Don't Watch Football---Get Out in the Garden!

Fall is the perfect time to get outside and work in the yard. It's cooler, plants are starting to change color, and there's usually minimal work to be done, compared to what you have to go thru in the springtime! Did I mention it's cooler too?

There are a couple of easy jobs that really should be done in the fall. All your evergreens could use a shot of fertilizer to help them make it thru the winter, and catch the perennials too, while you're at it. Use Hollytone on most of your evergreens (just not on boxwood), and put some Plant-tone on your perennials. If you decide to plant some tulips or daffodils, remember to hit them with a good bulb food like Bulbtone.

A rule of thumb for fall is this --- if it blooms in the spring, now is the time to pay attention to it. Pruning is probably the only thing you DON'T want to do, because you might end up cutting off buds that will be blooming in March & April.

Remember also, if you want lots of color next spring, plant your bulbs this fall! We've got a great selection of dafs, tulips, hyacinths, allium and more in the store right now. Hurry up and get em while they're fresh..........

Plant Nanny To The Rescue!

Worrying about poor potted plants while you're supposed to be relaxing at the beach or vacationing in a mountain cabin is a gardener's constant dilemma. With so many new products on the market, houseplants and window planters need not suffer while you are away from home for weeks at a time. Whether you prefer Aqua Globes, Plant Nanny, or the DirectRoot GelSpike and whatever your vacation length, our moisture control products are just what you need. Visit our website for more detailed information on these and other products and come in to our Strange’s West Broad location for more information.

Written by Ginny Gregory.

It's Finally That Time Again! Fall Bulb Time, That Is....

The cool autumn months of September & October are the best times to plant spring bulbs. A small selection of fall-planted bulbs surprise us by blooming this autumn, rather than with the daffodils or tulips. For these select few, mostly fall blooming crocus, the foliage appears in the spring, then the bulbs go dormant until the bright flowers emerge at summer's end. After these pink and purple crocus bulbs brave the fall frost, spring-blooming crocus and scilla flower early, generally in March or early April. Hyacinths arrive a bit later, spanning the mid-April through mid-May period. April also sees the arrival of grape hyacinths (Muscari). In May, or sometimes early June, the spring bulb show presents allium (purple and white, star-shaped flowers). The dwarf iris surfaces in early spring while dutch iris blooms in the late spring/early summer. Most bearded iris have one bloom period, lasting about a month, but some newer introductions have the capacity to bloom a second time. Reblooming iris are extra-vigorous growers. They bloom in spring, earlier than normal, then again in summer or early fall. The colorful parade of anemone bulbs we have in stock surface for their spring debut in early to mid-spring. And of course our wide selection of narcissus, daffodil and tulip bulbs have also arrived, whose bloom periods are many and varied. This season we also offer variety bags with a selection of variegated tulip and daffodils as well as a deer resistant blend. This collection of 35 bulbs includes trumpet narcissus and glory of the snow, a proven winner at beating the winter doldrums as it often peeks through drifts of snow in late February. Please visit us at Strange's West Broad to view our wide selection of colorful and eye-catching bulbs and begin planting for a glorious spring and summer show!

Written by Ginny Gregory.

Turn your Birdbath into a Hot Tub!

All bird lovers place feeders out for the birds in winter, and more experienced bird watchers offer more than one kind of seed. But very few understand the importance and results of adding a heated bird bath during winter. The Nelson Bird Bath Heater works in sub-zero temperatures and is designed for all types of bird baths: plastic, pottery, and concrete. Equipped with a thermostat to conserve energy, the heater easily plugs into any outdoor outlet. Chipped and cracked concrete baths are a common winter problem should the basin full of water freeze. However, aside from the benefit of attracting a variety of winter birds, a warm bath also prevents the water which is absorbed into the concrete, from freezing and fracturing the porous material. Many wild birds will neglect to migrate away from an available food source in the fall, such as a readily stocked feeder; unfortunately this also means few survive through a winter when a previously reliable buffet closes for the cold season. So do not simply turn your basin upside down or hide it in the garage for the winter. Turn your birdbath into a hot tub and watch as your winter friends flock outside of your frosty kitchen window.

