Summertime 2010 means heat and more heat (at least so far!). We have taken a vacation, the kids have attended summer camp and are currently taking swimming lessons at out town lake, and more summer fun is ahead. We hope you are doing some fun and interesting things this summer too!
This summer's heat has meant we all need to be especially attentive to watering. Here at the nursery we have received precious little rain, so we know that any plants that have been planted this year are getting very little rain also! See our summer watering guidelines below to ensure maximum health for your plants, especially any that have been planted this spring or summer. Enjoy your summer!
Goldthread Falsecypress and Annabelle Hydrangea SALE - through Satruday, July 24
Now through Saturday, July 24 - Goldthread Falsecypress shrubs and Annabelle hydrangeas! Both of these hardy shrubs are now 30% off! Goldthreads are an evergreen with gold colored, threadlike foliage, great for foundation plantings or accent shrubs. Annabelle hydrangeas are a white-flowered, summer-blooming shrub. They thrive in shade or part sun locations.
SOIL TEST SERVICE AVAILABLE
We'll tell you how to take a soil sample, then just bring it to the nursery, and we'll send it out for you. Then we'll go over the results with you when the results come back! Contact us for details.
SUMMER PLANTING GUIDELINES
We always get asked, "Is it too late to plant nursery plants?" (meaning woody plants, like trees and shrubs) The answer is, "No!" Planting time for these plants is early spring until fall, including summer. Summer planting simply requires that watering the plants not be neglected. We can give you specific watering directions for your plants, so they thrive throughout the hot summer days. Late fall planting is not recommended for certain plants like broadleaf evergreens. This would include evergreen hollies, rhododendrons and azaleas. For specific late fall planting recommendations, please talk to us.
WHAT'S BLOOMING NOW - July 20
Here's what's currently blooming: hydrangeas, daylilies, coreopsis, coneflowers, roses, butterfly bushes, summersweet (clethra), rose of sharon, Japanese tree clethra, Sourwood trees (native), 6" annual pots.
GREEN IDEAS
Last year we tested several new ideas in our greenhouses: biological controls and biodegradable pots. Here's the results!
Biological Controls In 2009 we used microscopic nematodes to control a common and pesky greenhouse insect, fungus gnats. This year we will use them again, to control western flower thrips too. We hope to continue expanding our use of biologicals to replace chemical insect and disease controls.
Biodegradable Pots Last year we grew part of our greenhouse crop in coir pots (pronounced, “quar”). These pots are made from fibers found in the outer shell of a coconut. It is a sustainable product and 100% biodegradable. Coir pots can be planted directly into the ground, unlike some other biodegradable pots like rice hull pots. We feel the plant quality was just as good as in plastic pots, so we will be using coir pots again this year. We especially like using them for vegetables, since it is to easy to plant the entire pot in the soil. We will also be growing some vegetables in fiber pots, made from recycled paper. We will be growing our fall mum hanging baskets in fiber pots also.
We're Recycling! Bring your used plastic pots and trays, and we will either re-use them here at the nursery, or we will recycle them! We have partnered with one of our vendors who will provide the recycling service for us.
NEW WOODY PLANT VARIETIES
Every year there are exciting new plant introductions. At Sprucedale Gardens we love plants as much as you do, so we want to have the hottest new plants here for sale! Whet your planting appetite on these new plants that you'll see here at our nursery this spring:
Bloomerang Lilac - This new plant has got lots of press coverage for its unique REBLOOMING ability. Its medium lilac purple flowers appear in spring, then again in midsummer through frost! A compact growth habit (4-5' tall by 4' wide) make it suitable for small garden areas. Best pruning time is after spring bloom.
Twisty Baby Locust - This unusual eye-catching small tree has zig zag twisted branches, and bears fragarant white flower clusters in spring. Its 15-20' height makes it an ideal plant for small landscape areas.
Royal Raindrops Crabapple - What makes this tree unusual is its foliage! Covered with bright pinkish red flowers in May, it has deep purple CUTLEAF foliage. It has excellent disease resistance, and grows 20' tall by 15' wide.
Incrediball Smooth Hydrangea - This showy hydrangea grows 4-5' tall and has HUGE clusters of white flowers in June. Its sturdy stems prevent the flowers from flopping, and it makes quite a show when planted in groups! It is easy to grow and rarely troubled by diseases or insects.
Invincible Spirit Smooth Hydrangea - A new breakthrough PINK form of smooth hydrangea. This trouble free shrub is easy to grow. A percentage of the sale of each plant is donated by the propagator to The Breat Cancer Research Foundation.
Miss Jilene Rose of Sharon - An exciting VARIEGATED form (green and white leaves) that has white flowers with a wine center. We have a tree form of this plant (single stem).
"NEW TO US" PLANTS
These plants are not new to the industry, but we are carrying them for the first time!
Brown Turkey Fig - This small tree/ shrub bears tasty sweet fruits in July and August. Winter hardy in southern climes, it is often grown as a container plant here in the north. The container should be brought inside before frost and brought back out in spring.
4 in 1 Apple Trees - These fun fruit trees have 4 apple varieties grafted into one tree! Apples need another variety for pollination, but with these trees you will only need to purchase one tree! The four varieties on these trees are Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith and Gravenstein.
Asian Pear - We have not had these for sale in a few years, but these delicious large round pears are easy to grow. Two different varieties are needed for cross pollination. We carry 'Large Korean' , which has golden russet fruit, and 'Shinseiki', which has medium-sized yellow fruit.
Golden Prolific Nectarine - This true dwarf form produces sweet golden fruit in August. Grows 5-6' tall. Self fruitful (does not need another tree for pollination).
Garden Gold Peach - This miniature peach grows 5-6' tall and has yellow freestone peaches in early August. Ideal for small garden areas. Self fruitful.
Prime Jan Blackberry - The great thing about this blackberry is its easy care. Simply cut the entire row of canes down in the spring and harvest delicious juicy blackberries in late July and August! Blackberries freeze well, and make wonderful cobblers, jams and jellies.
GET OUTSIDE AND GET HEALTHY!
Let's list the benefits of gardening and spending time outdoors...
Out in the sunshine - your body makes Vitamin D from the sun!
Exercise benefits us physically and psychologically. Take time to look around - enjoy the breeze, listen to the birds, smell the flower fragrances, notice interesting insects.
Bring color indoors! Plant a few flowers for cutting - cosmos, zinnias, statice. Take a bouquet to cheer up a friend!
Gardens provide pollen for bees.
Enjoy the freshest food you'll find. Pick vegetables and cook them immediatey for flavor that can't be beat. Preserve garden produce by learning to make jams and relishes (you can make low-sugar jams too!) Freeze extrra veggies like beans, broccoli and corn. Store onions, potatoes, winter squash, beets, and carrots in a cool place and enjoy them all winter! Have fun seeing how much of your own home-grown food you can eat in one meal. Try new recipes with your great veggies. If you have kids, let them help cook!
Add value to your home with a beautiful landscape. Plant ornamental shrubs and trees where you will be able to see and enjoy them from your window, deck or patio.
Teach your kids how to garden. Spend time gardening with them. Turn off the TV in good weather and everyone get outside!
Plan places in your landscape for fun outdoor activities - horseshoes, volleyball, badminton, a swing.
If you have little kids, plant a tree and watch it grow as they do.
We're sure there's more, but that's a start! Enjoy the warmth and sunshine, and even the occasional rainy day (gardens need that too).
Paul and Joyce Larson, owners, Sprucedale Gardens