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There are a number of shrubs or perennials that simply don't leaf out as early as everything else in your yard. Many plants stay in dormancy a little longer when spring arrives, some of these perennials and shrubs include:

SHRUBS:

-Hibiscus - Rose of Sharon

-Hydrangea Paniculata - Hydrangea 

-Hydrangea macrophylla - Hydrangea  

-Buddleia - Butterfly Bush

-Logerstroemia - Carpemyrtle

-Cephalanthus - Buttonbush

-Weigela

PERENNIALS:

-Baptisia - False Indigo 

-Perennial Grasses

-Kniphofia - Red Hot Poker

-Perovskia - Russian Sage

Give these plants several additional weeks to start pushing out new growth. Butterfly bush and Russian sage, in particular, may not show signs of life until early June in cold climates, so they need an extra-long grace period. The false indigo, perennial hibiscus, red hot poker, and ornamental grasses are best cut back in early spring, before the new growth begins. As for the other plants on this list, resist the urge to cut them back too soon. Wait until you see little green buds developing on their stems or coming from the ground to prune them or cut them back at all – those green buds will tell you exactly where you may need to prune off any winter damage that may have occurred.  

Just because these plants take a while to look alive doesn’t mean they’ll spend the summer stunted –...

As summer heat conditions begin to set in here in Wisconsin, you may be concerned about what effect this could have on your lawn. During extreme heat and droughts, it's normal for a lawn to go dormant this time of year, here are some tips to help get a head start on summer lawn maintenance. 

1.Be sure to repair any pathy or bald spots in your grass. Before the heat of summer sets in, you’ll want your lawn to be filled in well. Repair your lawn by sprinkling seed in the late spring and thoroughly watering until they begin to sprout. This will help keep the roots from getting scorched by the summer sun. If there are many pathy spots in your lawn, or spots that are rather large, overseeding may be a better solution.

2.Overseeding is the process of sprinkling grass seed over your entire lawn. The benefits of this include, creating a denser, fuller lawn, evening out the color of your grass, preventing weeds from germinating within the lawn, and is an efficient way to fill in bare or patchy spots. This process of overseeding should be done in the fall to give grass seeds time to germinate and take root before winter arrives.

3.Raise the height of your mower blades. Leaving your lawn a little longer in the Summer will help it survive heat and drought conditions. Longer grass will shelter the soil, helping keep it cool and moist for longer. Especially during the warm summer months, you should keep the lawn at a height of about 3.5-4...

The basic principles of rose pruning are the same, regardless of the rose type, but the timing of pruning, amount to remove, and objectives are slightly different, depending on the type. Here’s how to prune roses.

Materials you may need: 

• Hand pruners
• Gloves

Why it’s important to prune roses: 4 basics to pruning roses

• Remove dead and diseased branches.
• Rejuvenate the plant and encourage blooming.
• Encourage airflow through the shrub.
• Control size and shape.

Basics of pruning roses:

• Whether you’re pruning roses to reduce the size, deadheading spent blooms, pruning to shape the shrub, or pruning for airflow, you’ll always cut the same way.

When to pruning roses:

• A good rule of thumb is to wait until the very early of spring to prune roses to reduce size, encourage spring growth, and rejuvenate the shrub. Prune to remove dead or diseased growth at any time, though it is best to avoid major pruning from late summer through early winter, as the shrubs will be starting to go dormant. Deadhead as the flowers fade to keep shrubs blooming longer.  

Pruning to remove dead and diseased growth:

• Pruning damaged or diseased growth is important so insects don’t take up residence in dead branches and multiply. 

Pruning to promote airflow:

• Prune to promote airflow at the same time you prune to reduce size

Pruning to rejuvenate growth:

• Some shrubs...

If you're looking for new ways to lessen the stress of rising grocery costs, Foodscaping could be the answer. While gardening has always been a wise choice for combating expensive trips to the store, the hobby has definitely been a rising trend in the past few years. Foodscaping is a modern term for mixing ornamental plants with food-yielding plants. Also known as edible landscaping, this ideology aims to prove that fruits and veggies can also provide aesthetic value in the garden! A typical design can include all kinds of vegetables, fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs and edible flowers alongside ornamental plant species. As a more sustainable approach to traditional landscaping, foodscaping is a great way to incorporate more color into your outdoor spaces, and better utilize your yard!

For inspiration and more information on getting the most from your yard, visit the links below!

Foodscaping - Wikipedia

Foodscaping: A "New" Way To Create A Garden

Photos: Foodscaping adds beauty, value to landscape 

We spend significant time and money landscaping our yards, planting gardens, and building beautiful outdoor spaces, yet are left with very little time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. As soon as the sun sets, we head back inside. What if we told you there was a way to spend more time in your yard? The solution is simple: adding landscape lighting to your yard gives you more hours of the day (and night) to enjoy the beauty of your outdoor space!

1.Extending your Living Space Outside 

An outdoor lighting system can extend your living space by making your outdoor spaces usable long after dark, giving you more time to enjoy them. Well-designed landscape lighting can turn your ordinary backyard into an oasis

2.Highlight Landscaping and Yard Decor

Transform your dark exterior into a bold, illuminated showcase, highlighting special features like fountains, ponds, flower gardens, patios, pergolas – even your favorite trees! Whatever is special to you about your home or yard, make it stand out with landscape lighting.

3.Increase Property Value

Regardless of the size or style of your home, landscape lighting can highlight its best attributes, adding dimension, space, and dynamic form. It can make the most bland, boring exterior shine. When it comes time to sell, this will be especially important – a well-lit home is more attractive to potential buyers. 

4.Enhance Curb Appeal 

If your ...