SPRING 2008

creative
TM

WELCOME BACK
SPRING!

4 Signs of the Season 18 Rain Gardens 22 Plant a Tree

 FROM OUR GARDEN L OWE ’S GARDEN CLUB SELEC T

LET’S GROW SOMETHING

This distinctive flower
TOGETHER adds eye-catching color
to planting beds and
floral arrangements.
If you’re a gardener, you know that working
the dirt is only part of creating a beautiful
outdoor environment. Hardscaping—decks,
patios, pergolas, and walkways—provides a GERBERA
DAISY
showcase for your landscaping, with its rich
color and texture. Both elements add up to
comfortable, beautiful outdoor spaces that
work almost like rooms inside your house. We
have recently changed our name to Lowe’s Planting: In spring add plants
Creative Ideas for Outdoor Living to reflect to planting beds and outdoor pots
that relationship. You’ll still see nuts-and-bolts when danger of frost is past. Choose
gardening information, but we’ll also include P.S. Lowe’s is teaming plants with at least one bloom to
up with Learn2Grow, a make sure you get the hue you want.
stories on outdoor decorating and entertaining. Web site that educates
I hope you enjoy everything that this refreshed consumers about topics To avoid crown rot, place each plant BOTANICAL NAME:

newsletter offers to enrich your life outdoors. such as planting gardens,

fertilizing lawns, dealing
crown—where the roots join the top Gerbera
structure—slightly above the soil line.
Let us hear from you! Fill out a quick survey with pests, and building jamesonii
at LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OLSurvey, and raised beds. Registered Soil: Plant in compost-enriched soil
users can participate in COLOR:
you’ll have a chance to receive a $100 Lowe’s gardening forums with with excellent drainage. In containers,
The colorful gerbera daisies experts and other users, use a special mix such as Miracle-Gro Bright green,
gift card. Hurry, the survey ends April 11, 2008.
on the cover signify spring. search for plant care and Enriched Potting Mix (#93762). toothed leaves grow
Wherever you might see maintenance information in a clump; flowers in
the gerbera daisy in stores in the plant database, and Watering: Gerbera daisies require shades of white,
or in this newsletter, you’ll take in-depth gardening
find tips and products for
enjoying the season. Visit
Lowes.com/Spring to
MELISSA BIRDSONG
VICE PRESIDENT, TREND, DESIGN & BRAND
courses for a fee. Visit
Lowes.com/Learn2Grow
to discover more about
moist soil but are susceptible to crown
rot, so avoid overwatering. Keep soil
red, pink, orange,
and yellow
Alternate Selections
Add a daisy-style bloomer to your
consistently moist, but not soaking wet.
learn more. LOWE’S COMPANIES, INC. this resource. HARDINESS: planting beds and pots this season.
Consider using drip irrigation to avoid
Zones 9–10 ■ common cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus):
splashing water on foliage. Otherwise,
annual; pink, red, or white; 24–36 inches
try to water plants early in the day. PLANT TYPE:
Find Your Products tall, 18–24 inches wide
OUR GIFT TO YOU: Simply bring this magazine in By relying on regional and local Fertilizing: Feed plants consistently, Reliable perennial in ■ ‘Indian Summer’ black-eyed Susan
Zones 9–10; tender

10
to your local Lowe’s and have every two to three weeks, with a bloom- (Rudbeckia hirta ‘Indian Summer’):
$ the bar code scanned.
growers for quality plants and
products, Lowe’s is able to provide booster fertilizer. Yellow foliage may perennial in
Zone 8; annual in
annual; golden yellow petals, black
you with selections that are best signal a lack of fertilizer. center; 6–8-inch flowers; 36–48 inches
Offer is valid April 1–30, 2008. suited to your climate. The plants other zones tall, 12–14 inches wide
Flowers: Open blossoms measure
OFF WHEN * Discount applies to a single-receipt purchase of $50 or more
of live nursery items. This offer is only valid for shrubs, trees,
annuals, perennials, houseplants, and patio plants. Coupon is
mentioned and shown in this issue
may not always be available at your
4 to 5 inches across. During the long SIZE: ■ melampodium (Melampodium
paludosum): annual; yellow; 18–24
YOU PURCHASE not redeemable for cash, is nontransferable, and cannot be local Lowe’s, but your Lowe’s Trained
blooming season—from midspring to 6–18 inches high,
inches tall, 12–14 inches wide
9–15 inches wide
$50 OR MORE used in conjunction with any other coupon or discount. Void
if copied, transferred, or sold through any online auctions. Nursery Specialist will be glad to
midfall—flowers lure butterflies, birds,
■ Summersong marguerite
and bees. Gerbera daisies make good
OF LOWE’S LIVE Limit one coupon per household. help you find comparable selections.
cut flowers, lasting up to 14 days in a
EXPOSURE: (Argyranthemum frutescens Summersong
Full sun in northern
NURSERY ITEMS.* And if your perennials, houseplants,
vase. Use a commercial fresh-flower food zones; partial shade
Series): annual; yellow, rose, white; 18–24
trees, or shrubs don’t survive a year, inches tall, 15–18 inches wide
to avoid petal-tip burn from fluoride in in southern regions;
just bring the plants and your receipt ■ Gulliver bacopa (Sutera grandifolia
metropolitan water supplies. morning sun ideal
in to your local Lowe’s, and they’ll be Scopia Gulliver Series): annual;
replaced at no charge. Special considerations: Good in all zones white, lavender; 2–5 inches tall, 10–17
drainage is a must for plants to overwinter. inches wide
Mulch with a layer of pine straw or hay To find your planting
Visit LowesCreative Ideas.com/
Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Outdoor Living™ is published by SPC Custom Publishing, Inc., 2100 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209. Copyright 2008 SPC Custom Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in as plants die down. Remove dead foliage zone, see “If You Live OutdoorLiving to see photos of
any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. Lowe’s®, the gable design, and Creative Ideas for Outdoor Living™ are registered trademarks of LF, LLC. All rights reserved. Address all correspondence to Lowe’s
Creative Ideas for Outdoor Living, Attn.: Sandy Culver, P.O. Box 523-G, Birmingham, AL 35201. Lowe’s Creative Ideas for Outdoor Living is staff produced and cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited material. Printed in the U.S.A. to avoid fungal diseases. Here” on page 23. alternate selections.

