Lorenz's OK Seeds, LLC

Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)

Purple Love grass

Growing between one and three feet tall with a two foot spread, Purple Lovegrass  is a native, warm season, perennial bunch grass that derives it name from the purple-colored flower heads it develops late in summer. Purple lovegrass grows in well-drained, infertile and very sandy soils in open conditions without shading or competition. While it is is drought tolerant it does require average soil moisture content.

Purple Lovegrass Packet $2.00

Cold Frames –No Plants Should Begin Life Without One

Cold frames can play a vital part in your gardening endeavors. They are relatively easy to build and if you’re not that handy with a hammer and nails they definitely make a long-term, very worthwhile, time saving investment. In addition to growing vegetables, cold frames are an excellent place to start new seeds in springtime or to care for cuttings in the fall and winter months of your favorite evergreen plants. In fact, the propagation of a wide variety of new plants can occur in a cold frame. . .

Getting Ready For Spring Gardening

Have you resolved to make your garden the envy of your neighborhood this year?  Are you determined to have a garden you don’t need to apologize for? If so, now is the time to start. The first step to having a beautiful garden is good planning. If you’ve kept a log or diagrams of your garden beds over the years to help track what was planted where, and notes about what worked and what didn’t now is the time to . . .

Wetlands – Unique, Productive and Valuable

Historically wetlands were viewed as being useless, tracts of land full of diseases. Today however, wetlands rank equally with tropical rain forests and coral reefs in terms of environmental importance, productivity and biodiversity. As such, wetlands encompass many values including recreational, historical, scientific, and cultural. Wetlands are typically identified by:

Broom Corn – The Plant That Doesn’t Quit

Broom corn (Sorghum vulgare) is not only a hardy annual plant, it’s a beautiful plant that can last for years following harvest.  This fact makes broom corn a plant that has numerous uses. As the botanical name suggests, broomcorn is a variety of sorghum resembling a tall grass that forms imposing and colorful tassel like, fan-shaped seed heads rather than of ears of corn.

Red Seed Red Packet $2.00 Red 1 Ounce $8.00 Red 1/4 Pound $20.00 Red 1 Pound $62.00

Black Seed Black Packet $2.00 Black 1 Ounce $8.00 Black 1/4 Pound $20.00 Black 1 Pound $62.00

Mixed Seed Mixed Packet $2.00 Mixed 1 Ounce $8.00 Mixed 1/4 Pound $20.00 Mixed 1 Pound $62.00

Perennials – The Backbone of Your Garden

Many gardeners cherish perennials because they flower, spread and multiply year after year and as such they can form the backbone of your flower garden. This in itself sets them aside from annuals as it eliminates the need to buy and plant new flowers every spring. Perennials are simple to grow, require little maintenance, and as a group are adapted to a wide variety of conditions, including a tolerance for sun and shade and moist or dry locations. In fact, many shade tolerant perennials are planted more for their eye-catching foliage than their flowers.

Ornamental Grasses – Adding Dramatic Flair to Your Garden

Ornamental grasses are becoming increasingly popular as garden and landscaping plants because they provide attention-grabbing qualities that are rarely found in other ornamentals. Including ornamental grasses in any size garden results in a stunning, low maintenance addition that can not only add a unique background for your garden but will also provide texture, form, motion and sound to a garden, not to mention the vast palette of colors and their attractive and often colorful and shapely seed heads. As such, you can use ornamental grasses in much the same way that you use any flower, shrub or tree.

Soft Stem Rush (Juncus effuses)

Soft Stem Rush

Soft Stem Rush (Juncus effuses) is a clump forming wetland plant that provides a striking vertical element to any garden or container planting.  Soft Stem Rush is a slow spreading, clump forming, grass-like perennial which emerges from a stout branching rootstock.  It is among the most productive of freshwater wetland plant species and is readily propagated from bare root stocks, seedlings, container stalks or direct planting into the soil.  In the wild dispersal by wind, water or animals due to the small size and tacky outer coating of the seed is the primary means of propagation.

Soft Stem Rush Is Available In:

Canada Golden Rod (Solidago canadensis)

Canada Goldenrod

Goldenrod provides an easy to grow late-season plant for gardeners in search of reliable fall color. It can be used to treat a wide variety of aliments and is an ideal companion plant that not only attracts insects that are beneficial to your garden but these insects eat those that can damage plants. Goldenrod is considered native to the United States of America. In North America there are some 100 varieties of this plant because they are able to cross-pollinate.

It is used both in America and Europe to treat a variety of ailments.

Canada Golden Rod Is Availaible In:

Carolina Carports

Lorenz’s OK Seeds, LLC is proud to be an authorized Carolina Carports Dealer. Just like Lorenz’s, Carolina Carports is a family owned and operated business.
Carolina Carports, Inc. was founded in 1997 and the company’s primary function is to manufacture metal products  using the newest technology as well as engineered expertise and up-scaled machinery. They offers [...]

