The Dirt
Gardening Advice for Kansas Gardeners by Kansas Gardeners
LET THE CONSTRUCTION BEGIN!
The New Year is always about change. Lose weight, get in shape, spend less time on your phone, spend more time in a book... all kinds of new plans get made this time of year. Well, we’ve got a new plan over here at the garden center, too, and it’s a big one.
Hey, it looks like winter is finally showing up. I don’t mind seeing the snow, but I’m not real excited about the cold temperatures. Spring will be here soon...right?! Until then, we can get ready for good things to come.
The New Year is always about change. Lose weight, get in shape, spend less time on your phone, spend more time in a book... all kinds of new plans get made this time of year. Well, we’ve got a plan over here at the garden center, too, and it’s a big one.
(Drumroll, please....) We’re building a new greenhouse!
Now, adding new greenhouses is something we’ve done before, but this one is going to be different...a lot different. This greenhouse is going to be much bigger and nicer! The new structure will stretch out from the back of our store and will provide greater functionality throughout all four seasons. It will replace our old lath house and the adjoining shade structure. If you’re not quite sure which was our lath house, it was the structure behind the store, where we displayed our flowers for the last sixty plus years. The adjoining shade structure was the home of our shade perennials. Both of those structures are now gone!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
The process started back in November with the bulk of the demolition taking place a little before Christmas. It’s amazing how quickly years of work can be torn down. My office window now looks over an unobstructed view of the newly vacated space. It’s a little weird! It’s also exciting!
New construction should start soon, and the new structure is targeted to be up and in use by the spring season. We just need some more of that nice weather we had back in December!
We’ll keep you updated on the progress, but if you’re interested in checking out the changes for yourself, stop on by. We’d be glad to see you!
In the meantime, stay warm and start hatching your plans for the upcoming growing season. And don’t forget to call us with your questions along the way.
Happy New Year!
— Cameron Rees
“thymely” advice: it’s time to start starting
It’s time to start those seeds!
People often wonder, what’s the best way to start seeds? Or how do you even begin? I’m here to help! Follow along below as I lay down some basic information on the when, how, and what of seed starting, so that you can get your growing going.
When to Plant:
It’s essential to sow seeds at the correct time. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves! Sow too early, and the plants may have outgrown their pots before the weather has warmed up enough to plant them outside. But start seeds too late, and they won’t have enough time to reach maturity before the end of the growing season. It’s a delicate balancing act, but hopefully this advice will help. Typically, you would want to start things like peppers and herbs in early February; Lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage mid-February to early March; and cucumbers, cauliflower, cantaloupes and brussels sprouts early-March.
There are some great benefits of starting your seeds indoors. First, it gives you a head start on the growing season, which can lead to a better harvest.
Second, some seeds such as brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, and those beautiful tomatoes, actually do better starting indoors. They can’t be planted too early in the spring, as the soil is too cool, therefore it is better to get these started indoors and transplant them into your garden when the soil is ready.
Most importantly (or at least for me), seeds are much less expensive than buying plant starts.
You will need a good seed starting mix, containers or flats, and a strong light source. Generally, an all-purpose potting soil will do (Fertilome Ultimate Potting Mix). For small or delicate seeds, it’s better to use an actual seed starting mix (Fertilome Seed & Cutting Mix).
When choosing a container, there are a few options. You can use a large pot which will allow you to germinate many seeds and then transfer every single seedling. A plug tray, on the other hand, is flatter with individual pockets for each seed. And then there are the tried-and-true recycled pots. These can be anything from old yogurt containers to other pots that you have previously used.
There are also some seeds that prefer to be seeded directly into your garden instead of seed starting indoors. These seeds do not tolerate transplanting very well. Things like carrots and radishes do best this way.
Now to the How:
To begin, you’ll want to fill your chosen container full of potting mix and tap down to settle. Use your finger or the eraser-end of a pencil to poke planting holes in the mix. Be sure to sow the seed at the depth listed on its packet. Cover your seed with potting mix and label each container to identify seedlings when you are ready for transplanting.
Next, water the containers carefully, using a watering can with a fine sprinkling head. Then leave the plants to drain from the surface and repeat. You want to wet the mix well in the first watering of the container because this wakes up the seed. You can also speed up germination by having warmer soil. Refer to your seed packet for the best germination temperature. A nice soil thermometer is good to use to get an accurate reading. And we stock warming mats at the store if you’re looking for one.
Keep seedlings well hydrated and in a well-lit area where it remains warmer. In a few short weeks, you will begin to see the fruits of your labor. For your crops to flourish, the only thing left to do is to transplant them into your garden bed.
As always, we’re here to help with any questions, large or small. Stop in today to grab all your seed-starting tools and let us help you make your garden happy and full.
View the full seed starting schedule for Kansas at
https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/seedstarting.html
8 TIPS FOR winter houseplant care
Did you know that the care you give your houseplant in the summer differs significantly from that in the winter? Here’s a list of 8 things to keep in mind when caring for your houseplant in the winter.
There is less sunlight in the winter which will mean your plant isn’t getting the same amount of light as it was in the summer... which also means it won’t dry out as fast. Water your houseplants less frequently in the winter. Stick your finger in the soil about an inch down. If it's dry, go ahead and water. If it's not, wait a couple of days and check again.
Less sunlight in the winter means you may need to move your plants so that they can get a little more light. However, be careful not to place them directly in front of the window (see next bullet point).
Watch where you place your plants inside. You don’t want to place them near a drafty window or a door that is opened and shut often. Also, don’t place them next to a vent. This will cause them to dry out.
Your houseplants are taking a little break in the winter, meaning they aren’t growing much, or at all. Therefore, fertilizer is not needed in the winter months. It’s best to stop fertilizing in the fall and resume again in the spring.
Unfortunately, with winter comes the potential for pests. Pests are easier to control when your plants are outside, or you can take them outside to treat. The winter months bring spider mites, fungus, gnats, and mealy bugs. All of these are easy to treat when caught early, and treating with neem oil or insecticidal soap is the safest option for indoor use.
Winter brings dry air, and we all know that most houseplants come from tropical regions with high humidity. A couple of quick ways to rev up humidity - Cluster your plants together so that when their combined soil moisture evaporates, it will create a small environment with humidity. Place your plants on pebble trays. These are simply trays filled with small pebbles and water. Make sure your plant is above the water level to avoid root rot. The plant can take in the moisture from the root area and also from the evaporation of the water into the air.
Your house gets dusty in the winter, so make sure you clean off your plants with a damp cloth.
Try and avoid re-potting in the winter. The best time to re-pot is in spring or summer when your houseplants are actively growing.
— Misty Brown, Lath House Manager, Skinner Garden Store
It’s been a rollercoaster ride… again!
Well, it’s the last issue of the year and it’s hard to believe another season has passed. I hope you’ve had a good one. This past growing season came with a lot of the usual challenges: excessive wind, late cold snaps, prolonged heat, early cold snaps, and periods of drought. Welcome to gardening in Kansas! …
Well, it’s the last issue of the year and it’s hard to believe another season has passed. I hope you’ve had a good one. This past growing season came with a lot of the usual challenges: excessive wind, early cold snaps, prolonged heat, late cold snaps, and periods of drought. Welcome to gardening in Kansas!
I’ve been at this for quite a while and have learned a couple of things: 1.) Every year is a little different, and 2.) Each comes with its unique challenges. It makes gardening here like trying to learn a new game, while somebody keeps changing the rules! I guess that’s part of what keeps it interesting.
Yes, we all have to deal with our fair share of weather-related “opportunities,” but despite those obstacles, there are still lots of wins… Most things still emerge from their winter rest in the spring. There are still flowers to enjoy throughout the season. Vegetable gardens still offer up their produce. And the garden marches on.
But for now, our gardens rest… and so do we.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
We’ve got a couple of months of winter ahead of us before it all starts over again. Spring will be here before we know it. So now is the time to reflect, replenish, and plan, until the early sunsets give way to more daylight.
As we bring this season, and this year, to an end, I want to take a moment to say thanks. We do what we do because we are passionate about it, but that passion would be wasted if we didn’t have someone to share it with. And that’s where you come in.
You are the reason why we are here, doing what we do. Thanks to all of you for your business this past year, and through all the years before that. It’s your support that allows us to continue on this path. Thank you.
Enjoy your downtime this winter, and we hope to see you back here in the spring. Things should look a little different by then... but we’ll talk about that later. In the meantime, if you need anything we can help with, come see us. We’ll be here!
Happy New Year!
— Cameron Rees
“thymely” advice: Christmas Trees repurposed
As the holiday decorations start to come down, Christmas tree disposal becomes a checklist item. Christmas tree recycling is the answer for most. In Topeka, trees can be taken to a drop-off site located in Gage Park. The Topeka Zoo will utilize as many of those trees as possible for their animals, and the remaining trees will be recycled into mulch. Just remember to make sure everything has been removed from the tree.
If you live in other communities, look for your recycling drop-off site. They’ll be out there.
If you are thinking about recycling your tree into your home landscape, here are a few suggestions...
Run it through a chipper and turn it into mulch.
Prop your tree up in your landscape as a temporary winter habitat for birds.
Sink your tree in your pond to create fish habitat.
Cut the branches off your tree and use them to cover tender perennials for the remainder of the winter.
Use your tree’s trunk as firewood for your outdoor fire pit.
Cut it up into smaller pieces and scatter it around, leaving it to slowly decompose as natural garden debris.
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Santa’s got his groove on!
The evening would start with a table full of appetizers and lots of hot spiced cider. It progressed from there to the dining room for a massive Christmas dinner and eventually, when the table had been cleared and the food was all put away, we opened presents.
We always celebrated Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house.
The evening would start with a table full of appetizers and lots of hot spiced cider. It progressed from there to the dining room for a massive Christmas dinner and eventually, when the table had been cleared and the food was all put away, we opened presents. It happened this way every year, and I loved it.
One Christmas, probably about the time I was finishing up high school, my brother traveled back from his home in Montana with a gift for granddad that would change Christmas Eves from that point forward... the dancing Santa Claus.
Now, there was nothing “Hallmark Channel” special about this dancing Santa Claus. It was just kind of funny, and it made us all laugh, especially my granddad. And I loved to watch my granddad laugh.
From then on, the dancing Santa Claus was always on display for the Holidays. Grandpa loved it! I’m sure Grandma wasn’t overly excited about that “classy” addition to the Christmas decor, but I never heard her complain. Every Christmas Eve, he’d shake his hips and sing his song, and we’d all laugh.
