Container Gardens

Instant gratification!

Three easy ways:

The Super Easy Way with Plant Pies … a ready made color container insert. Pick a plant pie, a pot with soil, then pop it out and plop it in … Voila! Instant mixed color garden!

The Old Fashioned Way … pick out plants, pot and soil …and do the planting at home.

We Do It For You … let us help you pick a pot, choose the plants and we’ll plant it for you!

Awesome container gardens for any energy level that fit any space! A shady spot, a sunny area or a tabletop creation.

Plant Pies for Summer

No baking necessary!

This is a pie that you will love!  Plant Pies are our answer to easy planting!

Our summer selection Plant Pies just arrived and they look fantastic!

Refresh your porch pots or patio containers with already planted annuals for summer.

Pop it out of the plastic plate. Pop it into your pot. Easy as pie.

P.O.W.! Plumbago

Perennial of the Week: Plumbago

All 1 gal. Plumbago are $6.99 (reg. $8.99). Now through Tuesday, June 18.

Gorgeous blue summer color & butterfly magnet! Plumago has long been a Houston favorite — it could almost be a native!

This week’s Buchanan’s Blog is all about this great plant!

Have you started your Recycled Pallet Garden Project?

Build a Pallet Garden. Enter our Contest!

We are amazed at how many uses there are for wooden pallets. From building vertical gardens (check out featured video) to using pallets for compost bins and even furniture. Want to try? We have them. They’re free. For more on the Buchanan’s Recycled Pallet Garden Project (& more great ideas) – check out our new Buchanan’s Blog.

Dive into Water Gardening

Create a Summer Cool Spot!

Water gardening is a perfect summer pastime for Houston. It’s easy! Create a small pond, bog or rain garden. Use a water bowl to hold a few plants for a cool water feature. Add a fountain & relax.

Gorgeous blooming water lilies – including tropical (‘Panama Pacific’, ‘King of Siam’) & hardy (‘Colorado’, ‘Paul Stetson’, ‘Tina’, ‘Ruby’) varieties. Many other water plants including mosaic plants, pickerel reed, giant & dwarf papyrus, parrot’s feather, snowflake, equisetum (horsetail reed), sagittaria, hornwort, cabomba, water celery, mint & more.

• All About Water Gardening
• Earth Kind Landscaping: Plant Life for Water Gardens.

Rudbeckia

Black-Eyed-Susan

Choose from a great selection, including Rudbeckia ‘Goldstrum’, ’Early Bird’, ‘Tiger Eye Gold’, ‘Maxima’ & ‘Denver Daisy’.

A wonderful & popular perennial native – from the compact hybrid Rudbeckia ‘Tiger Eye Gold’ (pictured) to the Giant Coneflower (R. maxima). 

Fight Powdery Mildew

It’s everywhere …

This is the time of year when Houston weather creates the perfect conditions for powdery mildew. Many plants, especially crepe myrtles and roses, are highly susceptible. Don’t panic. Powdery mildew is a fungus that can be treated with a number of appropriate fungicides.

Serenade, Infuse and copper sulfate products are available in the Buchanan’s Plant Care shed.

Salvias

Ya gotta love ‘em!  So many varieties that come in all shapes, sizes and colors!

Choose from many varieties – ‘Black & Blue’, ‘Lady in Red’, Bicolor, Salvia greggii in assorted colors, including the fabulous ‘Nuevo Leon’ (a greggii hybrid). We also have the Houston favorite Mexican Bush Sage.

• Love full sun & a well drained spot.
• Blooms from spring into fall.
• Hummingbirds, butterflies & pollinators love it!

Watering Fun

“As Seen On TV” — Pocket Hose – 50 ft. $29.99

All the rage! Perfect for small spaces & watering. A portable hose that fits in a small space but expands to 50 ft.

• Lightweight & easy to handle.
• Expands with water pressure. Just turn the water on.
• Shrinks to original size when water is turned off.  
• Perfect for boats, rv’s, balcony gardens & all areas where there is little storage space.

Dramm Sprinklers & Sprayers

Brighten up!

Dramm products are of the highest quality & design. Developed to save time & energy, and available in great colors in many styles.

Choose from a variety of nozzles, sprinklers, wands.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

They’re not just purple anymore!

It’s one of our all-time favorites, and they’re not just purple anymore!

Choose from great new selections, including the ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ Echinacea (pictured). 2013 AAS Flower Award Winner.

• Loves full sun & heat.
• Native – (The PowWow series is a cultivar of our native Echinacea purpurea).
• Attracts butterflies & pollinators.

EcoSmart Insect Controls

Safe. Effective. Smart. 

An organic insecticide that won’t harm the environment. EcoSMART products made from a patented blend of organic plant oils. Kills bugs fast, without any synthetic toxins or harmful residue. Naturally.

• Mosquito & Tick Control (Hose-end concentrate for yard protection.)
• Mosquito Fogger (Outdoor use.)
• Insect Repellent Spray (DEET free. Keeps away mosquitoes, ticks, gnats & more.)
• Insect Killer (hose-end for lawn & landscapes. Kills & repels over 100 insects.)

