(07/16/2024 Newsletter)
Hello More Than Gardeners,
As we embrace the joys of gardening this season, let's delve into a fundamental aspect that often shapes the health and vitality of our plants: sun exposure. Whether you're nurturing a backyard oasis or cultivating an indoor haven, understanding where to place your green companions based on their sunlight needs can significantly impact their growth and overall well-being.
Why Sun Exposure Matters
Optimal Growth Conditions:Â Just like us, plants have specific preferences when it comes to sunlight. Some thrive in bright, direct sunlight, while others prefer dappled or full shade. Ensuring plants are matched with their ideal light conditions supports robust growth, enabling them to photosynthesize efficiently and produce abundant blooms or fruit.
Preventing Stress and Damage:Â Incorrect sun exposure can stress plants, leading to issues like leaf scorch, stunted growth, or decline. Plants adapted to shade may suffer from sunburn if exposed to too much sunlight, while those needing full sun may fail to thrive without sufficient light.
Water Efficiency:Â Sun exposure directly influences a plant's water requirements. Plants in full sun typically need more frequent watering to combat higher evaporation and transpiration rates. By planting according to sunlight preferences, you can optimize water use efficiency and foster healthier, more resilient plants.
Enhancing Aesthetics:Â The right amount of sunlight can greatly enhance your garden's beauty. Plants grown in their preferred light conditions often boast vibrant foliage, richer colors, and overall better aesthetics, transforming your outdoor or indoor space into a lush, inviting sanctuary.
Native Plants for Long Island: Heat-Tolerant and Thriving
Considering Long Island's climate, here are some native plants known for their heat tolerance and suitability to thrive in local conditions:
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis):Â This small tree is famed for its pink or purple spring flowers and heart-shaped leaves.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum):Â A tall, ornamental grass that thrives once established, offering interest throughout the year and drought tolerance.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa):Â A perennial flower that attracts butterflies and thrives in hot, dry conditions.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta):Â A classic summer bloomer with yellow, daisy-like flowers, drought tolerance, and a magnet for pollinators.
Beach Plum (Prunus maritima):Â A shrub producing edible fruit, tolerant of sandy soils and coastal conditions.
Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida):Â A native pine tree adapted to dry, sandy soils and hot summers in Long Island.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium):Â Another ornamental grass offering drought tolerance and adding color and texture to landscapes.
By integrating these native plants into your garden, you not only enhance its resilience and beauty but also contribute to the local ecosystem's health and sustainability.
As you continue your gardening journey, remember that sunlight is not just a necessity but a powerful ally in nurturing thriving plant life. May your gardens flourish with vitality and beauty this season!
Happy Gardening!
Agatha & The More Than Gardens Team
Hello More Than Gardeners,
As we embrace the warmth of summer, it's the perfect time to appreciate the fullness of our gardens while also taking proactive steps towards environmental restoration. We are excited to guide you through this season of growth with our expert tips and services designed to enhance your outdoor spaces sustainably.
Summer Pruning: Shaping Growth for Healthier Gardens
Summer pruning isn't just about aesthetics—it's a crucial step in maintaining plant health and controlling growth. By selectively pruning during this season, you not only shape your plants but also encourage stronger growth in desired areas, reducing the need for excessive trimming later on.Â
Weeding and Invasive Plant Removal: Restoring Balance to Your Garden
Our team understands the delicate balance in your garden ecosystem. We specialize in identifying and removing invasive plants that threaten native biodiversity. Through our careful weeding and management practices, we ensure your garden thrives as a haven for local flora and fauna.
Bird House Cleaning: Welcoming Feathered Friends
A clean bird house is a welcoming sight for our avian friends. This summer, let us help you maintain and clean your bird houses, providing a safe and inviting environment that supports local bird populations and encourages natural pest control.
Drip Irrigation: Efficient Water Management for a Greener Future
Water conservation is paramount in our approach to sustainable landscaping. Our drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the roots of your plants, minimizing waste and promoting healthy growth. By reducing water usage, we collectively contribute to conserving this precious resource.
Rain Gardens: Nurturing the Earth One Garden at a Time
Your commitment to environmental stewardship will be taken to the next level by adding a rain garden to your property. These gardens not only enhance the beauty of your landscape but also capture rainwater runoff, filtering pollutants and recharging groundwater supplies. By installing a rain garden, you actively participate in mitigating local flooding and improving water quality in your community.
Empowering You to Make a Difference
At More Than Gardens, we believe that every action counts towards a sustainable future. By choosing our services, you're not only enhancing your outdoor space but also contributing to environmental restoration efforts. Together, we can create gardens that are not only beautiful but also resilient and beneficial to our planet.
Take Action Today
As summer unfolds, consider how you can make a positive impact on your garden and the environment. Whether it's scheduling a summer pruning session, installing a rain garden, or maintaining your bird houses, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Let's make this summer a season of growth, beauty, and environmental responsibility. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your sustainable landscaping goals.
Agatha & The More Than Gardens Team
Updated: Jan 20, 2023
The season has been so unstable that I am genuinely starting to worry about Spring. Last year we also had an inconsistent Winter and when Spring came and the works restarted, a late frost hit and killed most of my annuals which we’ve been planting this same time, year after year. I also lost specialty plants that I was hoping to get an early start; not to mention the trees and shrubs that lost their flower buds. Many of my clients lost ALL of their magnolia flowers. It was a sad sight because we got to watch for several weeks the dead buds up on the tree which was never going to bloom.
It’s clear that the inconsistency in winter temperatures has a negative effect on the health of our plants. Sudden drops in temperature can cause damage to plant tissues, leading to frost damage or freeze injury. That was very visible last year, especially on broadleaf evergreens. These damages are permanent and even fatal for the plant. The fluctuations in temperature can also cause plants to become stressed, making them more susceptible to disease and pest infestations.
Evolution is a very slow, gradual process that occurs over many generations, so plants and animals have adapted to the consistent patterns of weather in their specific environments over time. However, if there is a sudden change in weather patterns, such as an increase in the inconsistency of weather, it can be difficult for organisms to adapt quickly enough to survive. This can lead to declines in population, and in some cases, extinction.
Climate change, caused by human activities, is leading to an increase in weather variability and extreme weather events. This is a major concern for biodiversity, as it can have a detrimental effect on the survival and reproduction of many species, including ours!
To revert this scenery we must invest in conservation efforts, such as protecting and restoring natural habitats, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are crucial. Regenerative landscaping can play an important role in combating climate change by promoting carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We urge you that in 2023 rethink your landscaping practices: rethink your lawn, expand your garden beds, create a meadow, maybe add some biochar and compost to your garden to-do list. All efforts count and make a difference.
A huge contribution you can make is talking about More Than Gardens to a friend, a school, private or public corporations, even a politician you know! The further we reach, more regenerative gardens are being built and their impact is then multiplied, because each garden doesn’t work alone. They work as a grid in the city, creating pockets of cooling native plants, carbon sinks, water filtering and wildlife habitat. So please, join the talk and let’s together regenerate our land.
Agatha & Te More Than Gardens team
