Dear Friends,
August may not be the best month to garden in, but there are some things you need to be doing. One is to keep all your plants nice and moist. Even though we are extremely fortunate to have been spared the worst of the national drought, your established plants still need to receive about 1" of rain a week for you to stop worrying. You can also be readying your vegetable garden for its fall crops by keeping it weeded and pulling up anything past its productive life. We should have fall vegetables ready for sale by the end of the month. If you grow fescue, now is the time to rid your lawn of weeds, and later in the month put down a pre-emergent. That way you will be ready to sow new seed in late September.
Speaking of turf, in this issue of grEen News, Rhonda has written about what you need to be doing for the lawn in August. New for us this year is our own private label grass seed specially designed for our transition zone climate. In her article, Ann has written about one of our best native perennials, blanket flower. Earlier in July, Les and his family took a trip to south Florida, and he has written about turning your own garden into a tropical retreat.
We hope to see you soon, and when you come in, take a look at some of the changes we are making throughout the store. As an incentive, you should come in to take advantage of our Employee Discount Days Sale, which will give you 30% off of the list price of every plant we sell. The sale includes trees, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, houseplants, roses, grasses, water plants, and annuals - if it is a plant it is on sale. Hurry though, as this may not last through the month. And yes, you can plant now, as long as you keep your newbies watered.
Happy gardening!
Your friends at Smithfield Gardens |
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Upcoming Events and Classes at Smithfield Gardens
We do not have any events or classes scheduled for August, so the following are what we have scheduled for September:
Smithfield Gardens' 40th Birthday Party
Sept. 15th (Sat.) 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Please mark your calendars for this celebration. There will be more information on this in September, but rest assured, cake will be served.
Cool Season Lawn Clinic
Sept. 15th (Sat.) 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
After a long hot summer, it is time to think about getting your fescue lawn ready for fall and winter. Join Rhonda Grinels as she explains what you need to succeed.
Fall Vegetable Gardening
Sept. 15th (Sat.) 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
It is not too late to consider planting a fall vegetable garden, and the choices might surprise you. Come let Anne Goodson get you started.
Easy Propagation Techniques
Sept. 22nd (Sat.) 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
This class is designed for people who are interested in making many plants from one. This class covers seed starting, perennial division and how to take cuttings. Ann Weber will teach you the basics and soon you will be giving plants away.
Critter Control
Sept. 22nd (Sat.) 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
The world of nature has many special and wondrous creatures, but when they eat your landscape and garden that all changes. Come let Rhonda Grinels tell you what you need to control these less-than-special creatures.
Basic Home Landscape Design
Sept. 29th (Sat.) 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Whether you are ready to put in a new landscape or simply enhance what you already have, Jeff WIlliamson will tell you what you need to consider before the shovel goes into the ground.
Would you like to save 10% on your purchases at Smithfield Gardens? Monday is Military Discount Day and active duty military, Coast Guard, police, fire and rescue personnel all are entitled to this discount. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Senior Days. Also, anyone who attends one of our free classes is entitled to a discount on the day of the class. All of our discounts apply to any item not already on sale and can not be used towards landscaping services or bulk materials.
Other Events
Wildflower Walk
August 4th (Sat.) 9:00 a.m.
Beth Chambers, the curator at the College of William and Mary's Herbarium, will lead a native plant walk through the Wildflower Refuge. Please call 757.345.0176 for more information and to register.
This summer The Williamsburg Botanical Garden has scheduled several events specifically designed for children. More information can be found on their website.
The Norfolk Botanical Garden has classes and events throughout the month. Please click here for more details.
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Gaillardias are Long-Blooming Natives
Sure, I've known about this perennial for years, however in the course of the last year I've really been watching this perennial---both in our sales area and the inexpensive cell-pack specimen in my own garden. Why am I impressed with Gaillardia? During the past year I've become more aware of what flowers the bees visit. Late last summer when walking past our perennial section I noticed many happy bees on a plant with so many old flowers it was downright unattractive! My point here is that these gaillardias, often called blanket flowers, had been incredible blooming machines. A quick deadheading session was all that was needed for these sun-lovers to be right back in the business of attracting bees and customers alike.
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This patch of Gaillardia was growing (and thriving) right behind the first set of dunes on Ocracoke Island. Now that should tell you how tough they are. |
Native to North and South America, Gaillardia (gay-LAR-dee-uh) is a genus of drought-tolerant annuals and perennials from the large Asteraceae family. It was named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th century French magistrate who was a patron of botany. Depending on which site you visit the common name refers to its resemblance to brightly-colored blankets made by native Americas, or the fact that Gaillardia used to blanket fields across the country "back in the day". Don't dismiss them because you fear their common name implies they are invasive. I've never had anyone tell me they cause trouble in their gardens.
