How to Anticipate the Frost in Moultonborough

Garden Center

Fall has arrived, and with it will soon come frost. We never know when it will come exactly, but it doesn’t have to take us by surprise. Here’s how you can anticipate the first frost, so you can save your plants and prepare for winter effectively! 

Step 1: Know Your First Frost Date

The first step to anticipating frost is to be aware of the first frost date. That’s the average date we’ve historically received our first frost each fall. In Moultonborough, October 10 is the first frost date; that doesn’t mean that we receive frost every year on that day, but we should prepare for the possibility of frost in the weeks and days around that time.  

Step 2: Check the New Hampshire Weather Forecasts

There once was a time when gardeners had to anticipate frost based on signs in the air and sky around them. Today, we can take advantage of weather reports. Keep an eye open for “frost advisories,” which are issued when nighttime lows are between 33 and 36 degrees, and “freeze warnings,” which occur when there’s an 80% chance of temps below 32 degrees. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center-Moultonborough-Step 3: Intuit the Weather

Let’s face it; weather predictions aren’t always accurate. Plus, some days, you may forget to check the weather forecast altogether. That’s not a problem. Chances are, as a gardener, you’ve already developed an intuitive rapport with the weather around you. If you sense a brisk and unusually chilly feeling in the air at dusk, wake up to the possibility that frost may be coming. When anticipating frost yourself, it also helps to keep the following factors in mind:

  • How warm was it that day? If temps were above 75 degrees, there’s a slim chance you’ll receive frost that night. 
  • Is it clear or cloudy? Cloud-covered skies prevent radiant heat from escaping the earth and thus reduce the likelihood of frost. Frost is more likely on clear nights.  
  • Is it windy or still? Windy nights prevent cold air from collecting, thus reducing the chance of frost. On the other hand, a still night allows cold air to gather, giving frost the chance to work its magic. 

Step 4: Consider Microclimates on Your Property

Microclimates can make frost more likely in some areas than others. Any place at the bottom of a hill, where cold air settles, is more likely to receive frost than on a hill or a south-facing slope. On the other hand, higher elevations may lower nighttime temperatures enough to bring frost to your property, but not your neighbor’s. Be aware of any cold pockets in your landscape and prepare accordingly when you’re reading the weather report or sensing a cold night ahead.

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center-Moultonborough-Preparing Your Plants for Frost and Winter in New Hampshire

Just because frost is coming doesn’t mean it has to spell the end of your garden. To protect your plants overnight and extend your harvest, you can cover them with a light, breathable tarp or old bedsheet. Make sure none of the plants are touching the covering, and use rocks to weigh down the edges so no cold drafts can enter. 

How to Prevent Winter Burn on Your Plants

Anticipating frost also comes hand in hand with anticipating cold temperatures and preparing for winter. Winter burn, also known as windburn, can be prevented by preparations in the fall. Winter burn occurs on evergreen shrubs and trees that lose too much water over the winter. Sunny or windy exposures suck water from their needles, which the tree roots cannot replace when the ground is frozen. Winter burn appears as dead foliage in the spring. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center-Moultonborough-To prevent it, water any vulnerable evergreens throughout the fall until the ground freezes. Mulch around the plant up to the drip line to retain moisture throughout the winter. Don’t prune evergreens in the fall, as pruning stimulates new growth and may prevent them from properly hardening off. 

Watering Your Plants During the Winter 

Besides preparations in the fall, winter watering may be helpful for some plants in your landscape. In particular, evergreens and young trees are susceptible to drying out, especially during dry periods with no snow or in windy and sunny locations. Watering them about once per month will help them retain the moisture they need during winter dormancy. Choose a time when temperatures exceed 40 degrees, and the soil is dry to the touch.  

Anticipating the first frost and winter plant preparations are two important tasks in the fall garden. For more information, visit Stephens Landscaping Garden Center in Moultonborough, NH, and follow along on Facebook or Instagram

How Well Do You Know Your Soil?

