The Garden Post - September 2015

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The Garden Post - September 2015
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Mind, Body, Soul,and Community Gardening
People in the land of the free aren't necessarily known for healthy eating. With
 fast food restaurants at every corner, and climbing concerns about poor eating 
habits, it's important to find ways  these problems can be remedied. This is especially
crucial for children and adolescents who are at greater risk of developing health
complications from unhealthy eating.
The hope is that children exposed to gardening will form a connection with locally
grown food, leading to healthier dietary choices. There is nothing better than walking
into your backyard and picking fresh food to use for a meal that evening. You learn
to respect the earth and your body.
Gardening also requires physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, gardening is considered a moderate-intensity activity, which
can reduce risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and depression.
The CDC recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity for adults,
while children need one hour of physical activity per day.
We always hear that spending time outdoors can improve our mental health, but gardening
isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind.  A study published in the Journal
of Health Psychology reported variation of stress-relief levels from gardening and
reading.  The decreases in stress levels were significantly stronger from gardening.
Nature and green spaces bring about relaxation and lower stress levels. A garden
 provides peace and quiet while allowing the mind to unwind by focusing on planting
seeds, trimming dead leaves, picking ripe fruit or hunting down sneaky insects.
Communities also reap benefits from gardening. "Growing your own" can provide high-quality
nourishment and unite adults and children by letting them participate in projects
that contribute to their well-being.  There are now many community gardens so check
to see if there is one near you.
Whether it's a backyard garden or an all-out farm, "growing your own" promotes wellness
in many areas. Not only does it supply healthier food options and improve mental
 well-being, it allows communities to make use of vacant land and reunite for a 
common purpose.
And now... it's time to start your own fall garden.
Article Content by Bianca Gibson
Coming in September:
*Garden Mums
*Fall Veggies
*Daffodil & Tulip Bulbs
*Shrubs with fall berries, blooms and foliage color.
*Fall Decorating Items - Hay Bales, Corn Stalks, Pumpkins.
Monday, September 7
Labor Day
Store Hours 9 AM - 2 PM
Saturday, September 19
10-11 AM
Perfect Lawns on the Peninsula
Speaker: Danielle Hendricks with a Q & A Session.
Call 757-898-7799 to reserve your seat!
Saturday, September 26
10-11 AM
Indoor Herb Class
Learn the health benefits of certain herbs and pot up their own container.
Class fee $25, includes container, three 4" herbs, soil and personal planting assistance.
Must pre-pay to secure a seat in the class.
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Check This Out!
Fall Gardening
"Am I too late, can I still plant a fall garden?" This is a question we hear numerous
times in the Garden Center.  During calmer days after schools start, temperatures
begin to drop along with the leaves and it finally feels like fall.
Guess what? Plant your heart out!  Leafy greens like kale, collards, spinach, and
lettuces thrive in the cool nighttime temps. If you're crazy about those Super Foods
- plant a row of broccoli, cauliflower, and leeks.  Check seed packet dates for 
the last date to sow outside. For quicker results, plant cell pack vegetables.