The Container Gardening Guide to Growing Exotic Orchids

Orchids have a reputation for being demanding and difficult plants to grow and manage and thus many container gardeners avoid them like the plague. But, orchids will add a touch of real class to your container garden.

In other words, if you haven’t explored orchids let me tell you that you are missing out on some amazing plants. Although it is best to make a note of the specific requirements of each variety. So let’s look at 8 tips that will help you avoid the pain and heartache.

Small Container Water Gardens

Small container water gardens are ideal for small spaces. A container water garden is easy and fun to build and will add visual interest to your patio or porch.

If you do not have room to plant a large container water garden plant a few smaller pots with aquatic plants. These plants placed in container water gardens are more mysterious than traditional potted plants. A big plus to aquatic gardens is that they are very low maintenance. No more having to rely on your neighbors to water your gardens when you leave on vacation or a business trip. For the kids, add a sprouting ornament to really delight them.

Container Gardening – What is it?

Container gardening is the procedure of growing plants solely planters and containers (pots). Unlike the traditional method of growing plants in the ground, container gardens are displayed throughout a home, office, patio or terrace.

You can grow almost anything in a container. Container gardening is the answer for most people who live in busy cities or those who don’t have a big back yard. You can put a container anywhere. And because it’s easy, just about anyone can grow flowers and vegetables.

Discover Nature’s 7 Most Nutritious Herbs For Greater Health & Vitality

For maximum health and vitality both scientists and nutritionists highly recommend that we all pack in as many raw fruits and veggies as possible. Unfortunately, they often overlook the humble herb’s inner vigor. But not anymore!

Through the charms of organic container gardening, it’s time to not only add a melody of tastes, but a great source of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

The Finalists Are:

Container Gardening Tips

Container gardens are a great way of creating a natural sanctuary in a variety of situations whether it be indoors or outside. They add a colorful and accented welcome to a room, patio or deck using pots filled with annuals or you can fill window boxes with wildflowers and small perennials that can be appreciated from the street and inside your home. You can place pots along the edges of outside steps, hide walls and other ugly concrete structures. You’re really only limited by your imagination and local conditions.

Super “L” Fall Wildlife Blend

As you know a harsh winter can be hard on your local deer herds and they require additional carbohydrates to store as fat in order to survive.

Lorenz’s OK Seeds Super “L” Fall wildlife mix combines annual grasses, forbes, Brassica and legumes that deer, quail and turkey are attracted to and will help them remain healthy throughout the winter.

Our Fall wildlife blend contains:

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

With the approaching onset of winter many gardeners believe it’s time to hang up the tools for the year and wait for the following spring before they have to work on their garden again.

his is far from the truth. It’s very important to ensure that your garden is going to be healthy and ready to produce a great crop next year.

The good news is that this winter preparedness can take less than a day to complete.

Garden with Your Kids and Reap the Benefits

If you can get your kids interested in gardening their enthusiasm and imagination will soon take over and with this will come questions, all types of questions, and thus learning. In this way your kids will develop a real appreciation for the environment and how humans can have both positive and negative impacts. The chances are that you’ll learn new stuff yourself and enjoy it because your children’s enthusiasm will carry over to you.

Keep in mind that you don’t need a large garden to get your kids involved. Why not have a container garden. You could even start with something as an old boot. if it’s the wrong time of the year to begin growing things, why not get some containers and let your kids decorate them?

Choosing Your Perfect Garden

Are you thinking about starting a garden? Maybe you’ve tried gardening before and ended up having a bad experience. Well don’t worry you’re not alone and hopefully this little guide will give you some ideas and help you in the initial planning stages so that your next experience will be a resounding result.

Once you’ve decided what type of garden you want to grow just make sure your not getting  into something you can’t handle. Remember, the ultimate aim of any gardening project should be enjoyment for you, your family and your friends.

Water Gardens – an Introduction

One of the latest trends in gardening is the water garden. The thing is though that water gardens have been around for a long time. The ancient Egyptians had them and so did the Romans. So it’s a little bit hard to say exactly what this style of gardening is considered new.

It could be the fact that today we have ready access to preformed ponds, and all manner of pumps, filter and lighting effect. Regardless of how old or new water gardens are there can be no doubt that their popularity is growing dramatically.

In this day and age there aren’t too many of us who are able to enjoy the simple pleasures of  life near a small stream. Things like:

Successful Fall Vegetable Gardens?

Over the past week or so I’ve noticed what I thought was an unusual trend at Lorenz’s OK Seeds. We’ve had quite a few people coming into the store buying vegetable seed. My initial thought was that they were just planning ahead – getting ready for next year. However, as more people bought vegetable seed I began to wonder what was going on.