Garden Center

As gardeners, we often focus on the beautiful flowers and plants above ground, but what’s going on in the soil is essential to everything else. This living layer of earth is where the plants get their stability, water, and nutrients to grow. It’s worthwhile to understand the different types of growing mediums, learn which ones are best for which plants, and discover ways to amend the soil. Here’s what you need to know!  

What Is Topsoil? 

Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil in a garden, lawn, or anywhere in nature where plants are growing. It’s composed of a rich mixture of minerals, organic material from decomposing plants, and billions of microorganisms. Topsoil is essential for biological activity on the planet, as well as a healthy garden. 

The topsoil you find in garden centers is harvested from the top 1-2 feet of soil from new construction sites or areas under development. The rocks are screened out, and it’s packaged for sale. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - How well do you know your soil- filling up raised garden with soilWhat is “Garden Soil”? 

You’ll also find products labeled “garden soil.” This is topsoil enriched with compost, other organic material, or nutrients to benefit specific garden plants. When building a new garden bed, garden soil makes an excellent growing medium, or you can create your own mixture of topsoil, compost, manure, etc. Garden soil is not the best for potted plants as it’s too dense and retains too much moisture, resulting in root rot. 

What is Potting Soil? 

Potting soil is a growing medium best suited for potted plants, both indoors and outdoors. It may or may not contain actual “soil” harvested from the earth, depending on the blend. Most blends include a lightweight mixture of organic materials, like shredded bark, peat moss, and sphagnum moss combined with perlite, vermiculite, or pumice for drainage. The mixtures are sterile, meaning they’re free of pathogens or fungi that could infect the plants.     

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - How well do you know your soil - prepping seed planting trays with soilDifferent Kinds of Potting Mixes 

Besides regular all-purpose potting soil, you’ll find specific potting mixes designed for the needs of specific plants. Cactus and succulent mixes contain a higher ratio of sand to improve drainage and imitate desert conditions. Orchid mixes contain more shredded bark to mimic the habitat where orchids usually grow. You’ll also find seed starting mixes, which are finer, lighter, and don’t have as much nutrient content as a regular potting mix. 

How to Amend Your Garden Soil 

To amend your garden soil means to add materials to improve nutrients or to fix a problem like poor drainage or unfavorable pH. Generally, if your plants are thriving, you won’t need to worry about amendments other than a yearly addition of compost or manure to replenish nutrients. 

If you see your plants are having a problem, and you suspect it’s a soil issue, it’s worthwhile to have your soil tested to find the proper diagnosis. Your local county extension office can provide a soil test for a minimal fee. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - How well do you know your soil-soil ph test meterAmending for pH 

Proper soil pH is essential for plants as it allows them to absorb nutrients from the soil. If your soil pH is too acidic, you can add lime to bring it back to neutral. Or, if your soil is too alkaline, you can lower the pH by adding sulfur. This process should be done in stages, not all at once, so your plants can adjust slowly. 

Amending Soil Texture 

The best soil for most garden plants is called loam, which is neither too dense nor too sandy and is just the right texture for good moisture retention, drainage, and airflow. 

A simple way to test texture is to pick up some soil in your hand and squeeze it. You’ve got good loamy soil if it forms a ball before crumbling away. If it doesn’t form a ball, it may be too sandy. If it compacts into a ball and doesn’t crumble, you could be dealing with dense, clay-based soil. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - How well do you know your soil- planting geranium flowersThe best way to amend either clay or sandy soil is to add organic material, like compost or manure. This helps sandy soil retain moisture and improve density. It also loosens up clay-based soil, allowing more room for air and water to flow through. Plus, overall, compost and manure add essential nutrients and microbial activity that improve any soil type.         

For more information on the best soil for your plants, drop by our garden center in Moultonborough, and keep in touch through Facebook or Instagram

The Best Flower Combinations for Stellar Gardens

Garden Center

One plus one often equals much more than two—and that’s especially true in the garden. A full-blooming flower on its own is a sight to behold, but surrounding it with contrasting blooms is where gardening meets artistry. In a sense, gardening is all about creating stellar flower combinations that elevate one another. Here are a few to get you started!   

