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April

4.29.10 - Not Your Grandma's Coral Bells When we think of having a colorful garden we think of a plethora of blooming trees, shrubs, perennials, & annuals however foliage can provide interest as well. On a recent road trip I was reminded of the beauty of foliage. As I looked out over the hillside I was amazed at the various shades of greens & reds in the foliage of the woodlands as the leaves were emerging. This provided a beautiful backdrop & contrast with the bright white flowers of the dogwood trees. As you plan your landscape this year consider combining colorful foliage along with a variety of blooming plants to create a more interesting landscape. One of the colorful foliage plants you might consider is Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ which is Graf’s Perennial Plant of the Year. You may recognize the common name for Heuchera which is coral bells, however this variety is not your “grandmothers” coral bells. ‘Midnight Rose’ has beautiful deep burgundy foliage with bright pink splotches which provides a long season of color in the landscape. Plants grow into a 12” mound with sprays of white flowers on wiry stems blooming above foliage. This plant will grow in sun or shade but prefers a filtered sun or part shade location & well drained soil. The beauty of this plant is its long season of color as it emerges from dormancy in early spring then it will maintain beautiful foliage until late fall when the first snow covers it. We tested this plant in one of the beds at Graf Growers. We found it to be very hardy as well as attractive all season thus earning the honor of Graf’s 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year. Heuchera is one plant that has benefitted from modern day breeding.

In addition to ‘Midnight Rose’ you will find many varieties of Heuchera with various colored foliage & flowers including one with bright lime-green foliage named ‘Citronelle’ and another with deep plum colored foliage with a pretty silvery cast named ‘Plum Pudding’. Stop in to explore the selection of Heucheras & discover which varieties will compliment your garden. Spend $50 or more on Heuchera & other perennials to receive a Free perennial of the year T-shirt which will provide a 10% discount on future perennial purchases.

4.21.10 - Jump Start Your Summer Containers...
Container Gardening grows in popularity every year & with good reason. It is a fun way to be creative & experience gardening without having to do all the work of digging a plot & planting. You can have a beautiful container garden near your door to say “Welcome” or place pots on a patio or balcony for added color. If you have a limited amount of sun consider planting a tomato plant or other vegetable in a pot so you can move it where the sun is brightest.  Whether you plant one container or many here are a few tips to get you started.

If your container garden will be exposed to rainfall be sure it has a drainage hole & use potting soil (not top soil). Potting soil is mixed so that it will remain loose thus allowing the water to drain well & the roots to remain healthy.

When choosing plants you will want to consider the overall look that you want. Do you want a bright burst of color or a mixture of colors & textures. One design hint is to think of plants as Thrillers, Fillers, & Spillers. The thrillers are the plants that add drama & are usually (but not always) placed in the center of the container. Common examples of this are a spike plant or grass however there are many different varieties to choose from. Fillers are just that … they are the plants that fill in toward the middle of the container. Geraniums or new guinea impatiens are an example of a filler. Others you might consider is Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ which has airy white flowers or Sun Coleus which is a robust growing plant with colorful foliage. Finally, Spillers are the plants that spill over the edge. Choose blooming spillers like Supertunias, Vining Verbeana & others or consider plants are known for their beautiful leaves like sweet potato vine, vinca vine & English ivy. One thing to note is that you can design a beautiful container garden with only one or two of these elements or all three depending on the look you want.

 Consider theme gardens like a spaghetti pot with a tomato plant, parsley, oregano, & basil planted around it. Plant a similar version with lettuce plants instead of the herbs to create a “salad garden”. A patriotic pot with red white & blue flowers is always fun especially for July 4th parties. If you have a graduating senior in your house plant pots with school colors in preparation for celebration parties. Additionally, fragrant plants are always a nice addition especially on the patio. As you can see there are endless possibilities for container gardening.

Join us this Saturday April 24th from 9-5 to learn more. We’ll be demonstrating different ideas for container gardening or you can step up to the potting table to plant a container herb garden with 5 herbs for 19.99.
Kids can have fun too planting a potted flower for Mom or Grandma for Free.

4.14.10 - Economical & Tasty!
Planting an herb garden is a fun way to enjoy fresh herbs all summer long. Just thinking of fresh basil, mozzarella, & tomato salad makes ones mouth begin to water. Additionally, fresh herbs will add a little zip to all your favorite recipes and are especially nice to use when grilling. Whether you choose to add a few herbs to your vegetable garden or grow them in a container it is easy & rewarding to grow fresh herbs.

