We've all heard this admonition: always do a soil test first. Yet, of course, designs are created and quoted without them all the time.

 

"Who has time to wait for a soil test before quoting a job? And why do tests before you know you have the job?"

 

Consider a new approach. You already take into account visible factors - sun, shade, moisture, deer, and so on - all the time. Why not the microscopic as well?

 

Educate your clients. You'll stand out to prospective customers if you have an "it-goes-without-saying" attitude toward testing the soil.

 

Keep in mind, you don't have to wait for the test results to design or to quote. Just establish a client expectation that ultimate plant success is built on seeing the invisible.

 

To that end, take frequent soil samples regardless. Invest in quick ph test kits and use them as often as you measure and photograph. Build up your own personal (and yes, deliberately anecdotal) statistics.

 

Whether you build in the test costs, add them on later, or "eat" them, create the expectation that soil tests are basic to long-term plant success.

 

Stand out from the crowd. Land the job. Get the referral.

 

Conservation Seed Mix - This contains native seeds which provide a permanent cover for disturbed sites, wildlife habitats and detention basin slopes. This is a great seed mix that requires minimal maintenance. 1 lb./1750 sq ft.

 

Erosion Control Seed Mix - Native grass and wildflower seed for rapidly stabilizing slopes. Good for retention basins with no standing water. 1 lb./1250 sq ft.

 

Salt Tolerant Seed Mix - A selection of native grass which will tolerate dry sites with salty conditions (spray/mist), great for coastal areas. For best results apply on clean, bare soil. Includes - 1 lb./1250 sq. ft.

 

Wetland Seed Mix - A wide selection of native seeds which are suitable for typical wetland restoration projects that are not permanently flooded. Best suited to moist soils as in wet meadows. 1 lb. /2500 sq ft.

 

All mixes are appropriately chosen to assure success when planted in the right conditions. As always - we're here to help if you have any questions!

  

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The 'Big Red' Tree Spade

   

Duane and his crew have been digging some large trees with Big Red, one of our largest tree spades. 4.5-5" Weeping Cherries and some gorgeous 3-3.5" Thundercloud Purple Leaf Plums came out of the ground this week. There are already 300+ freshly dug trees from our fields so far, despite the weather, with more coming daily. 

16-18' Heritage River Birch

Have customers looking for large River Birch? LOOK NO FURTHER! We will be digging these beautiful Heritage River Birch from one of our fields in Watertown soon, and you will be the first to know when they are out of the ground!

  

In the greenhouses the perennial potting has begun full force. The list is a mile long but includes Guacamole Hosta, Drummonds Pink Phlox, Fortune Japanese Iris and many others. This batch will be ready for the most part in 6-8 weeks.  If you have never been up here, it's worth the trip! 

  

An old-fashioned deciduous shrub that blooms before it leafs out. Often times seen in front of older farm houses. Great plants for spring color that's different than the expected yellows - they're also great plants to cut and force inside! Choose any of our PC Grown 3 gallon plants: 'Jet Trail' (white), 'Cameo' (pictured) or 'Texas Scarlet' (deep red). They'll grow approximately 3-5' tall x 5' wide. Plant in full sun for best flower show. They make a fantastic barrier or hedge, but can also stand alone or be used in a mixed border. Keep them in mind also if you have a dry site -  a beautiful spring bloomer that can take it!

Incoming this week - Container Fruit Trees, Large Sugar Maples and some large American Elm. Also, a limited amount of screening evergreens have started to roll in, please call for availability. Larger specimen trees have an asterix *. 

