Hummingbirds – those tiny, beautiful little birds that buzz past your ear while gardening, momentarily make your heart jump as if it was a giant bee – are a welcome site (and even sound) to our backyards each summer. This little migrators fly thousands of miles each year to nest and raise babies each year before eventually heading back down to their southern winter homes.
In Maryland, there are several species of hummingbirds that you can see throughout the summer months. The most common hummingbirds in Maryland are the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the Rufous Hummingbird. On rare occasions in our area you might be lucky enough to see an Allen’s Hummingbird, or a Broad-tailed Hummingbird. To learn more about the species of hummingbirds in Maryland that you might see, click here.
You can easily attract hummingbirds to your yard by planting the flowers they love to feed on, and by hanging nectar-filled hummingbird feeders in various locations. Hummingbirds like a little variety, and are attracted to flower-filled gardens – particularly those with bright red blooms. To learn more about attracting hummingbirds in Maryland, click here.
The days are growing shorter and the weather is quickly cooling. This can only mean one thing; fall is officially here. It is time to put away those summer decorations and refresh the front of your home with a harvest theme that will carry into late November.
Fall lends itself perfectly to visually appealing decorations. Why? The colors! The wide variety of oranges, yellows, and dark reds blend together perfectly in nature, creating a color pallet that can make any home improvement project pop. Utilizing these colors and other natural elements in your decorating can help give your home the curb appeal you have always dreamed of. Passersby will barely be able to take their eyes off your front porch. Your guests will marvel at your decorative flair. And your neighbor’s will be jealous, scrambling to create their own festive fall decorations so their homes don’t fade into the background.
Paint with the Colors of the Season: As we have already mentioned, fall lends itself perfectly to decorating. The beautiful oranges, yellows and dark reds found in nature are the same colors you should utilize in your design.
Utilize Nature: There are numerous natural elements you can incorporate into your decorating, such as pumpkins, gourds, straw, corn stalks, mums, pansies, grasses and the like, that will really out your front porch over the top.
Have Fun: Fall is the perfect season for do-it-yourself projects. So hop in your car and head to your local Ace Hardware for inspiration.
At Ace Hardware, we are more than just a hardware store. We have everything you need to transform your home this fall season. Ace Hardware & Hearth (Glen Burnie and Pasadena) and Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater feature garden centers fully stocked with the garden and lawn supplies, flowers, vegetables, trees, and shrubs, grass seed, fertilizer, soil, mulch and the equipment you need to beautify your home. We also carry a wide variety of face pumpkins along with unique gourds.
If you have any questions about Fall Decorating Tips, our experts are here to help. Please visit AceHardwareAndHearth.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
There is no insect more majestic than the butterfly. There is also no insect that people enjoy more. So it is no wonder why many homeowners are doing everything they can to attract butterflies to their yards. How? Plants, that’s how. Butterflies and plants go together like peanut butter and jelly.
So, when attracting butterflies to your yard, where better to start than with a group of nectar-rich flowers, often referred to as a butterfly garden.
Butterflies prefer plants with clusters of short tubular flowers.
Choose colorful flowers. Butterflies are attracted to colorful groups of flowers.
Provide continuous blooms throughout growing season.
Additional considerations for attracting butterflies include sunny open spaces, shelter from the wind, fresh water, and a wide variety plants, grasses, and wildflowers. By offering the right combination of the aforementioned factors, it is easy to attract and sustain a butterfly population.
We have a great selection of plants that attract butterflies at Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater. Our experts will help you determine the right products for your unique needs.
What butterflies are common to your area? Get to know these butterflies and their preferences. This will help you lure them to your yard.
As we said before, make sure your garden is in a sunny area. Butterflies prefer to be out in sunny places.
Don’t forget about caterpillars. Include plants that caterpillars feed on.
Include shallow watering areas for butterflies to drink from.
Butterflies need protection from the wind.
Use pesticides with caution. Consult with your local nursery for pesticides that will least effect your butterfly population.
If you have any questions about Attracting Butterflies, our experts are here to help. Please visit AceHardwareAndHearth.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Both experienced and novice gardeners are very aware on the problem of plant fungus. While some are completely harmless, others pose a real problem for vegetables, perennials, annuals, and even lawns. The primary culprit is, unfortunately, moisture. And because we do not live in the desert, there is no way to avoid this moisture, so other measures must be taken.
Planting: Proper spacing when planting can help prevent fungus. When plants are crowded, they are able to retain more moisture and are thus more vulnerable to plant fungus. If using containers, wash and disinfect them before replanting.
Aeration: Remove thatch with a metal rake to ensure there is enough air circulating to prevent spores from settling.
Watering: Watering your lawn deeply and infrequently can help control fungus, decreasing the opportunities for mildew and mushrooms to grow. Water at the base of vegetables and annuals, like tomatoes and squash, and avoid watering the leaves. This will help prevent the growth of powdery mildew. If the leaves remain dry, mildew will have no place to grow.
