December Featured Items

 Tis the season for giving and what better gift to give than a plant or garden feature.  Trees will provide years of enjoyment, but also have the added benefit of increasing the recipient's property value.  Trees can also make a beautiful memorial to loved ones who have passed away.  The first Christmas after a death can be a sensitive and difficult time and sometimes a living gift can offer comfort.

Not sure what to give?   Give a gift certificate so that the recipient can choose the perfect plant for their chosen location.  Our staff of qualified gardeners will be happy to assist them in making the best choice and offer advice on how to install their gift.

This month's featured items

Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'
The Japanese maple cultivar 'Sango Kaku', often referred to as Coral bark maple, is generally one of the most prized of all of the upright palmate types for its winter interest. The bark on new twigs turns bright coral red (almost fluorescent) after the leaves fall. A vigorous upright cultivar that may attain a landscape size of 25’tall and 20’ wide. Leaves emerge in April and display a pleasing yellow-green with plum to red edging. As the young leaves expand they soon age to light green for the rest of spring and then take on autumn-like hues of red and orange beginning in early summer.  Older trees form vase shaped canopies. The intense coral bark color is reduced as the trunk and stems enlarge. Does best in partial sun, it prefers moist well drained soil but tolerates a range of soil types including sand and heavy clay. Highly suited to smaller yards due to its limited width at maturity.

Yuletide Camellia

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide'

Yuletide Camellia blooms during the winter, when all else seems dead.  It is a bright and shining spot of color in an otherwise bleak environment.  Single, brilliant, fiery red blooms centered with bright yellow stamens makes this a beautiful addition to the winter garden. Blossoms stand out in high contrast against glossy, dark green.

Herb Baskets

Just because your herb garden, outside, is dormant, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the healthful and tasty benefits of fresh herbs in your food.  We have attractive herb baskets that would make a wonderful gift for the gourmand in your life.

  

Leatherleaf Mahonia 

Mahonia bealei 

A stiff & prickly shrub make this a good choice for a barrier or security planting. It blooms in winter with cheerful, fragrant, yellow flowers and carries slate blue berries through the season.

4’- 8’ T x 4’- 6’ W partial shade 

Black Bamboo 

Phyllostachys nigra 

With jet black culms and feathery green leaves, this very sought-after bamboo. Under ideal conditions Black Bamboo will grow to 40 feet in height with culms over 2 inches in diameter, but 25 feet is its average height in most climates. New culms emerge green every spring and gradually turn black in one to three years. There is always a contrast of light and dark culms balanced by slender, dark green leaves. This bamboo is initially slow to spread, through when mature, it can be quite vigorous. P. nigra should be given a generous layer of rich topsoil, composed of compost or aged manure and mulch, and space to grow unimpeded. It makes an outstanding specimen, if well cared for, and can be the focal point of any garden. It can also be shaped to form a dense hedge for privacy.

Zone 7-10

Expected Height: 20 to 35 feet
Diameter: 2.25 inches
Hardiness: 5° F

Oriental Paper Bush

Edgeworthia chrysantha .  

This unusual plant has umbrella-like leaves but it is the unique yellow flowers aging to creamy white, that are the show. They have a delightful are fragrance and open until late winter from buds that have been obvious from late autumn.

Decorative Boulders & Stones

Add texture and visual interest to your garden by placing boulders and stone to it. Stone can lend a look of permanence and continuity to an area of your yard that changes with the seasons.  Best of all, boulders don't need to be watered during the hot summer months!  You can give your boulders and stones an old look by allowing moss to grow on them.  Encourage growth between stone pavers by blending moss and buttermilk in your blender and then pouring the mixture between the stones.  The moss will give your area an old look like it's been there for a hundred years instead of a few months.

Come visit our extensive stone yard to find the boulder, stone, or paver that is perfect for your outdoor living space.

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra elatior
Aptly named 'cast-iron plant' for its seeming ability to last forever in the most adverse conditions, the humble Aspidistra elatior is a staple of the shade garden.  Give this as a houseplant.  When the weather warms up, the recipient can transplant it outside as an attractive addition to their shade garden.  The lance shaped leaves are dark green and leathery, and around 12-20 in (30-50 cm) long.  They spread in clumps, vigorously but at a moderate enough rate not to be invasive or even troublesome.  