I was close to my granddad and have a lot of fond memories of time spent with him. He was a great guy. He had a good sense of humor and liked to laugh. I loved that about him.
Well, it turned out that dancing Santa’s arrival started something.
After that year, Grandpa always ended up with a “special” gift from someone. It would always be something a little silly, and we would all watch his reaction, as he figured out what it was. Then, we’d all share in the laughter. We loved it, Grandpa loved it, and Grandma...well, she would just shake her head and roll her eyes...and then she’d crack a smile, too.
There are a lot of good memories there.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Something I learned as I got older is the value of time spent with family and friends, and the memories those times create. As we head into this last stretch of the Season, I hope you all enjoy it and create some wonderful holiday memories, as well.
From all of us out here at Skinner’s, thank you for your business, and we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
— Cameron Rees
P.S. Dancing Santa is still with us! After my granddad passed away, my sister took him to her home. Every Christmas, he’s back out on display, shaking those hips...and he’s still making us laugh. Merry Christmas!
“thymely” advice: living christmas trees
During this time of year, some folks come to our store looking for an evergreen tree that they can use for the Holidays and then plant in their garden later. This is called a living Christmas tree, and it can be a great way to celebrate the season while, at the same time, landscaping the yard and planting a special memory.
However, there are a few cautions you must take, or your tree might end up as a distant memory, rather than a special one, and none of us want that!
Here are some tips to help your living Christmas tree project be more successful:
Limit your tree's time indoors – Our evergreen trees have been outside in the cold weather all season and they are acclimated to recent lower temperatures. When plants get exposed to colder temperatures, they develop cold hardiness, which helps them survive even the coldest winter temperatures. However, if they spend too much time in the warmth of your home, their cold hardiness decreases, and they may not survive. To prevent this, limit your tree's stay in your home to 3-5 days. -
Store your tree appropriately – This means keep it cold, but not too cold. Don't forget that excessive temperatures can kill the roots. Aim to protect your tree from temperatures below 20 degrees by putting it in an unheated garage or leaving it here at our nursery, until you’re ready to pick it up.
Reacclimate your tree – After you remove your tree from your home, give it some time to reacclimate to the cold temperatures of winter. Plan on transitioning your tree to an unheated garage for at least a few weeks before planting it outside, or longer, if our winter dictates it.
Be prepared to plant it – If you are hoping to plant your tree out in the yard following the reacclimating period, it's a good idea to dig the hole now, while there is no frost in the ground. Also, make sure the soil you dig out is stored in a way to prevent it from freezing. Think about burying it deep in straw and tarping it or putting it into a wheel barrel and moving it into the garage.
Be sure to keep it watered – Evergreen trees aren’t hard to keep alive through the winter, but you must make sure you keep them watered. Whether it’s in your garage or planted out in your landscape, check them regularly and then water them thoroughly when they start to feel a little dry.
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Get more for your money, when you do your Holiday shopping with us. From now till Christmas, you’ll receive a FREE $20 GIFT CARD with the purchase of $100 in gift cards. That’s an extra gift card for a plant lover on your list, a special teacher, a white elephant exchange… or treat yourself! It just makes “cents.”
don’t miss our christmas sale!
QUESTION:
What’s better than all the festive Christmas decorations that Skinner Garden Store is offering for the Holidays this year?
ANSWER:
50% OFF on all those decorations! Sale going on now!
Turkey, Pumpkin Pie and... Caliche?
I’ve got a collection of tools I consider essential for my gardening activities. I’m sure my wife thinks I have too many...but I’m pretty sure I don’t. In fact, I’m quite certain, I have just the right amount! I have everything a passionate gardener could ever need...at least I thought I did...until last week.
I’ve got a collection of tools I consider essential for my gardening activities. I’m sure my wife thinks I have too many, but I’m pretty sure I don’t. In fact, I’m quite certain I have just the right amount! I have everything a passionate gardener could ever need... at least I thought I did... until last week.
I was in sunny Arizona, visiting family and celebrating Thanksgiving. It just so happened, at the same time, there was a landscape project wrapping up in their back yard. Of course, I was interested in everything that was going on. It being a landscape project, I was in my happy place!
Yup, that’s right... jack hammer!
You see, the ground is so hard down there, it’s almost impossible digging a hole with just a shovel. They call it caliche, and trust me, it’s hard... like concrete hard. And this is where the jack hammer comes in. It’s so hard, sometimes you must use a jackhammer to dig in it, just like in this video. Click here.
How’s that for tough soil conditions?!!!?
Through the years, I’ve dug around in some pretty dismal soiI conditions, but I’ve never had to resort to a jack hammer, and I hope I never do! It makes me appreciate the soil I get to sink my shovel into in my own backyard.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
I’m always on the lookout for that next gardening tool I can’t live without. I wonder what my wife would say to seeing a jack hammer hanging in the garage???
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Coming back home to the cold has been a shock to my system, but the snow has been a nice wintery treat and makes it feel a little more like the Holiday Season we’ve just entered into. I like it.
We’re in the thick of the Holiday Season out here at the garden center, too. We lean hard on “fresh and green”... think Christmas trees, winter porch pots, and more. If you could use a little “fresh and green” for your home, give us a visit. We’ve got Holiday spirit on hand!
—Cameron
what’s new?
LOCAL honey
Did you know daily consumption of honey has a beneficial effect on the level of antioxidant compounds in the body that can fight excess cholesterol? All I know is that it sure tastes amazing! Put it in your morning coffee, enjoy it with a nice cup of tea, or even just dive right into it by the spoonful. However you enjoy your honey, there really isn’t a wrong way.
When it’s cold and flu season, this golden heaven can be an effective cough suppressant. With the winter weather now upon us, we all could use a little help with that! Honey may provide anti-depressant or anti-anxiety benefits, as well (extra help with the Winter Blues). Honey has so many great benefits, who doesn’t want to always have some handy?
At Skinner Garden Store, we are proud to bring you some of (in my opinion!) the best tasting honey around. Produced, packaged, and sold by our very own local honey business T-Creek Honey. We have 1lb, 3lb, creamed, and even honeycomb honey available in our store year-round.
Stop in today and grab some of your very own!
—Melissa Anderson
“thymely” advice:
let amaryllis lighten up your holidays!
It’s the time of year we all love. Time to gather family, decorate the tree, and of course, get those Amaryllis planted.
Amaryllis in Greek means “sparkly.” It’s very in keeping with this time of year, when we throw glitter at literally everything!
Makes sense that these big, beautiful flowers are the best holiday bulbs. These stunning flowers are believed to represent pride, strength, and determination, as they stand tall above all other winter blooms.
Typically, these beautiful bulbs bloom in 6-8 short weeks, and flower for 2-3 weeks. This makes November the absolute best time to plant these bulbs. Timing allows for them to bloom and stay gorgeous throughout the holiday season, which is why they make great Christmas gifts.
Caring for Amaryllis is easy! Just follow these 5 simple steps:
Find a sunny, warm, indoor home for your plant.
Water your Amaryllis on a regular, weekly basis.
Keep the soil moist.
Turn the pot occasionally, to ensure the stem stays straight.
Wait for the bloom!
Whether you chose red Amaryllis, which can represent passion and love, or orange Amaryllis, which can represent good health and positive energy, we’ve got the variety just right for you or your loved ones.
Come on in and let our friendly staff find you exactly what you need. And as always, happy planting!
—Melissa Anderson
We’ve Got It All!
Christmas Trees, Greens, Wreaths, Roping, Winter Porch Pots
If you’re into “fresh,” we’ve got you covered!
Fresh cut Christmas trees, fresh evergreen boughs, fresh wreaths, fresh roping, fresh winter porch pots...we’ve got ‘em, and they smell amazing!
Come see us, we’d love to help!
GET A $20 GIFT CARD FOR FREE!
From now until Christmas, for every $100 in gift cards you buy, we will give you a $20 gift card...for FREE!
LAST CHANCE TO REDEEM YOUR SKINNER BUCK$ THIS YEAR!
Our Holiday Skinner Buck$ Redemption period is underway!
From now through December 10, bring your 2023 Skinner Buck$ back in and use them to save up to HALF off your purchase of any merchandise in the store.
*Offer does not include gift cards.
A LATE FALL HARVEST
I snuck over to a friend’s house the other day with one mission on my mind... to harvest some persimmons. My target was a small persimmon tree in his side yard. For the last few weeks, it’s been showing off an abundant crop of beautiful orange fruits, just hanging from branches like they were ornaments on a Christmas tree. They were just begging to be picked!
I snuck over to a friend’s house the other day with one mission on my mind... to harvest some persimmons. My target was a small persimmon tree in his side yard. For the last few weeks, it’s been showing off an abundant crop of beautiful orange fruits, just hanging from branches like they were ornaments on a Christmas tree. They were just begging to be picked!
Persimmons ripen late and are often not fully palatable until after the first frosts. If you’ve ever bit into one that wasn’t quite ready yet, you know what I mean. They are so astringent when they aren’t ripe, they’ll bring you to tears. But once they’ve fully matured... they are a sweet treat. I tried a handful a few weeks ago. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t quite there.
The current harvest was amazing. They’re soft and sweet... almost like eating fresh homemade jam. The question now is, what am I going to do with them? And the answer... I’m not sure yet! For now, I’m going to process their sweet pulp and then freeze it in small batches, leaving it easy to use for whatever I decide to do with it later. It may be cookies, bread or fresh preserves. I suppose I have all winter to figure it out. If you have any good ideas, let me know!
While I was over at my friends, I noticed something else, weeds in his lawn... lots of weeds. You see, he overseeded his lawn this past fall. The new grass was doing great, but unfortunately, anytime you plant grass seed, you also give all the weed seed that’s been hiding out a chance to grow, too. It’s a problem all lawn seeding projects face, and his was facing it big time.
Now, there’s good news and bad news.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
The good news is, these young weeds are very easy to control when the conditions are prime... and that time is right now. Just pick up some of the Fertilome Weed-Free Zone and follow label directions. You’ll be happy with the results.
The bad news is, if you don’t take care of those weeds now, they’ll keep growing in your lawn, relatively unnoticed until early next spring. Then they will explode into growth, choking out your lawn, and creating more seed for future seasons. Not a good thing.