2 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008 P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y A DA M B A R N E S LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 3

 GARDENING

Showy 'Annabelle'
smooth hydrangea
“The hummingbirds begin to linger.”
dries beautifully
and is great for
indoor flower
arrangements.

Minnesota
ZONES 4–5

After danger of frost has

passed, Connie sows
Connie Erickson zinnia and Mexican

A
sunflower seeds directly
into her beds. Zinnias
After years of watching the make great cut flowers,
hummingbirds just passing and butterflies love them.
through, Connie has finally
convinced some of them to
stay awhile. When they do,
she knows that spring has
come to her garden.
Connie’ s Rose Recommendations
“Winters here are very ■ Feed regularly. Fertilize roses every four to six weeks
cold. We really have only during the growing season, beginning in early spring.
four months maximum for Bayer Advanced 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower
gardening season,” Connie

WELCOME BACK
Care granules (#67672) feed the flowers while
says. “It begins with a frenzy protecting them from insects.
around May 15.”
Her medium-size suburban ■ Toss the peels outside. Connie gives her

SPRING!
yard—bright and sunny in the rosebushes an extra treat by digging in banana
front, shady in the back—is peels around the base of the plant. The roses get
filled with flowerbeds and a boost from the potassium.
rustic antiques. She especially ■ Provide more vitamins and minerals. Roses
enjoys growing roses, which also benefit from magnesium. In early spring when leaves
she feels are worth the extra are forming on the bushes, Connie sprinkles a couple of
care they sometimes need. teaspoons of Epsom salts at the base of each rosebush,
Three gardeners tell us Her casual, cottage-style
garden is also filled with
scratches the salt in a little, and waters well.

how they know spring has more than enough hand ■ Let them sunbathe. Plant roses in a sunny location—the
more sun the better, but at least six hours each day of direct
arrived where they live. trowels—her tool of choice.
O KREDIT

“I have many of them sun in the morning or afternoon.

scattered throughout the ■ Give them some space. Benefiting from air circulation,
OTO

garden in hopes that I can roses do best with a little room to breathe.
SIDE PHO

always find one when I need

it,” she explains.

4 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008 P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y C H A S C A M P B E L L Lo

LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 5
 GARDENING
“The rain turns warmer.”
Washington ZONE 8
Peggy Franklin
W While warmer spring rain
is a good clue, Peggy also
knows her gardening season
has begun when the crocus
bloom. In her region of the
Pacific Northwest, this usually
happens in late January.
Peggy and her husband
own about five acres and
actively maintain two. Their
rural property’s location—
near Puget Sound and on the
western foothills of Mount
Rainier—offers moderate
weather, making it easy to
grow a variety of plants.
After successful careers
in computer software, the
Franklins realized their true
passion and became owners
of a large landscape company,
Lifestyle Landscapes, Inc.
They have installed various
gardens on their land, and
all are wheelchair-accessible.
“I am happy to say that a
person in a wheelchair can
enjoy every part of my garden
complex, even our fire pit and
water feature,” Peggy says.
6 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008
“Bunnies suddenly multiply!”
A wisteria-laden arbor
shades a gravel path
lined with perennials. Florida
ZONES 9–10
Aly and her husband
transformed this
formerly sunken, unused
corner of their yard. They
created a patio, planting
a dwarf selection of
mondo grass between
the pavers.
Aly Evans
B
Because Aly describes the
style of her suburban yard as
“tropical meets petting zoo,”
it’s no wonder that for her,
spring’s arrival has nothing to
Creating an Accessible Garden do with plants, which flourish
in her area almost year-round.
Aly 's Tips for Tropicals
■ Down the garden path. Consider all levels of mobility Her four children care for an ■Inside or out. Citrus selections love the outdoors in warm
when designing garden paths and entryways. Make sure astonishing variety of pets weather. When the weather starts to cool, bring them inside.
paths, gates, and entries are wide enough (around 3 feet) in the midst of the family’s Wipe dirt and dust from leaves using a soft, damp cloth.
to accommodate a wheelchair. To allow a wheelchair to gardening projects.
“We garden all year long, ■ A drink of water. Most tropicals are fairly drought
turn around comfortably, the path must be around 5 feet
so I get to play all the time,” tolerant, but they prefer moisture, and indoor air during the
wide. Minimize uphill or downhill slopes in paths, and use
she says. Spring planting in winter can be too dry. Set pots atop saucers of pebbles and
materials that are firm and slip-free.
her part of Florida cranks up fill with water—this will add humidity.
■ Easy grows it. Choose low-maintenance plants, and around March. Winters there ■ Let the sun shine in. Citrus plants love sunlight. When
consider placing them in raised beds, which minimize have only the occasional cold you have them inside, place them no farther than 6 feet
bending and stooping. Place plants at the right height for snap, so most foliage is green away from a sunny window.
any person by gardening vertically—mount hanging baskets in all seasons, and tropical
on fences, walls, or trellises. plants overwinter easily. ■ Feed me. Give citrus and tropical plants soil and fertilizer
Aly’s handiest tool in the that are made just for them. Try Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm &
■ Hands-free watering. Have an
garden is her scissors: she Citrus Soil (#248406) and Miracle-Gro Fruit & Citrus Tree
irrigation system installed, and set its
uses them for clipping and Fertilizer Spikes (#69689*).
watering patterns with an electronic
water timer (#172428). This device trimming small branches ■ Go for bulbs. Plant tropical summer-
can be programmed for specified that she turns into decorative blooming bulbs after danger of frost
days of the week, times of day, and arrangements. And what is has passed. Canna, lily-of-the-nile,
lengths of time. the best gardening advice elephant's ear, and fancy-leafed
she ever received? caladium do well in most regions.
“My mom said, ‘Just try it. *Available only in Florida and California.
You can always move it.’”
P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y J A M E S R . A N D E R S O N P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y A L L E N R O K AC H Lo
LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 7
 L ANDSCAPE DE SIGN

