Narcissus 'Ice Follies'

Time to plant for 2014! Our first batch of spring blooming bulbs landed today with some pretty enticing selections including:

Allium 'Gladiator' 

Narcissus 'Dutch Master', 'Thalia'

Crocus 'Remembrance'

Tulipa 'Angelique'

Chionodoxa (Glory-of-the-Snow)

...and so much more!!!

Mark's Turf Tips

It's that time of year again - Battling Sod Web Worm 

Adult egg-laying

 

As you stroll across a lawn now you will likely see small moths go darting across it, and if you look close to where they land, their wings will be folded and rolled tight to their body and you'll see a snout-like mouthpart on their head. This is the adult sod webworm, and as the name implies the larvae is a worm. This worm feeds on your grass and likes to build silken tunnels in the thatch layers where they take up residency when not feeding. If you look out over the lawn in late evening you will see the adults take flight in a zig-zag pattern as they fly over the lawn dropping and spreading their eggs, starting the cycle all over again.

One of the best things you can do for turf is to de-thatch it in the fall. Removing the thatch takes away the layer that these insects call home. If  dethatching is not enough you can then apply Dylox 6.2G .

As always - read directions carefully before applying and call with any questions!

Plants to Know:

Caryopteris x clandonensis - Blue Mist Shrub

Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Dark Knight'

The first time I noticed this shrub was one fall while driving through Fairfield. A blue-violet haze seemed to hover above an old stone wall along the road. Not knowing what it was, I researched it once I got home and found out it must have been the Blue Mist Shrub.  

Also known as Bluebeard, it is a small, long blooming shrub growing 2-3 ' high with a mounding habit making it useful in many different landscape situations including foundations, island beds, mixed borders, perennial gardens or even massed along a stone wall!

Many people, myself included, are drawn to the blue and purple pallet, maybe because they're cool and calming colors. They happen to combine well with yellows and oranges, something you see a lot of this time of year, but also chartreus and pink, even the light pink of The Fairy Rose seen at the header. The leaves are a soft gray-green which contrast nicely when it's in flower. Note also that the leaves are pleasantly aromatic.

Success with Caryopteris is dependent on good soil preparation - the key words being loose, and well-drained!  They definitely don't appreciate over watering. They bloom on new wood so yearly maintenance should include pruning back late winter, much like Butterfly Bush. Also you may see some winter dieback in cold winters, so this pruning is helpful for a good fall show.

At the moment Peter and his crew are growing C. 'Dark Knight', 'Longwood Blue' (a taller cultivar growing to 4') and 'Worcester Gold' (a bright yellow-green leaved variety). 

They are in full bud and blooming this week and for weeks to come -  so stop by either yard and check out the blues and take advantage of this week's Special!!!

Good tip: underplant with smaller bulbs like Crocus or Muscari (Grape Hyacinths) to add early spring interest.

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Perennial HOT Picks!

Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

Looking good and in good supply!

Spotlight on Specimens 

Persian Ironwood Parrotia persica

3.5-4" Persian Parrotia

Another great tree to consider for that special customer is Parrotia persica. Also known as Persian Parrotia, this is an awesome tree for eight reasons: 

1. Size - 20-40' high and 15-30' wide making it great for some foundations, as a street tree or lawn specimen
2. Branching Structure - we love its tightly branched character and so do nesting songbirds
3. Hardiness - even though it is native to Iran it is hardy to zone (4)5
4. Multi-stress Tolerance - it doesn't seem to mind drought, heat, wind or cold
5. Leaf color - in spring they unfurl reddish-purple, turn a lustrous, medium dark green for summer then in fall watch for foliage much like Witchhazel - yellows, oranges, reds and purples - pretty spectacular
6. Flowers - yes, there are flowers which are unremarkable, but the stamens are a showy crimson
7. Bark - as the trunk calipers up it will exfoliate showing patches of gray, green, white and brown - think winter interest
8. Uncommon - most likely, the Jones' do not have this tree

Weekly Special

 Blue Mist Shrub - Buy 5+, Get 10% off*

Caryopteris x clandonensis

Worcester Gold Blue Mist Shrub

*Single variety - no mix and match 

Continued Special on Tropicals - 50% Off !

NOW!

Incoming and looking great this week: Screening Evergreens, Boxwood and Bulbs! Not to mention all the fresh evergreens that Duane and his crew have been digging including Norway Spruce and Hemlock!

Specimen and Hedge Grade Boxwood in Newtown

Thursdays trucks brought White Pine,  Norway and Colorado Spruce

Blushing Knockouts