FOUND FRUIT
It was a lucky find.
I was walking around the yard the other day, just checking things out, when I noticed it... a pawpaw fruit lying on the ground at the base of one of our pawpaw trees.
I couldn’t believe it! I had seen blooms on several of my trees this spring, but somehow I had completely missed that one had developed into a fruit, growing bigger by the day for the entire summer. I felt like a bad parent!
I’m just glad I noticed it before something else got to it.
I quickly snatched it up and put it in the fridge to enjoy another day. That ended up being after dinner a couple of nights ago.
Ripe pawpaws look a lot like a greenish, slightly bruised potato, but trust me, they taste a whole lot better! I’ve heard their flavor described as a cross between a banana, a mango and a pineapple, and that
a pretty fair description. Their flesh is soft, kind of like custard or a really ripe avocado. They’re different, but they’re really good...especially, as I soon learned.... for dessert after grilled hamburgers!
It just goes to show you, that you never know what you might find if you just keep your eyes open.
There’s lots to see here at the garden store, too.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
We’ve had a busy couple of weeks and the sales lot has quickly filled back up with lots of fresh trees, shrubs, grasses, and evergreens. And even more exciting than that... we have finally moved into the new greenhouse! There are still some final details being worked on, but that hasn’t stopped Misty and the rest of the team from filling it with all kinds of new perennials, hardy mums, and houseplants. We’ve had to detour around it for so long, I’m still getting used to actually being able to walk through it. It’s a nice change!
You’re invited to come out and check it out for yourself. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re excited to finally be able to share it with you. We hope you like it!
—Cameron Rees
WHAT’S NEW?
We’ve been busy here at the store! Take a look at our new greenhouse and our new fall inventory!
“THYMELY” ADVICE: iT’S TIME FOR THE ORANGE BAG
Summer is almost over and boy, has it been a hot one this year!
Fall will start rolling through over the next month or so, and that means it”s time for our next installment for your lawn. It’s time for the Orange Bag!
The “Orange Bag” is what we like to call Fertilome Lawn Food Plus Iron. It is the second step in our 3-Step Lawn Program and it is time to put it down. It provides a well-balanced dose of early fall nutrition along with an extra “shot” of iron to really green things up.
Fertilome Lawn Food Plus Iron can be applied with a drop or broadcast spreader, so use whichever you prefer, just make sure you apply it evenly. Water in after application if rain isn’t in the forecast, or if you can time it with rain, let Mother Nature take care of the rest. Also, always make sure to sweep away any remaining product that lands on driveways, sidewalks, or the street. That’s always good advice, but it’s especially important with this product as the extra iron can stain surfaces if left in place. You don’t want rust spots all over the patio!
If you are a member of our Skinner 3-Step Lawn Program, you may have already received the reminder to stop in and pick up your Orange Bag. Remember, right now is the optimal time to apply. If you haven’t stopped in yet to get yours yet, then come on down!
As always, our staff is knowledgeable and eager to help with any questions you may have. If you have questions, just ask!
—Melissa Anderson
let’s plant some grass seed!
Cooler weather is a good reminder that fall is right around the corner. And if you’re one of those folks who will need to be doing a little grass seeding or lawn overseeding this fall, you should plan on getting busy with that project soon.
Here are a few important tips to help ensure you have a successful grass-planting project this fall:
PREPARE YOUR SOIL FOR THE NEW SEED
One of the keys to getting good germination of your new seed is making sure the seed you apply is lightly incorporated into the soil you are planting it in. You want good seed/soil contact. That helps keep the seed moist in between watering events which is critical. If the seed gets too dry once germination has started, it dies... game over.
For bare ground, lightly cultivate so the seed can be raked in. For existing lawns that are just being overseeded, you will need to mechanically disturb the surface of the soil without completely destroying the existing grass. That’s typically done with a small piece of equipment that’s easily rented this time of the year called a verti-slicer. That same machine is also sometimes called a power rake or a lawn comb. Regardless of what you call it, it makes the job of prepping the lawn for seeding much easier and increases your chances for success.
First, mow your lawn short, removing all the clippings. Next, make one complete pass over the yard, going in parallel passes, with the verti-slicer. This will rip up a lot of grass and dead clippings. Gather this up as well and remove it. (All this should be going on your compost pile!) Continue by applying your grass seed and starter fertilizer, and then...and this is important...make a second pass over the entire lawn, once again making parallel passes, but this time at a 45-degree angle to the first passes. This second pass helps incorporate the seed into the soil surface. Leave and grass residues in place after this second pass.