Good To Know
Check into native plants to
discover drought-tolerant
beauties that thrive with little
care or rainfall. Many natives
unfurl nectar-rich blooms
that attract butterflies, bees,
and hummingbirds.

N
Plan a drought-tolerant,
fire-resistant landscape.

EXTREME
Natural events grabbed headlines last
year as communities from coast to coast
grappled with drought and wildfire.
Drought destroyed crops and gardens
throughout the southern regions, and

GARDENS
fire consumed millions of acres nation-
wide. For water conservation purposes,
as well as regulated water supplies and
the threat of wildfire, many of our urban
and suburban landscapes—lawns and
gardens, for example—can benefit from
Mix drought-proof
being updated to thrive under extreme annuals and perennials
growing conditions. for season-long drifts
To begin planning your own yard of color. This planting
features ‘Indigo
and garden’s “herb-an” renewal, you Spires’ sage.
should consider potential risks. Do
you live in an area prone to wildfires?
Is your region presently in the grip of Grouping plants
Rock mulch warms soil in
spring, conserves soil a prolonged drought? Or is it common that have similar
moisture in summer, and for your locale to experience drought watering needs
provides an ideal habitat will increase the
on a seasonal basis? Be realistic in overall efficiency
for creeping plants such
as ‘Aureum’ gold moss. your evaluation. For instance, even if you of irrigation.
live outside the West, realize that any
area where drought reigns also will be
susceptible to wildfire.
After you appraise your region’s
risks, it is time to determine the best
ways to outfit your yard for beauty and
survival. Start by embracing growing
practices that are environmentally savvy.
These techniques consider all aspects
O KREDIT

of landscaping, from soil preparation to

plant selection, and they yield beautiful
OTO

scenery that not only survives on limited

SIDE PHO

rainfall but also forms an effective fire-

break around your home.

8 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008 P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y J A M E S R . A N D E R S O N A N D B R I A N F R A N C I S Lo

LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 9
 L ANDSCAPE DE SIGN

Choose Drought-
Focus on Proper Tolerant Plants
Plant Selection Create a garden filled with plants
Begin by studying your yard. Plant all that don’t guzzle water. Look for
selections according to light levels, soil these water-wise plants at your
composition, and moisture levels. Lowe’s Garden Center.
For instance, for a corner where Perennials
water collects during the rainy season, ■ ’Aureum’ gold moss (Sedum acre

choose plants that can thrive in both ‘Aureum’): Zones 3–8

damp and dry soils, such as daylily ■ ’Big Ears’ lamb’s ears (Stachys
Correct plant
(Hemerocallis selections) or bee spacing, pruning, byzantina ‘Big Ears’): Zones 4–9
balm (Monarda didyma). In and maintenance ■ ‘Carolina Moonlight’ false indigo

shady spots, rely mostly on are the keys to a (Baptisia ‘Carolina Moonlight’):
healthy landscape
fern, lenten rose (Helleborus that can survive. Zones 4–9
orientalis), Japanese forest ■ common evening primrose

grass (Hakonechloa macra), (Oenothera biennis): Zones 5–8

brunnera, or monkey grass ■ ‘Dragon’s Blood’ two-row stonecrop

(Liriope selections). Drought- (Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’):

tolerant, sun-loving plants Zones 4–9
include penstemon, blazing star ■ ‘Indigo Spires’ sage (Salvia ‘Indigo

