News from Bob's Market & Greenhouses, Inc.

Issue No. 11.07

February 17, 2011

Our Gallipolis, OH; Atlanta, GA and Parkersburg, WV Markets

are now closed for Winter.

See You This Spring!

The Art of Flower Gardening

presented by

Bob's Market & Greenhouses, Inc.

Sponsored by the

Riverbend Arts Council

290 North 2nd Ave.

Middleport, Ohio

Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:00 p.m.

Display of Floral Paintings

Prizes of Garden Related Items

Refreshment will be Served

Admission is Free

Winter Heat Wave!

Recent heat waves may have you thinking of Spring, but the time for planting is still a couple of months away. However, on unseasonably warm days there are a number of things that you can do in your garden to help prepare for spring. Lets take a look at a few things you can do now to save some time later.

Check for garden pest activity. Look for damage from pests that may have been caused during the summer but was obscured by foliage. However, some pest are active during the winter too. Burrowing moles and foraging deer can cause just as much damage during the winter as during the summer months.
Check trees for wind damage. We've had some strong winds this winter so you need to check for cracked, broken, or loose limbs. Also, now is the best time to prune your fruit trees! Just be sure to do it after a few days of temperatures above freezing to avoid damaging the trees.
Check overwintered annuals, perennials, and containers for signs of freeze damage. Water expands with tremendous force when it freezes, and continuous freeze / thaw cycles during mild winters can severely damage both plants and planting containers. Pansies and mums planted in the fall are especially susceptible to frost heaving. They can actually be forced out of the ground by the action a freeze / thaw cycles. If you experience this in your flower beds simply backfill and mulch around the plants. Replanting them now will only damage their root systems.
Get your garden tools ready for spring. Warm winter days are great for sharpening garden tools, fixing damaged ones, or checking to see if anything needs to be replaced.
Plan ahead for spring and summer planting. Get out some graph paper and colored pencils, go outside, and let your imagination run wild! I start each spring with a plan for my garden and flower beds. I try to plan ahead to determine what I'm going to grow from seed, and what I'm planning on purchasing. I also try to set some goals for myself whether it is trying out some new plants, creating a new flower bed, or simply trying to do a better job weeding (maybe not).

Save The Date!

Stop by our massive greenhouse facility in Mason, WV

for a guided tour. Be sure to bring a camera!

Facebook Event Page

Google Maps Link for Directions

Please note, due to safety restrictions no one may enter our production facility unaccompanied. Please arrive no later than 1:00 pm for the tour. Some folks thought it was more like an open house last year. (Sorry for any confusion.)