Bottlebrush Tree

Callistimon rigidus

As a frost tolerant and woody plant, bottlebrushes are attractive options for home gardeners. Since they  tolerate drought as well as damp conditions well, they are showcased throughout landscaped lawns and gardens all over the world. The flower spikes are colorful and full of texture, and the leaves of some bottlebrush varieties are ornamental as well. Since the average lifespan for bottlebrushes is twenty to forty years, they promise beauty and blooms for many years. Although the woody shrub is low maintenance, proper care can help to ensure it continues blooming to its fullest each year.

 

How to create your own dry garden

The four boulders represent the four islands of Japan

What we, in the US,  like to call "Zen Garden" is actually called "Dry Garden" in Japanese culture.  It is a low water option for any gardener who desires a simple, peaceful place to relax and meditate.  Creating a dry garden can be a highly refined art, with very precise requirements for material and placement, but beginners can achieve a similar affect by observing some basics:

1. Decide how large you want to make your dry garden. Determine your available space. Are you going to make a garden that fills up part of your backyard, or are you going to start with a dry garden to place on your desk?  The beauty of a dry garden is that it can be any size you wish.  The steps are the same, the scale will just be different. 
2. Create a border to contain the sand and/or gravel. Sand or gravel generally form the matrix of a dry garden.  You want your dry garden to look sharp, clean, and uncluttered.  To keep the material from spreading and looking sloppy you must have borders that will prevent the sand/gravel from escaping If you are making a large garden, bamboo is one of the prettiest materials to build your border with.  If you don't have bamboo, you can also use 2" x 4" pieces of lumber, old railroad ties, or any other type of wood.  You can even build a low rock wall.   If you are making a desktop dry garden, you can create it out of almost any container that will fit on your desk.
3. Nail, screw, or glue together your border. After you have completed your form, you can decorate the wood by painting, staining, or varnishing it.  
4. Weed control. Dry gardens receive much of their appeal from their cleanliness. Keeping out weeds is a must for outdoor gardens.   Thoroughly treat the area with a weed control.  As a precautionary measure, you may wish to also lay down some landscaping tarp to prevent the re-emergence of any weeds that you missed.  Allow two weeks to elapse before planting anything in this area.
   
5. Fill the form to the top with sand or gravel.  You will want very fine sand or gravel.   Pick a sand that is visually appealing if you are placing it on the surface of the garden. Spread the sand or gravel evenly and as level as possible. For a small desktop garden, you might be able to buy sand in small bags at a local pet shop or aquarium supply store. For larger gardens, call the local rock shop, quarry, or landscaping supply company.
6. Put selected features in your dry garden to set a visually stimulating theme.  Place features  off-center and partially submerged for the best effect. dry gardens generally include natural items made of wood, rock and vegetation, but don’t be afraid to add statues or other additions. Just don’t clutter your dry garden; use features sparingly. Remember, you want it to be peaceful and simple. Make sure that the feng shui is in check with your karma and dharma before enjoying your dry garden!  As with most things in life, balance is key.  Some features that look nice in dry gardens include:
•  Water features
• Boulders
• Mossy logs
• Plants.  In particular, evergreens or bonsai plants for smaller gardens
• Moss
• Rocks with interesting shapes, textures, and/or colors
• Statues
• Lanterns
• Pottery
7. Rake the sand or gravel in long, curving strokes to represent water ripples. You can use a number of patterns to accentuate your garden, and the nice thing is that you can change it as many times as you like! 
8. Enjoy many relaxing hours your dry garden!

November featured plants for Oak Ridge Shrubbery

Holly Fern

Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum 'Rochfordianum'

Holly Ferns are a coarse-textured; but handsome evergreen fern.  Holly ferns are great for growing indoors, not only because of their glossy green fronds, but because they withstand dry air, drafts, and low light levels. Holly ferns are native to Asia but they also do very well outside here in NC giving your shade garden green foliage all year long. 2’ -3’ T’ 24” W


1 gal $10.49

Mardi Gras Abelia

Mardi Gras Abelia
Abelia x ‘Mardi Gras’

The dramatic coloring of the Mardi Gras Abelia will make your garden sing. The leaves are green and white with a blush of soft salmon pink. This semi-evergreen shrub sparkles with white flowers from spring to fall.  3’ T x 5’ W.  Full Sun. 