(Liatris selections), blanket flower Spires’): Zones 7–11

(Gaillardia selections), and Russian ■ Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa):

sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia). For more Zones 4–9

plant choices, see the plant list at right. ■ ‘King Edward’ woolly yarrow

No plant is truly fireproof, but you (Achillea tomentosa ‘King Edward’):

can select those that offer fire resistance Zones 3–10
with proper maintenance. Typically, ■ ’Lidakense’ stonecrop (Sedum

fire-resistant plants have moist, supple Ornamental grasses and cauticola ‘Lidakense’): Zones 5–10
To provide interest, succulents thrive on rainfall
leaves; a thick, nonpapery bark; and juxtapose broad- ■ ‘Limerock Ruby’ tickseed (Coreopsis
alone. But check your local
watery, not resinous, sap. Healthy turf leafed ‘Carolina regulations before planting ‘Limerock Ruby’): Zones 5–9
also acts as an effective firebreak. Moonlight’ false in the public right-of-way ■ nettle-leaved mullein (Verbascum
indigo (foreground) between the sidewalk and
with feathery ‘Lime- chaixii): Zones 5–8
the curb or street.
Know Your Soil rock Ruby’ tickseed
(background). Purple
■ purple coneflower (Echinacea

purpurea): Zones 2–10

and How To coneflower (inset) is
a good selection for Grasses
Amend It drought tolerance as
well as color.
Tailor Maintenance to the Extreme ■ Gulf muhly (Muhlenbergia

For new gardens, determine your soil The first year after planting, drought- hairy, or leathery leaves, which often capillaries): Zones 6–9
type with a soil test. If you’ve never tested tolerant plants need an inch of water per aren’t palatable to pests or deer. ■ ’Hameln’ fountain grass (Pennisetum

your existing landscape’s soil, consider week, but once established, they rarely In fire-prone areas, remove dead- alopecuroides ’Hameln’): Zones 5–9
doing so. Your goal is to cultivate the require moisture beyond rainfall. An wood, leaves, and anything else that ■ ‘Morning Light’ maiden grass

ideal soil for the plants you’ll grow. exception would be, for example, a dry could fuel flames. Fire-wise principles (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’):
Many drought-tolerant plants do best winter followed by a dry spring. In these of landscaping call for arranging fire- Zones 5–9
in lean soils, where organic matter is low. conditions, water plants deeply every resistant plants in zones around your
Bulbs, Tubers, Vines
Others demand a richer footing and will few weeks through spring to prepare home. On the perimeter of a property,
■ climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea
thrive only in soil rich in organic matter,
which helps hold moisture near roots.
Generally, drought-tolerant plants can
“Create a beautiful bed by pairingg them for summer. A 2-inch-thick layer of
mulch conserves soil moisture and helps
rain soak into soil better. Rock mulch is
position low-growing, drought-tolerant
plants in an area that’s irrigated. Near
the house, grow fire-resistant plants
anomala petiolaris): Zones 4–7
■ society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea):

Zones 7–10
derive necessary fertilizer from an annual
application of compost on top of soil (in
a 2- to 4-inch layer). Over time, compost
different perennial leaf textures.” an ideal choice in high-risk wildfire areas;
firebrands can ignite bark mulch.
Pests don’t pose a significant threat
with irrigation. Install hardscapes, such
as paving, right next to the house. And
avoid growing any highly flammable
■ tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa):

Zones 8–10

breaks down, feeding plants and building in drought-tolerant gardens. Most plants plants, such as juniper, ceanothus,
rich, loose soil that retains moisture. that are drought-tolerant feature thick, sagebrush, or manzanita.

10 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008 Lo

LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 11
 OUTD O OR RO OM

What could be
better than a
lakefront property
Landscaping
around the
with plenty of yard
gazebo helps
it blend into
to spare? A cozy,
the setting. covered outdoor
room right next
to the water.

OUTDOOR
COMFORT These homeowners love the view from
inside their house, yet they wanted to
spend more time relaxing outdoors in
their lakeside setting. What they needed
was a spot near the water that would be
as comfortable as an indoor space. A
fully outfitted gazebo did the trick, and
it provided a beautiful incentive for their
landscape design efforts.
Considering the lake as a backdrop,

Good To Know the couple decided to place the hexagon-

shaped cedar gazebo near the water.
Natural cedar will weather Surrounded with a variety of colorful,
to a beautiful silvery fragrant plants, the gazebo becomes
gray, but applying a stain a focal point in the yard. Furniture
or sealant can extend the that’s heavy-duty as well as attractive,
life of your gazebo. combined with outdoor accessories,
makes the space feel a great deal like
an indoor room.
O KREDIT

O KREDIT

“We wanted a way to extend the

warmth inside our home to the outside,”
OTO

OTO

says the homeowner. “The gazebo will

SIDE PHO

SIDE PHO

allow many more years of wonderful

memories for our entire family.”

