Unexpected Fall Gardening Advice From The New York Times

Unexpected Fall Gardening Advice From The New York Times

A new and interesting way to think about your gardening practice!

The times had a great article by Margaret Roach featuring Rebecca McMackin, the director of horticulture at the 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park. She makes a great point we love: Fall Planting makes time for spring weeding!

"And there’s a bonus: With the staff no longer on hose duty all spring and summer, they have more time for that all-important task that must not be postponed: weeding.

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World’s Worst Invasive Plants Sold at Many U.S. Garden Centers

World’s Worst Invasive Plants Sold at Many U.S. Garden Centers

The best way to avoid invasives is to avoid fly-by-night growers and landscapers who lack any real plant knowledge. Some of Victoria’s growers have been in business for generations. And after 30+ years of garden design and maintenance, the Victoria Gardens’ crew know from personal experience whether plants stay, naturalize, or invade!

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Time to Fertilize!

Time to Fertilize!

What do the 3 Numbers on Plant Food Mean?

The three numbers represent ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—in that order. For example, Rose-tone is a balanced 4-3-2 fertilizer includes 4 percent nitrogen, 3 percent phosphorus, 2 percent potassium. while Bone Meal’s ratio 4-12-0 is rich in phosphorus, which is highly beneficial for flowering plants and promote roots growth.

Fertilizers with a higher nitrogen (the first number) engorage leafy green growth.

Plant food with Potassium (the third number) can counter environmental stresses like heat, drought, bark damage, or garden pests.

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What does a multi-year landscaping project look like?

What does a multi-year landscaping project look like?


At Victoria Gardens, we often work with clients for decades, doing the maintenance on a garden after the design and installation phase. But we also have clients who continue to develop and finetune their properties: adding pools, adding gardens, extending gardens, etc.

Your dream garden may not come into being overnight. You may not know exactly what you want all at once or budget restrictions may mean you need to break up a big dream into multiple phases.

We wanted to walk through what one of those muti-phase projects looks like.

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Heavenly Hydrangea

Heavenly Hydrangea

To determine when to prune, you will need to determine what type of hydrangea you have. Hydrangea either blooms on "old" wood or "new" wood. Ask neighbors or a nearby nursery to help you with identification. Hydrangea that blooms on old wood (Macrophylla (“moptops”), oakleaf, and lace caps) should be pruned only after they bloom in the summer, before August to be safe, because next year's buds form on this year's growth.


Hydrangea that blooms on new growth (Annabelle, Limelight, Pee Gee, and other H.paniculata varieties) can be pruned to within 6-12 inches from the ground in the early spring. No matter which type you have, you can begin to reinvigorate plants by cutting 1/3 of the branches to the ground in the summer.

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The Best Landscape Practices

The Best Landscape Practices

7 Steps to Happy Plants
#1. Choose the right plant
Shade or full sun? Wet tolerant or dry tolerant? Deer resistant, fast-growing, or black-walnut tolerant? Picking the right plant for your conditions is the number one secret to gardening success. At Victoria Gardens we know what plants work in all varieties of conditions. We can help you choose the right plant for the right spot!

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Nursery Tour Video: A Moment of Zen

Nursery Tour Video: A Moment of Zen

Victoria Gardens is located in Rosendale, NY on the corner of Rt 213 and Cottekill Road. We are a fully stocked plant nursery, garden center, and garden gift shop.

At Victoria Gardens you will find a selection of trees, shrubs, and perennials that are chosen specifically for our area and for our customers most frequently voiced problems: deer, dry soil, wet spots, and shady areas.

Our knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect combinations, so you only have to plant once!

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The 5 Most Important Things I Learned From 30 Years in Business.

The 5 Most Important Things I Learned From 30 Years in Business.

I have been in the business of gardening for 30 years and I have retained many of the same clients over the years even as my business has evolved and changed. One set of clients that I have known since the beginning just moved for the third time, hiring me to once again help them transform their new property into “home.” Recently, I was lucky enough to work on a large garden expansion for another set of clients who last summer joyfully celebrated their wedding right in their own newly enhanced backyard. They trusted me to make their garden into something spectacular.

Getting to know my clients, building a relationship, and gaining their respect and trust are some of the most gratifying parts of my business.

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