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Perennial Garden Combinations --salvia daylily and garden phlox flowersSalvia – Daylily – Garden Phlox

Salvia is the first of this trio to open its flowers. The indigo towers bloom in late spring, and if you cut them back, they continue flowering all the way until fall. They’re soon joined by the beautiful contrast of daylilies, which unfurl a barrage of yellow or orange flowers from late spring to early summer. The glowing pink petals of garden phlox join the mix by midsummer. 

These complimentary flower shapes and colors are sure to make a stellar portrait in the garden. All of them prefer full sun and well-drained soil.  

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Perennial Garden Combinations --catmint tickseed and blazing star flowersCatmint – Tickseed – Blazing Star 

Here’s a combination to take the spotlight in the middle of the growing season! It begins with the light blue glow of catmint, along with its soothing fragrance, in late spring. From June to September, tickseed unfurls a cloud of bright yellow flowers above the finely textured leaves. By midsummer, blazing star displays impressive wands of frizzy lavender petals.   

The combination of heights and colors brings a splendid contrast to the perennial garden during the hottest months. These plants prefer full sun to part shade and average moisture.  

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Perennial Garden Combinations -echinacea goldenrod and new england asterEchinacea – Goldenrod – New England Aster 

This triad of flowers brings music to the garden in late summer and fall. The fluorescent purple or white petals of echinacea start blooming in midsummer. They carry on their tune right into the fall when they’re joined by the sunset yellows of goldenrod. New England aster joins the chorus around the same time—late August or early September—with the star-like violet petals.  

These late-season bloomers provide a banquet for the senses, as well as the pollinators. They all thrive in full sun or part shade and well-draining soil. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Perennial Garden Combinations -ligularia swamp mallow and great blue lobelia flowersLigularia – Swamp Milkweed – Great Blue Lobelia 

Here’s a combination to take advantage of any wet conditions in the garden. Ligularia’s vibrant yellow or orange blooms and mound of dramatic foliage set the scene with a cheerful backdrop. Then comes the swamp milkweed with its clouds of pink petals, which butterflies adore. Meanwhile, the great blue lobelia unfurls towers of ethereal blue petals above leafy stems throughout the summer. 

This stellar combination thrives in wet meadows, moist soils, or at the edge of ponds. They’re also great candidates for a rain garden.   

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Perennial Garden Combinations -hosta white aster and fern plantsHosta – White Wood Aster – Fern

Here’s a team of perennials to bring beauty to the shade garden. Hostas offer lush green or variegated green leaves and subtle pink or white flowers that open sometime during the summer, depending on the variety. The white wood aster, like other asters, saves its beautiful white blooms for the fall. Meanwhile, ferns anchor the space with graceful green fronds that freshen the air throughout the growing season. 

If you were ever wondering what to do with a shady area, this is a great combination to try. Ferns like evenly moist soil, while the hosta and white wood aster are adaptable to many soil types.

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Perennial Garden Combinations -summer garden sunset over the flowersHow to Create Your Own Flower Combinations 

If you’re feeling creative, try experimenting with your own perennial combinations. Look for beautiful color contrasts, varied leaf textures, and differing flower shapes. Keep in mind that combining plants with similar light, soil, and moisture needs will give your garden the best opportunity to thrive. 

For more inspiration on stellar garden flower combinations, visit our garden center in Moultonborough, and follow us on Facebook or Instagram

Everything You Need to Know About Mulch

Garden Center · Landscape Design

Mulch is arguably an essential part of the garden. It adds beauty, reduces our workload, and benefits the soil in many ways. There are so many types of mulch available; how do you choose the best one? Here’s a breakdown of wood and rock mulch and the advantages and trade-offs of each kind!  

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - everything you need to know about mulch -bean bag toss game with mulch playing areaThe Benefits of Wood Mulch 

Wood mulch usually comes in two forms: bark mulch and wood chips. Both are by-products of the lumber and paper industries, offering many benefits to the home garden. 