PHH OTO
OTO G
GRRA
APPH
HYY B
BYY N
ARAD
MEENTO
WAKORM
DE; S T Y L I N G B Y T R AC Y S I S S O N
12 P 13
 OUTD O OR RO OM
Pick the
Best Location
A bit of forethought can make all
the difference when selecting
and siting a gazebo. Use this
checklist as a guide.
■ Choose a model that complements
your home in scale and materials.
■ While most structures the size of
a gazebo don’t require a permit,
check local building codes to
make sure.
■ Find a spot that will have a nice
view from the gazebo, and consider
the view of the scene from inside
your home.
■ Start with a level area to reduce
the need for grading. Build on a
foundation appropriate for the
structure and for your yard’s
conditions. The manufacturer can
offer several options.
■ Consider your route to and from
the gazebo. A paver path not only
will make for an easier walk, but also
can help incorporate the gazebo
into the landscape.
■ Check with the manufacturer for
more information about siting and
setting up your gazebo.
14 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008
2
Hanging baskets
are a great way
to add seasonal
color to any
Complete the Look outdoor room.
1. A gazebo-style feeder adds
whimsy and welcomes birds.
2. An orchid planter completes
the outdoor table setting.
Check out Lowe’s complete
3. An outdoor ceiling fan with
selection of outdoor storage
remote creates a cool breeze.
buildings, utility sheds, and
4. Eco-friendly fixtures use
gazebos. Lowe’s can provide
solar energy for spotlighting
professional installation of
the gazebo.
storage buildings. To learn
more about these and other
ways to welcome the season, Lowe’s List
visit Lowes.com/Spring. ■ Skill level: Intermediate
■ Rough cost estimate .. $5,525*
Cedar gazebo
and path ................... $4,925**
1
Outdoor furniture ........... $140
Accessories .....................$460
■ Rough time estimate: 3 days
(with at least 2 people)
CEDAR GAZEBO AND PATH
10-foot hexagon gazebo kit
(CedarShed, Special Order)
pavers (tan/charcoal, #59765)
OUTDOOR FURNITURE
30-inch bistro table (Key Largo,
#115980)
4 barrel-back chairs (Key Largo,
#119225)
ACCESSORIES
pillows (#112686)
ceiling fan with remote (Harbor
Breeze, #70085)
solar landscape lighting
3 4 (Brightscapes, #135213)
bird feeder (#235778) Natural Addition
hanging baskets (#110623)
Make a gazebo part of your design plan by surrounding it with the
orchid planter (#33208) right plants. Consider these tips when landscaping around the structure.
PLANTS
■ Choose native plants that complement mature size won’t interfere with
wax myrtle the gardening style already established easy access.
gardenia in your yard. ■ Lend a pleasant scent to your
Encore azalea ■ Achieve a ready-made privacy screen outdoor room with fragrant plants,
or canopy with mature plantings, or such as gardenias.
mondo grass
plant evergreen selections that mature ■ Bring color and texture to the
boxwood to a large size. space with plants that bloom in
dianthus ■ Bridge gaps between mature plantings different seasons.
pansy and the gazebo with moderately sized ■ Add a generous layer of mulch
shrubs or perennials. around plants. Select a color or a
*Does not include labor costs, the cost
HOW-TO VIDEO of plants, paver setting materials, or ■ Flank the entrance with a pair of texture that blends well with both
applicable taxes, which vary by market.
evergreen plants, but make sure their the gazebo and plantings.
**Roof options and accessories vary and
Learn how to install cost extra.
landscape lighting at
Lowes.com/Videos.
LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLivingLowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 15
 shop smar t

Weed
Control
Want a weed-free lawn and garden?
Take steps to control these unwanted
guests before, during, and after planting.

Before You Plant

1
Take these measures before planting to deter weeds.

■ Try DuPont Garden Products Landscape Max
Maximum Weed Defense Fabric (#254519) on hard-
to-maintain areas in your yard—weeds can’t grow on
top of it or break through from beneath.
■ Use DuPont Garden Products Landscape Anchor
Pins (#160807 or #86416) to keep the fabric in place.
■ DuPont Garden Products Landscape Ready Ring
Pre-Cut Weed Defense Circle (#254514) controls
weeds while still allowing air, water, and essential
nutrients to reach the roots of your plants. This product
comes ready to use, and it will fit around both new
and old trees and shrubs.

While You Plant

Choose mulches and sprinkle-on formulas to eliminate the
possibility of weeds in your planting beds.

2
■ Stop weeds before they start by using Preen Mulch Plus (#255154) around
flowers, trees, and shrubs. This multitasker gives your garden a finished look
while smothering weeds more effectively than regular mulches.
■ The Perm-A-Mulch MulchMat tree ring (#80694) has the look of mulch but
will not wash away. It blocks weeds around trees while allowing air, water, and
nutrients to pass through.
■ Sprinkle Miracle-Gro Garden Weed Preventer (#14396) or Preen Garden
Weed Preventer (#252811) around vegetables, flowers, trees, and shrubs to
keep weeds from sprouting. Both products last for up to three months.

After You Plant

Use these products if weeds spring up on your lawn or in other spots,

3
such as the cracks in your driveway.
■ Bayer Advanced All-in-One Weed Killer for Lawns
(#165368) kills weeds and crabgrass in one step and
will not harm your lawn.
■ Bayer Advanced Southern Weed Killer for Lawns
(#146850) will eliminate weeds and crabgrass in one
step as well, but it has been specially designed to
work on southern lawns.
■ Roundup Ready To Use Extended
Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus
Weed Prevent (#26779) kills existing
weeds and stops new weeds for up to
three months. Use this nonselective
product in driveway and sidewalk cracks,
along fence lines, and in mulched areas.

