I found you!
I’m excited to see some colorful signs of spring!
A few daffodils came into bloom in our yard over the weekend; and, right next to them, the swollen buds on some creeping phlox were beginning to crack open and show some color, too.
It’s only a few things , but I’m excited nonetheless. It’s starting to happen!
The upcoming weeks will bring a lot of changes. As nicer days continue to win out over colder ones, more and more will wake up, and spring colors will be much easier to spot.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
If you haven’t already done it, it’s time to head outside and get things cleaned up. Grasses and perennials need their old tops cut off... and don’t throw them away. Put them on your compost pile. (And if you don’t have a compost pile, it’s time to build one!) Roses should be cut back now, too, as should clematis. If you need to do any touch up pruning on trees and shrubs, you’d better get on that while there’s still time.
Here at the store, our spring planting season is under way, too. New plant deliveries have started arriving, and—little by little—the sales lot will be filling back up.
Things are changing... everywhere!
As always, if you need any help with anything, just stop by the garden center and let us know. We’re here to help!
—Cameron
*Please Note: We have transitioned back into our normal in-season business hours!
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
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Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 〰️ Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 〰️ Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 〰️
what’s new?
Onions & Potatoes
Seed potatoes and onion sets arrived this week, and rumors are that onion plants should be here by the weekend. It’s time to start planting that garden!
Thymely Advice
It’s time for the red bag
It’s that time of year... time to put down crabgrass preventer.
For most folks, that’s going to be Fertilome All Seasons Crabgrass and Weed Preventer—the one in the bright red bag. Just one application early in the spring provides solid crabgrass and weed control throughout the spring and summer season. It’s easy to apply and easy to use.
It’s also the first step in our 3-Step Lawn Program.
Just three easy steps—crabgrass preventer in the spring and two applications of fertilizer in the fall—and you’ll be giving your lawn the best chance to succeed.
Lawn care isn’t hard, but you’ve got to know what to put down and when. That’s key.
Here are a few additional lawn application tips.
Know your square footage. All lawn products are meant to applied at a specific rate for maximum effectiveness. Apply too much or apply too little, and the results will be disappointing. If you need help figuring out how much product you need, we can help.
Apply evenly. The best way to achieve an accurate, even application is to calculate the correct amount to be applied, then apply it a little bit at a time using multiple passes over the same piece of ground to even out skips, gaps and overlaps.
Water things in. Unless label directions indicate otherwise, no application is fully “applied” until it’s watered in. Most of the time rainfall will take care of that, but if extended dry weather is expected, start irrigating.
Clean things up. When you make an application, granules will end up on driveways, sidewalks and the street. Take time to clean hard surfaces off before watering your application in. A leaf blower works great for blowing lawn products back into the lawn where they belong. This helps prevent staining of pavement as well as reducing runoff into storm sewers, ditches, creeks and—ultimately—our rivers.
Ask for help. If you’re not quite sure what you’re doing, or you just need a little advice, please ask. Lawn care isn’t hard, but it can sure be confusing... and that’s why we’re here!
Beer & Nuts
Sometimes, weird things happen. This winter, I was taking advantage of a nice day to clean my gutters. Nothing too glamourous, nothing too unusual, just cleaning out lots of leaves, like I do several times a season. I was almost done, finishing up the last section of guttering on the side of the house, when I encountered a little more than dead leaves. I found a beer bottle — in my gutters.
Sometimes, weird things happen.
This winter, I was taking advantage of a nice day to clean my gutters. Nothing too glamourous, nothing too unusual, just cleaning out lots of leaves, like I do several times a season.
I was almost done, finishing up the last section of guttering on the side of the house, when I encountered a little more than dead leaves.
I found a beer bottle — in my gutters.
And not just any beer bottle, an Italian import “Peroni” beer bottle.
Dead leaves, acorns, maybe the random tree branch… that’s what I expected to encounter. A beer bottle? Not so much.
How it got there, I haven’t a clue. All I know is, it wasn’t me!
We do have some rowdy squirrels in the neighborhood, but I’ve never caught them throwing back a cold one from high on top my roof… or anywhere else in the yard, for that matter!
Like I said, weird.