The nice weather we’re enjoying now is perfect for taking care of this problem. This beautiful weather is also great for tackling all your other late fall projects too. We’re almost to the end, but we’re not there yet. Don’t let up!
—Cameron
What’s New?Christmas Trees
Christmas trees have arrived! We’ll be bringing them out when the time is right. In the meantime, we are keeping them in our refrigerated storage to keep them fresh. There has been a shortage of Fraser Fir the last few years. That’s typically what we like to bring in. We’ve added a few Balsam Fir this season, and that’s helping with the overall numbers, but we’re still running a little shorter than we’d be. That means we’ll have lots of nice-looking, freshly cut, Christmas trees to choose from, but not as many as we’d like. They’re going to go fast again this year, so don’t wait too long!
“thymely” advice: TRUNK PROTECTION
As we move slowly closer to colder weather, it’s time to think about trunk protection. Newly planted trees are vulnerable to winter sun-scald damage in their first few years. Feeding damage from rabbits and small rodents is also a major concern.
The solution is easy... trunk guards!
These are protective plastic guards, usually white in color, that can easily be put onto a tree trunk for the winter and then just as easily removed in the spring after they are no longer needed. Store them in your garage after you take them off and then put them back on the next winter—for the first few winters.
Both winter sunscald and pest damage can ruin a perfectly good tree. The damage left behind may not kill a tree outright, but typically it sets it up for a slow downward spiral until years later, when failure is the end result. By then, you’re not only out a tree, you’re also out several years of growth.
Trunk guards are cheap insurance, they’re easy to use, and it’s time to put them on. We’ve got them available in a variety of sizes depending on your tree’s needs. Just come see us!
Piles and Piles of Produce
The piles of produce on the kitchen counter tell the story. The summer garden harvest is over. Unless you are lucky enough to be growing in grow tunnels, the hard freezes earlier this week put an end to the tender summer crops like tomatoes and peppers. It was sad to see—I had been enjoying of the biggest harvests in recent seasons. But, honestly, I’m ready for the break!
The piles of produce on the kitchen counter tell the story. The summer garden harvest is over.
Unless you are lucky enough to be growing in grow tunnels, the hard freezes earlier this week put an end to the tender summer crops like tomatoes and peppers. It was sad to see—I had been enjoying of the biggest harvests in recent seasons. But, honestly, I’m ready for the break!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Little by little, I’m processing my piles for long term storage. I don’t do any canning; I just freeze things. It’s easy to do and easy to use later. I’ve been roasting a lot of the tomatoes this year, and I really like the extra flavor it gives. I’m doing the same with some of the peppers, too. The rest are just getting a quick slice or chop, a flash freeze on a cookie sheet and then getting tossing in a baggie for future use. I’ll miss the fresh produce from the garden, but I’ll have plenty of fresh frozen produce to get us into next year.
Even though our veggie gardens are shut down, there’s still plenty to do out there. Planting conditions are still prime, and the nice weather in the forecast should give us some good days to deal with falling leaves, frozen back gardens and other late fall projects.
We’ve moved most of our plants into their overwintering houses, so the lot looks a little bare. But we still have plenty to choose from and we’re still available if you need some help. Just come on by if you do!
—Cameron
“thymely” advice: It’s Time for Winterizer!
It’s beginning to feel like winter is creeping up on us. Shorter days, cooler temps, and winter winds tell me that it’s about time to start thinking about preparing my grass for the winter.
Even the most established grass needs a little preparation each year. Fertilome Winterizer is a late fall fertilizer application designed to help lawns store more food for winter survival, and to encourage thick, rapid growth and rooting in the spring. Think of it as paving the way for lush, healthy spring turf.
Fertilome Winterizer helps keep your grass healthy. You’ll also notice your yard will look much greener during the winter months. It’s an important application for your lawn and the third application of the season in our 3-Step Lawn Program.
Timing is important when it comes to applying Winterizer. Early November is ideal in our area, so that means now is the best time.
What if it snows?
White weather in the forecast? That’s fine!
Any applications made before the snow will still be 100% effective. Snow covering your lawn will have no negative effects on the fertilizer. In fact, as it melts, it will help carry it into the soil. There it will still be available as warmer weather returns and your lawn resumes growth.
We here at Skinner Garden Store are here for you and will gladly try to answer any questions you may have. Stop in today and let one of our outstanding Plant People help you with your winterizer needs.
Time Change Equals An Hours Change
As Daylight Savings comes to an end, we’ll all be setting our clock back one hour. That means it will be getting dark and hour earlier, and we’ll be shutting down an hour earlier too. Starting on Monday, November 6, and continuing on through the winter months, we’ll be closing at 5 p.m. each day.
Is the Season Over? No!
Even though the recent hard freezes put an end to the growing season, the gardening season keeps plugging on. That means there are still things to do and there’s still time to get things done.
Keep planting! – Planting doesn’t stop until the ground freezes up, and that won’t be for a long time yet. Remember, as long as you can dig the hole, you can plant.
Stay on top of leaves. – Fallen leaves can be stunningly beautiful, but eventually, those leaves need to be dealt with. On lawn surfaces, keep them cleaned off by mowing or raking regularly. Mulch leaves with your mower and allow them to filter back into the lawn as much as possible. That provides valuable organic matter and recycles vital nutrients. If you have to rake your leaves, don’t bag them and throw them in the trash. Put them on a compost pile or scatter them over landscape beds as mulch.
Mulch as needed. – A lot of folk ask me if it is important to mulch plants for the winter season. I always tell them, no...it’s important to mulch plants for ALL seasons. Mulch should be around trees and over landscape beds at all times, maintaining about a 3” layer. As it decomposes and thins out, add some more. The decision to add mulch should be driven by the need to maintain that layer, not the time of the year. Having said that though, if it’s thin now, add some!
Prune or cut back plants? – Should you cut things back in the fall? That’s a questions we get asked all the time, and the answer almost all the time is no. As a general rule, do most of your pruning towards the end of the winter, not now. Later winter/early spring is when we want to cut back perennials and ornamental grasses, and that’s also when we want to do most of our tree and shrub pruning as well.
Protect tree trunks. – This one is simple, inexpensive, and can save the life of your young tree. Putting trunk guards onto trees for the first few winter seasons helps prevent winter sunscald damage as well as protecting the thin bark of young tree from hungry rabbits and rodents through the winter months. Put them on now, remove them next spring, and then save them in your garage to be reused again next year.
Protect trees from deer. – Deer can destroy a young tree in seconds. If there is any concern about deer damage, get your trees protected ASAP! Your best bet is building cages around your tree. Use 6’ tall, welded wire fencing, and build cages 3-4’ in diameter. Put them around your young trees, use 2 or 3 metal t-posts to secure them in place and then you can relax.
Winter Porch Pot Workshops
This year has been a blur! Spring and Summer came and went and now we are into Fall and soon Winter. Though I don’t look forward to the cold I do look forward to the Christmas cheer and all the lights and decorations! With that being said, its almost time for our Annual Winter Porch Pot Workshops!
If this is your first-time hearing about it here is a quick intro. The event will run for four days, from November 16-19. In the workshop, you will make your own arrangement in a 12” container where we provide the basics (including the pot) for a fee. Registration is required and classes are limited. It is a fun experience and we have a lot of repeat attendees.
Email me or give us a call today at 785-233-9657 to get more info and to register. We look forward to seeing you!
Brewmeisters and Possum Apples
I used to make my own beer. It was a long time ago—back in my late college/early career years. The beer was never amazing. But, it wasn’t too bad, and it was fun to make. It was really more about the process.
I used to make my own beer. It was a long time ago—back in my late college/early career years. The beer was never amazing. But, it wasn’t too bad, and it was fun to make. It was really more about the process.
As I got older, I got busier, and I found that finding the time to pursue my brewing hobby was harder and harder to come by. I also found it easier to just buy my beer. It was a lot easier... and it usually tasted better!
Despite the fact I was no longer brewing, I continued to hold onto my equipment and numerous cases of empty beer bottles for many more years, thinking that one day I would give it another go. That day never came and a few years ago—and to my wife’s delight—I finally got rid of everything. It’s pretty safe to say my wife was glad to finally see the stack of unused supplies no longer cluttering up the basement!
Beer-making actually originally evolved from wine-making. I had a grandpa that used to grow a lot of blackberries. As his harvest increased in size, he decided he wanted to make some of his surplus into wine. For the next several years, we both took stabs at turning his abundant blackberry harvest into some of the prettiest wine you’ve ever seen. And, some of it even tasted pretty good!
Nowadays, like I said, I leave both the wine-making and the beer-making to the pros—like the fine folks over at Norsemen Brewing Company. Last Saturday, Jared from Norsemen came out to the garden center to serve up some of their finest. It’s something we’ve done for a number of seasonal kick-off events now, like a celebration/customer appreciation day. It was a little chilly—not the weather we were hoping for—but we still had a good crowd. Jared served a lot of beer, we grilled a lot of hotdogs, and we served up a lot of snacks, hot spiced cider and hot chocolate. It was a fun day.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Thanks to everyone that made it out. We hope you enjoyed it!
We’re finally starting to see fall color showing up around town. That’s a good reminder that it’s time to plant trees. Late fall—like right now and for the next few weeks—is the best time to set out new trees. If the fall transformation sparks your interest in planting, come see us. We’ll help you make that dream a reality.
Happy Fall!
—Cameron
What’s New?! grafted persimmons
Common Persimmon is one of our native timber trees. In the wild, it typically grows to be a medium-sized tree, generally taller than wide. It’s leaves are dark green and glossy in the spring, and yellow to orange to reddish-orange in the fall. It’s bark is unique in appearance, with deeply fissured bark, sometimes described as “alligator skin-like.” But what it’s best known for are the sweet, soft, fleshy, orange fruits it bears late in the season.
These fruits ripen late in the season, often as the first hard freezes are upon us. They are very sweet in flavor and can be eaten straight from the tree or used to make jellies, jams, preserves and wine. They are a favorite of wildlife as well.
One word of warning though... if you’re going to eat the fruits, make sure you wait until they are ripe to enjoy them! Fruits that haven’t made it to that stage are very astringent. Trust me, a bite into them will pucker you up from here to next week! You’ll only make that mistake once.