16 Outdoor Living spring 2008 p h oto g r a p h y b y B r i a n F r a n c i s

 ON THE ROAD
DISCOVER
RAIN GARDENS
A Kansas City, Missouri, initiative
provides inspiration for cleaner,
greener community landscapes.
A rain garden at
Visitation Church
(here, and opposite
page, bottom left)
prevents thousands
of gallons of runoff
into Brush Creek
each year.
W
When urban landscapes replace any
natural terrain, rain must find a new path
to streams and wetlands, often traveling
along roads, parking lots, and rooftops
rather than soaking into the soil. Along
the way, this runoff collects pollutants,
such as grease and oil, before entering
waterways, compromising water quality,
and threatening wildlife. Managing
stormwater is a major concern for cities
large and small, and many—including
Kansas City, Missouri—are turning to
rain gardens for help.
Based on a rather simple concept,
rain gardens are slight depressions in
18 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008
the soil, usually a few yards in diameter,
filled with native plants that will absorb
rain more effectively than most common
landscaping techniques. While cutting
down on runoff, a rain garden serves as
a natural filter for rainwater, which seeps
through the garden’s soil and back into
the water table. By soaking up standing
water, rain gardens also eliminate many
breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
When Kansas City introduced its
10,000 Rain Gardens initiative in 2005,
the city was troubled with flooding due
to the runoff from heavy storms. Waste
products and contaminants in storm-
Good To Know
Build your own rain garden at
home. Kansas City’s 10,000 Rain
Gardens Web site offers custom
garden designs as well as
step-by-step instructions for
planning, prepping, and planting
your rain garden. Go to
www.rainkc.com/gardens.
Let It Rain!
These native plants won’t
cower when the forecast calls
for wet weather.
■ bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob
Cline’): Zones 4–9
■ cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis):
Zones 2–9
■ blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium
angustifolium): Zones 3–9
■ crinkled hair grass (Deschampsia
flexuosa): Zones 3–8
■ false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides):
This rain garden at Zones 3–9
the University of ■ ‘Moonbeam’ threadleaf coreopsis
Missouri-Kansas (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’):
City serves as a Zones 3–9
dry creekbed that ■ New England aster (Aster novae-
manages runoff. angliae): Zones: 3–9
■ purple coneflower (Echinacea
purpurea): Zones 2–10
■ goldenrod (Solidago rugosa):
At the bottom of Zones 3–9
a slope, a small ■Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia):
sewer overflow threatened waterfowl residential rain Zones 5–9
and fish in area streams and rivers and garden is filled ■ smooth aster (Aster laevis): Zones 3–8
with water-loving ■ smooth penstemon (Penstemon
made lakes unsuitable for recreation. native plants. digitalis): Zones 3–9
The city currently has approximately ■ corkscrew rush (Juncus effusus
1,000 public and private rain gardens, ‘Spiralis’): Zones 4–10
■ spike blazing star (Liatris spicata):
but the ambitious goal of 10,000 comes Zones 3–10
closer to reality each year, encouraged ■ swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata):
by the efforts of community programs Zones 3–8
■ switch grass (Panicum virgatum): Zones
that continue to introduce the concept 2–9
to homeowners and businesses. ■ white turtlehead (Chelone glabra):
Kansas City’s public rain gardens are Zones 3–8
■ wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis):
open to visitors, and a July home tour offers Zones 3–8
a glimpse of residential gardens. Visit ■ wild geranium (Geranium maculatum):
www.rainkc.com for more information Zones 3–8
on the Kansas City program.
P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y B R U C E N . M E Y E R P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y N A M E TO KO M E 19
 DIG GING IN
Shade offers refuge from the heat
and an opportunity to play with plant
textures, shapes, and even colors. Dig
in, and plant your own shade garden.
COOL
ESCAPE
The Basics of Shade
Most of the shady areas in nature occur
beneath tree canopies. In a woodland
setting, soil is moist, rich, and full of humus:
all conditions that cause shade-loving
plants to thrive. Duplicate this soil in
your own shade garden to help plants
grow robustly. Add compost to existing
soil to increase humus. Continue to build
up soil by adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of
compost around plants annually, in the
spring or fall.
Unlike sun-saturated areas, shade
gardens require less frequent irrigation;
however, soil needs to stay moist, so you’ll
want to incorporate a convenient water
source. To deliver water with accuracy,
add either soaker hoses or a method of
drip irrigation. Also, realize that pockets
of your shade garden may get a little
more sun than others. Fill sunnier spots
with plants that will be able to tolerate
both shade and sun.
Make It Welcoming
Plan your shade garden with elements
that will make it inviting, comfortable,
and easy to enjoy. As in any new outdoor
space, install outdoor lighting. Add some
light-colored edging (shown: charcoal,
#13868), and include statuary if you wish.
