Vinca minor - The Basics

Vinca minor

We sell  a lot of Vinca. There is a reason for that. It goes beyond the glossy dark green leaves - it makes a wonderful, deer-resistant, flowering ground cover that tolerates shade, keeps weeds at bay and makes the spring garden come alive.

Here are a few basics I learned from Geordie that will help in establishing one of our best-selling ground covers:

• Soil should be MFW (Moist, Fertile and Well-drained!)
• Optimum siting is part sun - morning sun/afternoon shade
• Fertilizers with high iron keeps leaves dark green
• Flats contain 24 cells - plant them 6-8" apart
• One gallon containers should be planted 12-14" apart
• Mulching helps keep moist during the growing season and protects young plants from heaving during the winter  
• Water well at planting and through the first growing season and into the next as needed

Makes a great carpet under spring flowering trees and shrubs. Also nice for large natural areas especially if combined with groups of spring bulbs.

Stop by and check out all our varieties!   

Question: " A design firm specified a circular paver design directly above a large European Beech. I have a feeling the last tree that didn't survive, installed by a different contractor, died because the soil surrounding it was very compacted. I've been contracted to replace the tree. I know that the soil and aggregate will need to be tamped for the pavers, and I don't want the roots of the tree I'm installing to suffer. What can I do?"

Answer: There are two special soil mixes that can be used, the Amsterdam Mix and Cornell Structural Soil. Both consist of larger particle sizes. Amsterdam Mix consists of relatively coarse sand with about 5% organic matter and 5% clay, and Cornell Structural Soil is about 20% good topsoil with a bit extra sand (known as sandy loam), and the balance gravel, along with a hydrogel(like Terra-Sorb). Both allow for sufficient space for root development, even when compacted. The downside is that the soil mix specifications both require very little clay and organic matter. Either mix is far from ideal for trees that require fertile soil, like a Beech, but it's the best the industry has come up with to date.   Unfortunately, the tree would indefinitely require a fertilizer, probably best organic based, to provide the necessary nutrition the tree would need to survive.

Submit your landscaping question via email to sbarbier@planterschoice.com and you'll be entered in a monthly drawing to receive 10% OFF your next purchase (pick up only, does not apply to deliveries). Please use "Question of the Week" in the subject line and let me know if you want your name and business mentioned. 

Planters Choice has a wide range of grass seed to meet your needs. Take a look at the different types here:

Supreme Seed Mixture: One of our most popular seed mixtures that is great for sun or shade areas and provides a dark green envious turf. Contains chewings fescue, red fescue, perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass.

70/30: 70% Kentucky Blue and 30% Perennial Rye Grass. For that classic Kentucky bluegrass lawn that everyone wants to have. This mixture will serve the most discerning eye  once established. 

Water Star Supreme: Same mixture as our Supreme only with 60% Water Star Certified seed varieties that require up to 30% less water once they are established.

Fast Establishment: A  blend of 3 different turf type perennial ryegrass cultivars with colors and textures that rival Kentucky Bluegrass. Great for sunny areas and gives fast results that looks great.

Dense Shade: A mixture of hard fescue, chewings fescue, and perennial rye for a great looking lawn in shaded areas.

Landscapers Mix: A mixture of perennial ryegrass, red fescue, annual ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The annual rye grass can germinate in as little 4 days providing for quick soil stabilization.

Contractors Mix: Contains mostly annual rye grass plus  some Kentucky blue and perennial rye. Economical for road side and construction sites where fast stabilization is needed.

Any questions? Ask any sales person, or give us a call!

Special of the Week:

Lynwood Gold Forsythia

Forsythia 'Lynwood Gold' 5/6' B&B

10% off*
5 or more!

On SPECIAL this week is that old favorite -Forsythia! Deer resistant, great for large loose hedges, tolerant of sun and part shade and the quintessential harbinger of spring! Consider combining with other spring bloomers like Hellebores, Vinca and spring bulbs. 

