| Question of the Week |
"My crews usually shear most of the shrubs we plant. Is hand trimming better?"
Check out the answer below. Submit your questions and earn a chance to save!
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River Birch | Need 4-season interest?
Check out our 15 gallon River Birch! PC Grown Betula nigra 'Heritage' - a great value!
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Echinacea and Rudbeckia varieties |
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Learn and Earn: Minimizing Pesticide Use with Proper Cultural Practices, 2 Credits Sign up soon as the class is limited!
When: Wednesday, August 15th 2 pm - 4 pm
What: Minimizing Pesticide Use through Proper Cultural Practices, including Plant I.D. and Yard Tour.
Where: Newtown Sales Yard, 140 Huntingtown Road, Newtown
Earn: 2 Credits toward your 3a and Private Applicator's License
Cost: No charge
Join Darryl Newman and Mark Kokinchak for an informative talk on the proper siting, planting, fertilizing, pruning and general after-care of our perennials and shrubs - all of which, if done properly, will minimize pesticide use. Includes a yard tour with plant I.D.
It's a great opportunity to learn more about plant care and earn some mid-season credits!
Class size limited. Please call the Newtown office to register 203-426-4037. |
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Get Your Customers Excited about SPRING BULBS!
 | | Welcome Spring 2013! |
Too early? Not really! The sooner you decide on your spring bulb plantings, the more certain it is that your choices will be in stock. Not sure what you'll need? Pick up some bulb brochures the next time you're in the office, or talk to your salesperson for ideas!
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Question of the Week
Question: My crews usually shear most of the shrubs we plant. Is taking the time to trim individual branches (hand prune) a better idea?
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Slender Deutzia
Top left was sheared, top right is same plant 3 weeks later
Bottom left was hand trimmed, bottom right same plant 3 weeks later |
Mark and Darryl Answer: Any trimming is considered a wound and weakens (usually for a short time) the plant. That's why it's really not advisable to heavily trim when the forecast is for hot weather or when nearing winter. It's always a good idea to maintain as much branch spacing as aesthetically acceptable to allow for better air circulation, which reduces disease and insect problems as well as creating thicker, stronger branches.
By hand pruning, fewer branches are cut, reducing the amount of stress on the plant while creating a full looking plant without excessive twiggy growth. Additionally, a plant can be longer maintained at a certain height. That's because the depth of foliage is greater, since leaves only form where sunlight hits the branch. It can be time consuming to trim in such
a fashion initially. That said, it can actually be faster on subsequent trimmings. A good standard to go by is that even after hand pruning, it shouldn't look like anything was done to the average person walking by.
All that said, most end consumers would prefer certain plants trimmed tight, like broadleaf evergreens. In that case, plants can be first sheared, then as much inside twiggy growth should be removed as possible. Also, plants respond much faster to pruning when new growth hasn't yet hardened off (fully matured).
Take a look at the pictures, of the recently planted Slender Deutzia above. One plant is hand trimmed, the other sheared at a specific height and angle to appeal to the view from the street. The left pair is right after trimming, the right pair, three weeks later.
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. |
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Perennial HOT List
Here's a list of great looking perennials - in stock and in good supply - ready for your next job!
 | | Pulmonaria 'Majeste' |
Coreopsis x 'Red Shift' (Tickseed) full budded and coming into bloom
Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) full tall and just coming into bloom
Pulmonaria saccharata 'Majeste' (Lungwort) Silvery leaves full, a few still coming into bud
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' (Black-eyed Susan) - full, budded and just coming into bloom
Salvia nemerosa 'Marcus' (Meadow Sage)- Full and blooming!
Thanks Heather!
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Special of the Week is Extended!
Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' and 'Zagreb'
1 gallon - 10% off!
On SPECIAL again this week are Threadleaf Coreopsis. Long-blooming plants with bright summer color growing 15-18" (Zagreb 12"-18"). Their drought tolerance, heat tolerance and deer resistance makes them award winning summer perennials that last and last. Very nice when combined with Lavender, Blazing Star, Purple Coneflower, Salvia and ornamental grasses.
 | | Coreopsis 'Zagreb' |
Continued specials on:
Magnolia 1 - 10% off, 2 or more - 20% off
Cherry Laurel B&B 10% off 'Otto Lyuken' and Schip. Laurels
All Tropicals - 50% off Including Gardenia standards, Cannas, Mandevilla and more!
Valid: Saturday Aug. 4th - Friday Aug. 10th
*Price is net. No further discount applies. |
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NOW!
Restocking daily! In this week Boxwood and 'Sky Pencil Holly'
Deciduous Trees
Great selection of B&B shade and ornamental trees in stock and ready to go! Don't forget our container trees such as Betula nigra 'Heritage' (River Birch), a PC grown 15 gallon (seen in the sidebar above left). A super sweet deal - native, four-season interest, deer resistant, locally grown and a great value!
 | | Hydrangea 'Quickfire' |
Deciduous Shrubs
Buddliea (Butterflybush)
Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice', 'Hummingbird'
Hibiscus s. 'Blushing Bride'
Hydrangea!
Potentilla f. (Bush Cinquefoil)
Vitex angus-castus (Chaste Tree)
... just to name a few that are blooming right now!
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How about some instant impact?!
Ilex crenata 'Microphylla' |
Broadleaf Evergreens
These just in:
Buxus insularis 'Justin Browers'
B. sempervirens (Common Boxwood)
Ilec crenata (Japanese Holly) 'Sky Pencil' 7 gal.
I. glabra (Inkberry) 'Shamrock' 3 & 5 gal.
I. x 'Blue Maid' (Hybrid Blue Holly) 7 gal.
Perennials
Fill in your summer gardens or plan your fall designs out in our sales yards. There is plenty to spark the imagination!
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Have a Great Weekend!
As always, we appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Chuck and Darryl Newman
Planters' Choice, LLC |
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