Please click here to read newsletter if not displayed below: http://ghgardencenter.com/news/9/33
|
|
 |
FEATURED QUOTE : "Spring is a true re-constructionist." |
|
Selected Soil Amendments: Includes Black Forest Compost, Bumper Crop, Acid Planting Mix, and Gardener's Gold. Buy 4 bags of a selected soil amendment and receive 5% off. Buy 10 bags of a selected soil amendment and receive 10% off. Soil Amendment purchase must be of one variety. No coupon is required. While supplies last. |
|
 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Are you planning on putting a stone path in your lawn or garden? If so, you've got a great opportunity for some great garden design. Don't just plunk those stones atop your sod! There are many low-growing perennial plants that are just great between stones in a path, and will add more personality to your garden than mere grass. To help you select the best ground cover, consider:
Improve the growing conditions when you carve out the soil for your new stone path. It's difficult to grow anything in a trampled area. The soil gets so compacted that roots cannot deliver water and nutrients to the plant. Add good drainage as well as a layer of topsoil at least 1 in. deep around the stones so your ground cover can thrive. Finally, help your new ground cover prosper with a regular watering (the plants need to stay moist) and a weekly hand weeding. And if you'd like to keep the plants short between the stones, consider plants that tolerate mowing, such as thyme and ajuga. |
Good Shade Trees |
 |
|
The right tree in the right place does more than provide aesthetic value to your property - it can increase the value of your home, keep it cooler during the summer, and shield it from the wind so it will stay warmer in the winter. 
The wrong tree can cause all kinds of problems, such as needing frequent expensive pruning or causing a safety hazard. That's why it's so important to select the right tree. Be sure to consult with your local nurseryman and be clear about what purpose you would like your new tree to serve - as a smaller accent tree or a large landscape tree, for sun or for shade, next to a sidewalk or in a large backyard... and so on. With a little extra care, your new trees can be planted now to get a head start on next year. |
|
An arrangement of fresh flowers will brighten a room, bringing the beauty of nature indoors. Picking fresh flowers that you have grown yourself is one of the delights of gardening, but whether you are picking your own flowers or buying cut flowers, you will want to do all you can to get the most from your arrangement. Picking Flowers When picking flowers from your garden, do so early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Cool them quickly by placing them in a bucket of water left in a cool place for an hour or so. This is especially important in hot summer weather. Buying Cut Flowers If you are buying cut flowers, look for bright, fresh-looking flowers that are just starting to open. Avoid flowers that have been standing in the sun or have been exposed to car exhaust fumes. Flowers with yellowing leaves on the stem or those with slimy stems have been in water for quite some time and are unlikely to be very satisfactory. When you get your flowers home, put them straight into a bucket of water without unwrapping them and leave them in a cool place to revive. Clean Vases Make sure your vases are perfectly clean. The stains in vases are usually bacteria that will get to work blocking the water uptake to the flower stems. Stains that are difficult to remove with normal cleaning may be removed by filling the vase with water and adding a few drops of household bleach. Allow the vase to soak for a couple of hours; then rinse well. Clean Water and Preservatives Clean water is essential for cut flowers. You can change the water in the vase daily or use a floral preservative. Check the vase often to see if it needs filling. Some flowers with woody stems drink a lot of water, especially in the first two or three days after cutting.
