Welcome Fall

Fall has arrived and so have the pumpkins and fall flowers!  We have a great selection of pansies, kale, and mums.  Stop by the Nursery and pick up some pumpkins and fall flowers for your yard.

Flower Gardening in a Mature Yard

Sunday afternoon was planting day at the Hamilton house or should I say potting day.  Since we have lived in the same home for about 30 years, our landscape has changed many times through the years.  Our backyard consists of a very large locust tree, two large Bradford Pear trees, a large Burr Oak tree, two Aspen trees, a pond with a small stream, a small patio, a deck, and flagstone walkways.  Flower beds border the perimeter of the yard and the deck is also surrounded by flower beds.  As the trees have grown, the flower beds have become saturated with tree roots making planting in the beds nearly impossible. Not only are tree roots a problem, but now we have a yard that is mostly shaded throughout the day.  I must say that the trees provide a beautiful canape of appreciated shade with wisps of sunlight peaking through at different times of the day.

So now I must consider how to strategically place all sizes of flower pots throughout the beds to make it flow with the landscape rather than just pots sitting here and there.  I called on my resident landscaper for his design advice.  He gladly obliged me and used his "designer" eye to show me how the pots should be placed and the colors and sizes of plants that would look best in each pot.

The plan is to use an old discarded birdbath as the focal point and place colorfully planted pots mixed with a few in-ground planted perennials and grasses along with a couple of boulders.  And for a final touch, we will add some ground cover and a few trailing annuals to border the bed.

After a quick trip to the Nursery to pick out the perfect annuals and potting soil, it was time to grab the spade and dig in to transform the ugly barren bed into a lovely and aesthetically pleasing flower garden.  When I retrieved my garden tools from the garden shed, my resident landscaper retreated to the recliner to watch whatever is on TV on a Sunday afternoon.  So I was left to enjoy an afternoon of potting some beautiful flowers.  Even though there was a lot of plants to get into the pots, the sound of the water splashing down the waterfall into the pond, the birds chirping in the trees and the dogs playing in the grass made for a lovely afternoon.

As our yard has matured through the years we have had to change how we landscape as well.  Shrubs have been replaced or removed, trees have been pruned, walkways have been moved, but the addition of colorful plants each spring gives the yard the most inviting atmosphere.  Whether gardening in a sunny or shady yard, the color of flowers accent the natural beauty of any landscape.

I will soon post some pictures of this flower bed as soon as my photographer daughter returns from her vacation in Germany.  Happy planting to all.  -Jan

We Have Birdbaths!

Add a little color to your garden with a colorful, glass birdbath. Any bird would be thrilled to take a dip in one of these beautiful bowls. And, if you decide it is too beautiful for the birds then let it dress your table top as a decorative piece. We have two sizes of stands to choose from 3 foot or 1 foot. When you stop in be sure to ask us about our solar birdbaths so your bowl can shimmer throughout the day and well into the night.

The Annual Clovis Home and Garden Show is this Weekend!

While you are out and about this weekend be sure to stop by the Home and Garden Show and see our new line of Tejas Originals. We are now carrying unique products for your outdoor living including kitchens, fire features, and shade structures. Let us show you how we can take your current barbeque space and turn it into your outdoor dream kitchen and living space. Then be sure to stop by our nursery and browse through our design garden to gather ideas for your garden.

We have newly arrived annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. Plus, we have a new selection of garden art, bird baths, and more. 

Hey everyone, we are hiring!!!

We are looking for smart, flexible, creative people to fill full and/or part-time openings at our nursery.

The positions consist of providing exceptional customer service, caring for plant materials, and assisting with all aspects of the greenhouse and nursery environment. A love of plants and flowers and the ability to learn the nursery industry is a must.

Must be willing to approach customers and provide help/suggestions for all their nursery needs, keep our store looking neat and inviting, strong organizational skills, simple math skills, and to work well with our team as well as independently.

Some heavy lifting required, and the ability to work outside during hot weather a must.

If you are interested please call 575.762.5884, email us at mike@hamiltonlandscaping.com, or stop by our store (2001 E. 7^th St.) to fill out an application. We look forward to hearing from you!

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has arrived and with it beautiful weather. The next few days will be perfect for getting out in the garden,  preparing and planning for the spring/summer season.