One other unique thing about persimmon trees—they tend to be either male or female, or sometimes both. Female trees bear the fruits, but their flowers need to be pollinated for that to happen. That’s where the male trees come into play. With young trees, it’s typically impossible to tell which you’ve got, so you just have to play the odds and plant several. That increases the chances for having both male and female trees. If you live close to timbered areas, there may be wild trees nearby that will take care of pollination needs. Having said all of that, persimmon experts point out that most female trees don’t need a pollinator to produce good fruits. Without cross pollination, the fruits may lack viable seeds, but the fruits will still develop.
We’ve added four grafted, named female varieties to our lineup this fall. They are all selections that have superior fruiting qualities. They are perfect for adding to your own backyard orchard or to your wildlife food plots.
Elmo – Larger fruits with a nice orange color. High quality fruit. Self-fertile. Heavy bearer.
Garretson –Small to medium-sized fruits with a rich orange color, good flavor and small seeds. High yields. Self-fertile.
Meader – Medium-sized fruits approximately 1 1/2" in diameter. Outstanding, very sweet flavor. Self-fertile form. Fruits will be seedless if not pollinated by male flowers.
Prok – Large fruits, up to 2 1/4" in diameter on average, orange in color, juicy and very sweet when ripe. Rated one of the best tasting forms. A self-fertile form that will produce seedless fruits if a male pollinator is absent.
redemption Time!
October 1-31, bring your Skinner Buck$ back and save big!
Spring Flowering Bulbs
I can’t think of anything better than seeing all those big beautiful colors popping up in the garden in the spring. With the wide range of colors, shapes and unique blooms...the possibilities are almost limitless!
Getting bulbs planted at the right time will help make your spring beautiful, and right now is the perfect time to get things in the ground.
Fall is when we plant them. That gives them time to grow roots, ride out winter and be ready to bloom by spring.
Here are few tips...
The easiest beginner bulb is the Daffodil. Daffodils are deer resistant, not bothered by squirrels, are reliable perennials and tend to multiply slowly.
Plant bulbs in big groupings. Larger groupings will be way more impressive.
Plant those bulbs pointy side up, add in a good bulb food, and cover with some mulch to keep them warm during the winter, and in just a few short months those beauties will be popping up.
A garden knife or a bulb auger in a drill makes planting so much easier! (And we have both available at our store.)
We have a wide variety of tulip, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and allium in the store, ready and waiting just for you. Stop on in today and grab yourself a sack full of bulbs, and don’t forget to pick up a good bulb planter and some Dutch Bulb Food while you’re at it. Your spring blooms are only a few months away—are you getting excited yet?!
—Melissa Anderson
Six Minutes Can Seem Like A Lifetime
Last week, some friends and I were reminiscing about an old movie from our high school days, Vision Quest.
Last week, some friends and I were reminiscing about an old movie from our high school days, Vision Quest. It’s a story about a high school wrestler caught in the middle of a Rocky-like battle for the state championship. The movie covers the season, and I won’t tell you if he made it... I don’t want to spoil it for you; but, what I will tell you is that it’s a great movie. If you have a chance, look it up!
It’s always been one of my favorite movies—because it’s great, but also because I was a wrestler in high school. Now, I never made it to state, and I definitely wasn’t as dedicated to the sport as the main character in this film... but I can still relate to the challenge. I made the varsity squad early in high school. That might make it sound like I was really good. I wasn’t. I was pretty average... I was just in the right place at the right time.
Our team had lots of guys in the lower weight classes, but we were short-handed in the upper ones... and I sat in between. Due to the shortage of bigger guys, our 155-pound weight class position sat vacant. I was the closest to the empty weight class... so I wrestled up. That meant I wrestled in the 155-pound weight class even though I only weighed about 135. Now, I didn’t have to worry about what I ate, which was nice; but, I was young and I was small and I was going up against guys that were generally older, and definitely bigger and stronger. That wasn’t a good combination.
That first varsity season, I got my butt kicked... a lot. But, I won some, too, and I learned. By the next year, I was a little big bigger, a little bit stronger and I had a lot more experience. Things got better. Like I said, I never made it to state, but I finished my wrestling career with a few medals to my name... and I built a lot of character!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Here in the present, the weather’s finally cooled off... thank goodness! We are in full fall-mode out here at the garden center. Pumpkins, trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, mums… If you need something, I bet we have it.
And put this on your calendar... We’re going to have the guys from Norsemen Brewing Company out next Saturday, October 14 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. serving some of their finest. We’ll have hotdogs and a few other snacks as well. Come on out enjoy a cold one on us.
Hope to see there!
-Cameron Rees
The Smartest Time to Plant Trees
You can plant a tree anytime of the year, as long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can find the trees, and you’re able to care for it when you’re done. But sometimes there’s just a smarter time... and that time is now.
Warm soils and cooler temperatures are the perfect combination for transplanting success. Warm soils help speed along root development and cooler temperatures help reduce weather related stresses on the tree. Fall is the only time of the year we have both those conditions.
We practice what we preach. We’ll be planting hot and heavy through October and November, and hopefully deep into December. It all depends on when the real cold stuff decides to show up.
If you have a tree planting project in mind, take advantage of the season. Come on out and ask us questions and let us help you with your options. We can walk you through the selection process and explain to you what you need to know to get it planted successfully.
And if you need help getting it planted, we can help with that, too!
What’s New?!
Bareroot Iris and Peonies are here—with many varieties to choose from!
It’s redemption Time!
October 1-31
“Thymely” Advice
Wrap Up Seeding
Fall is the best time to plant grass seed, but this fall has been difficult. Hot and dry weather through September has made seeding projects challenging.It looks like cooler weather is finally here!
If you’ve been putting your project off—don’t worry, there’s still time. We can safely plant grass seed up to about mid-October, and often all the way to the end of the month, but sooner is better.
We’re still well-stocked with our Gard’n-Wise Premium Tall Fescue Blend and Fertilome New Lawn Starter, and can help you figure out how much of each you’ll need.
A River Runs Through It
Sometimes you just need to get away. Last week, I got one of those chances.
Sometimes you just need to get away. Last week, I got one of those chances.
I got a chance to spend a few days enjoying the fresh mountain air. I paired up with a small group of longtime friends from my high school and college days and spent some time high in the Colorado mountains. We did some fishing, and a little bit of trail riding and a whole lot of catching up. The stories were flowing and the memories just kept coming back. It was a great time!
We did a fair amount fishing while we were there. That’s something I don’t do very often any more, but I used to fish all the time as a kid. That’s how my cousin and I spent our summers. It was either their farm pond or the creek in between us. We’d spend the whole day out there harassing the fish.
But that was a long time ago and now, my fishing outings are few and far between. What I’m trying to say is, I’m definitely not an expert angler... but I still like to fish. And I especially like to fish in the mountains. I could spend all day doing that! Standing next to a mountain stream, taking in the scenery, listing to the splash of the water and the sound of the wind blowing through the trees… that’s just magic. I don’t even care if I catch anything.
I took my old fly rod. I bought that thing 30 years ago, and it’s been gathering dust out in the garage ever since. It didn’t take me long to get back in to groove though...10 and 2, 10 and 2. It’s was just like riding a bike.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Anyway, it was beautiful, I’m refreshed... and now I’m ready to hit the fall season. We got a lot of fresh trees, shrubs and other plants out here, and the pumpkins just arrived. Now it really looks like fall!
Hope to see you around the nursery.
What’s New?!
Persimmons
Actually, there’s nothing new about persimmons in general. We’ve carried those for years. They’re a great native tree and if you’re willing to let them fully ripen, they’re a tasty treat. (Bite into them a little too early and you’ll be puckered up from here to next week... you’ll only make that mistake once!)
What is new for us are the grafted persimmon varieties we just received. I’ve been trying to get our hands on these for a couple of years now and I’m excited to have them in now and ready for fall planting.
These grafted forms are all improved forms of our native American Persimmon. The reason for their selection may vary slightly, but they all revolve around the fruits.
‘Elmo’ – Heavy bearer. Ripens from October to November. Very sweet when ripe. Selected for reliable harvest and large fruits along with good resistance to diseases and insects. May be self-fertile, but a pollinator would be a good idea.
‘Garretson’ – Selected for its large, sweet fruits. Partially self-fertile but will produce heavier when planted with a cross pollinator. Ripens in early October. Fruits are up to 1.5” in diameter.
‘Meader’ – Large fruits, up to 2” in diameter. Self-fertile form. Fruits will be seedless if not cross pollinated. If they are pollinated, there will be seeds.
‘Prok’ – This one tends to be self-pollinating. Produces large crops of sweet, juicy fruits. Often rated as one of the best tasting American persimmons.
We also have native seedling forms as well.
Decorate for Fall
Do you know what time of year it is? Pumpkin Spice everything time!
I actually tried a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew a couple weeks ago… first time I have ever had a pumpkin drink of any kind! I have always been kind of against it, but I have to say I’m glad I tried it. One of my favorite drinks now!
With Pumpkin Spice comes fall… and with fall comes fall decorating! If you’re ready to reset your summer flowers and transition into fall we have you covered. Pumpkins and gourds are here and more mums are arriving weekly. Celosia, marigolds, ornamental cabbage are all great fillers for your containers and we have lots of them!
When you’re ready to get started come see us and we will get you fixed up!
—Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
“Thymely” Advice
Fall Seeding Tips
There are plenty of important steps to successfully fall grass seeding, but one of the most critical is proper watering. If you’ve seeded properly, your seed is lightly incorporated into the soil. That means it’s covered with some soil... but not very much. All summer long, we’ve been talking about infrequent, slow, deep waterings. The goal of a watering like that is to get water down deep into the soil...down to those roots a foot or two deep.
That’s not what you’re trying to do here.
Grass seed should be shallow, usually only a ¼” to a ½” deep, and a shallow seed bed like that dries out quickly. You don’t want the seed be to dry out once you start the process. The only way to make that happen to water frequently. That may mean up to 3 or 4 times a day until you reach full germination. That may a couple weeks.
Waterings should be frequent, and they should also be light. You’re not trying to get down water deep in this case. Your only worried about the top inch of soil or so. That’s where your new seed is, and that’s what you’re trying to keep moist. Hand watering works well, or if you’re using a sprinkler system, set your timer to run just long enough to get things wet. Any more than that is a waste.
Good luck!
Spring Bulb Color
Doesn’t everyone just love when those spring flowers are in bloom?!
If you like to see that early spring color, plant those bulbs in the ground in the fall. Flowers like daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, tulips, hyacinths, irises, and alliums do best planted during this time.
