philodendrons, plant walls, interior planting design, living walls, green walls, plant wall decor

Plant Care Tips: How to Take Care of Philodendrons

Philodendrons are popular options to add to your home or office, providing a tropical addition to any space. Two popular varieties are:

1) the Swiss Cheese Plant, which has rounded leathery leaves that develop deep lefts and oblong perforations as they grow older;

2) the Split Leaf Philodendron, also known as Monstera Deliciosa, has a unique leaf pattern of large split leaves.

While either plant variety would make a great addition to any room, you must ensure you offer it the right amount of light, water, and heat to grow and thrive.

Keep reading as we share some of our top plant care tips for these plants, so you can discover how to add one or both of these tropical varieties to your interior plantscape.

Light

Swiss Cheese and Split Leaf philodendron plants require bright but indirect sunlight to grow and thrive. If you offer too much sunlight in the summer, the foliage will be more likely to get burnt. You may be surprised to learn that this plant can also grow outside in the shade or semi-shade of the woodlands, which you can keep in mind if you add it to an urban garden.

plant walls, interior planting design, living walls, green walls, plant wall decor

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Both the Swiss Cheese and Split Leaf varieties are native to the tropical climates of Mexico and Central America. They can easily acclimate as year-round indoor plants regardless of where you live. However, if you live in an area with cold winters and plan to include them in a roof garden or other outdoor plantscape, they will need to be brought indoors over the colder months.

When you bring them outside again in the Spring, even indirect sunlight might be too intense for them at first. Plan to keep them in heavy shade – like under a tarp – for the first two weeks. That way, they can adjust to being outdoors again.

Soil

If placing your philodendron plants within a container, use a peat-based potting medium for the base. For those who live in milder climates, you can plant directly in the garden in light sandy soil.

In either case, the plant will need a pH between neutral and acidic to grow, but whatever type of soil you use, ensure that it is porous and well-drained.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

Watering

During the main growing season – generally Spring and Summer – one of the most important plant care tips is to ensure that you water your Split Leaf or Swiss Cheese plant weekly. Continue watering the plant until the excess water seeps through the drainage holes, then stop adding water. Give the soil time to dry out between each watering session.

In the fall and winter months, you won’t need to water either variety of plants as often, but misting an indoor plant may be helpful to increase the humidity in your house.

Temperature

The perfect temperature for philodendron plants in your indoor plantscape is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. As mentioned above, this temperature is needed alongside bright and indirect sunlight to give your plants the best chance to grow.

If the temperature in your area dips below 65 degrees for much of the year, you might find it impractical to include it in your outdoor plantscape.

Fertilizer

We recommend using a balanced fertilizer three or four times yearly to help your plant reach its maximum potential. When secured to a stake or pole, you’ll find that the Split Leaf variety can grow up to 10 feet tall. However, you’ll need to ensure you follow all of the plant care tips we’ve shared today to experience this.

A balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer is your best bet for the Split Leaf and Swiss Cheese plants, which can occur every few weeks within the main growing season. Create a mixture of fertilizer and water, which you can then pour into the soil during your weekly watering.

See how we can transform your interior garden today!

Browse Our Gallery

Spread vs. Vertical

There are generally two styles of training for the Split Leaf and Swiss Cheese philodendron plants. They can train to climb a stake or pole (vertical style), or they can spread out over a large area (spread style). Decide which style will work best in your space.

Do you have a tall space to fill, such as an accent wall, or a large area to fill – such as a plant container in the lobby of an office building? Whichever style you choose, it’s important to stay consistent.

If you plan to use the vertical style, tie the plant to the stake from the beginning. Later, it will be hard to re-train a spreading style plant into the vertical style.

Potting

Roughly every two years, you’ll need to report the Split Leaf or Swiss Cheese plant so it continues growing. These plants outgrow their current pot every couple of years. You’ll want to upgrade to a slightly wider and deeper pot to offer it the extra space.

We recommend using pots made from terracotta or clay, as they offer the plant extra airflow and drainage. The main thing to look for is that the pot has drainage holes.

To pot or repot your plant, add a peaty potting medium to the bottom third of your pot. For the vertical style, create a stake for the plant’s stem and gently set the roots into the pot. Cover the roots with the soil before using plant ties to secure the stem.

plant walls, interior planting design, living walls, green walls, plant wall decor

Common Problems

The Monstera Deliciosa or Swiss Cheese variety makes a fantastic addition to your interior plantscaping. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind about this plant. It may attract common pests, such as scale and mealybugs.

The best way to avoid this issue in the first place is to catch it before it gets established. Regularly examine the plant to nip trouble in the bud. Use a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to rid the plant of mealybugs. Use a horticultural oil or Murphy’s soap to remove the scale.

The other issues you may experience are in regard to the leaves. The tips of the leaves may turn brown when the soil is dry. You can avoid this issue by following our plant care tips above for watering. Yellow leaves are also a problem when the soil is dry, and for both of these issues, you should remove the impacted leaves straight away before trying to remedy the problem.

Finally, wilting leaves are a sign of a watering problem, which could be either overwatering or underwatering the plant. Be very mindful of how much water you add to the pot to avoid damage to your plant.

Key Takeaways

Philodendron plants can enhance your indoor plantscaping or urban garden. With a little care and attention, you’ll find it a very attractive plant to add to any room in your home, creating a tropical atmosphere in any space.

Make sure you keep an eye on how much you water the plant and always place it in indirect sunlight. By keeping the watering, soil plant care, and temperature tips we shared above in mind, you’ll find that this plant will continue to grow year after year, creating a centerpiece for your home or office.

Philodendrons are one of the most exciting indoor plants to consider investing in this year. We hope these tips will make caring for either variety of plants a little easier for you shortly.

Ready to unlock your garden’s full potential?

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

For more guidance on creating the perfect environment for your houseplants or to explore more about indoor landscape design, visit Foliaire’s wealth of resources. Let us help you cultivate an indoor oasis that brings beauty, health, and well-being into your everyday life.

Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest rooftop garden and plantscaping services for clients across the Boston Metro area.

We customize and plan our roof garden projects and interior plantscaping to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for corporate plantscaping and residential community projects.

In addition, we’ve received several environmental design awards and have appeared in several publications. You can find us in Architectural Digest, House and Garden, Horticulture, and Interiorscape.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

How to Take Care of Climbing Plants

Climbing plants are not just garden-bound wonders; they can also elevate your indoor spaces, providing that sense of an indoor urban garden. With the right approach and a splash of creativity, these plants can add depth and fresh breath to homes, offices, and other interiors.

Interior Plantscaping

Interior plantscaping is a unique blend of aesthetic appeal and functionality. It’s not just about adding plants to indoor spaces but placing them in ways that optimize their health and enhance the ambiance. One of the stellar candidates for this is the versatile climbing plant. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or an office professional looking to bring nature closer, this guide is for you.

LEARN MORE

What Is a Climbing Plant?

Climbing plants, often mistakenly limited to outdoor landscapes, can gracefully ascend trees and other tall structures. Their categorization into bines and vines offers a diverse range of options for interior planting design. While bines, such as hops and morning glory, wrap their stems around objects, vines like the climbing rose and passion vines use specialized structures for support.

