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Plants

| October 1, 2024

Ruby Spice Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’)

Some harvest gold for your fall plant bed! Why We Love It:As we begin our fall season here in Waukesha, having plants that will adapt to your garden is a bonus. For the Ruby Spice Summersweet, there is a lot of variety with the glossy round leaves turn an outstanding harvest gold in the fall […]

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Plants

| September 1, 2024

Sun King Aralia (Aralia cordata Sun King)

Bring a burst of bright gold to shady spaces! Why We Love It: This big, rugged perennial holds up well in Waukesha County and brings excellent color contrast to woodland gardens. Almost all shade perennials are primarily green when not in bloom, making Sun King an excellent addition. White flowers are at their showiest in […]

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Tips & Tricks

| August 10, 2023

Planting with Pets in Mind

Many of us look forward to spending our free time outside, and work hard to fill our yards with eye-catching, lush plantings. While gardens and yards are lovely for relaxing, we do need to exercise caution when designing for homeowners with pets. When shopping at the nursery or if you use a landscaper for your […]

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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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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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Plants

| March 15, 2021

Herbs That Don’t Die

Home Herbalism for the Black Thumb Crowd  Why bother growing herbs?  Flavor.  Everything we taste is controlled by our nose.  Well-flavored food draws you in before you even pick up the fork.  Herbs are the enemy of bland food, and FRESH herbs are king.  Once you’ve cooked with the fresh stuff, there’s no going back!  Chopped oniony chives on potatoes, […]

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Plants

| March 14, 2021

Back Off the Buzzcut

Back off the Buzzcut for a Healthy Lawn!  The most beneficial practice to maintain a healthy lawn is to set your mower height to a minimum of 2.5 – 3 inches, with 3 inches preferred. You may be shaking your head at this suggestion, but we stand by this advice. Keeping your grass at a […]

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