Fall bulbs don’t flower in the fall. These beauties are what we call “dormant perennials”. This just means they need the cool, damp fall soil so they can begin sprouting roots for their emergence in spring. Spring flowering bulbs can be planted any time now, but the best time to plant them is when soils are a little cooler. Typically, in our area that means October and November.
Now, lets get to the how:
Choose a planting site that has full to partial shade.
Ideal soil should be a sandy loam, but other soils can be used if amended with a good compost
Bulbs need good aeration as well as good drainage, so it’s best to give them 12 in of prepared soil.
Best rule of thumb, bulbs need to be planted 2 to 3 times as deep as their width
For a better display one flowered, make sure to plant in clumps or masses instead of a single bulb.
Water bulbs deeply after planting and remember, if your bulbs are planted 6 inches deep, the water needs to go 6 inches into the ground for the bulbs to benefit. Water them again before winter, but be careful not to overwater them as this causes bulb rot.
It’s a good idea to apply a good mulch to the area to cut down on weeds, help hold in moisture, and reduce or eliminate heaving from winter thawing and refreezing.
Easy to plant, and early pollinators such as the queen bumblebee love to feed off them. So come in today and let us help you to pick out your favorites.
As always, Happy Planting!
—Melissa Anderson
living and dying in 3/4 time
I don’t remember when I heard my first Jimmy Buffet song, but I do remember when I knew I was a fan.
I don’t remember when I heard my first Jimmy Buffet song, but I do remember when I knew I was a fan.
It was early in my college years, and I was on a road trip. There were three of us and we were headed to Yellow Stone National Park to see some friends. We were traveling in an old Chevy pickup with a camper shell on the back loaded with of our gear.
The truck had a cassette player, and we had three tapes to help pass the time the 20-hour drive, George Strait’s Ocean Front Property, James Taylor’s Greatest Hits, and Jimmy Buffett’s Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.
Changes in Latitudes… I was hooked.
Like so many, I was saddened by the recent news of Jimmy Buffet’s passing. There’s just something special about his music. His lyrics are easy to connect with and his laid-back island sound… well, it’s easy to fall in love with.
One of my favorites has always been One Particular Harbor. I was listening to it the other night on YouTube. One song led to another, and before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed, I found myself deep down the Jimmy Buffet rabbit hole. It was a fun journey. I enjoyed an endless string of concert performances intermixed with the occasional interview on Johnny Carson, Dave Letterman and Jimmy Fallon. When you’ve been making music for over 50 years, you tend to get around.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
It was during a recent appearance on Jimmy Fallon that I heard Jimmy Buffet say,
“Fun is important in this world.”
I thought that pretty much summed it up... Jimmy Buffet’s music is just fun, and we do need that in this world.
You know what else is fun? Gardening! We’ve got lots to check out for this fall gardening season. If you need anything, come see us.
—Cameron Rees
Fall Color
Fall is quickly approaching, and with the much-welcomed cooler mornings and evenings, it gets us thinking about the colors of fall. With the brutal heat we had the last few weeks it has left most summer annuals looking a tad “tired.” Now that the temperatures have gone down, we can focus on re-vamping those pots and filling them with some fall color. Mums, celosia and flowering cabbage/kale are great plants to swap out for those summer annuals. Next week, the pumpkins and gourds will arrive ready to deck out your front porches and surrounding areas!
—Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
Cooler Weather is Here!
This is the perfect time to start that fall lawn seeding. Whether you’re a pro or new to the game, we want to give you the best chance for success. I have gathered some tips and tricks that you can use to help ensure just that—success!
First and foremost, and possibly the most important decision, choose the right grass seed for your lawn. That is our Gard’n-Wise Premium Tall Fescue Blend. It’s been carefully selected to offer the best in appearance and durability.
Start by mowing your lawn down to about 1-1 ½ inches and rake or bag up all that debris... but, don’t throw it away! Use it in your garden or put it on your compost pile. Don’t have a compost pile... well, it’s time to start!
Once your lawn is clean, you should use a verti-slicer to begin to prepare your lawn. These can easily be rented from rental companies all over town. Work over your lawn, going in the same direction over the whole yard, and cleaning up all the loose debris when done.
Now the fun part! Once you have prepped your lawn, you are ready to spread grass seed. You want to spread the seed at the recommended rate. That’s 3-4 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet if you are overseeding into an existing stand. Double that if you are seeding onto bare ground.
It is important to understand, more seed is not be better. That’s a myth. Think about it like a glass of water. You want to put the right amount of water in the glass for the glass to be full. More water isn’t going to make the glass fuller, it’s going to overflow the glass. More isn’t better. It’s the same for grass seed. Too much grass seed will cause the grass to compete for resources and seedlings will struggle and often fail.
Next, apply a good starter fertilizer. We recommend Fertilome New Lawn Starter. Put it down at the same time as your grass seed, but in separate applications.
Once you’ve completed seeding and fertilizing, you want to go back over the lawn with the verti-slicer again, making sure to go in a perpendicular direction to the original pass. This time leave the clippings covering the seed that you have now worked into the soil. This is beneficial to the seeds as it protects them while they germinate.
The final step... water, water, water!!!!
Watering is very important. How much and how often will determine how successful you are when seeding. Try to avoid any pooling of water as this may wash away grass seed and prevent those germinating. Remember, your goal is just to keep the top inch or so moist, so you’ll be doing frequent light waterings. Use a good sprinkler or invest in a water timer for when you’re at work. Keep watered 2-3 times per day until your first cut, typically around 4 inches of growth.
That’s about it. I’m sure your thinking, “I got this!” And if you are, that’s great. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, stop in today and ask any one of our friendly staff to help. As always, we are here to help. HAPPY PLANTING!
—Melissa Anderson
Not lovin’ the heat
I’m glad we’re through with that [heat]! I am not a big fan of the hot stuff... and that last stretch was brutal!
I’m glad we’re through with that!
I am not a big fan of the hot stuff... and that last stretch was brutal!
That’s why I was so excited when I woke up Saturday morning to cooler temps. All week long, that was my target. I just kept telling myself, “Just make it to Saturday!” Well, it didn’t disappoint, and the rain was a nice added touch.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
I’m so hopeful we’re done with the triple digits until next year! I know that’s overly optimistic, but I’m going to wish for it anyway. September has a reputation of being a bit of a battleground—fall fighting to take over with a summer that’s fighting to hold on… and we all get caught in the middle. I am hopeful fall wins out more days than not.
This past weekend was amazing, and I’ll take that for now and enjoy it. Working at the store on Saturday, it was rewarding to see others doing the same.
Now, we’re gearing up for the fall season. New plants have been landing and more are arriving every week. Fertilizer and grass seed are ready on the back patio… we’re ready for it! Hopefully you are, too!
—Cameron
What’s New?!
“Thymely” advice
It’s time for the orange Bag
It’s that time of year again.
As we enter into this transition between summer and fall, it’s time to give our fescue lawns a bit of a boost.
That boost is a lawn fertilizer called Fertilome Lawn Food Plus Iron. We just call it the “Orange Bag.”
And, it’s time for the Orange Bag!
Summers are rough on our lawns. Heat, dry weather, insects, disease, weeds… these all combine to work against us. What looked nice last spring often looks beat up and thinned out by this time of the year.
But the good news is, fall is all about rebuilding.
As we head into September, your lawn changes. It starts growing more actively, and recovery begins. You can help that with the right fertilizer.
The turfgrass specialists at K-State say,
“If you could only fertilize your cool-season grasses once per year, this would be the best time to do it.”
That’s a pretty strong statement.
And that’s why we carry Fertilome Lawn Food Plus Iron, a.k.a. the Orange Bag. It’s formulated for our cool-season grasses and an application now is the most important fertilization of our lawns for the year.
Take my advice. Listen to the experts.
Planting for Monarchs
All butterflies bring a garden to life, but there’s something extra special and exciting about Monarchs.
The Monarchs’ annual trek north for the summer and back south for the winter is nothing short of amazing. Fortunately for us, that migration brings these amazing creatures through our area twice each year—and they’re starting to pass through now!
Is your garden ready?
It’s like the great baseball movie tag line, “if you build it, they will come”. Gardens filled with late-season blooms will be rewarded with visitors.
Here are some good suggestions:
Golden-rod
Aster
Sedum
Bluebeard
Butterfly-bush
Salvia
Seven-son Flower
Helen’s Flower
The Monarchs are starting to arrive. Make sure they’re going to be stopping at your place!
Not what I planned
It’s looking pretty sad. We’ve got a couple of large potted hydrangeas on my patio that we’ve been enjoying for several years. One blooms raspberry-red late in the spring, and the other blooms pure white starting at the peak of summer.
It’s looking pretty sad.
We’ve got a couple of large potted hydrangeas on my patio that we’ve been enjoying for several years. One blooms raspberry-red late in the spring, and the other blooms pure white starting at the peak of summer.
It was coming into full bloom and looking pretty amazing a few weeks ago when the storm with the crazy winds blew through. It’s safe to say, large blooms hanging out on the ends of long stems aren’t designed to hold up well to intense winds. They got the crap beat of them!
It’s not horrible looking, but it’s not exactly the same as the pre-storm version that previously graced our patio. Amazingly, the blooms are still impressive, intact and pretty stunning. But, the overall plant looks pretty beat up. What was once a full, upright-growing flowering showpiece, has just one lone standing stem and is now a sad melted version of its previous self.
For now, we’re still enjoying the flowers, despite the droopy appearance. I’ve cut some of them and brought them inside to enjoy. They do make a pretty amazing display.
The rest are riding out the remainder of their time, hanging in place. As their colors fades, I’ll probably trim them off. Removing the weight of the large blooms should help and allow the stems to spring back up a bit. Next spring, I’ll reshape it a bit more and by next summer, things should back be amazing again... and not so droopy!
This gardening thing doesn’t always work out according to plan. For me, that’s part of what keeps it interesting. Sometimes things thrive and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they thrive but still disappoint. Sometimes they thrive too much ... And, well, sometimes they end up a little droopy!
Things could be a lot worse!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Like I said in our last newsletter, some opportunities come unexpectedly. There’s no point to being frustrated in a situation like this. The game has been played, and maybe it didn’t go the way we planned, but the outcome is what it is.
And there’s always next year.
In meantime, we’re enjoying a bit of the garden inside. A vase full of hydrangea blooms wasn’t the original plan, but it’s not a bad outcome. Not a bad trade off.
