Quick Links
 Register Now
Last Month's Newsletter
 Visit Us At Our Website
 Great information and our weekly ads are there!
 




Andy Wedel

All Star Award

 And The
Gold Star 

Goes To...
  Congratulations!

Linda Peterman. Linda was the first to submit the correct answer to our May trivia question: "How many counties in Michigan touch a Great Lake?" The correct answer is "40."

Linda won a $15.00 Wedel's gift card and you could too! Just be the first to respond with the correct answer to our monthly trivia question.
 
Congratulations, Linda!! 

A Thought
 from the Garden  
Garden at Dusk  
It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought. 

~James Douglas, 
Down Shoe Lane
   

 

 
Store Hours  
 
Monday - Saturday  
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 
 
To Do In June   
   .
Apply Fertilome Weed Free Zone to lawn weeds.
Make sure your hummingbird and oriole feeders
are installed and filled with fresh nectar.
Apply Scotts Moss Control to problem areas.
Have a pH test done on lawn and garden soils.
Feed trees, shrubs, garden plants.
Prune evergreens. 
Did You Know?

 

1. Americans today consume 17.3 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year!

                 

2. The same chemicals that give tart cherries their color may relieve pain better than aspirin and ibuprofen in humans.    

 

3. Darker green lettuce leaves are more nutritious than lighter green leaves.   

  

4. Michigan and New Jersey produce 66% of all the blueberries in the United States.         
 
Mom's Home Cooking
Mom Tested And Approved

Today is a beautiful, cool, sunny day and a perfect day to be busy outdoors but there will be some rainy days to come. Here's something you can do with the kids indoors that they'll remember and enjoy doing when they're the grown ups! Let's bake some...

Sugar Cookies 

2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Sour Milk
4 Cups Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking-Soda
3/4 Cup Shortening
2 Eggs, Well Beaten
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Salt 
  
Sift together the first 4 ingredients. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender. Stir in milk to make a soft dough.
  
Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs. Sift flour, measure, and sift with baking-soda, nutmeg, and salt. Add milk alternately with dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto well-oiled baking sheet. Bake in hot oven (430 degrees F.) 10-12 minutes. 70 servings.

The Household Searchlight

Enjoy! 
Look Sharp
Feel Sharp
Be Sharp
Did you know that you can have your blades sharpened at Wedels?!

Take a look at these prices! 
  • Pruners - $4.00
  • Loppers - $4.00
  • Lawn mower blades - $5.00 (sorry, no reel mowers)
  • Mulching mower - $5.00 
  • Hedge shears - $4.00
  • Larger items - $5.00

(We don't sharpen chain saw blades.)  

 

Wedel's News

Volume 6, Number 3                                                                              June, 2013  
Not An After Thought
But A Necessity 

 

 

Although not the first consideration when we think about a new or updated landscaping plan, mulch is never-the-less a very important element of any good and attractive design. If implemented properly, mulch provides a background that enhances the beauty of our plants rather than drawing attention to itself. But that's not its most important function.

 

Think of mulch as a carpet or blanket that surrounds your plants. It creates a finished appearance, yes, but more importantly, it moderates temperature protecting your valuable investments from the scorching heat of the summer sun and the frigid temperatures of our Michigan winters. Wood chips, bark etc. help to keep tree, shrub and flower roots cool while retaining moisture that helps to prevent the drying effects of the sun on garden soil. Mulch can also delay the flowering of trees and shrubs in spring thus preventing new buds from a late spring hard frost.

 

Mulch suppresses weed growth so you won't need to spend as much time weeding and have more time enjoying your landscape. Over time, organic mulches break down, adding to the soil's structure and fertility. It will also help to prevent or lessen landscape erosion and it can have an effect on the pH of the soil. For example, pine needle mulch is a good choice for areas around your azaleas, bluebells, dogwood, hosta, lupine and others.

