Did you know purple is the color of royalty? Among all the flowering plants in Michigan, purple blooms are a fan favorite. Bright purple flowers create beautiful curb appeal and uniqueness to any landscape design. Here are our favorite purple perennials of all time.

1.  Nepeta- A good choice for rock gardens or edging, Nepeta is drought-resistant and durable to pests like rabbit and deer. Also known as “Catmint” this flower blooms from early spring through summertime, requires little maintenance, and attracts pollinators of all kinds.

2.  Salvia- Known for its long bloom time during the summer months, Salvia is a dependable perennial. There are hundreds of varieties of Salvia, the most common to Michigan being “Woodland Sage” which produces violet blooms through September. Also, Salvia is a favorite snack for butterflies.

3.  Caesar’s Brother Iris- Irises do well around water features and are known for their tall foliage. Caesar’s Brother is known for dark purple blooms with light yellow and black veining on the inside of the flower. Blooms last for a few weeks in the early summer and their leaves remain a beautiful green color until first frost. 

4.  Penstemon- These purple beauties, also known as Beardtongue, bloom in early summer. There are over 250 varieties of Penstemon, growing anywhere in the range of a few inches to a few feet tall. Penstemon have small bell-shaped flowers that remain a vibrant purple color until high temperatures take over in mid-summer.

5.  Cone Flower- Otherwise known as Echinacea, cone flowers are part of the daisy family. They are extremely draught-tolerant, maintain their blooms for about 8 weeks during the summer months and can grow upwards of about 4 feet tall. The name "cone flower" comes from the characteristic "cone" at the center of the flower head, attracting pollinators of all kinds.

Michigan weather is unpredictable! This season, our state has seen unpredictable, drastic temperature changes, excessive rain and A LOT of humidity. Some plants enjoy the heavy moisture, such as young trees, ferns and grass. But for other varieties, too much moisture can cause damage and disease. Here are a few red flags. 

Disease

Most fungal diseases thrive in humid conditions. White fungus can be prominent, especially on plants that have dark foliage. Keep an eye out for a powdery mildew that develops on leaves. As the fungus progresses, you may notice discoloring of flowers and branches. This condition is generally mild and resolves on its own as the humidity subsides, but long stretches of moisture may cause a need for treatment. Try cutting back any dead branches or flowers to control the disease. The Ninebark species (see below) is especially prone to white fungus collecting on the tops of its leaves.

Damage

An excess of moisture can lead to unrepairable damage. For example, root rot occurs when insufficient drainage causes water to collect in the surrounding soil. As a result, roots are choked out and the plant will die. Make sure container plants and garden beds have sufficient drainage in place and all irrigation is timed accordingly.

Insects

Humidity can cause insect infestations in your garden. Open areas of water, even the smallest droplets on leaves and in pots are good breeding grounds for insects. Always do your research before applying any kind of pest repellant and make sure your plants are placed in an area where water will not pool.

Weed growth

Too much moisture can encourage weeds to pop up in your plant beds. A good weeding regimen will ensure your landscape has sufficient room to grow. Pulling the weeds not only helps the root system thrive, but also prevents invasive plants like crabgrass, dandelions, etc. from transferring seeds into the next growing season.

Summertime is over, temperatures have dropped and those colorful annuals are now brown. It's time to add some gorgeous fall hues to your property! 

Here are a few seasonal plants that provide vibrant, bold-colored leaves during the fall and early winter months:

1.  Oakleaf Hydrangea - In the summer, the leaves of the oakleaf hydrangea are bright green and are accompanied by tiny white flowers. Unlike most hydrangeas, the leaves change to a vibrant red color in the fall. This plant requires very little maintenance, produces quite a bit of foliage and looks beautiful year-round.

2.  Coral Bells - During the fall months, this plant withstands heavy rain (and muddy soil) along with cold temperatures. Coral bells range in color and are often found in shades of dark purple, orange, caramel or peach. Try adding to a planter or add as edging along sidewalks or pavers.

3.  Ninebark (Physocarpus) - If you're a fan of warm tones, the ninebark shrub is for you. Once flowering season is over, the leaves remain lush and change to a deep orange or burgundy color. Ninebark is a staple shrub in Michigan and is extremely draught tolerant.

4.  Ornamental Cabbage - Cabbage leaves come in a variety of colors like deep or dark purple, vibrant pink and even white. If you are a fan of super bold colors, try adding cabbage as a showcase plant in the front of your landscape. Cabbage survives well into November and December and requires minimal maintenance.

