~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Power of Trees ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As I drove past an empty parking lot recently, I noticed a single tree growing in a landscape island. And wouldn't you know, there was a single car parked under the shade of that lonely tree. I thought "Isn't that something? Create any kind of shade in a parking lot and somebody will park under it." Isn't it true of all of us? If there are trees in a parking lot, we seek out their shade. That's what we do, because it feels good (and nobody likes returning to a hot car). Now comes recent research published in Scientific Reports that indicates you actually do feel better and healthier by having as few as 10 trees on your block or cul-de-sac. The study used 95,000 Toronto citizens as its testing ground. They found you feel up to 7 years younger or it feels like having an extra $10,000 in the bank. We all know urban trees improve air quality, reduce cooling and heat costs, and make our home environment aesthetically more appealing. Several studies have shown that exposure to green spaces can be psychologically restorative to mental health, reduce blood pressure, reduce stress, reduce sedentary time, and promote physical activity. Powerful testimony, isn't it? All these advantages just for having some trees in your yard! One researcher wrote for New Yorker magazine saying gall bladder patients in a Minnesota hospital who had a view of trees out their window were able to go home a full day earlier than those whose view was a wall. Here's another surprising result. Toronto's study leader, Marc Berman, tested people for memory and attention. Half the subjects walked 50 minutes a day in an arboretum. The other half walked city streets. Those who walked among the trees performed 20% better than their compatriots. The results were the same even for those who disliked walking in the woods. Keep these studies in mind as you plan for what you want your yard to be like when it's finished. If you haven't made a plan, it's time you did. Here are some easy to grow trees we highly recommend for shade and beauty: October Glory Maple Chinese Dogwood Augustata Crepe Myrtle Red Sunset Maple River Birch Ken Matthews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Late Show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fall is the breezy season that extinguishes the heat of summer while rekindling the fire and dazzle of your garden. Cooler temperatures rejuvenate plants that have been scorched by the sun. And although, blooms may fade, there is no reason to lose any color if you do some strategic planting. Choose versatile plants. There are many shrubs that can do double duty in your yard. Blueberries, Itea, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Weigela, and Spirea are just a few shrubs that will fruit or bloom earlier in the year then put on a showy display of reds, oranges, and yellow leaves in fall. Look for interesting structure. Contorted Filbert, Corkscrew Willow, Royal Star Magnolia, and Yellow or Red Twig Dogwoods, show their true personality when they drop their leaves. Plant ornamental berries. Beautyberry, Winterberry, Pyracantha, and Viburnums produce berries of purple, blue, red, and orange in the fall and early winter. The berries are pretty enough on their own, but the birds who stop by for a visit will add their own pageantry. Use ornamental grasses. Fall is the time when grasses are in their glory. From feathery plumes to delicate tassels, grasses add movement and grace to your landscape. Leaving seed heads on perennials, like Rudbeckia, Goldenrod, and Echinacea well into winter can add whimsy and texture to shrubs that are quieting down for the year. So, when you are deciding on plants for your landscape, remember those plants that add color, shape, style and interest in the fall and winter months... when visual variety in the garden can give a dreary day a needed lift. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Your Calendar! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Create warm and welcoming Autumn Decorations! Stop by for your seasonal decorating needs: Garden Mums Hay Bales Pumpkins Corn Stalks Pansies Gourds Don't miss out on the great savings you can get with the Autumn Decorating Package! Available through October 16 as supplies last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Have you seen our happy Minions busy "gardening" outside the garden center? Ask about our Minion Starter Kit! Some fun Minion facts! *Tall minions all have the same haircut. *One-eyed minions are rarely tall. *Minions have only three fingers. *Minions can survive in outer space, meaning they resist freezing and do not need to breathe oxygen. *Minions speak a mixture of Spanish, English, French, and Italian, with elements of Russian and Korean ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, October 1 12-6 PM Yorktown Wine Festival Riverwalk Landing in Historic Yorktown Tasting Ticket: $30 advanced ticket/$35 at the festival Includes sampling privileges and souvenir wine glass; Food is available for purchase from any of our food vendors. Non-tasting wristband $15 at the gate only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, October 15 11AM Miniature Garden Workshop This is a hands-on class, ideal for parents/children or grandparents/grandchildren. Children must be accompanied by an adult. (One child per registered adult.) Workshop fee of $25 includes a container, soil and miniature plants. Miniature gardening items purchased during the workshop by registered participants will receive a 20% discount. All ages are welcome! Register by calling 757.898.7799 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monday, October 10 Columbus Day Christopher Columbus, born in Italy, landed in the Bahamas, part of the Americas, on October 12th, 1494 with three ships and 90 crew members. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday-Sunday, October 14-17 Container Gardening You Pick It, We Pot It Well-designed container gardens placed strategically at a home's entrance can add value and make the home more welcoming. Container gardens also allow you to enhance numerous other indoor and outdoor locations....a sunroom, balcony, patio, courtyard etc.. You pick your plants and pot and then we'll plant your container.... for free!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunday, October 31 Halloween Dressing up on Halloween comes from the Celts. The Celts celebrated Samhain, a festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter- the first day of November. It was a time when the wall between our world and the paranormal world was porous and spirits could get through. Because of this belief, Celts wore costumes and masks to ward off or befuddle any evil spirits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tips for the Garden ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals and Bulbs * During the fall months, after soil temperature drops below 60°F., plant spring flowering bulbs like Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Crocus. Select healthy, disease free bulbs. Add Dr. Earth Fish Bone Meal into the planting hole as you prepare the soil. Most spring flowering bulbs should be in the ground by the early part of this month, with the exception of Tulips which can be planted up until early November. * It is time to set out Mums and plant Pansies, Ornamental Kale and Cabbage to keep a little color in the garden for as long as possible. * Newly planted trees and shrubs need to be watered at least two times a week until the temperature drops below 50° consistently. * Spread a 2"-3" layer of mulch after fall planting to keep the soil warmer longer, allowing root growth to continue. * Throughout the fall and winter months you can plant or transplant both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs with only minimal shock to the plants. * Mark your perennials with permanent tags, or create a map or take a picture showing their locations so you'll know where and what they are when they die back at the end of the season. This will help you to avoid digging up something you intended to keep when you plant bulbs and plants this fall and next spring. * Continue to scout for insect or disease damage. As a precaution, treat with Bonide All Season's Oil as necessary. Fall Lawn Care * Put down your second application of lawn fertilizer, Jonathan Green Green-Up Lawn Fertilizer. House Plants * The longer your house plants were allowed to remain outside in the fall, the more shock they will go through when they are finally moved indoors. If you haven't brought them in yet, do it now!! Apply Bonide Houseplant Insecticide to kill any hitching pests. Odds and Ends * One last effort at weeding will help to improve the appearance of your garden throughout the winter. Any weed that you can eliminate from the garden this fall will possibly prevent thousands of weed seeds from sprouting in the garden next spring! * Keep lawn and garden raked clean of leaves and debris. Fallen leaves, old plant parts and grass clippings should be added to the compost pile. * The birds will soon begin their winter migrations. Give them a helping hand by providing them with some food 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 like Lyric Wild Bird Food. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spring & Summer Flowering Bulbs Purchase 3 or more bulb packs and receive $1 off each pack Expires October 31, 2016. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, gift certificates, previous purchases, bagged goods or bulk items. Limit one coupon per customer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Garden Post: October 2016
October 12, 2024 by
The Garden Post: September 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Save the Trees ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There has been a lot of public interest in saving the trees along I-64 as the road widening project progresses. Unfortunately, the contractors have to dig a huge swale in the median right where the trees are to provide for water runoff. If that continues I don't see how any trees can be saved. It's sad, but it's the price we have to pay for having so many cars on the road. Now more than ever we have to do all we can to save the trees we have, and that means those right in your own yard. Few trees in your yard will die of old age. Mechanical damage and improper care kill more trees than any combination of insects or disease. Here are some things some homeowners do, although well intended, to kill their own trees: * Pile up excessive mulch around the tree trunks. Sometimes so excessive it looks like a volcano around the tree base. Problem is, eventually the bark starts to rot due to invasion of insects, mold and bacteria thus exposing the trees plumbing system. Soon the