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In This Issue
ALLTHE DIRT...
RECYCLE YOUR POTS
PLANTING A TREE

May, 7th, 2009

Dear    

Thank you to all who came to our Open House last Saturday. We had a great time. It was nice to see returning customers as well as so many new faces too.
 
We instituted our free Members Reward Card program during the open house as well. From now on Members will save 2% on their purchases through until the end of July. Membership CardThe savings can then be spent on purchases between August and the end of November of the same year. You will also get advance notice of sales as well as special coupons and free stuff. Your email address is required to participate in this program.
 
Our perennial benches are now nicely stocked. What a great time to plant perennials. Remember to keep all your receipts for purchases here at Gemmell's. Basically any work done to renovate your landscape qualifies for the Renovation Tax Credit. Annual plants or plants that don't come through the winter do not qualify. This can save you 15% off most of your purchases, add this to the 30% off sale we have on this week and you're getting a real bargain.
 
Hopefully the rain will hold off a little for you to get planting this weekend.
 
Enjoy!
 
Take care, and have a terrific day!
 
Rob Gemmell
ALLTHE DIRT
GRUB PROBLEM?    WE HAVE THE ECO-SOLUTION !
 
Are skunks or raccoons digging up your lawn? Do you have large patches of dead grass? These are signs that you have lawn grubs!
 
Grubs are an ongoing battle for home owners dreaming of a lush green lawn and now that the pesticide ban has taken effect the chemicals formerly used to treat grubs are no longer available.  Don't worry, we have an environmentally safe alternative that we have carried here at Gemmell's for the past few years with great success.
 
NEMATODES
         These crafty little microscopic organisms are a natural predator to grubs. Once applied, they move beneath the soil surface to attack the grubs continuing to reproduce until there are no more grubs to feast on. They are beneficial insects that are native to Canada.   Like many eco friendly products there are specific application requirements that are essential to follow to produce the highest success rates.
 Nematode Package
  1. Nematodes must be applied at a specific time of the year. This is usually in mid May when the soil temperatures reach 10C (50F) or warmer to stop grubs from damaging your grass roots. We only have them available here at the garden centre when it is the optimal time to apply.
  2. Nematodes travel through water particles and therefore it is very important that you water your lawn well BEFORE application. They come on a sponge which is immersed in a bucket of water and agitated by stirring. This then becomes your nematode concentrate which you will then use to fill a hose end sprayer attached to a garden hose. Be sure to open the sprayer up to the widest number (most amount of water) and spray on your lawn.
  3. Beneficial nematodes are most effective when the soil is moist and remains moist for 3-5 days after application so continue to water your lawn well during this time period.
  4. Don't forget to lime! In addition to nematodes it is important to lime your lawn, grubs like acidic soil. By liming you are "sweetening the soil" making it less inviting for grubs. LimeriteLime should be applied at a rate of one 40 lb bag per 1000 sq ft for the first application then every application after that one bag per 4000 sq ft. It should be applied every spring or fall.
 
The nematodes carried at Gemmell's are strains that are native to Canada. They consist of a mix of two nematodes, one that travels closer to the surface approximately 3" below the soil level and one that goes deeper approximately 7". They are 100% safe for people, pets, plants and even earthworms! 
Feel free to drop into the garden centre with any further questions you may have or to order your box of nematodes. Hurry though as time is running out and we order them on a customer request basis only!
 
FYI    -1 box has 10 million nematodes in the sponge and covers approximately 2000 sq ft.
          -they must be refrigerated until application time.
 

RECYCLE YOUR POTS
Return all Horticultural Recycle Symbolplastic pots to us
during business hours to be either re-used (if they came from us) or returned to the manufacturer to be made into new pots, if they didn't. Pots & flats Made in Canada or the USA, with recycling number symbols 2, 5 or 6 will be recycled. Styrofoam is not recyclable and cannot be accepted.
Planting a Tree
1. Be sure to dig a hole twice as wide and twice as deep as the root ball size.
 
2. Amend the soil you took out of the hole with Quali-Grow Brand 3 Way Mix or manure, peat and compost. Mix in some granulated bone meal, which will break down slowly and feed the tree later in the season. Use this soil to put back in the hole to bring the level back up so that the tree will not be planted deeper than it is in the pot. It's important NOT to bury the base of the stem.
 
3. It is generally recommended not to disturb the roots when transplanting. It is best to have the soil depth correct in the hole first, then cut the bottom of the pot off. Set the pot in the hole. Slice the side of the pot in one or two places. Start to pack more of the amended soil in the hole as you slide the remaining pieces of the pot off. This will prevent the root ball from falling apart.

4. Make sure the tree is well watered before planting; continue to let the hose trickle at the base once planted until the area is well saturated. You can use any remaining soil to use arond the base to create a moat or a saucer effect to hold the water in when you do water.

5. Fertilize with Parkwood Transplanter fertilizer 5-15-5 at time of planting. This helps in reducing transplant shock and includes a rooting hormone which helps the tree get established quicker.

6. Stake your tree for the first couple of years until it is stable especially if it is in a windy open location.

7. Continue to water when needed and fertilize yearly with either tree fertilizer stakes, liquid or slow release granular what ever best suits your lifestyle.
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I hope you are enjoying our newsletter. As always we appreciate your input into how we can continue to improve in all aspects. If and when you have some input, I would love to hear it, good and not so good.
 
Sincerely,
 

Rob Gemmell
Gemmell's Garden Centre