Joe's Blog on Gardening

Our Guarantee Policy

Garden District — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:32:00 +0000

We have a one-year guarantee policy on all trees and shrubs. They must be planted in the ground and be taken care of.

We have a 6 month guarantee on all perennials and houseplants.

For all other products, including annuals, 2 weeks.

With a receipt, we offer a 7 day money back guarantee. After that period we provide a store credit or exchange. All product(s) must be returned to receive credit or exchange.

We highly recommend that you get entered into our customer database so that in case you lose your receipt, we can find it on file. Leave your email if you want to receive store updates and promotions.

Thank you for shopping at Garden District!

Privacy Policy. Your information is stored in a secure location. We do not keep credit card information on file. We do not share your personal information with anyone.

GD's Green Policy

Garden District — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:48:00 +0000

All winter I've been thinking about writing down our green policy. Now more than ever I think about our environment and how Garden District can contribute to the cause. Our green business practices are as followed:

Garden District is a green goods provider.

All our plant care products are organic and sustainable (will not affect our environment in any way now or in the future).

The majority of all our products are bought locally. Sometimes we have to buy out of state, but that is only if we cannot receive it locally.

We recycle our trash. I'm really pleased with our new trash service provider--Waste Management. They have one of the best recycling programs I've seen for businesses. Their web address is http://www.wm.com

This year, please bring back your plastic containers so that we can return them to our suppliers for reuse. The small plastic 4" cups that come 18 to a flat are not reusable and we cannot return those. However, you can place them in your recycling bins for DC to pick up. Learn more of what DC has to offer at http://recycle.dpw.dc.gov/recycle

One of our greenest products are our Christmas trees. Go to this link for more information, it's good. http://www.christmastree.org/environment.cfm

We donate unsellable green goods/plants to those in need.

We are phasing out our plastic shopping bags and are currently seeking out an alternative. In the meantime, please reuse our shopping bags or just use our cardboard trays to carry plants home and recycle the trays. I use both our shopping bags and trays when I'm pruning and weeding my garden to hold and carry out debris.

We have decreased the margin on all printable documents by printing again on the blank sheet sides as much as possible.

I've stopped thinking that being "green" is filled with only absolutes. For us it is a work in progress. Please write me if you have other suggestions. Thx!

Christmas Tree Care

Garden District — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:55:00 +0000

I'm really pleased with our trees that came in this season. My growers are good people and produce a quality product. They care as much as I do.

Over the years I've learned a lot about Christmas Trees. Here are a few care tips to consider when getting a fresh-cut tree:

First and foremost, know who is supplying the tree. And I guess that goes with just about anything you purchase. Trees are no different. Go somewhere that you trust and shop at often.
Know the area and ceiling heights where you'll position the tree. That is good information to have. Never place your tree close to a heat source. It will dry out faster.
A good tree lot, such as ours I must say, will have all the equipment you will need. Ask your provider for a fresh cut from the bottom (about an inch), and to cut the lower branches so your tree fits properly in a stand. Then have it re-wrapped and placed in a safe place in or on your car. If you live close to the shop, we have wagons you can borrow.
Place your tree in the stand immediately when you get home. Trees absorb a lot of water towards the beginning, but please check everyday until you notice some sort of pattern of absorption.
It usually takes about twenty-four hours for a tree to fall in to shape after you get it home. You might want to plan for this.
You should turn lights off before going to bed. One year I put my tree on a timer so the lights would be on when I got home. It was nice coming home to a lit tree. You can find timers at any hardware shop.
If you notice needles dropping it might not be because it is dry. Confers loose needles just like deciduous trees loose their leaves. Every year Fraser Firs drop the needles that grew on them five years past; then the new growth appears in the spring. You can shake the needles off before you take in. If the weather is good, you might want to hose it down first.
If your air is dry, you might want to consider having a humidifier close by.

Fresh cut trees are renewable and benefit the environment. The following link list all the environmental reasons to buy a fresh-cut tree http://www.christmastree.org/environment.cfm.

Coming Spring 2008: Our 2nd Store

Garden District — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:00:00 +0000

In just a few short months our new location will open at the corner of 14th and Church St. NW in the Lofts 14th building. It's official. I have the keys!

This has been a dream of mine for some time now. I looked around many DC neighborhoods, but ultimately, I chose to stay close to our existing store. I wanted to expand upon what we have with a goal of making it an easier and better shopping experience for our customers.

Our new store is only 3 blocks down 14th St. from our existing location. We will soon operate out of two locations, and our name and logo will remain the same.

Our current location at 14th and S St. NW will be devoted to exterior plants, pottery, tools, soil, mulch and plant care products..."the garden."

All interior plants and related interior plant care products will move to our second store. We'll also carry decorative pottery, accents for the home and garden, botanicals and sundries.... accessories for "the outside and inside garden room."

In addition to our knowledgeable sales staff, we have a super team in place to make this happen, including our retail designer Ernest Wertheim from Wertheim, Van de Ploeg and Klemeyer in San Francisco, who is highly regarded in the garden center industry. Zahn Design Architects are the architects of record along with Eichberg Construction, our builders and contractors.

The design is complete and we move in to a pre-construction phase soon. Demo work starts in about two weeks.

Today the signs will go up at the site. It's all very exciting.

Stay tuned for more on our new store coming soon. In the meantime, for more information feel free to contact me at joecarmack@gardendistrict-dc.com

Blowout Sale at Garden District

Garden District — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:01:00 +0000

It's that time of year again that we clear the store out to make way for our Christmas Trees which will be arriving soon, well at the end of the month.

