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Spring Q. What is the difference between an annual and a perennial?
A. An annual completes its life cycle on one growing season. The seed is usually plantedin the spring and then dies sometime in the fall. Examples of some annuals that grow well in this area are tomatoes, impatiens,marigolds and many more.
Plants that bloom for more than one year are called perennials. Once they are planted you will same time and effort and will be rewarded with the flowers year after year. Even though it appears that the top of the plant dies, the roots remain alive throughout the winter.
Both types of plants can be grown by both amateurs and seasoned and gardeners.Q. What are the benefits of using mulch?
A. Mulch helps plants by:
- Conserving soil moisture,
- Keeps weed growth down,
- Helps to keep the roots cooler than the air above the ground.
Apply mulch thickly because it will matte down When choosing the kind of mulch to use consider the following factors:
- Availability,
- Cost,
- Appearance,
- Durability.
Samples and descriptions of each kind of mulch are available.
Q. Why doesn't my Dogwood Tree flower?
A. All Dogwoods have the potential to flower. The age when they begin to flower varies on the conditions they are planted in. Dogwoods should be planted in well-drained areas; Avoid areas where the soil is often wet.
Q. What kind of grass seed is best for:
A.
Sunny Areas? Kentucky bluegrass provides the highest quality turf in full sun. Turf-type perennial ryegrasses also do well in sunny conditions and serve to provide a fine-textured, durable and attractive companion to Kentucky bluegrass.
Shady Areas? The most adaptable grasses for shade areas are the fine fescues. Mixtures should contain at least 30% fine fescues (Chewings, Creeping red, or Hard) or 70% turf-type tall fescues for acceptable shade performance.
Other mixtures of grass seed are blend together for maximum growth in:
- Sunny and Shady mixed areas,
- Hot and Dry Areas,
- Heavy Traffic Areas.
Q. When should I put down grass seed?
A. In this area the best time to put grass seed down is in the spring during the months of April and May and in the fall during the month of September.
Q. Is fertilizing my lawn really necessary?
A. There are three reasons why people fertilize their lawn:
A. We expect much more from our lawn. It helps to create a beautiful presentation of you whole home.
B. Lawns are subjected to great stress when mowing. Each time you mow yourlawn it removes some of the blades of grass that turn sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates needed to sustain vigorous plant life.
C. Grasses are hybrids. They provide better performance than the old grass varieties.
Q. What do the 3 numbers mean on fertilizer bags (boxes)?
A.
29-3-4
The first number (29) is how much nitrogen is in the mix. Nitrogen makes grass and plants grow and become greener.
The second number (3) is how much phosphorous there is. Phosphorous stimulates root and seeding development.
The third number (4) is how much potassium there is. Potassium promotes disease and drought tolerance.
Q. When do get your produce in?
A. We start selling our produce at the end of June because the majority of our produce is grown locally
Q. When do you begin to sell "Jersey Fresh" Corn?
A. We start to sell local corn in July and continue through September. The growing season tends to rely on the weather in this area.
Q. When should I apply an insecticide to kill the grubs in my lawn?
A. Soil temperature and weather effect grubs. They come to the surface in the warmer temperatures. To kill grubs you can either apply Merit once from now to mid August(a season-long Killer) or use Dylox twice, once during the second week of June and again during the second week of August.
Q. How do I keep everything green during the heat of the summer?
A. You may apply an organic fertilizer to your lawn and plants. Watering you lawn and plants either in the morning around 7:00 a.m. or during the evening hours around 5:00 p.m. This will help maintain a nice, green healthy plant and lawn. A soaker hose is a good idea to place around your shrubs and flowerbeds so you do not burn the leaves of your plants when watering.
Q. When is a good time to lay sod?
A. Laying sod should be done in wither late spring or early fall before the heat of the summer and cold of the winter. After laying the sod it is extremely important to water the sod every day. Again, either during the early morning or early evening for the first month to ensure the roots have a chance to become well established.
Q. When and how do I water?
A. Watering should be done in the early morning, before the heat of the day, or during the early evening. These are the best times because watering during the heat of the day can burn the plants and after the sun has gone down the roots do not get a chance to dry and a fungus can form.
When watering plants, you must make sure you only water the surface of the plants. A plant does not absorb water through the leaves only through the roots. It is very easy to burn and damage a plant or flower by watering it over the top.
Q. Do you sell fresh, cut flowers?
A. We sell flowers during the late spring throughout till the fall that are cut fresh from our field in the back of our garden center. Special Orders can be taken given the availability of the flowers you would like.
Q. When is a good time to spray my lawn, shrubs, or flowers with insecticides and other chemicals?
A. Summer time is not a good time to spray your plants and lawns with chemicals. Due to the warm temperature, it is easy to burn them. If you have to spray your plants with either insecticides or fungicides spray them on a cool summer night.
Q. What herbs should I use to repel insects around my yard?
A. Some herbs that repel insects include Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon thyme, Mexican Marigolds, Scented Geraniums, and Citronella.
Q. What can I do in order to prepare my shrubs that may be affected by the cold during the winter months?
A. Some plants such as: Holly, Ilex, Laurel, Rhododendrons, Azaleas and others that keep their leaves during the winter can be sprayed with Wilt Proof. This helps them from getting winter burn. Also, during the fall is a good idea to put down a granular fertilizer and then cover the area with a thick layer of mulch to keep the plant strong and roots well insulated.
