Dear Valued Lanoha Customer,

April did indeed throw many "hard balls" at Omaha's landscapes! The abnormally cold temperatures have tested the will of plants and gardeners alike. With this awful early spring weather behind us, I hope you are as anxious as I am for the warmer weather and ideal planting conditions in the month of May.  As I stressed in last month's newsletter, patience, patience, and more patience is needed when dealing with plantings that were in varying degrees---stressed, damaged, or killed by last winter's cold, drought, and unprecedented winds that just seemed to not give the already moisture stressed plants any relief.  My very mature neighborhood suffered along with much younger subdivisions in severe damage and loss of plant material.

Some plants like holly, boxwood, rhododendrons, and itea (sweetspire) that have little or no live green tissue in stems will need to be replaced. Many roses will have to be cut to just a few inches above the ground.  Junipers, Alberta spruce, arborvitae, and globe spruce that have damage deeper into the stems than where there is current green foliage will not fill in these holes for years-if ever.  The aesthetic value of these plants have been lost and probably will need to be replaced.  White pines that get new candle growth will be sparse, but they will live.  Be sure to spray them several times in late fall to early winter with Wilt Stop to help prevent winter damage.  A really good choice to consider is to plant either Vanderwolf pines or columnar blue spruce where you may have had problems with the white pines wind-burning.

The real work-horses of many landscapes are yews. Throughout the Midwest, the state, and the city, yews of all ages are showing severe stress.  The yews that were out of the exposure to the strong south sun rays and somewhat buffered from the strongest winds have little or no damage.  I have a small hedge of yews on the east side of my house that gets little wind. They are 100% undamaged!!  I am always very careful to never prune my yews past August 15th. That allows the exposed tissue to "harden-off" before the cold blasts of winter. NOW SOME GOOD NEWS!!! Many severely browned yews will recover with a managed approach. Do no pruning or removal for at least 2-3 weeks. By that time new bud points will be expanding on live bark tissue. Part the branches and scratch the bark of the plant following it up or down until you reach green tissue. This is the only evergreen you can help recover by removing all the dead stems and wood down to the live or green tissue. You may have no green needles on the yew when you are finished, BUT if you are patient within a year to 18 months new stems and green sprouts will emerge from this otherwise dead looking skeleton of stems.  I know you can do this as I personally did it to yews in the late 80's that were killed down to about 8" from the ground. It took months of patience, but those same yews remain a vibrant part of my landscape today. If you just can't bear to deal with this look, we have a deep inventory of yews at this time. Remember Wilt Stop will become your "best gardening friend" in the late fall/early winter of 2014.

The entire landscape will benefit from a slow release granulated food such as Ferti.lome's Gardeners Special or Ferti.lome's Tree and Shrub Fertilizer. Both contain slow release balanced fertilizer with valuable trace elements vital for the recovery of the damaged plants.

It is mid-June and all the spring flowering trees: crabs, pears, and hawthorns have finished their spectacular color show. The landscape trees are beautiful, but you wish you could see a tree in full bloom. Just a dream?! Only if you have never experienced the full glory of an Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac! The only thing more unbelievable than the size of the blooms of Ivory Silk is their fragrance. The aroma isn't like a lilac shrub, but more like an intense privet/jasmine blend.

Highly regarded for its adaptability to urban growing conditions, this small tree reaches a mature height of about 20 feet with a 15 foot spread; it keeps an oval or pyramidal form when young, but spreads to a rounded shape as it grows older.

For over two weeks in June, the Ivory Silk Lilac will flower so profusely it looks as though there are white fluffy clouds around the tree. The off-white flowers are born in panicles (plumes) that are up to 10" wide at the base and taper upward to almost a foot long. While it is tolerant of urban conditions, growing in poor, clay, or alkaline soil, the gorgeous flowers are most showy and prolific when the tree is located in full sun with good drainage.

The dark green leaves remain healthy throughout the summer and the spent flower heads (fruit capsules) may be left on the tree for winter interest. However, many people prefer to remove them after flowering so the plant does not spend energy on seed production, but rather on vegetative and root development. With very ornamental glossy reddish brown bark, resembling that of a cherry tree, this tree is sure to please almost everyone.

