Skillin's Garden Log 
 Skillin's Greenhouses! Since 1885...

Brunswick 442-8111                    Cumberland 829-5619                 Falmouth 781-3860

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www.skillins.com
Skillin's! Garden Talks Online May 5, 2010
In This Issue
Garden Talks
Skillin's Garden Log
Mark Your Calendar!
Did You Know?
Subscribe to Our Newsletter!
Hello again,
 
Welcome to another edition of Garden Talks Online by Skillin's Greenhouses! We have been "online" since 1999 and "on the ground" in Skillin's Country since 1885. We work every day to keep your trust and  realize that in 2010 your time is very precious. 
 
 Many thanks to everyone involved with our very succesful series of Gardening classes that started in March and went through last weekend. We have one more class on June 12 (first June class ever!) We will be back with another series this coming late August. Again thanks to everyone who attended the class and taught the class (what a great bunch of teachers). Also a tremendous amount of behind the scenes work takes place:setting up the class, registering attendees, confirming attendees, and cleaning up the classes. Many hands, much effort but well worth it!
 
Skillin's Plug: This coming weekend brings Mothers Day to Skillin's Country. We have so much here for Mom: flowering shrubs, perfect perennials, herbs, flowering baskets and of course, the best in floral arrangements and fresh cut flower stems. Check out why we are consistently voted Maine's Favorite Florist!
 

Remember Mom Helped You Grow!
Mother's Day at Skillin's!

Garden Talks
 

 

 What to say about gardening advice for this week? Whew, this weather has been fantastic and we are weeks ahead of some early Mays. Lilacs are bursting with color NOW--as opposed to late May as one for instance.
 
Our customers are GUNG HO and many of you are buying tomatoes, impatiens, petunias and many other plants that could get nipped by cold weather. "Can I plant?" By the traditional book the answer in many cases should be "No". But many people are indeed planting; we are advising people to keep a close eye out for frost and cold winds. Nights that will have temps in the upper 30's be ready to cover your plants with a sheet or bring them in. Cold windy days can set back plants as well. Be careful and if you don't think you can safeguard against the cold then wait a little longer. Certainly cold weather vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, lettuces and greens, cabbages, cauliflowers) can get planted. Pansies and snapdragons no problem! Live in Portland or near the coast--that helps your cause.
 
We are "growing up" and bringing in new plants by the hour this time of year. It is very exciting at Skillin's right now! Come see us, see our plants and we can talk about timely planting! Or drop us a question at skillins@maine.rr.com!
 
This week is a great time to sow carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce and dill directly into the garden. You can do this even if you already have some of these crops already started in your garden. A second sowing is a great way to extend your harvest--as are 3rd, 4th, 5th sowings as the season progresses. Skillin's Plug: We have a GREAT selection of lettuce and other greens as seedlings. They are the perfect size to plant and you will be able to harvest the leaf lettuces, mesclun mix and arugula seedlings that we have within the next few days! When I plant seeds or seedlings I always put a little bit of all natural Garden Tone by Espoma into the soil to help the roots grow a little faster and stronger!
 
Now is the time in many cases to deadhead Spring Flower Bulbs as blooms fade, but do leave the foliage intact to wither for awhile. Right now your bulbs underground are drawing nutrients from the foliage above ground. Let that happen for bigger bulbs next year! Again your bulbs are hungry and are looking to grow. Now is a good time to help them by poking a few holes around the bulb and pouring down some Bulb Tone or Plant Tone by Espoma. Or give the foliage a liquid feed of all natural Fish and Seaweed Food by Neptune's Harvest. Next Spring you will be glad you did!
 
The grass is growing green! Remember don't bag or rake your leaf clippings! Let them lie on your lawn; this is a "green" and effective way to return valuable nitrogen to your soil. Also mow your lawn a little taller than you have in the past. A "clean shaven" and short lawn gives more light and air to weeds in the lawn. Conversely a taller lawn "shades" or "canopies" potential weeds and this helps to naturally keep the weed population down.
 
Want more easy to follow and effective lawn tips? Go to Lawn Care Program from Skillin's!  to see how achievable a good lawn can be for us "average Joes" (although all the Joes I know are way above average)! You CAN grow a nice lawn without a huge investment of time and labor!
 