20 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008
Green and White
1. ‘August Beauty’ common gardenia
(Gardenia jasminoides ‘August Beauty’)
2. Japanese fatsia (Fatsia japonica)
3. ‘Brilliance’ autumn fern (Dryopteris
erythrosora ‘Brilliance’)
4. fancy-leafed caladium (Caladium
selections)
5. dusty miller (Senecio cineraria)
2 6. Aztec grass (Ophiopogon intermedius
1 ‘Argenteomarginatus’)
7. ‘Patriot’ hosta (Hosta ‘Patriot’)
8. cast-iron plant (Aspidistra selections)
3
7
4
7
Because a shady zone encourages
slowing down, include seating using
fabrics in shades that will complement
plants and brighten the space. Consider A bed planted with
adding the sound of trickling water, but a green-and-white
palette is simple
you may want to avoid a sizeable pond. and soothing. Crave Color?
Overhanging tree branches will drop
With the right selections, you can
debris in the water, and you’ll have to
find success with shaded color.
fish it out. Instead, include a fountain that
adds to the ambience. Pretty Pastel (blue, pink)
■ astilbe (Astilbe selections)
Strike It Rich 5 ■ ‘Blue Panda’ blue corydalis
Choose a planting palette that’s rich (Corydalis flexuosa ‘Blue Panda’)
texturally. Variegated foliage provides ■ blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)
contrast in the shade, so plant variegated ■ Chinese meadow rue (Thalictrum
Japanese pachysandra, ‘Patriot’ hosta, delavayi)
and variegated Solomon’s seal to offer ■ columbine (Aquilegia selections)
visual interest all season long. ■ common bleeding heart (Dicentra
Combine foliage textures to create a spectabilis)
planting tapestry. Pair the broad, bold ■ cranesbill geranium (Geranium
foliage of Japanese fatsia or fancy-leafed sanguineum)
caladium with fine-leaved perennials, Bold Blend (yellow, orange, red)
such as ‘Brilliance’ autumn fern. In early ■ astilbe (Astilbe selections)
6
spring and fall, this fern will add a rich, ■ coral bells (Heuchera selections)
bronze tone to the garden; in the summer, ■ daylily (Hemerocallis selections)
it’s a rich green. ■ masterwort (Astrantia major ‘Rubra’)
O KREDIT
O KREDIT
If trees cause your shade, watch sun ■ water avens (Geum rivale)
patterns throughout the day in different ■ yellow corydalis (Corydalis lutea)
OTO
OTO
seasons. To weave more interest into ■ yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia
SIDE PHO
SIDE PHO
your garden, fill puddles of sunlight with punctata)
perennials that grow in partial sun.
P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y B R I A N F R A N C I S Lo
LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving 21
 D ONE IN A DAY
PLANT A
TREE
It’s good for you and for the earth.
Trees offer more than just
beauty—they also work hard
for the environment. They
conserve energy, shielding
our homes from cold winds
and hot sun to help keep our
utility bills low. They provide
shelter for birds and food for
wildlife. They even scrub the
air of carbon dioxide and
pump in vital oxygen.
Plant a tree this spring to
celebrate two eco-friendly
22 Outdoor Living SPRING 2008
observances: Earth Day, on
April 22, and Arbor Day,
on April 25. The simple act
of planting a tree is the focus
of Arbor Day, and it supports
the emphasis of Earth Day,
which promotes all efforts
toward a clean environment.
You also can choose to
celebrate a momentous event
or honor an individual by
digging in the soil. Through
the Arbor Day Foundation,
Good To Know
Keep your trees healthy
and growing with Bayer
Advanced 12 Month Tree
& Shrub Protect & Feed
(#216528).
you can donate funds to
plant a tree in a person’s
honor or memory, or to mark
an anniversary, a birthday,
or a wedding. You’ll receive
a certificate documenting the
tree and what it celebrates
when you donate online.
Visit ArborDay.org for more
information about the Arbor
Day Foundation, or to donate.
P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y B R I A N F R A N C I S
Step-by-Step
1 Select a tree that fits
your yard as well as your
needs. Consider its mature
size, the shade it might cast
on existing flowerbeds, and
any nearby power lines or
paved areas its branches and
roots may disturb. Before
digging, be sure to contact
your local utility company to
mark gas lines, water pipes,
or underground cables.
2 Dig a hole as deep as
the tree’s root ball and
twice as wide. A round-point
shovel and a mattock are the
best tools for this task. Try
excavating soil onto a tarp to
protect your lawn throughout
the planting process.
3 Mix organic filler into
heavy clay or sandy soil,
replacing up to one-half the
volume of the excavated soil.
Slice roots by scoring the
sides of the root ball with a
shovel, which will encourage
new roots to grow.
4 Place your tree in the
hole, replace some of
the soil, and straighten the
tree. Fill the rest of the hole
with more soil. Add a ring of
mounded soil 12 to 18 inches
out from the trunk, creating a
moat so that water can soak
into the roots.
5
Mulch with organic
matter, such as shredded
bark or pine straw, beginning
3 to 5 inches away from the
trunk to allow air to circulate
freely. Water the tree at least
once a week during the first
growing season.
To learn more about your planting
zone, visit Lowes.com/ZoneMap.
3 2
Refer to the tips
below that apply
to your zone.
IF YOU LIVE HERE …
Zones 3–5
■ LAWN Apply crabgrass killer before
forsythia flowers fade. Treat with a
