Hoffman Nursery logoTopofPageGrassSmarts™
An e-newsletter from Hoffman Nursery, Inc. 
January 2010
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Greetings, 
Welcome to our inaugural GrassSmarts™ e-newsletter. We're happy you're with us, and we aim to keep you up-to-date with grass news and practical knowledge.
 
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome, so please email us if you have them. We hope you enjoy your time with us, and thanks for reading.
 
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In this Issue
See grasses in action by visiting projects that use ornamental and native grasses to their fullest.
This issue, see The Lurie Garden and Hudson River Park. Two amazing gardens that bring grasses to the forefront with style.
 
GrassSmarts™ Focus
Get your grass program in top shape with advice on selecting, growing, managing, and selling ornamental grasses. 
What do you know about cool? Tips for managing your cool season grass program.
 
Hear what's happening at our Nursery.
It was hoppin' at the Nursery this past fall. Television, talks, and executive aspirations abound.
 
Look into the future and see what grasses you should be planning for right now.
What grasses should be on your radar in January? Take a look at these cool season grasses for early spring sales.
 
Find out who's talking grass in stories from the media.
This issue, we look at a Fine Gardening cover story on grasses.
 
Hoffman Nursery will be plying the winter trade shows. Find out why you should step over for a visit.
 
FindingGreatGrassesFinding Great Grasses: The Lurie Garden and Hudson River Park  
 
Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millenium ParkFinding projects that do great grasses is becoming easier and easier. In this issue, we highlight two parks that use some of our favorites. The Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park has been touted for its innovative design and masterful use of perennials. Designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Piet Oudolf, and Robert Israel, the Garden represents Chicago's past and future with dark and light "plates" of shade- and sun-loving perennials. The scope and centrality of the garden pays tribute to the city's motto Urbs in Horto, meaning City in a Garden.
 
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' in Lurie GardenJohn Hoffman, our owner, and Shannon Currey, our Dir. of Marketing, visited the Lurie Garden in September while attending the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects. At that time of year, the grasses take center stage, including the cool season star, Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass). Herr Foerster's close cousin, Calamagrostis brachytricha (Korean Feather Reed Grass), fits in perfectly in the Windy City. The showy plumes constantly sway and dance in the garden.Calamagrostis brachytricha
 
Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' in Hudson River ParkHudson River Park hugs the riverfront along the west side of Manhattan between Battery Place and W. 59th Street. John & Jill Hoffman strolled through the park in early September and were impressed with its popularity and appealing design. It makes liberal use of grasses for gorgeous, easy-to-please landscapes. Our cool season pal, C. xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster', works its magic in September in this project. The plumes, which came out in spring, are still going strong and making a statement in the landscape months later.
 
 
GrassSmartsGrassSmarts™ Focus: What do you know about cool?
 
We think everyone ought to know about cool when it comes to grasses. Cool season grasses offer unique advantages that can boost sales and brighten the landscape. If you understand cool season grasses, you can manage them better. That means better plants, better sales, and better landscapes. Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune'
 
How Cool Season Grasses Grow
Most of you are familiar with the growth cycle of cool season grasses (if you'd like a refresher, click here). They photosynthesize most efficiently when soil and air temperatures are mild (soil 50�-65�, air 60�-75�) and the soil is relatively moist. Under these conditions, they're able to devote resources to abundant growth. In most temperate climates, this happens in spring and fall.
 
What's Great about Cool Season Grasses and their Timing?
  • Most are fast growers, so you can lower costs with rapid turnover
  • They offer a jumpstart on early spring sales; cool season foliage and blooms are peaking when warm season plants are just getting started
  • They boost fall sales with a second flush of growth after summer dormancy. They look great when warm season plants are starting to look shabby, and they'll continue to look good throughout fall.
  • They make great fall and winter container plants, which can stretch sales into the off season.
 
Planning for Cool Season
How do you manage timing for cool season grasses? Ideally, you'll meet seasonal demand without having to maintain plants through the heat of summer. Although these grasses vary in their growth habits and requirements, there are some general guidelines to help you get the timing down. Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' (Blue Sheep's Fescue) is a typical cool season grass, so we'll use it as an example. Of course, you may need to adjust based on your region and growing conditions.
 
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' is about as cool as it gets. It's a fast grower during its active periods and will continue to grow straight through winter. In our unheated, poly cold frames, blue fescue will put on top growth even during the coldest months of January and February. In colder climates, minimally heated cold frames may be necessary to maintain growth during deep cold.
 
Spring Sales

Bring in blue fescue liners in January or February and pot them up for early spring sales. They'll be ready in 10 weeks or so. They'll fill their containers quickly with bright, clean foliage and thick root masses. Depending on your region, you can time them to flower with peak demand. Those of you in colder climates may need to adjust this timing or start them in marginally heated cold frames. If you start them on heat, they'll be ready even faster. Many of the cool season grasses we offer will work well with this timing, including Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted Hair Grass), Deschampsia flexuosa (Crinkled Hair Grass), Arrenatherum elatius subsp. bulbosum 'Variegatum' (Striped Tuber Oat Grass), and Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta' 'Picta' (Ribbon Grass) Phalaris arundinacea 'Strawberries and Cream' (Ribbon Grass).
 
