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Last Month's Newsletter
Visit Us At Our Website
Great information and our weekly ads are there!
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And A Tip Of The Hat Goes To...
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Lynn Contos. Lynn was the first to submit the correct answer to our March trivia question: "In the Netherlands, in 1634, a collector paid 1,000 pounds of cheese, four oxen, eight pigs, 12 sheep, a bed, and a suit of clothes for...what?" The correct answer is: "a single tulip bulb (Viceroy)."
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Lynn 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, Lynn!!
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April
Shopping List
Plant starting supplies e.g. seeds, trays, heat mat, soil
Grow light
Bird seed
Hummingbird feeder
Gift card for spring projects
Fish food
Pond supplies
Plant labels, stakes, twist ties
Lawn fertilizer program
New patio and deck pots
Weed Free Zone
Repellex Mole Repellant
Repellex Deer and Rabbit Repellant
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A Thought
From the Garden
"Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!"
- Thomas Blackburn, An Easter Hymn
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Grow A Greater Tater
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Potatoes. Wonderful potatoes. Potatoes are a vegetable by horticultural definitions and excellent source of nutrition and fiber. Its versatility is unmatched. There is an unlimited number of recipes for dishes that fit perfectly with any meal, morning, noon or night, as well as snack time.
Just a quick look at the nutritional value of 1 medium baked potato shows the DRI/DV (Dietary Reference Intake/Daily Value) for: vitamin B6 - 32%, potassium - 26%, copper - 22%, vitamin C - 22%, manganese - 19%, phosphorus - 17%, fiber - 15%, vitamin B3 - 15%, and pantothenic acid - 13%. Beyond that though, they are low in calories and delicious.
If you want to try your hand at growing potatoes here's some good advice that will help ensure your success.
1. Plant with calcium nitrate and Espoma Gypsum. You'll get bigger potatoes that store better. For a 5 foot row, use 1 cup calcium nitrate and 4 cups gypsum mixed into the row.
2. If cutting your seed potatoes, use dusting sulphur to prevent rotting. Wait 2 days, then plant.
Grow your potatoes in soil with a pH that measures between 5.0 and 6.0. (Bring a soil sample to Wedel's. We'll measure the pH and show you what you need if the pH needs to be changed.)
Don't plant your potatoes where tomatoes or eggplant were grown the year before. These are in the same family as potatoes and can attract similar pests and problems.
If you have a good amount of organic matter in the soil and the pH is good, the potatoes should be happy. What they do rely on is a steady water supply. Water them at least an inch a week.
Don't have a lot of space? Grow potatoes in Smart Pots.
You'll find everything you need at Wedel's for a fine crop of home-grown potatoes (including Smart Pots). Not familiar with Smart Pots? Stop in. You're in for a gardening treat!
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| Did You Know? |  | |
1. Tomato juice is the official state beverage of Ohio.
2. During the 1600s, tulips were so valuable in Holland that their bulbs were worth more than gold.
3. Vanilla flavoring comes from the pod of an orchid, Vanilla planifolia.
4. Small pockets of air inside cranberries cause them to bounce and float in water.
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Mom Tested And ApprovedWhen I think about spring I think of asparagus. It will be a while yet but when it comes, I'll be ready! This tasty dish is popular at potluck suppers in the country.
Asparagus Take-Along
20 oz. asparagus 1 c. chopped onion 1/4 c. butter or regular margarine 6 tblsp. flour 3 c. milk 2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced 1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese 1/2 c. dry bread crumbs
Cook asparagus until barely tender; drain.
In a large skillet, cook onion in butter until tender (not brown). Stir in flour. Add milk and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Mix in salt, pepper, eggs and asparagus.
Turn into a 2-qt. casserole. Top with cheese and crumbs. Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) about 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Makes 8 servings.
Farm Journal's
Country Cookbook
Enjoy!
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Just for Grins...
and  Groans
When my boss asked me who is the stupid one, me or him I told him everyone knows he doesn't hire stupid people.