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Fresh Herbs in All Seasons
Fresh herbs, like basil, thyme and oregano, can be enjoyed in the garden or containers
until first frost-usually November.
Continue herbs inside for the rest of the year by putting them in containers in 
a bright sunny spot in your home.  They will need at least 4-6 hours of sun to thrive.
 Keep your indoor herbs healthy by fertilizing them with Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable,
& Herb Fertilizer, a low nitrogen, high potassium fertilizer, twice a month.  We
 like to check soil at least twice a week - water only if dry.
Check out our indoor herb planter and start planning now for a flavorful meal this
fall and winter
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Tips for the Garden:
September should bring relief to gardens and signal the start of a new season for
gardeners and as a result, September can be one of the busiest months in the garden..
Flowers and Other Ornamental Plants
* Divide and transplant perennials like Hostas, Daylilies, Black-Eyed Susan and 
Echinacea
* Start planting spring flowering bulbs.  Use Volebloc when planting bulbs.  Volebloc
creates a physical  barrier between the chewing critters and your bulbs.
* Pansies, Ornamental Kale and Cabbage and fall blooming Chrysanthemums can be planted
now to give a little color to the garden when the summer's flowers have faded away.
* Scatter the seeds of wildflowers in rows or in open beds this month so that the
young seedlings will be ready to be transplanted into their permanent spot next 
spring.
* Fall is an excellent time to shop for annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.
Fruits and Vegetables
* Although most fruits and vegetables are best when eaten fresh on the day they're
picked, you can extend the season by freezing, drying, storing, or canning.
* Harvest remaining vegetables, including green tomatoes. Never too many fried green
tomatoes!
* Pick herbs for drying or freezing.  For year round fresh herbs, plant an herb 
garden indoors.
Pests
* Dispose of any diseased or infested plant debris, to avoid overwintering the problem
* Continue to watch for insect, slug and snail, or disease damage throughout the
 garden, and take the necessary steps to control the problem.
Lawn Care
* September is one of the best months of the entire year for seeding or sodding 
new lawns.
* Always check your soil pH before starting your lawn renovations.
* If the lawn needs thatching, it can be done during the early fall.
* Over-seed old lawns with fresh seed to help fill in the bare spots and crowd out
weeds and mosses.
* Start Fall Lawn Fertilization (See our Lawn Care Recommendations [http://kenmatthewsgardencenter.com/garden-reference-tools/])
Odds and Ends
* Photograph your gardens and containers for a record of the year's triumphs.
* The birds will soon begin their winter migrations. Give them a helping hand by
 providing them with some food and water for their long journey. No one likes to
 travel on an empty stomach, and you may even persuade a few of them to stick around
for the winter if they know they have a reliable food source!
* Bring summer vacationing houseplants back indoors while the day and night temperatures
are above 50° .  To prevent hitchhiking pests treat with Bonide Houseplant Systemic
before bringing them indoors.
* Start fall clean-up in the flower beds, cutting back anything that has finished
blooming or is diseased.
* Give the compost bin a fall turn
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Any 3 Vegetables or Herbs
Mix and Match
$10
Regularly $3.99 each
One per customer with this coupon or email
Expires September 15, 2015.
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3 Reasons To Plant a Tree This Labor Day Weekend - TREE SALE!