Recently, someone mentioned to me that they needed 3 different herbs for a recipe & each of them cost $2.79 a package. Furthermore, she pointed out that she only needed a small amount of each herb for the recipe. With this in mind, she decided to plant an herb garden this year so she can harvest as she needs it. Growing her own herbs will be more economical as well as accessible when she needs them.

We can help you get started next Saturday April 24th at our Home Opener. Stop in any time during the day & plant an herb garden for just $19.99 which includes 5 herbs of your choice, a pot, & soil. We’ll help you make selections, & provide growing advice. Instantly, you’ll have an herb garden to take home & enjoy.

4.7.10 - Bag or Bulk?
It’s Mulch Madness at Graf Growers & we're offering special savings on mulch now through April 28th. While many people apply fresh mulch every year to enhance the appearance of their landscape there are many other reasons why mulching is important. Read on & learn more about the value of mulch & helpful hints to get you started.
Why should I apply mulch?
Mulch is a protective coating applied to landscape beds. It will aid in weed prevention, maintain moisture in the soil & prevent erosion as well as add beauty to the landscape.
When should I apply mulch?
You can apply mulch safely any time during the growing season however it is best to apply it to exposed soil in the spring to prevent weeds & in the fall for winter root protection.
What mulch should I choose?
Mulch comes in a variety of textures & colors. The mulch you choose is mostly personal preference.
Hardwood Mulch is our most popular variety. It is an all natural shredded material that is dark brown in color.
Black & Red, & Mocha Brown Mulch is also a shredded hardwood material that has been dyed red or black. The benefit of this mulch is the color remains consistent all season long.
Cypress Mulch is a golden color that fades to light gray. It has a shredded wood texture. It is recommended for rose beds because it is less acidic.
Pine Bark Mulch, Mini Nuggets & Large Nuggets – This mulch is chipped rather than shredded. The chips come in 3 sizes & it is dark brown in color. The mini & large nuggets provide an interesting texture to the landscape & is often used in mulched paths. The benefit of this mulch is that it slowly decomposes so it lasts a long time.
How much Mulch do I need?
Go out & step off your beds where you will be applying mulch. Measure the length & the width. Multiply the length times the width to determine the square footage you need to cover. Do not worry about being precise when measuring curves etc. just try to get the bulk of the area. Then decide how deep you want to apply the mulch. We recommend 1-2 inches per year. I have listed a guide to help you decide the quantity you will need.
1 cubic yard will cover 324 square feet 1” deep
1 cubic yard will cover 216 square feet 2” deep
1 bag - 2 cubic feet will cover 24 square feet 1” deep
For example: If you have an area that is 100’ feet long & 10’ wide and you want to apply mulch 2” thick you will need approx. 4.5  - 5 cubic yards of mulch. 100 x 10 = 1000 square feet divided by 216 = 4.62 so you would need approximately 4.5 – 5 cubic yards of mulch.
If you have trouble with this we’ll be glad to help.
Other tips:
Do not pile mulch up high near the trunk of the tree. While this is commonly done because it looks nice it is not good for the tree and can cause the health of the tree to decline. It is best for the tree if the flare at the base of the tree is left exposed.
Pull or spray weeds before applying mulch. Mulch will prevent weed growth however weeds are tenacious so if they are actively growing when you apply mulch they may grow through.
More is not better. Do not apply mulch 6” thick unless you absolutely do not want to grow anything there. It is better for landscape plants to refresh the mulch each year rather than put a lot on at one time.
If you are mulching your vegetable garden we recommend Sweet Peet® an organic material made from vegetatative compost & animal waste. It provides nutrients as well as protection & it can be tilled into the soil at the end of the season.

4.24.09 - Ever wondered about Earth Friendly options for your garden?
Wednesday was Earth Day & there were many exciting activities across the city & in schools to commemorate this event. This got me thinking about a slogan I read that said “Every day is earth day for a farmer” & I think the same is true for gardeners. As gardeners we are actively involved in improving the earth. There is always a little more we can do to improve the earth & enjoy our gardens. At Graf Growers we implemented a recycling program for cardboard & paper. As you can imagine many of the products come in cardboard boxes so this waste is a considerable amount. In addition, we started redistributing organic waste back into the fields.  Although this seems easy it is always challenging to change habits. In this case, the changes were embraced by all & we’re on our way.