  • Moisture: they hold moisture in the soil, reducing the need for water. 
  • Protection: they protect the soil from erosion, wind, rain, and UV rays. Plus, they protect plants from extremes of heat and cold and the thaw-freeze cycle of early spring.
  • Reduce Weeding: mulch significantly reduces your weeding by preventing weeds from accessing the soil. 
  • Improve Soil: as the mulches break down, they furnish the soil with decaying organic matter and nutrients, which benefits the whole garden ecosystem. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - everything you need to know about mulch -wood mulch in gardenBark Mulch vs. Wood Chips 

Both share all of the advantages mentioned above and differ mainly in aesthetics. You’ll find a wide selection of sizes and colors among both bark mulch and wood chips. The choice is mainly a personal preference about what you find beautiful and how your mulch best fits into the overall look of your landscape. 

A small consideration is that large, chunky mulch generally takes longer than small ones to break down and tends to shift around more in the garden during rainfall. Mulch from certain types of trees, like cedar, also lasts longer since the wood naturally resists decay.     

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - everything you need to know about mulch -mulch pathway of rocksThe Benefits of Rock Mulch 

Rocks are another way to enhance the beauty of your garden, protect the soil, and reduce the workload of weeding. Rocks don’t break down as quickly as wood mulch, meaning you don’t have to replace them as often. If they become dirty, you can hose them off, and if leaves fall on them, it’s easy to blow any debris from the surface. 

A trade-off of their durability is that they don’t add nutrients to the soil. They can also be annoying to move if you want to access the soil for new plantings, etc. During the hot summer days, rocks also capture the heat, making them ideal for cactus gardens, rock gardens, or plants that benefit from warm and dry soil.

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - everything you need to know about mulch -rock mulch in gardenTypes of Rock Mulch 

  • River Rock: these are smooth, naturally weathered stones in uniform gray, white, black, or a mix of colors. They come in different sizes. 
  • Crushed Stone: this mulch is made by crushing larger rocks. As a result, they have a rugged texture. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. 
  • Gravel and Pebble: these are the smallest type of rock mulch. They lend a particular zen look to a garden and are easier to shift around if necessary. They can be smooth like river rock or rugged like crushed stone.  

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - Everything You Need to Know About Mulch-assorted bulk mulchWhat Is the Best Type of Mulch?     

All mulch has the benefits of enhancing the beauty of your garden, reducing weeds, and protecting soil from the elements. Beyond that, wood mulch has the extra benefit of bringing nutrients to the soil, whereas rock mulch has the advantage of being durable. There’s really no “best” type of mulch. The choice is yours, depending on your tastes and application in the garden

Straw, grass clippings, and shredded leaves bring many practical benefits to the garden as well. They hold in moisture, suppress weeds, protect the soil surface, and add nutrients to the garden. However, these products don’t bring the same aesthetic benefit. They’re best in vegetable gardens or to add a layer of nutrients to a bed before winter. 

Stephens Landscaping Garden Center - everything you need to know about mulch -strawberries in straw mulchHow to Install Mulch 

Mulch is pretty straightforward to install, provided that you follow some basic guidelines. Ideally, you should have 2–3 inches of mulch evenly spread throughout your garden bed—don’t make piles around the base of your plants, as this can harbor pests! Ensure you don’t bury your plants or go above the crown of the plant—it will cause the plant to generate roots too high and girdle the plant. Make sure you leave your perennials uncovered so they can come back next year, and you’re all set! 

When it’s time to add more mulch, take a look at the condition of your existing mulch before you add more; old mulch can become compacted over time, or it might not break down the way you anticipated. If your mulch isn’t breaking down, adding more will thicken the layer of mulch beyond the recommended 3-inch maximum, which won’t help your garden! In this case, it’s best to clear out the previous layers before adding fresh mulch.

To find the best type of mulch for your garden, visit our garden center in Moultonborough, where you can peruse our bulk products, including spruce and hemlock, and our wide selection of bagged mulch, including cedar. We also have a handy bulk material calculator on our website to tackle the math for your project! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest sales and updates!