Summer Flowering Trees

The Beauty of Summer

Crepe Myrtle, Vitex, Magnolia, Rose of Sharon, Texas Olive (pictured), and Orchid trees are starting to bloom now.  Add a colorful accent to your landscape.  More varieties of blooming summer trees will continue to arrive.

Texas Olive Tree (Cordia boisseri) is not an olive, but a wonderful ornamental Texas native. (We have two mature trees in front of the nursery). The abundant white, crepe-paper like flowers with yellow throats bloom continuously from spring through summer and into late fall. Produces olive-shaped fruit (non edible). Loves full sun & well-drained soil. Drought tolerant. Height: 10-15′.

Fibreclay Planters

Lightweight & Durable

Just in! Fibreclay planters and pots are made of a mixture of a high-tech synthetic that is combined with clay.

This lightweight pottery has an appealing zinc-like finish that fits into almost any decor. The incredible lightness of the pots makes them easy to move, plant and rearrange.  They have been very popular and we can see why!

We love Lantana!

A Texas Favorite

Lantana is a wonderful & hardy flowering perennial that:

• Loves full sun.
• Drought tolerant.
• Color spring through fall.
• Attracts butterflies, hummers & pollinators.

Hydrangeas

A Houston Favorite!

Hydrangeas are the perfect way to get blooms and color in a shady garden location. They love a bit of morning sun and afternoon shade (particularly in our hot Houston weather). Plant in a rich, moist soil where they can be easily watered. Fertilize with Microlife Azalea 6-2-4.

Gardenias

Fragrant classic beauty

Gardenias are a great landscape shrub in Houston with their attractive, shiny evergreen leaves and delightfully scented white flowers. Perfect for morning sun, afternoon shade.

We have a number of excellent varieties.

Feed with MicroLife Azalea (for acid-loving plants).

Daylilies

Hardy & easy, lasting color

Daylilies are rugged, adaptable, vigorous perennials that endure in a garden for many years with little or no care. Daylilies adapt to a wide range of soil and light conditions. Although each bloom lasts about a day, each daylily plant produces an abundance of flowers over a long period of time. Available in a wide range of flower colors & combinations. They continue blooming during the heat of the summer.

Check out our current availability for Daylilies.

Star Jasmine

Fast. Fragrant. Foolproof!

Ready to explode into bloom! Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a beautiful, easy to grow, evergreen vine prized for its very fragrant, star shaped white flowers.  Allow it to climb over an arbor or fence. Train on posts, walls or trellises. (We have a great selection — see below.) Grows quickly to cover a fence in one or two seasons. Full sun is preferable, but they will take light shade.

Arbors, Trellises & Obelisks

Structures for your climbers & vines

Perfect for Star Jasmine, climbing roses and many other vines and climbers. Lots to choose from — whimsical arbor benches, to elegant, classic obelisks.

Use arbors, trellises & obelisks to create unique spaces, provide privacy, divide garden areas, create a focal spot, or simply cover up a spot. Easily create a vertical, multi-dimensional garden feature.

Humidity Rising

Be prepared for fungal problems

Actinovate  and ActinoIron are biological fungicides that fight lawn and garden  diseases. Particularly effective for downy mildew, black spot on ornamentals and brown patch, dollar spot, root rot in lawns.

Can be applied as a spray or drench. Available in the Plant Care Shed.

For more info on Actinovate

Contain Yourself!

Create a vertical garden

We found a new planter that hangs on the wall or fence.  The Living Wall Planter (pictured) created by noted landscape architect Pamela Crawford is super easy to use. Her vertical and container gardens are inspirational. Take a look at more examples in her new book “Instant Container Gardens”. Find the book and see a planted Wall Planter in the Bungalow.  Just gorgeous!

More info below.

Instant Container Gardens

Planting baskets & more

Discover the secrets of creating spectacular container gardens ‘instantly’ with “Instant Container Gardens” by Pamela Crawford.  This book contains a wealth of knowledge to help you with design ideas that will transform your garden, patio or balcony. Available in the Bungalow. Check out our Bungalow Book Selection.

Start Sprouting

It’s not just for alfalfa anymore!

Remember growing sprouts in the 70′s? Now it’s even easier with our new sprouter from Botanical Interests! Simply add seeds, rinse frequently, wait for them to sprout & enjoy in your favorite salad, sandwich or entrée.

We have Alfalfa, Broccoli, Fenugreek, Mung Bean, Radish, Sandwich Mix, Wheat Berries, Wheatgrass, Savory Mix & Sunflower seeds. Enjoy!

Lady bugs love aphids!

There here and they’re hungry!

Release live ladybugs to help control aphids (bag of 1,500 for $11.99). Follow these tips for best results:

• Have aphids on your plants.
• Keep the bag of live bugs in the fridge (not the freezer) until you’re ready to release.
• Release at dusk – they’re less likely to fly away.
• Mist the plants where the aphids are with water or a clear soda (7-Up or Sprite).
• Place the open bag on the ground at the base of the plant to allow the ladybugs to come out on their own (no flinging!) Move bag until distributed to all infested plants.
• To make sure they stick around to find the aphids, cover the plants with row cover or frost cloth for the night.

