Green Thumb Tuesday -- Spring Flowering Shrubs to Plant This Fall

Flowering shrubs possess a variety of functional landscape qualities. Planting a flowering shrub approaching an entryway creates a better focal point. An unattractive or high building foundation can be camouflaged with plantings. Near a home they soften the landscape by breaking up hard lines. Some flowering shrubs and trees are particularly effective in controlling erosion. If bordered by flowering shrubs or trees, even a driveway can be transformed from a utilitarian component of a landscape to an aesthetic achievement.

To take full advantage of your spring flowering shrubs, you really need to start the autumn before. This is the ideal time to plant so they have time to acclimate and develop root structure before they must concentrate energies on making blooms. Most shrubs will bloom best if they receive 6 hours or more of sun a day, and 4 hours of sun is usually the bare minimum. If you have a shady location, try a variety of hydrangea. WPC has used such flowering shrubs in selected shady sections of community gardens.

Today's photo is a hydrangea flowering at Phipps Conservatory, taken by WPC Community Conservation Landscape Service Specialist Art DeMeo.

Naturally Creepy Places Week is now a part of the ages. We ask you to revisit our five candidates and vote for your favorite creepy locale. The winning locale will be announced this Thursday, October 28th.

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