Garden Archives - The Rock Pile Garden Center Landscape Mateterials, Firewood, Mulch, Topsoil

Hanging Basket parenting 101

May 082013

It’s not easy being a new parent, and don’t you wish those precious bundles came with instructions? Well, they do.

I’m talking about hanging baskets, of course. I can’t help you with the other kind of parenting.

Hanging baskets are pretty easy once you get the “hang” of them. Here’s a handy summary of everything you need to know about caring for your beautiful new addition to your family.

(FYI: All combination hanging baskets are full sun)

Cleaning

Petunias need to be deadheaded in order to maintain a heavy bud count.

Trim long and stringy stalks; this will help the basket to grow bigger and fuller.

Watering

Water by weight. For example, if basket is heavy, it doesn’t need water. If the basket is light, it needs water. You can also water by the color of the soil; if it’s a light, tan color, it needs water.

Try to water at least once a day.

Make sure to fertilize your basket once a week with Jack’s Classic or Jack’s Blossom Booster.

Organic Gardening with Dr. Earth

Featured, Garden No Responses »

Mar 252013

Organic Gardening

So you’ve decided you want to go with an all organic garden this year. We have a great line from Dr. Earth, an organization founded in California 20 years ago, with the goal to contribute to the health of our environment and mankind. Their brand contains no synthetic materials and is 100% organic and can boost the health and well-being of your garden. The base of all gardens is the soil that you use for it. Dr. Earth has their own “Mother Land” blend of planting mix that works wonderfully for vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs, and many other plants. This planting mix is very unique and has characteristics that set it apart from other soils. The first thing that it has to help your plants is its probiotics. Without making this too complicated you can think about it the same way that probiotics work for us; they help us with our digestive system and our immune health, and they do the same for your plants. The planting mix also includes a blend of Aloe Vera and Yucca extract. The Aloe Vera does what it does when we use it for ourselves by helping with moisture of the soil. It helps to hold the moisture and distribute the healthy microbes to increase the plant growth.

Once you have your base of planting mix you are ready to start planting. Now you may ask: What do I do when planting my trees, shrubs, vegetable, and other flowers? Dr. Earth has the answer for that too. When you go to plant you will want to use the Dr. Earth Starter Fertilizer to help with the initial growth. This fertilizer is a “quick release” fertilizer; this means that you will see quick results and notice how it starts to grow. Although it is a quick release but it does not peter out quickly and stop working. It continues to feed your plant for several months.

After you have started your plants you will also want to check out our line of more specific fertilizers. We have a few different types of specific fertilizers for your plants. We have a Bulb Food; Rose and Flower Fertilizer; Tomato, Vegetable and Herb; Fruit Tree Fertilizer; and an All Purpose Fertilizer. You will want to apply this about a week after planting. Remove some of the soil that is around the base of the plant, apply the fertilizer and work the soil back in and water. This will activate the fertilizer and help the growth. With high-nitrogen synthetic fertilizers you may be afraid of burning the roots. With Dr. Earth you have no worries; these are all organic fertilizers they will not burn any of your roots.

To determine which Dr. Earth bag is best suited for your garden you can read the yellow stripe at the bottom of the bag. If you cannot find what you are growing don’t be worried; the All Purpose Fertilizer will work for well for almost everything (make sure to check with an employee for any questions about any specific plants we are more than happy to help). Don’t forget to pick up your free copy of the Ohio Gardener for more information on your organic garden.

Container Gardening with Bulbs

Garden 1 Response »

Sep 112012

Love bulbs and container gardens? You’ll LOVE this!

A few years ago we talked about container gardening with bulbs, and customers loved the results. Follow the tips below and you’ll have great results come spring!

Pick your bulbs

Start by getting a couple of different types of bulbs, with varying heights and colors.

Pick your container

Then, choose a container with drainage holes and place a thin layer of stone or pebbles at the bottom for extra drainage.

Pick your dirt

Fill with your favorite potting mix (Baccto, Dr. Earth or Garden Magic) to the planting depth desired for your first layer of bulbs (the proper depth is generally twice the height of the bulb).

Plant in layers (keep an eye on depth!)

Plant one layer of bulbs (with the pointed end up) and cover with soil. Water thoroughly. Repeat this planting for as many bulbs as you have, or as long as you have space in the pot, keeping in mind the planting depth of each bulb. Make sure to leave 1 to 2 inches at the top of your container for watering and water your container thoroughly. This layering will give you an outstanding show of blooms in the spring and a bulb container gardening showpiece.

Repeat as desired!

Using multiple pots of varying sizes will allow you to create a composition. Varying heights will add dimension and remember the rule of odds. Groupings of 3′s or 5′s look better than 4′s and 6′s. Now is a great time to plant fall bulbs like hyacinths and daffodils because they will require 10 to 15 weeks of cold treatment to get them into bloom.

