Chionodoxa luciliae

Chionodoxa luciliae is a wonderful bulb that should be used more than it is. Named after a Swiss Botanist's wife, Lucile, it's a cheery, early spring bloomer with sky blue flowers. They grow about 3-6" high and spread easily by seed increasing year to year forming a sea of color. Plant in large groups in a sunny location in moist, but well drained soil. It's deer and rodent resistant, too! Combine with the white Narcissus 'Mt. Hood or 'Thalia' for a clean and classy look. 

As  the leaves are falling, remember not to let them build up on new tender turf grass, especially if wet. Use a blower on new lawns to keep the majority of leaves from matting down  the new blades. 

Also be on the lookout for any orange powder on leaf blades. Rust can be a problem with the weather we've had recently. Cool and wet weather can promote rust and can be treated with fungicide. Give the office a call for details.  

Lindera benzoin

Don't miss the stunning display that our hardwood forests are showing right now. Lindera benzoin can be spotted easily with its golden yellow fall color hovering 6-12' above the forest floor.  Look for it the next time you're out driving or check out our container Spicebush the next time you're in!

Common Boxwood

"When is the best time to prune boxwood?"

Mark answers: It might actually be easier to rephrase this question to read: When is it bad to prune boxwood? The one bad time to prune would be during a mild winter day that is followed by severely cold, subfreezing temperatures. Boxwood seem to be susceptible to moisture loss through the small stem and twig cuts causing desication and thus browning of the remaining foliage. Having said this lets look at pruning other times along with how you prune.  

If you shear  boxwood in the spring you will obviously get a flush of new growth almost defeating the purpose of shearing assuming you were trying to maintain a given size and or shape. Now if you were to thin the boxwood by reaching into the interior of the plant with hand pruners to make selective cuts, you will allow some light to the interior of the plant. Since the plant is actively growing in the spring you will get good interior growth from latent buds as opposed to a sheared plant that has a dense canopy and no interior green growth. That's especially important if the plants are to be maintained at a specific height that's already been achieved, or close to doing so. 

Now let's look at what happens if you prune in the summer. Traditionally our industry prunes in the summer simply because this is a less busy time of year allowing for this work to be done. Since it is likely to be hot and dry, plants tend to one, slow their growth rates, and two, conserve moisture. In my opinion we should be mindful that these plants can be under a lot of moisture stress and pruning at this time can cause additional stress. This might not kill the boxwood by itself but it can be an invitation to other insect problems. This said, the advantage to summer pruning is the slow rate of any re-growth whether shearing or hand pruning.

If you need to prune in the fall do it early enough so that the vascular system is still active (by late September early October-ish). This allows tannins to change proteins into insoluble compounds that collect and prevent moisture loss from the all the cuts that you make. This is what does not take place in the first scenario I talked about pruning on a mild winter day followed by cold weather.

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. 

Here's a list of great looking perennials - in stock and in good supply - ready for your next job! 

'September Charm' Windflower

Anemone 'Robustissima' (Windflower) Great in the garden and as cut flowers! 'September Charm' seen here, is awesome!   

Iberis 'Alexander's White' (Candy Tuft) Clean white clusters of pure white flowers in spring. Get them in the ground now for a nice show next spring! 

Echinacea  x 'Pow-Wow White' (White Coneflower) There is a nice selection of Coneflowers out in both yards. These are budded and blooming!

Epimedium 'Niveum' (Barrrenwort) Clear white flowers in spring, blooms later than other Epimedium.

Lamiastrum 'Herman's Pride' (Yellow Archangel) Nice variegated foliage. A great idea for an interesting groundcover.

Thanks Heather! 

Weeping White Spruce and Golden Spanish Fir

This week choose from a large selection of quality specimen conifers at a great price! So that's any evergreen other than an Arborvitae that is a cultivar, there's dozens to pick from!  

Start a conifer garden, add year-round interest or finally plant that unusual specimen you've been thinking about. Check out the Hinoki Cypress cultivars, gorgeous 'Pendula' Weeping Hemlock, 'Mint Truffle' Bosnian Pine and so much more!

Stop by either yard soon for the best selections and mention this email special to your salesperson.

Continued specials on:

All Magnolia 1 - 10% off, 2 or more - 20% off 

All Fruit Trees 10 & 15 gallon - 20% off
All Tropicals - 75% off! 

Valid:  Sat. Oct. 13 - Fri. Oct. 19th    

*Does NOT include screening evergreens or container conifers. Price is net, no further discount applies. 

25 gallon Kwanzan Cherry

Deciduous Trees
Acer platanoides (Norway) 'Crimson King' Burgundy leaves on this large growing shade tree
Cornus x 'Stellar Pink' (Rutgers Hybrid Dogwood) B&B sizes
Prunus serrulata 'Kwanzan' 25 g Pyrus cal. 'Cleveland Select' (Flowering Pear) 25 g.

Deciduous Shrubs
Euonymus alatus 'Compactus' B&B

Rosa Knockout, Double Knockout, Pink Knockout
Viburnum x juddii (Judd Viburnum)

English Roseum Rhododendron

Broadleaf and Specimen Evergreens
Buxus (Boxwood) Specimen & Hedge, 'Green Velvet' 18-21"
Ilex glabra 'Shamrock'

I. x 'Blue Maid' (Holly)
Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point', 'Old Gold'
Picea glauca 'Conica' (Dwarf Alberta Spruce)
Rhododendron 'English Roseum' B&B Large, full plants! Limited availability, 4/5'.

Colorado Spruce