Creeper Plants: A Close Relative

Creeper plants, growing closely to the ground, are often confused with climbers. The key distinction? Their growth direction. Creepers sprawl horizontally while climbers reach for the skies.

The Role of a Trellis

In the realm of climbing plants, trellises play a crucial role. This light framework, usually made of wood or metal, supports the upward growth of these plants. When considering climbing plants for interior plant design, it’s pivotal to research the specific needs of each species. Not all climbing plants require a trellis, but those that do thrive with the right support.

Supporting Climbing Plants

Beyond trellises, climbing plants can embrace a myriad of structures, from fences to walls and arches. As a word of caution, these plants can become weighty; ensuring a sturdy support system is imperative. The art of indoor plantscaping shines here, integrating these climbers seamlessly with the interior decor.

Climbing Plants: Varieties and Care

Tendrils, twiners, scramblers, and adhesive pads – the world of climbing plants is incredibly diverse. Their unique needs range from horizontal supports for tendrils to robust frameworks for the weightier twiners. Scramblers, such as climbing roses, might need some manual assistance with strings or wires.

As part of an indoor urban garden, climbing plants like Boston ivy and climbing hydrangea require specific care. This care includes the right amount of sunlight, optimal soil conditions, and appropriate watering. Keep reading to learn our 4 recommended habits for climbing plant maintenance.

1) Seasonality

Each climbing plant has its prime season. While spring welcomes the clematis, summer is perfect for star jasmine and honeysuckles. And as the cooler months roll in, grapevines and ivy take center stage.

2) Planting

You should plant climbers at least 11-17 inches from their support base to ensure robust growth. This arrangement allows adequate water access to the roots, fostering a healthy plant that will thrive in its indoor environment.

3) Flowering

Transform your outdoor spaces with the vibrant hues of flowering climbers like honeysuckle, morning glories, and Dutchman’s pipe. These plants bring the added charm of blossoms, enhancing the overall appeal of the interior plantscaping.

4) Trimming

While climbers are superb at abundant growth, timely trimming ensures they remain healthy and well-groomed. The trimming season varies, with climbers preferring late winter and clematis being trimmed either in late summer or late fall.

Do you need help decorating your office or storefront?

Browse Our Gallery

The Benefits of Climbing Plants in Urban Gardens

Urban living often poses a challenge for green enthusiasts. The lack of sprawling yards and open spaces can make it difficult for tenants of apartments, high-rises, and condos to cultivate a garden.

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your gardening ambitions. Here are 6 ways that climbing plants can come to the rescue of the urban gardener in any densely packed metropolis.

1) Space Optimization

Climbing plants, with their upward growth, utilize vertical space, making them perfect for balconies, patios, or even indoor wall spaces. They allow urban dwellers to create an indoor urban garden without the need for large horizontal spaces.

2) Privacy Screen

In closely packed buildings, balconies and windows can sometimes feel exposed. Climbing plants like ivy or jasmine can act as natural screens, offering both privacy and a touch of nature.

3) Temperature Regulation

Climbing plants on exterior walls or balconies can serve as an insulation layer, absorbing sunlight and providing a cooling effect. This effect not only makes your living space more comfortable during the hot summer months but can also help with energy savings.

4) Air Quality Improvement

Dense urban areas often grapple with air quality issues. Climbing plants, like all plants, filter the air, removing toxins and releasing oxygen. An added benefit for those living amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

5) Mental Well-Being

A touch of green, the rustling of leaves, and the sight of climbing blossoms can be therapeutic. In the heart of an urban jungle, these plants serve as a connection to nature, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.

6) Flexible Design

One of the beauties of climbing plants is their adaptability. Whether you want a lush curtain of green, a colorful cascade of flowers, or a minimalist touch with a single climbing vine, the options are aplenty. They can integrate seamlessly into any interior or outdoor planting design to suit your tastes.

For those navigating the challenges of urban living in cities like Boston, climbing plants offer a flexible and beneficial solution. Not only do they transform compact living spaces into green sanctuaries, but they also amplify the benefits of nature in an urban setting. With the right guidance and care – any urbanite can cultivate a vertical garden oasis.

Are you ready to set up your holiday décor?

Key Takeaways

Modern interior planting design recognizes the value of indoor vines. These can be draped over eaves, placed in hanging pots, or spread across desks. Vines like Philodendron Brazil and Hedera helix are particularly apt for office spaces, blending the tranquility of nature with the dynamism of work environments.

Climbing plants aren’t just about aesthetics; they bring tangible benefits to indoor spaces. They can reduce stress, elevate the mood, improve air quality, and even dampen background noise. They serve as a testament to Foliaire’s expertise in interior plantscaping – providing the perfect merger of nature’s beauty and interior aesthetics.

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

Foliaire Inc Boston MA - best indoor plants, interior planting design, indoor plant maintenance, corporate interior planting, holiday plants

What Are the Best Indoor Plants for Holiday Decor?

With the holidays coming up, you might wonder what the best indoor plants for holiday decor are. If you want to create a luxurious and festive atmosphere in your office this year, keep reading for our top indoor winter plants to brighten up your workplace for the holiday season.

Enhance Your Holiday Season With the Right Plants

As the holiday season draws near, it’s time to transform your living spaces, offices, and workspaces into enchanting havens of festive joy. While traditional decorations have their charm, consider adding a touch of nature’s beauty to your holiday decor. Indoor plants bring life, color, and a sense of tranquility to any environment, making them a perfect addition to your holiday celebrations. In this guide, we’ll explore the top indoor plants that not only brighten up your surroundings but also infuse the air with a refreshing natural fragrance, creating a warm and inviting ambiance.

plant care, holiday plants, plants in the office, winter plants, pet safe plants - Foliaire Inc. Holiday Decor

The Magic of Indoor Plants

Indoor plants have a remarkable ability to elevate the atmosphere, and during the holiday season, they play a unique role in spreading cheer and creating a sense of togetherness. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, allowing you to select the perfect ones to complement your existing decor or to serve as the centerpiece of your holiday arrangements.

A Green Oasis for the Holidays

Imagine an office or living room adorned with lush greenery, vibrant blooms, and the soothing presence of nature. These indoor plants not only capture the essence of the season but also offer a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle. From classic favorites like poinsettias to resilient beauties like Christmas cacti, there’s a plant for every taste and skill level. In the following sections, we’ll dive into the specifics of each plant, offering care tips and creative ideas for incorporating them into your holiday setup.

Get ready to embark on a journey through the world of indoor plants, where each leaf and petal tells a story of growth, beauty, and the joy of the holiday season. Whether you’re decking the halls of your home or creating a festive atmosphere in your workplace, these indoor plants are sure to bring smiles, warmth, and a touch of nature’s elegance to your holiday celebrations.

Impress your guests and customers this season

Learn More

Poinsettias

Holiday decorating wouldn’t be complete without a poinsettia, the signature holiday plant. With its broad red petals, you could place this plant in almost any room in your workplace. A collection of these best indoor plants will brighten up any office with elegant cheer. These indoor winter plants make the perfect holiday gift for coworkers and clients.