Some consider the Ivory Silk Lilac the most trouble-free and durable lilac that is available, making it a valuable interest in your winter landscape as well. It is very hardy and able to withstand temperatures as much as 30 degrees below zero. It is useful as a specimen, a street tree, as well as in a group, screen, or windbreak. It is perfect in a deck or patio area as it does not surface root and is well-deserving of consideration in new or existing landscapes.

The inventory of our Home Grown Ivory Silk Lilacs will surely contain a tree that is perfect for your landscape. Don't delay, because once they come into flower our inventory will disappear almost instantly!

Once thought of as the ideal large tree for cities, the American elm had long arching branches that formed canopies offering shade for hot city streets. In the 50's and 60's Dutch elm disease destroyed most of the elms lining American streets. For decades, it was feared that the American elm would never be replaced. There were miles of streets in Omaha lined with these beauties that cast such a shade canopy that you sometimes had to turn on your car lights even on a sunny day. A selected elm tree clone from the Morton Arboretum originated from seed collected at the Arnold Arboretum near Boston in 1924. Today that clone is known as Accolade Elm and is a graceful vase-shaped tree that has a vigorous growth rate and dark green glossy foliage. There are accolades galore among nurserymen across the country for this disease resistant gem that also resists elm leaf beetle, cold, and drought.

In 20 years, Accolade Elm should reach 30' tall and 15' wide with a mature size of 50'tall and 30' wide. That is just slightly smaller than the original American elm. It is easily transplanted, balled and burlapped. It is quick to establish and regain rapid growth. It adaptable to most soil types unless excessively wet. Foresters praise the foliage that stays clean and crisp all summer, and fall color is a respectable yellow that contributes to the Midwest's autumn palette.  It was named tree of the year in 2012 by the Society of Municipal Arborists. Accolade elm have been harvested from our local growing fields and are available for planting this spring.

Homestead Elm is an upright arching narrow to oval shaped disease tolerant elm that matures to a height of 50' and has a spread of 35'. Homestead is another outstanding elm developed at the USDA Research Station in Delaware, Ohio. It's very rapid growth rate, symmetrical head, adaptability to lawn or street planting conditions, and its high resistance to Dutch Elm disease make Homestead an excellent choice for a variety of situations. The dark green leaves turn golden yellow in autumn.

The young stems are brown to gray, older bark is smooth and gray, becoming fissured in old age. It adapts to extremes in pH, moisture, wind, and heat. If you would like a sentimental elm in your landscape, consider Homestead as a top choice. Hurry, as only a limited number of these are available!

Triumph Elm is noted for its remarkably dark green and glossy foliage and a sturdy, symmetrical growth habit. It is the result of a cross of three disease resistant elm varieties produced by Morton Arboretum. Triumph Elm makes an excellent shade tree for home and commercial landscapes or as a street tree.  The mature canopy of Triumph Elm is oval or rounded with a mature height of 50' and a spread of 45'. It is drought tolerant and tolerates severe pruning if needed. It is a very symmetrical grower with a straight leader that supports its strong branching habit.  Its dark green summer leaves turn a creamy yellow in the fall.

In the world of lindens, Tillia tomentosa "Silver Linden" deserves the title of "beauty queen." Stunning, lustrous dark green, 2-5 inch long, silver-backed leaves reflect like silver dollars in the summer sun. This variety has always been a favorite of mine, but it is not as well- known as the little leaf lindens widely planted throughout the Midwest. The habit is distinctly pyramidal in youth, tightly broad-pyramidal with a uniform branching structure in old age. The smooth, light gray bark borders on silver-gray, carrying the plant's common name into the winter months. Silver Linden is generally the last of the cultivated lindens to bloom. Yellowish white fragrant flowers open in late June to early July.

