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Plants

| September 1, 2021

Regal Prince Oak (Quercus ‘Regal Prince’)

A Creative Choice for Tight Spots Hardiness Range: 4 to 9 Height: 20’+ Spread: 12’-18’ Exposure: Full Sun Fall Color: Yellow Why We Love It: The Regal Prince is tall, columnar (for an oak!), symmetrical, and has dark green foliage throughout the season. This tree is faster growing than most other oaks and can live […]

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Plants

| August 1, 2021

Tricolor Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Tricolor’)

One of Our Favorites for Foliage Hardiness Range: 4 to 7 Height: 40’ Spread: 30’ Exposure: Partial to Full Sun Leaf Color: Unfurling in spring in vivid pinks with a white margin, darkening to burgundy and deep bronze as the year goes on.  Why We Love It: Tricolor Beech trees have stunning foliage color that […]

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Plants

| July 1, 2021

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium nipponicum ‘Pictum’)

One of Our Favorite Plants for Shaded Gardens Hardiness Range: 3 to 8 Height: 18” Spread: 24” Exposure: Partial to Full Shade Leaf Color: Olive Green with Silver Variegation and Burgundy Stem Why We Love It: Japanese Painted Fern is a dense perennial with gracefully arching foliage that emerges burgundy in the spring and becomes […]

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Plants

| June 1, 2021

Texas Scarlet Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Texas Scarlet’)

One of Our Favorite Shrubs for Spring Blooms Hardiness Range: 5a Height: 5’ Spread: 5’ Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Bright Red Why We Love It: Texas Scarlet Flowering Quince is an abundant bloomer of bright red flowers that bloom directly on the branches in early spring. This smaller shrub will make people stop and […]

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Plants

| May 1, 2021

Blue Hyssop (Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’)

Our Favorite Shrub to Attract Pollinators Hardiness Range: 5 to 9 Height: 24” to 36” Spread: 12” to 18” Exposure: Full Sun Bloom Color: Blue/Purple Why We Love It: Blue Hyssops are one of the best plants for pollinators – you will see a constant revolving door of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Blue Hyssops […]

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Tips & Tricks

| April 26, 2021

How to Handle Peat Starter Plants

There are many different methods to consider when starting vegetable and herb seeds, and we use several approaches here at Piala’s. Some plants do best in sturdy pots with stakes (tomatoes, peppers) and others require more delicate handling of the root system.  Some veggies such as summer squash, winter squash, cucumbers, and beans are very […]

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Plants / Tips & Tricks

| March 30, 2021

Beyond Burning Bush: Fall-Scaping for Gorgeous Late Season Landscapes

Fall in Wisconsin is a bittersweet season. The initial dread of the upcoming winter months can lead to a reluctance to embrace the beauty in the fall landscape. This is a huge missed opportunity! September and October can (and should) be two of our most spectacular months outdoors. Another reason fall color can be neglected […]

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Plants

| March 17, 2021

Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)

Our Favorite Trees for Waukesha Hardiness Range: 4 to 8 Height: 40’-70’ Spread: 20’-50’ Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade Bloom Color: White Why We Love It:  Huge, dinner-plate sized leaves with gorgeous white flowers in spring.  The Catalpa is underutilized in home landscapes and provides a great alternative to overused, popular specimen shade trees.  One of the RARE trees […]

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Tips & Tricks

| March 17, 2021

Don’t Drown Your Plants

When caring for your plants, you may think that the more water the merrier, but overwatering can be just as problematic as underwatering. Here are five common mistakes we see that can lead to overwatered plants in the landscape:  1. Site Selection:  Be observant/thoughtful when you select a site for your plants. Pay attention to the […]

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