Inspired Gardens, LLC

02/08/2023

Scout is out! Cheers to 10 years of being a part of The Scout Guide New Orleans family! Stop by the garden center and pick up a complimentary copy of Volume 11 💜💛



The Scout Guide Alex Rabalais Ashton Rabalais

02/08/2023

09/21/2022

Mulching This Fall

All ornamental plants benefit from mulching when done properly. The coming fall months are a great time to re-mulch landscape beds. This will help with water conservation during the dry fall months that we have in the South. Other benefits of mulching include:

* preventing “crusty” soil surfaces
* maintaining more ideal soil temperatures
* minimizing soil temperature fluctuations
* reducing w**d seed germination and subsequent growth
* preventing splashing of soil fungus during irrigation / rain events * lessening cold damage
* reducing / slowing down soil erosion
* reducing soil compaction
* adding aesthetic beauty to the landscape

Mulch annual bedding plants and flowering perennials to a depth of 1-2 inches. Shrubs like 2-3 inches. Trees benefit from 3-4 inches of mulch.

Go “out with mulch”, do not “go up with mulch” (spread mulch horizontally instead of piling it vertically). Avoid ‘mulch volcanoes”.

Shade trees are routinely improperly over-mulched in residential and commercial landscapes.

Problems that result from over-mulching include:

* starving the shallow roots of oxygen
* killing phloem tissue that moves nutrients through the plant
* development of more fungal / bacterial infections due to increased moisture
* heat buildup from mulch decomposition damages the stem
* influences on the pH of underlying soil
* microbials will compete with tree roots for nutrition
* rodents can live in and feed on plant roots and stems
* termite infestations (especially when wood is used)

Mulching properly leads to improved growth, health and performance!
(photo courtesy of Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service)

12/03/2020

I think I captured my clients dream if all things pink! @ New Orleans, Louisiana

07/08/2020

Recent Garden Design&Installation

06/25/2020

We hope everyone is enjoying NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK! What are you planting in your landscape for the pollinators?

06/25/2020

Many times clients ask for plant material that just wont work in their space. 'Right plant, right location', is the mantra.

Sun or Shade? How much sunlight do you have in your landscape. Is it morning sun? Is it afternoon sun? Does some of your landscape have "filtered" or "dappled" light.

Full Sun - 8 hours direct sun daily
Part Sun - 6 hours direct sun daily
Part Shade - 4 hours direct sun daily
Shade - 2 hours or less direct sun daily

Also remember sun patterns in your garden / landscape changes seasonally.

06/25/2020

I wasn’t singing in the rain but this garden did get me excited for the ‘Oakleaf’ holly we will be installing in our next project!