Want more, more, more May Gardening Tips? Click here for more May gardening tips. We talks about a variety of very timely topics and we add to our May Garden Talksalmost every day; so check back often. 

 
 Our 2010 nursery and perennial catalogs are now ONLINE! Check them out
 
 Questions about any gardening topics? Email us at skillins@maine.rr.com or contact us at any of the above phone numbers! Or stop by and see us!!

Skillin's Garden Log

 We give out some great gardening advice in this newsletter  but would you like MORE detailed info about MORE garden topics? Well, the Skillin's Garden Log found at www.skillins.com is the PERFECT SOLUTION. Several times per week, a number of Skillin's contributors post gardening updates, stories and photos. At the Skillin's Garden Log, you can learn and laugh often all in the same post. Check out the Skillin's Garden Log at your convenience; it is found at the front page of www.skillins.com or click on the icon below:  

Skillin's Garden Log

 Recently at the Skillin's Garden Log we have had many good happenings...
 
*Check out May Garden Talks often as we give quick gardening posts day by day for the time at hand--sort of a gardening "play by play"! 
 
*Growing pumpkins big, growing them small or in between for good carving is a great family activity. Let us show you  How to Grow Your Own Pumpkin! 
 
*Paul Parent writes about  The Purple Leaf Plum  and Bush and Pole Beans .  The purple leaf plum is a great addition in many ways to any landscape. And beans? Easily grown in the garden; great for you and when they are fresh the taste is the best! 
 
*Last week we referred you to a neat Garden Log post by KCB called Minding Your P's--a neat article about Planning and Preparing your garden--and we are in that planning and preparing time period! This week we refer you to the KCB sequel--originally published on May 19, 2009--called More Ps to Ponder--covering Purchase, Plant and Provide!
 
 
Mark Your Calendar!
 
Our FREE classes will be held Saturdays at all three locations .  Space is limited
so reserve today for the classes of your choice! Just give us a call at any of the above numbers or drop us a note at skillins@maine.rr.com. (Just let us know the date, time and store location!)
 

Class participants receive a special  Skillin's 10% discount coupon for use on the weekend of your class.
 

 Here is  our upcoming classes:

 
 

June 12 The New Wave: Grasses!!  (10 AM Special Time)

 

You bet your Grass we're having a class! Grasses set apart any landscape (they give any landscape a natural look of class) and they grow well in Maine. Let us be your guide through the plumes and blooms, the heights and textures and the sights. Want some class? Check out grass!Free
 
 (This Grass Class is sold out in Falmouth; space does remain in Brunswick and Cumberland!)
 
The NEXT series of Skillin's classes will begin in late summer--probably toward the end of August.
 
  Let us show you how to "do it right". Going to Skillin's gardening classes will save you valuable time and help you get great results!

Did You Know?

Every Tuesday is Mature Gardener's Day at Skillin's! Those customers who qualify will receive 10% off all regularly priced items. (Sale items do not usually apply and very few other restrictions may apply).

 

Remember Mom this Weekend!
Mature Gardener

 Every Friday brings Flower Power Happy Hour where we offer fresh cut flower stems and bunches at 30% off their regular prices. The Happy Hour lasts from Noon until we close!! Every Friday! 
If you buy 5 or more of any of our large bags of soil amendments or mulches, you will get 10% off!  Our bags are bigger and our quality is far superior to the "box stores" and this special makes our prices for our better products a real bargain! We proudly sell Maine made soil amendments and mulches by the Jolly Gardener Company and also by Coast of Maine Products, Inc.
 

Buy a Plant and a Pot from Skillin's and we will Repot the Plant for Free. "Free On the Spot Repot" when you buy a Plant and a Pot here at Skillin's!

   
Spread the word: Have your friends and family sign up for our gardening updates at www.skillins.com!

Let us know at skillins@maine.rr.com if you have any gardening questions! We  love to help our friends and customers!

Skillin's can also be found at www.twitter.com/skillins! We are often there letting you know with quick and timely hits just what is happening here at Skillin's! And some cool Twitpics too!

Thanks for being a friend and customer!

 

Mike Skillin