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Reminder: Wed. October 5th - Chainsaw Sharpening Lecture
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 when: October 5th, 4pm where: Newtown Sales Office credits: 1.5 for 3a, 3d If you would like to learn how to properly sharpen and maintain the BAR and CHAIN on your chainsaw AND earn Certification Credits, call us and sign up for the presentation Wednesday, October 5th at 4 pm held here at our Newtown location. Guaranteed you will come away with a new found understanding of this process which will reduce your frustration with a chainsaw! A number of associates here at Planters' Choice have asked Mark to do this after watching him use his saws and seeing how effortlessly they cut. If you have an interest please sign up now in response to this email or give us a call 203-426-4037 (Newtown) We'll be happy to add you to the list! Come alone or with your crew!
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Question of the Week: What's Up with Browning Needles?
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Fall Needle Drop on 'Green Giant'
Arborvitae and White Pine |
Answer: Fall Needle Drop
There seems to be a lot of calls this time of year regarding the browning of interior needles/scales on conifers.
We answered this question back in our Weekly Picks from October '09 but it bears repeating...
What's happening to these evergreens? Are they dying? Diseased? Some insect maybe? No, they are just going through their fall needle drop, just like deciduous trees drop their leaves - it's a natural occurrence.
Starting late summer into fall you'll begin to see browning in the interior of the plant. This happens with all conifers including Arborvitae. The age of the needle when it drops is what varies from genus to genus. White Pine, for instance, will drop their two year old needles, Colorado Spruce - 8-10 year old needles. Austrian Pine will lose them after 4 years. Bristlecone Pine drop theirs after 14-17 years.
A good way to be certain that the plant is healthy is to check the newest growth at the tips of the branches. If those needles are green and healthy, there's nothing to be concerned about.
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What's that Cloud? Leafhoppers! |
 | Adult leafhopper on turfgrass
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Have you walked across a lawn recently and seen a cloud of "dust" rise up in front of you? Taking a closer look you'll see that they are leafhoppers. This is the tiny adult form - grayish green and less than 6 mm long.
Leafhoppers are sap-sucking insects. The eggs hatch one to two weeks after they're laid. They then feed on the blades of grass causing irregular patches of yellowing.
Control: Maintain a healthy lawn with proper fertilization and irrigation. If large "clouds of dust" are seen, now is the time to treat it with Bifenthrin. As always, read and understand the label for correct application. Please talk to your sales person at time of purchase if you have any questions, or call Mark in the Newtown Office - 203-426-4037. We'll be happy to help.
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| Perennial of the Week: Gaultheria procumbens |
 | Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens
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common name: Wintergreen (Teaberry, Checkerberry)
size: 4-6" tall and spreading
interest: Tiny white flowers in summer, glossy green aromatic foliage that turns reddish in fall and red fruit.
culture: Cool, moist, acidic soil in part shade - shade.
time of year: Summer, fall and winter
companion plants: Mt. Laurel, Cherry Laurel, Fern, Hosta, Carex
Gaultheria, though technically a woody plant, is a great plant to know especially going into fall for the woodland garden or container plantings. It is a native found on the forest floor in oak woods and under evergreens. Wintergreen needs acidic, moist, very well-drained, cool soil - not easy to replicate, but well worth the try! Use them to underplant deciduous Azaleas, Mountain Laurel or Rhododendron. If they like the spot they will make a wonderful groundcover. Use Plant Health Care 3-4-4 at time of planting as it is specially formulated for acid loving plants. Use them as a striking accent plant in your containers together with needled evergreens and ornamental grasses such as Carex (Sedge) and Acorus (Sweetflag) - wonderful for the upcoming holiday season.
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| NOW |
 | | 'White Out' Roses 5 gal. |
In This Week: Cabbage and Kale - PC Grown
Deciduous Shrubs
Azalea 'Delaware Valley White', Azalea 'Pleasant White' 3 gal.
Rosa 'White Out' 5 gal.
Broadleaf and Ornamental Evergreens
Buxus microphylla 'Winter Gem' 21-24"
B.sempervirens (Common Boxwood) 15-20"... 36-42"
B. x 'Green Mountain' 24-30"
Chamaecyparis pisifera fil. (Gold Thread)
Ilex glabra 'Shamrock' (Inkberry) 3 and 5 gal.
 | | Variegated Liriope and 'Big Blue' |
Evergreens for Screening
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green' 5/6', 7/8'
From Our Farms
Acer rubrum (Swamp/Red Maple) 2-2.5"
A. sac. 'Fall Fiesta' (Sugar Maple) 2-2.5"
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak) 2-2.5"
Tsuga canadensis (Hemlock) 5/6'
Groundcover
Pachysandra flats
Liriope 'Big Blue' 1ga
Bulbs
Allium, Crocus, Hyacinth, Muscari, Narcissus, Scilla, Tulip and more. A nice assortment to offer your customers for their spring gardens including a wide variety of Narcissus and some nice Tulip mixes. Looking for something specific? Place special orders ASAP as some special requests have already been sold out!
 | | Cabbage and Kale |
Fall Annuals
PC Grown Cabbage and Kale - Beautiful color and texture - especially nice when planted in mass. Cold weather has a positive effect on the color of these plants making their colors more vibrant. Plant in full sun - just what's needed for fall!
Stop in soon and check them out! |
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 | 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea still in bloom!
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Have A Nice Weekend! |
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 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 14th - June 25th Mon.- Sat. 7 am - 4:30 pm June 27th - Nov. 19th Mon. - Fri. 7 am - 4:30 pm & Sat. 7 am - 1 pm Winter Hours Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4:30 pm
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