When I got the chance I sat down with Freddie and quizzed him about this. Needless to say my first question was “whats with all these people buying vegetable seed at this time of the year?”

Caring for Indoor Plants – Simple Tips

It’s not unusual for people to worry about how to care for their indoor plants. These seven simple tips should help you stop worrying and let you enjoy your indoor plants they way you’re meant to enjoy them.

1. Watering – did you know that most indoor plants are killed by over-watering? . . .

2. Feeding – When it comes to feeding your indoor plants the most important thing to remember is “don’t over-fertilize” and “don’t. . .

3. Lighting – Different types of plants have different light requirements. While some plants will do very well without direct sunlight whereas other prefer. . .

First Gardening Experiences

Can you still remember your first gardening experience?

Was it a great experience or was it one full of disaster?

Let me tell you a secret. Mine was such a horrendous disaster that right then and there I decided that I would never touch a garden again. What’s worse, it wasn’t even my own garden, it was my mothers and I decided to help her out by weeding.

Well, I thought all the good plants were those that had flowers on them and that the weeds were everything else. Needless to say at that point in time

Hay and Grazing Seed Available Now

Pasture establishment or renovation is only as good as the seeds that are planted. At Lorenz’s OK Seeds we encouraged you to consider your seed selection carefully because this will help you save time and money (and who doesn’t need to save this) during production.
Moreover, the quality of the seed you plant for grazing and [...]

Horsetail Rush (Equisetum hyemale)

Horsetail or Scrubbing Rush

Horsetail Rush (Equisetum hyemale), or scouring rush is a hollow stemmed, perennial, non-flowering plant that has been around for a long time. In fact, they were around millions of years before dinosaurs.

There are many uses for Horsetail Rush. They are often found in Japanese gardens and can add a little “chic” to any setting. They grow well in confined spaces and can be used as an accent in ultra modern architectural settings.

Horsetail Rush is also popular in floral arrangements. The individual stem compartments can be filled with water by cutting small holes in them and then cut flowers inserted into these holes. Moreover, as this rush dries out in arrangements it does so without wilting or decaying. Similarly, it’s possible to run a wire through the stem and then bend or fold it into the desired position with a high degree of accuracy.

Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus)

Virginia Wild Rye

Virginia Wildrye (Elymus virginicus) is a native, cool-season, medium height perennial grass that can be found throughout the US, excluding Nevada, California, and Oregon. As a rule it prefers moist, heavily textured soils with a high fertility. It is shade tolerant and is most commonly found growing on shady river, stream and lake banks, along fencerows and in open woodlands.

Virginia Wildrye is an ideal addition for any flood plain mixes, pasture or a habitat mix and can be used to provide graceful accents in any garden and is also popular in dried floral arrangements.

Frog Fruit (Lippia nodiflora)

Frog Fruit

Frog Fruit (Lippia nodiflora), despite its funny name is not really a fruit for frogs. This small prostrate spreading perennial forb has soft green leaves when water is plentiful and blooms from spring through fall. It is widespread in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions. It makes an excellent ground cover and has been suggested as a lawn substitute.

The tiny blossoms open in a ring and vary in color from pale pink to white. The blooms throats tend to be orange to yellow in color.

Frog Fruit Is Available In:

Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)

Plains Coreopsis

Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) is one of Americas most loved annuals and one of the easiest to grow. It is a large colony forming plant that is native to the Southern US although it has spread throughout much of North America.

This colorful and hardy upright annual is a impressive bloomer with colorful flowers varying in color but tend to be a visually stunning buttery-yellow with brilliant maroon centers. The flowers bloom from summer to fall. It is an ideal plant for cutting with each stem adding a colorful array of small flowers to any floral arrangement.

Plains Coreopsis Is Available In:

Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

Common Reed

Common Reed (Phragmites australis) is perennial wetlands grass that resembles cane. It can reach a heights between 6 and 16 feet and tends to grow in thick stands.

The seed head, located at the end of the stem is 8-16” long and has multiple branches. The plume-like, feathery, purple-brown flower heads gain their appearance from silky hairs growing along the flowers axis. Flowers generally begin to appear by the end of June and are densely arranged along the branches of the plume.

Common Reed Is Available In:

Torrey’s Rush (Juncus torreyi)

Torrey's Rush

Torrey’s Rush (Juncus torreyi) is a North American native species of rush and can be found in many habitats from northern Mexico north to the southern half of Canada.

It is one of the easiest plant of the rush species to identify due to its globular flower clusters and rhizomes which have tuberous enlargements.

Torey’s Rush is an ideal plant for water gardens and reaches heights between two and three feet. Torey’s Rush also provides cover for wildlife including ducks, geese and other waterfowl.

Torrey’s Rush Is Available In: