Tag Archives: myrtle topiaries

It’s Already October!

Welcome to October and fall—the transition to cooler temps and, hopefully, more rain. This is the time of year we all enjoy being outside in the garden!

Pansies and Violas

We have the first shipments of pansies and violas in stock now, and the selection of these hardy winter flowers will only increase as the weeks go on. They are considered “cool season” bloomers, which is why we plant them in the fall for blooms now and the promise of a splash of color next spring. Gardening always gives us something to look forward to!
Now is a great time to remind you that we will have more shrub offerings this fall. The first shrubbery shipments arrive this week. We’re excited to give you more fall planting options this year and will offer more details in the next email.
Another harbinger of fall is the beautiful variety of pumpkins and gourds displayed out frontthat we’ve mentioned on our FB and IG accounts. Swing by and get a collection for your front steps or porch—we have everything to make your home fall-ready!

Decorated Pumpkin

Finally, speaking of pumpkins, we’re having great fun creating our annual decorated pumpkins. They’re truly one of a kind and make great gifts or a wonderful complement to your seasonal décor. Come by and pick up one we’ve made, or choose your own pumpkin and let us design one just for you.
Have a great week and weekend, and we’ll see you soon!

Best Plants for a Stunning Fall Display

We’ve made it through the summer heat—congratulations! By now, those spring plants are probably looking a little tired. After months of blooming, even with the best care, your garden might need a refresh. But don’t worry—this is the perfect time to reimagine your space with fresh plants! We’ve got plenty of late summer and fall options to bring new life to your landscape.

Summer Annuals That Shine in Fall
Some summer annuals can still thrive as the weather cools. Here are a few to consider:

Marigolds

Marigolds

  • Gomphrena – Thrives in heat and transitions beautifully into fall.
  • Marigolds – These cheerful flowers offer vibrant fall colors. Plant them deep for extra support as they grow.
  • Cosmos – Add whimsical charm with these delicate blooms. Just keep them deadheaded for the best display.

 

 

Mums (Chrysanthemums)

Fall Favorites
Certain plants that just scream “fall”:

  • Chrysanthemums (Mums) – Choose mums with buds just starting to show color for the longest bloom time. Handle with care, as their stems can be brittle.
  • Petunias – They love cooler fall temperatures and need less trimming than in summer.

 

 

 

Ornamental Kale

Transitioning to Winter Plants
As it gets cooler, think about classic cold-weather plants like:

  • Pansies
  • Snapdragons
  • Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

These will keep your garden vibrant even as temperatures drop.

Asters

 

Perennials for Fall Color
Don’t forget perennials! They can add late-season interest:

  • Salvias – Many varieties are perennials and will return year after year.
  • Asters – Great for adding purple or blue tones.
  • Goldenrod (Fireworks) – Offers a burst of yellow blooms in late summer and fall.

Don’t Forget to Mix and Match
Combine these plants for stunning fall displays. Mums with marigolds, petunias with cosmos—the possibilities are endless! Need advice or fresh inspiration? Come see us at Oak Street Garden Shop, and let’s keep your garden beautiful all year round!

Autumn Arrivals: Pumpkins, Fresh Blooms, and Seasonal Updates

Pumpkins & Gourds

Fall is here, and to prove it, our first loads of all things Autumn have arrived. We have the most beautiful pumpkins and gourds for your decorating needs, for adorning a porch, or for creating groupings at your front entrance. Come see our selection – the colors and shapes are amazing, and we’ll continue adding to it as the season progresses.

Petunias

We know many of you have had difficulty keeping your plantings looking good through August. But not to worry; this is normal. As we mentioned in a previous post, fresh marigolds, and cosmos have been available to remedy this dire situation. Now, we can also add celosia and petunias to the mix, herbs, and other annuals and perennials.

Unfortunately, it is too early to plant pansies and violas, as the temperatures need to be consistently cooler for them to be happy and do well. We anticipate getting the first shipments of them at the beginning of October.

We are so thankful for the recent rains and hope your landscape has benefited from them.

Ozzy & Liam

Finally, if you are in the neighborhood, please keep a lookout for Liam and give him some extra love… We lost his buddy Ozzie a short time ago to cancer, and we’re all still missing him tremendously. Liam and he were very close, and we know he’s grieving too. Thank you for your love and support of our special fur baby. 

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you soon!

