THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER
THE DUMBEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THOSE WHO KNOW IT ALL.
THE DUMBEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THOSE WHO KNOW IT ALL.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
GREENSCAPE GARDENS IN THE NEWS
GardenCenter Magazine February 2010
The following article was excerpted from gardencenter magazine which is a trade journal targeting garden centers. The article was titled "Composting goes in-house.
Composting---if its good for home gardeners, it's got to be good for garden centers. That's the attitude more stores are taking these days as they strive to practice what they preach. Retailers across the country are setting up in-house composting stations to bring eco-friendly practices closer to home base.
"We have a lot of green material that we have to separate from our other recyclables as well as our waste materials," said Jennifer Schamber with Greenscape Gardens & Gifts in Manchester, MO. "We can't compost all of it on site, so we have a separate yard-waste container that gets picked up weekly and is composted off-site. We have chickens---and therefore, a lot of good $#!+---pardon the language!----so we have a large concrete block bin in the back that we use to compost our chicken poop and other easily compostable yard wastes."
Note: The article also had a picture of the "almost famous" chicken coop.
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Jodie Bross, owner of Glenwild Garden Center, in Bloomingdale, N.J., said her store is solidly aboard the composting bandwagon. The company has a landscape division, and a lot of the compost ends up being used on projects.
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At the store, they have a rough brush pile where employees toss things that take a while to break down---like dead annuals and perennials. The compost produced here will often end up enriching the store's display gardens.
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"Inside at our work areas we have separate waste cans for when we're cleaning inside---plant leaves, etc---and [containers for] veggie lunch scraps," said Bross. "We don't enforce the lunch scraps--it's just for the people who think of it and know it isn't too smelly and messy. Lots of coffee grounds, of course!"
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Are you doing in house composting? Join the conversation in our forum at Garden Center Magazine.com.
"Take note customers: We've been preaching about composting for 16 years and we practice what we preach. For the last year Greenscape Gardens has been recognized monthly by at least one of the trade journals for our industry. Hey.....
we're the neighborhood family owned garden center that is NATIONALY KNOWN.
Thank you for your patronage and with spring "hopefully" approaching, we'll be seeing you soon.
Monday, February 15, 2010
GREENSCAPE GARDENS TIPS
Improve The Soil For Maximum Results
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You can also do a home test to determine whether your soil is clay, loam or sand. Put a handful of garden soil in a litre jar, fill it with water, shake, and then leave it to settle for a day. Sand will settle to the bottom, silt will be the next layer, with clay on top. (Organic matter will float on the water’s surface.) Compare the percentage of each layer to determine whether you’ve got loam (20% clay, 40% silt, 40% sand), clay (60% clay, 30% silt, 10% sand), or sand (5% clay, 10% silt, 85% sand).
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A laboratory soil test will tell you whether your soil’s pH is acidic, neutral or alkaline--which will help you determine what plants will do best in your conditions.
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To determine the drainage capacity of your soil, dig a hole 1 foot deep and 1 foot wide. Fill it with water, let it drain completely, then fill again until the soil is saturated. Depending on how long it takes for this last batch to drain, you’ve either got adequate drainage (less than 2 hours), or poor drainage (more than 2 hours).Whatever your soil type, pH, drainage and nutrient levels, you can improve the health of your soil by adding compost. Dig in lots of compost when first preparing your garden bed for planting. In already established gardens, add a 3-inch layer of compost around your plants in spring, summer or fall.
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Additional information about improving your soil can be found at our website. Great gardens ONLY happen when an improved soil foundation has been installed.
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At Greenscape Gardens we are constantly informing the customer to spend additional monies on improving the soil and less on the plant material. We are in the business to sell plants but plants only grow and prosper when they are given the proper incentives to grow........GOOD SOIL. greenscapegardens.com
GREENSCAPE GARDENS TIPS
Organic Gardening......The Healthy Alternative
For every problem that may arise in your garden, there’s a green, organic solution. Instead of using synthetic chemicals, which may leach into and contaminate the soil and groundwater, use these time-tested, organic methods. And remember, the best organic practice is prevention. Healthy soil and plants are more resistant to pests and diseases.
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Keep your soil healthy by adding lots of organic matter, in the form of compost, throughout the growing season. Compost contributes to the health of the soil by supplying nutrients, improving soil texture and drainage, conserving soil moisture and encouraging earthworms and soil microorganisms.
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Keep your plants healthy by making sure they’re not too crowded and that they’re getting the proper amount of water (neither too much nor too little). Divide over-crowded plants and plant divisions in another spot in your garden-or give them to friends. Hand-pull weeds when they first appear, before they go to seed. By dealing with weeds immediately, you’ll save lots of time later.
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Inspect your plants regularly, and at the first sign of insect infestation, learn to identify what particular creature is affecting your plant. (Not all bugs are bad! Many are beneficial.) For a good all-purpose, organic spray to control insects, mix 1 whole garlic bulb, a generous pinch of cayenne pepper and 1 litre of water in a blender. Mix thoroughly, let the solids settle, and then pour the liquid into a spray bottle. Spray on the leaves (tops and undersides) and stems of insect-infested plants. You can also use a commercially available organic insecticidal soap, such as Safer’s.
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Birds eat bugs. Attract birds to your garden to reduce insect activity. Remove diseased plants from the garden, and clean your tools regularly. Consider companion planting in the vegetable garden to keep pests to a minimum. For example, plant marigolds around the tomato patch-the marigolds’ strong smell repels insects.
GREENSCAPE GARDENS TIPS
Plants of Merit Program Assists Home Gardening Success.
Gardeners choosing plants for their gardens this year should first consider the Missouri Botanical Garden's dependable, recommended "Plants of Merit." Fifty-five selections have been named for 2010, including several first-time additions. Each has proven to be outstanding and reliable in the lower Midwest growing region, USDA zones five and six.
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Established in 1999, the Plants of Merit program has quickly become an industry model among comprehensive plant recognition programs, focused on regionally promoting ecologically responsible diversity. The program, established by the Missouri Botanical Garden's William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening in partnership with Powell Gardens and the University of Missouri Extension, shares expert industry knowledge of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vines and ornamental edibles with home gardeners. Plant selections are dependable performers yet often underutilized by home gardeners because limited information about them is available.
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With Plants of Merit, a homeowner can save both money and time. The program assists gardeners in creating a pretty garden or landscape that can be easily managed without chemicals and extra work.
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Each year Plants of Merit sponsors - including industry professionals and associates, institutional representatives and the gardening community - present a consulting committee with a variety of plants for possible inclusion in the list. The committee compiles the final Plants of Merit selections by focusing on what makes a quality plant. Selections are considered "good neighbor plants" for being attractive, disease and pest resistant, and non-invasive, therefore promoting responsible diversity.
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Plants' performances are observed for two to five years, depending on category, in order to determine their reliability. Pictures, descriptions and information on growing conditions are including in the Plants of Merit resource guide. Once plants have gained mainstream recognition and appeal, they are graduated to emeritus standing. The 2010 guide also notes several habitat plants or selections that are attractive to wildlife.
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Today, the Plants of Merit program is financially sponsored by 60 green community members, including retail nursery and garden centers. The 2010 guide can be purchased for $2 from the Kemper Center or the Garden Gate Shop of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, or from any program sponsor. View the guide free of charge online at www.plantsofmerit.org.For more information on the Plants of Merit program, including how a community or group can earn a Merit Garden Recognition.
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Greenscape Gardens has a majority of the 'Plants of Merit' available. We also proudly display many of the varieties in our permanent display gardens along Dougherty Ferry and also along Barrett Station Rd.
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