TREE SALE
30% Off
All Varieties
Thursday - Wednesday
September 3 - 9
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3 Reasons To Plant a Tree This Labor Day Weekend
1. Trees block things - like your neighbor's boat or road noise
2. Trees provide shade - and  strategically placed - can cut your summer A/C needs
by as much as 50%
3. Trees show us without fail the seasons - spring, summer, fall or winter
Our Garden Associates will help you select the perfect tree for your yard...
come in!
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Here's a Tip:
Cool season veggies are here!  It's time to plant Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage,
Collards, Lettuces and Spinach for starters.
Save some room for your favorite herbs - Basil, Oregano, Parsley and more - plant
them among veggies or in containers and enjoy using through first frost - then bring
them in and enjoy throughout winter.

The Garden Post: August 2015

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August 2015
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The Grass Could Be Greener...
Through a designer's eye, a beautiful lawn is the make or break of a landscape. 
  It is the glue that holds it all together.  Easy to say as achieving the perfect
lawn seems to be a never ending process.
Fescue lawn lovers are ecstatic with their lawns... until the heat and humidity 
hit in July and August. Overnight it seems the weeds have taken over and the temps
have turned our lush green grass into a wheat field.  So we start dumping water 
on it to revive it.
We apply chemicals to get rid of the weeds. It's a tug of war for those trying to
go organic.  And it can be a chunk of time and money.   The desire for a weed free
beautiful fescue lawn can be challenging.
But it doesn't have to.
Following a simple plan and being diligent about it can save you time, money and
 your sanity.  And August is the month to start planning and doing.
*Test your soil for pH imbalance and adjust as needed
*Control broadleaf weeds and perennial grass
*Kill the lawn if needed
*Till and grade if needed
*Add soil conditioner if needed
For a comprehensive list of the what, when, where and how to's, visit our website
atkenmatthewsgardencenter.com [http://kenmatthewsgardencenter.com/garden-reference-tools/].
As for me and my desire to have a beautiful, weed free lawn?Well...I've enjoyed 
a few good books this summer and my gardens sure do look stunning!
Best of all...I feel good about it.
Heather Klose, Designer
Tent Sale
Saturday - Sunday, August 1 - 9
Bargain Buster Prices on a Smorgasbord of Stuff!
Up to 70% OFF
Dog Days of Summer Event
Saturday, August 8
10 AM to 2 PM
The Animal Aid Society & Peninsula Pet Pantry will be here with dogs that need loving
homes. Bring your dog and enjoy tasty dog treats, walks in the 'park', and doggie
games.
Leashes and up to date vaccinations required!
PLUS, 20% off one item of your pet's choice.
May not be combined with other promotions/sales
Excludes bagged/bulk goods
Water Garden Sale
Friday-Sunday, August 14-16
50% off all pond fish & plants
20% off pond chemicals & pumps
Lawn Care Class
Saturday, August 29 10:00 AM
Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners
Register by email to ex199@vt.edu or
by calling 757.890.4940.
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Check This Out!
WHY MAG-I-CAL AND NOT LIME?
MAG-I-CAL may be the missing ingredient in your lawn care program.
MAG-I-CAL contains soluble calcium combined with organic acid and nematodes which
are pelletized to make it easy to spread.
MAG-I-CAL:
*Rapidly raises soil pH in weeks.  Lime takes 6 months!
*Provides Calcium which is essential for healthy lawns
*Releases "tied-up" nutrients in the soil to
boost lawn color
*Improves soil texture and aids in water uptake.
*"Wakes-up" beneficial micro-organisms
Inhibits moss growth
*One bag of
MAG-I-CAL (5,000 sq ft coverage) is equal to 5-40lb bags of lime!
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Thank You to Everyone Who Voted!
Ken Matthews Garden Center is the 2015
Coastal Virginia [http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com/Best-Of/index.php/name/Ken-Matthews-Garden-Center/listing/37396/]
Magazine [http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com/Best-Of/index.php/name/Ken-Matthews-Garden-Center/listing/37396/]
Overall Silver Winner
Best Landscaping Company
and
Peninsula Gold Winner
Best Garden Center
as well as
Peninsula Bronze Winner Best Garden/Patio/Outdoor Accessories Store!
Our landscape and retail team of talented people have years of experience and we
 greatly appreciate your recognition of their many talents!
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Tips for the Garden:
For many gardeners the month of August begins the downhill slide into off season.
Warm climate gardeners have a second chance, but some don't have a second wind after
summer's heat. Your garden is hardier than you think and there are plenty of gardening
tasks for August that will keep your flower and vegetable gardens going longer, 
as well as opportunities to get a head start on next year's garden plans.
*Pick herbs for fresh use and for drying. Harvesting will keep them growing longer.
*Check that your mulch hasn't decomposed and add more as needed.
*Keep deadheading and pinching back flowers.
*Start saving seeds and taking cuttings.
*Remove any diseased foliage now, so it doesn't get lost in the fall leaves.
*Trim and feed hanging baskets and annual plants to prolong their beauty.
*Take pictures of your garden and container combinations you'd like to repeat.
*Begin dividing perennials.
*Plant trees, shrubs and perennials now, so they can take root, and keep them well
watered.
*Begin planting for the fall/winter vegetable garden.
Then sit back and enjoy all you've accomplished!

Fountain Sale

Chill Out With a New Fountain!
30% OFF
All Fountains
Thursday - Sunday
July 9 - 12
Its proven that the sound of water helps us relax and unwind.
We think it makes everything feel cooler! Locate your new fountain
near your patio or deck and discover for yourself the benefits of water
sounds in the garden!

