A few spring pictures...

Tell Us What You Think

If you follow our blog with any regularity, you'll notice that we've recently updated the appearance of the blog; we haven't really changed any of the actual content--we simply gave the blog a fresh look.

That said, we're always looking to improve how we can serve you better, and our blog is no exception. So, tell us what you think! Please feel free to e-mail us at info@vandergiessennursery.com to let us know what you'd like to see more of (or less!) on our blog. Maybe it's plant suggestions for the northwest Washington region, maybe lawn or garden care tips...whatever it is, we'd like to be able to serve you better!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

David

Making a List, Checking it Twice

The last time I wrote, I noted the beautiful weather we'd been having, saying that you wouldn't know it's still winter. Well, since that time, we've had our fair share of crazy winter weather, with a couple dustings of snow and several nights of sub-freezing temperatures. With that kind of weather, you'd think Santa was on his way again!

But, fortunately, it looks like we're beyond the cold temperatures and snow--our typical spring rain appears to be here to stay (at least for awhile!). So, while you wait for temperatures to warm up a little bit more before you head out to your garden, now is the time to start making some lists.

When you have a moment, take some time to walk around your house and examine your shrubs and trees. This winter was particularly hard on many plants. Why? It's not uncommon for us to have cold temperatures or wind storms, but this year, we were hit with both--at the same time. The combination of cold and wind left many plants essentially freeze-dried. As you look around your house, you may notice several plants--especially those with a northeast exposure--damaged or dead. Those plants which are evergreen may look wilted or have crispy leaves; deciduous plants may have blackened stems or fail to produce new buds in the next couple weeks.

So, what should be on your "To Do" list this time of year? Here are a few items to plan for as you gear up for spring:

1. Prune your roses. For shrub roses (Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, etc.), prune back to 12-18 inches, assuming you already pruned them halfway back last fall. If you don't normally prune your roses back that far, use your best judgement for how much to prune, remembering to leave an open center. Roses don't like to have crowded canes (i.e. stems).
   
2. Apply a systemic insecticide with fertilizer to any Spruce or other evergreens that may be susceptible to insects or disease. Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub is an excellent, easy to use product that only requires application once a year.
   
3. Watch your deciduous shrubs and trees closely to see if they bud. Spring is coming a couple weeks later than usual this year, but you may need to replace some of your plants after the hard winter. Make notes of which plants you will need to consider replacing.
   
4. Prune any damaged-but-salvageable plants. Pruning before they put on their spring growth will allow them to rebuild the lost plant structure sooner than later.
   
5. Prepare to prune your topiaries! The best time of year to prune topiary form shrubs and trees is early spring, before they put out their new growth. If you're daunted by the prospect, give us a call--we can recommend a landscaper to trim them for you or schedule it ourselves.
   

Of course, you should also start to plan for your annuals and hanging baskets, but we'll save that for another day. In the meantime, dig out your gardening tools and prepare to start working in your garden--spring is coming!