All perennials, trees and shrubs are 60% off or more.

Fall is the best time to garden and now the best time to save too. This is the time of year you'll get a Japanese Maple at 2/3rds the cost! Or get a great deal on 11 shrubs you've been wanting as one customer did on Saturday. He took every single Burning Bush we had. He did it right and he'll have spectacular fall color this year and years to come.

Here's why I like to plant in fall:
1) The weather is cool. The newly planted will be at less risk to drought and harsh hot summer conditions.

2) You can get a head start on spring. What you plant now will come back next year already established with a strong root system for good growth.

3) It's also a good time to get to know your garden. While planting in fall you can tackle other projects such as dividing and moving perennials, and mulching.

Tip to remember for fall gardening:
Never walk on damp soil. It compacts the soil even more.... however, on damp rainy days it is a good time to do your fall fertilizing.

And today I remember. It's Veterans Day. I don't exactly get to take the day off, but I can dedicate this day in some way to my grandparents that served in the Army. You are remembered, I miss you and thank you.

Indoor Gardening/Growing Amaryllis

Garden District — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 10:26:00 +0000

Gardening will move indoors around December just before the holidays. In winter, here's what you can do to get your garden fix and it's a good one: plant Amaryllis bulbs.

Amaryllis flowers are amazingly beautiful. The trick is plant them now if you want them to bloom for the holidays.

Here are my growing tips:
1) Amaryllis bulbs are big, but they like to fit snug in a pot. Pick a pot that is one to two inches past the bulb size. The right size pot is usually a little over 6'' and 7" being about perfect.
2) Plant roots down, leaving the top 1/3 exposed above the soil.
3) Place them in a sunny window.
4) I like using a soil covering: you can plant grass seed around the bulb, moss or cover with decorative stone.
6) Amaryllis come from South Africa and Holland. Bulbs from South Africa bloom for the holidays, Dutch bulbs bloom after, closer to February. So be sure to check when getting your bulbs.
7) Water once, well after planting. Make sure the water drains from the pot in to a saucer. You must have drainage, and do not over water or the bulb might get mushy or spongy, not good. Water once or every other week or when the top of the soil dries out a bit. Water more often in bloom.
8) Do not use fertilizers or soil heavy in nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes foliage growth not floral growth
9) Amaryllis start to lean towards the direction of the light. Rotate the pot if this starts to happen.

Amaryllis are so easy to grow and so festive for the holidays. Give them a try!

Next post: fall traditions, and having something clever by the front door.

Moving Houseplants Inside

Garden District — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:57:00 +0000

I heard this story about a friend's Ficus tree he's managed to keep alive and healthy for over twenty-five years. I was amazed with his story.

Most of us can agree that Ficus trees have a reputation for being finicky. I hear this a lot... "the leaves have started to drop." "What am I doing wrong?" Can it be saved? Well the answer, according to my friend, is yes.

Ficus trees are deciduous in their natural habitat. Meaning they will loose there leaves in winter and they return in the spring. So if the leaves are starting to drop and you see your ficus in decline, it could be part of it's natural cycle.

Here's my friends secret. Once the leaves start to drop he lets the plant go into its dormant period inside his house from late fall to spring. Then in mid-spring he'll bring his Ficus outside in bright sunlight and there, he says, "it thrives through the summer."

Garden Tip:
It's that time of the year to bring your houseplants inside.

Before bringing them into the house, inspect them for pest. If you notice them, spray your plant with an organic insecticidal soap. I'd do this anyway regardless if you see pest or not.

Think about the conditions they like. Ficus Trees like sun, others plants like shade or indirect bright light. Place your plants in the condition they like.

Develop a watering schedule, plants like a regular watering time. I water my houseplants once a week and that's it. Protect your surfaces when watering. I use saucers to catch water BUT you have to use a cork mat as well particularly on hardwood floors. Saucers, clay, are pervious.

During the winter, conditions inside the home can be dry. If you are not using a humidifier, use a spray water bottle to create moisture in the air as you see fit.

Celebrate the season. Fall is a glorious time of the year! It's the best time to plant in the garden. Next post: Fall gardening.

Adding Stereo to the Garden

Garden District — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:07:00 +0000

Music in the garden is a beautiful thing. I remember my aunt first getting us all started on this years ago. It had to been in the 80s. Back then the speakers were bigger and buried right into the ground. The sound, nevertheless, was really impressive.

Years later I would think about this for my own business. We started with four "rock" speakers, later advancing to four other speakers and now I think we have about 18 (14 outside, 2 downstairs and 2 in the upstairs office. The sound is terrific at the shop.

I've become friends with the stereo guys. They're my kind of people. They do their own thing and they are super at what they do. The technology they gave me is far better than anything I could have ever imagined.

Apart from the speakers, we have new system called Sonos. It takes the place of controls on the receiver. Instead the controls are on the main computer (workstation one) and on a hand-held remote, an Ipodish sort of looking device.

