The Family Tree, Christmas 2011 Issue

Our beautiful trees are hung to create a magical forest...perfect for playing hide and seek and for finding that special tree for your home. You can warm your hands by the fire while roasting marshmallows and sipping Sneed's famous cider. Make sure to visit the cottage for unique tree trimmings and holiday décor. Be inspired!

This year, 98.9 Liberty radio station will be celebrating our open house with us! They will be broadcasting live from the nursery from 10 to 12 on Saturday and giving away prizes.

How to Create a Gorgeous Holiday Mantle,

by Jenny Rash

Every Christmas customers ask to buy our gorgeous mantles...not just an ornament or a pick or the lights, but the WHOLE thing. Why? Because Amanda creates irresistible displays that seem impossible to duplicate at home. I quizzed Amanda on her methods and have this to share with you:

Gather some tools to make your project easier: staple gun, clear head push pins, florist wire, wire cutters, pruners.
Evaluate your existing mantle display. What objects do you want to keep and which will go? You may want to keep some items with substance to anchor your new display.
Start with the background or bones of the display...are you going to use fresh roping, artificial greenery, or budget friendly boughs from your Christmas tree? Which ever you choose, you will want to make sure that you don't just lay it straight across the mantle. You need to give it depth by creating a serpentine line moving up and down as well as dipping over the edge. **Tip: If you are using fresh greenery, the longer the pieces the better they are to work with and the longer they will last.**

Once you've got the roping in place you will want to staple or use push pins and wire to keep the roping from moving. Don't cringe at the thought of putting holes in your wood! Amanda says just fill the holes with paint or, if it's white, chalk when you are all finished.
Now the lights: Do not wrap! Plug them in and stretch the strand out along the length of the mantle. Place the beginning of the lights at the beginning of the roping, the end of the lights at the end of the roping, and the middle of the lights at the middle. Now you will weave the remaining lights through the greenery...use floral wire if needed.
Use garlands, ornaments, and ribbon to complete your mantle. Sneed's has a great selection whether you want glittery, traditional, kitschy, or natural. Don't be afraid to cut decorative garlands into sections to save on money and material. A beautiful garland can be cut and tucked into the roping to give the appearance that it has been woven throughout.
Choose 3 different sizes of ornaments to use...the larger ball ornaments are great for creating focal points. Make sure to set the ornaments at different heights and depths. Bird and butterfly ornaments are very popular this year and make a wonderful addition to the mantle. Finish off ornaments with pretty bows where the hooks traditionally go. Ribbon can be cut just like the garland to tuck and weave throughout. You are finished when all of the empty space is gone...the outline should look like a city scape with peaks and valleys. Voila! Gorgeous holiday mantle!

Make sure to stop by Sneed's for inspiration...we have beautiful icy aqua, jewel tone, and SPARKLY palettes to choose from. Think you've got a beautiful display? Send us a picture! We will choose a winner from submissions for a $25 gift card to spend in the cottage. Email photos to jenny@sneedsnursery.com.

One of Amanda's beautiful creations this year!

The Bottom Line in Landscaping,

by Bob Sneed

Winter is approaching! In fact, the temperatures have already dipped below freezing, prompting the changing of color in our gardens from warm season annuals such as begonia and vinca to the cold season color of pansies. The panorama of color displayed by deciduous trees and shrubs as they transform into dormancy always seems grander than I remember. I just love it!

Recommendations for the rest of the fall/winter season:

No more pruning! Pruned branches will sit unhealed until spring, making the best time for pruning (especially heavy pruning) to be late February and/or early March.
Please don't commit "crape murder". The temptation will be great to hack half the tree off, especially when the whackers commence in the late winter. Even though the "pros" are doing it right in front of your eyes, it is still wrong!
Remove or mulch leaves from deciduous trees to minimize the negative effects they can have on ornamental shrubs.

Bottom line: One of Richmond's great assets is the distinct seasonal changes and the glorious beauty that each season offers. And one of Sneed's greatest assets is you, our loyal customers. We appreciate your business and the opportunity to serve you during all the seasons of the year. We wish for you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 2012. Thank you!

How do you have the freshest Christmas tree on December 31st??...It's easy!

Buy your tree as soon as possible (most trees arrive in Richmond around Thanksgiving). Purchasing your tree in mid-December when you're ready to decorate only means that it's been on sale and without water since November. Our hand-selected plantation trees arrive the weekend before Thanksgiving and have been cut just before they are shipped.
Have a generous fresh cut made on the bottom of the tree here at the Garden Center before you leave...the bigger the cut the better for the tree.
Place your tree outside in a shady location in a container of water until you are ready to decorate it. Buy early and keep it fresh.
Remember that positioning your Christmas tree away from heat sources and adding 'Tree Moist' to the water will also increase longevity.
Visit our Christmas Cottage for great gifts, decorations, and Christmas supplies!! The selection this year is amazing!

All about Wreaths and Garlands . . .

Upon arrival, our wreaths and garlands are hand dipped in a moisture-sealing preservative to ensure freshness throughout the season. We offer fresh cut roping by the yard, or by the roll, in pine, balsam, fir, as well as mixed.

Creating custom wreaths is our specialty! Linda and Claudia are here beginning the week of Thanksgiving to take orders. Shop early for the best selection of ribbons, dried fruits and other embellishments.

We also have an outstanding team of designers that will customize your garland or wreath for you. Come on in and check out some of the beautiful creations that they will have available for purchase. If you are the "hands on" type of person, we will be having a Wreath Workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 11 am, so you can create your own masterpiece for the holidays! Call us at 320-7798 x 307 to reserve your spot.

Holiday Dates to Remember!

NOV 19 -- Our first shipment of wreaths and roping arrive.
NOV 23 -- The Best Christmas Trees in Richmond will be here!
NOV 26 -- Our second shipment of wreaths and roping arrive.
NOV 28 & 29 -- Poinsettias come in.
DEC 3 & 4 -- Sneed's 35th Annual Christmas Open House!
DEC 5 -- More and more poinsettias!

It's really starting to look like Christmas here at Sneed's!! You will definitely want to make time to come on out and enjoy the magic of the season!

Happy Holidays from all of us at

Sneed's Nursery

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Since 1975, Sneed's Nursery has provided Richmond-area residences and businesses with premier landscaping solutions.

8756 Huguenot Road

Richmond, VA 23235

Landscape Office: 804-320-7798, ext 301 or 302

Irrigation Office: 804-320-1101

Garden Center: 804-320-7798, ext 307

Fax: 804-330-0185

	*Poinsettias:* Buy 2 get 1 free Offer Good: December 5-12, 2011