tree goes into decline while the homeowner is looking up into the limbs and leaves trying to figure out what's going wrong. * Put weed barrier cloth or black plastic under mulch. This sets up a warm, dark environment at the primary root system: a wonderful place for rodents and insects to thrive. * Stacking rocks or a wood pile at the tree base, causing soil compaction. * Continually nicking the tree trunk with the weed eater or lawn mower eventually girdling the tree. * Pruning limbs randomly leaving branch "stubs" rather than making flush cuts that promote healing. * "Topping" trees producing a mass of new shoots and weakening the tree. One of these problems alone can kill a tree, but multiple problems will certainly increase stress, and could eventually kill your tree. Ken Matthews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's About More Than Curb Appeal! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There is no question that landscaping is important in terms of overall home value. Curb appeal has the power to make or break the sale of a home. In fact, if potential buyers don't like what they see on the outside, they may not even venture inside. Landscaping is about more than a return on investment. It's about surrounding yourself with beauty that is personal to you, enjoying your home from the outside in. In a world full of HGTV and DIY, we've lost track of why curb appeal is important. It's not about what your neighbors think or who may or may not be interested in buying your house. Landscaping for curb appeal should begin and end with what appeals to you. Your foundation plantings are what greet you at the driveway or lead guests to your front door. Or it can be as simple as a well maintained privacy hedge or lawn. Landscaping can create an oasis from a long day or outdoor living spaces for entertaining. The level of investment is yours to make. But make no mistake; landscaping is an investment which can increase your property value as much as 10 to 12 percent. It's up to you to decide who you are investing in - the next owner of your home or the enjoyment your family can get from their home while living there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saying Good-Bye to Bob ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bob, Robert, Bobby Boy, Bobe, Kitten, Gatito... he went by a lot of names because he was a lot of cat. You may have known him as the tail or feet overhanging the bedbox above Lynn's desk. He may have greeted you among the store displays, or the drawer at the front counter, or from a pallet of bagged goods. Bob was an avid hunter and willingly shared his trophies with whomever opened the door. Rodents, snakes, moles, skinks - he collected them all. He was an expert keyboard walker, warm seat snatcher, and treat eater. He was a connoiseur of pond water and frogs, but only specific parts of them, much to the dismay of the outside staff. He was an awful ninja who prompted more than one late night visit after a call from the security company. Although he willingly shared the outside with deer, foxes, raccoons, and a relentless mockingbird, the store was his domain and he was intolerant of canine guests. Bob lived an adventurous life, but left the stories to be told by the people he met. How do you sum up 10 years of a cat who was so much to so many? You can't. Bob was the living thread that united us all and for that we are grateful and will celebrate. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Your Calendar! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 5 Labor Day Store is Closed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, September 17 10-11 AM Perfect Lawns on the Peninsula Speaker: Danielle Hendricks with a Q & A Session. Call 757-898-7799 to reserve your seat! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tuesday, Sept 27 7 PM Paint Night with Amy Z Come create a 12"x 16" painting of this crab with Amy Z at Ken Matthews Garden Center. Fee of $30 must be paid at time of registration. Light refreshments will be provided. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Public Service Announcement ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Soirée en Blanc Thursday, September 29, 2024 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM What is Soirée en Blanc, or a dinner in white? It is distinguished by the fact that the venue's tables and guests are dressed fashionably in white - no shorts or flipflops! The event is based on a 30-year tradition that began in Paris when a gentleman wanted to entertain a group of friends he hadn't seen in a while. He selected a secret location and told them to meet at a predetermined place and to wear white so that they could find each other. The event has been replicated around the world in as many as 70 cities. In Paris, the annual event now draws 10,000 people. For More Information: https://sistercitiesyorktown.org/2016/07/28/soiree-en-blanc-coming-to-york-county-sept-29/ Questions on registration? Want to pay by check? Call Kate Helwig at 757-508-7163; she will confirm you tickets by email once your check is received. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tips for the Garden ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Start fall cleanup in the flower beds by cutting back dead and diseased plants. Add mulch where needed. * For cool season grasses such as fescue, September is the best month to seed, core aerate, and fertilize. Be sure to read herbicide labels carefully regarding the exact timing between seeding and applying weed control products. * Wait until healthy plants are dormant to do most of your pruning. In Hampton Roads, early fall pruning often promotes vigorous re-growth. This can prevent some species from hardening off by winter, leading to possible cold damage. Dead, diseased or damaged wood can be pruned anytime. * Allow plants to finish the summer growth cycle in a normal manner. Never encourage growth with heavy applications of fertilizer or excessive pruning at this time. Plants will delay their dormancy process that has already begun in anticipation of winter in the months ahead. New growth can be injured by an early freeze. * Fall is a good time for improving your garden soil. Add manure, compost and leaves to increase the organic matter content. * Now is a good time to begin relocating perennials and planting new ones. If black-eyed susans or daisies have taken over, dig out most and share them with friends, and add some other plants to the bed such as coneflowers, bee balm and coreopsis. * Water newly planted trees and shrubs to provide sufficient moisture and prevent winter damage. Add a three inch layer of organic mulch such as shredded bark around the base of plants to retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature. * Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway. * Winter Pansies, Ornamental Kale and Cabbage and fall blooming Chrysanthemums can be planted now to give a little color to the garden when summer flowers have faded away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 for $10 4 inch and cell pack veggies and herbs Expires September 11, 2016. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, gift certificates, previous purchases, bagged goods or bulk items. Limit one coupon per customer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/KenMatthewsGardenCenter/] Follow us on Twitter [https://twitter.com/kmgardencenter] Find us on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/kmgardencenter/] LinkedIn [http://www.kenmatthewsgardencenter.com] View our videos on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/KMGC4921] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT OUR WEBSITE [http://www.kenmatthewsgardencenter.com] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
September 1, 2024 by
The Garden Post: August 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's About Time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I saw a front yard last week that we had renovated a few years ago and it looked like the homeowners had left town for three years. The lawn was barely recognizable and the shrubs looked like the hair of a rag doll. Weeds thrived where mulch used to be. If I had known the place would end up like that maybe I would have spent a lot less time on textures, color and accents. But that's just how it is in life. We waste money and time. We also waste too much energy stored up after a night's sleep. For example: Do you think there is much redeeming value in kids carrying on around town with their faces stuck to a smart phone screen playing Pokemon GO? Even in my day, we sat around summer days playing board games like Monopoly and Clue. (Playing Monopoly wasn't good preparation for my later life. My property investments haven't paid off very well.) Lately I've been thinking we humans should have the option to live life in reverse: to be born with all the smarts we need to meet life head on. We could channel our time and youthful energy into navigating our way in the world and be "successful" before we were twelve. Then if we made a mistake and voted for you know who, we'd say "What the heck?! I'm not even a teenager yet. I've got at least fifteen more election year chances to get it right." In our years between thirty and fifty, we could spend time with family and friends and enjoy it because there'd be no self-guilt for not spending more time at the office. We would grow older of course and realize how short life really is. By then we would know we can live worry free and waste all the time we wanted-like playing golf, boating or watching Nascar on television. Now that I truly am getting older, efficiency is the thought of the day-every day. My car is clean, my deck is neat, and I don't have a golf club death grip anymore. I honestly think I'm ready to forget all the lessons I learned trying to make it in the business world and live the simple life like the children do. Know how to access the Pokemon app? Ken Matthews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When to Prune ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This depends to a large extent on why you prune. Light pruning and the removal of dead wood can be done anytime. Although individual plant pruning needs may differ, here are some guidelines to remember. Otherwise, here are some guidelines, but recognizing that individual plant pruning needs may differ is important to remember. Winter pruning or when a plant is dormant is the most common practice. It results in a vigorous burst of new growth in the spring and should be done if that is the desired effect. It is usually best to wait until the coldest part of winter has passed. Summer pruning, however, is done to slow the growth of branches you don't want or to "dwarf" the development of a plant or branch. This pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. The