But you know what isn’t weird? Spring!
I think it’s fair to say, spring is almost here. The nice days are starting to outnumber the cold days. The slow the grip of winter is starting to slip and the pull of spring is starting to win out.
If you haven’t noticed yet, things out in the landscape are starting to poke up out of the ground. And, although most plants still look pretty dormant, it’s obvious we’re headed in the right direction.
Things are ramping up here at the store as well. Little by little, changes are happening and we’re getting ready. The new season is upon us!
As always, if you need help with anything, come see us. And in the meantime… watch out for rowdy squirrels!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
How About a Home Orchard?
Fresh fruit from your own back yard starts with planting fruit trees.
There are a lot of popular tree fruits we can grow in our landscapes: apples, pears, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots. There are also some great native choices like persimmons, serviceberries, paw paws and sandhill plums.
But, you can’t pick them if you don’t plant them!
All these fruit trees can be planted anytime the ground isn’t frozen, but spring and fall are always more popular. We stock most of these varieties throughout the year as potted trees, ready to be taken home and planted anytime you’re ready.
We also bring in many of the more popular varieties bare root, and offer them through much of March and April. Bare root trees are just what they sound like, trees with bare root. More specifically, these trees have been harvested while they were dormant, removed from the soil, then stored in large refrigerated warehouses under cold temps, high humidity and frequent watering to keep the roots moist.
Early in March, our growers ship these trees to us on refrigerated trucks, and then we store them in our own cold storage facility keeping them cold, dormant and properly watered until they are ready to be taken them home and planted. Bare root fruit trees transplant readily, establish more quickly, save you money, and are a lot easier to transport home.
We have potted trees ready for planting now and our bare root trees should be arriving around mid-March.
Keep in mind our bare root fruit trees are a one and done crop. We bring in one order of bare root fruit trees each spring, and when they’re sold out, that’s it until next year. So, if you’re wanting to take advantage of the benefits of planting bare root, don’t wait too long.
If you’d like more information about our fruit trees, as well as other edible fruit and nut crops for your garden, check out our catalog.
As always, if you have questions about fruit trees or any garden plants, just ask!
What’s New?!
Cool Houseplants from Proven Winners!
A lot of you know the brand Proven Winners; they are known for their line of annuals, perennials and shrubs.
Did you know though that they also have a line of houseplants?
We were at a show in Kansas City last year and Proven Winners had a booth and I knew that I needed to bring this houseplant collection to our customers. I’m pretty excited about it and the plants looks amazing!
Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
Mudbugs, Beer and a Bib
We recently traveled to New Orleans. My wife and I went down there to watch K-State play Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. That game didn’t go so well, but the trip was a lot of fun.
We recently traveled to New Orleans.
My wife and I went down there to watch K-State play Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. That game didn’t go so well, but the trip was a lot of fun.
We had some travel companions on our trip: our son and two of his close friends, one of his roommates and one of his cousins. Together, we experienced the Big Easy for the first time.
Here are some quick observations…
It rains a lot in New Orleans.
Bourbon Street is a little crazy,.
And, crawdads are a mess to eat… but they sure do taste good!
While we were there, I shared a platter of these rare treats… crawdads, that is… with my nephew.
My nephew is originally from back here in Topeka. However, for the last few years, he’s been down in Tuscaloosa attending college at the University of Alabama. (That’s why he’s in ‘Bama gear in the pictures below instead of sporting the much more attractive purple and white. 😊)
During his time down south—besides developing a love for the Crimson Tide—he’s also discovered he really loves crawdads.
That’s why, when I saw them on the menu, I knew we had to get them. And guess what? They were amazing!
There’s not a lot of meat on a crawdad, so you really have to work for what you get. There’s a lot of pulling and cracking and digging to get to get to the good parts. Plowing through our platter was a slow process, but it was good,—and it was messy! Everything was dripping in an amazing spicy, garlicy butter sauce… there was a reason the meal came with a bibb!
In the end, it was worth it. They were amazing! We didn’t finish the whole platter; but, despite the doubts of the rest of our table, we got pretty darn close.
What a treat!