Mulch: Apply new mulch around the base of plants each growing season.
Trim: Try to trim the lower leaves of plants to keep them off the ground.
Quarantine: If one plant is infected, it is sometimes best to remove and quarantine the plant to prevent the fungus from spreading.
Fungicides: Of course, one of the easiest ways to control plant fungus is with the right tools, like Bonide Infuse. That is where Ace comes in! Ace Hardware & Hearth in Glen Burnie and Pasadena, and Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater carry a wide selection of garden supplies, including Bonide Infuse. It absorbs into the plant, preventing major diseases – like black spot, dollar spot, rust, brown patch, powdery mildew, leaf spot, and more – on roses, flowers, lawns, trees and shrubs.
Stay alert and treat plant fungus as soon as it happens, preventing it from spreading.
If you have any other questions Plant Fungus Cures and Prevention, our experts are here to help. Please visit AceHardwareAndHearth.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Throughout our lives, we have been taught to remove Native Plants, opting instead for plants that are common in the nursery industry. These plants are chosen for several reasons, including functionality and aesthetic appeal. They are mass produced and distributed in almost the same way consumer goods are mass produced and distributed. As a result, landscapes across the United States look extremely similar.
Well, yes. And it is nothing new. Native Plants. Native plants take care of themselves because they evolved and adapted to their environments. This is extremely beneficial in so many ways!
Low Maintenance: Native plants have long ago adapted to their geographical location. Because of this, they require far less attention than other plants. This means little to no watering, and no chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers.
Better for the Environment: Because native plants do not require pesticides and fertilizers, they are much friendlier to the surrounding environment.
Save Water: On the East coast, 30% of water consumption goes to plants and lawns. Native plants will help cut back on water consumption.
Save Money: Native plants require far less attention, far less water, and no chemicals. All of this adds up to more money in your pocket.
Song Birds: The song bird population has dropped a dramatic 5-10% annually. One of the main reasons is a lack of natural habitat. Adopting native plants can help sustain the song bird population.
Coreopsis verticillata, more commonly referred to as Threadleaf coreopsis, Whorled tickseed, or Whorled coreopsis.
Lonicera sempervirens, more commonly referred to as Coral honeysuckle, Trumpet honeysuckle, or Woodbine.
Magnolia tripetala, more commonly referred to as Umbrella tree or Umbrella magnolia.
Phlox divaricate, more commonly referred to as Wild blue phlox, Lousiana phlox, Blue woodland phlox, Sweet William, or Wild sweet William.
Quercus rubra, more commonly referred to as Northern red oak.
Rhododendron prinophyllum, more commonly referred to as Early azalea, Roseshell azalea, or Woolly azalea.
Quercus coccinea, more commonly referred to as Scarlett oak.
For a full list of native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in Maryland, Click Here.
We have a great selection of native perennials, trees and shrubs at Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater. Our experts will help you determine the right products for your unique needs.
If you have any other questionsThe Benefits of Native Plants in Maryland, our experts are here to help. Please visit AceHardwareAndHearth.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
When it comes to gardening, there is no reason to reinvent the wheel or, in this case, the tomato plant. Grafted Tomatoes have been around since the 1920s and are known for their superior taste and quality, increased production rates, ability to resist disease, and much more. Tomato grafting is the process of attaching the stem of one tomato plant to the rootstock of a different plant. This allows farmers to select a tomato based on taste and graft it to another rootstock with a more vigorous habit and superior disease resistance.
Production: Grafted tomatoes produce 4-5 times the fruit of standard tomato plants.
Quality: Grafted tomatoes are known for their quality and superior taste.
Durability: Grafted tomatoes are more resistant to disease and soil borne pathogens than other tomato plants.
Harsh Conditions: Grafted tomatoes stand up better to extreme elements and harsh conditions, like extreme temperatures or poor soils.
Pesticides: Grafted Tomatoes reduce or even eliminate the need for pesticides.
Harvest: Grafted tomatoes have a lengthier harvest season than standard plants.
The Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater hand-selects the best vegetable seeds, seedlings, and plants – including Grafted Tomatoes – from local growers. With a little help from Ace, you could be enjoying fresh tomatoes and other vegetables all summer long.
If you have any other questions, our experts are here to help. Please visit AceHardwareAndHearth.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Are you looking for the perfect way to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home this spring? Well, look no further. The answer is right in front of you. Well, it is in the picture to the right. Japanese Maple Trees (Acer palmatum). These beautiful trees can be the perfect accent piece for your yard.
The Japanese Maple Tree is notorious for its ever-changing nature. Some of these trees – which range from 2-30 feet tall and come in various forms, including weeping, rounded, dwarf, mounding, upright, or cascading – leaf out in a beautiful red in spring, change to green in the summer, and transform to yellows and oranges in the fall. Others stay red from spring to fall. Either way, and no matter what form you choose, Japanese Maple Trees offer an aesthetic appeal unmatched by other trees. And with so many forms to choose from, you are sure to find a Japanese Maple Tree that will fit your needs, your landscape, and your budget.
