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It does not matter if you have a big or a small garden, most people like to have fresh herbs. Having a natural supply of herbs is wonderful for cooking, grilling and even barbecuing. And with the right herb garden layout it also looks wonderful in your garden. Before you can harvest those delicious herbs you need to consider a few aspects of herb garden layout for an effective and sustainable growth of herbs.

Natural elements to consider

For your herb garden layout, it is important to effectively plan and manage the natural elements involved in your garden. The herb garden layout should integrate nicely into the existing garden layout. However keep in mind what conditions the herbs need (sun, shade, moisture etc.). If you do this, you can successfully create a herb garden layout that will give you fresh herbs all year round.

Herb garden layout and plant type

Herb plants are just like other plants, some are highly sensitive while others are strong durable and easy to grow. Most herbs need little attention but there are a few that do need some extra protection during the first year. You need to be aware of the needs of the plants when you create your herb garden layout. You can also grow some herb plants in pots, this way they won’t grow expansively and stay at one place. But remember that you need to water plants in pots more. It is important to have an effective herb garden layout for all these different needs.

When you are creating a herb garden layout within your existing garden layout you should consider the characteristics of the particular spot you picked:

Determine the type of soil in your garden:

* Sandy

* Sandy loam

* Loam

* Clay loam

* Clay

* Silty loam

* Silt

Determine the Soil pH:

* Acidic (7.0)

* Neutral (7.0)

* Alkaline (>7.0)

And don’t forget:

* lighting coverage

* irrigation

* possible threats

These are the things you should consider for your integrated herb garden layout. This will determine the type of herbs you can place in your existing garden.

For lighting and watering you should consider the following for a plan for your herb garden layout.

A good way to grow a healthy herb garden is in raised vegetable garden beds but you must also consider the lighting coverage wherein your herbs are placed. The plants that require more sunlight should be placed in a region that is constantly or largely lighted. You should also be aware of the watering conditions because that must also be included in the outdoor herb garden layout.

The more sensitive type of herb plants should placed in elevated and shielded portions from rain while plants that require a larger supply of water should placed lower and near a constant water source.

Through your herb garden layout and critically looking at and including all possible factors, you will create a wonderful sustainable and productive outdoor herb garden. And you will have a lot of fun in your garden and in your kitchen.The author of this article, Hank Gordon, writes at his website Gardeners Info Point. com about Drip irrigation system and for example the Raised Vegetable Garden Beds.?

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Starting your own herb garden can be a terrific way to spice up your life and save a little money at the same time. Some herbs are even said to have certain healing properties, an added plus to having your on herb garden. And the best thing is that its fairly easy to grow your own herbs. You don’t even have to have a big yard because even if you live in an apartment you can get a little window box to grow your herbs in. You will love the taste of your food and may even be inspired to cook more when you take the opportunity to experiment with all of your wonderful herbs and see how great they can be. After buying your soil and the container you will grow your herbs in if your not going to plant them in a garden you will want to decide exactly which herbs you wish to grow. There is a wide variety of herbs to choose from so you will want to read up on them in order to decide which ones you will like the most. Much of the decision depends on the variety of foods you enjoy cooking and eating. Here we will take a look at some of the more popular herbs in order to give you an idea of what is out there.

Rosemary - Rosemary is best known for its ability to compliment potatoes, especially red potatoes, but the tasteful herb also goes great with poultry dishes as well. Both the needles and the flowers of the plant may be used in cooking and even the stems have a use. Stems work great as skewers for any kind of kabobs and will give your meat and veggies an excellent touch of flavor. Rosemary is also known to strengthen the memory which is an added bonus.

Basil - Basil is generally thought of as an Italian spice but is often used in Indian dishes as well. because basil comes in a variety of flavors it is a very versatile herb. Some of the more common flavors that pair well with basil are tomatoes, eggplant, meats, and pepper.

