There's a wonderful scent in the air.....

The aroma of fresh cut greens and trees is the start of a magical and wonderful season. Fresh Balsam Fir Wreaths and Cut Christmas Trees, such as Fraser and Douglas Fir have now arrived and are available to beautify your home or office. The beautiful fragrance has been enhanced by the slightly warm weather and it tells us that Christmas time is upon us. Live potted trees are also in stock and beautiful.

Poinsettias have also arrived.

Tulips & Daffodils & Crocus OH MY!

I always loved the line from the Wizard of Oz of "Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh my!" In the movie, the characters chanted the line until they got themselves into a panicked frenzy.

Well, time to get for you to get into a fun frenzy because its BULB SEASON!

All your favorite characters, such as those Dandy Daffodils and Happy Hyacinths have arrived from Holland are looking for permanent homes in your garden. The colors, the fragrance, the anticipation of Spring.

If you're tired of the old standbys, let me suggest these couple of boldly bulbs.

One is the Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. its a great small crocus type flower that can bloom as early as mid to late February. It was usually the first flower to pop up on a sunny hillside near where I grew up. In my Island Gardens, it is showing once we have a couple of weeks of sun and no snow in March.

The other is Fritillaria. This flower is on a tall stem and towers over smaller Daffodils and Tulips in mid Spring. This is simply a flower you must have to fully enjoy the beauty. A photo doesn't do it justice.

The temperatures are dropping at night and there was just a hint of Ice on some car windshields in the southern part of the Rochester Area last night. So now is the perfect time to get started on creating that Spring display of flowers you've always wanted to do, but felt you didn't have the brains to do it, the heart to care, or the courage to try something new.

Its Time To Think Plants

How can things get any better! We are rolling into fall with fantastic late summer weather. Its warm, yet very comfortable to work. And the cool nights mean only one thing (other than Football Season).....ITS TIME TO PLANT NEW TREES AND LANDSCAPE BEDS!

Fall, in this author's humble opinion, is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. The combination of cool nights and warm days, with a few well timed rain showers, provide optimum growing conditions for plants. And by planting now, you also get the full benefit of the entire spring growing season.

Starting on Friday September 11th, Van Putte Gardens will be starting our Annual Fall Plant Sale. Flowering and Shade Trees will be discounted from 25-70% off. These are the same quality plants you know and expect from Van Putte Gardens, but at cost savings for you. Shrubs will also be discounted 25-70%, and all perennials and grasses will be 30% off.

Imagine purchasing a 'Constellation' Flowering Dogwood, 2" caliper, 14' tall (regular price of $189.99) for $95.00! That's just one of the many gems we have for you.

We will have a full staff here to assist in your landscape bed creation or tree selection. Our staff is extremely knowledgeable and are here to benefit you.

Unfortunately, all good things do come to an end sometime. These sale prices will end at the end of the day, September 20th.

This sale is a first come, first served event.

We look forward to seeing you.

Japanese Beetles are back

With all the wet weather we have been having and all the talk of late blight our experts have been hard at work IDing pest and disease problems. Feel free to bring in a fresh sample in a plastic bag for our Plant experts to ID.

Its Japanese beetle time. The Japanese beetles are in full force this summer, and have already caused some severe damage. Here is the Japanese Beetle fact sheet for your information.

Description of Problem: Metallic green and red shelled insects that eat holes in flowers and leaves during warm months. The larva is also found in Turfgrass as grubs.

Damage to Plant: The adults are skeletonizers; they eat the tissue between the leaf veins, but leave the veins behind. Attacked leaves will soon wither and die. Deformed and/or non opening flower buds

Control:

Chemical: Sevin (Liquid)

Recommended Rate: 1 1/2 oz. Per Gallon Or RTU bottle

Application Time: Evenings, Repeat 7-10 days intervals while you can see the infestation. Below 80 ° F

Other: Japanese Beetle Bags (Make sure you place the bag 10-15’ away from desirable plants) or picking off by hand.

Problem of the Week

Greetings all. It was a busy May, but our blog will be more updated now.

Damage to Plant: Curling and discoloring of leaves. Possible defoliation. Possible growth restrictions. Only in severe problems will death occur. Can transmit diseases from plant to plant. Produces a sweet, liquid on following their path. Most Aphids are found on the underside of the plants and on soft growing plant tips

Control:
Chemical: Sevin or insecticidal soap
Recommended Rate: RTU or RTS bottle
Application Time: Early May –September, 2 Applications at 10 day intervals

OR

Chemical: Ortho Systemic Insect Control
Recommended Rate: 1 ½ Oz (3 Tablespoons) Per Gallon
Application Time: Mid June to Early September, Every 7-10 days for 3 applications. Check for insect in 3 weeks and repeat process as needed.

Early Insect Control

Bugs, Bugs, and more Bugs! Actually, we affectionately refer to them as insects. But whatever you choose to call them, many can be partially controlled this time of year.

Insects, such as Spider Mites, Aphids, Aldegids, Scales, and Viburnum Leaf Beetle, just to name a few, can be partially controlled with an application of Dormant Oil Spray. This refined petroleum product can be purchased in a pre-mixed bottle or in a concentrate to be used with a tank sprayer.

Dormant Oil (also referred to many times as All Season Oil) creates a covering over the existing insect egg sacks and prevents them from hatching. For some insects, such as Spider Mites and Scales, this is only Step 1 in a 2 Step process for full control.

With any chemical control, always read the label for full disclosures and information, such as application times, mixing rates, recommended clothing, and all other pertinent information.

Also, always know what insect your are trying to control. Dormant Oil is not effective on everything and you could simply be wasting time and money.

Stop by the Garden Center for more information or email us at vanputte@vanputte.com.

What is that white stuff on my lawn????

As the days warm and the grass begins to grow, many of you are finding white patches of 'stuff' on you lawn. It typically is Grey Snow Mold.

Snow mold appears as roughly circular bleached patches up to 60 cm in diameter. Soon after the snow melts, the infected grass may be matted and surrounded by a white to gray halo of fluffy fungal growth.

Control:
Avoid late fall applications of fertilizer that would stimulate succulent growth. Such growth is very susceptible to infection.

Where snow molds have caused damage, rake the matted grass in order to encourage new spring growth. Re-seed areas where these diseases have been a problem.
Applying a good quality fertilizer, like Van Putte’s 15+ will encourage new growth to help the area, and fill in any bare spots.