Poinsettia Plant Care Tips

Place these holiday plants in the office with plenty of sunlight. Make sure you don’t overwater poinsettias, as you’ll want to ensure they keep blooming throughout the holiday season and into the new year.

plant care, holiday plants, plants in the office, winter plants, pet safe plants - Foliaire Inc. Holiday Decor

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas cactus, also known as the schlumbergera, is another wonderful holiday landscaping option. They are very robust plants that are difficult to destroy, making them a good option for anyone who isn’t as experienced at plant care. Plus, they naturally flower in December.

Christmas Cactus Plant Care Tips

Since the Christmas cactus usually appears in rainforests or jungles, you’re best off putting them in a shaded spot. Common areas and conference rooms are the best homes for this plant. We recommend keeping the pot in a gravel-filled tray for a beautiful display of these plants for added holiday decoration. Overall, the Christmas cactus is a low-maintenance plant requiring minimum attention, which we all look for during this hectic season.

plant care, holiday plants, plants in the office, winter plants, pet safe plants - Foliaire Inc. Holiday Decor

Cyclamen

The variety of colors that cyclamen are available makes it one of the best options for holiday landscaping. They have flowers in various sizes, and many of them have a sweet scent or patterned petals.

Cyclamen Plant Care Tips

Try to keep these holiday plants away from direct sunlight or heating to avoid damaging them. They’ll add more personality and color to any office this holiday season, and you can use your creativity to create a beautiful indoor winter plant display.

plant care, holiday plants, plants in the office, winter plants, pet safe plants - Foliaire Inc. Holiday Decor

Azaleas

Another of the best indoor plants for the holiday season is the azalea, which will brighten up any room in your business. While they’re normally springtime plants, they thrive indoors in the winter. Look for the Christmas Cheer variety, which offers an array of pink, red, and white flowers.

Azalea Plant Care Tips

Try to keep these plants away from sunlight and offer them moist compost. A humid atmosphere will help them to thrive inside during the holiday season, and they’ll soon become one of your favorite indoor plants for holiday decor.

Do you need help decorating your office or storefront?

Browse Our Gallery

Moth Orchids

Another high-end ornamental plant option ideal for holiday landscaping is the moth orchid, the common name for the Phalaenopsis plant. Moth orchids are great year-round, but they’re especially well-suited for cold days when you spend a great deal of time indoors. Their elegant flowers will brighten desks and windowsills in your building for months at a time. Don’t be intimidated by their exotic appearance. They need very little to thrive inside. This plant offers a decorative touch to any workplace, and they have long-lasting flowers.

Orchid Plant Care Tips

Orchids grow well in a warm environment, and you’ll find that they thrive most in a sunny spot. Any orchid would be another wonderful plant for a holiday gift exchange. Your coworkers will love how sophisticated it looks on their desks.

plant care, holiday plants, plants in the office, winter plants, pet safe plants - Foliaire Inc. Holiday Decor

Holly

While you won’t want to add a tall holly tree to your indoor landscaping for the holidays, you can add small holly shrubs around your office. We recommend looking for the female varieties, as only these produce bright red berries. Use faux (artificial) holly for holly wreaths to avoid a fire hazard.

If you feel creative, you could try creating your wreaths using plastic, wood, and papier-mache. This activity is a fun, festive team-building exercise to get in the holiday mood. The deep green and red colors of holly add to the holiday cheer and will look great in offices with any color scheme.

Holly Plant Care Tips

It’s important to keep your cut holly in a cool environment, away from prolonged heat or cold. Cut holly will survive for much longer if the stems remain in the water, similar to other cut flowers. If you have cut holly arrangements that include a water containment base, you should add fresh water regularly. Bringing live holly plants indoors will contribute a lively accent to your décor, but live holly won’t last more than a couple of months indoors during the winter.

plant care, holiday plants, plants in the office, winter plants, pet safe plants - Foliaire Inc. Holiday Decor

Amaryllis

If you want to mix things up, switch out some poinsettias for amaryllises. These plants have become even more popular and are among the best indoor plants for holiday landscaping. Amaryllises have a beautiful bloom that requires minimal care yet still lasts a few weeks. They come in various colors to match your office décor, including red, coral, white, and pink.

Amaryllis Plant Care Tips

When you first purchase your plant, we recommend putting it in a more luxurious container instead of its original pot. This transition will help to add extra decoration to your space and highlight the beauty of this plant. Just plant the bulb in good potting soil, water regularly, and provide bright, indirect light. A support stake is handy for keeping the blooms upright, but you shouldn’t need to do much else. Most varieties will begin blooming six to eight weeks after planting, though some can take as long as ten weeks.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe is another top indoor winter plant. They typically keep blooming for many weeks at a time. These holiday plants usually include white, red, or pink flowers, but you can also find yellow or orange varieties. Since the kalanchoe is a succulent plant, it will appreciate bright light or direct sun. The best rooms to place these indoor plants for holiday decor are your break room, conference room, or any condition with ample sunlight.

Kalanchoe Plant Care Tips

Regarding looking after these plants, they are very low-maintenance, so you’ll only need to water them when the soil starts to feel dry. Getting them to rebloom can sometimes be challenging, but they’ll still make a lovely addition to your office as an evergreen plant.

Are you ready to set up your holiday décor?

Key Takeaways

You’ll have no issue adding more holiday cheer to your office by combining these best indoor plants this holiday season. Always think about the best common areas to add holiday plants, as they’ll need to receive ample light and water they require to grow and bloom. Holiday landscaping is a wonderful way to lift your team’s spirits. Proper care is much more refined than adding typical holiday decorations. Enjoy mixing and matching these holiday plants this season and celebrating with your team in a beautifully decorated environment.

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

Boston’s #1 Holiday Decorating Plantscapers

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For over 40 years, we’ve provided award-winning plantscaping services in the Boston Metro area.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

How to Take Care of Your Garden’s Shrub Pruning

Shrub pruning can initially seem daunting, but once you delve into it, you’ll discover how thoroughly it can transform your garden. Mastering this essential skill is necessary if you desire abundant, healthy growth and vibrant blooms. The right gardening techniques can unlock beautifully sculpted forms in your backyard.

While different plants may have specific pruning requirements, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals, equipping you with the knowledge and expert tips to prune your shrubs successfully.

We will cover the following:

What is shrub pruning?
How to get started with pruning
Pinching
Thinning
Heading
Shearing
Light pruning vs. hard pruning
Which pruning method is right for me?
Key takeaways

What Is Shrub Pruning?

Pruning involves purposefully removing specific parts of a plant to achieve various objectives. It enhances the plant’s visual appeal, manages its size, promotes increased flower or leaf production, improves light penetration and air circulation, and contributes to overall plant health by eliminating dead or diseased sections.

When you remove the terminal shoot, pruning disrupts apical dominance, a term commonly used in horticulture. This process stimulates the growth of lateral buds, resulting in new shoots that contribute to a fuller and more robust plant.