Oregano - Oregano is another herb known to compliment Italian food and is an excellent addition to pizza as well. Paired great with tomatoes this is an terrific herb to give your pasta sauces an added kick.

Cilantro - Although a little less common than those mentioned previously cilantro is becoming more and more popular as Latin food is infused more and more into the American culture. Cilantro is sometimes referred to as Chinese parsley but is used more often in dishes that have a little Latin or Indian spice to them.

Parsley - Parsley is one of the most commonly used herbs and goes great with almost any meal and is easy to grow as well. Parsley can also add an additional serving of vitamin C to your diet as well as flavinoids.

Now that you have a few herbs to get you going you get started on adding a little spice to your meals everyday.Mitch Gleason has been a business writer for the past 15 years contributing to many business periodicals. Read some of his articles about Thank you gift basket and other amazing Bulk gift items.

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To care for your plants, you must be guided with growing 101 herbs quick helpful tips. There are various techniques to maintain the health and growth of your herb plants.

Caring for your annuals

Firstly, it would be better if you start with annuals seeds. These are cheaper than the grown ones. You should start growing your annuals indoors. You could use containers that are tray-like. These would provide your seeds their initial growth bed. To start planting the seeds, you need to make rows in the soil and place the seeds with ample spaces in between each seed. Cover the seeds partially, and water in small amounts. Put the tray container inside a plastic bag, and place it in an indoor location with bright lights but not too much sunlight. The humidity allows your seeds to germinate faster. The seedlings would appear in about two to three weeks, depending on the herb seeds you have planted.

When you want to transfer the seedlings, take extra care. The leaves present are still brittle. Designate separate pots for each seedling. When they have grown to at least seven inches from roots to tips, you can plant multiple herbs in one pot.

Annuals are not usually infested with pests and diseases. However, if such problems occur, you could unravel the infested herbs to separate them from the healthy ones. You could also use eco-friendly pesticides. However, the last suggestion is not advisable for herbs used for cooking or medicine.

Since annuals are usually moist, you may not need to water them daily. However, in days of summer, you need to provide the herbs with light mulch so the soil moisture is contained whenever you water them.

Caring for your perennials

Spacing is very important for perennials. These herbs usually have wild spreading roots especially when they are much matured. From the start of planting perennials, you need to provide at least one foot space in between.

On the other hand, you can also do grouping for perennials. If you are considering doing so, you could group three plants of the same kind per hole. Note that you still have to space them three inches apart from each other.

Watering for perennials is needed immediately after planting. Watering during the early hours of the morning is best for them.

Despite the known strength of perennial stems and roots, they still need protective covering during extreme weathers. You could cover them with wide-rimmed containers or pots. You could also stretch poultry wires over perennial beds to protect the mulch and the plants’ roots. And protect the leaves by putting crossed wire loops directly over each plant. Then spread plastic wraps covering all the plants.

Other tips

When you are into indoor container gardening, you need to place the plants in areas with ample sunlight or bright light exposure. For multiple herbs in one big pot, place tallest plant in the middle. The trailing and low-rise plants should be placed on the pot sides.

You could also label your plants. The label should contain the date you planted them and their water or sunlight needs. This system would help you not to forget the particular needs of your plants. You should use water-proof materials for the labels.

These growing 101 herbs tips are only a few. Expand your guide researches to make your gardens grow beautifully and bountifully.And now I would like to invite you instantly access herb gardening mini course absolutely free! And discover how to create your own home herb garden

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Fall is coming! This is the absolute perfect time of year to consider all the wonderful woody perennials and assorted plants native to the midwestern states. The abundance of superb, lucious plants to choose from is so vast; it is close to being limitless! It’s definitely a good time to think LANDSCAPING!