Sonos opened us up to so much. I nearly cried with excitement when we first got it. Here's what we have:

(1) Internet radio stations from all over the world.
(2) Integration with Rhapsody, which as a member we can stream almost any CD we want! Free! Well we pay monthly dues.
(3) Channels by Rhapsody listed by genre (commercial free). Lots of them.
(4) Then there's Pandora's Box. This blew my mind. Pandora allows us to create our own radio station. By selecting a group, Sonos will continue, indefinitely, to play similar music. You then have the opportunity to rate the songs. If there is one song you don't like, it cancels it and others similar.
(5) Ipod integration, Rhapsody library integration, playlist, celebrity playlist and who knows what else. Oh a free subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

I started reading the mag. It's good. I particularly like following the charts and then plugging in music titles into Sonos.

Check out sonos.com for specs. Mike Reed of Wired Up Home Theater is an authorized dealer. He can install the entire system in your house and garden, and you will love it. If you want to be the hit the next time your guest arrive, contact Mike Reed at michael@wireduphometheater.com www.wireduphometheater.com

Mike's contact information is listed on our contractor's board inside the shop. When you arrive, checkout the planter speakers (speakers in a resin/plastic-made terracotta type planter) at the entrance of the store.

Garden Tip:
This week I'm clearing out all the summer burnt plants from my garden and thinking about new shrubs I want to plant this fall. Remember fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. I'm cleaning up my tools for pruning, getting my fertilizers together, and planting lots of fall blooming plants in my tree box. My trash can stinks too so it's getting a hit of Pine Sol.

What You're Searching, Web Traffic Report

Garden District — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:50:00 +0000

I get this report every week and I'm always amazed at the number of hits we get: 1,419 visitors, 599 unique visitors and 2,662 pages viewed this week. That's a lot. Thank you for visiting.

Getting deeper into the report I found not only what search engine you used but the key phrases that got you to GD's Website. So I thought I'd start addressing your searches and share with others assuming if you had the question, there are others like you.

The first search was "Fall Perennials for Washington, DC." That's a good one. It's always good for a gardener to think about the season coming. Fall perennials to look out for are: Anemonies, they're fabulous. I love the way a grouping in bloom can catch the low rays of fall sun. For shade gardens, Tricyrtis has a lovely orchid like flower. And don't forget about the grasses, they bloom this time of year. Pampas Grass is absolutely beautiful now through fall.

Fall perennials including fall Mums, freshly budded, will start arriving this week! And fall annuals will arrive soon.

Second search was "best time to plant steppables." Steppables are a brand of plant we carry consisting of mostly ground cover that can take light to heavy foot traffic. This ties in to fall because the best time to plant is fall, and not during last days of summer. Here's why... it's too hot and it's vacation time, meaning it's a bad time for properly maintaining plants. Here's my suggestion and I think it's a prudent one. If you have the plants now (in the container) not planted, wait until fall to plant them. Until then keep plants in a cool location where they can be easily looked after. This is, however, actually a great time to buy plants because most garden centers, including ours, have perennials on sale. Ours are marked (on select perennials) down 35-50% off, so you can get them now, save, and plant them in the fall.

Lastly, "Derek Thomas Landscape Design." He is an excellent designer, reliable and easy to get a long with. I recommend him. He has his own crew for installation and writes a good column on urban gardening in DC North Magazine.

I will probably continue to write about what your searching to get to us post once a week. So keep searching and send me your comments.

Dog Days Sale

Garden District — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:04:00 +0000

Our biggest sale of the year is quickly approaching. The Dog Days Sale will be here in just a few more days. We can thank our friends at Home Rule for starting this sale years ago. The MidCity Business Association now runs it and it has turned in to such a huge event. Everybody knows about it...

I really like what it has turned into: a huge event to get things on sale and see lots of people having a great time in the dog days summer. When it's Hot! Hot! Hot! Luv the heat!

Here's what we're planning to have on sale:
10% off all durable goods such as fertilizers, mulch, soil, etc...
15% off trees, shrubs, fountains and interior plants
25% off pottery and tools
35% off annuals and perennials

Come fill up your garden with plants at a great value from us. Focus on perennials, trees and shrubs. Plant them and they will stick around in your garden for years to come.

To see all the stores participating and see special offers visit http://www.dogdaysdc.com.

Rainbows and Plants that Attract Butterflies

Garden District — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:01:00 +0000

Summer just keeps getting better. It's definitely time to water (in the mornings); your pots will probably need it everyday when it gets well over ninety. I spent a good half hour watering on Sunday. Funny thing was, I can't believe how many rainbows I made during the process. It was fantastic! They're so cheery.

After my rainbow making, it was off to work to discuss butterfly gardening with Deana. Oh, btw, one of my favorite butterflies landed on me while I was watering. I love that. Anyway, Deana, our weekend morning store designer, brought some great information I'd like to share about attracting butterflies to your garden.

The four basics are:
1) Pesticide-free environment
2) Plenty of sunshine
3) Flowers to provide nectar for the adult butterflies
4) Host plants to provide food for the butterfly larvae, caterpillars

That morning Deanna made a butterfly display garden at the shop using these plants. All are in stock now.

Nectar plants
Caryopteris (Bluebeard), Buddleai (Butterfly Bush), Aster, Coreopsis, Echinacea, Gaillardia, Gaura, Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) Sedum, and Verbena

Butterfly larvae host plants
Eastern Redbud, Viburnum, Aster, Panicum (switchgrass)

I like the idea of creating theme gardens at the shop, particularly during the summer months. Here are a few more options you might see soon at the store: a beach garden or plants that can tolerate salt, native plants garden, an all green evergreen garden (this is what I have at my house), and a Victorian (period) garden.

If you have any ideas for a theme garden, please send me your comments.

