23 Jun 2008
Summer Edition, 2008
Rt. 287 Middlebury Center, PA
(570) 376-4411 or 376-2745
Summer Maintenance:
Landscape:
- Continue to keep newly established plants watered throughout the growing season. This will ensure that they continue to do well in your garden.
- Do NOT fertilize woody plants now. Fertilization during this part of the season encourages new growth that may not have time to harden-off properly before winter.
- Trim/prune any shrubs that are done flowering to shape them for the remainder of the season.
- Try raising the deck on your lawn mower 1/2 inch higher than you normally mow to help protect the lawn from getting stressed by the heat.
- Late August is the time to begin seeding new lawns or bare spots in extablished lawns.
- To keep your flowers blooming longer, it's important to deadhead them, which means to remove the spent blossoms. If they are allowed to set seed, then flower production will slow down. So, give the plants a trim and the flowers will keep coming.
- Remove the tops of spring-flowering bulbs only after they have yellowed and withered.
- Weed control throughout the summer months is very important. If not already done, apply a 1-2 inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture and aid in wee control. If mulching was already done, a once a week walk through of your beds will help to keep the weeds under control.
Vegetable gardens:
- Constant moisture in the garden is key to a succussful harvest. Try mulching around the crops with straw or compost to not only retain moisture, but to aid in weed control. Competition with weeds can greatly reduce a vegetable plant's yield.
- Keep weeds controlled, they are easier to pull when they are young. Take 5-10 minutes every night to pull weeds and it will be easier to keep under control.
- It is a good time to fertilize strawberries.
- Harvest summer squash while small and tender for best quality and prolonged harvest.
- Harvest beans early and often to prolong the harvest season.
- The end of August/beginning of September is a good time to replant lettuce, spinach, radishes and green onions for a fall harvest.
- Harvest onions and garlic after the tops are yellow and fall. Be sure to cure them in a warm, dry and well-ventilated area. This process should take almost a week.
- Harvest potatoes after the tops are yellow and die. Potatoes also need to be cured before storage, but remember to keep them out of direct sunlight while curing.
Summer is a great time to evaluate what's happening in your garden. Spring has passed and the blooms are starting to fade. Maybe your garden is lacking some much needed summer color right now. Stop by Martin's Garden Center and consult with our staff about which plants still blooms to come. There are many great plants that can add mid - late summer color to brighten up your yard. One of them might be a perfect compliment to your existing garden.
Keep a watch in future newsletters from Martin's Garden Center as we start a new series "ALL SEASON COLOR: Shrubs and perennials for color in your garden throughout the season".
Hydrangea
Martin's Garden Center has six varieies of hydrangeas. Each one is distinct and has its own personality.
ANNABELLE - Excellent shrub for the shade garden. It has huge snowball-like, white flowers as big as 10 inches in diameter and blooms from
June to September. These stunning blossoms only grow on new growth, so Annabelle must be pruned back to 12 inches in the
spring. Its height can be from 4-5 feet high and 3-4 feet in width. Some gardeners use Ammabelle as a hedge since maintenance
is simple.
OAKLEAF: This beauty named for its oak-like leaves. This shrub actually triples your pleasure; lovely white panicle (cone-shaped) blossoms
throughout summmer, brilliant red, yellow, orange or burgundy fall color, and woody formation giving the winter garden some
structure. It can tolerate drier soil and more sun tham most hydrangeas as long as it's shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
PEEGEE: Like few other hydrangeas, this shrub actually requires several hours of sun to do well. The panicle blossoms turn a subtle shade of
pink as they age on the branch, making them the perfect choice for drying and floral arrangements. This shrub can grow 8-10 feet high
and just as wide.
PEEGEE TREE: Such a treat for the landscape. These are the same as the shrub, just grafted to make the tree. A pee gee hydrangea tree can be
the focal point in the landscape.
TIME AFTER TIME: This shrub is the answer for the gardener that wants the blue-pink snowball-shaped blossoms that begins in the spring and
continues until fall. Your color choice is created by managing the soil composition. Time After Time can tolerate more sun
and moist soil. It grows 3-4 feet high, just as wide and has a global shape.
CLIMBING: Wonderful shrub to add interest to any structure giving upward growth. Rich, white flowers are striking against a foliage as the
exfoliating bark gives winter interest. As a ground cover, climbing hydrangeas give texture to a landscape. It is capable of growing
60-80 feet and 10-12 feet wide and can give characteer to a structure or bed.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT:
Pruning, color change, fertilizing, or drying of hydrangeas, email us at growit@epix.net or contact us through this website. Come in to MARTIN'S GARDEN CENTER and speak to our staff about all the hydrangeas we have in stock.
