Enriching Your Life

June Flower Care

If you already have your flowers, now is the time to make plans for keeping them happy and beautiful all summer long: Establish a routine daily watering schedule.  Early in the day is best, but early evening is OK as well.  Consider investing in a professional water wand or water nozzle.  It will help make this job a little easier.  We would be lost without... Read More

All About Basil

Aromatic. Spicy. Versatile. Downright addictive. That’s what we say about the incredible herb, basil. Whether you’re making pesto or tea, Italian or Thai food, Basil is so easy to grow at home, that you can always have some on hand.  Grow from Seed or Transplants There is a bit of a misnomer that basil is hard to grow from seed – that couldn’t be more... Read More

4 Steps to Lawn Care – All Year Long

Spring is the time to get your lawn ready for another season. Creek Side Gardens promotes the Fertilome® – 4-Step Lawn Care Program with the premise that regular fertilization, along with aeration, good mowing and watering practices, is key to maintaining a strong, healthy lawn. A healthy lawn is more resistant to weeds and disease problems.     Step 1 – For All Seasons II –... Read More

The Best Companion Plants

Knowing which plants grow well together is helpful. This is a tried-and-tested way to reduce pests, attract pollinators, and boost growth! Here are common examples. Tomatoes and basil are natural companions in the kitchen and garden. Basil repels certain insect pests, such as thrips, and also disorients moths that lay tomato hornworms. Aphids severely crimp your crop! But aphids can’t stand garlic! With this in mind, garlic... Read More

Hardening Off Plants before Planting

“Hardening off” may sound like some sort of difficult preparation for a college exam. Take heart. It isn’t. It isn’t even hard! Hardening off refers to the process of acclimating plants from indoor temperatures to the outdoors. Because plants usually are grown in greenhouses (or, as seedlings in our kitchen window!), they’ve been pampered. They need to be introduced slowly to the elements of wind... Read More

Fresh Christmas Tree & Greenery Care

Christmas Tree Care Creek Side’s top-selling Christmas trees, are Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Nordman Fir and Concolor Fir. To check a tree’s freshness, pull your hand towards you along the branch. Needles should not fall off Creek Side will provide a fresh cut by sawing an inch off the bottom of the trunk before setting in water. When trees are harvested, pitch oozes out and... Read More

Who Knew- Origins of Popular Holiday Plants

This is a history of holiday plants and why they were used originally. We often forget the tradition of certain holiday plants; they have origins, and it is worth exploring why we kiss under mistletoe or why poinsettias are so common around Christmastime. Poinsettias Also known as the Christmas star or Christmas flower, the Poinsettia was first brought to the United States by the first... Read More

Celebrate Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a two-week festival originated in Munich, Germany that celebrates beer, food, and culture. It’s held annually and ends on the first Sunday of October. The Beer Oktoberfest is known for its beer, which is typically served in one-liter mugs called “Mass”. In Germany, the festival features beer from six local breweries that adhere to Germany’s beer purity law, which limits ingredients to water, malt, hops,... Read More

Cover Crops from Seed

Cover crops or “green manures” have gone hand in hand with agricultural practices for a long time.  Cover crops naturally re-enrich soil, protect it from erosion due to rain or wind, improve its texture, and feed soil organisms, which maintain a healthy ecosystem in the soil, breaking down minerals and nutrients that feed plants. As gardeners, our success is directly tied to the soil in... Read More

A New Scent is in the Air – Spicy Apple

As August comes to an end, here in the Creek Side Gardens gift shop we shift from summer scents, such as lavender, to the smell of Spicy Apple and Pumpkin Spice.  When you visit the gift shop this time of year, these scents will hit your nose, and you will know that a new season has arrived.  Come shop for a new fall candle and... Read More