It grows in a wide range of soils, but does not do well in heavily irrigated or damp soils. It is great as a lawn, street, or specimen tree. It matures to 45 feet tall with a 30 foot spread. It is extremely tolerant of cold winters and hot summers.  Japanese beetles are attracted to little leaf lindens, but the tomentosa leaves of the Silver Linden are repulsive to the beetles and they will not feed on its foliage. The Silver Lindens have been harvested from Lanoha's" Flatland Farm" near Yutan so they are dug with our characteristic "over-sized" root balls for superior performance in your landscape.  Make it a point to get acquainted with this jewel of the Midwest!

The combination of temperatures above 90 degrees and humidity of 80-90% activates the soil-borne fungus, Summer Patch. This turf disease is also referred to as Fusarium or Frog's Eye that begins as circular grayish-green areas as small as 2" in diameter. The disease quickly affects grass roots that are growing in compacted soil sites on slopes or areas exposed to the hot afternoon summer sun. Thatch, low mowing height, frequent irrigation, and high nitrogen fertilizers all contribute to the disease.

Symptoms may appear as early as June; however, the symptoms may be mistaken for moisture or heat stress. As the disease quickly advances, straw colored patches anywhere from 6" to several feet in diameter develop. The turf remains firmly attached to the roots; however, on examination of the turf's roots, no live "white" feeder roots will be found. The fungus does not spread by airborne spores or foot traffic. It kills the entire grass plant, and re-seeding or laying fresh sod is required to repair damage. When re-seeding always use Lanoha's" Best of the Blues" disease resistant turf blend.

The greenhouse is bursting with outstanding annual color in hanging baskets, planters of all sizes, landscape size pots, moss balls, wreaths, and baskets. Thousands of annual flower packs and vegetables are available for the garden of your dreams. Every year we offer a wider assortment of "patio" accent plants and trees. Hibiscus, dipladenia, oleander, bird of paradise, cordyline, many different palms, cannas, and Eugenia are some of the favorites that our talented staff will help you use as anchors in pots that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

 Select a pot from our huge inventory of pottery and the greenhouse staff will custom design a planter sure to compliment your outdoor living area. We have greatly expanded our inventory of succulents and cacti for a fresh Southwest addition.

 It is said that one of the most effective ways to enhance your home's curb appeal and increase the resale value is through professional landscaping. First impressions go a long way and landscaping is a key ingredient of the first impression. Average returns can be upward of 100 to 200 percent for every dollar invested in a professional design and installation of quality plant material. Call Lanoha's design team now to set up a site visit and be ready to be impressed with their quality work. CALL 289-4103 TODAY!  

The garden center's gift galleries are overflowing with gifts for Mom, graduations, weddings, or that perfect accessory to enhance the décor of any home. Gifts are available in a wide range of styles and prices. Impress the receiver with your unique selection.

The selection of designer mirrors, lamps, vases, mercury glass accent pieces, oil paintings, unique interior art accent pieces, and silk plants is greatly expanded.  If it has been a while since you last shopped our home accent galleries, please stop in and let us introduce you to our many exciting new offerings.

A huge inventory of tables, benches, cabinets, and chairs from Indonesia are now available. This furniture is all hand crafted from solid hardwoods (plantation grown teak and mahogany).

This is NOT the "cardboard" like wood being produced by the Chinese! The furniture you will view in our galleries could well become family heirlooms.  The quality of material and workmanship of this unique furniture offering is something that we take a great deal of pride in offering to the metro market. Choose among coffee tables, cabinets, tables, and chairs in a wide range of styles.

Jozef Jankowski, an internationally acclaimed highly skilled craftsman manufactures hand blow glass pieces that combine sophisticated, classical, and contemporary design in the family's Krosno, Poland factory. This artistic skill, dating back to the 10th century, has been passed down through generations of family craftsmen. Each piece is hand blown and hand finished which makes no two pieces exactly alike.  We are delighted to offer this fantastic line to our customers just in time for Mother's Day.

Wind chimes, flags, gazing balls, accent pillows in a range of styles and prices, sun dials, bird feeders, gardening hats, fountains, bird baths, and solar garden art abounds in our newly expanded "Garden Accessories" department. Garden tools, gloves, and accessories are readily available.

If after all this, you still are undecided, A Lanoha Gift Card is sure to please any "Mom" on your shopping list!  

