green leaf. It is not likely that your lily will bloom again this first year, however you will probably see new foliage. In most cases the bulbs will produce new growth each year. If you live in a cold climate you will need to mulch on top of the bulbs to insulate them from the cold.

Easter Lilies are forced by growers to produce flowers in time for Easter. Naturally, the lilies bloom in June or July. When planted in the ground, look for new flowers during the summer instead of the spring.

Containers

Easter Lilies can also be grown in containers.  Garden Guides suggest that lilies be planted in the fall if you live in a mild climate and the spring if you live in a cold climate.  Lily bulbs are large and require large containers. Again, Garden Guides recommends using a 12 inch pot with a considerable amount of depth. When you fill your container with potting media, be sure to use something that allows drainage. Fill the container and place the bulb under the surface leaving two inches of space between the soil line and the lip of the container. Garden Guides encourages adding one layer of gravel top dressing and leaving once inch free. When growth begins to emerge in the spring they can be placed in indirect sunlight.

With just a little care, lilies can be enjoyed year after year and well beyond Easter. They can be planted in the ground, or containers and the bulbs repotted each year. Consider giving an Easter Lily to let someone know you care about them this spring!

 Photo “020e Glowing White”  courtesy of jjjj56cp

Indoor plantscapes generally improve air quality. However, the average business owner interested in indoor landscaping may have a few concerns regarding allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 1 in 5 Americans suffer some type of allergy. With this many people suffering from allergies, a business owner will want to make sure that their employees can work well in their environment and stay healthy. There are a few ways you can set their mind at ease.

Pollen

The first concern is pollen. It is unlikely that many of the plants used indoors will produce much pollen. Typically, indoor plants produce more foliage than flowers. Color variety can be created with unique leaves and bracts reducing exposure to pollen. The air cleaning benefits of these plants will far outweigh any potential problems with pollen. MedicineNet suggests avoiding the weeping fig and the flowering maple indoors, as these are two plants that can irritate allergies. Most tropical plants will not trigger allergies.

Mold

Most likely the biggest concern will be about mold. Mold is a common allergen for many people. Live plants need water to live, and anywhere there is water, there is potential for mold.  There are a few ways you can reduce the chance for mold to grow. The first precaution is to use containers that will not hold water in the container itself. For example, baskets should not be used as they can become damp and stay damp for a long time. Plastic and fiberglass can be easily dried with a cloth. Another precaution is to avoide top dressing that will hold water. Instead of using moss, consider using river rocks, or better yet, light weight plastic rocks. River Rockafillers will dry quickly reducing the risk of mold. They are also “green,” made from the recycled plastic of used DVDs and DVD cases.

Dust

Another concern for those who suffer from allergies is dust. Plant leaves, top dressing and containers themselves can all attract dust. You can ensure your clients that part of your maintenance of the plantscapes includes dust removal, along with watering and pest management.  If you do not provide maintenance for your plantscapes, you can instruct the client on how to use proper dust removal techniques. Using products such as “Foliage Wonder Live Plant Cleaner”  can help remove and prevent dust. Also, you will have to be vigilant to manually remove dust from containers and top dressing. Using smooth, nonporous surfaces will make this task easier. For more tips on dealing with dust on interior landscapes see this post.

Diligence

When clients see that reducing allergens is a primary concern, they will be more comfortable including live plants in their spaces. When you help clients understand that health benefits such as improved employee morale, concentration and cleaner air, outweigh the potential for allergy problems, they will be happy to try your services. It is important to remember that once you have earned their trust, continue to do everything you can to reduce allergens in your interior landscapes. A happy client will continue to use your business and provide excellent references and word of mouth advertising.

Photo “Pollen Grains” courtesy of mink

The shamrock is the traditional symbol of Ireland and of the saint celebrated on March 17th.  National Geographic describes the legend of the shamrock saying that St. Patrick, while teaching, used the three leaves of a shamrock from the ground to illustrate the Trinity which is the Christian belief in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated now by wearing green and decorating with the shamrock.  Live shamrocks are a fun, green gift to give friends and family on St. Patrick’s Day or to use as decoration in your home or work space. They are easy to grow and will live well beyond March 17th.