How Do I Get Started Pruning My Garden?

Begin by pruning your woody plant in a specific order: dead, damaged, diseased, and structured. Removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches is crucial for the plant’s aesthetics and overall health. Next, eliminate any cross-branching or suckering branches that emerge from the plant’s base. Doing so allows the plant to channel its energy into your desired branches. Once these steps are completed, assess your plant’s needs, such as further pruning for shape, size control, flower production, or aesthetic appeal.

Different plants require various shrub pruning techniques based on their type, age, health, and size or shape concerns. However, a common plant care practice is always cutting back to just above a node. A node is a specific point on a plant stem from which one or more leaves emerge, often appearing as a slight swelling or knob. Keep reading for a brief introduction to the 4 most popular pruning methods.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

1) Pruning Method #1: Pinching

As the name suggests, pinching involves gently removing the terminal bud at the end of a stem using your thumb and forefinger. This action halts the upward growth of the stem, encouraging the development of bushier growth.

Pinching is typically performed on annuals, perennials, and certain small-leafed shrubs to promote compact and lush foliage.

2) Pruning Method #2: Thinning

Thinning cuts are commonly used during maintenance pruning and primarily focus on shaping the plant’s appearance. This technique entails completely removing a shoot or limb back to its point of origin on the main branch or lateral.

Implementing thinning cuts encourages new growth at the unaffected shoot tips while lateral bud development and regrowth are suppressed. Thinning cuts can help you shorten limbs, improve light penetration within the plant, reveal attractive branch structures and decorative bark, and direct the growth of shoots or limbs.

3) Pruning Method #3: Heading

Heading cuts are employed less frequently but are vital in controlling the plant’s growth pattern. This pruning method removes the terminal portion of shoots or limbs, stimulating the growth of buds located just below the cut.

Heading cuts are particularly refreshing, resulting in dense and compact growth, but they can also alter the plant’s natural form. This technique is commonly used for formally pruned hedges. Heading cuts also shape the plant, redirect growth in a desired direction, control the overall size, and increase density by promoting the growth of side stems.

4) Pruning Method #4: Shearing

Shearing is a variation of heading cuts that focus not on cutting back to a specific bud. Instead, this technique stimulates numerous buds to produce new growth, which requires regular repetition once you commence.

Since shearing involves cutting through leaves, it is best suited for small-leafed plants, as any resulting leaf damage is less noticeable. Regular shearing helps maintain a neat and compact appearance, but it should be noted that it may lead to a loss of the plant’s natural form.

Ready to upgrade your outdoor space?

Get In Touch

Light Pruning vs. Hard Pruning

While shrubs are generally resilient and unlikely to see severe damage from incorrect pruning, it’s important to get it right first. Let’s delve into some plant care terminology and distinguish between light and hard pruning.

Light pruning involves trimming back each stem to approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of its total length, aiming for a pair of strong buds or a bud facing away from the center of the plant. This method also includes the removal of any diseased stems and ensuring an open and airy center. Sometimes, a light prune may entail cutting out up to one-third of the total number of stems. This routine maintenance should happen every 3-4 years to promote healthy growth and shape the shrub.

On the other hand, hard pruning involves more drastic measures. It requires cutting back all the stems, leaving only 2-3 buds as close to the base as possible. Additionally, up to one-third of the least healthy stems should completely fall off. After a hard prune, you should nourish the shrub through feeding and mulching to aid in rejuvenation. Hard pruning is most appropriate when a plant has become overgrown or lost its desired shape.

Which Shrub Pruning Method Is Right For Me?

Now that we’ve clarified the differences between light pruning and hard pruning, let’s outline a standard procedure to determine which method your garden needs:

Always prune approximately 1/4″ to 1/2″ above a node, which is the point where a leaf joins a stem. Dormant buds, responsible for new stem growth, are located at nodes.
Avoid pruning below or between two nodes, as this leaves a stub. The internode section between nodes cannot generate new stems and is prone to infection, rotting, or becoming unsightly.
Choose nodes with buds facing away from the center of the plant, and in the direction you desire them to grow. This approach helps prevent cross-branching and encourages proper growth patterns.
Avoid cutting a branch off flush with the trunk or stem. Instead, leave a slightly swollen area known as the collar, where a branch joins the main trunk or a larger branch. The collar contains specialized tissue that quickly seals the pruning wound and promotes healing. Always ensure the protection of the collar during pruning.

Key Takeaways

Having the right equipment can make the task more efficient regarding shrub pruning tools. A hedge trimmer with extended reach and a pivoting cutting head is ideal for trimming tall hedges. That way, you can reach those difficult areas of the plant. Look for string trimmers that accept hedge trimmer attachments to maximize functionality.

For pruning mature and overgrown shrubs, start by removing the thickest branches. Cut them back to the base of the shrub to encourage new growth and rejuvenation. Hand pruners are perfect for smaller branches, while long-handled loppers provide leverage for cutting branches 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Explore gardening or hardware stores for various hand-pruning tools and gather more information.

Remember to cut with the branch deep in the pruner’s or lopper’s jaws to exert greater cutting force. Make clean cuts to promote quicker healing for the plant. If you live in an area that experiences regular snowfall, consider shaping your hedges and shrubs with rounded tops to minimize heavy snow accumulation.

You can maintain healthy and visually appealing shrubs and hedges with the right shrub pruning tools and techniques. Happy pruning!

See how we can transform your garden today!

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

Boston Fabrication Specialists

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape prefabrication firm in Boston’s historic South End. For over 40 years, we’ve provided award-winning urban landscaping services in the Boston Metro area.

We customize and plan our exterior landscape designs to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for corporate plantscaping and rooftop gardens.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

7 Ways That Prefabrication Can Save Your Deck This Summer

If you want to upgrade, improve, or renovate your deck or patio this year, it’s important to take the proper steps to complete this project. Prefabrication is something we recommend anyone does to save their deck. Today we will discover why this is critical for homeowners undertaking Boston landscaping jobs. Keep reading to learn how you can get a head start on your summer landscaping. That way, you can enjoy endless hours outside with your loved ones and improve the overall quality of your property.

We will cover the following:

Cleaning up after the winter
Deep cleaning your patio or deck
Deck repairs
Looking up a reliable deck construction company
Expanding your outdoor space
Sealing and painting
Deck furniture and accessories
Key takeaways

1) Clean Up After the Winter

After the winter months, taking the time to assess your greenscape or urban garden is important. Especially in parts of the country where the temperatures drop significantly, you’ll want to make sure that you clean up any debris and damage from the colder months. Leaves, branches, and sticks can all cause damage to your deck, so make sure you sweep the area in its entirety before even considering doing further work. No debris should be left over before going any further with your Boston landscaping jobs, as this may stop you from receiving the desired results.

2) Deep-Clean Your Patio or Deck

Once you’ve swept up the debris on your green roof or from living walls, it’s time to attack your deck with a pressure washer. You can rent these if you don’t have one, which is ideal for anyone not planning to complete this job regularly. Start at one side of the deck or patio, then spray over to the other. This will help clean off any leftover dirt or pollen gathered on the deck over the last months. You’ll then have a good surface to improve and be able to continue your patio prefabrication work.