Deciduous Trees & Shrubs
Acer griseum	Paperbark Maple
Acer p. Sango Kaku'	Coralbark Maple
Acer p. 'Shishigashira'	Lion's Head Maple
Acer palm.dis. 'Crimson 'Queen', 'Red Dragon', 'Select Red', 'Tamukeyama', 'Viridis'	Japanese Cutleaf Maple
Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood', 'Emperor I'	Japanese Maple (uprights)
Acer rubrum 'October Glory'	October Glory Red Maple *
Acer saccharum 'Legacy'	Legacy Sugar Maple *
Acer x freemanii 'Armstrong'	Armstrong Maple *
Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Rainbow Pillar'	Serviceberry (Shadblow)
Berberis thun. 'Golden Nugget', 'Royal Burgundy'	Barberry
Cercis canadensis 'Royal White'	Whitebud
Cornus alternifolia	Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus kousa	Kousa Dogwood *
Cornus kousa 'Wolf Eyes'	Variegated Kousa Dogwood
Cornus x 'Aurora', 'Constellation', 'Stellar Pink'	Rutger's Hybrid Dogwood both of these are 5" +, limited
Euonymus alatus 'Compacta'	Burning Bush
Fagus sylvatica 'Riversii', 'Rohani', 'Tortuosa'	European Beech
Fothergilla gardenii	Dwarf Fothergilla B&B
Franklinia alatamaha	Franklin Tree multistem, limited
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'	Fastigiate Sweetgum
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip Tree
Magnolia stellata 'Leonard Messel'	Pink Star Magnolia
Magnolia x 'Elizabeth'	Elizabeth Magnolia (yellow)
Magnolia x loebneri 'Dr. Merrill'	Dr. Merrill Magnolia (white)
Malus 'Adams'	Adams Crabapple 4-4.5"
Malus sargentii 'Tina'	Sargentina Crabapple
Malus 'Velvet Pillar'	Velvet Pillar Crabapple
Myrica pensylvanica	Northern Bayberry
Nyssa sylvatica	Black Gum
Oxydendron arboreum	Sourwood
Platanus x acerifolia 'Bloodgood'	London Plane Tree
Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula'	Pink Weeping Cherry
Prunus x 'Snow Fountain'	White Weeping Cherry
Salix x 'Scarlet Curls'	Scarlet Curls Willow
Stewartia pseudocamellia	Japanese Stewartia tree form
Styrax japonica	Japanese Snowbell
Syringa meyeri 'Palibin'	Dwarf Korean Lilac
Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk'	Japanese Tree Lilac
Syrings patula 'Miss Kim'	Miss Kim Lilac
Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'	Little-leaf Linden
Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge'	American Elm *
V. juddii	Fragrant Viburnum
Viburnum burkwoodii	Burkwood Viburnum
Viburnum macrocephalum	Chinese Snowball Viburnum
Viburnum plicatum tom. 'Mariesii', 'Shasta'	Doublefile Viburnum

 

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

 

Ornamental and Broadleaf Evergreens
Abies pinsapo 'Aurea'	Golden Spanish Fir
Buxus microphylla 'Justin Brouwers'	Justin Brouwers Boxwod
Buxus semp.'Suffruticosa'	Common Boxwood
Buxus x 'Green Velvet', 'Green Mountain', Winter Gem'	Boxwood
Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata'	Upright Japanese Plum Yew
Chamaecyparis pis. Fil. 'Golden Charm',	Golden Charm Threadleaf Cypress
Juniperus chin. 'Daub's Frosted'	Daub's Frosted Juniper
Picea abies 'Little Gem'	Dwarf Norway Spruce
Picea glauca 'Conica' (Poodle and Spiral)	Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Picea pungens 'Glauca Pendula'	Weeping Blue Spruce
Pieris x 'Flaming Silver'	Variegated Andromeda
Pinus densiflora 'Tanyosho' ('Umbraculifera')	Tanyosho Pine
Pinus mugo 'Pumilo'	Mugo Pine
Sarcococca humilis	Sweetbox
Skimmia japonica (Male & Female)	Skimmia

 

Like fruit? Start an orchard!

 

  

Edible Fruit Trees 15 gallon containers
Diospyros kaki (Zone 7)	Persimmon 'Fuyu Imoto' limited
Malus Espaliered	3-Tier Espaliered Apple
Malus 'Red Fuji', 'Royal Gala'	Apples
Prunus 'Blackyork', 'Whitegold'	Cherries
Prunus 'Blushing Star', 'Redhaven'	Peaches
Prunus 'Red Ace', Weepinig 'Santa Rosa'	Plums
Pyrus 'Anjou', 'Moonglow', 'Shinseiki'	Pears