Daffodils, jonquils and tulips should not be placed with other flowers immediately after cutting because their secretions can block the stems of other flowers, causing their vase-mates to collapse. Place them in a separate vase for an hour or two. Then seal the tips of the stems by dipping them in very hot water before adding them to a mixed arrangement. If flowers develop a bent neck, they probably have an air lock in the stem and are unable to absorb water properly. Recut the stems under water and place them in cool water for a couple of hours. Most flowers absorb water best if cuts are made between nodes or joints. This is certainly true of carnations and hydrangeas. Never crush the stems, as the damaged tissue will not absorb water well, and the water will become polluted. Sharp, clean cuts are best. When creating an arrangement from your garden, remember that foliage goes nicely with flowers--try some ferns or other greenery in your arrangement. |
Preparing the Flowers 
|
By: Tamara Galbraith Summer's in full swing, and your previously glorious flowers are starting to look a little ragged around the edges. Many plants will benefit--and even rebloom--after a mid-summer session of "deadheading," that is, removing spent flowers and/or stems to promote new growth. Here's a quick guide of deadheading techniques for different types of flowers: Pinch off individual dead flowers on balloonflower, bellflower, daylily, delphinium, foxglove, hibiscus, hollyhock. (Also included: some irises that will rebloom in the fall, depending on the variety.) Do an overall snip of dead blooms (about 2" below the flower) on blanketflower, columbine, globe thistle, goldenrod, geranium, Jacob's ladder, salvia, coreopsis/tickseed. Cut the entire spent flower stem off to either a side shoot or to the plant's base on baby's breath, bleeding heart, cardinal flower, catmint, coral bells, foamflower, gaura, Jupiter's beard, lavender, lupine, mullein, painted daisy, pincushion flower, coneflower, Shasta daisy, speedwell, spiderwort, Stoke's aster. (Listening to The Grateful Dead while deadheading is, of course, optional.) |
|
Lawn rust is a common lawn fungus disease that tends to leave an orange cast over the entire lawn. A close-up examination will show orange spores on most of the individual grass blades, with the rust coming off easily on your fingers. Lawn rust is most prevalent when you have a combination of warm and humid weather. While not considered a serious lawn disease by itself, if left alone, rust can weaken your lawn and make it vulnerable to attacks from more serious diseases in addition to making it look bad. Fortunately lawn rust is fairly easy to get rid of through a combination of cultural and chemical controls. First apply a granulated lawn fungicide to your grass. Then, make sure your lawn is fed every two months during summer with a balanced lawn food. Keep your mower blades on a higher setting and always water your lawn between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to reduce evaporation and wet blades that can attract disease. In addition, bag your lawn clippings until the disease has been controlled and cleared up. Follow these simple instructions and you should have your lawn looking healthy and beautiful in no time! |
 |
|
How do I get rid of dog urine spots in my lawn? Answer:
First, check to see if the damage spots are entirely dead. Pull on some of the damaged grass to see if it comes up completely or if it bends. If it's still pliable, it might recover. If it is dry and cracking like straw, then you might have to reseed that area with a seed patch. Some studies which have been done indicate that the damage is mostly caused by a nitrogen overdose (think fertilizer burn). So, if you see a/your dog urinating on your lawn the most effective way to prevent urine damage is to water heavily to dilute the urine in the area as soon as possible after the dreaded act. There are a number of animal repellents on the market, which work with varying degrees of success. Apply to existing spots and the perimeter of the lawn, especially in a front yard setting. Now back to our first question. If the dog belongs to an inconsiderate neighbor who has ignored your pleas for consideration, we recommend a Super Soaker water gun. Simply aim for the perpetrator's head. Since we don't advocate attacking innocent animals, please consider the owner the perpetrator. If the dog is your own, perhaps you could replace the lawn with bark or concrete. (Ok, we're kidding in all of this paragraph--but we do personally understand the problem.) |
|
Fruit "crumbles" and "fools" are a New England tradition that stretches back to the 18th century. This Fruits of the Forest Crumble has a tart and satisfying taste, perfect for afternoon snacking or for finishing a hearty meal. Ingredients:
Step by Step:
Yield: 6 servings. Recipe courtesy of "Cooking for Pleasure" by Jeanine Harsen.
|
click here for a printer friendly version of this page |
Written content © 2004-2011 Garden Partners LLC, or respective authors. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. All written content contained in this site is protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, or broadcast without prior written permission of Garden Partners, LLC. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. Would you like a newsletter like this for your nursery or garden center? Please feel free to look at what we have to offer and contact us for your garden center marketing solutions. |