Annuals at All Seasons

By now the All Seasons staff in the greenhouse has been working since winter to grow some outstanding annuals! You can expect hundreds of varieties! Although too many to list, here are just a few to look for:

Angelmist Angelonia: Three new types, compact, medium and basket! These plants are very showy in beds, borders and mixed planters.

Camelot Digitalis: This plant has numerous spikes that are covered with huge, tubular flowers. Very stunning!

Caliente Ivy Geraniums: Three amazing colors that can be used in baskets, upright containers and beds. An excellent landscape performer!

Laguna Lobelia: It comes in blue and white. Lagunas are hanging basket favorites! It is compact, heat-tolerant and will retain its shape and color all seasons.

Zinnia, Zowie Flame: Large plants are filled with bi-color flowers.

Impatiens Blitz 3000: Blitz are back, new and improved! Vigorous plants with big flowers!

Osteospermum Tradewinds: 2-3" daisy-like flowers in purple, pink and yellow. Excellent in summer heat.

Astoria Phlox: Early and continuous bloomers with color that lasts all season long.

Salvia Evolution: Similar to Victoria Blue but violet tones.

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Berries

All Seasons carries many edibles including many delicious berry plants.

Blueberries

Blueberries can be difficult to grow in our northern environment, but the person willing to put the time and effort into growing bluberries will be successful. Blueberry bushes like full sun, good air movement, and grow best in an acidic soil that is well-draining and high in organic material. Stop by All Seasons and talk to one of our nursery experts about any soil ammendments required and other growing requirements for blueberries.

Juneberries

Juneberries are native to our area and grow in almost any soil condition. The berries may be eaten fresh or used in winemaking, canning, jams and pies. Juneberries need regular pruning; weak, diseased and low spreading branches should be trimmed once a year. Juneberries may be planted for ornamental purposes and come to fruit after at least two years of establishment.

Raspberries

Raspberries are a delicious addition to any home garden. Raspberries should be planted in early spring. Once the raspberries have completed fruiting, all the canes that bore fruit should be pruned off. All Seasons carries a few varieties including the popular Boyne, which is a summer bearing red fruit.

Strawberries

What is a 4th of July celebration meal without a bowl of juicy red strawberries? Strawberries should be planted in early spring in a light loamy soil with compost. With everbearing varieties, remove the blossoms until July 15, after which you should allow them to fruit. Do not allow june bearing varieties to set fruit the same season as planted as this will result in poor future yields.

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Grow Your Own Bouquets

The cut flower garden allows you to bring the beauty of the garden into your home or office with homemade bouquets of flowers, fresh all season long. You may start small with a row of zinnias which are easy to grow. Cutting the flowers will encourage the plant to branch out and multiply its flower production.

Annuals:

The benefit of annuals as cut flowers is that they bloom all summer long and into fall. They may be grown from seed or planted as seedlings.

• Snapdragons
• Sweet William
• Lisianthus
• Sunflower
• Statice
• Fountain Grass
• Black-eyed Susan

Perennials:

The advantage of growing perennials is that they do not need to be planted each year, but their bloom time is usually shorter than annuals.

• Yarrow
• Delphinium
• Baby's Breath
• Statice
• Peony
• Goldenrod

Bulbs:

When bulb flowers are used for cutting, they need to be planted every year (if not used for cutting they are treated as perennials).

• Gladiolus
• Daffodils
• Tulips

Woody Plants:

If you find you really enjoy cutting and arranging flowers, you may want to add some woody plants to your landscape. Or maybe you already have some of the following, all of which add something unique to a bouquet:

• Forsythia
• Hydrangea
• Oak
• Willow
• Spirea
• Lilac

Any combination of these annuals, perennials, bulbs and woody plants, either great or small, will get you started out cutting and arranging flowers. Stop by All Seasons and get tips of when to cut, when to plant, and any other growing instructions we can provide you!

