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Weekly Picks!                  Friday, August 7, 2015
A short yellow workhorse of a perennial - Mesa Yellow Blanket Flower
Summer Plant Care = Water
Tree Watering Bags
It's a good time to give them a try! 
The main challenge in keeping newly planted material happy through summer's hottest days is keeping them adequately hydrated. In lieu of a good irrigation system, supplemental watering is obviously the key, but it can be tough to count on vacation-bound clients to water, let alone to do it properly. Here are three products that will help your new plants make it through the dog days of August and into the cool fall weather ahead.  
 
Tree Watering Bags - These perforated, heavy-duty poly bags hold up to 20 gallons of water! They promote deep root growth, save you time, keep water where it's needed most - at the root zone. For smaller caliper trees with a 2' trunk clearance one bag is sufficient, for large trees you can easily zip two bags together. Need them for low-branched trees or conifers? Use the round doughnut-shaped bag that lays on the ground around the base of the trunk. 
Aquatain - Water Absorbing Gel Crystals are for use at planting time. Mix the appropriate amount into the back-fill soil so the co-polymer crystals are below the soil line accessible to the roots. Each single crystal hold up to 200 times its weight in water!  The process is repeated over again each time water is re-introduced. It's important to read the application rate on the label very carefully! Available in 1 lb. plastic jars or smaller convenient zip-lock bags. Also consider Roots 1-Step. Fertilizer, Mycorrhizal fungi and water absorbing crystals in one packet.  
Mulch - Pinebark or Cedarbark make the planting job look neat & complete, but more importantly it does the job of keeping moisture where it belongs - at the root-zone! Our 3 cu. ft. bags are easy to use with no cleanup other than recycling the plastic bags. 

Time to start thinking about Evergreens!

Screening Chart at a Glance 

Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green' American Arborvitae

Fresh evergreens - Arborvitae, Spruce, White Pine etc. will begin arriving around Labor Day depending, of course, on the weather. So it's not a bad idea to start thinking about your fall planting needs. Here's a quick reference chart to help out with your choices. (Please be aware that sizes and quantities can be limited so it's always good to have a few backup options) Need some larger sizes or quantities? Give the sales line a call soon!
Newtown 203- 304-6020 Watertown 860-631-5140


Evergreen Screening Chart

BotanicalCommonMature SizeGrowth rateLightComments
Abies concolor White/Concolor Fir30-50'HSlow to mediumFull sunLarge flat bluish needles that smell like oranges.
Picea abies Norway Spruce40-60'H x 25-30'WMedium, faster in youthFull sun-part shadeHorizontal ascending branches develop with age. Dark needles, bright new growth. Most adaptable of commonly grown Spruce...

 Access the full PDF chart here.

It's Summer Phlox!
Glamour Girl Summer Phlox
Glamour Girl Summer Phlox
Here's an old-fashioned perennial with a new look. Phlox paniculata 'Glamour Girl' has turned just about every head in the nursery with her hot, coral-pink flowers. It has good mildew resistance, tolerates high heat and humidity and holds the bright color with minimal fading.

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. 24-30" tall x 18-24" wide. Attracts honey bees, butterflies and hummingbirds with its soft sweet scent and vibrant color!

Not into the hot colors? Check out Phlox paniculata 'David'. It's white .

NOW!
Incoming this week includes some sought-after spreading Japanese Plum Yews, Pink Drift Roses and Gold Mops Cypress
Japanese Plum Yew
Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata' 10 gallon
Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata', 'Prostrata'Japanese Plum Yew (upright and spreading)
Buxus x 'Vardar Valley'Boxwood
Chamaecyparis pisifera f.a. 'Golden Mops'Gold Thread Cypress
Ilex crenata 'Compacta', 'Helleri', 'Hoogendorn', 'Soft Touch', 'Steeds'Japanese Holly
Ilex x 'Blue Maid'Hybrid Holly
Picea glauca 'Conica'Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Rosa Knockout Family and Red and Pink Drift RosesRoses
Viburnum plicatum 'Summer Snowflake'Viburnum
Bloomstruck Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bloomstruck'
There are plenty of Hydrangeas in both Newtown and Watertown - from the climbing Hydrangea anomala petiolaris to the tree form H. paniculata 'Quickfire' -so many choices for both commercial and residential sites. Right now the Bigleaf and Panicle Hydrangea are in full bloom!
Sundown Echinacea
We had to include Echinacea x 'Sundown' here with its electric peachy-pink petals. Check out other Coneflowers including multi-colored Cheyenne Spirit! There are selections for every garden style and palette.
Have a Great Weekend!
Last Week's Plant I.D.
Last Week's Plant I.D. Autumn Fern
This Week's Plant I.D.
This Week's Plant I.D.
 (hint: grows 2-3" tall)
Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) is a semi-evergreen fern for Zones 5-8 with the awesome feature of new fronds emerging in shades of copper to bronze. Grows 1.5-2.5' tall and spreads slowly by underground roots. Needs a rich, moist, well drained site.
Contact
Newtown Sales Yard
140 Huntingtown Road
Newtown, CT 06470
office 203-426-4037
fax 203-426-8057
SALES: 203-304-6020

Quotes:  quotes@planterschoice.com
General Questions: info@planterschoice.com

Watertown Sales  Yard
496 Bunker Hill Road
Watertown, CT 06795
Office 860-945-6588
fax 860-945-9282
SALES 860-631-5145

Quotes: lbette@planterschoice.com