Park ‘em

So, after planting your containers, put them in your unheated garage or shed and forget about them until spring when they begin to sprout. Take the container outside and water when needed. This is great for anyone who does not have the time or the room to plant bulbs. Whether you love bulbs or are a first-time bulb planter, container gardening will aid in your bulb education, helping you out for years to come. So go on, experiment, have fun and plant!

Plus, now is a perfect time to try this type of gardening because all of our containers are on sale!

Want more tips for enjoying the world outside your door? Sign up for our email newsletter.

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The Reading List: Back to School Reading for your garden

Bird, Featured, Garden No Responses »

Aug 302012

Are you getting the most out of your backyard hobbies?

Books and magazines for the bird and garden lover not only offer great ways to get more enjoyment out of your outdoor passions, they help reset your mind to take opportunities to be engaged in your hobby.

We know you love your garden and those feathered friends that come to visit your backyard… so why not learn more about how to make your yard even better? The Rock Pile carries the right reading material for you. Whether you want to identify what birds are coming to your feeder or want even more in depth information on specific species, check out our birding books. Want the latest information about gardening? For everything from planting basics to hot new plants perfect for your garden, take a look at our gardening magazines. Hey, the kids have been doing their summer reading lists for months now and back to school doesn’t have to be work, you now get to read about the things you love and how to make the most out of your home. So pick up one of these fantastic reads today and feed the birds, your plants and your mind all at the same time!

Why read gardening or birding magazines (or books)?

You can learn great tips from the experts.
Find out when birds are migrating or if the early spring will effect your harvest.
Wow your neighbors with timely knowledge.
It’s a great way to spend an evening outside with some old-style reading material.
Identify migrating and native birds at your feeder.

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Birds of Ohio Field Guide = $12.95
Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America = $19.95
Bird Watcher’s Digest = $3.99
Birds & Blooms Magazine = $3.99
Ohio Gardener Magazine = $4.95
Dr. Earth Gardening Guide = FREE!

Love to learn? Sign up for email newsletter for great articles!

What’s your favorite gardening or birding publication? Comment below!

Featured Plant: Blue Atlas Cedar

Featured, Garden No Responses »

Aug 232012

Blue Atlas Cedar

A truly dramatic pyramidal tree with clusters of short, somewhat stiff, frosty, silver-blue needles. The uniform stiff ascending branches with spreading branchlets give the tree a full but open look. In old age elegant specimens get broader and develop a flat-topped form. Seed cones are tight and stubby. It is also deer resistant. This ornamental conifer is one of the “True Cedars,” hailing from the mountains of the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Himalayas.

Plant in a sunny site in dry well-drained soil. It will grow 20′ to 30′ in height with a 10′ to 15′ spread. This tree will turn heads.

We recommend a mix of Garden Magic Topsoil, Garden Magic Compost and Manure and Pine Bark Mulch.

We choose our Plants of the Week for their:

Uniqueness

Hardiness

Rareness

Easiness of Growing

Forever Changing Seasonal Colors

Resistance to Insects and Disease

Low Maintenance

Did you know that all of our plants are locally grown right here in Northeast Ohio?

There’s still time to grow late season crops!

Garden No Responses »

Aug 202012

The season’s not over yet!

Didn’t get as much gardening done as you’d intended this year? Looking to enjoy some garden time without the searing heat? Fear not, you haven’t missed out yet! The Rock Pile carries seeds for both late-season vegetables and root crops.

Late-season vegetables (much like many of us) enjoy the cooler end-of-summer temperatures. Many go from seed to maturity in just 45 days, giving you plenty of time to plant and enjoy your garden’s final harvest.

Have you considered root crops? An insulating layer of straw makes it possible to be harvesting from these plants well into November.

Both late season and root crop seeds still have plenty of time to germinate and produce. Enjoy these cooler temperatures with an abundance of late-season and root crop plants. The Rock Pile will carry seeds until August 31^st. Our seed selection includes:

Root Crops:

Beets, carrots, turnips, radishes

Late Season:

Snap pea, collard, swiss chard, leaf and head lettuce, spinach, bush beans, broccoli, herbs, kohlrabi, cabbages, cauliflower, mesculun, endive, and kale.

Hurry! Our seeds will be gone August 31st!

written by Amy

Featured Plant: Weeping Katsura Tree ‘Amazing Grace’

Garden No Responses »

Aug 142012

A truly graceful and artistic tree that is overwhelming in overall attractiveness. Its heart shaped leaves emerge in spring a beautiful reddish purple gradually changing to bluish green in summer and in autumn, all the splendor that is fall, its leaves turn to shades of orange, apricot and yellow.