Avoid These Common End-of-Summer Gardening Mistakes

As summer ends, it’s easy to let garden maintenance slide. But if you want your garden to thrive into fall and winter, avoiding some common end-of-summer mistakes is essential. Here’s what to keep in mind as you prepare your garden for the cooler months.

Weeds

🌱 Mistake 1: Letting Weeds Take Over
Weeds are still active in late summer, and if you let them go to seed, you’ll have more trouble next year. Stay on top of weeding, especially in garden beds, to save yourself work down the line.

💧 Mistake 2: Not Adjusting Your Watering
After a long summer, many continue warm-season watering habits into fall but keep in mind that plant needs change with the seasons.

  • Adjust your irrigation – As fall rains arrive, cut back on automatic watering. If you have a rain sensor, use it to avoid watering during a storm.
  • Watch new plants – Pansies and violas need consistent water as they get established. Avoid overwatering snapdragons.

Boxes of Bulbs

🌷 Mistake 3: Forgetting to Plan for Bulbs
Most people don’t think about bulbs until spring, but fall is the time to plan:

  • October is bulb season – Get your daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths now to ensure a beautiful spring display.
  • Chill your tulips – Tulips need to be chilled before planting, so store them in the fridge before they go into the ground.

🍂 Mistake 4: Neglecting Garden Sanitation
Diseased plant material can lead to more significant problems:

  • Remove diseased foliage – Clearing infected leaves helps prevent fungus or disease from spreading to healthy plants.
  • Rework mulch after the leaves fall – Old mulch can harbor pests or diseases. Replace it, especially under shrubs, to keep your garden healthy. When tidying up, compost spent plants and old mulch (but not weeds!) to help beneficial insects overwinter.
Zinnias and Marigolds

Zinnias and Marigolds

🌻 Mistake 5: Not Prepping for Fall
A little TLC before winter can go a long way. Whether weeding, removing diseased plants, or prepping bulbs, these tasks keep your garden healthy and ready for next season.

Need help? Visit Oak Street Garden Shop for everything you need to prepare your garden for fall and winter!

See you soon!

Myrtle Topiaries

Myrtle topiaries in pretty pots...

Myrtle topiaries in pretty pots…

Whenever we can find myrtle topiaries we try to get plenty, as they’re not always available.  Many moons ago we had a small specialty grower in Georgia who supplied us with these pretty plants regularly. She spoiled us!  When she retired, we found another supplier and still carry these special plants. They now  come to us in 5” or 6” pots, perfect for dropping into your favorite cachepot. We’re looking forward to getting some 8” pots in as well.

Myrtle, myrtus communis,  was an integral part of Roman gardens and is widespread in Mediterranean regions where it is cultivated as a large ornamental shrub.  The topiaries we carry are a dwarf myrtle, Myrtus communis ‘Compacta’,  and are happiest grown outside in containers  through the summer in a sunny to partly sunny spot. Kept watered regularly, the long, hot summers will bring on small flower buds that open to white blooms. With fall and cooler temperatures, it’s best to trim it for the winter and place it indoors in a bright, sunny room.  The glossy and pleasantly aromatic leaves are a beautiful shade of green, and the entire plant takes to shaping very well – simply trim it when it becomes shaggy.

myrtle has glossy, aromatic leaves...

myrtle has glossy, aromatic leaves…

Myrtle Topiary Care

Give them plenty of light – they prefer to be in sun in their native habitat, so a dark room indoor won’t give them the light they need. If you know you don’t have enough light where you really want them (on a mantel in a dark room) you may need to swap them out periodically, placing them in a sunny spot to grow well, then moving them back and forth.

Water! It’s important not to let them dry out, but be careful they’re not sitting in water too. If  your topiary is root bound, it will need more diligent watering. Repot it in the spring if, when you pull it out of the pot, you see a mass of roots. Myrtle is a plant that will not recover if left too long between watering.

During the growing season, March through September, fertilize your topiaries with a 20-20-20 fertilizer every couple of weeks.  When you bring it in for the winter,  cut back feeding to once a month.

When you trim your topiary, it’s best not to always shear the tips.  Try to cut back a bit into the plant. Remember wherever you cut, two stems will grow, creating a nice full head of foliage.

Note: We get many calls from people from around the country asking us to ship our myrtle topiaries when we have them in stock. Unfortunately we are not set up to ship at this time.