Too Cold Or Late Frost

Forsythia flowers form on old wood, not the new shoots. That means that their buds have to be hardy enough to withstand winter temperatures in your area. If they can’t, they will die and you won’t have any blooms come spring.

This is mostly and issue in colder climates. Each cultivar of forsythia is hardy to a certain temperature range, so if you are planting a new bush, verify its hardiness zone. Most people aren’t sure what cultivar they have if they didn’t plant it. Older varieties are much more susceptible to colder temperatures. This may be your problem if you have ruled out other issues.

Be aware that the listed hardiness rating of this plant is usually for the bush in general. You’ll need to find one that is bud hardy to you zone. If it doesn’t specifically say, choose a cultivar that is hard to a zone colder than yours to ensure that the flower buds will survive through the winter.

Improper Pruning

Those cheerful yellow blooms develop only on the older branches. New growth will not produce any buds. If you prune too much too late in the year, you are actually removing a lot of next year’s blooms.

Buds begin to develop shortly after these shrubs are done flowering in the spring and continue through fall that same year. They do not have a tidy winter appearance which may prompt you to try to clean them up at this time. Just don’t do it.

However, if you insist on doing a harsh pruning every year, do it  within a couple weeks of the end of their spring blooms. This will give you more blooms that you have been seeing from your pruning techniques.

It is worth mentioning that this is not the right shrub for you if you want a well-manicured bush. Forsythia need to allowed to be more naturally shaped to look their best.

Not Enough Sunlight

You probably know that forsythia need full sun for a spectacular show of spring flowers. Either you misjudged the amount of sun that location gets or factors have changed. If your shrubs look spindly, it might be time to reassess your sun situation.

As time goes on, plants grow and mature in your yard and those of your neighbors. People put on additions to their homes. It’s very possible that a mature tree or garage now shades your forsythia during a large portion of the day.

Small trees can grow faster than you realize and block valuable sunlight that your sun-loving plant was originally getting. Remember that full sun means at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.

It might be time to elevate your trees or possibly move your forsythia bush to better suited location.

Neglect

Never pruning your forsythia can make just as much of an impact on its flowers as pruning too much. Each forsythia cultivar has a finite size that it gets to. When it reaches this point, it’s growth slows and each year you get less and less blooms.

If you have very large variety, but you never remove any dead branches you may be shading out the center of your plant. This will be evident by having no blooms in the middle and some blooms towards the ends of the branches.

The solution for both cases is to overhaul your bush. In order to rejuvenate old growth, you can either cut the entire bush back to about 4 inches from the ground or only cut some of the canes back.

Cutting the whole bush back is more drastic but it does result in lush new growth and branches that flower again. Another approach would be to remove 1/3 to 1/2 of the branches to the ground. Then the following year, do the same thing. This will completely revitalize your forsythia over 2 to 3 years.

Nutrient Imbalances

If you have ruled out all of the above causes there may be an issue with nutrients. Too much nitrogen will prevent a forsythia from blooming. The first thing you should assess is what plants are around your bushes and have you changed any fertilizing applications nearby.

If you have grass up to the edge of your bushes and apply regular fertilizer treatments to your lawn, it is very likely that nitrogen is your problem. Lawn fertilizer is nitrogen heavy and the granular pellets laid down by broadcasters fling out about 4 feet on all sides.

You can combat this by adding a high phosphorus treatment in spring to your forsythia and/or increasing the side of the flower bed in between the lawn. It can’t hurt to perform a soil test to confirm there’s an issue to exhaust all causes of the lack of blooms.

If none of these causes ring true, it may be time to remove and replace your forsythia with a new one. There are many cultivars out now that fit a wider breadth of situations. You might even like your new bush better than your old one.

We hope that this guide helped solve the blooming issues with your forsythia.

What issues have you found with your forsythia blooming and what did you do to fix them?

The post Why Isn’t My Forsythia Blooming? appeared first on Napoli Landscaping.

Bulbs are an excellent choice to fill in the gaps of your garden for a full looking bed. Many of these are also great in containers to create showpieces for your patio, deck, or even the front entrance of your home.

Nerine Lilies

Nerine lilies look similar to other lilies but their blooms are more spider-like. They are a very unique flower that produces late summer color in gardens. In addition, their blooms are also fragrant and deer resistant.

Nerines thrive in full sun and gritty soils. They are grown as an annual in zones colder than 7 or they need to be lifted and stored for spring replanting.

Gladiolus

Gladiolus are flowers that grow up skinny stalks reaching between 4 and 6 feet tall. These plants come in a wide range of colors which makes them perfect as the back row along bed borders. They also make excellent centerpieces in pots and amazing bouquets.

As for planting, place them in fertile, well-draining soil. They are only cold hardy to zone 7, so colder climates will need to dig them up to keep them over the winter or grow them as annuals.

