Author Archives: Cindy

  When fall comes around, and spring-flowering bulbs are ready to make their way into the ground, hands down one of the most commonly asked questions for new bulb gardeners is “how deep do I plant?” And with a quick Google search yielding a whopping 30 million answers in seconds, we can’t blame them for […]

  As long as we have been planting fall bulbs, we have been bothered again and again by those not-so-friendly visitors: squirrels. Anxious for a nibble of our freshly-planted tulips and crocuses, they ransack our fall plantings and leave us empty-handed in spring. So, what do we do to protect them?   Why Squirrels Eat […]

  Tulips are the darlings of our spring gardens, but as a fall-planted bulb, now is when we need to start thinking about them. Planting in the fall is like an investment in the future of your garden, and you’ll be amazed by all the rewards popping out of the ground when the weather warms […]

Why Is My Bulb Not Blooming Like It’s Supposed To? by Brent Heath, Co-Owner, Brent & Becky’s   After a fantastic trip to Chicago—where I met 350 new people, collected 200 hugs, and made a whole lot of new friends—I’m glad to be back home in one of the best places in the world: Tidewater, […]

3 Unique Bulbs for Fall Planting   Fall is the time to start planning ahead for spring by getting those spring-flowering bulbs into the ground before the frost hits. And while there are certain “go-to” bulbs we return to each year—tulips, daffodils, alliums—there are many other, unique fall-planted bulbs that are less heard of, but […]

Garden-Trekking with Brent By: Brent Heath, Co-owner, Brent & Becky’s   Well, I am in heaven today. I’m here at a Perennial Plant Association meeting, and this is probably the greatest gathering in the world of plant-oriented people. I’m sitting next to the most amazing plant breeder from Walter’s Gardens, my seat-mate is the Director of […]

When it comes to bulbs for pollinators, we know and love our favorites, from Tulips to Hyacinths. But when it comes to planting them in the garden, it can be tough to know what to plant together that will look good and grow together in a companion relationship, until everything is already in the soil.

Holland Travelogue  By: Jay & Denise Hutchins, Managers, Brent & Becky’s   If you follow us on social media at all, chances are you’ve seen some pictures of some of our travels over the years. And one place we return to year after year is Holland. While we’re certainly happy to go back to see old […]

Care & Maintenance of Summer-Flowering Bulbs & Perennials  By: Brent Heath, Co-owner, Brent & Becky’s   We’re in the peak of summer blooming right now, and you may be beginning to wonder what to do with your summer flowers when they are finished blooming. Well, to make it a little simpler, let’s walk through some of […]

  I remember it like it was yesterday, which is really something to say as I tend to frequently forget what I did over the weekend! This weekend, on June 30th, marks a very special occasion for Brent & Becky’s, as we celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of my folks, Brent and Becky Heath. In […]

Deer. We love catching a glimpse of them out in the wilderness, and they look perfectly picturesque on a postcard. Though, if you’ve ever planted lilies or tulips, you’ll agree that they’re also giant, scavenging rodents looking to dig up all our hard work! Luckily, keeping them away can be as simple as planting even […]

For a lot of newly sprouting gardeners, if you are planting something underground that is larger, rounder, and more swollen than a seed, it must be a bulb. But, as many of us know, sometimes it’s not. Sometimes we grow from corms, tubers, or rhizomes—but what’s the difference?   What are Bulbs? True bulbs, like […]

Nothing says spring in the garden quite like tulips—their bright, cup-shaped blooms eagerly announce the start of the season atop tall stems. But, if you’re fortunate to have them return again for a second spring bloom, you might notice that they just don’t have the spark they used to have the first year. Maybe the […]

Few things in the gardening world cause us as much frustration as weeds. They’re unsightly, they’re disruptive, and sometimes they’re a pain to get rid of. When we’re trying to create a beautiful landscape of luscious, green lawn and bountiful blooms, they always seem to be right there, ready to rear their ugly heads just […]

Before we answer this question, let us first say that there is a way to find out which topics are being searched on Google. And, believe it or not, this one question is trending! So, we thought we’d tackle this head on! The bulb so popular that it caused an entire country’s market to crash, […]

Watering & Irrigation By: Brent, Co-Owner, Brent & Becky’s Bulbs As every gardener well knows, growing plants is a complex balance of elements that come together to create the biological beauty of life. Without water, that whole process would fall short! Here are our best tips and techniques for irrigation to keep your garden healthy […]

Growing Irises By: Brent, Co-Owner, Brent & Becky’s Bulbs The iris is a classic, statement-making show-off that’s hard to beat—it’s no wonder it’s been a garden favorite for centuries. This old-fashioned beauty’s bold blooms contrast with its architectural, sword-like, sturdy foliage. The name “iris” originates from the Greek word for “rainbow,” which speaks to the […]