3 gal $27.99

Limelight Hydrangea tree form

Limelight Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata  ‘Limelight’
Vigorous, spreading deciduous shrub with ovate, pointed, toothed green foliage.  In late summer, outstanding bright lime green flowers hold their fresh color right until autumn.  No need to add any special amendments to the soil to achieve its beauty.  Ideal for mass planting, accent, foundation, or use in the shrub border.  Outstanding for cutting and drying for long lasting arrangements.  Part Sun to shade.
3 gal $31.99                Tree form 15 gal $159.99

Cleopatra

Fall Blooming Camellias
Camellia sasanqua
Evergreen with beautiful, shiny, green leaves, these gorgeous shrubs bloom from fall through early winter.  The bloom colors range from white, pink, to hot pink, to Christmas red (which of course blooms during the holiday season).  These timeless Southern favorites add elegance to any garden and a welcome splash of color during the time of year when most plants are dormant. 

The hybrids vary from 6-12 feet tall, so be sure to choose the appropriate size for your space. They are fabulous alone or in a grouping.  Pictured here are Cleopatra (light pink), Winter's Snowman (double white), and William Lanier Hunt (double hot pink/red).

3 gal $29.99            7 gal $69.99           15 gal $249.99

Winter's Snowman

William Lanier Hunt

Dogwoods
Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’/’Cherolee Brave’ or Cornus kousa’Prophet’/Satomi’

The dogwood is the state flower, the flower color range from white to cream to pink to mauve to red!  They are most recognized for their spring blooms but their fall foliage is equally beautiful. Plant one now and enjoy the leaves and then in the spring you will be thrilled! 

7 gal $64.99               10 gal $134.99              15 gal $184.99

Golden King Aucuba

Golden King Aucuba
Aucuba japonica ‘Golden King’

An evergreen shrub with rather large leathery leaves which in this clone are very heavily splashed with yellow. A great shrub to brighten up dark shady corners of the garden where the soil is moist but well-drained. Aucuba japonica is native to Japan. Shade loving.  8’ T x 8’ W 

3 gal $29.99

Elegans Dwarf Norway Spruce

Elegans Dwarf Norway Spruce
Picea abies ‘Elegance’
A beautiful textured evergreen with delicate light green needles, slow grower.  Great for smaller spaces or container gardening.  This plant will reach 5’ T x 5’ W .  Can handle morning sun or dappled shade.

Gingko Tree

Gingko Tree
Gingko biloba ‘Princeton Sentry’/’’Shagri-la’

These special trees offer a unique leaf shape often depicted in asian art.  Their green leaves turn bright yellow in fall, these are all males so they bear no fruit (too smelly), The ginkos are quite special and when more mature they typically drop all their leaves in a 48 hours period, so the tree rains leaves!!

15 gal $229.99

Fall leaves suncatcher project for kids

Thanks to good rainfall and cooperative weather, we have been given the gift of a gloriously colorful fall this year.  Take some time out from your busy schedule to enjoy and preserve the fall bounty with your kids with this fun, easy project.

Fall Leaves Sun catcher

Beautiful fall color for your window!

You will need:

• Beautiful fall leaves.  The more colorful the better.
• Waxed paper
• Newspaper
• A towel or ironing board
• An iron

Cover work surface with newspapers.  If you have an ironing board, use that for your work surface, but if you don't, then spread a towel on a table to protect it from the heat.

Lay down a sheet of wax paper.

Arrange leaves on top of the waxed paper. Cover with another piece of wax paper. 

Place a piece of newspaper on top and iron with a warm iron until crayon shavings melt and the two sheets of wax paper sticks together. 

Trim and hang in the window.

Pruning

Hey!  Hold on there...Just because some guys with a truck are pruning your neighbor's trees does not necessarily mean they know what they are doing.  But you could know what you are doing by learning just a few easy facts.  It doesn't take a degree in horticulture to prune properly, but it does take the proper equipment and some basic understanding of the rules of pruning.

First, the proper equipment.  You need sharp pruners or loppers.  As long as they are sharp, most pruners or loppers will do, but the best brands are Felco, Fiskar, Bahco, and Corona.

Next, the technique.  Cut all branches cleanly with no jagged edges.  Prune just after a branch or bud and if next to the trunk, prune flush to the trunk.