Lilies

There are many plants referred to as lilies, but here we are referring to those in the genus Lilium. They grow tall and have bright, speckled, or stripped flower clusters at the top. Fortunately, there are many to unique colors to choose from. Because they grow straight up, they don’t take up much space on the ground.

They are good for adding bold color in tight spaces. Plant these in well-draining soil and full sun for best results. However, they will tolerate less sun and even partial dappled or light shade.

Freesia

Freesia blooms smell of citrus and come in a variety of bright colors. Their blooms face to the sky and only one side unfurls. They are an exotic-looking flower that any gardener would crave to have.

These flowers will do well in full sun and well-draining soil.

Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are very graceful looking and should be planted in a location that shows them off. Their flowers are shaped like a trumpet and are available in an array of colors which are surrounded by speckled leaves. Callas perform well in partial shade and on the borders of one’s garden.

There is more than one genera that is commonly called a calla lily. The genus we are referring to is Zantedeschia as they grow from a bulb and not Calla which has a rhizome root.

Begonias

Begonias have bright, rose-like blooms that can last all season long. Despite being such short plants, their flowers can reach 5 or 6 inches across! This can be a bold statement in any garden. These plants are shade-loving and require regular feedings.

You can either grow them in a shady area of your garden or tend to them in pots which can be started in early spring inside. In addition, they can be pleasant house plants. Bringing them indoors is a good option to extend their blooms if your area is in threat of a frost.

Elephant Ears

Elephant Ears is the common name for three genera: Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma. These plants have large foliage that can add a dramatic look to your garden. Some are so large that they can be used as a privacy screen. They also work well as a backdrop for other colorful flowers or as potted plant centerpieces.

If you live in a cooler climate zone, they act as annuals unless you bring them inside over the winter as they are more of a tropical plant that has gained in popularity in northern regions.

You have your choice from varieties that have leaves with contrasting undersides, bright colored leaf ribs, glossy sheens, and even velvety textures.

Caladium

Caladium is also sometimes referred to as an elephant ear, but we’ve set it aside due to it’s bright color. Its pink foliage will last all summer long. They prefer shade and their color and shape creates a tropical feel. We recommend using these to create an interesting potted plant arrangement.

You can even grow these indoors as a houseplant. They are happy with moist soil and bright, indirect light.

Cannas

Canna lilies also look tropical with their large uniquely colored leaves and stalks that are topped with an even more interesting bloom. They are easy to grow and their flowers last for many weeks if they are in a sunny spot.

Canna’s foliage ranges from and elegant brown to burgundy-purple to chartreuse green. They make and excellent centerpiece for large potted planters which is where we use them. This makes it easier to store them indoors over the winter so they won’t die from frost. Those of you in warmer climates are lucky.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus have dense packed petals within each flower that look similar to a rose. They are about a foot tall and come in red, pink, yellow, and white. These make a gorgeous cut flower arrangements.

They thrive in full sun and need to be brought indoors in winter unless you are in a warm climate zone.

Anemones

Anemone have colorful upright flowers and lower foliage. You may have heard them called windflowers because of how they sway in the wind. They come in a range of colors, grow to different heights, tolerate different light conditions, and bloom at different times depending on the variety.

You can find a variety suitable for any intended site. They tolerate average soil and are also deer resistant. Anemones can form a groundcover if left to spread or contained in planters.

Dahlias

Dahlias are simply amazing. These come in so many unique colors, sizes, and intriguing flower shapes. They love full sun and well-drained soil. If you put in the effort to give one of these plants their ideal conditions, they will blow you away with prolific blooms towards the end of summer.

It can be challenging to decide where to start with how many cultivars are available. You’ll have lots of fresh cut flowers if you have one of these plants in your garden. Sadly, those in colder climates will need to dug up and brought inside for the winter to prevent them from dying.

Shamrock

Shamrock has heart-shaped leaves and delicate flower blooms. It’s often referred to as shamrock. These plants have a mounding habit which works well in potted plants. They are low-growing plants that are also commonly used as a flowering groundcover.

Shamrock can be planted in both partial and full sun settings. One common variety, Oxalis tetraphylla, has green leaves and pink flowers. Another frequently seen plant is called Oxalis triangularis, which is purple with white flowers. There are some other interesting varieties.

Crocosmia

Crocosmia are very eye-catching plants due to their vibrant colors and sword-shaped stems. Butterflies and hummingbirds love these plants. They are easy to grow and multiply readily since they tolerate both sun and part shade. However, they do require a well-draining soil.

You can expect steady blooms from mid-summer through mid-fall.  In addition, they make for excellent cut flowers.