Getting Butterflies

Garden District — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:47:00 +0000

Who could not love a butterfly? Yesterday I saw a beautiful butterfly hovering over my Mandevilla Vine. I'm pretty sure that little guy was Black Swallowtail and definitely attracted to the dark pink blossom.

Now I want more butterflies. Lots more.

Here's my plan: get plants that butterflies like. I ordered Pentas, a summer-blooming annual. I'll plant 3-4 flats (there's 18 to a flat, so somewhere between 54 and 72 4"-plants) in my front tree box. I like it full. Pentas can take lots of sun and are forgiving if you forget to water a day or two. For my shade gardeners, Impatiens will do the trick too.

If you want to build a more permanent collection of plants butterflies love, you should check out the following perennials. We have them available now. They're full and looking so fresh.
Artemisia, Buddliea "Butterfly Bush," Coreopsis, Delosperma "Ice Plant,", Echinacea "Cone Flower," Helenium "Mardi Gras," Hemerocallis "Day Lilly," Sedum, Thymus, and Parsley.

Important tips to remember. Butterflies like nectar. They are attracted to pink, purple and red. They like plants that they can land on easily while feeding and to lay their eggs on as well. Most important, insecticides are a definite no, no. I found www.butterflywebsite.com to be a good source to begin with and www.enature.com for identifying butterflies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Now that I've done a little more research, I'm probably not going with the Pentas in the tree box and will plant a combination of Zinnias and Cosmos. That's a big deal for me. I'm not a Zinnia and Cosmos kind of guy, particularly in the front of my house. I think keeping them framed in a tree box, not in the main part of the front garden, it'll be ok.

I remember falling in love with the Zinnias in Morocco. They had Zinnias everywhere. Their bright colors will probably be exactly what I need to pick me up during the dog days of summer. Zinnias and Cosmos are tough plants too. They can definitely take hot, dry weather.

Future post idea.... Hummingbirds. They're wonderful!

Summer Time Check List

Garden District — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:12:00 +0000

We have a few more days left of spring, but I've already moved in to summer-time mode. My garden is thriving, and I'm letting it do its thing. I'm even allowing one weed to shoot up. It's kind of cool... growing over the AC unit in the back hiding it a bit and it has HUGE leaves. I love it! I'm betting it gets ten feet by the end of summer and I can climb up it.

My fig tree is out of control. I basically have to get out of its way. I remember planting it with not being sure it would make it. It's been three years now and this is the year it took off. Two points I'd like to make here: it's ok to plant when in doubt (fear is ok) and second, sometimes it just takes a few years for a plant to hit its grove.

Remember this one "first year sleeps, second year creeps and third year leaps." I know this will be the case for my Japanese Hydrangea Vine I just planted. It hasn't moved, but in a few years I will be so happy I planted it. If you've planted a perennial vine this year, be patient.

Herbs love the heat, sun and dry. All of which I have by chance. I don't know how to explain this but I have them in a northern exposure spot that just happens to get a lot of sun. I guess because it's "exposed." I also think that since they are planted against an eastern wall they are getting hot afternoon sun and the wall radiates heat drying the earth which makes it more similar to their native Mediterranean climate.

I need to water more. I'm a mix of lazy and busy. That's why I only plant tough plants. We've been having some dry weather, don't forget to water. The best time to water is in the morning not evening. Watering at night could cause fungal problems on your plant.

Grooming... that you got a do. I do a little as I walk pass through the garden all the time. At this time of year, you need to be grooming your annuals and herbs. Pick off the spent flowers to encourage new growth and pick off buds before your herbs start to bloom.

This year I planted white petunias under my topiary orange trees and they look SO good. The orange trees are blossoming now and the fragrance is like jasmine. You really notice it when a breeze passing through them.

Wrapping this one up. here's my summertime checklist:

Enjoy the garden and do more outdoor living, read books outside on my new deck love seat, take advantage of having more time to myself, work less... hehe.
Water, water and cont. to think about tough plants that thrive in heat for future planting
Continue making my good lemonade. Just posted a new recipe from a reader. It's a good one! Don't forget to add a big sprig of mint.
Groom and weed. If this one gets out of hand, please email me, I know where you can get a little extra help. I'm connected to landscapers that can do this in half time you'd imagine. Ask them to switch out your propane tank, clean grill, and grease pan and get you an extra tank as well for uninterrupted grilling all summer long.
Hit the summer sales, and yes we got them going on at the shop as well. You can get a great deal on perennials, get them in the garden, and next year when they come back and bloom, you'll be glad you got them and planted them now.
Trim back overgrown plants. I have my plants grouped together and trimming them back brings back the texture I worked so hard to create. If you divide plants, give the other half to a friend.
Add stereo to the garden. I am connected to the really cool sound guys as well. Now you can get planters that are outdoor speakers too.

Next post, I'll continue with more things you can do with mint and other herbs. So far, I've made mint burgers, mint tea, and the other evening grilled a whole rockfish stuffed with brown jasmine rice, grapefruit zest, and mint. Delicious. Let me know if you want any of these recipes. The stuffing was really good...

Did you know.... oregano has four times the amount of antioxidants then blueberries. That is strong. Oregano from what I understand is in the mint family too.

Mint

Garden District — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:54:00 +0000

This year the herb most used in my garden is mint. We have a lot of varieties at the store, chocolate mint, pineapple mint, etc... but the one I use the most is good ole fashion Spearmint "Kentucky Cornell."