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'Goblin' is a smaller growing cultivar that is also a long blooming one. A little deadheading every now and then will keep it flowering summer through fall. |
Gaillardia flowers usually appear in early summer, and my coworker Les says he has had blooms as late as November. Many gardeners are attracted to the bicolor cultivars like 'Goblin' and 'Arizona Sun', however if you prefer solid colors check out 'Sunburst Yellow', 'Amber Wheels' or 'Maxima Aurea'. Les combines his 'Goblin' with Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' and orange zinnias from the Profusion or Zahara series. I often see gaillardias paired with a blue or purple plant in magazine articles, and I think that long-blooming, upright Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue' would also be a good choice. You can even grow blanket flowers in a container because they are a zone 3-8 perennial, and their mounding habit and relatively short height make them good candidates for the front or middle of a border.
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Not all gardeners are fond of orange or bi-colored flowers. Fortunately Gaillardia comes in several solids other than orange. |
Give Gaillardia full sun and well-drained soil (even poor soil is tolerated) and they will repay you with weeks of cheerful blooms. They are also tolerant of salt and high humidity, and are affected by no serious pests or diseases. Got deer or rabbits? No problem. If you plant a gaillardia now both you and the butterflies will enjoy them well into fall. What have you got to lose?
Ann Weber |
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A Home in the Tropics
Last month I was able to spend a week in south Florida (I know, who goes to Florida in July?), and I was awestruck by all the plants that gardeners can grow there. Things that I have only seen in the greenhouse here at Smithfield Gardens, take on huge proportions in the tropical heat and are able to reach their full potential. It wasn't just the unusual selection of plants, but how they are used as well. Most of the residential gardens I saw were thickly and lushly planted, and even the most modest strip mall was well-landscaped. So is it possible to recreate your own bit of tropics here in Virginia without building a Florida room? It is easier than you might think.
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Though none of the plants pictured are hardy in Virginia, you can obtain the same feel by using similarly textured plants that will thrive in our climate. |
First of all consider plant forms. When you think about tropical foliage, dramatic bold leaves come to mind, as do plants with strong textures. There are many plants that are perfectly hardy here that can give you a similar look and don't have to be brought in for the winter. Elephant ears, cannas, aucubas, yuccas, acanthus, rice paper plant, fatsia, hardy bananas, ginger lilies, hardy agaves, prickly pear cactus - these are just a few of the plants that can be grown here. Also do not neglect hardy vines to help give you that jungle look. And do not overlook the signature plant of the tropics, the palm tree. We are fortunate here to be able to grow at least three varieties that need no winter protection. Windmill palms are the most popular and most tree-like, while needle palm and dwarf palmetto are hardier and shorter, but still give you that exotic look.
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Two plants familiar to Virginia gardeners as houseplants, crotons and plumeria, were used in front of this home. |
Next consider your color choices. Look for flowers and foliage that come in deep reds, hot pinks, purples, bright yellows and oranges. Avoid delicate pastel shades. Do not overlook variegated foliage either. A staple of temperate shade gardens are hostas, but their patterns, colors and textures make them look at home in any jungle. One of my favorite plants for form, color and variegation is the caladium. Though these are not hardy here, the bulbs are very inexpensive and will give your garden the tropical look all summer long. Remember, too, that you can bring bold color into the garden through pots, furniture, flags and other garden accessories.
As I mentioned earlier, one key component to a tropical garden is to plant it thickly, even to the point of making it look nearly crowded. If you are hesitant to crowd the permanent players in your garden, try filling in the spaces between and at their feet with annuals. This way you are not making a long-term commitment to the space, plus there are plenty of annuals that can give you that tropical feel. Think lantanas, zinnias, begonias, vinca, coleus and impatiens (especially the New Guinea varieties).
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A similar look can be obtained in your garden by switching the palm to a species that will grow here and by using any hardy shrub with boldly colored flowers. |
Finally, if there is a special plant from the tropics you have fallen in love with, get it anyway and just bring it into the house for the winter. And speaking of houseplants, they would really love for you to take them outside during the summer, and tucking them into vacant spots of your garden will help with the tropical illusion. Most houseplants thrive in our heat and humidity, which is really not that much different from the jungle they came from.
Les Parks |
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If It's August, It's Time to Think About Lawns
August is the time of year that everyone is looking forward to those nice crisp fall days! In the garden it's time to think about lawns. If you have a warm season lawn like Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia or centipede, this is the month to use a pre-emergent, which actually keeps weed seeds from germinating. An application made in the last week of August will keep your lawn free of new weeds through the fall. This is also the time to fertilize those warm season grasses. We have St. Augustine weed and feed as well as fertilizers without weed control. Organic lawn fertilizer is also available for those who live near sensitive waterways or are concerned with our environment.
For fescue lawns, you also want to apply a pre-emergent at the end of the month. This will make sure you get rid of those pesky winter weeds like henbit and chickweed. This application will still allow you to over-seed in mid-October. As far as fescue seed goes, many of you know we have carried Tidewater's First Choice and Southern Gold for years. However, this year we won't have them. Don't fret though, as we have worked with the people that make Black Beauty to come up with our own fescue blend specifically formulated for this area! Ours has 4 varieties of fescue that are on the Virginia Tech recommended list for Hampton Roads. They have all been thoroughly tested at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center on Diamond Springs Rd. in Virginia Beach, so you know it can take our weather. We are very proud of our new seed and can't wait to show you why it is better than the rest!
Rhonda Grinels |
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