3) Deck Repairs

Before you can consider painting or sealing your deck, make sure you inspect it for damage, cracks, or loose boards. Over time, moisture or sun exposure can result in the nails and screws coming loose. When left for too long, this can be a huge safety hazard, which anyone with kids and pets needs to be particularly conscious about. Closely look around your deck for any damage and try to rectify it before moving on to improving your prefabrication. Also, look carefully for signs of rotting wood. If the wood is disintegrating in any part of your patio, remove and replace it to offer your family a safe place to spend time this summer.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

4) How to Find a Reliable Deck Construction Company

We don’t recommend trying to attempt all of this work by yourself. Upgrading a greenscape and patio is much easier with the help of professionals. Many Boston landscaping jobs will be completed in a fraction of the time by a reliable deck construction company. Typically, these companies will be happy to help you get ready for the summer months. Review your fabricator’s online reviews to get a sense of their project scope. You’ll also find that you can ask to see images of previous projects, giving you an idea of their quality results.

5) Expanding Your Outdoor Space

Before the summer, you’ll also want to consider whether now is a good time to extend your outdoor space. As your family grows, you may find that you need more space. Especially if you are interested in adding living walls or a new patio set, you’ll find that extending your outdoor space is a great option. Ensure you use the highest quality material and secure fasteners that you can install carefully for long-lasting results. Always look for low-maintenance additions to your urban garden, so you don’t have to spend hours each week maintaining the area.

6) Sealing and Painting Your Deck

Once you’ve completed all of the maintenance work on your deck, it’s time to consider upgrading the stain or paint. Choose a high-quality stain or paint that suits the décor of your greenscape and will also help to protect your deck all year round. We recommend staining your deck again each season to offer protection from the elements. You could also consider painting your deck a different color, which you can do alongside a full deck renovation.

Ready to upgrade your outdoor space?

Get In Touch

7) Deck Furniture and Accessories

Once the main elements of the prefabrication work are complete, it’s time to kit out your deck. You’ll find endless ideas online today for creating a stunning green roof or urban garden, which will help you create a stylish addition to your backyard or roof. Ensure you invest in high-quality pieces that survive outside in the hot summer months. Add potted plants, kitchen equipment, and anything else you and your family will enjoy using in the summer months. The earlier you start prefabrication on your deck, the more likely you will find items you’ll be excited to display this summer and not have extended shipping times.

Key Takeaways

There’s much to consider when preparing your deck or patio for the summer months. The earlier you start work on this task, the easier it will be to enjoy summer with your loved ones. Any greenscape will need attention after the winter months. Foliaire can offer assistance with Boston landscaping jobs of any shape or size. We recommend contacting our team as soon as possible to start working together to renovate your urban garden or backyard this spring. Your family will thank you when the weather improves. Plus, you can enjoy endless hours outside bonding on your newly renovated deck. We can also help to install a new deck fully, so contact us today to discuss your requirements.

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

See how you can transform your deck today!

Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

We customize and plan our roof garden projects and interior plant design to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for corporate plantscaping and Boston landscaping jobs.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

7 Reasons Why You Should Work in Plantscaping

Are you looking for a new challenge this year? If so, there’s no better time than the present to apply for a new job or career change. Here at Foliaire, we are excited to welcome individuals to work in plantscaping jobs with us. For over 40 years, we’ve been caring for office plants and building new outdoor landscapes.

Today we’ll discover the seven reasons you should work in plantscaping and the many rewards you’ll receive from working in this industry.

We will cover the following:

Feel a sense of achievement
Work with nature
Find a job role to suit your work style
Avoid monotony
Grow and develop your career
Make a positive impact on the environment
Work with a fantastic team
Key takeaways

1) Feel a Sense of Achievement Every Day

Boston indoor and outdoor landscaping jobs allow you to make a real difference in the lives of our clients. Every day your plantscaping work will take you to a variety of private clients and businesses, all of whom are looking to improve their interior plant health or exterior plant design. Projects may include indoor or outdoor living walls or rooftop gardens. When you finish your work, you’ll see the huge difference you’ve made to their property. Plantscaping offers many health benefits to homeowners and business owners – physical benefits, such as cleaner air, and mental benefits, like being more calm and relaxed. You’ll find that you will play a huge part in improving the lives of others in the local community with each job you work on.

2) Work With Nature

With so many job roles today requiring you to spend endless hours sitting in front of a computer, you’ll find that landscaping jobs allow you to move about and work with your hands and reconnect with the world around us. Working in nature is much less stressful than many other job roles, and you’ll go home each day with a sense of satisfaction after being surrounded by beautiful plants. Whether taking on a project indoors or outdoors, you’ll go home feeling energized and ready to head back to work the next day.

3) Find A Job Role to Suit Your Work Style

You may enjoy working as part of a team, accomplishing projects through group effort. If so, being part of an outdoor plantscaping crew may be your style. On the other hand, you may like having your unique group of clients that you take care of yourself – solely responsible for your client’s satisfaction. If so, you might find an interior plant design position rewarding. Either way, there is a place for all work styles to participate in the plantscaping arena.

Do you want to find a creative outlet for your skills?

Learn More

4) Avoid Monotony

In plantscaping, no two days are the same. The monotony of doing the same thing over and over again soon gets to anyone working in an office job. Still, landscaping jobs allow you to experience new properties and projects daily. In an indoor landscaping position, you’ll visit different clients every day. In an outdoor landscaping position, there may be shorter jobs that take a day or two or more extensive projects that could take weeks or months at one location. Even when working on a longer project, you can be sure that no two days on the site will be the same. One day you might be creating living walls for a new business, and the next day, you’ll be transforming the plantscaping of a first-time homeowner.

5) Grow and Develop Your Career

Taking care of plants allows you to work with various landscapes, soils, and plants. As a result, you’ll keep learning and expanding your career daily. If you like being independent with a predictable schedule, indoor plantscaping will probably be more to your taste. Alternatively, outdoor Boston landscaping jobs are well worth considering if you prefer to work with a team. Our outdoor plantscapers meet at different locations throughout the year. Finally, if you’re looking for a new challenge this year, we work with many clients. All of our clients can offer you a new opportunity during each project. We want our team to know that they are making a difference in the lives of our clients. That’s why we do all we can to engage new clients with as much variety as possible.

6) Make a Positive Impact on the Environment

Landscaping and plantscaping can help improve the local environment in Boston, which is another reason why it’s so rewarding to work in plantscaping. Oxygen is released into the air by the plants that are added to a space, which helps improve the air quality in the nearby area. Our team strives to be as eco-friendly as possible, and we always encourage businesses to create new green spaces for their employees. Foliaire has received the prestigious Environmental Improvement Award of Merit from the Associated Landscape Contractors of America in recognition of their efforts in improving the environment. In addition, plants help to attract animals, birds, and bees, whose habitats are often under stress by development in Boston. We can all work together to protect the local ecosystem and improve the planet.

Ready to apply your plant care skills at a new job?

