Flower & Plant Care

Garden roses come in several different categories such as miniature, climbing, and hybrid. There are many types of roses in each category. However, many questions asked about garden roses revolve around “pruning,” so I’m going to answer some questions around pruning as well as where to plant your roses, when to plant them, and how to care for them.

When and How to Prune Roses

In the Northeast, the best time to prune is in the spring when forsythias are in bloom, and again in the fall 4 to 6 weeks before the first hard frost. The pruning is done in early spring to remove any damage that occurred during the winter months, as well as removing any old flowers. Always prune dead wood back to healthy tissue by removing dead, damaged or diseased branches. Healthy branches will be white or light green in the center. If you see any discoloration, spots or mildew on branches, it should be cut out. Removing spent or withered flowers encourages more future blooms; this is called “deadheading”. Since the time for pruning is over, now is a good time for planting. If you’re new to planting garden roses, let’s get started. Continue Reading…

A cucumber missing, tomatoes with bite marks, nibbles in your basil…after all of the time you spend growing and caring for your garden, the last thing you want is to come out and find it taken over by animals! For the critters that just can’t seem to stay away – we’re talking squirrels, birds, stray cats, raccoons, rabbits, chipmunks, deer, etc – you need to have a few tricks up your sleeve to ensure that all of your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Here are a few strategies that you may find helpful to keep these furry friends from messing with your garden, while still being animal friendly of course!

Design Your Garden Carefully

When your garden has small spaces that animals can hide or rest in, it becomes much more attractive to wildlife like squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks. As you plant, make sure you’re strategic with the designs you choose and avoid leaving any holes that smaller creatures can sneak into. Continue Reading…

Spring has officially sprung, and that means it’s time to start thinking about this year’s garden. But before you get too wrapped up in the plants and flowers that you’re going to grow outdoors, don’t forget that you can also freshen up your home by growing some of your favorites indoors too. As part of this year’s Spring cleaning routine, we encourage you to make room for one, two, or maybe even a few, houseplants. Then, use this guide to determine which species is best for you depending on the amount of light your home receives:

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Tulip Facts

Nothing says “spring” better than an arrangement of bright, colorful tulips! The tulip is the third most popular flower, after roses and chrysanthemums.

Tulip Origins

Tulips originally were a wild flowers growing in Asia, and were first cultivated by the Turks as early as 1000 A.D.

These flowers were introduced in Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century. They soon gained trading popularity, especially in Holland. The interest in them was huge and tulip bulbs were sold for unbelievably high prices. Fortunes were made (and lost) by trading tulip bulbs as a commodity, much like gold.

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If there’s one way to know that Spring has finally arrived, it’s by the incredible blooming tulips you can find in your garden, your neighbor’s garden, or even the landscaping of commercial properties in your community. In fact, some people even believe that Spring doesn’t officially begin until the first tulip pops out of the ground. But regardless of how you associate them with the Spring season, one thing’s for sure – tulips are one of the most beautiful flowers you’ll see all season long.

Now, we know what you might be thinking – for tulips to thrive in Spring the way they usually do, when do they originally need to be planted? Let’s find out.

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The Easter lily, a beautiful white blossom that is said to symbolize the purity, hope and new life of Spring, is a classic flower found in both homes and churches during this time of year. With such a rich history that dates back to 1777, the Easter lily has become one of the most popular flowers associated with the Spring season, and is certainly one that you’ll want to have in your home for Easter Sunday.

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Previously known as the “Christmas Star” and “Mexican Flameleaf,” this striking bloom caught the attention of Joel Robert Poinsett, an American physician and diplomat on a trip as America’s first ambassador to Mexico. In Mexico, the plant is called “le flor de Nochebuona.” Poinsett introduced the plant to the United States, hence its common English name, “Poinsettia.”

In caring for a poinsettia plant, the most important things to remember are temperature, light, and watering. Poinsettias are light-loving plants. They prefer southeasterly, easterly, or western window exposure. Being tropical, they thrive in temperature of 65-70 degrees. At night, they can be moved to a cooler location, but never below 60 degrees. In northern climates, keep plants away from drafts and cold windows.

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Undoubtedly one of the best parts about summer is the fact that our gardens are in full bloom. Between those located in our backyards and on commercial properties, you can find some of the nicest landscapes around during the warmer months! But then there’s winter, and as the trees lose their leaves, our thriving gardens also begin to wilt. However, that certainly doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the beauty of flowers and plants during this time of year too; you just have to bring them indoors! Below, find out a few different species of flowers and plants that we recommend:

Dish Garden

A major benefit of dish gardens is that they are easy to maintain, so unlike all of the work you may have to do outdoors during the summer months, taking care of these indoors can be a piece of cake! Essentially, dish gardens are like a miniature garden that you can build right inside your home – just make sure that you use plants and/or flowers that thrive under the same conditions.

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The holidays are an awesome time of year for a number of reasons, but one of our favorites (and maybe yours too) is putting up a Christmas tree. Whether you take an annual family trip to cut down your own or pick one off your local tree lot (you may even have a smaller Christmas tree as a holiday decoration within your home), the fun doesn’t end after you’ve found the perfect one – you get to decorate it, and, most of all, enjoy it all season long!

However, a common debate that many families have is when they’ll pick out their tree. Why? Often, many people fear that getting one too early will result in a Christmas morning where presents are left under a sulking and sagging tree filled with brown needles. The good news? You can keep your Christmas tree alive & fresh all season long with some Christmas tree care tips from our flower & plant experts:

Trim The Trunk

Before you secure your tree in its stand, make sure that the trunk undergoes a good trimming. If you aren’t sure how much to cut off, about ½ inch should suffice. And remember, cut straight across the trunk, you don’t want to start cutting on any angles! Continue Reading…

If you don’t have the proper packaging like we do at 1800Flowers.com, we know that the struggle is totally real when it comes to transporting flowers from point A to point B; without it, things can get pretty difficult AND messy! If you’ve ever been the recipient of a gorgeous wedding floral arrangement, then you know exactly what we’re referring to – talk about water all over your car’s floor mats! Or, if you’ve ever brought flowers as a gift for a dinner party host and crushed a perfect bouquet of roses, then you’ve definitely experienced this struggle too.

But we have good news! You don’t need to be an expert to guarantee that your flowers will get from one destination to the next without a major disaster – all you need is a few simple tricks up your sleeve! Here are a few that we recommend remembering:

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