My spearmint comes back every year and keeps getting bigger and stronger every year. I have it growing in my Roman garden out back and in the front garden as well. It looks lovely there and makes a nice ground cover. It's not a front and center plant. I let it creep up around my stepping stones. It softens the area up nicely partially concealing the stone steps that lead to the garden hose.

Mint will spread. So if this is problem you may not want to grow it. It hasn't been a problem for me so far. Later in the summer it will start to bloom. This is the tough part because you should pinch all the blossoms back. In most cases with herbs... never let them flower as this could alter the taste for the worse.

Mint can go into a lot of different dishes specially your middle eastern foods, Kabab, tea, etc... Lately, I can't help but add a fresh spring in my lemonade. I think I've perfected my lemonade recipe. Here it is:

You'll need: one large 12oz plastic patio glass, one lemon, 3-4 Splenda sugar substitute packets, Pellegrino sparkling water, ice, a big sprig of mint, and to make it easy, a lemon hand press. Squeeze lemon into glass, add the Splenda, pour in sparkling water, stir, add lots of ice and top it off with your big spring of mint. It's terrific!

Your mint technique.... a sprig for me is a piece about three inches tall. I submerge a tiny part of the stem in the ice so the mint looks like a green flower blossom popping out over of the ice. The scent of the mint adds a summer freshness I think you'll really enjoy. In a future post, I'll include my recipe for Iced Lemon Ginger Granita with fresh mint chiffade (another technique which you roll a mint leaf up and cut it to give you little slivers.)

Re-potting Plants

Garden District — Wed, 02 May 2007 11:18:00 +0000

Hello,
I promised a customer over the weekend to discuss this subject.

Here are the basics:
First off, particularly with my plants, plants are tough, don't worry about hurting or killing them. Over the years, I've dug up, moved around, six, seven times until I got it right. They all lived...

Second, and I borrow this from my yoga class.... aim to practice not to be perfect. Gardening is supposed to be enjoyable. Practice, experiment and learn from what you did. Your space is unique, so what might not work for someone else with almost similar conditions may work for you.

In general, particularly if the plant has outgrown its present container, move up a pot size, a couple of inches is fine. Don't feel like you have to "massage" the roots. Scoring the roots is usually done with annuals when they are root bound. This helps the roots spread out more quickly.

Drainage is key. Water should drain from the bottom of any container. Use broken "shards" pottery pieces, rocks, gravel, etc... I usually place an inch or more inside the bottom of the container. Good drainage prevents the roots from setting in water.

Start filling with soil until you think the top of what you are re-potting will reach the desired top of the new container. I leave about an inch down from the very top. Fill the sides with soil. Don't pack down.

Water. Always. Your plant might settle in and drop a bit. Get in there... add more soil. Make it do what you want it to do.

Ok. Your plant might get drooping after re-potting. It's probably in shock. This is NOT the time you'd want to place it in full sun. Let it rest in a "peaceful" location. Let it acclimate a few days.

More things to consider, I like using a a well drained soil. You can mix in perlite to lighten the soil. Perlite is the stuff that looks like big white flakes in potting mix. If your soil is too dense, the roots have a more difficult time moving around and your plants won't grow as well. We carry perlite at the store. If by chance you are re-using a container and the previous plant in the pot didn't do so well, you might want to clean out the container with a hose and scrub it with a extremely light solution (couple of tablespoons to a gallon) of Clorox to water. This will sterilize the container.

Back in the days before I owned a garden center, I loved (had the time for) playing around with pots. I could "cluster" 'em for hours until I got it juuuust right. So a few tips if you have a lot of pots: high to low. Big pots towards the back smaller ones to the front and odd number arrangements always works best.

Every week we receive one to two shipments of new pottery. If you need new containers or looking for something different, chances are we have them.

Happy Gardening!

Planting Native Perennials

Garden District — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:18:00 +0000

Today we are getting ready for the It's So Easy To Be Green event at Whole Foods Market P St, NW from 4-8. We will be discussing native perennials. More specifically, we'll discuss the varieties available, culture, habit and why planting native perennials is a "green" thing to do.

Native perennials are for the most part low maintenance. The reason being they grow naturally in this area. The weather, soil type, wildlife, etc. are what they need and like to survive. So essentially, they would grow on their own. And appropriately sited, native plants would require no watering, no fertilizer, and no pesticides. That's why they're "green."

Not only are native perennials drought-tolerant... they attract wildlife and the type you might enjoy such as butterflies and fireflies. The butterflies they attract are so beautiful. They often visit us at Garden District. I love them!

We will have a collection of these perennials at today's event on display. Come learn about these plants and find out how you can create your own eco-type friendly garden.

Planting in Tree Boxes

Garden District — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:57:00 +0000

This week I spoke at the LCCA Logan Circle Community Association monthly meeting about tree box planting. I promised to continue the discussion here on my blog.

There are pros and cons to planting directly in tree boxes. First the cons... Trees planted in tree boxes in the city are compromised as it is given the conditions, limited space, compaction, pollution, etc... Add to that... their most important roots are located in the top six inches of soil. So digging in your tree box could damage the tree.

Now the pros... one could argue that those that plant in tree boxes would also take care of their plants and of course the tree along with it. They would water, fertilize, maintain, etc...

I love planting in my tree box. I'm careful when digging, only digging when necessary and not cultivating the soil to much. I use low growing, tough perennials.