reason for the slowing growth is that by reducing the total leaf surface of the plant, the amount of food manufactured and sent to the roots is reduced. Another reason to prune in the summer is for corrective and shaping purposes. Defective limbs as well as limbs that hang down too far due to the weight of the leaves can be seen more easily. Summer pruning gives the plant time to heal or "harden off" before winter. Click here [http://kenmatthewsgardencenter.com/garden-reference-tools/summer-pruning-list/] for a list of trees and shrubs you should prune in the Summer. [http://kenmatthewsgardencenter.com/garden-reference-tools/summer-pruning-list/] Do Not Prune in the Fall because decay fungi spread their spores profusely in the fall. In addition, the healing of wounds seems to be slower on cuts made this time of the year. Fall pruning also encourages new growth. New growth will be damaged by the impending cold weather. Leave your pruning tools in storage from fall until late winter. Now that you know when to prune, contact us to learn the basics of how to prune and what to prune when. Need more help? Contact our landscape department for a consultation and estimate. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Your Calendar! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tent Sale! Friday, August 5 - Sunday, August 14 Bargain Buster Prices on a Smorgasbord of Stuff with discounts Starting at 60% off! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dog Days of Summer Sale Saturday and Sunday, August 6-7 Saturday, August 6 10 AM to 2 PM Animal Aid Society (http://www.animalaid-va.org/ [http://www.animalaid-va.org/]) Pit Road K-9 Rescue and Sanctuary (http://pitroadrescue.blogspot.com/ [http://pitroadrescue.blogspot.com/]) will be here with their adoptable furry friends. They will have information tables set up where donations can be made. Refer to websites for specific donation needs. Monetary donations are always appreciated. Bandannas, toys, T-Shirts, car magnets, and other "wag-worthy" wares will be available for purchase. For visiting dogs, 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 and excludes bagged/bulk goods ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Water Garden Sale Friday-Sunday, August 12-14 50% off all pond fish & pond plants 20% off pond chemicals & pumps Photo Credit: Eric McCoy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paint Night with Amy Z Tuesday, August 16 7 PM Come create a 12"x 16" painting of this dragonfly with Amy Z at Ken Matthews Garden Center. Fee of $25 must be paid at time of registration. Light refreshments will be provided. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lawn Care Class Saturday, August 27 10:00 AM Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Register by email to [email protected] or by calling 757.890.4940. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have a "family" story/history of a plant(s) in your garden? If so, please take a few minutes to share that story with us so that we might share the tremendous stories so many of you have to tell. Please email us at [email protected] or post it on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/KenMatthewsGardenCenter/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tips for the Garden ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ornamentals *Feed mums, asters and other fall-blooming perennials for the last time. *Divide bearded iris now. Discard old center sections and borer damaged parts. Replant so tops of rhizomes are just above ground level. *Purchase bulbs now for fall planting
Lawns *Lawns scheduled for renovation this fall should be killed with Roundup now. Have soil tested to determine pH needs. Vegetables *Compost or till under residues from harvested crops. *Sow seeds of beans, beets, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and turnips now for the fall garden. Miscellaneous *Plan now for fall garden renovations or shrub additions. *Soak shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches. *Check that your mulch hasn't decomposed and add more as needed. *Take pictures of your garden at peak. Also, take pictures of container combinations you'd like to repeat. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $10 OFF A $50 or More Purchase with this email or coupon Expires August 30, 2016. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, gift certificates, previous purchases, bagged goods or bulk items. Limit one coupon per customer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/KenMatthewsGardenCenter/] Follow us on Twitter [https://twitter.com/kmgardencenter] Find us on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/kmgardencenter/] LinkedIn [http://www.kenmatthewsgardencenter.com] View our videos on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/KMGC4921] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VISIT OUR WEBSITE [http://www.kenmatthewsgardencenter.com] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
August 25, 2024 by
The Garden Post: July 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tree Planting… It Matters!
Part 2
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Last month I talked about the importance of replacing more of the trees that development
and economic growth has (unavoidably) removed. Now let’s point out some specifics
for what once was the rural environment of lower York County.