Get In Touch

7) Work With a Fantastic Team

Foliaire has one of the top plantscaping teams in Boston, all of whom are very welcoming and experienced. As part of the outdoor crew, you’ll find that you constantly learn from the team, who have a wealth of knowledge to share about plant design and living walls. As one of the indoor plant technicians, you’ll be the face of Foliaire with each of your clients. We are actively searching for new teammates who will be fantastic assets to our company. Over time, you’ll also find opportunities for progression in the company. In an indoor role, no two clients are the same. In an outdoor role, no two projects are the same, which is what the team enjoys so much about working with us. You’ll improve your teamwork skills and continue to build great relationships within the local community when you work in plantscaping.

Key Takeaways

These are just a few reasons to consider applying for a job in plantscaping. It’s an ever-changing industry that we expect will increase in popularity. Now is the perfect time to apply to work with us. Our team has many years of experience in the industry and will be here to welcome and work with you to keep developing your plant care and design skills. It’s never too late to change your life, and starting a new adventure this year can help move your career to the next level.

Are you interested in working with Foliaire? Contact us today to learn more about our current job opportunities. We’ll be excited to hear from you and hope to have you on our team soon.

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

See how you can enter a career in greenscaping today!

Apply Today

Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

When to Bring Your Plants Inside for the Winter

Winter is again here, and during this time of the year, it’s more important than ever to think carefully about plant care and protecting your plants from the cold weather. A common question from homeowners and business owners is when is the right time to bring your plants indoors for the winter months.

Keep reading as we share some of our top tips for looking after your best indoor plants this winter so that you can enjoy the benefits of your greenscape throughout the year.

We Will Cover the following:

Indoor Plants vs. Outdoor Plants
Growing Zones and Hardiness Zones
Tropical Plants
Relocation Timing
Acclimation
Soil
Light
Water
Pests
Key Takeaways

Indoor Plants vs. Outdoor Plants

The first thing to remember when discussing plant care during winter is the difference between indoor and outdoor plants.

You won’t need to make many adjustments to your greenscape when it comes to the tropical plants inside, as plants in the office will likely benefit from the heating and protection you have indoors.

Of course, you will need to ensure the soil stays hydrated and that the plants aren’t stripped of their moisture when you increase the heating during the winter.

Growing Zones and Hardiness Zones

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed the standard by which amateurs, gardeners, and growers can determine which plants are most likely to survive the winter outdoors at a location.

The Zone map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. These zones are numbered from 1 to 13 – with 1 being the coldest and 13 being the warmest.

For example, the Miami area is mostly Zone 10, the Boston area is mostly Zone 7, and the Burlington, Vermont area is mostly Zone 3.

Click here to view a map of plant hardiness across the U.S.

Tropical Plants

Many of the plants we keep as outdoor and indoor plants shouldn’t be subjected to cold temperatures unless they are plants that are hardy in cold weather in your area.

Researching a plant’s natural growth or hardiness zone will tell you where it can successfully spend the winter outside. For example, most red oak trees grow in Zone 5 to Zone 9, – and if you live within those zones, you won’t need to bring your oak tree inside for the winter.

On the other hand, many plants we keep are native to warm climates and won’t survive cold winters. Spider plants thrive outdoors year-round in Zones 9 to 11. If you live in Zone 8 or lower, you’ll need to protect your spider plant during the winter.

Relocation Timing

When the temperatures drop, you need to consider bringing outdoor plants inside for the winter.

As a general rule, for tropical plants native to Zones 9 to 11, when the temperature at night goes below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to think about moving your greenspace indoors.

Where you are in the country will greatly impact the work you need to do to preserve your plants. If the plant is native to Zones 9 to 11, and you live in Zone 8, you might only need to cover your plants. We recommend burlap to keep them safe from the cold.

However, if you live in an area where the temperatures drop below 45 degrees, you’ll want to bring your tropical plants inside.

Acclimation

As mentioned above, when the night-time temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, tropical plants need protection to stop dying from the cold.

Remember that you must slowly subject your plants to the new weather conditions. They shouldn’t deteriorate because of the increase or decrease in light, moisture, and temperature.

To make the transition easier, we recommend bringing your tropical plants in only overnight, to begin with, and then taking them back outside in the daytime.

After a few days, they can stay indoors for the rest of the winter until the temperature rises again in the spring.

Soil

Soil often becomes quickly dehydrated inside – the indoor humidity is much lower when the heating is on in your home or office, and the water in the soil evaporates faster.

On the other hand, you won’t typically need to apply fertilizer. Your interior planting design can last the winter without it. Then, when you are ready to bring your plants outside in the spring, it is a good time to give them a nutrient boost.

Bringing your plants out in the spring is also a good time to consider if your plantscape would benefit from repotting.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

Light

A challenge for humans and plants during the winter is the reduction in sunlight. With the shorter days in most parts of the country, it can be harder than ever to give your best indoor plants the sun they need to thrive.

For that reason, ensure you follow the plant care instructions for your specific plant type. If they need direct sunlight, find somewhere in your home where the plant can receive the maximum sun. Ideally, it would be best if you used a south-facing window.

You may need to reposition your plants in the winter months to help them to receive the necessary hours of sunlight each day, and if they are still struggling to get enough sun, consider installing a grow light to provide them with extra light while they are inside.

Water

While the heating in your home can dry out the soil for your plants, don’t be tempted to overwater them in the winter.

Overwatering is the most common cause of indoor plant death. You’ll be surprised how little water they need in the winter.

Most tropical plants in the office and succulents don’t need watering as much as you might think. For example, you’ll likely be safe leaving them unwatered for a couple of weeks during the winter break if you aren’t going to be in the office as much.

Pests

Before moving any plants indoors, you must thoroughly check them for pests.

Over the summer, it’s very common for spider mites and aphids to make their way onto plants, so check under the leaves to see their condition before relocating them.

We recommend using an insecticidal soap and washing your plants with water before moving them so that you don’t have any issues or spread these pests to your other greenscape plants.

Ready to unlock your garden’s full potential?

Browse Our Gallery

Key Takeaways

Interior planting design is something that homeowners and business owners can benefit from throughout the year. However, even the best indoor plants need to follow different plant care instructions in the winter.

It’s best to move your plants indoors gradually. Look out for the key signs we’ve shared above to help make this process smooth for all of your plants.

By following the tips we’ve shared above, you can create a beautiful greenscape that will continue to thrive all year round.

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

See how we can transform your urban greenscape today!

Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

Top 7 Benefits of Urban Gardening and Urban Farming

Urban gardening and urban farming have become much more popular in metropolitan areas.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to add an urban garden to your property or a company hoping to develop corporate plantscaping for your employees, urban landscaping has many benefits. We are all looking for ways to improve our health and well-being at this current time. You may be surprised to learn that urban gardening is one of the top ways to achieve your goal.

Let’s examine the key benefits of creating an urban greenscape on your property.