 

As you can see, besides its relative ornamental value, mulch serves other, and perhaps, more important functions. There is a surprising variety of mulches available from natural, to dyed, to pine straw, wood chip, bark, rubber and stone. Our best advice is to stop by Wedel's and discuss your plans with one of our experts to best determine what will work best for your landscaping needs and, at the same time, give your yard the look that will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Sweet Potato Slips
Are Here

Sweet potatoes are a tropical vegetable that is very nutritious. They have a high beta carotene content and supply vitamins C and B6, manganese and potassium.

Ask for a free informational flyer, when you stop in, to learn about planting, care, harvest and storage of sweet potatoes.
Mark Your Calendar!

Friday, June 14
Flag Day 
  
Sunday, June 16 
Father's Day

 Friday, June 21
Summer Begins 
Actinovate!

That headline sounds like a call to action, doesn't it? Well, it is, in a way. Actinovate is a new product at Wedel's Garden Center that we are very excited about having in stock for you. Actinovate is, "a patented beneficial microorganism...that attacks root rot and foliar fungal diseases on lawns, perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, vegetables, herbs and much more."

 

Listed on the label as "diseases controlled/suppressed;"

 

Soil Diseases (When watered in):

  • Root Rot and damping off in ornamentals & vegetables (Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium et al)
  • Turf Brownpatch (Rhizoctonia)
  • Turf Dollarspot (Sclerotinia)
  • Turf Take-all patch (Gaeumannomyces graminis)

 

Foliar Diseases (When sprayed):

  • Powdery and downy mildew
  • Grey Mold (Botrytis)
  • Black Spot (Diplocarpon rosae)
  • Leaf Spots and Rust
  • Fire Blight (Erwinia)

 

"Actinovate for Lawn & Garden contains a high concentration of a patented beneficial microorganism. When applied, the Actinovate microbe grows on the plant's roots and leaves, living off the plant's by-products while at the same time attacking harmful disease causing pathogens. This natural product effectively suppresses and controls a wide range of foliar and root diseases."

 

A companion product, also in stock, is Actino-Iron. "Actino-Iron is a unique granular soil additive that combines the Actinovate organic fungicide with organic iron and humates. Actino-Iron is a professional product that is used by thousands of commercial greenhouses, nurseries and landscapers for controlling root diseases and providing long term greening. Turn retail potting soil into professional grade by adding Actino-Iron."

Both Actinovate and Actino-Iron are certified by OMRI.
 
Shopping Fun
June Shopping List 
 
 
Fertilome Weed Free Zone
Spreader Sticker
Grill
Garden Decor
Gardening Gloves
Mulch
Scotts Lawn Fungus Control
Espoma Tree Tone
Espoma Plant Tone
Espoma Garden Tone
Tomato Cages

Suet

Bird seed

Gift certificate

Bird feeder

Pruners

Pruning sealer

Plant labels, stakes, twist ties
Rain gauge
Garden Natives

Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass  
Sisyrinchium angustifolium "Lucerne"    

Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium "Lucerne," (common name Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass) is a garden native whose foliage, flower and size make it perfect as edging, a border front, a mix with others plantings or a rock garden or pathway feature. Its beautiful star-shaped blossom appears in late spring to early summer. The flowers are lavender blooms streaked with deep blue veins with yellow starred centers.

 

Glossy, narrow, sword-like leaves emerge as silvery blue in the spring and mature to a bluish green throughout the season. The foliage stays fresh and attractive until a hard fall frost.The beautiful flowers and stately leaves made this plant one of Henry David Thoreau's favorites.

 

Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass Although called Lucerne Blue-Eyed Grass, it really isn't a member of the grass family of plants but is a relative of the iris family. Besides its attractive appearance other benefits it offers are; it is an important source of nectar for pollinators, provides good cover for small wildlife, songbirds enjoy its seeds and it is one more source of cut flowers for your indoor arrangements.