Best of all, Japanese Maple Trees are very easy to grow and maintain when properly planted.
Soil: Most any garden soil is suitable for these trees, as long as the soul drains well. Otherwise, you may start to notice browning on the tips of the leaves. This is a sure sign that your soil is not well drained and too soggy for the Japanese Maple. Fix the drainage issue ASAP.
Sun: These trees grow well in sun or shade, but prefer an environment with filtered sunlight.
Watering: Young trees should be watered consistently during the first 2 or 3 years after planting. It is also important to water these trees during prolonged periods of dry, hot weather. Water problems during the first few years is the number one killer of young Japanese Maple Trees.
Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater features a large selection of garden supplies, flowers, fertilizers, soil, mulch, and the equipment you need to care for your beloved garden. We also have tons of Japanese Maple Trees in stock.
Nothing is more frustrating for the do-it-yourself home gardener than waking up in the morning and finding your garden torn to pieces. The culprits: deer and rabbits. While these creatures may be fun to watch in the wild, they can wreak havoc on your home garden, the same garden that took you hours upon hours to plant and care for.
Ace Hardware & Hearth in Glen Burnie and Pasadena, and Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater feature garden supplies, vegetables, hand-selected flowers from local nurseries, shrubs, and any tree you desire, grass seed, fertilizer, soil, mulch and the equipment you need to care for your garden. Our experts will help you determine the right products for your unique needs. We can also help you select deer and rabbit resistant plants. Below are a few examples of such plants.
But what happens when you want to plant flowers or shrubs that are not naturally resistant to deer and rabbits?
Bobbex and Bobbex R are perfect for those do-it-yourself gardeners looking to protect their gardens from the likes of deer and rabbits. Both Bobbex products are available in Ready to Use and concentrates that can be applied with hose end or compression (pump up) sprayers. Best of all, both Bobbex products are available at the all three Aces…Glen Burnie, Pasadena and Edgewater.
Herb gardens continue to become increasingly more and more popular. Odds are that you know someone with an herb garden. You may even have an herb garden yourself, or at least thought about starting an herb garden. What’s stopping you? Nothing tastes quite as good as fresh herbs. And what is fresher than herbs plucked right from your very own herb garden!?
Location: First, you have to decide where to put your herb garden. Some people mix their herbs into their vegetable garden, however, it is probably better to grow herbs in a separate, dedicated garden.
Size: It is not the size of your herb garden, but the quality that matters. So instead of taking on too much, start small. It typically takes 12- by 18-inch plots for each individual herb. So pick a few of your favorites and get to gardening.
Drainage: Believe it or not, drainage is probably the most important single factor in successful herb growing. Without adequate drainage, the herbs will not grow! To improve drainage, remove the soil to a depth of 15 to 18 inches and place a 3-inch layer of crushed stone on the bottom. Next, mix in some compost or sphagnum peat and sand. Finally, refill the bed. Remember to allow for settling of the soil.
Soil: As you can imagine, soil matters. The main thing you have to remember is to not over-fertilize. Highly fertile soil tends to produce excessive amounts of foliage with poor flavor.
Ace Hardware & Hearth in Pasadena and Ace Home & Leisure in Edgewater feature garden supplies and, of course, flowers, fertilizers, soil, mulch, and the equipment you need to care for your beloved garden. We also have the largest selection of herbs in Maryland! So why would you go anywhere else?
Our garden experts will help you find whatever you need.
The white-tailed deer is prolific in the mid-Atlantic area because their natural habitat has been greatly reduced by urban sprawl. The competition for food is intense and the deer are now very comfortable coming into populated areas and foraging. As you can imagine, deer have become a thorn in the side of Maryland gardeners in recent years. At least there are treatments, right? Unfortunately, most deer repellents work only briefly, if at all… until now.
There has been a significant breakthrough in repelling deer in the garden. The CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION tested 10 commercially available deer repellents and found that Bobbex was the most effective at 93%. Bobbex is a foliar spray that is applied to dry leaves and will not wash away. Bobbex not only mimics predator scents, but also tastes awful to deer. For both these reasons, deer avoid Bobbex at all costs.
The only thing better at deterring white tailed deer was a high fence, which came in at 100%.
Bobbex is applied in Maryland by professional pest (deer and rabbit) treatment companies with great success. Garden Club radio talk show (680 am Saturdays at 7:00 am and 1370 am Sundays at 7:00am) host Alan Summers says that he now has deer still going through his property but no longer experiences any damage since treating his show gardens with Bobbex. New growth should be treated every two weeks.
Bobbex Rose works extremely well at protecting those prized roses.
Bobbex products are available in Ready to Use and concentrates that can be applied with hose end or compression (pump up) sprayers.
All of these effective Bobbex controls are available at the all three Aces…Glen Burnie, Pasadena and Edgewater. Visit www.acehomeandleisure.com for directions. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.