Warning:  Do NOT use  tar or any product on the wound.  Mother Nature will heal it up all on her own.  The use of these products will kill the cambium layer of the tree in that area. The cambium layer is the area just below the bark that divides to produce wood or xylem on the inner side toward the center of the tree. Leave the wound open to air.






Light Pruning
Trees and shrubs can be lightly pruned any time of the year.  If it is a flowering tree or shrub, prune it right after it blooms.  If you find disease in a plant or insect infestation, wipe down your tools with alcohol before moving onto the next shrub.

You prune to:

• Help shape the plant (but try to stay with the natural shape of the plant)
• Help balance the shape of a plant
• Remove a weird branch that is sticking out
• Remove dead branches.  Dead branches can encourage disease and pest infestation, so they need to be removed as soon as possible.
• Removing crossing branches.

If you have to prune to keep a shrub from growing, it has been planted it in the wrong area of your garden.  It should be moved, but if that is not possible, try pruning it down into the middle of the plant as opposed to using hedge trimmers, which only prune the very ends of the branches.  There are enough cultivars of various plants on the market today so that you should be able to find a plant in the size and shape you desire without having to force it to your will.  Buying a Gold Mop cypress and trying to keep it as a 3'x'3 mound is like buying a Great Dane and trying to dwarf it because you want a small dog.

Hard pruning of Crape Myrtles is not only ugly, but an unsound horticultural practice.  It promotes unhealthy sucker growth and exposes the tree to disease and insect infestation.

And please, unless you are Pearl Fryar, try to stay with the natural shape of the plant.

It's not too late to plant!

Fall colors at Oak Ridge Shrubbery

Fall foliage viewed from our stoneyard

 Fall is for planting!  Woody shrubs and trees are the ideal candidates for fall plantings.  September and October are ideal months to plant, but you can still plant in November too.  Fall is an ideal time because we still have warm ground temperatures, but the air temps have dropped, which means less watering as well as less sweating.

Planting with soil amendments is the key to success in our clay soils.  Cow manure and soil conditioners are the answer to good plant nutrition and drainage.  Hole sizes need to be generous, at least twice as wide as the existing root ball (or pot) and one and a half times as deep.  You want to plant trees and shrubs 1/2"-3/4" high, meaning the grade of the plant (top of the root ball) needs to be slightly higher than your existing soil grade).

Watering new plants through their first year is important.  Much less water is needed during the cooler months, but do remember that new plants still have watering needs (albeit not as much).  All plants will continue to need water during the winter months if we have a dry season with no snow or little rain.  Keep in mind that cold temperatures and winds can still desiccate the soil.

Fertilization can be done on a limited basis in September.  I recommend this only for trees and shrubs whose color is off.  Yellowing or uncharacteristic pale green foliage is an indication of lack of fertility.  You want to follow the direction for the size of the plant, but go with half of the recommended rate during the cold months.  When fertilizing more, most assuredly is not better.  Use Hollytone or Treetone.  Do not use grass fertilizer like 10-10-10!  Tree and shrub fertilizers provide yoru plants with the correct amount of micronutrients without giving them the jolt that is caused by grass fertilizer.

For more detailed information on planting trees and shrubs, check out our blog article How to install a plant in Guilford County.

Keeping your gardens looking great throughout the fall is possible, despite the crazy heat from this summer.  Encore Azaleas, knock out roses, and Loropetalum bring a re-emergence of color in the fall.  Gardenias, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, dianthus, and many other flowers may also bloom again in the fall with careful pruning.  Cutting off old blooms will promote a colorful fall surge.

Additional plants to consider:
Flowering:

Toad Lily

• Anemones
• Toad Lilies
• Asters
• Chrystanthemums

Berrying:

Callicarpa (Beautyberry)

• Callicarpa (Beautyberry)
• Ilex verticellata (Winterberry)

 Color changing foliage:

Oakleaf Hydrangea

• Wildfire black gum
• Korean Stweartia
• Japanese Maple
• Chinese Pistachio trees
• Oakleaf Hydrangea

We are now operating under winter hours.   Drop by the garden center and check out our latest featured plants!

Halloween's coming...plant a magic tree to attract fairies instead of ghouls!