(We also have Praying Mantis eggs.) Looking for nematodes or other beneficial insects: Go to Arbico Organics

Invite Butterflies to the Garden

Plant what they love

Planting the right butterfly plant is an open invitation to butterflies. Milkweed, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Passion Vine and many more! Plant both nectar and caterpillar host plants and they will be happy.

Check our Butterfly Plant List for our current availability. For more information on butterfly plants in the Houston area, see the Cockrell Butterfly Center Plant List.

Get up close

Learn all about butterflies

Everything you need for butterflies. Butterfly pavillions to house & feed the baby caterpillars, nectar, books & field guides.

We recommend a great quick identification guide: “Butterflies of Southeast Texas”. It is a laminated fold-out brochure that will help you ID that butterfly or caterpillar in your garden. We use it all the time at Buchanan’s!

Blooming Now!

Citrus

It is simply wonderful to walk through our citrus area. The sweet smell of citrus blooms is heavenly. The Meyer Lemons (pictured) are absolutely covered in flowers. (And of course, many of these are future fruit!)

The Meyer Lemon is compact, almost thornless small tree which produces an abundance of scented blooms and fruit. The fruit is a light orange-yellow color, with juice sweeter than that of most lemons. Great for containers.

Baskets & Container Gardens

Spring Container Gardens

Celebrate Spring with whimsical flower hanging baskets, container gardens, herb kitchen gardens, succulent containers and centerpieces. They are wonderful hostess gifts and great centerpieces to enjoy throughout the spring.

Our staff can help you create your own container selection or plant one just for you!

Roses in Bloom…

Fabulous color & fragrance

Take a stroll through our rose garden and inhale! Easy to understand why roses are so loved. New arrivals include classic favorites, antiques, climbers & ramblers, Earth Kind, Knock Out, hybrid teas, drift & more. If you have a sunny spot in your garden, you can grow roses. We’ll help you find the perfect rose. (Pictured: Medallion Rose) Check out our current rose selection.

For more information on Earth Kind Roses: Earth-Kind Roses & Gardening

Wonderful Hibiscus!

A Hummingbird favorite!

Add Tropical Hibiscus to create a lush, tropical atmosphere in the landscape, garden or patio. Available in a kaleidoscope of colors, the bright, large blooms, set against the glossy, dark green foliage, are striking. Hibiscus love sun, will bloom throughout the season, and make great container plants. Check out the Cajun Hibiscus varieties for the most wonderful color combinations! Growing Tropical Hibiscus in the Houston & Galveston area.

Create a new path…

Stepables groundcovers & Stomp Stone Pavers

Need a new path in your garden? We have paired the ever popular Stepables plant selection with the Stomp Stone Pavers to make it easy. Stepables perennial ground covers are hardy, drought tolerant, and perfect for borders, paths, accents, lawns and crevices. Great for those hard to grow areas.

The Stomp Stone Pavers are light, durable, and easy to maintain. Made of recycled tires, they have a self-leveling design that makes installation easy. Just drop, stomp, done.

Hungry, hungry hummingbirds

Migration is on

Hummingbirds have started arriving in our area and they need food. Plant their favorite plants and put out hummingbird feeders to help them survive. We have everything they need – plants & hummingbird feeders. Follow the Spring 2013 Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration here. The best hummingbird site ever!

Houston Garden Books

Two “must have” books for Houston gardeners

The River Oaks Garden Club “A Garden Book for Houston” is simply the most comprehensive guide to gardening in Houston. And, to our absolute delight, they have gone organic! Culture Map article: River Oaks Garden Club gets organic.

For growing fruits & vegetables, “Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers for Metro Houston” by Bob Randall is a classic guide.

Pots too!

New Colorful Pottery!

Brighten up your home, yard, garden, landscape with beautiful planters, pots & fountains. Choose ready-made container combinations for instant gratification!

Go Texan!

Plant Natives!

Great selection of native perennials, trees & shrubs. See Top 10 Favorite Native Plants Coneflower: A general category of daisy-like perennials which include Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) and Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan – pictured) These flowers are easy to care for, relatively drought-tolerant, and are good for cut flowers. The seeds of the dried flower heads also attract songbirds to your garden. Repeat bloomers for full sun to part shade.

Revitalize Your Senses!

New Crabtree & Evelyn!

Find our new Crabtree & Evelyn display in the Bungalow. The assortment includes: bath & shower gel, body lotion, single soap, hand therapy, deep cleansing hand wash, anti-bacterial gel, lip balms, gardner’s hand & nail therapy and more! The newest fragrance to the Crabtree & Evelyn skin care line: Tarocco Orange Eucalyptus & Sage. Revitalize your skin with antioxidant and vitamin c-rich Tarocco orange extract and energize with scent of citrus and green herbs. Other fragrances include: Pomegranate, Citron and Avocado. Mmmm