Lately I've been using a terrific product we have at the store called "stepables." These are perennials geared for light to heavy foot traffic. You (and dogs) can step on them! Most will bloom at some time in the year and a lot are evergreen. How cool is that! I planted a mix in my tree box. They look good combined creating a nice mosaic of low growing color, structure and texture.

There is a particular tool I like using and that is a garden knife. It has a thick blade and is shaped like a narrow hand trowel with a serrated edge on one side. I like it because it is tough enough to get through any compacted soil conditions you might have and it won't fall apart in the process. We have them behind the counter at the shop if you think you might need one. It is the right tool for a tough hand digging.

Post tip: Evergreen plants stay green all year including winter. Plant them and your garden will have winter color and interest. My garden is a collection of evergreen conifers and perennials. While other gardens looked bare this winter, mine stayed nice and green. And remember, it is just as easy to fall in love with a tough plant as it is with a delicate plant.

OK I have to rave about a few plants in my garden.... golden oregano planted next to deep green ornamental conifers created a sensational contrast in color. The purple Allium are popping up and delight me so much against the soft yellow background of my house. This year I added Agapanthus and they will bloom after the Allium. When the Agapanthus appear it will sure to remind me of Buenos Aires and one of my customers, Monique, who raves about her Agapanthus in Africa. My Liriope is growing back and looking so fresh after the hard cut back I did a few weeks ago. Now for the back garden, my roman/kitchen garden. I added two patio orange trees and filled three pots with strawberries this week. I love strawberries and the way the leaves turn deep red in the fall. I'll over winter my orange trees below in a southern exposed window in my basement and build some sort of irrigation system to keep them alive until the following spring. Not quite the Solarium set up at my aunt's house, but it will have to do. The low growing ornamental thyme "stepables" I planted along the edge of large granite cobble are slowing starting to creep over again. And finally my espalier Euonomus are growing together and up to give me the live green wall I've been building "growing" for the last three years. Life is getting good!

Do you really want to amend your soil?

Garden District — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:21:00 +0000

A lot of my customers ask me if they should amend the soil. Amending soil generally means adding compost or conditioning soil. Some even go as far as wanting to take out what is there and replace with new soil.

You could actually create more problems by overworking the top portion of the soil. It is what one of my professors used to call a teacup effect. Water would drain easy through the good portion of the soil and stop at the point that has not been amended. Your plants could then be sitting in water and for plants that don't like "wet feet" this could kill them.

I always tell customers do not over amend your soil. Instead select plants that can take compacted or poor soil conditions, spread leaf compost around where you plant, and mulch. The composition of the soil will eventually change over time. The mulch will break down in to the soil (which is good) creating richer soil. Fresh mulch looks and smells good too. Then avoid walking in your garden as much as possible because that will compact your soil even more and never walk in a wet garden.

One other step I really want to try is to stop at a bait and tackle shop and pick up about three thousand worms and throw them in to my soil. If you find them in your garden now, it is a good sign. They enrich the soil as they move creating oxygen pockets and they fertilize by leaving their casting as they work their way through.

When I moved in to my house I had terrible soil in my front garden. Instead of fussing with the soil I planted tough plants all conifers and native evergreen perennials. I mixed in a little compost while planting and finished it off with fresh mulch. The roots will spread out more, moving through the soil like worms creating nice oxygenated soil. Now plants and soil are working together and improving the conditions to survive on their own.

Native plants will always do better. They're already accustom to the area and soil conditions. The exception being Liriope. I love it. It is one tough plant. Style wise, it's like the color black, alway appropriate. I just could not image living in a would without Liriope.

Next post ....Allium, Agapanthus, Carolina Jasmine.

Weekend Review

Garden District — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:39:00 +0000

We were so busy this weekend. To all of those that came by, thank you for shopping with us.

Frequently asked questions over the weekend were:

(1) How often do I water my interior plants? I water them on a regular schedule, usually Sunday, and fertilize once a month. I never re-pot them, see last blog post. Interior plants can get a little dry between watering, which is better than over watering.

(2) A lady came in with a sick looking orchid and wanted my suggestions on how to improve its looks. For the most part she was doing everything right, except the orchid was in a standard terracotta pot. She used orchid bark for the planting medium and orchid food. My answer, orchids are not like regular plants. In nature they grow in trees, not in soil. I recommended she use an orchid pot which has large holes all around the pot. This simulates the nature habitat of orchids. Second, at this time of year an orchid out of bloom doesn't always look so hot. I once visited a large orchid farm in the California Dessert, it was around Joshua Tree, and their orchids didn't look so great when they were out of bloom either. I think they perk up in bloom, but most bloom once a year. I remember seeing one orchid at the grower that bloomed for one day every 17 years! Out of bloom I thought it looked creepy.

(3) How many herbs can I plant in one pot? And then which ones can I plant together? If you looking to use your herbs a lot, you might want to dedicate one herb to one pot. Find an outdoor spot with tons of sunlight. Two herbs I always plant alone are Basil and chives. Basil because I want a lot of it and chives because I love the way they come back year after year, they're the first sign of spring, and then chive blossoms are adorable. If you're going to mix your herbs in a one pot, you might want to think of it as a collection with some sort of theme of how you will be using your herbs. Three herbs to a pot will make a pretty display. And use herbs with different color and habit to make it interesting: Thyme can trail down the side of the pot, sage and oregano come in different colors like purple, yellow and green, and sometimes tri-color. Your third could be something taller to serve as a focal point: how about flat leaf parsley??