That’s a little update from our garden. (See what else is going on in the images below.) Hopefully, you’re enjoying yours as well, regardless how it chooses to give back.
We’re starting to roll some new crops in for fall. If you need anything come see us!
—Cameron
my Garden Tour
“Thymely” advice
prep areas for overseeding
It may be a hot summer; but, sooner than you think, fall will be upon us.
As the leaves start to change and the temperatures become cooler, so begins the fall lawn seeding season. Whether you’re completely renovating your lawn or reseeding, preparation is key. Who doesn’t want a lush, green lawn to be proud of?!
The time to start getting your lawn prepared is now— so, there’s no time to wait! You want to start with a clean slate, so to speak, if you really want to make the most of this seeding season.
One of the best ways to get a lawn full of great-looking grass, without the unsightly weeds, is to make sure all of the unwanted stuff is killed off and out of your way before seeding. Start by spraying the difficult areas with a non-specific weed and grass killer. Something like Hi-Yield Killzall will do the trick. If you have stubborn Bermuda or Zoysia grass to contend with, multiple treatments may be needed to completely eradicate them. Following the directions on the label, make sure that you are allowing 7 days in between each treatment to give the product time to work.
It is also helpful to make sure those pesky weeds and grass have enough water. I know… you’re asking yourself, why would I water weeds? Well, herbicides work best on actively growing plants, and that includes weeds. It’s also a good idea to hit the area again if you still have weeds that are green after a few weeks. Once you’ve treated the area and killed off all the grass and weeds, it’s time to lightly rake and seed.
Preparing your yard to be the best it can be takes a little hard work and patience, but its worth it for the healthy, full lawn that everyone is after. I know what I’ll be doing for the next few weeks. What about you?
As always, we are always here to help and our knowledgeable staff would be glad to answer any questions that you might have during any step of this process.
—Melissa Anderson
unexpected opportunity
The storm that blew through a couple of weeks ago did a lot of damage across town. We got hit here at our store, too. It was one of the craziest storms I’d ever been through. It felt like the tornado scene from the Wizard of Oz. All we could do was watch as the wind wreaked havoc on the world outside. Debris was flying everywhere! And, that storm left its mark.
Opportunity.
That’s what I like to call it.
When a plant in my garden dies, it’s disappointing; but, I also see it as an opportunity. It’s a chance to try something new.
I could just get mad and frustrated, but that doesn’t really solve anything. Does it? I learned a long time ago, gardens are anything but static creations. They are ever changing, ever evolving. Plants come and go... and that’s just part of gardening.
But, it still sucks!
The storm that blew through a couple of weeks ago did a lot of damage across town. We got hit here at our store, too.
It was one of the craziest storms I’d ever been through. It felt like the tornado scene from the Wizard of Oz. All we could do was watch as the wind wreaked havoc on the world outside. Debris was flying everywhere!
And, that storm left its mark. We took damage on several of the structures around the garden center. Roofs are torn or missing, one structure was flattened and numerous others took hits from flying debris. The damage is frustrating, but fixable.
What hurts the most was the damage to the trees.
Through the years, we’ve planted a lot of trees out here. Some likely date back to the 1950s when our store first opened. Fortunately, most of those came through with only minor damage. However, some of their younger neighbors didn’t fare so well.
A few small ones were completely blown over and numerous others were left with a pretty good lean. A couple of our large shade trees, the Heritage River Birch standing in our tree section, and the Allee Lacebark Elm shading the west end of our shrub section took major hits to their crowns. And, the Sargent Crab that’s graced the southwest corner of our lath house for so many decades, well, there wasn’t much if it left.
It’s sad to see all these trees damaged, especially the Sargent Crab. I think we all loved that tree the most. I can’t tell you how long ago it was planted, but I have memories of it being big and impressive and full of character even when I was a kid working out here—and that was over 40 years ago. It had been around for a while.
They’re all going to have to come out—and that hurts. As I’m sure you would agree, you grow attached to the plants in your landscape. They tend to hold a special place in our hearts. And that’s especially true with large works of art, like old trees.
We all know things come and go in a garden. That’s just the way it is. As much as we hate having it happen, it does create an opportunity.
New trees will need to be planted in the empty spaces and we’ll all get to enjoy watching them grow and develop over the years to come.
A wise customer taught me many years ago, that’s the fun part of gardening.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
And, luckily, I know a great place to get new trees!
Hopefully your garden didn’t get hit too hard by the recent storms. But, if it did and you’re also experiencing new “opportunities,” come see us. We can talk trees, help you process loss, and provide some advice for the big decisions that come with new opportunities.
—Cameron
What’s New?
We all know plants need water. We also probably all understand that plants will need to be watered from time to time when it’s dry.
But, what about when it’s hot? Do we need to water just because it’s hot?
The answer is no. Hot weather alone is not enough of a reason; but, dry soil is, regardless of the temperature.
Overwatering kills plants. Waterlogged soils deprive the roots of the vital oxygen they need to grow and thrive. And, that happens even faster when it’s hot out—so don’t over do it.
Keep an eye on things, and only water when it gets dry enough to need it.
summertime at the garden center
We get a lot of questions about what happens out here during the summer.
First of all, we’re still helping folks out with plants and other gardening supplies—just like any other time of the year. (Remember, if you can dig the hole, you can plant. Just be prepared to water!)
But beyond that, a lot of our summer activities revolve around plant maintenance.
Our July and August months are filled with a lot of repotting, some trimming, some fertilizing, and—of course—a lot of watering. We’re not receiving many new plants this time of year, so most of the nursery activities are all about keeping crops growing and keeping them healthy.
It’s a lot of work... but we enjoy it! Come see us!
In a pickle
Several years ago, my wife and I decided we needed to start playing pickleball…
Several years ago, my wife and I decided we needed to start playing pickleball.
We started slowly at first, just a casual game here and there. But, it didn’t take long to figured out that we really enjoyed it.
Now, we’re playing regularly, and I’ve even joined in a weekly men’s league. I’m not saying that I’m any good, but I sure do have a lot of fun playing!
If you’re not familiar with what pickleball is, think of it as a scaled down version of tennis, played with a Wiffle Ball-like ball and hard paddles instead of rackets.
It’s like a cross between tennis and ping-pong—with a little bit of badminton tossed in there for good measure.
Most importantly, it’s fairly easy to play... even for us old folks!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
I’m never going to make the pro circuit, but I’m still enjoying myself.
We’re into the summer grind now and hotter weather has been hanging around a lot more. I can feel it’s affect on the court on pickle ball nights, and I can see it in my landscape in between rain events. Hydration is the key for both.
Make sure you’re getting out there and enjoying your summer!
—Cameron
What’s New?
“Thymely” advice
Last chance to stop grubs
If all the Japanese Beetles buzzing around have you a little concerned about future grub problems, there’s still time to do something about it. But, your window of opportunity is almost closed.
Those Japanese Beetles, along with other common summertime beetles—like June Bugs, May Beetles and Southern Masked Chafers—are laying eggs that will hatch later on this summer; and then turn into the next generation of white grubs.
If you’re wanting to prevent them from being a problem, Hi-Yield Grub Free Zone III is your solution, and it needs to go down immediately. Don’t wait, or it won’t work.
And, don’t forget to water it in!
If you have questions, just stop by the garden store and ask.
time to get those fall seeds started
With all the tomatoes, peppers and zucchini you may be surrounded with now, it could be hard to wrap your head around preparing for fall crops. However, July and August are the best times to begin fall and winter food gardening.
Although you can use the same seeds you already have, now is the best time to start those cold tolerant varieties that everyone loves. Depending upon timing, you might look for more heat tolerant varieties as well.
There are two things to consider when preparing for fall crops:
First, have you harvested your summer crops and need to replenish? Maybe those irritating pests have done a number on those squash plants and you want to try again. Summer months can be a great time to start seeds germinating. Soils are warm, which promotes good growth, and insects and diseases are less troublesome with fall crops. Crops such as green beans, summer squash, cucumbers and basil are some that do very well through this last half of summer.
Second, is planting crops that do much better in the cooler temps. Cold crops such as garlic, carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, lettuce and spinach like the cooler temperatures. I mean, who doesn’t want to garden in cooler, refreshing temperatures?! It sure does beat the summer heat and keeps the gardening blues away.
These crops can be direct seeded, or can be started in seed trays and transplanted out later. A challenge for fall gardening is establishing seedlings because the hot, dry summer winds can dry out the soil. So, watering is key. However, some prefer to do transplants of established seedlings. Closer to September, the garden store carries things like lettuce and spinach for just this.
What about the Kansas heat?
That’s a great question. Using shade cloths, mulches and careful watering will improve the success of your fall garden. You could also start those seeds indoors amid cooler temps, and transplant them into your garden for the fall. Also, remember that those varieties that have shorter “days to maturity” are a great way to ensure you get a crop before it gets too cold. (Or, in our case, longer heat waves.)
Warm days promote growth, and cooler nights develop the flavors and quality of the harvest. In no time you’ll be knee deep in all those wonderful vegetables. With the right timing, supplies and the help of Mother Nature your fall crops could be thriving come winter.
Stop in today and speak with one of our knowledgeable staff to get you all of the supplies you need to have the most success in the fall.
I’ll see you there… Happy gardening!
—Melissa Anderson
plants that attract wildlife
Check out our infographic on what to plant to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.
Check out our infographic on what to plant to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.
rain man
Water, water, water.
That’s been my motto the last few weeks.
Water, water, water.
That’s been my motto the last few weeks.
Lately, my garden activities have been more about dragging hoses and setting up sprinklers that it has been much of anything else. It’s dry out there!
I’ve still been doing a little planting... I can’t ever stop that. However, the shift from “garden creating” to “garden care” has definitely taken place.
And by care, of course, I mostly mean watering.. and lots of it.
With the dry spell we’ve been having, I’ve had the opportunity to have a lot of conversations with folks about proper watering. It goes well beyond just the act of applying water itself (although that’s definitely a critical part!) and includes soil preparation, mulch, proper landscape design, proper plant selection and proper planting... but, that’s a discussion for another day.
Today, I just wanted to make a few comments about applying water.
It doesn’t matter how you tackle your watering projects, as long as you do them and do them well.
That means you watered with enough water—and for a long enough period of time—to allow water to soak down through the root zone, thoroughly saturating it in the process.
There are two parts to that equation... volume and time. One means nothing without some knowledge of the other. In the end, if the root zone hasn’t been thoroughly soaked, it wasn’t enough, regardless or the volume or time. Figure out what watering thoroughly looks and feels like and then do it every time.
