This is often a really confusing area for most gardeners, but we will break it down into cultivars and have specific answers for specific hydrangeas.

Paniculata Hydrangeas

The most popular common name for these hydrangeas is the “limelight” variety.  These hydrangeas bloom on old and new growth so they can be pruned just about any time of the year.  A lot of people typically prune them back in the winter, but some people do not prune them at all and they leave the old blooms on the stem to accent the landscape in the winter.

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Planters are a great way to add some zest to your landscape.  We use planters to add some interest and definition near the front door, a focal point in a landscape, or to add some height in a landscape.  Here are a few practical pointers to help you accent your landscaping with planters.

Types of Planters for the Landscape

Planters, pots and urns come in all shapes, sizes and styles.  My favorite planter types are glazed urns, stained concrete planters, cast iron, and terra cotta.  Each pot has it positive and negative attributes.  Stained concrete is a great all around value.  Although not as high end of a choice as the cast iron, they are tough, long lasting, and attractive.  Cast iron planters are usually very expensive and usually being black painted metal which means they will get very hot in full sun.  Its best to use these in shady areas so that the plantings will not be damaged from heat exhaustion.  Glazed urns and terra cotta are also a great choice.  These are usually expensive and fragile, but their affect on a landscape is stunning especially when the them of the landscape demands the special affect these planters can offer.   Unfortunately, they can sometimes be prone to crack with freezing temperatures.

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Annual flowers can add an incredible color to any landscape.  Unfortunately, due to the climate here in Macon, GA, there are far less options in the Winter.  The common options are typically pansies, violas, panolas, snap dragons, kale and cabbage.  We plant mainly violas instead of pansies because they are self-cleaning and do not require deadheading.  I think the secret to any annual flower composition is mounding great soil for drainage and nutrients, having a dedicated sprinkler watering them and a slow release fertilizer.

Annual Flower Bed Preparation

We like to use high quality compost that is well draining with nutrients.  Mounding up the annual beds also helps the beds drain much better.  Due to the heat and Summer drought conditions we can experience in the Macon area, we usually install a dedicated irrigation spray head for each flower bed so they are sure to get the correct amount of irrigation.   We also use a slow release fertilizer, but we typically do not use Osmocote because I feel like it does not break down fast enough.

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