Tips & Inspiration

Details: Laura Hammond; From Al's Experts; July 17, 2018

A woman in a yellow shirt waters a container full of flowers

We've shared many Water Wise tips and solutions over the years, including some unique ways to keep your plants hydrated during the hot summer months. Often times, the best watering tool is simply a good ol' hose and water nozzle or sprinkler.

Details: Laura Hammond; From Al's Experts; July 11, 2018

With the US home and garden market being valued at around $272 billion last year, getting your backyard garden started can be a bit of a daunting task. Wandering around your local garden centers can feel like walking through a beautiful but nonetheless confusing maze; where do you start? What are you looking for? What do you need? Based on the climate and sun cover of your yard, the answer can vary. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Details: Eve Hansen; From Al's Experts; July 10, 2018

A yard full of colorful tropical plants surrounding a concrete fountain

Here at Al’s, we love working around plants! Many of us even take our work home with us. So you can imagine that many of our Al’s Experts have amazing outdoor living spaces at home, all reflecting individual personalities and passions. This week we are featuring a tropic wonderland created by Peter Eastman, Assistant Store Manager at Al's of Wilsonville.

Details: Eve Hansen; From Al's Experts; July 9, 2018

We know, we know, gardening is a great way to disconnect and be in nature. It seems almost contradictory to have garden centers touting applications versus telling you to leave the phone indoors, on silent. Hear us out, your yard garden and general relationship with greenery stands to improve with the help of a little technological boosting.

Details: Laura Hammond; From Al's Experts; July 3, 2018

Al’s proudly carries over 20 different varieties of hydrangeas. With that many choices it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But it's hard to go wrong with any variety of hydrangea, in part because they do so well here in the Pacific Northwest. Our Chief of Growing Operations, Dorothy Russo, is here to recommend some of our favorite varieties for your porch or garden.

Details: Laura Hammond; From Al's Experts; June 25, 2018

a red blooming 'Lucifer' Crocosmia on a blue background

There's a lot to love about the perennial Crocosmia. The sun loving Crocosmia are loved by hummingbirds, attracting them to your garden. Crocosmia provide great cut flowers and foliage for indoor summer bouquets, but by leaving the seedheads on you can create late summer garden interest as well. Crocosmia is easy to divide, and we love them for their spear like foliage which can provide great texture to your garden. Here are a few of our favorite varieties:

Details: Judy Alleruzzo; From Al's Experts; June 19, 2018

3 Coreopsis blooms with the words June Is Perennial Gardening Month

We continue to celebrate our favorite perennials for National Perennial Month, and that means we must talk about one of the true workhorses of the garden: Coreopsis. Also known as Tickseed, Coreopsis is loved for its ruggedness and profuse blooms. These are just 2 of the reasons it was chosen by the Nation Garden Bureau to be the Perennial of the Year.

Details: Chad Darnell; From Al's Experts; June 13, 2018

a collage of multi-colored heuchera leaves

Finding interesting color for your shade garden can often present a challenge. After you have exhausted all the combinations of hostas, hydrangeas, and hellebores that you can imagine, you may still be looking for a way to add more hues to your garden. Why not try heuchera!