It grows to a height of 15-25’ with a spread of 10-15’.

Place in full sun or light shade in moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. This tree is a heavy drinker especially in its early years. Don’t be afraid to water.

(We recommend a mix of Garden Magic Topsoil, Garden Magic Compost and Manure, and Pine Bark Mulch.)

We choose our Plants of the Week for their:

Uniqueness

Hardiness

Rareness

Easiness of Growing

Forever Changing Seasonal Colors

Resistance to Insects and Disease

Low Maintenance

Did you know that all of our plants are locally grown right here in Northeast Ohio?

Franklinia Tree: a rare treasure

Featured, Garden 1 Response »

Aug 032012

What’s so awesome about shopping at The Rock Pile? We don’t just carry the “must-haves” when it comes to plants, we look for the “hardly-can-finds”.

This week’s Plant of the Week is the Franklinia Tree.

The shiny dark green foliage is a perfect foil for the large white camellia-like flowers from August through October. In Autumn, the foliage turns to shades of red and maroon. This handsome, small specimen tree deserves a prominent place in any garden.

Named after Benjamin Franklin, it has not been found in the wild since 1790, possibly because squirrels mistake it’s seed capsules for acorns and store them for food. Other suspected causes for its disappearance from the wild are fires, floods and overcollection.

It grows to a height of 15-20′ with a spread of 10-15′.

Place in full sun or light shade in moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. (We recommend a mix of Garden Magic Topsoil, Garden Magic Manure and Pine Bark Mulch.)

History:

Originally found in Georgia by William and John Bertram, brother botanists from Philadelphia, in 1765, the Franklinia tree was named after their father’s good friend, Ben Franklin.

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We choose our Plants of the Week for their:

Uniqueness

Hardiness

Rareness

Easiness of Growing

Forever Changing Seasonal Colors

Resistance to Insects and Disease

Low Maintenance

Did you know that all of our plants are locally grown right here in Northeast Ohio?

Mulch Maintenance…how to keep your plants thriving!

Featured, Garden No Responses »

Jul 242012

After the mulching

You’ve planted your plants, mulched your beds, watered faithfully, fertilized correctly…that’s all there is to a having a healthy flower bed, right? Yes and no. It’s a great start, but there’s is some little-known maintenance to do on your mulch.

After time, mulch will settle and pack down and it can actually become impervious to water and air.

Mulch that has been down for 2 months and is packed down.

Keeping it fresh!

It’s important to occasionally scuff up, or turn over, mulch. Mulch that is deprived of oxygen (when it’s compacted) is more susceptible to mold growth underneath the top layer. Take a rake or cultivator or the garden tool of your choice and turn your mulch over. It may surprise you how stiff that top layer of mulch has become.

I’m using a cultivator here to break up the hardened surface of the mulch.

Once the surface is loosened, the mulch underneath is generally loose and pliable.

Garden Weasel to the rescue

There are other garden tools that make this job really easy. I’m using a basic cultivator here only because I was trying to take a close-up photo while manning the claw myself (multi-tasking at its finest).

Here’s my favorite mulch-turner-over tool:

Garden Weasel… nice spikey things makes mulch maintenance really quick and easy!

The Garden Weasel makes taking care of your mulch so simple! Each of the three spiked wheels are removable to be able to maneuver around your plants with ease.

Keep your plants healthy and happy by keeping your mulch loose!

GardenSoxx® Weed-Free Gardening!

Featured, Garden 1 Response »

May 092012

Gardening can bring unending joy…beautiful flowers, delicious homegrown veggies, attracting birds to your yard…all wonderful benefits of gardening. If it weren’t for those pesky weeds, gardening would be the highlight of just about everybody’s life. If only there was way to avoid weeds altogether…if only… Oh, wait!

GardenSoxx® can help you Simplify Your Love of Gardening™ by eliminating your fight with the unwanted intruders in your otherwise heavenly garden! GardenSoxx® is one of the most simple and unique gardening systems you’ll find, allowing you to put a garden anywhere.

GardenSoxx® are an organic landscape and gardening system which makes use of high quality compost held inside a mesh tube to provide better growing conditions for your plants. This allows gardening anywhere, without leaving any room for weeds!

Irrigation Kit

An 2′ long GardenSoxx® is only $14. 95!

Irrigation kits are also available.

The Rock Pile is also excited to be a distribution center for the Family Garden Initiative,

“a volunteer-driven, community outreach nutrition program developed by Church of the Open Door with help from Filtrexx Foundation that serves low-maintenance, above-ground gardens to low-income families within the community. Our mission is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ by healing urban communities through serving gardens that yield freshly grown produce for families.”

If you would like to volunteer to help distribute the gardens, click here to register.

Play the video below for more information on GardenSoxx®