Fall & Winter Sales
If you're thinking fall, bring in blue fescue liners in October or November for a quick turnaround. They'll boost late fall and winter sales. Their lush, bright foliage stands out in mixed containers. In mild climates, cool season grasses are perfectly suited to fall landscape planting, and liner sizes are cost-effective for big jobs. You can also take extra liners, pot them up into gallons or larger, and overwinter them in a cold frame. They'll continue to grow throughout the winter and will be knockouts in the spring.
 
Cultural Requirements in a Container
As in a natural setting, cool season grasses grow best in containers when they have mild soil temperatures and adequate moisture. They'll need more moisture during spring and fall when they are actively growing, but they cannot tolerate constant wetness. For more specifics, go to the full article
 
Transplanting
Transplanting should be done when the plant is actively growing. With cool season grasses, this means a window from fall into spring. Here at the Nursery, our window is from September through April. To get more information on transplanting, go to the full article.Phalaris arundinacea 'Picta'
 
Trouble Spots
Cool season grasses, like most ornamental grasses, tend to have few pest problems. Even so, there are a few issues you'll want to keep an eye on. Find out what these are in the full article.
 
Wrapping up Cool
We think you can manage cool, and we're here to help. We've only scratched the surface of managing cool season grasses here, so if you have questions, we'll do our best to answer them. Call or email us with your questions. For highlights of some of our cool season favorites, check out our Grass Forecast below and our list of cool season grasses from the Nursery.
LatestatHNIThe Latest at HNI
It was hoppin' at the Nursery this fall. Here are a few highlights:
 
In October, John Hoffman, our owner and fearless leader, stepped up to serve as President of the Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Having participated in the PPA for several years, PPA logoJohn is eager to offer new services to members and to bring in more new members. Perennials continue to be strong performers for the industry, and we think John and the PPA will help keep that trend going. Keep an eye out here for updates as PPA progresses.
 
Scott Epps, our Nursery Manager, gave a presentation on Lean Flow Management at this year's annual meeting of the International Plant Propagators Society-Southern Region (IPPS-SR) in Biloxi, Mississippi. Scott gave an overview of Lean Flow principles and then illustrated how they've been applied to the production process at HNI. Even though he spoke on the last morning of the conference, he had great attendance, and his talk generated a lot of discussion. 
 
Hoffman Nursery has made the leap to television. Almanac Gardener, a home horticultural television series, filmed at the Nursery in early October. The show is produced by North Carolina statewide public television (UNC-TV) and hosted by Mike Gray. Mike chatted with John Hoffman on camera about native and ornamental grasses for the home landscape. Almanac Gardener is celebrating its 26th season this year, and we expect to see John and our nursery grasses in all their televised glory in spring 2010. We'll keep you posted!Alamanac Gardener Filming
Alamanac Gardener van
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GrassForecastGrass Forecast: Perfectly Cool 
 
Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'Winter is in, and your thoughts may be about bedding down for the season. But if you're thinking ahead, you'll know that cool season grasses are on the agenda. Ordering cool season grasses now for delivery in late winter will give you a jumpstart on outstanding spring displays and sales. In the landscape, cool season grasses bridge the growing seasons and provide much-needed color and excitement when warm season plants aren't at their best.Arrenatherum elatius subsp. bulbosum 'Variegatum'
 
Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass) ranks up there as one of our favorites. With its upright habit and delicate, buff-colored plumes, it accents the landscape perfectly.
 
Arrenatherum elatius subsp. bulbosum 'Variegatum' (Striped Tuber Oat Grass) sports bright white and dark green variegation for a dramatic look in shade. This grass goes completely dormant for us in the summer, but emerges with brilliant stripes in fall. Makes a great winter container plant.
 
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' (Blue Sheep's Fescue) is another bright-colored, cool season grass for the garden. It's silvery blue foliage is incredibly striking among Festuca glauce 'Elijah Blue'other perennials.
 
Our Sales Team can help you make a great selection from our cool season liners. For grasses to jazz up your spring and fall, click here to go to the cool list on our website or check out page 62 of our 2009-2010 catalog. (You don't have current catalog? Send an email catalog request.) Download a current availabilty here.
  
 
InTheNewsIn the News: Who's Talking Grass 
 
Fine Gardening December 2009Who's reading about grasses? Retail Customers. They continue to see articles that demonstrate the versatility and performance of grasses in the landscape. In the December 2009 issue of Fine Gardening, associate editor Danielle Sherry shows how to set the mood with grasses. Included on the first page is cool season fave, Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass). The article is not currently available online, but if you have a chance, pick up a hard copy and feast your eyes on the big, beautiful photo spreads it includes. Happy grass reading!
 
 
SeeAtShowsSee You at the Shows! 
Winter trade shows are coming up, and we'll be showing and talking grasses at several shows. If you're attending one, please come by the booth and see us. We'd love to talk with you about how business is going and what we can do to help. Mention this e-newsletter while you're at our booth, and we'll have small token of our appreciation for you!
 
Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS), Baltimore, MD
Wednesday - Friday, Jan. 6-8, Booth 412
 
Green & Growin', Greenboro, NC
Friday & Saturday, Jan. 15 & 16, Booth 533 & 535
 
Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS), Columbus, OH
Monday - Wednesday, Jan. 25-27, Booth 3022
 
New England Grows!, Boston, MA
Wednesday - Friday, Feb. 3-5, Booth 3011 
 
CommentsYour Comments & Upcoming Features
 
Hoffman NurseryAs we develop our newsletters and search for the latest news and information for you, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Please call (800-203-8590) or email us.
 
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