Planters' Choice Weekly Picks!
Archived E-mails
 Friday, December 3, 2010
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In This Issue
Crabapples in Fall
Staff Tips: Plant Sanitation
Winter Conferences - Help Your Business Grow
NOW
Crabapples in Fall - What's not to like?
Malus 'Red Jewel'
Malus 'Red Jewel'

Last April Charlie chose Crabapples for his Staff Pick. Naturally the focus at that time of year is on the beautiful bloom that create clouds of color, but once the flowers have faded it's the developing fruit that keep our interest.  Malus 'Red Jewel' 2-3" seen at left,  are from our farm and they're loaded with fruit. Smaller statured ornamental trees like these crabapples easily find a spot in the home garden as long as there is sufficient sun  to assure good bloom and fruit set. Ask about our other varieties the next time you are in. 

They will reward you with fabulous fall and winter interest, and of course, the showy spring blossoms Charlie likes so much!

Staff Tips:
        Sanitation -  The First Line of Defense in Disease Control
Boxwood damage
Avoid stem damage promoted by leaf debris.

Lets face it, sanitation is not a glamorous subject but it speaks miles when it comes to controlling  many plant pathogens that create real headaches  for landscapers. Lets take a look at Boxwood.


Often boxwood have a low multi-branching structure that traps all the old leaves that drop naturally in the fall and also trap the leaves from shearing. This should be cleaned out as often as possible. Otherwise fungi such as Nectria cinnabarina  and/or Pseudonectria rouselliana (conidial state of volutella buxi) will invade and colonize the bark cambium along with the outer sapwood of the stems. This is all promoted by leaf debris,  excessive mulch and planting too deep - all which hold too much moisture against the bark allowing the fungi to infect the stems. This is the cause of one branch or several branches that turn straw colored and die. If you follow these branches down into the interior of the plant you will see either loose bark or no bark. Thus, the limb is girdled causing it to die.

 

Another good example involves the leaf minor of American Holly - Phytomyza  ilicicola. The larva of this leaf minor over-winters in the leaves on the ground. So, obviously, cleaning up all the leaves on the ground and disposing off-site will greatly decrease infection in the spring.

 

Want another example? Apple scab, Venturia inaequalis, this fungus over-winters on the dead leaves laying on the ground where the spores are released in the spring to infect the new growth on the tree. Once again clean up all fallen leaves and dispose of off-site to reduce the rate of infection.

 

The list of reasons for good sanitation in the landscape is almost endless. It's easy to see how a little cleanup goes a long way to helping your landscape look better and stay healthy!


Thanks Mark!

This Winter, Learn Something New and Help Your Business Grow!

cnla logoJanuary 12 & 13 CNLA Winter Symposium (CT Nursery and Landscape Association) Hear world renown speakers like Rick Darke and Ian Baldwin and see interesting products. It's a good way to stay connected with your industry - the Green Industry!  There are lectures on the second day for Spanish speaking employees as well!  Check out the full schedule at the above link.


January 27 & 28 CGKA Conference (CT Groundskeepers Association) 'Sustainability for Success' - a Turf and Landscape Conference held at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. Great programs from the "Calibration of Lawn Care Sprayers" to "Creating and Maintaining Riparian Buffers". By the sheer volume of rooms booked in advance, you can have an amazing deal on a hotel room at a world class facility! Take a look at their program schedule. Register early and get free lunch!


February 2-4 New England Grows, one of the largest horticultural and green industry events in North America - known for its progressive educational conference and world-class trade show (over 1300 booths!) See the schedule at a glance. It's always a fun event!


So plan on attending a few lectures, see some new faces and re-connect with some old ones.


and...stay tuned for Planters' Choice Winter Lecture Series - information coming soon!

NOW
Narcissus Mt. Hood
Narcissus 'Mt. Hood'

FALL SPECIALS:

Selected Japanese Maples - 50% Off! 'Vanderwolf' and 'Oregon Green'  Pine, selected B&B Boxwood and Viburnum heavily discounted.  Here is a PDF of the complete Fall Special List. 
Please call for current availability.

 

BULBS:

There's still time to under-plant your spring flowering trees and shrubs with spring color!

We continue to offer a nice assortment of bulbs in our Newtown office - choose from Alliums, Crocus, Hyacinths (both Crocus and Hyacinths are great for forcing), Narcissus ('Barrett Browning', 'Cheerfulness', 'Ice Follies', 'Jet Fire', 'Mt. Hood',  'Salome')  and mixed Tulips.


Stop by and design your spring garden!

Thuja occidentalis 'Techny'
Thuja occidentalis 'Techny'

 

EVERGREENS:

Now is the perfect time to give your customers some winter interest. Whether screening or specimen, evergreens will really add some warming color to the bleak grey tones of January's landscape, provide cover for wildlife and block some undesireable views all at the same time.

Arborvitae -Assorted sizes of Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green', 'Dark American',  Gold Tip 'Elegantisima', 'Techny' and T. plicata 'Green Giant'.

Spruce - Norway and Serbian Picea abies and P. omorika - some larger sizes available

Canaan Fir - Abies balsamea ph. 8/10'

Call for sizing and pricing.


Watertown  has a good selection of some nice Japanese White Pine, 'Emerald Green' and Dark American Arborvitae, 'Green Giant' Western Arborvitae 5/6'. Other evergreens also available.

Dwarf English Boxwood 24-30" are also looking very good- give a call!


Remember, though most houses are covered, all material is accessible and our sales people are here ready to help! Come on over!

Have A Great Weekend!
Kezia Hearn
Turn #4


Remember our winter hours have begun:
Monday - Friday 8am-4:30 pm
Closed on Saturdays through mid-March.


Don't forget to see Tom's daughter, Kezia Hearn's exhibit at the Roxbury Community Library Gallery - Beautiful modern botanicals on canvas. The opening is Saturday, December 4th, 2-4pm. Come meet the artist and have some wine while soaking up some local culture!
black pc logo Planters' Choice, LLC

Visit our two locations:
140 Huntingtown Rd.  Newtown, CT 06470  Tel. 203-426-4037  Fax 203-426-8057 
496 Bunker Hill Rd.  Watertown, CT 06795  Tel. 860-945-6588  Fax 860-945-9282
Hours:
March 15th - June 26th  Mon.- Sat. 7 am - 4:30 pm
June 28th - Nov. 20th  Mon. - Fri. 7 am - 4:30 pm & Sat. 7 am - 1 pm
Winter Hours  Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4:30 pm