BUGGED BY BEETLES?
THE war with the adult Japanese beetle is now at its peak and could last through September. There are ways to combat this pest and stay on the winning side.
THESE eating-machines can feed off 300 varieties of landscape material. With this magnitude of choices, your precious plants are most likely one of these casualities.
BEETLES may only live 30-45 days, but their path of destruction is amazing. One beetle may not seem a problem, but it gives off pheromones attracting the opposite sex so more will come. Also small evidence of damage to a plant is a beacon for others to feast.
THEY begin at the top of a plant and work their way down. The only evidence left is the skeleton of a leaf with the tissue eaten between veins. Food choices are made by location in the sun and odor of the plant.
TIPS IN CONTROLING BEETLES:
MARTIN'S GARDEN CENTER has the chemicals to directly spray on the pests or apply to landscape material. Repeat spraying since there is short residual effect and rain washes off what little there is.
BEETLES fly at temperatures between 85-95 degrees with winds less that 12 mph. Inspect plants frequently on these days. Destroying the few now could help eliminate the arrival of more. Remove the persistent ones early in the morning when they are sluggish. Shake them off plants into a bucket of soapy water.
TRAPS are sold, but we do not recommend them. Since they use chemicals to atrract beetles, MORE will come. With as much work as it takes to control these pests, bringing in more will only increase and extend the battle.
SPECIFIC plants are sold which are known not to attract beetles, unfortunetely, with 300 they do enjoy, your choices are limited.
OFFENSIVE approaches in the spring or late summer by attacking the grubs is another effective method of control. These times are best because the larvae are on the top layers of the soil.
WAR OF THE BEETLE can be fought with diligence and persistence. Come in to MARTIN'S GARDEN CENTER and let us help you with a strong line of defense.
MORE WATE, OR WATER MORE?
During these hot summer days, it is important that newly planted material receive adequate water. It is just as important to know that every plant doesn't need MORE water to survive the heat, but the SAME amount of water only more OFTEN. There is no magic number of ounces or gallons, but it's safe to say that a slow drip until the ground s well staurated once a week is sufficient, but every 3-4 days at the peak of a dry and hot summer is necessary. Always check the soil surrounding the plant several inches below the surface for moisture. Water when it show signs of lack of moisture no matter how much time has passed.
BEACHCOMBER HOT TUBS:
- A year-round vacation of your own.
- 9 floor models available or customize one to fit your lifestyle.
- Chemicals in stock to care for your hot tub.
- Life-time water analysis.
LOVELY LAVENDER
HERB - fragrant
blue to purple flowers
sun-loving
drought tolerant
blossoms late spring into summer
prune spring/fall to maintain shape
attracts butterflies
Besides being one of the most fragrant herbs with beautiful flowers, lavender has many wonderful properties for both the garden and in the home.
GARDEN:
Lavender cloppings can be added to a mulch around the garden. Its scent helps repel certain insects and reduces mildew under plants.
Layering gloves and lavender keeps gardening gloves safe from insects and mildew while storing through the winter.
HOME:
Drying this heavenly herb and hanging it in a closet will keep moths from destroying the clothes or linens stored within, leaving a pleasant aroma. Creating a sachet can pleasantly scent drawers, chests, or storage bins without leaving a crumbly mess. Placing a few sprigs in a well-used gym bag not only improves its aroma, but helps eliminate the chance of mildew from wet gear.
Including a bag of lavender with clothes in a dryer gives the clothes a fresh scent, and refreshes the room where it is located. The het releases the herb's aromatic qualities. Added to a vacuum cleaner can do the same for the rug and a room.
Since it has the qualities of relieving stress and encouraging relaxation, lavender is the perfect choice. As a sachet in a bath, it creates a 20 minute mini spa. Eliminate fatigue by placing a lavender sachet over your eyes or near your head whil lying in a semi-darkened room. Tucking one under your pillow enhances sleep.
Visit MARTIN'S GARDEN CENTER or emial us for recipes.
THE TOOL SHED
POWDERY MILDEW - This is the time of year when powdery mildew can be a problem. You can make your own spray; Mix one tablespoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of liquid soap with one gallon water. Spray leaves affected with the mildew. Remember to spray both the top and bottom of each leaf.
ANOTHER SLUG SOLUTION - Mix one part non-sudsing ammonia and two parts water. Spray on your hostas once a week.
ANTS - Crumble eggshells into the area surrounding their nests. These pests usually leave the area with one application.
Questions?
Contact us through this website or email us at growit@epix.net
Our representative is available to speak at your next meeting. Topics vary to suit your needs - email us at growit@epix.net for further information.
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