The expansion of Route 17 will happily be completed this year and we’ll all be able
to move around better. The environmental cost has been the removal of a lot of
trees and at least a 1/3 increase in heat generated by the new roadway. At last
count, about 36 crepe myrtle trees have been planted in the medians - a far cry
from what’s needed to absorb all the carbon dioxide emissions from road traffic.
We all know that trees are the greatest absorbers of the carbon and produce the
oxygen we breathe. VDOT and York County collaborated on highway median landscaping
and that’s that. It therefore behooves us as individuals, organizations, and business
owners to “tree up” as many available spaces as possible.
Walk down Duke of Gloucester Street on any hot summer day and feel for yourself
how one healthy tree has the same cooling effect as 10 room air conditioners running
all day.
Now let’s apply this kind of thinking to your home. There are good reasons why
you should seriously consider planting trees in your yard.
* If your house is worth $400,000, you can add $40,000 of value if you have healthy
trees in your yard.
* Deciduous trees give you cooling shade in summer.
* Evergreen trees planted on the north side will block winter wind.
* Trees help water absorption in the soil.
* Trees freshen the air.
* Trees contribute to a beautiful, lush landscape.
Here’s where to plant trees
* Plant one to three shade trees on the south or west side of your house and reduce
your energy cost by 3% in five years.
* Plant to keep air conditioning units and driveways cool.
* Plant evergreen trees between your house and a roadway as a sound block.
* Careful. Don’t plant under power lines.
There is plenty we can do to mitigate what “progress” has done to the spaces we
live in. If only 10% of York County residents would commit to planting just one
tree there would be 6,600 new trees in our county. Will you help?
-Ken Matthews
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9 Plants the Bug Bugs… Including Mosquitos
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Summer is almost here, and you’ll want to spend more time in your backyards and
gardens. Unfortunately, so will the bugs. And because of viruses such as Zika
and West Nile, mosquitoes are a big concern. You can plant herbs and flowers that
repel those bugs, including mosquitoes, and add a touch of beauty to your backyard.
Here are nine favorite plants that bug the bugs:
1. Marigolds
These flowers are colorful additions to landscaping, but they have a distinctive
smell that repels mosquitoes and other garden pests. Plant some marigolds in the
garden among your squash, melons and tomatoes or near open windows and doorways
where mosquitoes might be tempted to enter.
2. Lavender*
About the only insects you see around lavender are bees. They love the flowers,
but other bugs stay away. Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential
oils in the leaves of the plant, but the bugs hate it. The herb is a perennial and
is drought resistant once it’s established.
3. Lemon grass
Lemon grass can grow up to 4 feet tall, but the best thing about this decorative
grass is that it contains citronella, a common natural ingredient in many mosquito
repellents. The plant itself does even better than candles at deterring mosquitoes
because it has a stronger smell.
4. Garlic
This herb has long been regarded as a deterrent to blood-sucking vampires and werewolves,
but it really deters buzzing blood-sucking mosquitoes as well as other insects and
creepy crawlers.
5. Rosemary*
Though you’ll want to plant an herb garden for cooking, rosemary has a pungent scent
that repels flies, mosquitoes and other bugs. It does well in hot dry weather,
and thrives in containers, so you can set it in various places around the garden.
6. Basil
This herb also tastes great in your favorite dishes but doubles as a bug repellent.
Basil’s strong smell keeps mosquitoes away. And if you put a potted basil plant
near your picnic table, you won’t have to worry as much about flies either.
7. Catnip*
Many cats love catnip, but mosquitoes won’t come near it. Some studies show that
catnip is 10 times more effective than DEET, the chemical found in most commercial
insect repellents. Roll up a few catnip leaves and rub them on your skin. The bugs
won’t bother you, but the neighbor’s cat might. Catnip grows almost anywhere, and
it will spread in your garden. So growing it in pots is best.
8. Petunia
These annuals add a bright splash of color to any landscape, but the funnel-shaped
blossoms also have a licorice-like scent that repels many insect pests. But do
keep an eye on these flowers because other crawly garden pests are attracted to
petunias, including slugs and caterpillars.
