If you don’t see the info you’re looking for, be sure to ask one of our garden professionals or better yet stop by either of our two Rochester locations!
Gardening Resources
Find what you need to succeed. Stop in today or view our Garden Resource Sheets and Useful Links below. Sargent’s…It’s your garden, our passion!
Annuals (general information for the northern gardener)
University of Minnesota Yard & Garden – If you need help diagnosing plant problems or figuring out if you have a weed or insect in the garden, stop into the garden center or check out this link.
Save Our Monarchs Foundation – One milkweed at a time, one backyard at a time. Milkweed seed packets available in Sargent’s Garden Centers now for a $2 donation. Learn all about this gardener lead initiative.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monarchs – With Monarch Butterflies, Service and Partners Hope to Replicate Success of Bald Eagle Recovery
Feeding Birds – Information Sheet from the Northern Gardener
Native Plants for Every Location – Planting natives in your landscape attracts and supports pollinators. View Sargent’s Native Plant List by best planting location.
North American Butterfly Association – Find answers to your questions at this link about butterflies and how to lure them into your garden.
Plants to Attract Hummingbirds – A list and tips from Sargent’s
Plants to Attract Butterflies – A list and tips from Sargent’s
Pollinator Partnership – Enter your zipcode to find out how to attract pollinators in specific ecoregion with our Planting Guides in PDF format and app to download! Plus find pollinator facts and information on global pollinator protection efforts.
Sargent’s Goes Neonicotinoid Free – Sargent’s Grown Perennials and all annuals sold by Sargent’s are neonicotinoid free. View our 6.10.14 Press Release. Learn how individuals can protect the pollinator here too.
The Butterfly Website – A fun, whimsical window into the world of butterflies and butterfly gardening.
Guide to Butterfly Watching From Your Window– A website full of tips for butterfly watching
USDA Bee Watch – Offers extensive information on how to garden for pollinators and plus bee facts
Frequently Asked Questions – Find Sargent’s answers to frequently asked garden and landscape questions.
Fruit Trees (general information for the northern gardener)
University of Minnesota Yard & Garden – If you need help diagnosing plant problems or figuring out if you have a weed or insect in the garden, stop into the garden center or check out this link.
University of Minnesota Soil Testing – Take the guess work out of fertilizer recommendations. Ensure fertile soil without over fertilizing. Understand how best to amend soil for particular plants.
Top 10 Perennials For 2018
Top 10 Perennials for 2018
1) Allium “Millenium”
A butterfly beacon! Long blooming with beautiful lavender starflowers that form a perfect ball at the tip of the stem, that sway in the breeze. Deer resistant, full sun, 12-18” tall and wide
2018 Perennial of the year
2) Dianthus “ Heart Attack” and “First Love”
Sweet William type dianthus with small flowers that form a cluster or mini bouquet at the tip of the stem. Blooms late spring to early summer in full sun and well drained soil. 12-18” tall and 9” wide
3) Amsonia “Storm Cloud”
A spring to early summer bloomer with clusters of small periwinkle blue star shaped flowers on dark stems. Stems emerge blue black and have deep green leaves with a silver streak. A striking plant in the garden that could be mistaken for a shrub. 24-30” tall and 38-42” wide, full sun, grows in poor to fertile soil, and deer resistant
4) Heliopsis “Tuscan Gold” or“Sunburst”
Also known as false sunflower. A long blooming perennial with bright yellow daisy like flowers that appear to cover the plant. 24-32” tall and 20-24” wide, full to part sun, average soil and disease resistant. Great as a cut flower.
5) Lavendula “Munsted”or “Phenomenal”
Sweetly fragrant mounds of silver foliage with purple blue flower spikes.
This ornamental and edible Lavender is cold hardy, disease resistant, deer resistant and tolerates heat and humidity. Plant in full sun. Grows 24-36”
6) Leucanthemum “Becky”, “Sante” or “ Crème Puff”
Who doesn’t love daisies!! What a happy flower with bright yellow center and creamy white petals surrounding it. 3-4” flowers cover the 14-30” stems and grows 24-28” wide. Full sun, well drained soils, blooms early to late summer and is a great cut flower.
