Newsletter
March 2011
The Christmas Rose
A cold winter has a way of plucking color from your yard until all that remains is white, gray, and brown. So how incredible would it be to see a cluster of dusky pink buds interrupting the monotony?
Enter Helleborus...
Rosy buds open in late winter to creamy white flowers brushed with light green and pink. Plants are long-lived, disease resistant, and unattractive to deer.
- Sun: Part to full shade
- Soil: Moist but well-drained
- Zones: 5-9
Stamp and Save Cards
This will be our third year for our “Stamp & Save Program. Don’t forget to ask for your new 2011 season card (cards from last year are no longer valid)
For every $20 spent you receive one stamp. After the card is full (10 stamps) you get a $20 gift card. (If you spend $85.10, you will get 4 stamps, etc)
8 Common Gardening Mistakes
Whether we’re beginners or experts, we’ve all made mistakes in gardening. Sometimes it’s a matter of overwatering or under-watering. Sometimes we put a plant in the wrong place. Or maybe we don’t’ amend the soil properly. Making mistakes is part of the process-but it’s nice to avoid them altogether.
We have come up with 8 common gardening mistakes and how to prevent them. We will feature 2 in each of the next 4 newsletters.
1. drowning or under-watering plants
2. picking the wrong plants
3. overlooking the soil - any gardeners overlook their garden soil. Yet healthy soil is critical to a garden's success.
Is your soil sand, clay or loam? Sandy soil has excellent drainage, but it doesn't retain water and nutrients well. Clay soil doesn't need as much water or fertilizer as sandy soil, but it isn’t suitable for plants that require excellent drainage. That's why loamy soil is ideal for most plants, because it has g good balance between sand and clay. Loam retains water and nutrients better than sandy soil, but has abetter drainage than clay. To make your soil loamier, amend it regularly with compost, well-aged manure, and other organic matter.
Gardeners also tend to overlook the soil's pH level (a measurement of the soil's acidity and alkalinity). Many plants grow in a rand of pH levels, but some will suffer nutritional deficiencies if the soil Is the wrong pH. If your soil is alkaline (above pH 7) it won't be easy to grow plants like blueberries and azaleas, which require acidic soil (below pH 7). To determine your soil's pH levels, order a test from your local cooperative extension office (the link is on our website under “Plant Resources” or purchase a pH soil testing kit.
4. taking on too much
5. crowding plants
6. ignoring light requirements
7. spending without a plan
8. forgetting to maintain
Follow our upcoming newsletters for more in depth information on the remaining mistakes.
