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Community Corner

Pike Nurseries Offers Garden Resolutions to Last All Year-long

For many, the start of 2014 is a time to turn over a new leaf with New Year’s resolutions. A great place to start is from the ground-up – in the garden! For both budding gardeners and green thumb gurus, Pike Nurseries offers simple, attainable resolutions to help maintain a happy, healthy home and garden all year-long!

Improve Health with Houseplants

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The home can feel a little empty without the Christmas tree and festive decorations from the recent holiday season. Fill the void with foliage and flowering houseplants! These indoor plants bring in much needed color during the winter and create a cleaner home by releasing oxygen, removing contaminants and improving the health of our environments. Houseplants can also help fight colds and can even reduce stress – the perfect way to kickoff the New Year!

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Be Water-wise

Most homeowners actually overwater their lawn and garden; however, by watering correctly, gardeners can conserve water while still maintaining a beautiful, healthy lawn and garden!Switching from overhead sprinklers to soaker hoses, watering only in the early morning and adjusting irrigation systems when there is natural rainfall are some simple, easy ways to reduce water consumption, lower the water bill and uphold this New Year’s resolution!

Welcome Wildlife

Birds, butterflies, insects and other wildlife are great assets to any yard and offer beautiful scenes of nature right at your doorstep! Better yet, these garden visitors can help pollinate the garden and even fight off unwanted pests. Resolve to create an inviting habitat to welcome wildlife by providing them with adequate food, fresh water and safe shelter. With temperatures dropping, now is a great time to add bird feeders to the yard. Feathered friends will appreciate the safe haven, and the yard will be bustling with happy chirps and chatter in no time!

Mulch More

Mulching is nature’s way of creating vibrant and powerful plant life. When used in the garden, it helps to reduce weed germination, retain moisture and reduce the need for watering. Mulching is essential in cooler months because it prevents cold damage by keeping the ground warmer; however, it’s best to mulch year-round to hold moisture in the ground around plants and slow the evaporation rate. Additionally, adding a layer of fresh mulch makes gardens beds look neat and tidy!

Tidy Up

A well-maintained garden not only adds curb appeal to a home, but it also protects the landscape against pests and keeps it healthy all year-long. All it takes is some simple neatening throughout each season: prune dormant plants, cut back perennials, pick up leaf debris and remove dead annuals and weeds. After all, a tidy garden is a healthy garden!

Take Time

Whether it’s tending to flowers, picking edibles or planting seeds, set aside more time in the garden to experience the beauty and joys of nature. It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the workweek, so resolve to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

ABOUT PIKE NURSERIES

Ever committed to its customers’ gardening success, Pike Nurseries takes pride in taking the guesswork out of gardening. Offering superior knowledge, quality and selection in a friendly, caring environment, Pike Nurseries has been an Atlanta icon for over 50 years. Founded in 1958 by Pete Pike, its ability to adapt to market conditions and community needs has made it a respected Southern institution. As Atlanta’s oldest garden chain, Pike Nurseries has 16 retail locations in the Atlanta, GA, Greensboro, GA and Charlotte, NC areas and employs the most certified garden experts. Now led by CEO Mike Kunce, Pike Nurseries looks forward to continued growth as it keeps Georgia and North Carolina beautiful, one landscape at a time.

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