We Will Cover How To:

Encourage Healthier Diets
Boost Food Security
Grow Safer Food
Develop Under-Utilized Land
Increase Sustainability
Build Community
Save Money on Groceries
Key Takeaways

Encourage Healthier Diets

We all need to strive to follow a healthy diet. There’s no denying that with restaurants on every corner, preparing healthy and nutritious meals can be challenging. You’ll have fresh ingredients when you add an urban garden to your home or workplace. You’ll be able to cook delicious meals for yourself and your family. The goal is to help you to stay on track with your fitness and health goals. No matter what diet you currently follow, you’ll be able to make little switches daily. That way, you can enjoy more fresh produce and colorful meals.

Boost Food Security

The past few years have shown us how quickly we can lose access to stores and products we rely on daily. You’ll boost food security using your urban garden, ensuring you always have access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Food waste is also a huge issue in many countrywide communities. For this reason, having access to a greenscape where you pick only the food you need to eat that day will help to minimize wastage. You won’t have to eat packaged food as much. Instead, you’ll take your produce straight from your garden to your kitchen. You’ll be ready to prepare a delicious meal for yourself and your loved ones.

Grow Safer Food

Urban landscaping offers full customization over the plants and food you choose to grow in your garden. You’ll be able to grow safer meals that you can serve to your family, knowing they are free from chemicals and pesticides in store-bought food. If you are looking to enjoy cleaner meals without any ingredients that could damage your body, you’ll appreciate this as one of the top benefits of urban gardening. You’ll no longer have to question what’s added to your food, as you can choose to use organic products to help grow your produce.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

Develop Under-Utilized Land

An urban garden allows you to use a space on your property that may otherwise sit empty indefinitely. We all know that roofs, in particular, are often under-utilized when they could otherwise create a beautiful outdoor space for you, your family, or your employees. You’ll find that when you plan your urban landscaping well, it could help to add to the value of your property in the future when you look to sell it. Find the best ways to maximize the available space and ensure you add all of the features that improve your property’s curb appeal, such as living walls.

Increase Sustainability

Food miles – how far away your food is sourced – gained more attention in recent years as one of the hottest topics in sustainability. By growing produce in your home or workplace, you can work to reduce your impact on the environment and stop food from traveling around the world to reach your plate. You’ll bring yourself one step closer to the food system when you grow your food and create a greenscape you enjoy tending. We all need to play our part to protect our planet, and this is one of the simplest yet most effective ways you can achieve this in the upcoming years. Urban plantscaping can ensure that you have everything in place to keep your gardening practices as sustainable as possible.

Build Community

One of the best features of urban landscaping is the sense of community this investment can create. An urban garden can become a central part of your work community, allowing people to meet, socialize, and exercise. Many companies encourage their teams to get involved with tending new greenscapes. This team-building offers a way to connect with nature and take a break from everyday work. Urban gardening also brings families closer when they work together to keep it in top condition.

Ready to unlock your garden’s full potential?

Browse Our Gallery

Save Money on Groceries

The challenges of the past few years have pushed up the price of groceries across the country. With shortages in the supply chain, many families have had to make different choices to stick within their food budget. When you grow food in your urban garden, you reduce the impact of these rising prices. This benefit allows you to spend your money in other ways. Workplaces can use the fruit and vegetables they grow on-site to reduce supply budgets.

Key Takeaways

There are many fantastic benefits of urban gardening and farming for individuals and companies across the country. Living walls and a beautiful greenscape can create an aesthetically pleasing addition to any home or workplace. You’ll find that they can help to offer you fresher produce and healthier cooking ingredients.

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

See how we can transform your urban greenscape today!

Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

How to Take Care of Fiddle Leaf Figs - best indoor plants, plant care tips, exotic plants, interior plantscaping, indoor plant maintenance - Foliaire Boston MA

Plant Care Tips: How to Take Care of Fiddle Leaf Figs

Fiddle leaf figs are one of the best indoor plants for anyone looking to add a striking addition to any room in their home. With its larger size and beautiful leaves, you’ll want to ensure you understand the top plant care tips for this exotic plant.

Keep reading to learn the best ways to preserve your fiddle leaf fig. We’ll help you avoid common problems associated with this popular plant.

What You’ll Learn:

Light
Soil
Watering
Temperature
Fertilizer
Potting and Repotting
Common Problems
Key Takeaways

Light

When finding the correct position for your fiddle leaf fig, ensure your indoor plantscaping sees this plant placed by a window. It needs to receive some direct light daily, so ensure your window is unobstructed. The window doesn’t need to face any direction, so don’t worry if your window isn’t south-facing. Remember that you shouldn’t place it outdoors since full sunlight will be too much for the plant.

Soil

To look after your fiddle leaf fig, you’ll need to plant it in a well-draining potting mixture. It should ideally be rich in organic matter, such as peat-based soil. The soil should be evenly moist, which will help keep the roots hydrated without getting too wet.

Watering

When it comes to indoor plant maintenance and watering for fiddle leaf figs, ensure you water them roughly once a week. This step will depend on the size of your plant, so adjust the amount of water you give it. For example, a six-foot-tall plant may need about ¾ of a gallon weekly. If the top inch of the soil feels dry to you, it needs watering when looking after exotic plants. Slowly water all around the pot to effectively water the entire root ball.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

Temperature

The key to successful indoor plantscaping depends on many factors, including the average temperature of the place where the plant will live throughout the year. Keep your fiddle leaf figs in temperatures of roughly 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. The most important thing is to place this plant indoors so it won’t receive heat or hot air from a fan or heating vent.

Fertilizer

Applying fertilizer is a good idea when taking care of any of the best indoor plants, but you’ll want to be cautious with how much fertilizer you use on your fiddle leaf figs. Avoid using too much fertilizer at once on the plant, or you may find that you’ve undone all of the good work of the plant care tips we’ve shared so far. A slow-release “pelletized” fertilizer is a good option for the spring and summer of this type of plant. This type of fertilizer sits on the top layer of the soil, where it will last for a few months before you need to consider giving the plant more. Consult the instructions on the fertilizer for the correct amount to apply.

Potting and Repotting

Take great care when potting or repotting your fiddle leaf fig. You should repot your plant when it outgrows its previous pot, which is generally just every two or three years for this exotic plant. The best type of pot for a fiddle leaf fig is a tighter container with many drainage holes. This plant can easily adapt to any shape and type of planter, but make sure you water it generously upon repotting it to help it settle into the new pot.

See how we can transform your interior garden today!

Browse Our Gallery

Common Problems

It’s important to be aware of the common indoor plant maintenance issues that may crop up. Overwatering is one of the biggest issues we see with fiddle leaf figs, resulting in fungal infections or root rot. You may notice that your plant develops spots or dropping leaves, indicating a bigger issue with your plant care. If just the edges of the leaves are turning brown, that’s an indication that the plant isn’t getting enough water.

Drying Leaves

Many of the leaves on your fiddle leaf fig will eventually turn brown and dry. While this is part of the normal process of aging leaves, you should certainly be concerned if this happens to the whole plant at once. If you move your plant to a new area of your home, you may find that it may take a little time to adapt to its new location. You can pluck off any dried and old leaves, but consider whether you are following our indoor plant maintenance tips if you are concerned there is a greater issue. Ensure you are offering the plant enough water and not placing it in sunlight outdoors, as these two factors could be the reason for your browning leaves.