The rest of the trip was fun as well. There was more amazing food, an exciting Sugar Bowl parade and of course, Bourbon Street. And, take my word for it, that place is crazy.
The game didn’t go as well as we had hoped, but it was still a great experience, and the them spent in New Orleans was a lot of fun.
Back here at the shop, it’s still pretty quiet, but that’s changing a little more every day.
The store is starting to fill up again. We’re starting to reset the back patio and it won’t be too much longer before we start to see plants coming back out onto the lot.
We’ve has some pretty nice days recently. We all know winter is far from over… but it’s getting close. It’s only a matter of time.
If you any help getting ready for a spring that will be here soon, stop by and see us.
- Cameron Rees
What’s New?
When Should I Cut Things Back?
That’s one of the most frequently asked questions we get. And while there is no one right answer, here’s my advice…
The best time to cut most things back is late winter. That’s normally going to be sometime in March, maybe late February, it all depends on the weather.
So why wait until the end of winter? First, it’s always a good idea to leave the tops of perennials and ornamental grasses intact until the worst of winter is behind us. Top growth, even though it is dried up and dead, helps provide winter protection for overwintering crown and roots.
Second, these tops also provide visual interest to our winter landscapes. Our winters can be rather drab and bleak. It’s amazing how a few clumps of ornamental grasses and some dried up seed heads can add some “life” to a garden during the dead of winter…especially when you add a little snow into the picture.
Lastly, the seedheads of many plants serve as valuable winter food source for birds. And what better way to add a little touch of color to a winter landscape than drawing colorful songbirds into the garden!
Get those pruning tools ready!
-Cameron Rees
Where Have We Been?
We’re hiring a Store Manager. Houseplants and gnomes. Tips on keeping your houseplants alive Seed starting and veggies.
You may have noticed it’s been a few weeks since we’ve sent out a newsletter. I think it’s been over a month! I’m sorry about that, but we’ve been working on some things in the background that have disrupted our normal schedule. That work is now completed and we’re back into production.
Specifically, we’ve been working on our website. I won’t go into everything that had to be done, but it was a lot as far as I’m concerned. Then again, building websites is not my area of expertise. I’m better off staying in the garden. Fortunately, we work with an amazing individual that really knows her way around this stuff. The rebuild is now done, everything seems to be working again, and the new website looks great. I hope you like it!
One thing you may notice right away - in the little pop up toward the bottom - is that we’re searching for a new person to add to our team. We’re looking for a new Store Manager. Just follow the links to get more info about what we’re looking for and what the position includes. If it sounds like something you might interested in, please apply! I’d love to hear from you.
Now, if being a Store Manager is a little more than you’re looking for, but working at a garden center is still something you think sounds interesting, stay tuned. With the promise of spring not too far off, it will soon be time to start staffing back up for the upcoming gardening season. We’ll be looking for folks that love to work with people and love to work with plants, and if that’s you, please let us know! We’re always looking for a friendly smile and a green thumb to add to the team. Watch the website over the new few weeks for more details.
In the meantime, as always, if you need anything keep us in mind! Our current hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
-Cameron Rees
What’s New? Houseplants and Gnomes!
Tips on Keeping Your Houseplants Alive
Becoming a houseplant owner can be a little daunting to some people but don’t fret, we are here to help.
Watering! – Water on an as-needed basis, schedules just don’t always work for houseplants. On average, when the top 1” is dry, give it some water. Make sure to let the soil dry between waterings. Cacti and succulents will need less water and prefer an even dryer soil where flowering plants may need a little more. Underwatering is better than over watering, it’s harder for your plant to come back from too much water!
Fertilizing! – The best time to fertilize your houseplant is when they are putting on the most growth which is Spring and Summer. And like watering, don’t over fertilize your houseplant. Read your label for recommendations.
Repotting! – If the roots of your houseplant are going around in circles in the pot it may be time to move it to a slightly larger (1-2” larger) pot. At this time, you can also divide it down if you wish. The best time to repot is Spring and summer.
Pests! - Houseplants are susceptible to many insects including mealy bugs, spider mites and fungus gnats. A weekly inspection and treatment is best to keep populations down. Insecticidal soap will work on a good majority of pests. Fungus gnats start to appear when plants are overwatered. Larvae live in the soil. Let the soil dry out, repot with fresh soil. Insect granules placed on top of the soil and watered in will help also.