7) Baptisia “American Goldfinch” or “Cherries Jubilee”
A large plant that is shrub like reaching 3 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide. This plant will make a dramatic statement in spring covered in flower spikes for many weeks. Baptisia comes in many different colors: blue, red, purple, yellow and pink. Attractive seed pods in the autumn and low maintenance full sun plant that is also deer resistant.
8) Tiarella “Sugar & Spice or “Jade Peacock”
Wonderful compact, mounded plants that produce fragrant beautiful bottle brush flower spikes of soft pink & white flowers in spring. These excellent border plants look great mixed in with small Hostas, Heuchera and Pulmonaria. Very interesting foliage that is maple leaf shaped and changes color in the autumn. Grows 6-12” tall and wide in full to part shade and is deer resistant.
9) Anemone “Pink Saucer” or “Robustissima”
Beautiful with or pink flowers sway a top sturdy stems in mid-summer to early fall. The foliage stays more compact with the flower stems reaching 2-3’ tall and 24” wide. Attracts butterflies, deer resistant, good cut flower and tolerates moist soils. Grows in full to part sun.
10) Aster “Purple Dome” or “Alert”
Beautiful blue, purple, pink or white flowers in late summer when everything else is fading. Provides late season food source for butterflies.
Perennials (general information for the northern gardner)
Perennial Resource – Link provides an excellent source of “inspiration and information on perennial gardening.
Perennial Plant Association – Link is an excellent source of information on the Perennial Plant of the Year and past winners.
America Iris Society – Interesting hints for planting and growing iris.
American Hemerocallis Society – Check out “Frequently Asked Questions” to learn about this fantastic perennial.
American Peony Society – Useful information about planting and growing beautiful peonies.
American Clematis Society – Descriptions and photos of more than 300 varieties of this vine, as well as excellent tips for the clematis grower.
American Hosta Society – Interesting background information on this popular perennial.
Perennials (general information for the northern gardner)
Perennial Resource – Link provides an excellent source of “inspiration and information on perennial gardening.
Perennial Plant Association – Link is an excellent source of information on the Perennial Plant of the Year and past winners.
America Iris Society – Interesting hints for planting and growing iris.
American Hemerocallis Society – Check out “Frequently Asked Questions” to learn about this fantastic perennial.
American Peony Society – Useful information about planting and growing beautiful peonies.
American Clematis Society – Descriptions and photos of more than 300 varieties of this vine, as well as excellent tips for the clematis grower.
American Hosta Society – Interesting background information on this popular perennial.
University of Minnesota Yard & Garden – If you need help diagnosing plant problems or figuring out if you have a weed or insect in the garden, stop into the garden center or check out this link.
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – Discover gardening programs and leisure activities offered by the arboretum.
United States National Arboretum – Link here to find useful horticulture information and a schedule of gardening demonstrations and workshops at the arboretum.
Minnesota State Horticultural Society – From the publishers of “Northern Gardener” magazine.
American Horticultural Society
American Rose Society – Learn about the Rose Society, the many varieties of roses, and how to best care for them.
Sargent’s Plant Specific Perennial, Tree and Shrub Specification and Care Sheets
Tree and Shrub Planting/Care Instructions
SULIS – Link to Tree and Shrub Planting Instructions
Pruning – Links to The University of Minnesota Extension Service’s recommendations for pruning tools, timing, and techniques.
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – Discover gardening programs and lesiure activities offered by the arboretum.
United States National Arboretum – Link here to find useful horticulture information and a schedule of gardening demonstrations and workshops at the arboretum.
Apple Scab of Ornamental Fruit Trees
Trees (general information for the northern gardener)
Tree and Shrub Planting/Care Instructions
SULIS – Link to Tree and Shrub Planting Instructions
Rochester Park & Recreation Department – Visit this site to find boulevard tree recommendations.
Water Gardening (general information for the northern gardener)