Fall cleanup is a routine procedure that typically includes leaf blowing or leaf removal service, along with prepping your lawn before the snow hits. However, there are a few more outside tasks to make sure plants bloom to their full potential next spring. Here are some services D.A. Alexander & Company, Inc. can provide to take care of your entire landscape this season.

Fall Cleanup

October is the best time to invest in fall cleanup services and thoroughly rid your landscape of leaves, debris and dead plants. In addition to raking leaves and disposing of the excess organic material in your yard, we also provide:

Removal of Annual Plants/Seasonal plantings- After the first frost, it's time to remove the annual plants that are no longer in bloom. This will make room for new annuals come springtime.

Trim perennials- perennials such as black-eyed susans, daisies and hostas can be cut back in preparation for next year. Most of the time, this means trimming them down to just a few inches above the ground. In spring, new green stems will protrude through the old foliage and the dead stems eventually can be cut back. 

Prepping for Winter

In the winter, trees and shrubs take the brunt of cold weather, frost, ice and heavy snow. It's also important to winterize your irrigation system before freezing temperatures hit.

Burlap bushes (boxwoods)- Wrapping your bushes in burlap consolidates heat and protects the root system from extreme frostbite. The same procedure can be done with delicate trees or large pines/spruce trees that may need protection.

Anti-wilt spray- Shrubs like boxwoods, evergreens or arborvitae may benefit from an anti-wilt spray. Safe for families and pets, this spray treatment helps the shrubs retain moisture in their leaves throughout the winter season, even when the temperature is below freezing. Preventing the “winter burn” or frostbite will reduce your fertilization costs.

Winterize your Irrigation System- Last but not least, always turn off your irrigation system in late fall/early winter. The professionals at D.A. Alexander & Company, Inc. utilize a winterization checklist, saving you money on costly repairs and unexpected damages next season. 

Should I install sod or plant seed? It's a common question with a somewhat complex answer. There are benefits to both options; this information may help you decide.

Sod is usually chosen by homeowners in a new build process as it is often a requirement of the homeowner's association. A clear advantage of sodding over seeding is the immediate aesthetic improvement of the property. In addition, the flexibility of being able to walk on and use the new turf areas within only a few weeks is desirable to most everyone.

Washout can be an issue with a new sod installation on a steep hill, although the sod can be staked to help prevent this. Depending on the quality of the existing soil in your yard, additional topsoil may not be necessary.  It is difficult, however, to keep sod alive in an area that does not get at least four hours of sunlight a day. So, if you want to install sod in a shady area, over-seeding with a shade-tolerant seed may be required to keep the area from thinning. Consistent watering is necessary with new sod. I would not recommend installing sod if you do not have an irrigation system or a lot of daily time to water until it becomes established. For the health of new sod, it will require 4-6 fertilization applications per year.

There are many instances where grass seed is the better option. For extremely large areas or very small areas, seeding works great. Also, there is a large selection of seed to choose from which helps in difficult areas. Seed works much better than sod for shady areas and is a much quicker process that requires less water and does not require an irrigation system. 

There are several things to consider before you install seed; the main one being its germination rate. To obtain a lush lawn, it may take several months and multiple seeding applications. Seed can easily wash away with heavy rains; therefore, it is recommended that an erosion blanket be applied in necessary locations and conditions. For the best results, topsoil should be installed before any seed application. 

In the end, there is not much of a price difference between seed and sod when you factor in the fertilization and topsoil requirements. The choice is up to you and what works best for your situation.   

Picture yourself sitting in your favorite chair, relaxing in your yard, watching butterflies and hummingbirds enjoy your colorful flower garden. If this sounds terrific to you, we suggest you consider planting for the pollinators. They're easy to attract; here are some tips. 

A pollinator garden includes vibrant flowers that are often native to the area or part of the natural environment. These gardens provide a great source of nectar and pollen for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects. The flowers tend to be brightly-colored with a pleasant scent. Not only are pollinator gardens visually appealing, but these creatures will remember the scent and location of your garden and return regularly throughout the season. These gardens help our environment too by sustaining pollinator populations that work hard helping to produce over one-third of the foods we eat including fruits, vegetables, nuts and greens. 