There is a huge selection to choose from – from wetland plants to an amazing array of the finest woody perennials you’ll find anywhere in the Midwest – all right at your fingertips via our website. One right after another you’ll find gorgeous plants and flowers everywhere on our site – Great Blue Lobelia, Sweetflag, Monkey-flower, Phlox, and Groundnut are just a few of so many, many more to choose from! These and a variety of other woody perennials provide fantastic options for any type of landscaping project you are sure to have planned for the nearing fall planting season.

One of the most fabulous plants you should consider for your next outdoor planting job would be the Crossvine (Bignonia Capreolata). This woody, climbing vine will generally grow to reach 50 ft. long. Most consider this a very showy vine as it flaunts orangish-red flowers that grow to approximately 2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches across that hang in little bunches of 2 - 5 and are shaped in a trumpet-like form. These hardy vines are occasionally seen high up in the trees, climbing their way up by use of the plants’ tendrils. The Crossvine has leaves that grow to 4 - 6 inches long and are usually about 2 inches wide; there is also a third leaflet which is modified into a tendril. Changing from a deep, dark green in the summertime to a gorgeous reddish-purple in winter, the Crossvine has semi-evergreen leaves that are persistent and glossy. This is a gorgeous choice for any luscious woodsy area.

Numerous native grasses and plants, which can be used in restoration and pond planting, are available as well. Among the more popular is many a landscaper’s favorite, Chairmaker’s Bulrush (Scirpus Americanus). This native midwestern grass is a perennial with long rhizomes and part of the sedge family. The seeds of the Bulrush are a favorite of many species of shorebirds and waterfowl, as well as many types of songbirds. Geese and beavers will munch delightedly on the rhizomes of this shoreline grass and the dense growth of some species of this plant will offer comfortable cover for various wildlife species, making it one of the best solutions for your sometimes-difficult landscaping need for a water-edge plant.

There are so many more native, midwestern woody perennials available, you are sure to find whatever you need and desire to plan your next big fall landscaping job. Look no further; the perennials you’ve been searching for, no matter how large or how small, how simple or how luxurious, are close at hand! Order today!

From the virginia blue bells to the may apple,gardening comes alive with these fragile,tiny bloomers in it.With a large array of color,shape and size,yo can go wrong landscaping eith perennials,fern or native plants and flowers.http://www.tnnursery.net At Tn Nursery we have a large assortment of woody perennials.We also have native trees,plants and ferns.

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Evergreen conifers are plants or trees that produce cones to protect their seed and keep their foliage through winter, hence the name evergreen.

The Thuya Arborviatae Snowtip Cedar is one of the dwarf evergreen conifers, growing to a mature size of only seven feet. Its name is derived from is dark green cedar color with white silver tips of new growth. It serves as an excellent accent grown with other evergreen trees and shrubs. It can be mulched with aged bark or similar mulch.

The Balsam Fir is another one of the evergreen conifers that is used a great deal for but not exclusively as Christmas trees. The Balsam Fir is easy to trim and is a good landscape tree. As it is a large growing tree, reaching approximately 60 feet at maturity, even when trimmed, it should be apart from other tress or used in a wooded or forest type landscape. The Balsam Fir has distinctive, sweet smelling scent that pervades the air. The dried needles are often used to create fragrance pillows and other such related items. Mature Balsam Fir trees are harvested for stud wood. Not only used for Christmas trees, Balsam Firs can be trimmed and used in the home yard as evergreens for landscaping. The cone is very small andConifers or softwoods are classed as gymnosperms or plants with naked seeds not enclosed in an ovary. These seed “fruits” are considered more primitive than hardwoods.

Conifers can lose their needles annually but most are evergreen. These trees have needlelike or scalelike foliage and usually renew many leaves annually (but not all every year). The foliage is usually narrow and sharp-pointed or small and scale-like.