pre-emergent broadleaf weedkiller now
MARCH
if you didn’t last fall. Don’t overseed if
you’re using any pre-emergent herbicide.
■ ANNUALS Plant cool-season annuals
for early color: pansies, ornamental kale,
or sweet alyssum. Don’t overwater; soil
dries slowly in cool weather.
■ SEEDS Start seeds indoors; provide
lighting 14–16 hours per day.
■ FERTILIZER Feed young trees (less
than three years old), perennials, and
shrubs with an all-purpose blend that’s
APRIL
higher in nitrogen and potassium, lower
in phosphorus.
■ BULBS Remove mulch from around
bulbs and perennials on a cloudy day.
Scratch a complete fertilizer into soil
around the plants as leaves emerge.
■ PONDS Clean ponds before frog-egg
masses are visible.
■ GRASS Let grass clippings lie on
the lawn to add valuable nutrients
to soil.
■ INSECTS Treat any Eastern tent
MAY caterpillars as soon as you spot webs.
Cut nests from trees and bury them,
or spray with Bacillus thuringiensis, an
organic caterpillar-killing product.
■ PERENNIALS Dig and divide fall-
flowering perennials, providing 1 inch
of water per week as plants establish.
By relying on regional and local growers, Lowe’s is able to provide you with selections that are best suited to your climate. The plants mentioned may not
always be available at your local Lowe’s, but your Lowe’s Trained Nursery Specialist will help you find comparable selections. And if your perennials, houseplants,
trees, or shrubs don’t survive a year, bring the plants and your receipt in to your local Lowe’s, and they’ll be replaced at no charge.
GARDEN CALENDAR TIPS
4
1
10
10
11
Zones 6 – 8
■ WEEDS Either overseed bare spots
on lawns or treat with a pre-emergent
broadleaf weedkiller—but don’t do
both. Spot-spray existing weeds with
the Bayer Advanced weed killer that’s
best for your region (#165368, #146850).
■ BLOOMERS Prune flowering azalea,
quince, and forsythia after blooms have
appeared. Avoid pruning crepe myrtles
until foliage has fully emerged; remove
any deadwood.
■ LAWN Let grass clippings lie on the
lawn, especially after the first mowing,
to add valuable nutrients to soil.
■ VEGGIES Dig vegetable gardens.
Plant all crops—broccoli, onions, peas,
carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, beans,
and summer squash.
■ ANNUALS Plant flowering annuals.
Attract hummingbirds and butterflies
with sage, pentas, lantana, spider
flower, or zinnia.
■ ENERGY Increase the efficiency of
your air conditioner’s compressor by
up to 10% with shade from shrubs or
trees. Evaporative coolers, however,
need sunshine for efficient operation.
■ BULBS Set outside for the summer
any amaryllis bulbs that were forced
for holiday blooming. Scratch a slow-
release, all-purpose fertilizer into the
soil, and place the plants in a lightly
shaded spot.
LowesCreativeIdeas.com/OutdoorLiving
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Zones 9 –11
■ GRASS Fertilize lawns in early spring,
particularly St. Augustine and Bahia
grass. Seed Bermuda grass lawns; plant
sod for St. Augustine, centipede, and
Zoysia grass. Keep newly planted areas
or lawns moist.
■ ROSES Prune roses, making cuts
just above any outward-facing buds.
Remove deadwood, crossing branches,
and spindly shoots. Prune climbers
after flowering.
■ PRUNING Remove dead foliage on
ornamental grasses before new growth
emerges. Cut plants to a height of
12 inches.
■ WATER Irrigate your landscape
during this hot, windy month. Install
soaker hoses in planting beds, and
apply mulch to conserve soil moisture.
Avoid piling mulch against tree trunks;
keep it pulled back a few inches to
allow airflow.
■ LAWNS Fertilize Bermuda, Zoysia,
and centipede grass with a product
that delivers quickly available nitrogen.
Use a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per
1,000 square feet.
■ WATER Replace missing heads and
repair leaks on your irrigation system.
■ CITRUSES Feed citrus trees with a
specialized citrus fertilizer. Broadcast
the fertilizer beneath the tree’s foliage
canopy, and water it in.
23
 To subscribe, log onto LowesCreativeIdeas.com/Subscribe, or call 1-877-LOWES-02 PRSRT. STD.
(569-3702). If your address has an error that needs correction or you would like your U.S. POSTAGE
name removed from our mailing list, please send your request with your address label to: PA I D
Lowe’s Mail Preference, P.O. Box 35256, Greensboro, NC 27425-5256. PERMIT NO. 1455
PEWAUKEE, WI
53072
P.O. BOX 35256
Greensboro,
North Carolina
27425-5256

S43003051633444S

jus t in

Best Bloomers Lowe’s Garden Club Select annuals

and perennials are developed to
make gardening easier for you.
Long before you see them in the Lowe’s
Garden Center, these plants must pass
rigorous breeding, testing, and growing
standards. Here’s why they’re guaranteed
to grow and thrive in your yard.
■ Each Lowe’s Garden Club Select
plant is specially chosen and tested
and then retested to ensure top-notch
performance in the specific region for
which it was developed.
■ Every plant is selected for its superior
bloom size, form, or color, as well as its
hardiness and readiness for planting.
■ Each container’s packaging and
plant tag provides you with extensive
information and tips about planting,
growing, and maintenance.
■ To view the wide selection of
Lowe’s Garden Club Select annuals
and perennials, stop by your local
Lowe’s Garden Center today, or
visit Lowes.com/Learn2Grow.