Garden Blog

ASCLEPIAS CINDERELLA MILKWEED

10 Durable Native Plants for Landscapes

If a durable, lower maintenance landscape is what you’re seeking, you’ll find this list of reliable native shrubs and perennials helpful. We offer many cultivars of native plants (sometimes referred to as “nativars”) here at Garden Crossings, but we’ve selected these ten for their unique beauty and ease of growth. Find details about where they’ll

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Weigela Wine and Roses Hedge photo courtesy of Proven Winners

What is the best way to choose plants for hedges?

Photo Courtesy of Susan Martin Caption: Rather than creating a single hedge, this homeowner layered this shrub border with a mix of small to medium sized flowering shrubs in front of tall evergreens. This creates a more interesting landscape that has something to offer in every season. So, you want to grow a hedge! Let’s

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Juniper Gin Fizz-Thuja American Pillar hedge_Photo courtesy of Susan Martin

7 of Our Best Evergreen Shrubs for Privacy Hedges

Photo Courtesy of Spring Meadow If you are looking for a hedge that stays green all year, or one that will afford you a greater degree of privacy year-round, you’ve come to the right place. We’re sharing seven of our best evergreen shrubs for creating privacy hedges in your landscape here. With a mix of

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What is an ornamental? blog header image - Daylily on salad - Photo courtesy of Proven Winners

What is an Ornamedible?

The term “ornamedible” is picking up steam with today’s gardeners and you might be wondering what it actually means. Ornamedible is a plant that combines both ornamental and edible qualities into one – something you might grow primarily for one use or the other, but ultimately fulfills both roles. You might also think of it

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hydrangea_paniculata_bobo in pot_photo courtesy of Proven Winners

How to Grow Hydrangeas in Planters

Let’s Dance® Blue Jangles® and Rave® hydrangeas are just the right size for showcasing in patio containers. They are paired here with Supertunia® petunias, Superbena® verbena, Diamond Frost® euphorbia and Catalina® torenia. Photo courtesy of Proven Winners. If this looks like your dream patio, read on to find out how to grow hydrangeas in pots

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Butterfly House

We Built a Butterfly House!

Here in West Michigan, the “Butterflies are Blooming” event at our local botanical garden is one of the biggest attractions every year in late winter. So, we thought, why not build a butterfly house right here at Garden Crossings? We love watching butterflies and grow many of the nectar and host plants they need, so

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Mother Daughter garden scene_photo courtesy of Proven Winners

5 Tips for Starting a Garden with Your Kids

If you were lucky enough to have plenty of outdoor time when you were young, think about how those experiences shaped your life going forward. You love having time to spend out in your garden now, whether it’s just a few minutes to harvest the peppers you’ll be using in tonight’s dinner or a few

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5 Ways to Make Your Garden Feel More Tropical

When I visit southern Florida, there’s always one simple pleasure I look forward to — exiting the airport doors and stepping out into the warm, humid air for the first time. There’s an instant rush of oxygen as I take in the lush plantings around me. Things I’ve only grown as small houseplants overflow in

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Outdoor Fireplace with dog_Photo courtesy of Proven Winners

10 Ideas for Cozy Outdoor Spaces

When summer arrives, we want to spend every moment we can soaking up the sunshine and fresh air. Instead of being couped up in front of the TV at night, we move our living spaces out onto our decks or under our pergolas and build a fire in the outdoor fireplace. If you’re looking for

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5 Award Winning Plants Everyone Should Grow

As a confessed plant lover, I want them all—every beautiful plant I see at the garden center wants desperately to come home with me and I am happy to accommodate. That is, until I run out of room in my garden. To have ten acres of open land and an unlimited budget to collect all

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Mini Vista supertunia bed

Which Supertunia® Is the Best Fit for Me?

With so many amazing flowers to choose from, including dozens of vibrant Supertunias®, how do you decide which ones are best for you? Supertunias® are all petunias but they vary quite a bit in size and habit. Their names hold a clue as to how they grow. Let’s take a closer look at all the different

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Why Innovative Plant Breeding Makes Such a Difference

Plant breeders work every day to refine the plants we love to grow in our gardens. They are passionate about developing new varieties that offer desirable traits like greater disease resistance, a longer bloom time, and that are easier to grow. If you gave up planting something years ago because it had an undesirable trait,

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