Pot Up Some Patriotism

Going to a party this 4th of July? Then you'll be one of 144 million Americans celebrating this national holiday the traditional way.

According to the National Retail Federation's 2010 Independence Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the July 4th holiday is looking to be a well-celebrated event, with about 63% of the population having a cookout, BBQ or picnic.

With all this celebrating this 4^th of July, you may want to take your outdoor holiday decorating up a notch?

Here's a quick trick for creating an instant party decoration that you can do in minutes without picking up a shovel:

1. Pick up a Classic Red Knock Out® rose and pair it with white veronica and calibrahoa, and the hardy blue geranium ‘Rozanne’.
2. Next place the Knock Out® in the container. If you have to give it a lift, set in on another container turned upside down. Now arrange the other plants -- still in their containers – around the rose.
3. Top dress with pine straw, moss, coco husk or just drape the trailing plants to cover the tops of the pots.
4. Of course, keep them watered and give them a shot of Liquid Fence Speedy Grow for a little nutrient boost.

With a little imagination and help from an expert at your local garden center, you can create an instant outdoor 4th of July celebration that will last well past Labor Day!

-Stacey

GMG

All You Need to Know About Roses

With Mother's Day fast approaching, our friend William Moss offered tips about buying, growing, and keeping roses fresh as long as possible on "The Early Show" this morning. Now everyone can enjoy the benefits of beautiful roses!

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A New Look for Knock Out® Roses

As gorgeous and popular as it is, who would have thought you could improve on Knock Out, but darned if Conard-Pyle didn't.

Take a look at the new chartreuse pot, logo and tag for the Knock Out® Family of Roses- all 7 of them: Original, Double, Pink, Double Pink, Blushing, Rainbow and Sunny. All great garden shrubs!

Knock Out Fireworks for the 4th of July

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Independence Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the July 4th holiday is looking to be a well-celebrated event, with about 63 percent of the population having a cookout, barbeque or picnic.

That's 114 million people, about 5 million more than in 2008. Two reasons for the increase: July 4th is on a weekend and steadily rising gas prices has everyone taking “staycations” closer to home.

What will everyone be buying? According to the BIGresearch, burgers, ribs and all the trimmings for a July 4th food fest. And patriotic merchandise, of course. Lots of Americans already own flags, decorations and assorted red, white and blue stuff, but about 14% plan on buying more of it. This 4th of July you may want to take your outdoor holiday decorating up a notch.

We went to terrain at Styer’sfor some help creating a “green” red, white and blue “party decoration”. With help from Melanie Miller, one of terrain's garden experts, we paired a classic red Knock Out® rose with veronica 'Icicle', white calibrachoa and the new blue geranium ‘Rozanne'.

Here's the trick. Just put the Knock Out® in its pot in the larger container and arrange the other plants -- still in their containers – around the rose. Top dress with pine straw, moss, coco husk or just drape the trailing plants to cover the tops of the pots. Keep them watered and give them a shot of Liquid Fence Speedy Grow for a little nutrient boost.

With a little imagination, you can create an instant outdoor 4th of July celebration container that will last well past Labor Day.

A yellow Knockout, just in time for spring planting

Jessica Damiano's award-winning garden blog gets to the root of things. She wrote this week about Sunny Knock Out . . .
If you like yellow roses, you might have to sit down for this one. Knockout roses, a gift to gardeners a few years back, has unveiled a yellow version of its shrubby, disease-resistant, zero-maintenance bush.
Three years ago, I bought two red single Knockouts (they're hot pink, really, but the tag says Rosa Radrazz). They grew so fast and bloomed nonstop from June through December, requiring no deadheading, no powdery mildew treatment, no pruning, nothing. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Read the rest of the post about Sunny Knock Out