Douglas-firs are also one of the evergreen conifers. It is amedium-size to large or very large tree that can grow 40 to 80 feet in height, with a spread of 12 to 20 feet. The leaves are flat and linear evergreen needles, generally resembling those of similar fir trees. The female cones are pendulous, with scales not like other fir trees and are distinctive in having a long three-pointed leaf that protrudes prominently above each scale. The tree can grow in partial shade to full sun and in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, in a location that is protected from high winds. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to cankers, leaf and twig blight, cottony aphids, bark beetle, and scale insects

Another of the evergreen conifers, the Eastern Hemlock is a broad leafed tree that can grow up to 100 feet in height. It has a pyramid-like shape with horizontal to drooping branches. The bark is brown and the needles are short and soft. It will grow in full shade but prefers soil that is rich, moist and well-drained. They can be pruned as small hedges or to serve as screens between home yards. They are also susceptible to a foliage insect that can be treated properly with a special solution.http://www.tnnursery.net wholeale nursery growers of evergreen conifers and trees.

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Trees that are commonly known as Maple trees are actually scientifically given the genus Acer. There are one hundred and twenty five different species of this tree, many of which are in Asia, with others in Europe, Africa and North America.

Appearance

Maples come in the form of trees as well as shrubs. The trees can grow to be forty five meters in height, which shrubs usually stay at less than ten meters tall. Most Maple trees are deciduous but there are a few evergreen species in the Mediterranean region and Southern Asia.

Maple flowers can be red, orange, yellow or green. The flowers are quite small but when found in huge numbers in a tree can give amazingly colourful results.

Uses

The most popular use of maples is as ornamental trees, and you can see them in many homes, municipalities and businesses. The most fast-growing and cold-resistant maple is the Norway Maple. Other maples, particularly the more unusual or smaller species, are used as specimen trees.

They are also widely used in the bonsai art, because they respond ideally to techniques that are used for leaf ramification and reduction, and many of the maple species can be used.

Maples are obviously important as sources of wood and syrup. The dried wood of these trees is used to smoke food. The Sugar Maple is used to produce syrup, which is achieved by tapping the tree for sap, then boiling it into maple sugar or maple taffy. Other closely-related species of the Sugar Maple can also be used, but they do not yield as much syrup. Sugar Maples can live to be 300 years old.

Larger species of maples give valuable timber. Bowling pins and alley lanes, butcher’s blocks and pool cue shafts are made of Sugar Maple wood. Baseball bats are also made with maple wood. Timber

Care Tips

The most important thing to remember when caring for maples is good soil. The soil used determines how much water and nutrients the plant gets, and also affects how well the tree can use the water and nutrients. Using the perfect soil for a maple means that it will be able to handle living in an urban environment and be able to fight diseases. If you own maples, the best option to take is to add mycorrhizal fungi, which will help make your soil more suited for your maple tree, and will also directly benefit the maple.

Popularity

These maple trees are gaining in popularity because of their fall colour. Some maples give a brilliant red colour while others are a spectacular yellow. Some can even end up giving you several colours ranging from red through yellow and orange, and all on the very same tree. When picking maple trees, you should know which colours you want according to their species, so that you know what to expect and whether it is the colour you prefer showing up in your garden. Keep in mind that when living outside of their ideal zone range, many maple trees tend not to give out their regular colours.http://www.tnnursery.net at Tn Nursery we have a large assortment of maple and oaks trees.Please visit our online nursery at tnnursery.net for a wholesale quote today.

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The Black Willow is a willow species that originated in North America. It is the largest North American willow, and it is usually relatively small compared to other trees. But under ideal conditions, it can grow to be forty five meters in height, and have trunks that can be as thick as eighty centimetres in diameter.

It is a deciduous tree that is easily the most useful of willow, to humans and animals alike. They are extremely sun-loving trees, and are usually the first to be established on sand bars. These trees are the only species of willow to grow to commercial size.

Appearance

Most Black Willow trees have a very dark bark, ranging in colour from black to brown. This dark colour lightens towards the shoots, however, which tend to be brown, green, yellow or even purplish sometimes. They are brittle and break quite easily when bent.

