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grEen News from Smithfield Gardens August 2008
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Dear Fellow Gardener,
Gardening with dogs can offer some special challenges. Males will often "water" your plants and over time leave dead patches in your shrubs. Females can cause your lawn to have brown patches, particularly if your dog likes to use the same spot each time. Rambunctious puppies have been known pull up newly planted annuals and dance around the yard with them dangling from their mouths. JoEllen, our general manager has a "grand-dog" that especially likes to eat daylily blossoms and for someone who likes daylilies as much as JoEllen does - this is a real problem. Let's not forget those dogs that like to dig, these are probably the worst. Despite all of these potential problems, most dog loving gardeners are willing to tolerate canine issues in the garden.
This leads us to mention that Saturday, August 2nd, will be our annual Dog Days at Smithfield Gardens. This is your opportunity to save some money on your purchases and assist the Isle of Wight Humane Society as well. You can get a 20% discount on everything not already on sale by simply bringing your dog in for us to fawn over, or by making a donation in any amount to help support the Society. They will also be raising money by selling - what else, hot dogs of course.
We would also like to mention that you don't have to be here on the 2nd to save money. All of our trees and shrubs and most of our perennials are already on sale and will be so until the 24th as part of our big Summer Clearance Sale. People are often hesitant about planting at this time of year, but if you can keep your new plants moist, you can be successful. So you might as well save a little money.
We hope to see you soon!
Your Friends at Smithfield Gardens
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Upcoming Events and Classes at Smithfield Gardens
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August 2nd (Sat.), Dog Days at Smithfield Gardens, see above for more details
Through August 24th (Sun.), Nursery Summer Clearance Sale - All trees and shrubs in our Nursery dept. will be on sale from 20-50% off
September 6th (Sat.), "Easy Propagating Techniques" 10-11:30 a.m. - Come learn how simple it can be to get new plants from your existing garden - Taught by Ann Weber
September 6th (Sat,), "Cool Season Lawn Care" 1- 2:00 p.m. - The next few weeks are the ideal time to get your fescue lawn in shape - Taught by Margie Cooper
September 13th (Sat.), "Tricks to Gardening in Tidewater" 10-11:30 a.m. - Specifically tailored to new gardeners or people new to the area - Taught by JoEllen Gienger
September 20th (Sat.), "Beyond Mums - Fall Bloomers" 10-11:30 a.m. - Seasoned gardeners know that fall is as colorful as spring, come learn how you too can dress up your garden - Taught by Ann Weber
September 21st (Sun.), "Basic Garden Maintenance" 2-3:30 p.m. - This class covers basic, but often overlooked steps to a successful landscape - Taught by Les Parks |
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Register for future classes
Other Events:
August 14th (Thu.), Hampton Roads Koi Club Meeting 6;30 p.m. - 119 Pochin Place, Hampton Va, 23661 (Old Wythe section) | |
Going Green - Organic Pestacides ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of the more frustrating aspects of gardening is fighting insects. Many of us spend hard earned money on a plant, sweating to put it in the ground, being careful to water and nurture it, and worrying over its development - only to have it eaten by some little pest. In the old way of thinking, gardeners would indiscriminately spray large amounts of chemicals on the garden, killing the pests, but also harming beneficial insects and compromising the health of the larger environment.
With rising global temperatures, many scientists are saying that insect problems are only going to get worse. Without killing cold winters, many pest populations will grow larger than what we normally deal with. As any gardener knows there are a number of insects that can plague a garden. Over the past few years we have doing our reading, trying to find organic solutions to most pest problems, and we think that we have developed a pretty good body of knowledge. I would like to share with you organic solutions to what I personally feel are the biggest pest problems in my own yard.
Japanese Beetles - These can be very destructive insects, especially on my roses. Even though, they are not here for a long period of time the damage they do is among the most devastating. Killing these in their grub stage seems to be the most effective way of eradicating them. Using Milky Spore bacteria on your lawn does the best job for the longest period of time. You can not keep these beetles from venturing in to your yard from the neighbors so when they come to visit use Liquid BT or Beetle Bags with bait. These products work well with little mess or impact on the environment.
Scale - This particular insect can be found on most anything but the most prevalent types attack Euonymus and one of my favorite plants - Camellias. Euonymus scale can cover a shrub in a matter of months and completely kill it before it is detected and then spread to other plants. It is not uncommon for whole hedgerows of Euonymus to be affected at one time. The same holds true with Camellias, they can be affected before anyone is the wiser. For this insect I like to use Dormant or Summer Oil which suffocates adults as well as the eggs they have laid.
Mosquitoes - Sometimes called the" VIRGINIA STATE BIRD", we have a lot now that we have had some rain. It really isn't a laughing matter as these insects can carry diseases. Check daily around the house and yard at this time of year for anything holding small amounts of water in which mosquitoes can breed. If any standing water is found, empty the container as soon as possible. Also, check for dripping water faucets, clogged or filled gutters and change the water every three days in your birdbaths. You can also use Mosquito Dunks as long as the active ingredient is Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis).
Fleas and Ticks - These can affect people as well as pets making lives miserable. Diatomaceous Earth is an excellent control for both of these troublesome pests. Just sprinkle it on your lawn and most insects with soft underbellies are history. Another product that is very effective is Kill-A-Bug II, the active organic ingredient is pyrethrum, and it can last for up to four months.
Let us know what your worst insects are, and we can help you find an organic solution that works. In our next issue, I will be addressing organic herbicides, just in time for the fall gardening season.