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Lawn Care

Lawns can be maintained with minimum effort. However, you may choose to spend more or less time on your lawn. Regardless, here are a few tips:

• You may or may not choose to irrigate your lawn. Most people irrigate to prevent their lawns from turning brown, but it is not required as lawns naturally turn brown in summer. If you irrigate, lawns require one inch of water per week.
• Lawns should be mowed regulary and properly. You will want to avoid close clipping because this removes too many leaves and parches the grass and decreases its quality and increases your chance of weeds. Lawns should be clipped at 2 to 3 inches and then clipped again once it has grown another inch. Keep you mower's blades sharp.
• Fertilize your lawn in the spring and fall.
• Herbicides may be used to control lawn weeds, but how many weeds constitute a problem is up to you. Regular mowing should help with weed prevention, but if it comes to using a herbicide, make sure to read the label instructions before applying.

You can find fertilizers, herbicides, grass seed, and many other lawn care tools in our garden store.

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Perennials of Summer

Perennial gardens can be planted so that there is always something different in bloom, as they all bloom at different times. When selecting perennials, think about what else will be blooming at the same time. Don't worry, our landscape designer is always around to help you in your selection. You should also consider plants with attractive foliage such as hostas and ferns.

Here is a breakdown for you:

Early Summer Bloomers:

• Woodland Phlox
• Bearded Irises
• False Indigo
• Dianthus
• Columbine
• Foxglove
• Lupine
• Poppies

Mid Summer Bloomers:

• Asiatic Lilies
• Coral Bells
• Astilbe
• Delphiniums
• Hostas
• Daylilies
• Sage
• Balloon Flower
• Goldenrod

Late Summer Bloomers:

• Asters
• Coneflower
• Shasta Daisy
• Russian Sage
• Summer Phlox
• Sedum
• Veronica

Summer Flowering Bulbs

Summer flowering bulbs include Gladiolus, Dahlias and Lilies, and they should be planted as soon as the ground is loose enough to work. They should be planted in a sunny spot about twice as deep as the diameter of the bulb and in well-draining soil. Bulbs should be thoroughly watered after planting.

Once the bulbs are done flowering, they should be dug up and removed from the soil, stored in a dark and dry location and then planted again the next spring.

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Pruning Evergreens

Typically, evergreens do all right with little to no pruning. A reason to prune could be to maintain a certain shape, or to remove dead or damaged branches. Pruning should take place after the evergreen has completed its spring growth period, usually in June. Here are a few tips:

• You can remove up to half of each new growth candle, which are the long growth shoots at the tips of the branches.
• For more excessive pruning, prune out full branches selectively, cutting back to where it meets another branch.
• Do not remove lower branches unless they are dead or diseased.
• Evergreens tend to not set out new growth from bare or old wood, and this means that if you have cleared open an area, it may not fill back in. This is important to keep in mind.

For more specific pruning information relative to the variety of evergreen, call or stop by and talk to our experts in the nursery.

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Vegetable Gardening Basics

Gardening is a joyful learning experience no matter how long you have been gardening. Every year is different, and gardens are just as varied as the gardeners!

• Choose a nice sunny spot that is close to a water source. Avoid low and wet areas
• Plan your garden by drawing a map of your garden that shows the spacing between rows, types of vegetables being grown and their planting date.
• If you are a first time gardener, start with the easiest vegetables to grow such as beans, carrots, lettuce, onions, peppers, tomatoes, squash and potatoes.
• Plant your rows going north and south to allow for optimum sun exposure, and plant tall crops on the north side so they won't overshadow the shorter vegetables.
• Prepare your garden bed by working up the soil until it is nice and fine for planting.
• Follow planting directions according to the plant. Account for spacing so everything has sufficient room to grow.
• Feed your soil with garden fertilizer or compost.
• Remove weeds when they are small, and continually throughout the gardening season. Weeds rob moisture and nutrients from your plants, attract insects, and harbor diseases.
• Practice Companion Planting.

All Seasons carries all the seeds and plant starts you might need for your gardening adventure, as well as the tools you will need along the way. Gardening is our passion, call or stop in with any questions you might have.

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