There are lots of ways to get watering done.
I used hundreds of feet of garden hose, numerous sprinklers, lots of drip hose and an old Rain Train watering tractor left behind by the previous homeowner. It’s one of my favorites! Each hose run is controlled by an inexpensive, in-line water timer. Those are pretty sweet, too. They allow me to turn things on and not worry about being around to shut things off.
I tend get busy and forget things. (My wife would probably agree with that!)
Those timers also allow me to turn a sprinkler on before I leave for work and not have to worry about being around to shut them off.
Very handy.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Keeping everything properly watered takes some time, but I’ve figured out a way to make it easy to do… and that’s the key. And, my garden keeps looking great all summer!
It’s been dry out there. It’s summertime, there’s likely a lot more of that to come, so be ready. Watering is the key to success at this time of the year. Stay on top of it.
If you have questions about watering, or othering things in your garden, just stop by and ask!
—Cameron
What’s New?
native perennials
by Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
Why plant natives? Once established, natives are less dependent on watering, fertilizing and insecticide use. Natives will be heat and drought tolerant and adaptable to our Kansas soils.
When planting natives, be mindful that you choose the right one for your location. Just because they are native doesn’t mean they will grow wherever you plant them. Watch the light requirements and heights on the plant.
Two popular natives are Milkweed and Wild Geranium. Butterfly Milkweed is a favorite among most native gardeners. This plant is a host for the Monarch Butterfly and had bright orange flowers in summer. Wild Geranium had cup-shaped, pink to lilac flowers in spring and are loved by bees and butterflies. Another native that is worth mentioning is Obedient Plant. These natives have pink snapdragon-like flowers in the summer and attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to your garden.
Come see what we have in store!
—Misty
skinner Buck$
summer redemption period ends monday, July 3
Our Summer Skinner Buck$ Redemption Period wraps up Monday, July 3. The next redemption period is in October.
If you want to use them now, you’d better hurry!
“Thymely” advice
japanese beetles
They’re here!
Actually, they’ve been here all along, but they’ve only recently emerged from the ground. That’s where they spend most of their life, living below underground as white grubs.
Now, they’re making their appearance in our gardens in their adult form— shiny metallic green beetles; beetles that love to feed on many of our landscape and vegetable garden plants. Not good!
Control is recommended if you want to avoid damage.
There are a number of products that will do the job. Fertilome Spinosad Soap is a good one, as is Hi-Yield Garden & Farm Insect Control and Hi-Yield Bug Blaster Bifenthrin 2.4. They all work. Take your pick. The key is picking something and using it.
They’re going to be around for a while... probably close to a month... so, spraying won’t be a one-time event. Unfortunately, they are very good at flying. You can get rid of the ones doing damage, but over time, others will move back in and take their place. Just follow the label directions as reapply as recommended until the problem goes away.
And one more important tip. Read and follow the label! That’s always recommended, but during hot weather, that’s especially important. Many products have the potential to cause foliar burn when temperatures are high, the humidity is high and/or sunlight is intense. That’s a lot of our summer days. In most cases, it is going to be advisable to spray late in the day, after the sun has started to set and temperatures have started to cool off for the night.
Also, pay attention to what you are spraying and what product you are using. There are many products that will effectively control Japanese Beetles, but only some of them are labeled for use on edible crops. Don’t use something labeled for only ornamental plants in your vegetable and fruit plantings.
This advice is worth repeating... read the label!
On a related note, if you’re wanting to protect your lawn from the grub stage of this pest as well, you’ve still got a few weeks to get an application of Hi-Yield Grub Free Zone III down and watered in.
If you have any questions, let us know!
Happy Independence Day
We’ll be closed for business on Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4. Enjoy the day and stay safe!
What would your wife say?
I’ve always felt like I was pretty good at loading a truck, but the other day, a customer showed me up!
I’ve always felt like I was pretty good at loading a truck; but the other day, a customer showed me up!
Now that’s a load of plants!
He had a pretty good drive back home, so he wanted to get it all in one trip. Well, he pulled it off! A total of 160 plants all loaded into one small Honda Pilot. Later, he reported back that not one plant was damaged during the hour+ drive home. Not bad!
He also mentioned that this was his wife’s car... so he said he also spent two hours doing a deep clean when he was done.
I wonder if he told her what he was going to do with it before he borrowed it?!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
I know my wife wouldn’t be the least surprised if I rolled into the driveway with my vehicle loaded down like this. I’m routinely hauling home loads of plants, mulch and other garden essentials. But, if I came home with her vehicle packed full like this… Well, let’s just say, it wouldn’t be pretty.
This guy owes his wife a very nice dinner!
It’s still great planting weather. We’re still bringing in a lot of nice plants and we have a lot of great specials going on right now, too. And don’t forget your Skinner Bucks! We’ll be redeeming those for a couple more weeks—through July 3.
If you need anything, come on out… Just ask before you borrow your wife’s car!
—Cameron
by Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
What’s New?
PHLOX
June is all about perennials! Big, tall, short, small, shade, sun and everything in between. Garden Phlox are one of my favorite sun perennials to recommend. They start blooming in the summer and come in an array of colors. Their sweetly fragranced blooms are a great addition to bring in hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Most of the newer varieties of Garden Phlox are shorter in stature compared to the old-fashioned varieties you would find in the past. Flame Lilac Star is a gorgeous white variety that looks like it has brush stokes of bright lilac down the petals. Growing to only 16”, this Phlox would be great in a sunny border or even in a mixed container. We have many other colors to choose from to fit your style or needs. You can’t go wrong with Garden Phlox!
—Misty
skinner Buck$ redemption time
Our summer redemption period has begun!
Here's how it works:
For each $20 you spend at Skinner’s, you’ll earn a dollar in Skinner Buck$. Our exclusive store currency allows you to make money while spending money.
Skinner Buck$ can be generously used during three different redemption periods each year, and redeemed for up to 50% of your purchase.
Skinner Buck$ are not applicable for gift card purchases, but may be used in addition to gift cards for payment.
Start digging out those Buck$ - the summer redemption period ends July 3.
“Thymely” advice
Grub control now
If you’re seeing that grub damage in your yard is a regular occurrence, now is the time to get your grub treatment down.
You’ll want Hi-Yield Grub Free Zone III. It’s a granular product that you’ll apply with a lawn spreader and then water in—either with rainfall or irrigation.
An application now will get your protection in place for the new hatch of grubs taking place later this summer. Think of it like crabgrass preventer for grub worms.
You have up until early July to apply effectively, but don’t wait. The sooner you get things down, the better your application will be.
We’ve got all kinds of trees on sale 20-50% off! Not all the trees are on sale, but a lot are! This includes shade trees, ornamental trees, evergreen trees... there’s a lot!
The cone of shame
Potter is our dog, and he just celebrated a birthday. He attacked his day like any other day. He devoured his morning bowl of food as though eating it was a competition; and, then he proceeded to stare at us, longingly, like he had somehow been short changed. It’s pretty much the same routine at every meal.
After accepting that seconds weren’t in his future, he proceeded to find a place to take a well-earned nap. Let’s face it, eating takes a lot out of you!
He has a tough life.
Potter is our dog, and he just celebrated a birthday.
He attacked his day like any other day. He devoured his morning bowl of food as though eating it was a competition; and, then he proceeded to stare at us, longingly, like he had somehow been short changed. It’s pretty much the same routine at every meal.
After accepting that seconds weren’t in his future, he proceeded to find a place to take a well-earned nap. Let’s face it, eating takes a lot out of you!
He has a tough life.
This year was number fourteen for Potter. Do the whole dog-years thing, and it would be fair to say he’s old. I guess those naps are well deserved.
We get questions about his name for time to time. That story is pretty simple.
Our kids were in grade school when he joined the family. At that time in their life, Harry Potter pretty much outweighed everything else in their lives. (Do the math.)
Somehow, the name always suited him, although he clearly has no super powers.
He’s been a steady presence in our home ever since. I’m not so sure the kids aren’t more excited to see him than us when they come home to visit.
Okay, who am I kidding... I know they’re more excited to see Potter!
He’s an integral part of the family. I’m sure anyone with a pet understands. That’s why he had us all scared this past winter.
We woke up one February morning to find him just not quite himself. It was obvious he just didn’t feel well. Eventually, he ended up at the vet’s office.
Several weeks later, we were road-tripping to Manhattan, headed for surgery at the Kansas State Veterinary Complex. Other than driving by the building during our college days, that was our first experience with the Vet Clinic. We couldn’t have been more pleased. They took great care of Potter and took all the time with us that we needed. They were amazing!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
And the best news, after a few days with them, a couple of weeks recuperating post-surgery and sporting the “cone of shame,” he was back to his old self. He’s just as ornery as ever!
Life at the Rees home is back to normal.
Out at the garden center, things are still hopping. Recent rains have been welcome and will prove to be a big help keeping the spring planting season going.
We’re still restocking on a regular basis. If we can help you with anything, come on out!
—Cameron
What’s New?
flame thrower redbud
If you like color, this one’s for you!
This relatively new introduction has taken the foliage color of redbud up to a whole new level.
Leaves emerge a deep blood red in color, gradually transitioning through purple, burnt orange, bronze and eventually gold. The result—a tree canopy covered in a stunning combination of colors.
Spring blooms are a great show as well with lavender-pink flowers emerging before the leaves. It matures in the 15-20’ range, both in height and spread.
skinner Buck$ start Soon!
Just a reminder... our summer Skinner Buck$ redemption period starts Monday, June 12.
Start digging out those Bucks!
How do Skinner Buck$ Work?
For each $20 you spend at Skinner’s, you’ll earn a dollar in Skinner Buck$. Our exclusive store currency allows you to make money while spending money.
Skinner Buck$ can be generously used during three different redemption periods each year, and redeemed for up to 50% of your purchase.
Skinner Buck$ are not applicable for gift card purchases, but may be used in addition to gift cards for payment.
watch for bagworms!
It’s that time of year again... bagworms.
This is generally about the time they start hatching; and as soon as they do, they start feeding... aggressively!
They’ll be small at first, about a quarter inch or less, so you’ve got to look closely, and they’ll be hiding inside a tiny little bag. Watch for subtle changes in the way things look and slight movement when things ought to be still. When something catches your eye, go in for a closer inspection.
And if you find something, address it quickly!