Oxalis

Shamrocks can often be found at nurseries and florists as St. Patrick’s Day approaches. It is still debated exactly which species of shamrock should be traditionally worn on St. Patrick’s Day. The shamrocks sold in stores are part of the genus Oxalis which come in a variety of sizes and colors including dark green, light green and even dark purple. Shamrocks also have flowers that vary according to the species. These shamrocks are different than the Trifolium found growing wild in Ireland and traditionally worn on St. Patricks Day (National Geographic.) Oxalis are easier to grow and maintain in containers. To keep a healthy shamrock growing indoors, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Dormancy

According to the University of Vermont Extension, shamrocks go through several periods of dormancy per year.  When the plant begins to lose leaves and and appear sick, it is not dying, it is moving into dormancy. Once this begins, discontinue watering and move your plant to a dark, cool space. The dormancy stage typically last about three months. Once the shamrock starts to show a little new growth you can resume watering and move it to a location that will receive a good amount indirect sunlight. If placed in direct sunlight the new foliage could burn, damaging the plant.

Repot

Garden Guides suggests that shamrocks be repotted every year. The roots of a shamrock do not grow very deep and prefer to be pot-bound. Therefore, you may not have to transfer to a different pot. Just clean out the container you have been using, making sure to wash it thoroughly to prevent disease, and replace the potting medium. Use a regular potting mix, mixed with one-quarter sand. This will allow the soil to drain faster.  Then plant the rhizome barely below the surface. Repotting is best to do after a dormant period.

Don’t Share Space

The University of Vermont Extension warns that if your plant was received as part of an arrangement with other plants, separate the shamrock into its own container.  It will not grow well with other plants. It is important that you do this before the plant moves into its dormancy period. If you wait until the plant begins to look sickly, you will not be able to remove the roots from the other plants without damaging them.   Follow the same directions for repotting above to start the shamrock out on its own.

With a little bit of care you can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Irish spirit year round.  Good amounts of indirect sunlight, moist soil and attention to the dormancy periods will keep your shamrock looking great! Have you raised a shamrock indoors? What were some challenges you faced?

Photo “Shamrock” Courtesy of Walt Stoneburner 

Australia’s nursery and landscaping industry instituted the first annual Plant Life Balance Day on March 2nd this year. The purpose of the day was to challenge the public to examine the benefits of plants in their daily lives, and determine just how much exposure and time with plants occurs each day. Business owners and homeowners were challenged to consider adding plants to their work and home atmospheres to increase quality of life through having a healthy Plant Life Balance.

Why do we need Plant Life Balance?

We have discussed on this blog before the various benefits of plants, both in the home and the workplace. Plants improve air quality, increase concentration and productivity and boost morale. Our daily lives our becoming more and more hurried. We spend more time working, driving and keeping our homes and less time outdoors. We are consistently missing out on the physical and cognitive benefits of exposure to plants. When we spend less time outdoors, we are less aware of ever decreasing public open space and plant life. It is important that we take time to evaluate our plant life balance and see where there is room to improve.

Improvement

Take time to notice where you have interactions that include plants each day. Ask yourself the following questions. Are there plants in your office or workplace? Where are the plants in your home? Are they located in the same spaces you occupy regularly? How much time do you spend outside?   There are a number of ways we can improve our daily exposure to plants. The first is to bring plants into your home. Start with a few easy to care for houseplants, such as the Peace Lilly or Aglaonema, as recommended by Plant Care.  If you enjoy caring for them and have space, you can always add more.  The second is to bring a plant to work. Plants in your office space can help you concentrate. Beyond just having a plant at your desk, suggest to your employers or building managers to integrate live plants into their decor. Professional Interior Landscapers do an excellent job of creating and maintaining professional and inviting arrangements appropriate for a work place.  Next find time to be outside everyday. Take a walk through a wooded area, garden, or relax underneath a tree. If you notice a lack of trees in your neighborhood or town, consider starting a tree planting campaign. Also, don’t let apartment living stop you from having outdoor interactions with plants. Containers are perfect for raising flowers or vegetables on rooftops and porches.  Spring is the perfect time to get started on new resolutions about getting outdoors and enjoying nature.

An Annual Priority

Whether you choose to focus on your home, place of business, or neighborhood, you don’t have to be from Australia to make improving your plant life balance an annual priority.  Mark March 2nd on your calendar and take time evaluate how plants have improved your living spaces each year and where you need more exposure to plants. How will you celebrate Plant Life Balance Day? What changes will you make to improve your everyday exposure to plants?

Photo “balance scale” courtesy of winnifredxoxo