Cottingley by Liz AKA Louvre89

 Halloween?  Fairies?  Magic?   Okay....maybe there really isn't any such thing as fairies (but then again, who can really say for certain?).  But there is such thing as Halloween and I think most people would agree that there is a certain magic about a tree.  Have you ever gone to sit under a tree to think or read or do some creative endeavor?  Trees have a way of not only drawing in our eye, but our person as well.  They are a balm to the soul in a day of hectic schedules and stressful lives, and that, in and of itself, is magical.

 

Since our earliest days, humans have venerated the tree and many cultures believed that trees have magical powers or were home to gods and spirits.  Tree worship (for those of you who love to learn a new word) is called dendrolatry, vestiges of which can still be found in many religions today.  Humans have always felt a strong connection to trees...we use them for shelter, cooking, warmth, shade, medicine, and food.  Even when speaking of our own ancestry, we refer to our "family tree." 

 

Just for fun, this October, plant a tree that ancient civilizations have held in high esteem.  Who knows?  This might just be the year you find fairies in your garden?

Some trees that have been venerated throughout human history:

  

Lebanon Cedar (Tree of God):  This beautiful tree has a rich and ancient history; the ancient Egyptians used its resin in their mummification process, the Phoenicians used lumber from it to build ships, palaces, homes, and temples, and the Sumerians designated Lebanese Cedar groves to be dwellings of the gods.  

 

Oak:  The Celts believed that the oak was the king of the forest and the Native Americans have a sacred oak that is over 500 years old.  Oaks are valued for their immense stature and canopy.  Carry an acorn in your pocket for good luck!  

 

Maple:  Swiss folklore tells us that a group of dwarfs who used to sit on the branch of a Maple tree to watch the farmers make hay. One night some mischievous boys cut through the branch, just enough to make it dangerous to sit on. When the dwarfs came to sit on the branch they fell to the ground. The people laughed at them and the dwarfs never returned to the place.  

 

Hawthorn:  The Hawthorn in ancient mythology is said to have been created from lightning and Germans used wood in funeral pyres as it was thought to assist the souls of the dead in ascension.
The Greeks and Romans saw the Hawthorn as symbol of hope and marriage, but in medieval Europe it was associated with witchcraft and considered unlucky. It was used for protection, love and marriage spells.
According to a Scottish legend the Hawthorn was a special place where Fairies met. A circle was drawn around an ancient tree by young boys who were about to plow a field. The plow was not to enter the circle in order to preserve the tree. 
 

Hazel:  According to Celtic legends the nuts of the hazel tree contained wisdom. Salmon of Knowledge is said to have eaten the 9 nuts of poetic wisdom dropped into its sacred pool, from the hazel tree growing beside it. Each nut eaten by the salmon became a spot on its skin.  Druids were also said to chewed hazelnuts for wisdom.  It was believed that the powers of the hazel were strongest on All Hallow's Eve (AKA Halloween).

In Europe and North America, hazel is commonly used for water-witching, the art of finding water with a forked stick.   
 

Pine:  As a symbol of royalty the pine was associated with the Greek goddess Pitthea, and also with the Dionysus/Bacchus mythology surrounding the vine and wine making, probably as a fertility symbol. Worshipers of Dionysus often carried a pine-cone-tipped wand as a fertility symbol and the image of the pine cone has also been found on ancient amulets as a symbol of fertility. 

 

For the Romans the pine was an object of worship during the spring equinox festival of Cybele and Attis. As an evergreen tree the pine would also have symbolized immortality.

 

The Scots pine groves or 'shaman forests' scattered over the dry grasslands of eastern Siberia were considered sacred by the Buriats, a Mongolian people living around the southern end of Lake Baikal. These groves were to be approached and entered in silence and reverence, respectful of the gods and spirits of the wood.

Druids used to light large bonfires of Scots pine at the winter solstice to celebrate the passing of the seasons and to draw back the sun. Glades of Scots pines were also decorated with lights and shiny objects, the tree covered in stars being a representation of the Divine Light. It is easy to see how these rituals have given rise to the latter day Yule log and Christmas tree customs.  A persistent theme in the folklore of Scots pine is their use as markers in the landscape. In the Highlands there is a recurrent theme that they were used to mark burial places of warriors, heroes and chieftains.
 

