Planters' Choice Weekly Picks! 

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Friday, July 15, 2011   
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In This Issue
CNLA Summer Field Day
Perennial of the Week: Echinacea purpurea
New Product: Deer Out
NOW

CNLA Summer Field Day a Success!

CNLA Summer Meeting Recap
A great day and fun event - CNLA's Summer Field Day 2011

As you all know we were the proud hosts of this year's CNLA Summer Field Day at Veteran's Park in Watertown last Wednesday. We would like to thank the 370 guests and vendors for attending. It was thrilling to be able to show our Watertown growing fields, sales yard and perennial production to so many of you. Thanks also to the Town of Watertown for opening up the Park for this important function and to all our staff for their efforts to help make the day such a success for CNLA!

 

If you missed out, keep it in mind for next year! 

Perennial of the Week:  Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea mix
Echinacea purpurea
common name
: Purple Coneflower
size: 2-4'
interest: Purple daisy-like flowers with large coned center. Other colors depending on cultivar.
culture: full sun
time of year: July - September
companion plants:  Shasta Daisy, Russian Sage, Black-eyed Susan, Autumn Joy Sedum, Ornamental Grasses

Echinacea purpurea is a perennial native to the prairies of central U.S. that offers a wide range of colorful cultivars.  It is easily one of the widest used perennials for all types of gardens. The long lasting blooms on stiff stems make it perfect for the cutting garden, and the large flower heads with the big-coned centers will make any area pop with color. It's important to know that it can self-seed, so using them in a meadow or wild setting will work well.  For the more formal site deadheading them will take care of unwelcome volunteers. For your customers who appreciate the natural world, smaller songbirds like finches love the seedheads. Plant in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil. they are also quite drought tolerant.

The most difficult thing about Purple Cone Flower is choosing which variety to use! Seen here are Echinacea 'Magnus', 'Harvest Moon', 'Baby White Swan' and 'Sundown'. Take a look at the others on your next visit.
NEW Deer Repellent: Deer Out! 
Deer Out
Deer Out
Here's a new product to use to repell those hungry deer. Deer Out has been in use for almost a decade with great results. It is made from 100% natural ingredients, the key component being mint which makes it perfect for those customers who complain about disagreeable smells. It can be used on vegetables and fruit trees as well as all ornamentals. Deer Out uses gum arabic and hydrogenated vegetable oil as the "stickers" which make it very long lasting - up to 3-4 months. However, during rapid spring growth you may need to spray more often as the new leaves unfold. It is non-staining, so it won't wash off or leave a film.

If you are looking for a new deer repellent to try, consider Deer Out. It comes in two ready-to-use spray bottles (40 oz. and 1 gallon) and a 32 oz. concentrate. Let us know how you like it!

NOW

Aesculus parv. 2
Aesculus parviflora planted at Chuck's house

Incoming:
Buxus m. 'Winter Gem' 24-30"
Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood) 18-21" specimen, 24-28" specimen and hedge grade, 30-36" hedge grade.

B. x 'Green Mountain' 36-42"


Looking Good:
Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye) is blooming now! Sought-after for it's foot long creamy flower spikes, deer resistance and ability to bloom as well in sun or shade. Nice for the large shrub border or massed. Growing 8-12' H x 8-15' W, it is even nice standing alone. Great as a transition plant from lawn to woods. Fall color is yellow.  

Hydrangea p. 'Limelight'
Hydrangea p. 'Limelight'



Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle Hydrangea)  All blooming beautifully!  Large creamy panicles will age to pink. Full sun to part shade they are reliable bloomers even when pruned back late winter. Tolerant of any soil conditions, but not wet. Very hardy plants that are the most urban tolerant of all hydrangeas. 

Check out 'Limelight', 'Quickfire', 'Tardiva', 'Snow Mountain', 'Grandiflora' and others.  Shrub form and tree form available.
 

  

 

 

 

 

Vaccinium 'Top Hat'
Vaccinium x 'Top Hat'

Vaccinium angustifolium, V. corymbosum

and V. x 'Top Hat' Assorted container sizes. Versatile native plants grown for their fall color as much as their berries. Use the Lowbush as an interesting groundcover or as front of the border edging. The hybrid 'Top Hat', which is self-pollinating, makes a wonderful container plant slowly reaching about 2'. The Highbush is very nice in the shrub border, for attracting wildlife or to naturalize along ponds and streams. Older plants develop characters all their own with interesting furrowed, twisted trunks. Of course, all are good for delicious fruit. Plant them in rich acidic soil that is moist and well drained. They will tolerate shade but sunnier locations result in more fruit and better fall color. Fertilize with Holly-tone or PHC 3-4-4 for acid loving plants.
 

Mosquito Dunks
Mosquito Dunks 

 Hardgoods


Mosquitoes are ravenous this year so why not try Mosquito Dunks! How do they work? It is a solid form of BT (Bacillus thuringiensis v. israelensis) which is released over the surface of the water. It contans no poisons so it is harmless to other animals and pets. They target only Mosquito larvae. Use 1 dunk once a month for every 100 sq feet of standing water - they can even be broken up for smaller areas. Safe and effective! So plan all the swat-free picnics you want!

 


Ligularia 'Britt Marie Crawford'
Ligularia dentata 'Britt Marie Crawford'

 

 

 

Enjoy Your Weekend!




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