Written by Ginny Gregory.

Taking it back to the Stone Age with American-made garden décor.

Humbly begun by two brothers in Ohio, Stone Age Creations is a privately-owned corporation that has been producing hand-crafted birdbaths, benches, and statuary for nine years. Although their business has grown significantly in a short timespan, they maintain a solid commitment to American-made products. All are hand-carved from real stone as created by Mother Nature. These stones have endured harsh outdoor environments for thousands of years and will continue to do so long after you purchase them. “As a family-owned business located in a small town, our focus is to support the independent retailers and small business owners that distribute our products and support us. We don't offer any of our products through 'big box' stores. We also don't compete with our distributors by marketing and selling directly to retail customers within their market.” To this day the brothers take pride in the production of the items manufactured on their 50-acre site in New London, OH. Going to quarries to hand-select the finest stones available, co-owner, Kevin White, uses a hammer and chisel to handcraft these stones into a work of art for your garden. Please visit us at Strange's to view our selection of Stone Age Creations products.

Written by Ginny Gregory.

SPINACH --- MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Well, at least I didn't say brussel sprouts .... mmmmmmmmmmm!

Everybody knows by now (after being hammered over the head by the media), that fresh greens are good for you. What everybody might not know, though, is how easy they are to grow from seed, in the fall. You can buy a lot of the run of the mill varieties already up and growing, just like you buy tomatoes and peppers in the spring. But why not try something different? Grow some from seed this fall. We carry 2 lines this time of year-- Botanical Interests & Kitazawa Seeds. Botanical Interests has one of the widest selection of seeds we've ever had. Many of them are heirloom &/or organic. Kitazawa is a really cool company from the west coast that specializes in Asian seeds. So we have things like Japanese spinach, Hawaiian lettuce, Chinese cabbages & Japanese mini sweet carrots. Some of the greens will be ready to pick (and eat!) in as little as 21 days. Most take 40-50 days to really mature.

So stop paying $6 a pound for the mesclun salad mix at the grocery store, and grow your own. It really DOES taste different!

USDA study: "Encore Azalea resistant to lace bug"

In a recent USDA study, eleven varieties of Encore Azalea were found to be resistant or moderately resistant to lace bugs, a major landscaping pest that can lead to loss of leaves and plant vigor. By incorporating these colorful shrubs into your landscaping you will be helping the environment by minimizing the use of pesticides! Research entomologist Grant Kirker reported, “Host plant resistance is an environmentally friendly, low-tech, low-cost method of control that reduces the need for pesticides to manage azalea lace bugs.” Azalea lace bugs are a major pest in both production nurseries and home landscapes. Adult bugs use their piercing pincers to suck the juices from the undersides of the leaves, leaving a yellowish stippling on the upper and lower leaf surface. Severe infestations can lead to reduced plant vigor and loss of leaves. The study, conducted at the USDA-ARS Thad Cochran Horticultural Research Laboratory in Poplarville, Miss., researched nineteen varieties of Encore Azalea and fourteen standard cultivars for host plant resistance to lace bugs. Researchers are hopeful that this new knowledge will lead eventually to the breeding of pest-free cultivars.

Each of the Encore varieties begins their performance with the spring flowering season. Once this “first act” of blooming concludes, new shoots begin to grow and set buds. The Encore Azalea's "second act" opens when these buds begin blooming into full flower mid-summer. This unique bloom season continues through the fall, the curtain dropping with the onset of cold weather. Encore Azalea varieties found to be pest resistant included: Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Twist, Autumn Royalty, Autumn Sangria, Autumn Cheer and Autumn Rouge. Cultivars showing moderate resistance were Autumn Embers, Autumn Bravo, Autumn Starlite, Autumn Ruby and Autumn Princess.

Encore Azaleas currently available in our inventory:
Amethyst
Twist
Royalty
Sangria
Rouge
Starlite
Princess

Written by Ginny Gregory.