9. Mint*
Who doesn’t like the taste of mint? It’s a beautiful plant that smells and tastes
great to people, but ants and mice absolutely hate it. It can spread quickly so
you might want to keep it in a pot. Containers of mint around your patio will ward
off other insects, including mosquitoes.
These are just a few of the many plants that bugs find distasteful. Surrounding
yourself and your patio with a few them will keep the bugs away from you, too.
The starred (*) plants are perennials, which will come back from year to year while
others need to be replanted annually.
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Mark Your Calendar!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 4th Weekend Specials
Friday, July 1 - Sunday, July 3
30% OFF
Trees and Shrubs
Annuals
Herbs
Perennials
Fountains
Statuary
Pottery
Furniture
Stone - Pallets and by the pound
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Monday, July 4
Independence Day
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!
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Thursday, July 14
Bastille Wine Dinner
Riverwalk Restaurant
Click here for details
Call 757-875-1522 to make your reservation
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Saturday, July 16 10 AM
Fairy Garden Workshop
Explore ways to create your own magical miniature garden, complete with pint-sized
accessories, diminutive plants, and quaint fairy figures that will attract Thumbelina
herself!
Workshop fee of $25 includes a container, soil and 3 miniature plants. Registered
participants will receive a 20% discount on all miniature gardening items purchased
during the workshop. All ages are welcome!
Register by calling 757.898.7799.
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Tuesday, July 19 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.
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Saturday, July 23 10AM
Entomologist Speaker
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Tips for the Garden
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Miscellaneous
* Give plants a mid-season fertilizing with a Dr. Earth Organic fertilizer to get
them through to the fall.
* Keep tabs on rainfall and water as needed.
* Stay ahead of weeds, pull or use Weed Beater in lawns to kill broadleaf weeds.
* Keep lawns cut at about 3″high, to protect from summer heat.
Ornamentals
* Do a final pinching by mid-July, of fall blooming flowers like mums and asters.
Vegetables
* Harvest daily.
* Donate your surplus harvest of vegetables to a hunger organization.
* Start fall crops of peas, beans and cold crops like broccoli.
Fruit
* Check berries bushes regularly to harvest before the birds get them or use bird
netting to keep the birds out.
Trees and Shrubs
* Prune summer flowering shrubs like roses, lilacs and weigela as soon as the blossoms
fade.
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$5
OFF
A $35 or More Purchase
with this email or coupon
Expires July 31, 2016.
Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, gift certificates, previous purchases,
bagged goods or bulk items. Limit one coupon per customer.
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June 30, 2024 by
The Garden Post: June 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tree Planting. It Matters! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When I was growing up in Hampton in the summertime I used to climb, what I now know, was an American Plane Tree. It was in the back yard of our neighbor, Mrs. Kelly. We kids called it a Sycamore.
Late one afternoon after supper and just before dark I was up in the very top of the tree doing what boys do in trees - nothing much. I looked far to the west across the tree tops and there was a very distinct and noticeable green cover on virtually everything from my tree top vantage point. The rich, strong green canopy of so many trees went on and on as far as I could see.
Over the years, I've seen a lot of green cover disappear in this town. So I did a little checking. Sure enough, a development summary provided by York County reveals that since 1988, over 6,000 acres of York County's 69,000 acres have been cleared for development. I realize development is inevitable, but I am persuaded that we are not doing all we could and should do to replace the natural greenery that falls under the bulldozers and chainsaws.
I am suggesting to you that real, meaningful, seriously green canopies can be established in road medians, parking lots, front yards, storage yards and junk yards. At Busch Gardens, even on the hottest summer days, there is a coolness in the air that only tree canopies can provide. Wouldn't it be nice if you had that same coolness walking across the parking lot to the local grocery store? We all know it could be done. And it probably won't.
Take a good look at your own yard and immediate neighborhood. If we commit to replant large growing native trees - Oaks, Maples, Poplars, Locusts and smaller under story trees such as Sourwood, Japanese Snowball, Serviceberry, Redbud and Sweet Bay, we can bring the forest feeling back in just a few years. Let's face it, trees are not an expense, they are an investment. They add shade, comfort, beauty as well as curb appeal. Trees are a selling point!