Uhm Yah
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Volume 8, Number 1 April 2015
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Science, Settled
Or Unsettled
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A little more than a week ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a statement that said, "Honey production in 2014 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 178 million pounds, up 19 percent from 2013. There were 2.74 million colonies producing honey in 2014, up 4 percent from 2013. Yield per colony averaged 65.1 pounds, up 15 percent from the 56.6 pounds in 2013. " (Source: http://tinyurl.com/nf9y2r9)
There has been debate and, for some, the decision has been reached that a/the major cause of CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) is caused by neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides introduced in the 1990s one of which is imidacloprid. Imidacloprid is an effective insecticide used in many professional and non-professional applications. Although determined to be safe when used following label directions imidacloprid has come under fire as a cause of CCD.
"Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides introduced in the 1990s precisely because they were thought to be less harmful to beneficial insects and humans than the aging chemicals they gradually came to replace. They are most often used by farmers who coat them on seeds, which then grow into plants that systemically fight pests." (Source: http://tinyurl.com/nux8dmm)
Following the statement by the USDA the debate, which was on-going, has again intensified. The interesting article (referenced above) represents a seemingly logical side of that debate and the USDA information is encouraging. Relevant to gardeners and home landscapers is the always understood and often spoken admonition, "always read and follow label directions" when using any product. Products available on the shelves have been deemed safe and effective when that directive is followed.
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Busy Birds And Backyards
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Spring is prime bird feeding time. The year around residents are here along with migrants who come to stay as well as those passing through. It is also the time of year when natural food supplies can be scarcest. This is also the time of year you can encourage your backyard visitors, in their colorful mating plumage, to set up residence for the year. In other words, these are the perfect days for birding!
Migration is a serious and taxing business so offering a banquet of birdseed won't go unnoticed nor unappreciated. Besides migration there is the search for territory, nest building, mating and foraging for food. Making that food easy to find makes the other tasks a bit easier. With prime, natural food sources pretty well depleted another reason to provide a food source is that it will help the birds survive late season storms, should there be any.
Any type of birdseed is welcomed and a variety will encourage a variety of birds to visit and stay near your area. The single most popular seed is black oil sunflower seed whether in the hull or hulled. Mixed seed appeal to a variety of birds and premium mixes offer the variety birds want and the nutrition birds need. Wedel's has 5 premium birdseed blends as well as black oil sunflower seed.
Wedel's also carries nyjer, for the finches and millet for the doves. Meal worms can be added to seeds to provide a source of protein for nestlings. April 15 is approaching and is the day you should get your feeder installed and filled with hummingbird nectar for those little garden jewels. Hummingbirds return to the same food source year to year. Get your feeder out by April 15 and attract those returning as they enter your area.
Spring cleaning includes cleaning your feeders and making any repairs needed. Add extra feeders around your yard; more feeding stations mean more birds. If you haven't kept birdbaths open all winter, clean and fill them now. A source of fresh water is also very important to your birds. If you want to help them check off another item on their to-do list, put out nesting material. If you do all of this you'll have your own wild bird sanctuary, right in your own backyard.
Wedel's has all of the materials noted above and many more. Beyond the seed listed, hummingbird nectar, meal worms, feeders, birdbaths and nesting material we have oriole nectar, a huge variety of suet and suet feeders, feeder and bath cleaning supplies, birding books and more. Come by soon and let us help you get ready for another fun and relaxing year with your backyard birds!
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Apricot Sprite Hyssop
Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sprite'
 On first glance, the Apricot Sprite Hyssop, when in full bloom, looks like ground-bound fireworks! The airy, tubular spikes of the blossoms, rising above their foliage, appear to explode from their stems. The orange flowers dazzle from mid to late summer. Butterflies and hummingbirds won't be able to resist their invitation!
Perfect applications for this garden native include: rock gardens, mass plantings, container gardens, borders, herb gardens and cottage gardens. Let your imagination run wild. The foliage is beautiful but it doesn't end there. The anise/licorice scented leaves can be used to make a delicious tea and are resistant to grazing deer and rabbits.
For more information on this "New for 2015" offering from the hyssop family click here. If you have more questions or if you'd like to see it in person, stop by Wedel's!
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Store Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Beginning April 6 Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Have mower blades sharpened.
Have mower tuned up.
Start seeds indoors.
Apply weed preventer to perennial beds.
