This year Avant Gardening & Landscaping became certified as a sustainable business under the Wisconsin Green Master’s Program. The programs provides each recognized business with a sustainability score. We are constantly striving to improve our score and we find it an important part of accountability to share our efforts with…
Many people believe that four season interest means that they’re limited to evergreens but that’s not always the case! There are several plants that offer year round interest, especially in winter, through their unique bark and/or berries. Here are a few of our favorites. Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) is a…
“I drifted into a summer-nap under the hot shade of July, serenaded by a cicadae lullaby, to drowsy-warm dreams of distant thunder.” - Terri Guillemets Come July you may be tempted by that hammock in the shade, swaying gently in the breeze… now is the time you can comfortably…
The first snow of the year can be a thing of beauty. By the 15th snowfall however, we start to get real sick of white everywhere. Enter the Redtwig Dogwood! As the name implies this shrub boasts some very colorful stems that look great against the snow and add a…
Sick of Wisconsin Winters yet? We decided that this week we are feeling the need to dream of summer. Just pretend it's a beautiful, warm July day... you're out on your patio, sipping some lemonade, birds are chirping, flowers are nodding in the warm breeze.... How about we take you…
Our climate can be crazy! From freezing rain to temperatures in the 40's in January... it's difficult to predict what it's going to do next! With the recent freezing rain and the need to spread sand (and salt in most cases) we thought we'd share a list of plants that…
Local trade shows and expos can be awkward and intimidating! Do you get anxious wandering through a huge exposition hall lined with booth after booth of unfamiliar companies... New expo visitors can be hesitant for numerous reasons. Do any of the following situations below apply to you? Just bought a…
Many Wisconsin gardeners believe four-season interest means they’re limited to evergreens, but there are many other options! The three plants listed below are top favorites because they have either unique berries, bark or other interesting element in the winter - and they're not evergreens! 1. Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) has glossy…
Do you have a large Dogwood, Viburnum or other suckering plant that is outgrowing its space? Dormant pruning maybe your solution! What is dormant pruning? Well what does "dormant" mean exactly... with regards to a plant or bud, "dormant" means: alive but not actively growing. Think of it like a…
“The wise gardener anticipates June in January.” ~Author Unknown Most of us in Madison, Wisconsin have already gone into hibernation – the below zero landscape outside and frigid wind chills make us cozy up inside and dream of spring (only venturing out if absolutely necessary!) But there are still plenty of…