Pest Infestations

As with many exotic plants, pests may decide to give your fiddle leaf figs a visit at any time. You can treat the infestation if you catch this issue before it’s too late. Armored scale insects, spider mites, and mealy bugs are the three most common infestations. Pests may sometimes appear blemishes on the leaves, so use a magnifying glass to check out the issue. Smaller pests can easily blend into the leaf, but the sooner you treat this problem, the more likely you’ll be to preserve your plant.

Key Takeaways

By following these indoor plant care tips, you can ensure your plant lives for many years. These are very long-lasting and beautiful additions to any indoor plantscaping design. However, you’ll want to ensure you give them the correct water, sunlight, and temperature conditions to grow and thrive. While there are a few common issues you need to be aware of, they are generally quite low-maintenance plants that are easy to look after. You’ll find they make a very dramatic addition to any living space, which is why we are seeing more and more homes across the country put these plants on display.

Ready to unlock your garden’s full potential?

View Our Other Plant Care Tips

Boston’s Plantscaping Specialists

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For 40 years, we’ve provided award-winning plantscaping services in the Boston Metro area.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

Plant Care: How to Care for Your Lawn and Garden

Your lawn and garden need your time and attention to help them grow and thrive. Plant care is a skill that takes time to develop. This article is here to get you started.

Looking after your garden will be easy when you equip yourself with the right knowledge. Keep reading to learn our best tips and tricks for cultivating your garden.

What We’ll Cover In This Article:

Update your lawn and garden care for the season
Build exterior garden structures
Identify and remove weeds
Improve drainage for your lawn
Mowing and edging your lawn
Key takeaways

Update Your Lawn and Garden Care for the Season

When it comes to effective plant watering and plant care, you need to treat your garden differently throughout the year. If you live in an area that experiences cold winter months, you need to be mindful of the impact this can have on your plants.

At the same time, hot and humid summers can wreak havoc on your garden, which is when you’ll need to think about plant watering more regularly. Plan to cut your line once a week in the summer.

For the rest of the year, every two weeks is sufficient. Make sure you are mindful of the climate of your home state.

Spring-Time Gardening Tasks

Spring is the time to tour your garden to see what’s been happening while you were inside all winter.

At this point, you should remove any matted leaves left from last fall. Trim off the brown foliage from your ornamental grass plants and perennial plants. Lastly, remove any fallen branches or other trash that has made its way into your garden during the cold weather.

Build Exterior Garden Structures

A huge part of plant care is offering support and protection for plants to thrive. Start building your structures early spring before the ground has completely thawed out. April and May are good times to inspect, repair, or replace any hardscape items, including:

gazebos
fountains
plant stands
privacy screens
retaining walls
living walls

Fountains are a great way to add a relaxing centerpiece to your garden. They can also help attract more wildlife to your outdoor space.

Take the time in early spring to clean out fountains from leaves and other debris. If you don’t currently have a fountain, consider adding one.

Even if you have limited space to add a water feature, a small fountain can make a tranquil addition. Spring is also a good time to give your birdbaths a thorough scrub.

Types of Structures

Consider an exterior landscape design that includes plant stands to help your plants grow and make plant care easier. This display will bring show plants into focus.

Additionally, retaining walls can protect against wind and erosion. A pergola, or a roof-like lattice, can help cover some of your shade-loving plants while also growing through the design. This structure can make a beautiful addition to any garden. It can quickly become a place to gather with your friends and family.

Retaining walls are a more practical custom exterior landscape addition. These are vertical walls designed to redirect water flow and hold soil back on slopes. You’ll find that they can be both functional and decorative in their own right. Click here to learn more about the types of garden decor you can install.

Identify and Remove Weeds

Weeds are a huge issue in plant care for your garden and lawn. Lawn weeds might either grow as flowers or seed heads.

Generally, you’ll find a huge variety of weeds in lawns today. The best option for your home is to remove the whole weed, ensuring you get the roots out simultaneously. You can do this by hand but using a weed removing tool.

When carrying out regular plant watering, we suggest pet-safe herbicide. Always look for a product that has a low toxicity level. That way, you won’t cause any harm to nearby creatures.

Spring Pruning

Spring is the time of year when many plants will benefit from pruning. Do you have woody plants that flower in the fall? Our rule of thumb is to prune them in the spring. Examples include hydrangeas and roses.

However, don’t prune forsythias, azaleas, or lilacs in the spring. Spring is also the time to shape any evergreen trees that you want to control growth or spread.

Do you need help revitalizing your outdoor garden?

Browse Our Gallery

Improve Drainage for Your Lawn

Drainage is a major issue within the exterior landscape design. If your lawn has poor drainage, you may find it becomes soaked for days. In the long run, this can cause issues for your lawn health if you don’t work to improve the drainage.

Common reasons for drainage issues include inferior custom exterior landscape design and the lack of absorption from the soil. Are you seeing standing water in your garden outside of your water features? Take steps to avoid a buildup of water in the future to prevent further damage to your lawn.

Design With Your Garden Shape in Mind

The shape of your garden will play a big part in preventing waterlogging. Drive water away from your home to prevent damage to the property. Dips in the ground need to be avoided at all costs, as these can cause water to pool.

We sometimes find that homeowners need to install additional gutters and drains. These additions can direct excess water away from the lawn.

Another strategy, instead of working to remove standing water, is to add water-loving plants. Some species thrive in boggy ground, including:

astilbe
cardinal flower
sedge
rose mallow
summersweet
hibiscus
European cranberry bush viburnum
leucothoe
fothergilla
Pinkberry
sweetspire
sweet and swamp azaleas
white spruce
black gum

These varieties will absorb some of the extra water. You’ll be able to protect your plants that might otherwise become water-logged.

Mowing and Edging Your Lawn

Mowing your lawn is an important part of plant care. However, it’s best to only remove about one-third of the grass length during each session in the spring.

More often, mowing matters in the summer when you can cut about half the grass length. In the winter, the grass will grow much slower, if at all. Try to avoid mowing your lawn when your soil or grass is wet. This mistake can damage your lawn and stop it from growing at its borders and edges.

Invest in a half-moon edging tool or use edging shears or even a battery-powered edger to complete this work. You should do this after mowing, offering a finishing touch to the plant care process for your lawn.

Key Takeaways

Plant care and watering often seem like a huge task, but little and often is the best way to go.

Your garden should work in the right manner for your property’s design and unique custom exterior landscape. You’ll reduce the number of issues you face in the future.

Ready to unlock your garden’s full potential?

Boston Exterior Design & Plantscaping Specialists

Foliaire is a full-service interior and exterior greenscape design-build firm in Boston’s historic South End. For the last 40 years, we’ve provided the highest quality office plantscaping services for clients across the Boston Metro area.

We customize and plan our living walls and interior planting designs to fit your unique space and tastes. That’s how we’ve built a reputation of unparalleled style and elegance for both corporate plantscaping and residential community projects.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram