Shiny new blog!

The Garden Dude blog 2.0 is here! I moved back to Wordpress and gave the blog a much needed facelift.

http://thegardendude.wordpress.com

I will be adding more content to the blog as we go into this new growing season. I’m planning to have videos, social networking features and more. Stay tuned!

Happy holidays!

I’d like to wish everyone a very blessed Christmas and happy New Years! It’s been a satisfying year in the garden and I hope it has been for you as well. Before you know it, those cherry and Dogwood trees will be in bloom and we’ll begin a new season of digging in the dirt!

Be well!

- Rudie

Try a living Christmas tree

When you head out to look at Christmas trees, consider something that can contribute to your garden, and skip the hassle of hauling a dead tree to the dump. If you have a sunny spot in your yard, a living tree can add texture and year-round color to the garden. Many nurseries put their leftover plants on clearance or big sales this time of year. Here are just a few evergreens you can keep inside for Christmas (don’t forget to keep it watered!) for a week or so, then transplant right out into the garden.

• Hinoki falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) – very slow growing, many dwarf cultivars, tolerates some shade
• Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) – shade tolerant, slow growing, soft lacy foliage; lighter green new growth contrasts nicely with darker green older foliage
• Junipers – (pick from J. chinensis or J. virginiana for upright/conical types), very tolerant of heat, drought, and cold; wide variation in colors.
• Arborvitae – great for privacy screening; lots of different shapes and sizes and colors