Juniper:  Juniper was burned in ancient Sumeria and Babylonia as sacrifice to the gods. It was sacred to Inanna and to her later counterpart Ishtar. In Europe, Juniper branches were smoldered and carried around fields to protect livestock. The Germans believed that a goblin called Frau Wachholder, lived in Junipers.  If one's property had been stolen, she could be invoked and it was said she would make thieves return the goods they had stolen.
 Juniper was widely used by different Native American groups. In the language of flowers Juniper symbolizes Perfect loveliness; Succour; Protection. 

 

Evergreens:  Long used to celebrate Christmas (thanks to Martin Luther), these trees have a history that goes back to the Roman holiday, Saturnalia.  

 

 Yew:  Yews are one of the oldest living plants in the world, giving them a secure place in human folklore.  Locals, in Derbyshire, England, claim that Robin Hood married Maid Marian under their 1,400 year old yew tree. The ancient yew forest in Kingley Vale, West Sussex, is said to have been planted by the men of Chichester after they fought off Viking marauders in 859 AD. The yew in Llanafan Fawr churchyard in Wales is said to be over 2,000 years old, and remains of a village the same age can be seen around it.
Many myths and legends are linked to specific yew trees and places which still exist. The Ancient Yew Group, a body devoted to protecting and recording British and other yew trees, records many of these fascinating tales..

 

Plus a few additional shrubs and perennials that may bring a little magic to your yard.

Laurel:  The laurel was sacred to the sun god Apollo in memory of the fate of Daphne, daughter of the river god Peneus. Daphne was fleeing from Apollo, but was about to be overtaken when her father changed her into a laurel tree.   In Pliny's Natural History (AD 77), it is said that laurel guards the doorways of great men's houses, and is never struck by lightning. In English folklore, it was believed that bay in the garden was thought to protect the house from lightning and keep away witches, the Devil, or (these days) bad luck.

 

Holly:  In Celtic mythology the Holly King was said to rule over the half of the year from the summer to the winter solstice, at which time the Oak King defeated the Holly King to rule for the time until the summer solstice again. The Holly King was depicted as a powerful giant of a man covered in holly leaves and branches, and wielding a holly bush as a club. He may well have been the same archetype on which the Green Knight of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" was based, and to whose challenge Gawain rose during the Round Table's Christmas celebrations. 

 

Pansy: The pansy is mostly associated with love, being sacred to St Valentine, and is sometimes known as 'heartsease' or 'love-in-idleness'. If used to cover the eyes of someone while asleep, the dreamer may fall in love with the first person they see. In Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon, king of the fairies, squeezed 'heartsease' into Titania's eyes so that she fell in love with Bottom who was dressed as an ass.

 

Come by Oak Ridge Shrubbery to see our beautiful selection of trees.  We'll be happy to make suggestions, give you planting tips, or even come out to plant them for you!

Want to learn more about tree planting?  You can learn all about the planting and subsequent care of trees by attending this workshop led by Horticulture Agent and Certified Arborist, Mark Danieley. Class is free, but registration is required. Call 336-570-6740. (Repeat of 9:00 AM class)

Event Location
Agriculture Building auditorium
209 North Graham-Hopedale Road
Burlington, NC 27217

Contact

Christine Stecker at (336) 570-6740

How many gardeners does it take to screw in a bulb?

One....YOU.   And you don't have to screw it in...just dig a nice hole and drop it in, pointed side up.  Yep, it's time to plant those bulbs, if you haven't already, for colorful winter and spring blooms.   Bulbs are simple to plant and pack a huge punch in late winter and early spring when everything else is still dead.  You can even buy bulb hole diggers to make the job just that much easier.    Just be certain that your soil is properly conditioned and well drained, otherwise, your bulbs will rot over the winter.  Bulbs also love bright, sunny spots.  For a  natural look, plant them in clumps of concentrated color.


Here's more for the honey-do list for October:

• If you have not taken care of your lawn, do it now while you can...time is running out.
• Mulch around tender plants to protect them during the winter.  As a general rule, double ground hardwood mulch works the best for trees and shrubs, while pine bark works better for perennials and small plants.  Make sure you turn the hardwood mulch over and water it for a couple of days after you put it down so that it does not heat up too much and cook your tree.
• It is still a good time to plant trees, shrubs, and woody perennials, just remember, they still need water during the cooler months.  Read "How to install a plant in Guilford County" for tips on planting in this area.
• And don't forget your ponds!  Give your pond a good cleaning, if it needs it and start weaning your fish from feedings.  As the weather cools, their food needs will decrease.  Also make sure your pond is at least three feet deep in the middle so that your fish have some place to go during the winter.  As long as your pond is deep enough, Koi can survive the winter quite nicely!