Have you thought about earth friendly options for your garden? I thought I would mention a few to get you thinking:

Soil preparation is one of the most important factors for earth friendly gardening because the roots will grow better & the plant will be stronger. If your soil is clay add peat & bark soil conditioner to break up the clay. Adding the soil amendment “Sweet Peet” which is an all organic composted material will improve any soil. This product can also be used as a mulch which will eventually work into the soil. We’ll be glad to help you decide the best way to amend your soil depending on your soil type & the plants you are planning to grow.

Choose disease & insect resistant varieties of plants so they stay strong & healthy. Knock-out Roses and ‘Parrsi’ & ‘Profusion’ Crabapple Trees are a perfect examples of this.

This year Espoma the producers of Plant-tone & Hollytone (my favorite fertilizer) changed their products to an all organic fertilizer formulation to make it even more earth friendly.  In addition, they offer all organic Tomato-tone &  Garden-tone for your vegetable gardens. Regular fertilization of your plants will make them stronger & healthier. Vegetables will produce more as well.

We offer an Organic Weed Killer & Weed Preventer by Concern as well as earth friendly pest & disease controls if needed.

I hope this does not seem overwhelming for you. Remember small changes can make a big difference. This weekend is forecasted to be beautiful & we look forward to helping you with earth friendly gardening choices.  

4.17.09 - Evaluate your landscape, what are the best plants for you?
The nursery is filling up quickly with plants & we’re looking forward to your arrival. I can only imagine what it is like to arrive at the nursery & seeing all of the beautiful plants for the first time. I think it must be similar to my visits to the knitting store where I am enamored with all the beautiful colors & textures but I do not have a clue what I could make with the different fibers & of course I want them all. When you visit Graf Growers we want to take the mystery out of gardening & help you make careful selections that will grow & thrive in your landscape. Take a walk through your landscape & observe the conditions. Look for sunny or shady areas, is the soil sandy or clay, how much space do you need to fill? You might even want to take a picture & measurements of the space. All of this information will help us help you select the best plants for your landscape. I know I have said this before but if you choose the right plant for the location your landscape will be sustainable & low maintenance for many years. For example, if you have a full sun area & you would like lots of blooms all summer you might choose a Knock-out Rose variety because they are prolific bloomers & very hardy even if you really wanted a shade loving rhododendron for this spot.  We look forward to helping you make selections so you can have the best gardening season ever.

4.10.09 - What Can I Plant Now?
Early spring was interrupted by winter weather this week leaving us all wondering if it safe to plant? Perennials, shrubs & trees are very cold tolerant & can be planted now. In addition, violas & pansies thrive in cooler temperatures & will even tolerate frost so they can be planted now as well. If you are planting a vegetable garden, early season cold tolerant vegetables include peas, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, & collards. Lettuce seeds, onions & potatoes can be started now as well.  It is always fun to get started planting however if you are not ready to start planting & want to spend time in the garden  it is a good time for fertilizing. Fertilize shrubs & evergreens with Holly-tone & perennials with Plant-tone to help strengthen their stems & build a healthier root system which will result in strong, vibrant plants.

Caring for your Easter flowers?
I thought I would provide a few tips for caring for various Easter flowers so you might enjoy them for a long time.

Easter Lilies – It is best to keep the soil evenly moist but not extremely wet. Place in a bright spot in your home however it does not have to be full sun. If you want the blooms to last a long time keep it in a cool room. After an Easter lily is finished blooming you can plant it outside in mid-May in a part-shade or morning sun location. The foliage will die back & then grow again blooming a second time in August.

Tulips, Hyacinthes, & Daffodils – All of these plants are grown from bulbs & they have a limited blooming time. Keep the soil moist & enjoy them wherever you like in your home. When they are finished blooming you can plant them outside. The foliage will die back however they will grow & bloom again early next spring.

Hydrangeas – Florist type hydrangeas have very long lasting blooms (several months) as long as you water them regularly & place them in bright light. If you plant them outside they will grow but most florist types will not rebloom in our climate zone. (If you want blooming hydrangeas in your landscape we will help you choose varieties that will bloom & grow in NE Ohio.)

Azaleas – Florist type azaleas also have a very long blooming cycle however they generally do not rebloom again so you will have to enjoy the plant as a green houseplant after the blooming time. Place in bright light & water thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch.

Reiger Begonias – It is best to keep this plant in bright light indoors & water when the soil is dry to the touch. The plant has long lasting blooms & they will continue to bloom all summer if you move them outside to a porch or patio after the danger of frost which is usually mid to late May. Fertilize with Miracle Gro Bloom Booster or a houseplant fertilizer according to the directions.