These trees are dioecious, which means that flowers appear just about the same time as new leaves do, which is generally in early spring. The male and female reproductive parts of willow trees are found on separate trees. The female flower hangs in graceful clusters, allowing for easy fertilisation.

Flowers of this type of tree are called catkins. They are yellow in colour and can be up to three inches in length. The fruit is contained in a small capsule which is reddish brown. The fruit, when mature, splits open and releases numerous tiny, green, down-covered seeds that are then pollinated, mainly by insects such as bees and butterflies, but they are also pollinated by wind and water. Black Willow trees are often found in swamps and along streams. They are often called swamp willows.

Uses

Of all the species of willow, the Black Willow is the one that people have found many varied uses for, both in the past and in present day.

Years ago, the roots of the tree were used in place of quinine as they are very bitter. The wood of these trees has no taste or odour. The wood is weak and can be bent and crushed, has a uniform texture, but does not splinter when hit. This flexibility that it offers has been used in the production of wicker-work furniture and baskets. Toys were made from the wood of these trees before plastic came into being.

In modern day it is used to make packing cases and even artificial limbs. It is a popular wood used in the manufacture of furniture due to the warm brown tone of the wood and the attractive grain. It is particularly useful as panelling wood due to its beauty.

Black Willow gives homes and cover for several small mammals and birds, and is a good source of cavities for animals such as raccoons, woodpeckers and others.

This tree even helps stop erosion when it is planted as a shade tree along shores. As if that wasn’t enough, it helps reduce pollution as its roots intercept any nutrients that may run off farm fields, thus making sure they don’t get into any water bodies and cause harm.http://www.tnnursery.net wholesale nursery suppliers of landscaping trees and plants

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Adding Raspberry and blackberries to outdoor landscaping brings a vibrant array of colors that breathe life into any garden or landscape design. Incorporating this element into a design scheme begins by selecting the ideal location for planting. Look for areas of a garden or yard landscape that receives direct sunlight for most of the day. Ensure that a healthy water irrigation system is available as well. Accomplish this by not selecting low lying areas where water may collect and pool for extended periods of time. This can damage the base of the plants and the roots. Instead opt for a location with sufficient drainage to promote healthy plant growth and berry development.

When looking for areas suitable for planting, be aware that there are also a few areas to avoid. Start by avoiding areas where potatoes, tomatoes, pepper and eggplants have been planted within a four year time period prior to new planting of raspberry or Blackberry bushes. Each of these plants is carriers of Verticillium which is a root destroyer disease. Although these plants are immune to the disease, newly planted berry bushes in the general area would be in immediate risk of contracting the disease. Also avoid planting new raspberries or blackberries within 600 feet of wild berry bushes. It is virtually impossible to contain the potential diseases wild bushes may have making newly planted bushes susceptible as well.

A considerable amount of time should be spent on soil preparation prior to the first planting of raspberries or blackberries. Start by conducting a soil test to check the current ph levels. Ideal levels for these types of plants are within 5.6 to 6.2 ph balance range. To increase the amount of ph found in the soil, make several applications of ground limestone. Test the soil after each application to check whether or not the ph levels are increasing. Once the ph levels are stable it is time to start applying fertilizer to maintain soil quality and provide plant nutrition. Fertilizer options include organic items such as compost or rock phosphate, animal manure or traditional fertilizers found in a local Garden Store.

With the soil prepared and ready to go it is time to plant the berry bushes. Ideal times for planting are mid spring once the threat of winter frost has been removed from the forecast. Start by placing the roots at a similar depth level to what the Nursery had in place. Raspberries grow extremely well when the trellis system is utilized. For this place two posts in either a ‘T’ formation or ‘V’ formation at each end of the planting area. Enclose the area by running wiring down both sides of the trellis. Place raspberry plants inside approximately two feet apart. Create additional raspberry trellis systems eight to twelve feet apart from one another. Blackberries flourish in a hill system of planting. Here individual berry plants are wrapped to a sturdy post with wire. Additional wiring can be placed across a span of hill posts if desired. This system promotes individual blackberry plant growth.