The good news is, bagworms are relatively easy to deal with. There are many products that provide good control, including some highly effective organic options. Fertilome Spinosad is one of the best, but we have others and can explain your choices if you have questions.
Be on the lookout!
fertilize planter
Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
Most of you have your porch pots already potted or are getting ready to. There are a couple things to remember while potting and going into the summer.
If you haven’t potted your planters up make sure you are using a good POTTING SOIL! You can’t use DIRT from your yard or anywhere from the ground. You want to use potting soil so that you have adequate drainage—which is key to having a successful container.
The next thing, and this is what so many people miss, is that you need to feed your flowers to keep them looking healthy and blooming, especially through the summer months. We alternate Ferti-lome Blooming & Rooting and All Purpose 20-20-20. This is a water-soluble plant food that you dissolve in water and pour onto your plants, once a week is a sufficient amount for most plants. Geraniums and petunias are high nitrogen feeders, so to keep them blooming throughout the summer fertilize them twice a week. If you need help getting a planter put together, we are always here to help!
Celebrating the finish Line
Our youngest, Cooper, graduated college this past Saturday. It was a fantastic weekend full of ceremonies, celebrations, friends, family, eating...a little drinking...and some reflection.
And that reflection I’m referring to, was by me.
For the past 26 years, my wife and I have been raising our kids. It got easier over the years, but none the less, there were still responsibilities. Well, it hit me Saturday, we’re done!
Our youngest, Cooper, graduated college this past Saturday. It was a fantastic weekend full of ceremonies, celebrations, friends, family, eating... a little drinking... and some reflection.
The reflection I’m referring to, was by me.
For the past 26 years, my wife and I have been raising our kids. It got easier over the years, but nonetheless, there were still responsibilities. Well, it hit me Saturday, we’re done!
I get that you’re never really done. We do love our kids, but you know what I mean. We’re no longer riding on the “raising kids train.” We have arrived at our final destination.
I guess our next step is... grandkids? Wow, where did the time go?
I’m still trying to wrap my head around it!
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Anyway, last weekend was a blast! We got to spend a lot of time together as a family, and we got to attend the college graduation ceremony together. That was cool, because unfortunately, this was the only college graduation ceremony any of our kids got to have. (I had kind of forgotten about that part.)
Our girls both graduated college during the height of Covid, so their chance to trek across the stage and capture a brief moment in the spotlight didn’t happen. That really sucked for them, as well as a whole lot of others.
We all missed out on a lot over through those years...but times are better now!
I know there are a lot of others celebrating graduations out there this spring as well. Congratulations to all of you! And a belated congratulations to all those, like our daughters, that had to sacrifice celebrations due to Covid. I wish you all the best.
And to our son, Cooper...
We’re proud of you!
—Cameron
What’s New?
Chinese Fringe Tree
This one isn’t exactly new, but it has been a few years since we’ve had anything bigger than a seedling to offer... so I thought it would be worth talking about.
Chinese Fringe Tree is a beautiful, small to mid-sized flowering tree that’s best know for the amazing floral display it puts on each spring.
Blooms come on in May, a few weeks after the leaves have emerged. Flowers are pure white, lacy and envelope the canopy with their display. They’re easy to grow, tough and durable, and best yet—they’re show-stopping!
Now here’s a little local back story, as I know it. It involves a horticulturist, giraffes and the Topeka Zoo.
Back in the 1930s, at the time when the Topeka Zoo was being developed, the Topeka Park Department had a nursery growing area located within Gage Park. The new zoo was to occupy that area.
At least some of the trees growing in that nursery area were left in place, including several Chinese Fringe Trees. They became part of the old giraffe exhibit we all knew as kids.
Thanks to a wise horticulturist that worked in the park department for many years, seed was routinely collected from those trees, grown out, and ultimately transplanted into park areas across the city. You can see evidence of his dedication to this amazing tree each May when blooms unsuspectingly erupt in unexpected places all over town.
One of the best displays is located in Gage Park, between the swimming pool and the rose garden. There, the blooms of two large groves of Chinese Fringe Tree can be enjoyed each spring. I look forward to it every spring, and it just happened. It was quite a show!
We’re doing what we can to keep this lineage going. Each fall, we collect seeds from those trees. We plant them up in growing crates... and then we wait.
The seeds of Chinese Fringe Tree have what is known as a “double” dormancy. That means they need to go through two winters before they start to grow. So, we plant them, and then we wait... for TWO years!
The newest ones are coming up now. (These were planted in the fall of 2021.)
We try to have a new crop to offer each year. That doesn’t always work out, but we do our best to make it happen. These seedlings will spend the rest of this year, and maybe next, gaining size before we harvest them and pot them up for retail.
This is a cool tree with an even cooler “local” story, and we want people to be able to enjoy them for many years to come.
The Chinese Fringe Trees at Gage Park
“Thymely” Advice
Keep weeds under control
Weeds are always an issue, but when crops are young, they’re especially problematic. Their competition can stunt or even choke out the plants you’ve worked so hard to plant. Don’t let them!
Now that new gardens have been planted, stay on top of things.
Cultivate — Control weeds growth by lightly cultivating or by pulling regularly. Going out shortly after a rain while the soil is still soft helps with both.
Mulch — Mulch crops to cut down on weed growth to begin with. Alfalfa mulch or straw work well in the veggie garden. Wood mulches are best for permanent plantings.
Herbicides — There are a variety of herbicide products, both pre-emergent and post-emergent, that can be used to control unwanted growth in the garden. If you need recommendations on those, just stop by and ask.
sweet potatoes
Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
Sweet potatoes…
Even though I am not a fan, there are millions of people out there that are. This is the time of year to get them into your garden so that you can enjoy them down the road.
A couple years ago a new variety of sweet potatoes were developed by Pat FitzGerald and Louisiana State University Ag Center. Together they developed the Treasure Island series that combines beauty and edibility. The colorful leaves will trail in your garden or planter and taste great in salads and smoothies. Five months after planting, the tubers can be cultivated and used in your favorite sweet potato dish.
It’s not that often that a plant comes along that is a triple treat! If your feeling adventurous, Treasure Island sweet potatoes are a great gamble.
Helicopters!
A friend of mine asked me a few weeks ago if I thought any of the frosty nights we’d been experiencing might have taken out the Silver Maple seed crop for the year.
I told him that was wishful thinking, and only time would tell. Well, a little time has gone by and I think we’ve gotten our answer...
A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me if I thought any of the frosty nights we’d been experiencing might have taken out the Silver Maple seed crop for the year.
I told him that was wishful thinking, and only time would tell. Well, a little time has gone by and I think we’ve gotten our answer...
Nope!
Recent winds have done a great job distributing this year’s crop. My yard and my driveway are full of them. Yours probably are, too. It looks like we’ll all be pulling out unwanted volunteer maple seedlings again this season.
And, I’ll probably be cleaning out clogged gutters soon, too! (Remember what happened last time?!)
A lot of people complain about all the Silver Maple seeds. Unless you’re interested in planting a few thousand new trees, they’re basically an unwanted nuisance... unless, you’re into this...
If that’s the case... well... you’ve got hours of play time ahead of you!
The man in this picture is Bob.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Bob and I both worked as college interns many years ago at an arboretum on Long Island—The Planting Fields Arboretum. It’s an amazing 400-acre estate garden in Oyster Bay, Long Island. (Maybe I’ll tell some stories about that in the future.)
He shared this bit of horticultural knowledge with me that summer. He told me it was something he’d learned during one of his plant material classes.
A good education pays off in so many ways!
So, while you’re out there cleaning up all those Silver Maple seeds off the driveway, grab a few and stick them on your nose. Your kids, grandkids or neighbor kids will get a good laugh. Your spouse on the other hand...
The garden center is hitting on all cylinders now. If you need anything for your lawn, landscape or garden—come see us!
— Cameron
What’s New?
Pop Star Bigleaf Hydrangea!
This is the latest introduction from the Endless Summer collection. It’s a compact plant, with a strong reblooming tendency. Flowers are lacecap in structure and pink to blue in color. Its short stature makes it a good choice for foundation plantings and containers.
“Thymely” Advice
It’s time to fertilize
For many things, it’s all about the timing; and, this is definitely true when it comes to your landscape.
The trees, shrubs and evergreens we grow in our landscapes benefit from fertilizer—if it’s applied at the right time.
There are two target dates, late-fall and mid-spring.
The late fall application goes down around late October or early November, and it’s the most important. It’s what helps things produce stronger growth in the spring. Mark your calendars now and don’t forget it!
The mid-spring application helps keep things growing nicely into the summer and should go down right now, especially if you didn’t fertilize last fall.
We use Fertilome Tree and Shrub Food for both. Just follow label directions, scattering it on top, and let rainfall take care of the rest!
Mother’s Day
Misty Brown, Lath House Manager
It is that time of year again, people! Time to show your mom, mother-in-law, step-mom, grandma, or that special lady that helped raise you just how much you love and appreciate her!
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14 and Skinner’s is here to help!
We have beautiful hanging baskets bursting with color and patio containers with an array of foliage and flowers. We are filled to the brim with amazing houseplants, too! Air plants are another unique gift to give—low maintenance and easy to take care of for that super busy mom! At Skinner’s you can always customize any container you find to make that gift even more special.
Stop by today and we will help make your mom’s heart melt…
Garden Roses are Ready
Every kid should have a garden.
I had several. I know... I’m a plant nerd!
One was a flower bed. Each spring, I got to plan it, plant it and care for it. My mom would help, but the responsibility for its success (or failure) was mine. It taught me a lot.
One was for veggies. The veggie garden was dad’s domain, but he always let me help him and always gave me a corner to experiment with. I learned so much from him.
The other was a rose bed.
But why a rose bed?
I started my time here at Skinner’s as a young kid looking to earn some gas money. One of my first jobs back then was restocking the garden rose display. That meant hauling cartload after cartload of garden roses from the growing houses out back to the sales area out front.
That up-close interaction with garden roses made an impression on me. It also left my forearms looking like I’d been mauled by a mountain lion! Despite the thorns, the rainbow of colors and intoxicating fragrances were hard to resist. It wasn’t long before dad was carving out a space next to the patio for me to plant my very own plants.
And I’ve loved roses ever since.
Each spring we grow a new crop of garden roses—a diverse mix of hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, and climbers... and they’re budded up and ready to go.
It’s time to pick out your favorites!
-Cameron Rees