Our first shipment of plants has arrived! We have a perfect selection for getting that initial burst of color into your garden:

·         Dianthus

·         Marigolds

·         Phlox

·         Pansies

·         Violas

·         Tomatoes

·         Peppers

The March Garden

March is often considered the first month of spring here in the southwest, but it can be tricky as far as the weather is concerned.  We can have some beautiful sunny days in the seventy degree range, but then we can have hard frost without notice. 

You'll need to finish up winter pruning. Prune those winter stems and cut back overgrown shrubs and hedges. Bush and shrub roses will also need to be pruned in March to make way for a fuller and healther rose bush during the growing season.

It is still too early to plant annuals for color, but you can certainly get a head start on the lawns.  It is a good idea to mow the lawn and add organic fertilizer to the soil. This is also the best time to apply a pre-emergent to your lawn. Pre-emergents will stop seeds from germinating, therefore, it will control crab grass and other spring weeds. 

Be sure and stop in at our nursery on these spring-like days.  We are making some drastic improvements in the layout of our display garden to give you, our customers, a beautiful area to help you design and get new ideas for your own lawn and garden.  

New Season Approaching

February is the month for anticipation and March is the month for participation.  Spring is on the doorstep and new green shoots are preparing to burst into bloom.  On warmer days you can get out and tackle some winter pruning and on the cold and windy days, take the time to plan your spring garden.

It's true that the days are getting noticeably longer as well as feelings of anticipation of the new spring season.  It is a great time to wander around the yard and look at the buds beginning to swell.  It is tempting to want to sow some seeds, but don't get in a hurry--we can have some more very cold days and even some snow.  And even though our days are warming up, our nights are still very chilly.  Keep a watchful eye around town for the bright yellow Forsythia bushes, red Texas Quince, and the Pink Almond--they are usually the first color to burst here in eastern New Mexico.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Fat Tuesday is nearing and one cannot resist thinking about the delicious Cajun food that goes along with it. If you are a fan of Cajun food and love to grow your own herbs we can help you get started on your own Cajun spice garden.

Popular Cajun herbs that are easy to grow are oregano, basil, thyme, cayenne pepper, and paprika.

We will be getting our herb plants in around the end of April, but if you want to get a head start come in and check out our seed selection.  Seeds should be started indoors about 6 to 10 weeks before the last frost date which in Clovis is about April 20.

Starting your seeds in the next week or two will ensure your homegrown Cajun spice will be ready to use by barbeque season. 

February

This Valentine’s Day give your sweetheart a unique gift that will last a hundred years, a tree.

We currently have a variety of trees in stock perfect for planting in February:

• Red Oak – the perfect shade tree
• Burr Oak - a tall tree with large leaves
• Aspen – bring a touch of the mountains to your home
• Flowering Cleveland Pear – dress up your yard this spring with snow white blooms
• Chinese Pistache - great fall color 
• Fruit Trees – fresh picked fruit from your own garden, yum

Be sure to stop in soon and pick out a tree for your sweetheart!

Winter in the Garden

A new year has arrived, the days are slowly getting longer and we will soon be out in the gardens and yards. The month of January may find the garden asleep to the world, but there is always something to do especially when we have some warmer days throughout the month.

• Take a walk through your yard and garden and pay attention to those flower beds and pots you may have sitting around the yard. Now is a good time to clean up those leaves left over from the fall and add them to a compost pile.
• Cut back the perennials and pull out any annuals you may have left in your beds. Be sure to gather up any pesky annual or perennial weeds in your yard and try to get as much of the root as possible. 
• If you have pots and containers that are not being used during the winter, be sure to empty them or turn them over to keep the from collecting water that could freeze and crack the container.
• Lawns will also benefit from some attention even though it is the middle of winter.  Since we are in such a dry climate and have had very little moisture, it may be helpful to water the lawn on a warm day. If we have no snow or rain, it is a good idea to water your lawn once a week during the winter. Work done this time of year will reap good dividends for a healthier lawn in the summer.
• If you have a water feature, check the pumps to be sure they are working properly. Larger pumps that move a lot of water typically will keep running throughout the winter without any problem. Small pumps, however, could freeze and should be turned off for the winter.
• This is also a good month to catch up with repairs to fences, trellises and other clean-up jobs, which may not be exciting but will make all the difference to the appearance of the lawn and garden in the spring and summer.
• Check back next month for tips on adding pre-emergents to your lawn in February to control those pesky weeds that tend to pop up in the early spring.

Remember to enjoy the winter beauty of your lawn and garden. It may look brown and drab but you will soon be seeing pops of green throughout your yard. Stop by our nursery and pick up some pansies and johnny-jump-ups to add some early color to your garden.