Gardening in Omaha soils without incorporating soil conditioners is a daunting task! Perlite (an inorganic rock-like substance) is necessary to help create air spaces allowing plants to send new roots in search of water and nutrients. Using excessive fertilizers to "force" plants to grow is only marginally successful.  Converting "dirt" into a viable "soil" involves patience and yearly addition of organic compost.

When you have created a soil that is friable and embellished with liberal amounts of soil amendments, you then have an environment where the plant is able to utilize nutrients from the soil with only minimal fertilization. Even compacted hard clay can be turned into very productive soil. There are numerous organic compost products on the market today. They are not all "just as good as the next one!"  

Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost is head and shoulders above any other compost. Yes, that's a big claim, but here are some facts to back up my statement. This compost's source is cotton, grown on the high planes of western Texas where frost, not herbicides, defoliates the plant prior to harvest. Cotton is a very heavy feeder, absorbing vast amounts of nutrients from the soil as it grows, and the bulk of the nutrients are located in the burr left over from the ginning process.  Cotton burr compost contains a high percentage of organic matter. When you consider the fact that up to 98% of all plant growth is generated by organic matter, you begin to understand what makes this compost a top performer.  The higher the quality of the plant matter being composted, the better the compost.  When you start with material like nutrient-rich cotton burr, the resulting compost is a nutritionally dense product that surpasses anything you'll ever find in other composts. Cotton burr compost is abundant in beneficial micro-organisms such bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protozoa. The prolific microbial activity improves the over-all soil structure, increases air penetration, and resists soil compaction. There will be no nitrogen tie-up often caused by incorporating compost derived from grass clippings, leaves, or wood based sources. The outstanding ability of cotton burr compost to loosen tight, clay soils makes it the best choice for gardeners in the metro area. It is produced through aerobic composting over four months at temperatures approaching 160 degrees F. This ensures the elimination of insects, weed seed, chemicals, and pathogens.

Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost is available at the garden center in large 2 cubic foot bags. It is also an excellent substitute for shredded wood mulch around perennials and shrubs. It has an earthy humic aroma which disappears in a few hours. In the vegetable garden it can be tilled into the entire garden, worked into individual planting holes, or even used as a garden mulch to curb weeds and help retain moisture. I simply will not dig a hole or turn a shovel of soil without incorporating Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost into the gardening task.

• Bagworms begin hatching in late May. They may be only thread-like in size, but they begin feeding on spruce, junipers, arborvitae, deciduous shrubs, perennials, or trees.  A thunder storm with strong winds will move them through the neighborhood. Be on alert! Spray in late May, mid- June, and again in late June to ensure control. Stop in and pick up a FREE GUIDE at the Information Center for the latest recommendations for controlling these insects.
• Broadleaf weeds can be safely sprayed with Ferti.lome's Weed Free Zone until air temperatures are in the 90's. It becomes rain safe in three hours. Even Creeping Charlie, wild violets, and wild strawberries are no match for this powerhouse product.
• Continue monitoring spruce for Rhizosphaera  Needle Cast fungus. You should continue spraying every 10 days until early July. If you are unsure if you may have this fungus on a spruce, bring in detailed photos or samples for identification. It is a very common disease appearing on spruce of all ages!
• Most trees are killed by overwatering! Water trees ONLY after probing into the soil to determine a need for moisture. Use a large screwdriver or rod and plunge it into the root zone area to the depth of 12 inches. If the screwdriver pulls up moist soil on the shaft, the tree does not need water. Remember air and water can't occupy the same space at same time. The air should displace the water, and then when you water, the water will displace the air.
• Apply granulated Imidacloprid, such as Grub Free Zone, which contains Merit insecticide in late May to ensure the turf is protected from white grubs later in the season. If thatch is over ½" thick, aeration prior to the insecticide application may be necessary to ensure the insecticide is able to penetrate into the soil properly.
• Introduce a natural, safe, and beneficial bacteria into your pond water. Unpleasant odors, green or brown water, and dead algae are all controlled with a natural safe treatment of active bacteria in Microbe-Lift PL. It is a very safe product that is intended for ponds with a filter system or for lagoon settings. It is a favorite of many customers!