Maybe it's high time we recommit ourselves to replicate what was here before we arrived - the vast canopy, the sea of billowing trees - as seen by a boy growing up and witnessing the world from the top of Mrs. Kelly's Sycamore tree.
Ken Matthews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Make Shade Gardens Shine with Colorful Coleus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Creating a beautiful shade garden can be challenging for gardeners of all skill levels. Shady areas require a different approach - and different plants - than sunny areas. Remember, even if your yard has a lot of shade, it doesn't have to be short on color. For example, vibrant, shade-loving coleus, also known as painted nettle, can help your shade garden shine.
Look Beyond Blossoms Coleus foliage runs from small, dainty scallops to large, ruffled and quilted leaves. The texture of coleus gives shade gardens a certain richness and beauty: leaves have dazzling colors, such as lime green, fuchsia or neon purple, with deep shades of chocolate, burgundy or red in boundless patterns and combinations.
Balance Water and Light Coleus requires little maintenance. It tolerates wide-ranging soil types or pH, and needs good drainage. When planting coleus in the shade water about half as much as your sunny plants. Consistent moisture is good, soggy conditions can cause roots to rot.
Feed for Brilliant Leaves Dramatic, color-saturated coleus foliage depends on proper nutrition. To enhance foliage growth and color, use Dynamite, a complete fertilizer that will last for 9 months.
Keep the Focus on Foliage Later in summer, when coleus begins to send up flower stocks, it is time to start pinching the flower off. Pinch right where flower buds appear. This promotes branching and more colorful leaves. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Your Calendar! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, June 3 - Sunday, June 5 Perennial Event June is National Perennial Month... and a perfect time to celebrate! Why not celebrate by adding some perennials to your garden? Buy 4 perennials, get 20% off!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Father Day Weekend! Friday, June 17 - Sunday, June 19 Father's Day Weekend Sale 50% OFF All Azaleas, Fruit Trees, Fruiting Shrubs Saturday, June 18 11 AM-1 PM Free hot dogs and root beer for all fathers 20% OFF one item of his or your choice Cannot be combined with any other offer Father's Day Sunday, June 19 20% OFF one item of his or your choice Cannot be combined with any other offer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, June 20 First Day of Summer Also known as the summer solstice, it heralds the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The timing of the summer solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its northernmost point of the equator. This solstice is the day with the most hours of sunlight during the whole year. It is definitely not too late to enhance your summer garden with additional annuals and perennials.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Girls Night Out Tuesday, July 19 5-8 PM If you are a vendor and would be interested in participating in our Girls Night Out, please email me at [email protected] or call 757.898.7799.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tips for the Garden ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ General * Weed regularly to keep unwanted plants from stealing resources and make sure to get them before they go to seed * Check plants for water daily; watering early in the day is best. If you are able to check water daily, you can plant all summer. Vegetables and Herbs * Fertilize vegetables and herbs with Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable and Flower Fertilizer now. * Cut back herbs to keep plants bushy. * Remove flowers from Basil and Cilantro to prolong leaf harvest. Shrubs and Trees * Start deadheading re-blooming roses and feed roses once this month with Dr. Earth Rose and Flower Fertilizer. * After Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Camellias finish flowering, fertilize with Holly-tone. Annuals and Perennials * Water annuals and perennials, deeply not superficially: as often as daily for new plants and potted plants in sunny locations. Ensure the rest get about 1" of water a week. * Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage re-blooming Lawn * Mow regularly, cutting 1/3 or less of the grass blade. * Make sure your lawn gets about 1" of water a week (or follow conservation guidelines and let your lawn go dormant over the summer). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 for $15 6" Annuals Reg. $5.99 With this coupon or email
Expires June 15, 2016. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, gift certificates, previous purchases, bagged goods or bulk items. Limit one coupon per customer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/KenMatthewsGardenCenter/] Follow us on Twitter [https://twitter.com/kmgardencenter] Find us on Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/kmgardencenter/] View our videos on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/KMGC4921] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 1, 2024 by