4.3.09 - Much ado about mulch…
Today starts our Mulch Madness promotion, providing savings on mulch, so I thought I would discuss the benefits of mulching & a few helpful hints to help you decide which type of mulch to use & how much you will need. First & foremost mulching is most often done for curb appeal & to give the landscape a finished appearance however it is very beneficial for landscape plants as well. The mulch provides insulation for the roots to keep them cooler in the summer & protected in the winter as well as it helps to keep the roots moist during long hot summer days. This is especially important for newly transplanted landscape plants. In addition, mulch helps to suppress the growth of weeds as well as it will break down over time & self compost back into the soil making it a good investment in your landscape. 

When should you mulch?
You can mulch any time of year but early spring or fall mulching is most common.

How deep should the mulch be?
The depth of mulch can vary a bit depending on personal preference & the type of plants in the bed. Generally speaking, 1” – 2” is preferable. For a new bed apply approximately 2” of mulch & if you are adding mulch where there is already existing mulch I suggest you keep it to about 1” of new mulch. The challenge is that over time when adding 3” or more each year the mulch will build up rather than break down & then it will smother the stems of landscape plants. For open areas with a few trees one might consider mulching a little bit heavier (3” – 4”).

How much mulch will I need?
Generally speaking, it is best if you can step off your landscape beds (length x width) to determine the square footage of the area you are covering. This can seem like a daunting task because many landscape beds have curvilinear lines however the measurements do not have to be precise to come up with a decent guideline of how much mulch needed. Once you have established the square footage you need to cover I have listed a few guidelines you can use to determine the amount needed. We are happy to help with this as well.
1 cu. yard of bulk mulch will cover 324 square feet 1” deep or 216 square feet 2” deep.
1 bag (2 cu. foot) will cover 24 square feet 1” deep

What are the characteristics of the different types of mulch?
Hardwood Mulch – is the most popular mulch we sell. It is high quality shredded mulch that is very dark brown & it is available bulk by the yard or in bags. It works well in most landscape but it will hold especially well on sloped beds.
Naturescape Sierra Red & Classic Black Mulch – available in bags this dyed mulch is guaranteed not to fade for 1 year. Generally this mulch is chosen for its unique coloration.
Pine Bark Mulch, Mini Nuggets, & Nuggets – available in bags, all of them are a rich dark brown color & chipped rather than shredded. The mulch is a very small chip, & the nuggets are medium & large sized chips. All of them provide interesting texture to the landscape It is a very long lasting mulch & it is incredibly easy to spread.
Cypress Mulch – Cypress mulch is light golden colored shredded mulch that is available in bags. It is very long lasting mulch & is recommended for roses.

I encourage you to stop in to see the samples. We offer delivery service for bags or bulk mulch & if you’re picking up we’ll load your vehicle for you. Get started now… Mulch early and save BIG!

4.25.08 - What can I plant now? That's the question of the week!
What can I plant now? That’s the question of the week. The weather has been so beautiful & we’re all anxious to get started planting. Take advantage of warm days & cool nights to establish perennials, shrubs & trees as well as grass seed & early season vegetables. You can get started planting annual container gardens, adding hanging baskets & porch pots to your patio & planting herbs & vegetables however we recommend that you are prepared to protect them in case of frost. The weather can be up & down this time of year so you just have to watch the weather forecast.  

This week many people participated in Earth Day & Arbor day activities. Keep Akron Beautiful provides a wonderful experience for students with a tree planting program. Graf Growers has a small part in this program providing a contribution of peat moss to pack the tree seedlings. As we think about our environment & improving the earth it is small changes repeatedly that bring about big changes. This year we have added a new section of Earth friendly gardening products with organic fertilizers, pest & weed controls. I sampled many of these products last year in my garden & they worked quite well however the key to using less chemicals in the garden is to have good cultural practices. A few examples of this are proper plant spacing prevents disease issues,  amending the soil with organic materials allows better drainage & air to the roots which aids growth, & choosing the right plant for the location creates less stress for plants which allows them to grow better.  Additionally, internally we have been recycling office paper, using drip irrigation to save water & looking at other ways to we might improve. Think about little changes that you can make to improve the earth & enjoy gardening!

4.18.08 - Introducing New Arrivals May 3rd & 4th!

This week I received an email with a question about early spring pruning. I thought I would share the question & my response with you.
Question: It is a nice day today.  Is it safe to cut back shrubs now or  is it to soon?  I don’t want to kill anything if it decides to cool down or even snow,  I live in Akron Ohio.  In other words can I get out there and start cutting back the shrubs.
        