One more thing happened.... God I feel sorry for the two guys that couldn't make up their mind about which containers to use... I must say, I loved what I pulled together for them. Nandina Domestica "Heavenly Bamboo" in a zen sorta asian square darkish glazed pot. It was perfect. One plant that had plenty of room to grow per container and modern because it didn't have a filled up mix of mess... hehe. And to top it off it was evergreen. In winter it would berry! The plant/pot combo had contrast in color and texture. It popped.

Please send me your gardening questions. I'll answer and post them if I can.

Interior Plants: Keep it easy.

Garden District — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:29:00 +0000

I promised Washingtonian Magazine I would write this piece. It's hard talking about interior plants on a beautiful day promising spring might be here to stay.

One thing I hear a lot from customers is that they want to re-pot the plants they've just purchased in to a decorative interior container. I don't think I've ever re-potted an interior plant. And here's why.

First, plants need to drain water, and I don't want water all over my good hardwood floors. Second, interior plants to me are NEVER permanent, I either give them away or they die (because I wasn't around and on vacation to care for them). Finally, I like short cuts. I'm a busy guy.

So here's what I do. I think of best plant/pot combos for desired location in my home. The pottery available today is fabulous. And I must say we have gorgeous pottery from all over the world at the store. Choose a container that matches style and color you like, WITHOUT drainage, and is slightly bigger then the pot your plant is already in. Simply place the plant inside a decorative container. Raise the interior plant slightly to the top of container. You can use pea gravel or broken pottery shards. Then cover top of plant with a decorative soil covering to hide the plastic container the plant is actually in. I like using spanish moss or even smooth river rock. Nobody will be able to tell that you've not re-potted your house plant.

I like watering my plants well once a week. The soil can dry out a bit. Just don't feel like you have to water all the time. Over watering your plants is just as bad as under watering. Use an interior plant food ever so often... when you have a little bit longer time to spare on your chores. Pick off brown leaves and remember it's always good to have some sort of organic insecticidal soap. Plant pest love to make their home in tropical plants, particularly if you leave your interior plants outside for the summer and bring them in for the winter.

To protect my floors, I use cork mats under the containers. Pottery is porous. Cork mats serve the same purpose and works the same way as a drink coaster. Don't forget this step. We have cork mats at the shop.

I'm planning my spring cleaning projects and trying to get my house in shape before my cousin arrives for the visit. I like everything perfect when guest come. I'll add cleaning my houseplants to the list. Plants can build up dust. Clean them, excepts for plants with hairy leaves, with water and soft cloth, or you can rinse them in the shower. Your plants will look and be more healthy.

We're open for spring

Garden District — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:46:00 +0000

Our first weekend back really felt like winter had finally coming to an end. We opened the doors and rolled a few carts of annuals and herbs out. Our regular as well as new customers soon showed up.

Every year at this time, we start filling the store with dwarf ornamental conifers and broad leaf evergreens; evergreen perennials, pansies and herbs. All are ready to go in the ground now and can take the cold. The herbs look so fresh at this time of the year. I wish I had a special name for them that just meant the first of the fresh new plants to arrive. They have names for things like this in romance languages.... like Italian.

The business continues to grow. We've added more staff. So far, I really believe that this is the best cast created since I started the business five years ago. They really know their plants and are very attentive to our customers.

The shop will soon be filled up all the way again with plants. Usually by the end of March most of our stock will be available, including large interior plants.

Now for my garden tips.

It's time to trim back all winter burn off your perennials and ornamental grass. Your plants will look fresh and new when they grow back. Try to avoid stepping in the garden particularly when the ground is wet. This will compact your soil and that is not good.

I did a lot of winter clean up over the weekend. In the process, I found my Allium bulbs just starting to pop up. I pruned back my Akebia "Chocolate Vine." It is a fast growing, semi evergreen vine that does an excellent job concealing my neighbors enormous electrical box. Trimming plants all the way back is a good thing particularly if they've gotten too big or you want to re-train them. You won't hurt the plant.

If you need pruning and garden tools. Now is a good time to get them. Go to our coupon section of the web and you'll find offers for 50% off our Wolfgarten tools. Continue your garden clean up projects now (well now when it warms up) through March for a fresh and vibrant garden to come.

Job Announcements

Garden District — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 14:37:00 +0000

Spring is just around the corner. And we have three positions to fill. Salary is negotiable and will depend upon experience. All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our health care plan. Benefits include discounts on all store merchandise.

Job applications can be submitted via this website or send email to info@gardendistrict-dc.com or fax application to 202-797-9007.

Buyer and Display Designer, full-time
A strong knowledge of plants including annuals, perennials, ornamental trees and shrubs is essential as well as prior work experience in a garden center or related retail environment. Strong organizational skills are necessary. Each week, the buyer will evaluate what merchandise is needed, send orders to suppliers, and track and receive all orders. Once orders are received, the buyer will display all new shipments and maintain the integrity of the existing displays. The work week is Monday through Friday, starts at 8am to 4pm. A qualified candidate (with management experience) should apply for the assistant manager's position.

Office Assistant, part-time
The ideal candidate would have extensive work experience in a business environment, be familiar with accounting software, particularly QuickBooks, and would have strong organization and communication (editorial) skills. The office assistant would be responsible for paying bills, reconciling daily receipts and making bank deposits, reporting payroll, organizing mail and supplier catalogs, creating weekly staff schedules, serving as a resource for employee benefits including health care plan, maintaining office equipment and ordering supplies. In addition, the office assistant will ensure all special orders from customers are processed. The work week is Monday through Friday, from 8am to 11am or noon. The hours are flexible within this time frame and would depend upon work load.

