Your Friendly Neighborhood Garden Center
The Today’s Garden Center 2014 Revolutionary 100 Garden Centers are hosting the most creative events, creating innovative marketing and outrageous displays and building great staffs to help ensure their customers have success in their gardens.
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Holy Helleborus!
Last January, I was taking a stroll in “the back 40″ of my yard, a shaded untamed piece of land. To my surprise, I spied a bunch of wine colored blooms poking up from under the fallen yellow maple leaves. I recognized it instantly as a Helleborus, but had to peek over the neighbor’s fence to find where they came from! This is how Helleborus found its way into my garden, and is now one of my most favored shade loving, long blooming perennials.
Here’s a little history I learned on my quest to find out about this “alienesque” looking plant. Helleborus or the Lenten Rose are an ancient plant that dates back to 550 BC where ancient Greeks used it medicinally to heal psychological disorders. They bloom mid-winter to early-spring in varying intensities of burgundy, pink, white, green and rare apricot and yellow! The blooms are fascinating with their bright yellow sepals, sometimes spotted petals and velvety feel and appearance. Colors are enhanced by an iridescent sheen or sparkle when the light falls upon the heavy blooms. Even today the roots of Helleborus are used to treat cardiovascular disease.
With all of my new found respect for these delightful evergreen beauties, I have a feeling my shaded woodland garden will start to see more of these precious winter blooms.
Danielle Hendricks - Horticulturist
Saturday, January 25 at 10AM
Houseplant Repotting Clinic
Registration $5 or free with purchase of a container
Register by calling 757.898.7799
Houseplant Container Selection 101
Selecting the proper container is an important factor in the health of your house plant. You don’t want the container to be too large or too small. A container that is too small will restrict root growth, while an oversized container can cause root diseases caused by too much moisture in the soil. The most important feature in selecting a container is drainage. Containers with no drainage holes will hold water longer, a good reason to do a moisture check before watering. Containers can also be reused for different plants. Always wash them in a light bleach solution to kill any bacteria or disease that might be left over from previous plants.
Winter Annual Broadleaf Weed Control
The best way to beat winter annual weeds is to develop a dense vigorous turf grass. Select the appropriate grass seed blend for your area and properly fertilize, water, and mow to encourage dense turf that inhibits weed growth. Common annual broadleaf weeds are Hairy Bittercress, Chickweed, Clover, and Henbit. If you see broadleaf weeds emerging in your lawn, spray them now with Bonide Weed Beater Ultra, a liquid herbicide that can be used in cool weather.
Tips for the Garden
Every year Ken Matthews Garden Center brings the holiday season to life. As our expert gardeners create outdoor delights, our garden elves magically transform the gift shop into a winter wonderland. There is excitement aplenty as we celebrated our Christmas Open House with holiday specials, warm apple cider and cookies for our guest and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Lynn Derry, Administrative Assistant
Tuesday, December 3
6PM Mantel Decorating Demonstration And Other Decorating Tips
Prolong Your Christmas Tree
Did you know…a Christmas tree can consume one gallon of water each day and if your tree runs out, it will sap over and then die more quickly?
By keeping your tree watered with Prolong you will find the tree will hold its needles longer in the dry heat of your winter home. Prolong causes cut trees to absorb more water than it would otherwise, thus extending the life of the tree. Its special formula is an easy, effective way to keep your Christmas tree fresher, greener, and safer.
Prolong Testimonial from Anita Bryant: ”After 4 months our Christmas tree (pictured above) is still doing well. It was so fresh and green we didn’t want to take it to the dump, so we put it on our deck. We used the Prolong the first week. We moved it outside around January 4th. Once outside we did not do anything. The needles are starting to turn since it is getting warmer. We couldn’t believe how long it lasted.”
Holiday Magic with a new… or renewed custom designed wreath!
Whether fresh or permanent, we will custom design a wreath to compliment the decor of your home… or your personality!
We can use as many as 6 different fresh evergreens (boxwood, magnolia, pine, holly, cypress and nandina), as well as seed pods and pine cones. Not only are they aromatic, but they are also breathtakingly beautiful.
In addition, we have an abundant selection of artificial picks that imitate the fresh evergreens and berries. Or if you want something with flair, an ensemble that’s fun and full of holiday spirit can be arranged! So… choose a wreath, fresh or permanent, and let our designers work their holiday magic!
Tips for the Garden