Response: It is a beautiful day & yes you can prune many shrubs now but there are a few varieties that it would be better to wait. I will explain briefly & if you have specific questions just email or call us.
*The rule of thumb is that if they are a spring flowering bush it is best to prune them just after they finish blooming because if you prune them now you will cut off the buds.
*Other non-flowering deciduous bushes (ones that loose their leaves in the winter) can be pruned anytime from late February to late spring. You can trim them other times however if you trim them before the leaves emerge they will look better.
*It would be best to prune or shear evergreens after new growth has emerged later in the summer, however if you have a particular specimen that is growing wildly, it would not hurt it to prune it or shape it up. Be advised that some evergreens like arborvitae & others have a naturally pleasing growth habit & should not be pruned.
*Hydrangeas are a little tricky. Some varieties produce blooms on the old stems & others on the new growth. We would be happy to advise you if we know what variety you are working with.
*Perennials & Grasses left from last year can be cut back now however woody perennials like butterfly bush, lavender & clematis grow off the old stems & should only be shaped at this time.

One other thing that you can be doing now;. I would recommend that you fertilize perennials with Plantone & evergreens, azaleas & other acid loving shrubs with Hollytone. They are natural fertilizers with many micronutrients that will encourage healthy new growth, strong stems & healthy roots.

4.11.08 - Celebrate the Magic Spring!
It’s been a beautiful week with sunny days & warm temperatures. As I drove through several neighborhoods last weekend I saw many families outside raking & picking up sticks or running & playing. I walked around my back yard last night & was amazed by how much everything grew in just 1 week. That is part of the magic of spring when neighbors reappear after a long winter of hibernation, plants emerge with new growth, the grass turns greener & spring blooms burst forth. Although the weather is forecasted to be a cool weekend, warm days will follow soon after.

I am a beginning knitter & whenever I go to the yarn store I am always confused as to what yarn would be best for my project so I usually end up buying the yarn I fall in love with & then find a project for it.  I am sure it is the same way when you arrive at the garden store as the pretty blooms are so enticing. One of the keys to a successful landscape is choosing the right plant for the location. Let me explain. First you want to choose a plant that will tolerate the conditions of the site. If it is sunny or shady, if the soil is moist for long periods of time or very dry, etc. Further considerations are aesthetic. Do you want something colorful or subtle? How tall would you like it to grow & would you enjoy a certain blooming time? I know this all seems overwhelming but that is why we’re here to help. First, take a walk through your landscape & observe the different planting areas to determine if there are special needs for an area. If you can, take a photo of the area & a few measurements then bring it with you to make your selections. Our staff members are experienced & we will work with you to make plant selections that should thrive & flourish in your landscape as well as planting advice. It is so rewarding to work in your landscape when everything is growing & looking great!

4.4.08 - It's going to be a great weekend to tackle early Spring tasks!
The weekend forecast is great for early spring gardening & landscaping. It‘s going to feel great to get outside, tackle a few of the early spring tasks, & dig in the dirt.  I am reminded of my youth growing up on a vegetable farm. This is the week we would start to plow the fields & plant onion sets. After school, we would crawl on the ground setting onion sets side by side in long rows that seemed endless at the time. In a few short weeks the onions sprouted & soon were ready for harvest in late May. If you are anxious to enjoy fresh vegetables from the garden you can get started by planting peas, onion sets, lettuce, spinach, seed potatoes & others. These are all vegetables that prefer cooler temperatures & like to be planted in the early spring! You’ll be glad you did. Furthermore, if you wish to plant landscape plants it is safe to plant most perennials, shrubs, trees & pansies.

A few other spring tasks you might consider:
Fertilize existing beds with all natural Plantone & Hollytone by Espoma. Sprinkle Hollytone around acid loving plants like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, evergreen shrubs, & others. Plantone is a wonderful fertilizer for perennials. It is inexpensive & very effective. It’s worth your time to do this because fertilized plants are stronger, healthier & look better in the landscape

Plant grass seed & fill in bare spots. Take advantage of warm days & cool nights to germinate grass seed. If you are filling bare spots you can us Grass Seed Accelerator as an alternative to straw. It is so easy to use. Just spread lightly over the seed & then water it. The pellets swell & flatten over the seed providing protection & holding moisture as well as fertilizing the young starts. You do not have to rake it up as it will decompose in the earth.

Stop in this weekend & say Hello! It’s always fun to see the new plants as they arrive.