Disease! – Some disease can be caused by insects. Also look out for powdery mildew, fungal leaf spot (caused by overwatering and poor air movement) and root rot (caused by over watering). Keep houseplants clean of diseased, dying and aging leaves, avoid getting the foliage wet, apply frequent treatments of Neem Oil to help with the fungus.
We are always here to help with your houseplant needs!
Seed Starting / Veggies
We all know winter is not a busy time outdoors and in the garden. Cold weather and the addition of ice and snow can make it all but impossible to get outside and do things. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still garden. We’ve just got to shift our focus inside.
Houseplants are an obvious one. Tending to the plants in our home give me a much needed “green” boost this time of year. I think a lot of folks feel the same.
But I’m also thinking about more significant indoor projects that revolve around the vegetable garden.
While it’s too early to start planting things outdoors, it’s never too early to start planning for this next season. This is especially true if you’ll be growing things from seed. What seeds to plant, when to plant them, and where to plant them in the garden are all important decisions.
Many of the vegetables, herbs and flowers we enjoy in our gardens can easily be grown from seed. Many grow so quickly, they can easily be directly sowed into the garden when the time is right. (That means when it’s warmer!)
Some plants, however, benefit from being started indoors, when it’s still cold; then, transplanted outside later when conditions are right. The planting time for some of those crops is rapidly approaching.
The crops you want to be thinking about now are the ones that will go out into the garden first. Things like onions, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage are good examples. There are certainly more and this K-State publication does a good job of highlighting many of them, as well as providing some good information on timing for other common garden crops.
Click on the images above to view larger or print.
And, if you really want to dig deep into it, this is a pretty good presentation from Kansas State Extension Horticulture on starting your first garden. After watching it, I was ready to start my own plans!
Check those out, and if you need any other help, come see us. We’ve got lots of seed to choose from as well as all the seed starting supplies you’ll need to get the job done… And, of course, we love to talk gardening!
Spring is coming. Be ready!
-Cameron Rees
I didn’t mean to scare you!
I might owe you an apology.
In our last newsletter, I shared a story about our dog and his broken heart when our kids come for a visit and then leave. But at first glance – with the headline and the picture – I heard from several folks that they thought the broken heart was mine, and that something had happened to our dog.
Rest assured, Potter’s fine. Sorry for if I scared you!
Cooler temperatures have finally arrived! (Thank goodness! I’m not a big fan of Indian summer.) Now it really feels like fall. That’s what I’ve been waiting for… bring on the sweatshirt weather!
October starts this weekend. That means our Fall Skinner Buck redemption period starts this weekend, too. For the entire month of October, you’ve got a chance to bring all those Bucks back in and spend them just like actual money, using them to pay for up to half your purchase… that’s up to 50% off your purchase! So, dig them out and bring them in.
Skinner Bucks are just one way we say thanks. Without you, we wouldn’t be here. We appreciate your business and hope you always know, we’re here to help. All you’ve got to do is ask.
I can see hints of the front end of fall color out there. Fall’s happening, so get out there and take it in!
Cameron Rees
General Manager
Plant Some Color This Fall
The easy decision is to plant a magnolia. The tough decision is… which one!
Decorate for Fall
It’s that time of year again!
Cool mornings, the scent of pumpkin spice EVERYWHERE YOU GO!! I will say, the only time of year I burn candles is fall. The smells of fall are so rich and decadent!
And with fall comes fall decorating, and who doesn’t love that!
We got our first shipment of pumpkins, gourds and squash in along with lots of mums and pansies. If your ready to get rid of summer and transition into fall we have what you need!
Misty Brown
Lath House Manager
Don’t Forget to Fertilize
Fall is the most important time to fertilize your lawn.
Lawns beaten up by summer are trying to recover, repair and regrow; and fertilizer helps that process.
We use a product from Fertilome called Lawn Food Plus Iron and it comes in a bright orange bag. We just call it the Orange Bag.
It’s time.
If you haven’t gotten yours yet, come on by and we’ll fix you up!