On a routine basis inspect the plants for signs of insect infestation or disease growth. Any new canes that appear outside of an intended growth area should be removed and discarded to prevent the spread of disease. Additionally remove any blackberry canes that bear fruit once harvesting has been completed. Properly maintained berry plants can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. This makes maintenance and care equally as vital to the equation as preparation and planting.http://www.tennesseewholesalenursery.com wholesale native trees,shrubs,berry plants and natives.

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The Sweet Bay Magnolia is sometimes known as the Sweet Bay, Swamp Magnolia or Swamp Bay. It was first found in European gardens as far back as 1688. Colonists referred to it as the beaver tree, because its fleshy roots helped them trap beavers.

This tree can be found occurring naturally in areas that are moist and wet such as along ponds, streams and swamps. It will crop up on its own following a fire and form thickets. It is most common in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama but can also be found in New York, Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas

Sweet Bay Magnolia trees can be either deciduous or evergreen depending on the climate. In areas with mild winders in the southern range, it tends to be evergreen, while it is more deciduous towards the north.

Appearance

These trees are medium, generally evergreen trees that can grow to heights of thirty meters. They have an open crown with lightly spreading branches. The bark is thin but very tight, and is a gray-brown colour. The inner bark has a mild scent to it, similar to the bay laurel spice.

The leaves of these trees are simple and have a blunt, pointed tip. The leaves are thin but leathery and are shiny and smooth on the surface and have white, fine hairs on the lower surface. You can distinguish these trees by looking for leaf scars that can usually be seen at the joint between the leaves and the twigs.

Sweet bay magnolia flowers are creamy white blossoms that are very showy. They tend to show up in early summer and late spring and are similar to southern magnolia blossoms, but are smaller than them. The flowers have a very strong, distinctive vanilla scent that can be sensed from as far away as several hundred yards.

These flowers give way to fruits that are a collection of smooth, red follicles. These mature around early autumn and then release several red, flat, oval-shaped seeds for pollination.

Uses

This tree has many uses, but is mainly used as an ornamental tree. Its attractiveness makes it a popular plant for large gardens and parks. It is popular with many people due to its beautiful, clean foliage, its fast growth, and its large, extravagant, scented flowers and fruits. These handsome plants are quite resistant to damage by ice storms. Another area in which then are used are horticultural applications, because they give a very architectural feel to any landscape design.

The wood of these plants is also very useful. It is soft and even-grained which makes it very easy to work with. The wood also gives off a pleasant, slight aroma. As a result it is used widely in the manufacture of veneer, containers, furniture, boxes, pulpwood and some forms of lumber.

Out in the wild, these Sweet bay magnolia trees provide food for cattle and deer, and can make up at least twenty five percent of a cattle’s diet, particularly during cold, winter months. The fruits of the plant are a good source of food for many forms of wildlife, such as squirrels, rodents, turkey, quail and other songbirds.http://www.tennesseewholesalenursery.com is a state certified wholesael nursery in Tennessee.

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There are many native trees and shrubs to the state of Tennessee. One of the native trees and shrubs is the Silky Dogwood. It grows best at the water’s edge in full and partial sun and can be anywhere from three to eight feet in height. Birds and small mammals are attracted to it. It blooms in the spring and in early summer, it has attractive white flowers with blue flowers in the late summer. The winter produces reddish stems. It has the ability to root from cuttings and is often used in shoreline and stream bank restoration projects.

Another of the native trees and shrubs is the Fragrant Sumac. It requires a dry, upland site for planting and full sun. It grows from eight to twenty feet in height. It is a thicket-forming shrub and is a good plant for controlling erosion on road cuts and other sloping areas with poor dry soils. It blooms in the spring and has yellow flowers and red fruits that remain on the plant during the winter. In the fall, it produces beautiful red foliage.