The Garden Post: July 2015

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July 2015
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The Power of Pollinators
Pollinators are needed for the reproduction of 90% of flowering plants and one third
of human food crops. A pollinator is an insect, or other agent, that assists in 
moving pollen from the male parts of the flowers to the female parts for fertilization.
Each of us depends on these industrious pollinators in a practical way to provide
us with the wide range of foods we eat. In addition, pollinators are part of the
 intricate web that supports the biological diversity in natural ecosystems that
 helps sustain our quality of life. While honey bees and native bees are some of
 the most prolific pollinators, butterflies, beetles, wasps, moths and even flies
and bats play their part.
Abundant and healthy populations of pollinators can improve fruit set and quality,
and increase fruit size.  Apples, tomatoes, citrus, melons, and strawberries are
 some of the crops raised in our area that rely on honey bees and native bees for
pollination. Unfortunately, the numbers of pollinators are declining. They are threatened
by habitat loss, disease, and the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides.
 The efforts to understand the threats to bees should help us understand other pollinators
and their roles in the environment as well.
The beauty of the situation is that by supporting pollinators' need for habitat,
 we support our own needs for food and support diversity in the natural world.  
By adding plants to your landscape that provide food and shelter for pollinators
 throughout their active seasons and by adopting pollinator friendly landscape practices,
you can make a difference to both the pollinators and the people that rely on them.
With the most obvious need for pollinators being a diversity of nectar and pollen
sources, you can help by planting "a pollinator garden". Consider the following 
when choosing plants for your garden:
*Choose plants that flower at different times of the year to provide nectar and pollen
sources throughout the growing season
*Plant in clumps, rather than single plants, to better attract pollinators
*Provide a variety of flower colors and shapes to attract different pollinators.
* Whenever possible, choose native plants.  Native plants will attract more native
pollinators and can serve as larval host plants for some species of pollinators.
*Photograph courtesy of John Whistler [http://whistlerworksstudiophotography.com/]
Saturday, July 4
Fourth of July Weekend
The day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress.
  Americans are known for celebrating Independence Day with fireworks, family reunions, concerts, barbecues, picnics, 
and parades. Ken Matthews Garden Center will be closed to celebrate our nation's
 Independence!
Tuesday, July 14
Bastille Wine Dinner
Riverwalk Restaurant
Click here for details. [https://www.yorkcounty.gov/Portals/6/15_%20Bastille%20wine%20Flyer.pdf]
Call 757-875-1522 to make your reservation.
Saturday, July      18  10 AM
Butterfly Workshop
This fun workshop will introduce you to the enchanting world of butterflies.  Learn
the life cycle, common butterflies in our area, why they are important for all of
us and how to attract them to your garden.
Wednesday, July 22 5 PM - 8 PM
Girls Night Out
Enjoy an evening of shopping with over 30 vendors, A bite to eat from Creekside 
Catering, A wine tasting, and Music with Lana Puckett and Kim Person!
Register for the door prize drawings held every 15 minutes.
Saturday, July 25 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Tips on Flower and Garden Photography Workshop with John Whistler
Learn easy ways to improve your photos including discussion on composition, focus
and equipment.  This class is for novice and above photographers.
Sign up required by calling 757.898.7799.
Check out John's website too!
http://whistlerworksstudiophotography.com [http://whistlerworksstudiophotography.com/]
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Check This Out!
Asclepias Tuberous Butterfly Weed
If there were ever a butterfly magnet this is the one!  Its brightly colored orange
and yellow flowers bloom from early summer to early fall and attracts many kinds
 of butterflies as well as hummingbirds, bees and other insects. This plant favors
dry, sandy well drained soil, but has also been reported on stream margins. It requires
full sun.
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Eupatorium
Joe-Pye
Bold and beautiful, Eupatorium Joe-Pye is a statuesque perennial with enormous dusty-pink
flowers that attracts multitudes of butterflies. It will thrive in sunny locations
with moist, fertile soils. While the blooms last a long time, this is one perennial
that does not re-bloom if you remove spent blossoms so leave old blooms on the plant
and let them go to seed. The fluffy seed heads are pretty and provide nesting material
for birds. Leave the stems standing through winter to provide cover for beneficial
insects. This plant flowers from mid to late summer.
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Healthy Roots
One important key to plant growth and performance is a vibrant root system.
Root stimulators, like Root Master B-1, are used to help establish quick initial
 rooting, powerful growth and nutrient absorption.  They boost your plants ability
to resist fungus and disease, and aid in protecting your plants from stress - excessive
temperature swings (heat or cold), root damage, and transplanting.
Master Nursery Root Master B-1 is ideal for use with all types of plants, growing
in all kinds of garden soils and potting mixes.
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Tips for the Garden:
If only July were more predictable in the garden. It doesn't matter how wet the 
spring was, rain can become very elusive in July. Humidity begins to peak.  And 
we are actually passing out of prime growing conditions into the lethargy of the
 dog days.
So there's no definitive list of gardening chores for the July garden. Gardeners
 just have to play it by ear.  Most importantly, keep a close eye on pests and disease,
then sit back and enjoy your garden and all the efforts you put in earlier in the
year to get it where it is now.
Slow down and give you and your plants a rest from the heat
Keep tabs on rainfall and water as needed
Stay ahead of weeds
Replace mulch as needed, mulch cools plants roots.
Keep lawns at about 3", to protect from summer heat
Keep bird feeders and baths clean and full
Ornamentals
Keep up on deadheading
Shear back spent annuals by 1/3
Do a final pinching by mid-July of fall blooming flowers like mums and asters
Vegetables
Harvest daily.
Reseed beans and lettuce
Scout for insects and disease
Fruit
Check berries regularly to harvest before the birds get them
Clean up fallen fruits under trees
Check fruit trees for water sprouts (branches growing straight up from limbs) and
remove
Trees & Shrubs
Prune summer flowering shrubs as soon as the blossoms fade
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20%  Off
Your purchase of 4 or more Perennials
With this coupon or email
Expires July 15, 2015.
Regularly priced perennials only.  Limit one coupon per customer.
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