Rain Lilies

Zephyranthes are commonly known as rain lilies, ‘Fairy Lilies’, and ‘Zephyr Lilies’. These plants have skinny stalks and goblet-shaped flowers. Rain lilies are quite adaptable to weather and can survive dry spells. However, they may not bloom until there is a soaking rain during the summer.

They love humus rich, moist but well-draining soil that is slightly acidic and are only hardy to zone 7. You’ll need to bring them inside for the winter if you live in a colder climate zone.

We love the colorful, dramatic blooms that comes from planting spring bulbs. They last longer than most perennial blooming periods and fill in gaps in any garden. A few of the taller ones are excellent as centerpieces in planters that we create for our clients.

What spring bulbs do you plant in your garden?

The post 15 Bulbs To Plant In Spring For Dramatic Summer Blooms appeared first on Napoli Landscaping.

We are going to rule out synthetic based products because originally these items were created from natural sources. Let’s discuss some items that we find most important and a few fun ones that wouldn’t exist if there were no plants.

We decided to write this article in honor of Plant Appreciation Day.

Reading and Writing Material

Even with so many things being digitized these days, people still love to read physical books and jot notes down on scratch paper. We still write plant lists and draw up yard sketches by hand.

You need tree pulp or other natural fibers to make any kind of paper. A lot of paper today is made from recycled paper, but it still came from a plant source originally.

Toilet paper

Most of the civilized world would be lost if we didn’t have toilet paper. There are many other bathroom and hygiene items that are made from plant fibers, but bath tissue would probably be the most noticeably inconvenient to go without.

Fabric

Clothing is another thing that we make from plant fibers. We used to use animal hides and have recently started using synthetic fibers like polyester, but cotton is still the most common fabric used today.

Fabric is used to create so many things besides just clothing. We make bedding, furniture upholstery, car seats, hammocks, — you name it.

Pigments

Paint and makeup were originally made from plants. Colors were indicative of the available plants. You can essentially distinguish a color by a certain geographical area due to the plants and spices available there.

Art has evolved. Makeup is a huge industry that is turning back around and making more and more natural products based on plants. Synthtics aside, the world woudl be a very dull place without colored paintings and makeup.

Fire

Don’t you love sitting by a glowing fire on a cool autumn evening? If there were no trees, there’d be no wood to burn. You might think that other things like gas, but guess what? That’s also made from plants!

Gas

No gas means no cars or other fossil fuel powered equipment. Gas is made from oil which is created after plants and other organic matter has been compressed for many many years.

If we didn’t have any fossil fuels to burn, we’d have a lot less electricity and it would be harder to live in colder climates. Green energy methods are rising, which is a good thing.

Beer, Wine, And Spirits

If you didn’t read between the lines above, beer and wine are also made from plants. No hops means no beer and no grapes means no wine. Yeah, they can be made from other things, but those are plants too!

Alcohol is made by fermenting sugar, grains, fruits. It would be a sad world indeed without these beloved drinks.

Coffee

If you think the loss of those beverages would be bad, what about having no coffee? The world runs on coffee. People are obsessed with their morning “Cup of Joe” and seem like it would be the end of the world if they didn’t have coffee.

Coffee beans are harvested from Coffea plants. The beans (or actually seeds) form inside the fruit of the plants.

Corks

Corks are made from the bark of a tree. They punch out corks and then crumble the remaining bark and press it into cork boards. Who doesn’t love pinning notes to their office cork board? Let’s also not forget abotu wine corks.

Chocolate

Bittersweet, milky, dark, or any other kid of chocolate is a massive staple in the world today. We know that we’d severely miss this piece of heaven if cocoa plants just suddenly disappeared. We had to separate this all on its own because of how much we love choocoalte.

Food

There’s no denying that our nutrition comes from plants. Even the most processed foods started out as some form of plant. Sure we have synthetic vitamins, but nothing compares to eating real fruits and vegetables.

Medicines

All forms of medicine have been derived from plants. This is why there is such an uprising about destroying the rain forest. Decimating so many unknown species prevents us from ever discovering medicinal uses that could be had.

They could be the solution to the world’s biggest issues, but we will never know if they become extinct.

Air

Plants remove carbon dioxide and other toxins from the air to provide us clean oxygen to breathe. Aquatic species also do the same for water so sealife can breathe. Land plants also prevent erosion of our soil.

Whether they grow in water or on land, plants provide clean oxygen for all living things to breathe.

Life, in general, would most likely cease to exist if we didn’t have plants on Earth. Either that, or we would have had to do some serious adapting and it would probably be a dreary place

Hopefully, these items have inspired you to think about conviences in a different light. Even if it’s not April 13th, Plant Appreciation Day, you can still revel in the amazing things that plants have provided us.

What items would you be lost without if we didn’t have plants?

The post Things You’d Miss If There Were No Plants appeared first on Napoli Landscaping.