Q. What do I do to prepare my lawn for the winter?
A. In the fall it is a good time to put down a fall fertilizer that has a high middle (phosphorus) number. This helps to may the roots stronger for the winter. It is also a good time to put down some lime
Q. Can I still plant shrubs in the fall and is this the right time to prune the existing ones?
A. You can still plant shrubs at this time of the year. Actually, it is a very good time of the year to plant because you do not have to worry about the heat of the summer. If you plant in September and October the roots still have a chance to become well established before thewinter. This is also the right time of year to prune your shrubs and cut many back. This is because it has already done its growing for the year and you will not cut off any of the buds.
Q. What can I plant for fall color?
A. During the fall months you can plant pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale as well as many fall-blooming perennials.
Q. What are some plants that I can have in the house during the winter that with bring some color?
A.
Cyclamen- this plant needs bright light but necessarily sunlight. It does not need too much heat. If you place the plant on a tray of moistened pebbles it can prolong the flowers for months after you purchase it.
African Violets- This plant needs bright light; again it does not necessarily need sunlight. It does especially well in rooms that are lit with fluorescent lights. It does need to be in warm temperatures inside the house. When watering this plant do not get the leaves wet and only fertilize once a month. With this plant it is also a good idea to place it on a tray with moistened pebbles to ensure that the leaves do not get wet.
Hibiscus- This plant of often grown outdoors in tropical regions but here in the north is does well when inside during the winter. It need direct sunlight and average temperatures (during the day not below 70° and at night not below 60°). The hibiscus flowers all year long with only a monthly feeding and when the soil is kept moist.
Christmas Cactus- This is a long-living plant and is usually handed down from generation to generation when cared for properly. It is praised for its winter blooming, vibrant color flowers (red, yellow, pink, and white). The Christmas Cactus needs bright to medium light and average room temperature. You should let it dry out between watering. If you are going to repot this plant, you should use an African Violet Mix of potting soil.
Poinsettia- this plant is known for its large red, cream or pink flowers. Under the right conditions the flowers can keep blooming for months. In the house it should have bright light and warm temperatures. It should also be kept out of drafts or extreme heat. This plant should dry out between watering and never fertilized.
Q. What are some plants that are good to give as gifts for people in office buildings or restaurants?
A. A Jade plant is a symbol of luck. It needs bright light but little sun and average temperatures. They are east to grow. It can grow up to 4ft. indoors. In the summer and spring this plant should only be watered when the soil is dry. In the winter water even less.
African Violets are also good plants for indoors where there is no natural sunlight.
Spathe plants are the #1 indoor plant. It is easy to care for with beautiful glossy leaves and a pure white flower. The white flower changers to a pale green after about 10 days and remains for at least another month. They do best in average room temperatures and medium light. Water freely and do not let it get too dry. You should fertilize this plant every 2 weeks except if the temperature falls below 60° then give it a rest. In direct sunlight or if the leaves touch a frozen window ugly brown spots on the leaves may appear. If this occurs cut off these leaves and new once will grow.
Q. What are some plants that I can grow outside in the summer and bring during the winter?
A. Planting an herb garden in a flower box or planter is a good way to bring the summer fragrances indoors. Herbs that do well in planters and easily brought inside are: basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, cilantro, savory, mint and others.
Q. Why should I use mulch?
A.
- Mulch improves the appearance of your landscaping.
- It protects trees from damage from mowers and trimmers.
- When used around flowers and shrubs, it helps to control weeds and conserves water.
- It helps keep the soil cool in hot weather by keeping roots cooler, thereby promoting healthier plants.
- It helps to prevent erosion
Q. What kind of soil should I use?
A. When you are planting flowers or shrubs in a pot (of any kind) you should use a potting soil. Potting soil tends to be lighter than topsoil and has additives such as vermiculite or perlite to keep it light. It also tends to not pack down leaving the roots more room to grow.
Top soil is used for lawns, gardens, and flowerbeds. It is excellent for patching bare spots in your lawn and helps to add extra nutrients. It is heavier than potting soil so it is less likely to erode in the rain.
Q. What is the difference between peat humus, composted manure, and dehydrated manure?
A. Peat humus is a high quality sphagnum peat product. It is excellent when used for planting acid loving plants, such rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, evergreens and other. It also improves soil in lawn, soil aeration and helps retain moisture.
Composted Cow Manure is cow manure with humus added. It is mainly used in vegetablegardens and flowerbeds as well as planters and containers when mixed with potting soil. It can help to break up clayish soils and helps to hold moisture in sandy soil. It changes marginally performing soil to a rich, fertile soil.
Dehydrated Cow Manure is straight cow manure with some of the moisture taken out.It adds nutrients to soil and is an excellent natural soil conditioner. It helps to restore fertility to depleted soil.Q. Do you have a service for customizing orders?
A. In the winter, we do a large service of creating wreaths and flower arrangements to everyone's holiday liking. During the rest of the seasons we do make custom orders for people given our availability, cost and time to create what the person wants.