Sales Associates, full- and part-time
Knowledge of plants including identification, habit, and care and/or retail experience in a related field or sales experience is required. The ideal candidate would enjoy working with the public and is "outgoing." The sales associate would greet customers, evaluate their needs and provide appropriate products, solutions and recommendations. Secondary responsibilities include assisting with processing orders received from suppliers, labeling plants and other store merchandise, maintaining displays, and grooming and caring for plant material.

How To Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh

Garden District — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 18:08:00 +0000

Below are a number of tips recommended from the National Christmas Tree Association to care for your fresh-cut Christmas Tree.

Display trees in fresh water. Do not mix anything in the water including packets or products that claim to keep your tree fresher. Just plain fresh water is all you need.
Make a fresh, straight, perpendicular cut 1/2" thick from the base of the tree.
Place tree in water as soon as possible, no longer than 6 to 8 hours after making a fresh cut.
Use a tree stand large enough to hold 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter.
Definitely use a stand that matches the tree height. We have three sizes here at Garden District.
Try to keep displayed tree away from sources of heat.
The temperature of the water used to fill the stand is not important and does not affect water uptake.
Check the stand daily to make sure the level of water does not go below the base of the tree.
Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake
Use lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights.
Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed.

The type of tree is also a factor. This year we are only carrying Fraser Firs, which are known to stay fresh for long periods of time. Last year, I had a Fraser Fir in my house and I did not seem to have any problem placing it close to a heat source, a vent close to the front bay window. I kept the tree well watered and that seemed to do the trick.

Here's what really pulled the whole thing together making it that much more special. For safety reasons, I did not want to keep the lights on while I was out of the house. So I connect the tree lights to a timer (can be found at most hardware stores) and set the lights to go on when I returned home from work in the evening and go off before I went to bed.

The Christmas Trees Are In/ Important Facts

Garden District — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:48:00 +0000

The Christmas trees we received this year are beautiful. In my opinion, they're the best we've received so far. I can tell just by the customer reaction.... they're buying the first tree we open and saying "that's the one." It gives me great delight.

This year I took a leap and decided to head south to visit the North Carolina Christmas tree growers. The supplier I ultimately chose has won prestigious awards in the industry and has provided many trees to the White House. What ultimately impressed me, however, was seeing how incredibly organized their operation was and how knowledgeable they were.

I took another leap and decided to order all Fraser Fir Christmas trees. They are the best in terms of fragrance, shape, long-lasting, and dependability. Their needles are two tone: blue and green that sparkle when lighted. They have that perfect pyramidal shape that says Christmas.

Fraser Firs are indigenous to the Appalachian Mountain Region, which is further reason to have a Fraser. The are grown locally which is good for freshness and our local economy. It also seems to me that having a Christmas tree from your local region is more traditional and fitting then say a non-native or worse, one produced artificially in foreign countries.

Also, I am happy to announce that:

Christmas trees are a renewable and recyclable resource
For every Christmas Tree harvested, up to 3 seedlings are planted in its place the following spring
There are about 500,000 acres in production for growing Christmas trees in the U.S., each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people
There are about 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S. and over 100,000 people employed in the industry
It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retails sale height (6-7 feet).

For the next couple of weeks I will continue to write about Christmas trees. Stay tuned for information about Christmas tree care, selecting, historical facts, and holiday safety.

For my final tip... Fraser Firs are so stunning they really don't need much effort or ornamentation. One year I picked out a medium sized Fraser Fir about 7-8 feet. The relationship from tree top to ceiling was perfect, leaving about 4 feet in between. I wrapped the tree full with white lights and capped it with a large bow. For the tree skirt and to cover the stand, I used a piece of rich Burgundy velvet (found at Columbia Rd. fabric house).

That year, from my front bay window, I remember my tree just sparkled .

Fall Clearance Sale

Garden District — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 20:10:00 +0000

Plant now, save, and then reward yourself with a beautiful garden in the Spring.

Now uisntil November 19th almost everything --perennials, shrubs, tools, and fertilizers--are on sale 40, 50, and 60% off.

Two excellent reasons to garden now:
(1) Fall plantings put your perennials on their own natural "rhythm" and provide a head start for the Spring.

(2) You can fill up the garden inexpensively with perennials and shrubs that will return year after year. Evergreens provide year-round interest and cover up those bare spots in the winter garden.

Don't forget Spring flowering bulbs. At the sale price of $3.95 for 10 you can make a huge impact for a small investment that returns year after year. I planted 50 daffodil bulbs just in my tree box and 30 allium bulbs in the front garden. Because I planted in large numbers, using one variety per section, the display was fantastic, literally stopping traffic. It was my pride and joy.

Now I'm waiting for the next long slow rain that hits us, because then I will fertilize my garden. I fertilize once in Spring and once in Fall, using half as much in the Fall. Fertilizers are 50% off now at the shop, fertilizing instructions are on the package. ...and why do I wait for the rain? Just like the "feel" to it. I like to think that the fertilizer slowly steeps into the ground giving my plants that last extra nourishing punch.

Finally, to do a good job, have the right equipment. You'll enjoy your gardening experience that much more. All tools 40% off.