The weather this spring has been very nice, except for a little warm in March, and a little rain in April which was actually very nice. Long range forecasts, aside from a couple warm days next week, indicate seasonal temperatures as far out as the forecast goes, and hopefully all the way into June. We have had a beautiful spring this year. It’s a great time for planting and gardening.
We have an excellent selection of vegetable starts for your summer vegetable garden and now is an excellent time to put it in. The ground is warm enough and the odds of any real cold from here on is pretty slim.
Check your watering systems and make sure all drippers and sprinklers are working. Annual task when you turn the water back on after being off for the winter. Even if you don’t turn it off, still a good idea to check it all before the weather starts getting warm. Remember to mulch around your trees and shrubs. This will reduce your water usage by as much as 50% and your plants will withstand the warm days much better because the moisture you apply stays in the ground and does not evaporate. Two to three inches of mulch is what you want around your trees and in your planting beds. Also mulch your vegetable gardens. Saves water and gives you healthier plants and cuts down on the weeds.
If you did not get fertilizing done in April, this is a good time to do it. Use a balanced fertilizer on almost everything. Azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and hydrangeas want an acid fertilizer. Wait until azaleas and rhododendrons are done blooming to fertilize and then fertilize 3 times, each time 30 days apart. That is enough for the season on them. Roses should be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer or a rose food about every 6 weeks through the growing season, ending in October.
Clean up blooms under camellias this month if you have not done so already. Fertilize bulbs that are done blooming with bulb food or bone meal to regenerate the bulb for the next season.
Watch roses and other plants for aphids. Lots of customers are having lots of aphids this year. Plum trees and crape myrtles are also subject to aphids among other plants. If you see curling leaves on your plum trees, check them for aphids. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil to help get rid of them.
Many of you have met Olive, our golden retriever. She’s always happy to see customers, and she is always excited when customers bring their dogs. She loves to play with other dogs. We welcome dogs on leashes at the nursery. Olive will try to play with any dog who comes in. She has a few she knows who have been in more than once and they love to play.
With this year being 41 years in business, we want to thank all our customers for your support and patronage. We will continue to strive to offer quality fully acclimated plants appropriate for our climate area at a good value. We’ve gotten through recessions and drought and we are still here thanks to the support of our customers. Looking forward to the future.
Open: Monday, Wednesday through Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4
CLOSED TUESDAY
Thank you and we hope to see you soon.
Jeff