Margie Cooper
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 Stars of the High Summer Garden - Hydrangea Paniculata
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I am fond of just about any type of Hydrangea, but at this point in the year most all of them are well past peak and are looking a little tired from the heat. However, hydrangeas that belong to the Panicled group, or Hydrangea paniculatas are just hitting their stride. Generally they begin blooming in mid July and continue into August, but even after their bloom has faded, they will add interest to the fall garden. The flowers on Paniculatas are white, but some start out with a fresh green tint and others take on a blush of pink as they age. Several varieties dry well and can be preserved for long lasting arrangements.
 Paniculatas are native to China and Japan, but do very well in Hampton Roads. In fact, this group of Hydrangeas is perhaps the most adaptable, being able to withstand New England winters as well as southern summers. They are also the most drought tolerant of all major Hydrangea groups, but do perform best if they have consistent moisture in well-drained soil. If you have always wanted to grow Hydrangeas, but were told that you have too much sun, Paniculatas can grow in full sun to light shade. Pruning can be tricky with other Hydrangeas, but not so with this group. Paniculatas bloom on new wood, so that means you can prune them hard in late winter to early spring and still have flowers that summer. Whether you prune them hard, lightly or not at all, you will get blossoms. If the soil you plant them in is well amended, you may not find it necessary to fertilize, but if you ever need to, any good all-purpose formula will do.
Below are some the Paniculata varieties that we carry at Smithfield Gardens.
* 'Angel's Blush' - 10" long conical flowers open white and age to a rosy red, 8-12' tall by 6-10' wide
* 'Brussels Lace' - Flowers have a lacy effect, 6' tall and wide
* 'Limelight' - Bright green flowers age to white, prolific, 6-8' tall and wide
* Pee Gee or 'Grandiflora' - This is the most common Panculata, grows 4-8' x 6-10'
* 'Pink Diamonds' - 12" conical white flowers age to a bright pink, 6' tall and wide, this one is also fragrant
* 'Pinky Winky' - 12-16" flower heads with white and pink colors at the same time, 6-8' tall and wide
* 'Quick Fire' - This is the newest variety and is noted for its early bloom time, white flowers age to pink, 6-8' tall and wide
* 'Tardiva' - This is the latest variety to bloom, September, large white conical flowers, 4-8' tall by 6-10' wide
* 'Unique' - Another early blooming variety from Belgium, 10-15" white flowers, 12' tall and wide
Les Parks |
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Newer Cannas Pack a Garden Whollop
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Are you familiar with these flashy foliage accents? Indian Shot is the common name for Canna, and it refers to the very hard round seeds that have such a dense coating that nicking and soaking them in water prior to planting is a requirement. This photograph provides visual affirmation of why so many gardening nerds still love this group of plants once so popular with Victorians. While the "classic" varieties for years had bright flowers (some even speckled or mottled) with green leaves, Canna hybridizers now make cultivars that can stand alone as garden specimens. The newer Cannas pictured here, 'Tropicanna', 'Australia' and 'Red Stripe', have colorful flowers - but with foliage like this who cares? If you are new to gardening in this area, you can leave Cannas in the ground over the winter and they come back stronger each year. Just give them lots of sun and water, and stand back. I actually find myself cutting off the flowers on several of the Cannas scattered throughout the display gardens here because I like the bold texture of the plant all by itself. Local bulb expert Brent Heath of Brent & Becky's Bulbs in Gloucester advises gardeners to prune off old flowers before they set seed and the Cannas may re-bloom three or more times.
I guess I'd have to say that the multi-colored 'Tropicanna' in this photograph is my favorite cultivar, because all the colors in the leaves combine so well with annuals, tropicals and perennials. I do a lot of container gardening, and I spread the pots throughout my perennial beds and also stage displays of several pots on one area. This Canna is planted in a separate pot that looks great next to my purple-foliaged Euphorbia cotinifolia and orange Hamelia patens (Mexican firebush). In the fall 'Tropicanna's' colors still look wonderful next to orange and yellow mums, purple asters or a fat pumpkin. In one of our display beds 'Tropicanna' is next to a large clump of fiery 'Lucifer' Crocrosmia, and not far away Canna 'Australia' is a wonderful foil for a hardy red Dahlia.
I'm well aware that these days many rules of garden design are falling by the wayside so do what pleases you. However, it helps to remember that the bold foliage of Cannas always adds a tropical look to gardens. Consequently plants like Cannas and Ginger Lilies (Hedychium) are natural companions, but Cannas planted next to English Boxwoods may seem a little jarring! In the elaborate bedding schemes of the Victorians, Cannas often served as the tall punctuation points in formal designs, but Cannas are equally at home in containers too. Yellow variegated Canna 'Pretoria' could be the tall thriller in a pot with yellow Lantana, 'Black Magic' Elephant Ears and a trailer like gold Creeping Jenny. Yikes! We also know two local gardeners who use large clumps of bold foliage cannas, like narrow-leafed 'Intrigue' and 'Red Stripe' (stunning when back-lit), throughout their vast perennial gardens. Whenever I visit their garden in the summer and fall I make a gardener's "mental note" about the pointed purple-gray leaves of 'Intrigue'.
A recent letter in Bob Stiffler's Virginian-Pilot gardening column asked about the rolled up leaf problem Cannas often get. Yes, Virginia, these are due to nasty pests called leaf rollers. We have used a systemic product as a preventative on our Cannas here in the pots, and in the gardens, while Bob says use a spreader-sticker (because of the waxy leaves) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray during an infestation. The Bt solution is the least toxic to beneficial organisms. (Cannas in your garden may never be plagued with this pest, so you may choose the "green" approach and address the problem only if it arises.) The Cannas in my garden have been lucky so far. Please don't let the mention of leaf rollers scare you away from experimenting with these new Cannas. I believe that the more foliage interest you add to your garden through the years the more you will recommend the use of foliage color to your gardening friends. You'll become a broken record!
Ann Weber
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