A third of the native trees and shrubs is the PawPaw. It grows on a moist upland site near the water’s edge in partial and full sun. It can grow in height from right to twenty feet. It blooms in the spring and produces the largest edible fruit of any plant native to America, eaten by raccoons and other small mammals. As such, it was cultivated by native American tribes for food. In the fall, it flower becomes yellow in color.

A tree that is one of the native trees and shrubs is the American Beech. It grows on moist upland sites with a shallow root system in partial and full sun. It blooms in the spring and can to over 50 feet in height. It has a golden bronze color in the fall and makes a good nest for small mammals and birds. It produces edible nuts that are eaten by turkeys and other wildlife.

Finally, a tree that is one of the native trees and shrubs is the Sugar Maple. It can grow on moist to dry upland sites in full sun, partial sun and full shade. It maximum height reaches over 50 feet. It is also called the hard or rock maple and its sap is the principle source of maple syrup. Its fall colors are brilliant yellow and orange.

Below is some nice native plant species:

SHADBUSH OR SERVICEBERRY (Amelanchier canadensis)

Height: 6′-20′, Spread: 10′. Erect stems, often clumped. Blends well on the edge of woodland or shrub border with evergreen background. Important berry producer during the early summer months. Fruit eaten by bluebirds, cardinals, and tanagers. Foliage is used by browsers.

RED CHOKEBERRY (Aronia arbutifolia)

Height: 6′-10′, Spread: 3′-5′. Upright multistemmed shrub, somewhat open and rounded. Adaptable to many soil types . Full sun to half shade. Used in border and mass plantings. Fruit eaten by grouse, chickadees and other songbirds.

SWEET PEPPERBUSH (Clethra alnifolia)

Height: 3′-8′, Spread: 4′-6′. Oval, round topped, erect, dense leafy shrub. Transplant into moist, organic soils. Full sun or shade. Excellent for summer flower, shrub border. Good plant for wet areas and heavy shade. Limited wildlife value.

RED-OSIER DOGWOOD (Cornus sericea)

Height: 7′-9′, Spread: 10′. Loose, broad spreading, rounded multistemmed shrub. Spreads freely. Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions. Does well in moist soil. Excellent for mass plantings in large areas. Effective bank cover to hold soils. Cuttings are easily established in early spring: simply prune the new growth, dip the cut end in a rooting hormone, such as ROOTONE, and push cut end into the ground. These shrubs establish themselves readily, and are a valuable wildlife food. High wildlife value for fruit and browse. Used by a wide variety of mammals and songbirds, including cardinals, evening grosbeaks, robins, thrush, vireos and cedar waxwing.

INKBERRY (Ilex glabra)

Height: 6′-8′, Spread: 8′-10′. Upright multibranched, rounded shrub. Prefers moist, acid soils. Excellent for foundations, hedges, mass plantings and as accent plant. Berries used by a wide variety of wildlife. “Compacta” cultivar is a dwarf variety and is more readily available.

WINTERBERRY (Ilex verticillata)

Height: 6′-10′, Spread: same. Oval, rounded, deciduous shrub holly. Tends to form multistemmed clumps. Does well in light and heavy soils. Prefers moist, organic soils. Excellent for mass plantings and shrub borders. Red fruit is beautiful in winter. A male plant is necessary for fertilization. Used extensively by many songbirds, particularly thrushes, mockingbirds, robins, bluebirds, and thrashers.

VIRGINIA SWEETSPIRE (Itea virginica)

Height: 3′-5′, Spread: 6′-8′. Erect shrub with clustered branches. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Full sun or shade. Suited for wet areas. Excellent fall color. Fruit capsules are used by some songbirds.http://www.tennesseewholealenursery.com a wholesale plant nursery specializing in native plants and trees.

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