 

Add to the beauty of Sisyrinchium angustifolium is the fact that it is easy to grow. You owe it to your garden and yourself to find just the right places to tuck in this month's "Garden Native." Click here for more information such as ornamental features, landscape attributes and plant characteristics. 
 
Just for Grins...
and
Groans 
 
Q. What kind of socks does a gardener wear?
A. Garden hose.

Lenny McClump
Running Out Of Time?
Beautiful Deck

Did you know Wedel's will plant your containers for you? Bring them to us before work and pick them up after work. Voila! You now have a beautiful patio, deck or porch. It's just that easy. 
 
wkzo
Saturday Mornings

Birdwatch 8:07 a.m.
with host Roger Taylor answering all of your birding questions
Call in at 382-4280 or 877-382-4280.
 
  
Over the Garden Fence 9:07 a.m.
with host Andy Wedel answering all of your landscape and gardening questions
Call in at 382-4280 or 877-382-4280.

Visit our web site at www.wedels.com for archives of previous Birdwatch and
Over the Garden Fence programs!
 

  Note from the Editor   

   

Happy June, the month when summer arrives! Although it has been a little on the cool side I think most would agree that the weather we've had has been excellent for working outside. We've had some rainy days but the rain followed by sunshine is making everything lush and green. We've had beautiful tulips, daffodils, lilacs, bluebells and old-fashioned roses in our yard already and there's more yet to come.

 

I was chatting with Don Cavner, one of Wedel's sales floor consultants, a couple of days ago. I asked him what concerns or problems he has been asked about the most recently. Aphids seem to be out in force and giving homeowners fits. There have been several cases of needle cast on spruce showing up also. Although their destructive cycle is nearly over, petiole leaf borers on maple trees have been a problem again this spring.

 

In case you aren't familiar with petiole leaf borers, they can be the culprit when 10% to 25% of perfectly good leaves suddenly drop to the ground. The petiole is the slender stalk by which the leaf is attached to the stem. It can be quite an alarming sight when the borers have done their work but your trees will most likely survive the attack.

 

Don made the point that insects and disease do damage and create a good deal of stress to your valuable plants. Add those problems to the drought we experienced last year and it becomes very important to do your part to mitigate the negative effects. Often feeding mature plants, especially trees, isn't considered to be important but that simply isn't true. Sometimes even young trees are overlooked by a feeding schedule. Don has a couple of recommendations: be aware of the need to make sure your landscape plants receive adequate irrigation and give them a boost with some good fertilizer.

 

Espoma Tree Tone and Espoma Plant Tone are rich in excellent, slow-release nutrients that invigorate plants and stimulate healthy growth. If plants are under stress as ours are it is essential to feed them well and to keep them hydrated. The effort you put forth will protect the investment you've made and will help to produce a strong and beautiful landscape on your property. Stop by the garden center and talk with Don or any of our consultants to get the best and latest information about your current and future projects.

 

We received quite a number of comments about the article in last month's Wedel's News, "The Gift of Gardening: A Tribute to My Mother" by Dorian Winslow of Womenswork. It appears that family and tradition are very important to our readers, which honestly comes as no surprise. Here is the link for Womenswork (Strong Women Building a Gentle World) where you can learn more about Dorian's story and her company's products.

 

Last and certainly not least, Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there. Sunday, June 16 is your day! Mom, kids, grandkids let's make this Dad's best Father's Day yet. I'll bet his favorite gift will be just spending time with his family and if he enjoys working in the garden or landscape, all the better! Be his crew for the day and show him you appreciate the work he does and the wonderful results that make your yard a beautiful, peaceful retreat.

 

Ready for another trivia question? How did the Snickers bar get its name? The first reader to respond with the correct answer will win a $15.00 Wedel's gift certificate. The gift certificate must be picked up here at the garden center and remember, you are eligible to win once every 90 days. Good luck and have fun! 

 

'Til next time,

Jim 

 
 [email protected]

"In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.  My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.  The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful." 
~Abram L. Urban