I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout

Spring is often hailed as a time of rebirth. Custom Gardens, LLC welcomes you with an invitation to enjoy news, tips, and monthly spotlighted plants in our reawakened newsletter!

Plant of the Month

We’ve selected March 2011 as a wonderful time to celebrate Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum). This hearty, vining, deciduous plant is now in full bloom. Filled with cheerful flowers that onlookers can enjoy for many weeks each winter into spring, March is a perfect time to plant Winter Jasmine. These plants are amazing accents to slopes and walls as they soften hard edges and look beautiful bounding down a slope. Thriving in the sun and some shade, Winter Jasmine helps retain soil to prevent erosion and is not only disease resistant but easy to maintain; frequent pruning is not necessary, and there is no need to remove flowers (deadhead).

Helpful Hint for March

If you’d like to try your hand at growing your own summer fruits and vegetables, March is a fantastic time to start indoor seeds of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and other edible garden items. Tomatoes are best started now – late in the month – to avoid leggy plants come May.

Did You Know…

Your landscaping can be spared and even enhanced during home remodeling! Custom Gardens was contacted by a homeowner with a predicament; remodeling was scheduled, the contractor needed access to the house and deck, but the property’s landscaping was already designed and installed. Issue? Not at all. We assessed the grounds and moved the plants, planting them elsewhere on the property while the remodeling occurs. Among the relocated plants are shrubs such as Persian lilac, flame bushes, witch hazel, and perennials including meadow rue, hostas, and hollyhocks. Some will stay in their new locations, some will be moved back to landscape the new look of the home, and all will be positioned to best effect in the property overall. While this property was a Custom Gardens design and installation and we were delighted to be asked back, remember that we can advise any property owner on whether to keep, remove, or relocate their plants – as well as complete the work for you.

In the News

Custom Gardens was proud to participate as a sponsor of the March 5, 2011 “Think Pink, Live Green” conference held at Lankenau Hospital. ”Think Pink, Live Green” is a program developed by Dr. Marisa Weiss, Founder and President of Breastcancer.org and Director of Radiation Oncology at Lankenau Hospital. With all sponsors representing businesses that promote health and wellness, Custom Gardens believes firmly in the connection between a healthy landscape and a healthy person. We spotlighted our indoor and outdoor gardens that provide calm, relief, and refreshment. Designing and installing meditation and other gardens that are soothing and restful to a client, we are able to cater to low maintenance needs as well. Custom Gardens also offers care and maintenance services for landscapes, gardens, and plants when the owners are unable to manage the care themselves.

All the Time

We invite you to contact us at 610.613.7506 for a consultation. Available to discuss indoor plants (what and where) as well as indoor and outdoor specialty gardens and landscapes, we are in the business of offering you ideas to make your property and everyday view more attractive and enjoyable.

Sincerely,

Ellen Covner
Custom Gardens, LLC