Stop by either yard and mention the Weekly Picks' Special!    

Valid: April 14th - April 20th 

*Price is net. No further discount applies. 

Bleeding Heart

In stock and in good supply - ready for your next job!

Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding Heart) old fashioned but never out-dated!  

Heuchera x 'Stormy Seas' (Coral Bells)  ruffled, maroon-purple leaves with bright purple undersides 

Lavendula x 'Provence' (Lavender) long flower stems, very fragrant 

Paeonia lactiflora 'Scarlet O'Hara' (Peony - single, red flowers, vigorous habit. Don't forget the Peony rings!)  

Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame' (Mountain Pinks) Deep pinky-red flowers.    

Incoming this week- Privet, White Pine and more Roses 

Deciduous Trees 

Acer palmatum '(Japanese Maple) 'Bloodgood' 

A. palmatum diss. (Cutleaf Japanese Maple) 'Crimson Queen', 'Orangeola', 'Tamukeyama' 

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', 'Lavender Twist' (Weeping Redbud)

Cornus  x 'Stellar Pink' (Rutger's Hybrid Dogwood)

Fagus sylvatica (European Beech) 'Purple Fountain', 'Rohanii' 

Taxodium dist.  'Shawnee Brave' (Dawn Redwood)  

Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' (Flowering Cherry) 

Knockout Roses

Deciduous Shrubs 

Fothergilla gardenii (Dwarf Fothergilla) 

Ligustrum ovalifolium (California Privet)

Rosa 'Double Knockout', 'Pink Knockout'

Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn' 

V. x 'Allegheny' 

Broadleaf and Specimen Evergreens

Gold Cone Juniper

Azalea 'Delaware Valley White', 'Gumpo White', 'Hino Crimson', 'Renee Michelle', 'Tradition'

Buxus semp. 'Graham Blandy', 'Green Velvet'  

Cedrus atlantica 'Fastigiata'

Cephalotaxus harringtonia (Japanese Plum Yew) 'Fastigiata'   

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula' (Weeping Alaskan Cedar)

C. obtusa 'Compacta', 'Gracilis', 'Tetragona Aurea' (Hinoki Cypress)

Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone'

Picea abies (Norway Spruce)' Acrocona', 'Pendula', 'Cupressina'

Picea glauca (Blue Spruce) 'Fat Albert', 'Hoopsi' 

Picea pungens 'Pendula' (Weeping Colorado Spruce)

Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis' (Cherry Laurel) 

Taxus cuspidata 'Capitata' (Pyramidal Yew)

Thuja occidentalis 'Yellow Ribbon' 

12-14' Emerald Green' Arborvitae

Evergreens for Screening

Abies balsamea phanerolepsis (Canaan Fir) 

Cryptomeria japonica 'Yoshino' (Japanese Cedar) 

Picea abies (Norway Spruce) 

Picea glauca 'Black Hills' (White Spruce)

P. pungens (Colorado Spruce)

Pinus strobus (White Pine)

Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green' (Eastern Arborvitae) 

Tsuga canadensis (Canadian Hemlock) 

Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Specimens  

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) 'Bloodgood',  'Murasaki Kiyohime' 42"  

A.palmatum dissectum 'Tamukeyama' 95 gallon

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' 18/20' (Blue Atlas Cedar) 

Fagus sylvatica (European Beech) 'Purpurea Pendula' & 'Riversii'  

Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' (Japanese Tree Lilac) 5" 

Perennials - ready and looking great for spring!

Dianthus (Hardy Carnation)
Gallium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff)

Lamium (Dead Nettle)
Phlox subulata (Mountain Pinks) 

Hardgoods Deer Fencing - Everything you need!

DeerBusters Deer Fencing

Details:    

Heavy Duty Standard Strength Fence 7.5' x 330' rolls 

Black Steel Fence Poles 10'

Monofilament 8 gauge 

Heavy Duty Locking Ties 8" and 14"

Groundstakes 12" 

Call with questions! 

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