Tips for attracting your pollinator guests:

If there are specific types of pollinators you are interested in drawing to your garden, think about their favorite types of nectar. Butterflies are attracted to plants such as common milkweed, butterfly weed, hollyhock, lilacs, marigold and petunias. Honey bees enjoy the nectar of sunflowers, coneflowers, lavender, black-eyed Susan and peony. Hummingbirds tend to go for phlox, cardinal flower, catmint, lily, snapdragon and zinnia.

Planting a healthy mix of these flower varieties will draw an abundance of pollinators to your outdoor living space. Another option – because natural and native flowers are always a great go-to for pollinators, just planting wildflower seed mix from your local garden center can provide a nice variety of flowers that will attract with their favorite foods.

Natural flower environments are a low-maintenance, beautiful way to spruce up your landscape and add interest. The pros at D.A. Alexander & Company are always happy to assist in your next outdoor project. For more information, please contact us.

Lavender nepeta - attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds

At D. A. Alexander, the only thing “shady” about us is our trees. 

But all jokes aside, a question many homeowners have is, “What can I grow in all this shade?” 

Let's start first with the definition of shade. Now, before I break out my luminometer, (yes that is a real thing) when was the last time you looked at your back yard all day? As a kid in science class, we once went outside every hour and poked popsicle sticks in the ground under a large maple tree and tried to guess where the shadow would be the following hour. This helped us understand not only the movement of the sun, but also that the densest maple tree isn't shady all the time. 

Shade can be light, moderate, or dense. Like the names suggest, they are based on the amount of light that breaks through. For instance, Locust trees can have full sun on top and allow “dappled” light to filter to the grass below. Whereas, a forest canopy may completely shade out all light.

Apart from the typical shade plants we all know, there are a wide variety of shrubs, trees, and even evergreens that will withstand shade. A proper plan of action will include the time to measure and understand your space. D. A. Alexander has a team of professional landscape designers who will not only help you with this, but will help to seek a solution to make your shade garden livable and lively.

While online resources have an abundance of advice, each yard is different and only the experience of a trained professional with industry knowledge will be able to help you properly plan. So, rather than randomly purchasing another plant from your local big box store, make a plan to have the right plant in the right place.

Wave petunia, begonia, salvia, lantana, impatiens, coleus, potato vine, morning glory, purple fountain grass, king tut grass – there are a TON of annual options to include in your landscape! Seasonal plantings are extremely versatile; you can mix sizes, textures and colors to create a living work of art for your home. Whether planting in the ground or in pots, the bright, cheerful colors really bring your landscape to life. 

You can choose a monochromatic color scheme – light pink, dark pink with fuchsia. Or you could choose a complimentary color scheme – deep purple with bright orange. The options and combinations are endless! It is important to consider sunlight and watering needs when choosing your annuals, so be sure to pay attention to those aspects of your space. Once you find the right plant with the right color and look, you will want to prepare the soil for planting. 

First, start prepping your planting space by removing any weeds or debris that has gathered over the winter. Next, add organic matter to your existing soil. You can buy pre-mixed bags of potting soil or you can mix in compost or a fertilizer with your existing soil. Once the soil is prepped, you can begin planting! 

Your plant spacing will depend on what type of plant you choose. Make sure to abide by the recommended spacing, as you do not want to overcrowd your plants. Leave them room to grow and they will fill in the space nicely. Make sure you give them ample water and I recommend fertilizing throughout the season to encourage growth and flowering. 

You can change them with every season, mix colors or styles and really define your space in a way that speaks true to who you are. We all know the season in Michigan is short, but the ‘wow factor' brought by summer annuals is well worth the planting process. So, grab a flat or hanging basket and add a spark of color to your landscape! If you are more of a ‘hands off' gardener, reach out and we would be happy to help with your annual plantings! 

   

   

Rabbits are adorable fluff balls that love visiting our Michigan landscapes. These cuties may seem harmless, but they can do some serious damage to your plants and turn any animal lover into an Elmer Fudd. Not only does their consistent feeding cause damage on an aesthetic level, it can also cause damage beyond repair, costing you excessive money and time. These fluffy eating machines can destroy your beautiful landscape in a matter of minutes. 

There are many ways to reduce the number of rabbits in your landscape. Fencing or trapping does work, but these methods may not be right for an animal lover or the gardener trying to obtain a seamless look. Luckily, there is a natural way to coexist with the rabbit population, which includes using plant species that are not tasty to them (see list below). This will keep the fluff balls out of your garden without causing any harm to the aesthetic of your landscape or to the rabbits themselves.

Blog image source: 

Eastern cottontail - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_cottontail