 

Get your lawn ready for fall grass planting

As counter-intuitive as it seems, the warm months are not the best time to plant grass seeds.  Grasses have a shallow root system that takes time to establish.  The long, hot, sunny days of summer can not only damage your tender, new grass seedlings, but they also contribute little to  root growth.

Root growth most often takes place during the winter when everything looks "dead."  Truth be told, while it appears to our eyes that "nothing is happening", that could not be further from the truth.  While our plants are dormant above ground, they are busy underground, using stored up energy from the summer to establish healthy root systems.

Most grasses have shallow roots.

So too with grass.  Many people find that they are having to reseed their lawns each spring because the beautiful, rich lawns they planted the year before have not survived.  This presents a tremendous waste of money and effort.  The best thing to do is endure the ugly lawn during the summer and plant your grass seedlings in the fall.  The pay-off will be worth it when you not only have a fabulously lovely lawn, but one that is hardy and more weather resistant.

 What you can do to prepare your lawn for fall planting:

1. Test your soil's acid level.  Acidic soil (or soil with a low pH) is problematic for grass and if you find that your soil has a high acid level, this can be easily remedied with pelletized lime.  For best results, thoroughly mix your soil with the lime and a good fertilizer.  You almost can't use too much lime.
2. Aerate the soil.
   
3. Spread the grass seed evenly across your soil.
4. Lightly rake the area to get the best possible seed and soil contact.
5. Cover the area with straw, to hold in moisture.  There is no need to remove the straw once the seeds germinate.
6. Keep the top half inch of the soil moist. Until the seeds germinate and emerge, it is necessary to keep the top half inch moist.  This may require watering daily.
7. You may begin mowing your grass as soon as it is long enough to mow, but be careful not to mow more than 1/3 of the top growth in a single cutting.  For best results, plant the grass early enough so that it gets mowed 2-3 times before the cold sets in.

For more information, the Agricultural Cooperative Extension in Burlington is offering a free Lawn Care workshop that is open to the public:

	Lawn Care workshop August 26th, 2010 @ 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Burlington, NC
	It's prime time for lawn care. Horticulture Agent, Mark Danieley shows and tells all about establishing and maintaining healthy turf in your landscape. FREE. Registration required. 336-570-6740 Class will be repeated at 7PM Event Location Agriculture Building auditorium 209 North Graham-Hopedale Road Burlington, NC 27217 Contact Christine Stecker at (336) 570-6740

Plant now for spectacular fall color!

Wildfire Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica "Wildfire"

A beautiful shade tree with good spring color; the new foliage ends are red. 

This tree is one of the showiest of all the fall reds, it will stop you in your tracks! 

Not to be confused with the messy and annoying gum trees that drop those annoying gum balls. 

Full sun or part shade, with grow 40’ T x 20’ W 

This is a perfect alternative to a maple to give your garden more variety.

7 gallon $ 79.99

Wildfire Black Gum

Korean Stewartia
Stewartia koreana

This gorgeous specimen is somewhat pyramidal in it growth habits. 

It will reach 30’ T but only 15’-20’ W. 

These trees boast dark green leaves that turn to lovely shades of orange, red and purple in fall. 

Over a period from June to July, this tree is decorated with

lovely, pure white, yellow-centered blossoms, 

three inches across and flattened, appearing much like a single camellia flower. 

The bark of Korean Stewartia is probably the most outstanding characteristic, 

with orange/brown patches showing through the flaking, gray bark. Full Sun.

15 gallon  $ 184.99

Korean Stewartia

Weigela Rubidor 

Weigela Florida 'rubidor' 

Put on your sunglasses!  

Bright, neon foliage and the ruby-red flowers 

will make this a real attention grabber in your landscape. 

They will go 4’ T x 4’ W. 

The leaves turn orange/red throughout the summer 

and they flower for 2-3 months! 

Full sun or ½ day of shade, 

makes this a great understory shrub 

or it can be used as a colorful backdrop. 

3 gal. $ 23.99

Weigela 'Rubidor'