For smaller projects, hand raking may be sufficient, but you will be doing roughly the same thing. Mow short and remove the clippings. Rake everything and remove all the debris again. Apply seed and starter fertilizer and then lightly rake again, leaving residues in place.
APPLY THE RIGHT SEED AT THE RIGHT RATES
We’ve already established in earlier newsletters that the right grass seed choice is our Gard’n-wise Premium Fescue Blend, but the right seed at the wrong rate will still produce disappointing results. Take time to figure out how much seed you actually need.
These are the rates we recommend:
For bare ground, use 6-8 lbs. of grass seed for every 1,000 sq. ft. of lawn to be seeded.
If you are overseeding existing turf, cut that rate in half (3-4 lbs. of grass seed per 1,000 sq. ft.).
If you’re seeding into shady areas, plan on reducing your rates by half to compensate for the lower sunlight levels.
Once the seed has been spread, go back over the same area with a starter fertilizer. We use Fertilome New Lawn Starter. It’s formulated for newly developing grass plants and will get them off to a better start. Once again, the right rates are important. We have different-sized bags to help you dial things in more closely.
COVER AREAS PRONE TO EROSION WITH STRAW OR EROSION MATTING
These aids can help minimize damage caused by excessive water runoff. They can also help keep seed moist for longer periods of time. This can be a big help if keeping things watered is going to be challenging. We stock both straw and erosion-control matting.
Redirecting downspouts from newly seeded areas can also help. You can purchase rolls of corrugated drain pipe from most home improvement centers that work well for this.
WATER, WATER, WATER!
Once you’ve selected the right seed and done a good job applying it along with some starter fertilizer, it’s time to water. The secret to successful germination is making sure the seed bed doesn’t get too dry. This is best accomplished with frequent, light waterings. Frequent means daily, or more often several times a day if it’s hot and windy. Light watering means you’re only trying to rewet the seed bed, or the top inch or so. Think minutes, not hours. If the ground visually looks dry, you need to water it.
This is the step that gives folks the most grief. Once you’ve triggered germination, you don’t want to let things get too dry. Germinating seeds need to remain hydrated and their newly emerging roots can’t dry out as they are finding their way into the soil. If things get too dry... even for just a few hours... the germinating seeds will die, and no amount of water will bring it back at that point.
We sometimes hear from folks that talk about problems they’ve had planting what they figured is “bad” seed. In other words, they didn’t bet a good stand. In almost every one of those cases, inconsistent watering was the culprit, not the seed. Proper watering makes or breaks a seeding project.
It should take about 5-7 days to able to see visible signs of germination, with full germination wrapping over the following week. Once you’ve completed the germination phase of your project, gradually reduce the frequency of your waterings but increase the duration to get water deeper into the ground. You start with frequent, light watering and then transition to infrequent, deep waterings.
START MOWING AS SOON AS THE GRASS IS TALL ENOUGH TO BE CUT
Keep your mower set at the same height you normally cut use it as soon as the new grass is tall enough to be cut by the blades. Keep that mowing height until you put your mower away for the season. Mowing will help your new grass to thicken up and tiller out. If the ground is really wet, wait a day or so for things to dry out a bit so you don’t tear your new turf up. And don’t forget to finish up with an application of Fertilome Winterizer later this fall, sometime after Halloween.
That’s it... now get to work!
HERE’S SOME MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION: Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities is an environmental initiative sponsored by Kansas State University Research and Extension. We recommend their video and article on overseeding your lawn. You can find it HERE.
inside skinner’s employee gardens: jonelle custenborder
Have you ever wondered what the employees at Skinner Garden Store do with all the beautiful plants they buy and take home? With each different gardener comes a different personality, different style, and different techniques. We thought you might enjoy getting a sneak peek at some of the work that the Skinner employees do, tending to their own gardening passions.
Today, it’s the home garden handiwork of cashier, Jonelle Custenborder. Jonelle’s gallery of photos highlights her creativity with potted plants, porch decor, and window boxes for a vibrant and friendly exterior, along with foundation beds that add depth of color and variety of texture. Great eye, Jonelle!
If you have questions about any of Jonelle’s plants call, email, or message us… or just stop by the store and Jonelle or another team member would be happy to talk with you. Enjoy!
events & announcements
Keep an eye on this section of our newsletter for information on sales, special events, changes to store hours and more!