Plant pansies and primrose.
Take sod sample to Wedel's for analysis.
Lawn clean up.
Clean bird houses.
Put hummingbird feeder out.
Apply Repellex mole control.
Spray hostas and lilies with Repellex.
Clean bird bath.
Add Bio Booster to pond.
Feed fish when water temp. is 55 degrees or higher.
Stop pruning oaks!
Final pruning of suckers or water sprouts on fruit trees.
Get rid of lawn weeds with Weed Free Zone.
Plant peas soon.
Feed roses.
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Mark Your Calendar
Friday, April 3
Good Friday
Wedel's is closed 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 5
Easter
Jesus has risen!
Tuesday, April 7
with George's Recipe for more blooms
Wednesday, April 8
Uncover Rose Bushes Now
Thursday, April 16
Apply Lawn Moss Control Now
Wednesday, April 22
Administrative Professional's Day
Friday, April 24
Arbor Day
Plant a tree for a better tomorrow
Saturday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Plant For Your Health Event
Tuesday, April 28
Apply Pre-emergence
Crabgrass Control Now
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Look SharpFeel Sharp
Be Sharp
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Did you know that you can have your blades sharpened at Wedels?!
Take a look at these prices!
- Pruners - $5.00
- Loppers - $5.00
- Lawn mower blades - $6.00 (sorry, no reel mowers)
- Mulching mower blades - $6.00
- Hedge shears - $5.00
- Electric and cordless hedge shears - $10.00
- Hoes, shovels and trowels - $3.00
- Larger items - we will quote a price
(We don't sharpen chain saw blades.)
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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!
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Note from the Editor
If you are a new subscriber to Wedel's News, welcome! And if you are a new subscriber chances are you signed up for our newsletter when you were at Wedel's Spring Expo only a short while ago. You are in good company. Nearly 400 subscribed then! Once again, welcome. I hope you enjoy our first Friday visits in each of the 12 months. This month's issue is the first of the 8th year of Wedel's News.
To familiarize you a bit, we try to offer interesting, timely and informative content each month as well as special notices and special offers from time to time. The special offers, by the way, are for you as a subscriber only. You won't find them in any print, radio or TV ads. If there is something we are aware of that we think you need to know we'll get the information to you.
Wedel's is a community and as such it is a place for conversation. We enjoy preparing and sending the newsletter to you each month but we enjoy, as much or more, hearing from you! If you have questions we will do our best to get the answers you need to you. If you have suggestions about content we'd love to hear from you. If you have criticisms let us know. We want to do anything we can to give you more of what you want to get in a newsletter from Wedel's.
To all of you who aren't new subscribers I hope you were able to attend Wedel's Spring Expo. Expo began Thursday evening and ran through Saturday. During that short time thousands did attend and made it our best Expo yet. Comments were made that the seminar lineup was a great deal different from years past with many new and interesting topics. Many of them were standing room only!
We displayed hundreds of new products and many more of the tried and true. I'm sure it was difficult to see everything so that means you'll have to come back and chat with us! Let us know what you want to do in your garden and landscaping this year and we'll see to it you get everything you need including advice on how to do it so you're sure to succeed.
You'll see some new faces around here this year as well as...I won't say "old"...I'll say "familiar" faces. Whether new or familiar, we're here to help. If something didn't go as expected last growing season, let us know. Together we can figure it out. As longstanding green thumb friends know, that's what we enjoy doing; that's why we're here. I know sometimes you might feel you are bothering us with silly questions. You see us busy stocking products or waiting on customers and you don't want to take up our time. Well, I want you to know 2 things; you are never bothering us and there are no silly questions. This is fun for us and we want it to be fun for you!
Come by and see us soon. Get ready for another wonderful growing season. It's time to get busy!
Ready for another trivia question? (This one is different. It isn't a question, it is a "fill in the blanks!") Here we go! "----, ----, every morning you greet me. Small and white. Clean and bright, you look happy to meet me" The first reader to respond with the correct answer will win a $15.00 Wedel's gift card. The gift card 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
There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks.
Most of the time we are simply not patient enough,
quiet enough to pay attention to the story.
~Linda Hogan
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