Garden Plants For Landscaping

Nikko Blue Hydrangea

Why Nikko Blue Hydrangea Is the Perfect Addition to Your Garden The stunning Nikko Blue Hydrangea is a shrub that grows its clusters in semi-shaded areas. The vibrant azure flowers bloom with handsome green foliage, usually on old wood. Sometimes, these deciduous flowers bloom with a pink, purple, or white hue instead of azure. While many people might consider the shrub a "showy" plant, that does not make it any less beautiful; it is fast-growing and easy to maintain, with its best bloom time in late spring or early summer. Plan to water regularly to keep the soil moist (i.e., a couple of times a week). Good companion plants include Holly, Rose of Sharon, Azaleas, and Sweetspires. If left to its own devices, this native Japanese plant can quickly reach four to six feet tall and wide. It typically grows at a rate of approximately 24 inches per year. How to Care for Nikko Blue Hydrangea Expert Tips for Beautiful Blooms This kind of shrub likes moist soil that drains well. The most important thing to consider is the soil's acidity, or lack thereof, which ultimately plays a significant role in determining bloom color. More acidic soil produces that vibrant azure color, but pink appears with more alkaline mixtures. You can raise acidity by adding sphagnum peat moss to the soil or nitrogen fertilizer. When fully grown, some Nikko Blue hydrangeas can still grow in temperatures as frigid as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, newer, younger plants must be grown in temperatures below 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally, these plants like mid to high humidity at any age, growing particularly well in summer. However, too much of a dry climate, like what you might find in a desert, can make the plant wither and droop. The Stunning Beauty of Nikko Blue Hydrangea A Must-Have for Any Landscape Nikko blue hydrangeas require very little pruning. If you need to prune or cut your plant back, plan to do so before early fall and late summer to avoid cutting set buds or blooms. Cutting set buds could mean you don't grow flowers the following year. On the other hand, dead branches can be trimmed at any time.

Ajuga Reptans

Discover the Beauty and Versatility of Ajuga Reptans for Your Garden Ajuga Reptans is a fast-growing member of the mint family. It is known to spread quickly enough via runners to become invasive in some areas. The reptans part of its Latin name means "to creep." It is a naturalized North American plant introduced from several places in Europe and Asia. Ajuga Reptans grow well in Hardiness Zones 3 through 10. They are susceptible to most dirt, though they prefer slightly acidic. Fully grown plants generally stand 6" to 8" high; flower stalks can grow to 12". Each plant may extend up to 12". They quickly form mats, especially in shaded areas beneath other trees and shrubs. The plant is hardy enough to grow beneath black walnut trees. Ajuga Reptans A Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Solution The plant's growth speed can be controlled by where it is planted. Plants in shadier areas tend to grow faster than those in sunnier regions. The plant is best planted in rock gardens, container-edged beds, or wide-open areas that need ground cover quickly. It lends itself well to erosion control. It should not be planted near any less hardy flowers at home, as it may choke them out. Transform Your Landscape with Vibrant Ajuga Reptans Plants They should be periodically divided and thinned, at minimum, every third year. They flower through the spring and summer, generally beginning in May or June. Pinching off runners helps with this, too. The flowers are blue, purple, or white, though there is at least one cultivar with pink flowers. Other cultivar strains have leaves that are multi-colored or variegated. Beyond thinning, the Ajuga Reptans is relatively low-maintenance. It needs no extra fertilizer and is worry-free against most garden pests. However, care should be taken in areas of high humidity to ensure properly drained soil and prevent southern rot. It is deer and rabbit-resistant.