Planters' Choice Weekly Picks!
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 Friday, September 3, 2010
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In This Issue
Mark's Fall Turf Tip...
Staff Picks! Tom Likes Large Leaf Rhododendron
Fresh Additions for the Perennial Border!
NOW
Mark's Fall Turf Tip:
Aeration and Over-seeding for Healthy Lawns in 2011!
Grass seed
The rain last week was surely welcomed by everyone and was a signal that fall is just around the corner, and with cooler temperatures it is time to get your lawns in shape for next spring. Remember your 2011 lawn care program starts early in September with a good aeration and over-seed so your lawns thicken and green up for next spring. This way they will be ready for crabgrass control in April.
 
Also whether you are over-seeding or just doing a fall fertilization we have plenty of quality Lebanon fertilizer in stock such as 12-25-12  or  16-25-12 with 25% mesa or 10-20-15  with 1 % Iron.
 
If you have high profile lawns consider fertilizing now with 20-0-5 with 1% iron or 9-2-5 with 6% iron,  then do your fall fertilization about 6 to 8 weeks later. Turf grass keeps utilizing fertilizer for a period of about three weeks after the top stops growing and most people make their last cut around Thanksgiving. So depending on the whether if you get fertilizer down by mid November it will make an improvement on your lawns with an early spring green up!
Feel free to call or stop by with any suggestions!
Staff Picks!                                              Tom's Rhodies!
Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans'
Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans'
This is Tom's 4th season in sales at Planters' Choice in Newtown. Previously he owned Morning Glory Flower Shop up in Washington, CT which had been in his family since 1922!

When asked what one of his favorite plants is, he didn't hesitate saying, "Rhododendron!"  Tom likes the large-leaf varieties, especially 'Roseum Elegans', which he has growing along the front of his house. He also likes 'Percy Wiseman' and the deep purple cultivars like 'Edith Bosley' and 'Wojnar's Purple'.

 "They don't need much care, just yearly pruning after they flower to keep them below the picture window. I really like their clean foliage. And nothing really bothers them, though I do spray for deer each fall."

Thanks Tom!
Fresh Additions for the Perennial Border

Stinky Hellebore

Helleborus foetidus
Here's some new perennials to get to know - an interesting mix for the next time you're designing a perennial border or need to fill in gaps.
 
Delphinium x belladonna 'Casablanca'. Pure white spurred flowers to 4' tall. Moist soil and full sun.

Echinacea 'Baby White Swan' is a compact version of 'White Swan' that flowers earlier than other Echinacea. 20" tall. Full sun.
E. 'Lucky Star' is also white and has an orange cone center. Bushy habit 30-36" tall. Full sun.

Geranium sanguineum 'New Hampshire' Deep magenta flower, May-June. 8-12", full sun.

Heuchera americana 'Dales Strain' (Coral Bells) Green leaves veined in silver and bronze. Native to the East Coast, found in N. Carolina. Shade and drought tolerant. 1-2' tall and wide.

Helleborus foetidus (Stinky Hellebore) Winter and early spring interest! Check it out!
"...Few hellebores are as magnificent
during the coldest days of winter prior to blooming. The foliage can be
breathtaking when little else in the garden is visible." Read more at Hellebores.org.

Hosta 'Fire and Ice' has creamy white leaves with green margins. Lavender flowers in June-July, 10-20" mound x 30" wide.

Linaria purpurea 'Canon J. Went' (Toadflax) Pink flower spikes. Related to snapdragon. Full sun, well-drained soil. 3' tall.

Penstemon 'Zuriblau' Fine gray foliage, yellow buds open purple! 20" flower spikes, drought tolerant.

Sorgastrum nutans 'Indian Steel' (Indian Grass) Drought tolerant, steely blue/gray with burgundy foliage and golden yellow plumes. 4-6' tall.

Please ask for them the next time you come in!
NOW

Colorado Spruce

Picea pungens
In This Week:
Evergreens! Assorted sizes - call for sizes and pricing.
Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)
Pinus strobus (White Pine)
Thuja nigra (Dark American Arborvitae)
T. occidentalis 'Emerald Green' (American Arborvitae)
T. plicata 'Green Giant' (Western Arborvitae)
Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock)
Also...
Betula nigra (River Birch) Container plants, clump
Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' 30-36", 5 ga
Prunus l. 'Otto Lyuken' 5 ga
Rosa 'Coral Carpet', 'Knockouts' and more.
Asters, Millet and Mums!
Asters, Millet and Mums

Dan's Perennial HOT List!
Looking great and in good supply!

Aster 'Vibrant Dome' Hot pink flower, full sun. 15-20" tall
Centranthus 'Rubrum' (Red Valerian)
Echinacea 'Magnus' Rose-red, non drooping form, full sun. 30" tall.
Geranium sanguineum 'New Hampshire' (Cranesbill) Dark magenta, full sun to part shade. 16" tall.
Gypsophila 'Alba' (Baby's Breath) Creeping form, white flowers, full sun. 4-6" tall.
G. 'Rosea' Pink form, full sun.
Monarda 'Jacob Cline' (Bee Balm) Deep red flowers, full sun. 5' tall.
M. 'Petite Delight' Dwarf lavender rose flowers, 12-15" tall.
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' Green foliage, rose-red flowers. 18" tall.
and Mums, Millet and Asters!!! 
 
Stop by for some color soon!
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