It's Time to Start a Garden Journal!

I love autumn—it’s truly a beautiful season. In the last several weeks, we’ve been blessed with the rain we needed after a fairly long, dry summer. The light frost we had a couple weeks ago brought out the fiery colors of fall in the trees around town—and who doesn’t enjoy the sunny autumn days we’ve had? As we settle into the rhythms of fall, you’re likely winding down your gardening for the season. So, for the million-dollar question: How did it go this year?

With the downturn in the economy the past couple of years, more people than ever have turned (or returned) to gardening. Whether it’s to save money by planting vegetables, put vacation funds toward a “staycation” or make an investment in new landscaping to add value to a home, gardening has resurged in popularity among all age and income groups. And frankly, with bad news seemingly the order of the day in our national media, gardening is great therapy!

Take note of your accomplishments!

Whether you’re new to gardening or a lifelong hobbyist, have you considered writing a gardening journal? I’m not talking about making daily entries as to which flowerbed you weeded or what bird you saw at your feeder; rather, did you take time this year to document what worked and what didn’t? Did you record when you fertilized the lawn or planted your vegetables? Many people start from scratch each year with trying to recall how to do things, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are a few suggestions for what you might want to journal: fertilizing (your lawn, flowers and shrubs!), planting dates for your annuals and vegetables, what you planted where (more on that below), when flowers started to bloom or crops were ready, what types of fertilizer and insect control you used and when, and when you did major pruning. Like I said, this doesn’t have to be a daily narrative—simply make a note when you did major tasks.

Now, for your vegetable gardens, it’s good to chart how you arranged your crops. Whether you lay it out on a spreadsheet program or jot it on a napkin, try to remember what went where. If your peppers or tomatoes didn’t turn out…well, it wasn’t a great year for peppers or tomatoes. But did you notice they spent most of the summer in the shade? Make a note to put them in a sunnier spot next year! If you grow corn and beans, rotate their location through your garden regularly to get the highest crop yields. Sure, you know how your garden looked now, but next spring you might have forgotten altogether what you planted where.

Reflect on your garden successes!

Many of the ideas I’ve suggested may have to wait until next year for you to put them into practice. But as you sit inside with a cup of coffee watching the rain, do this much: grade yourself on the end results (and go easy!): did you remember to use Jack's Blossom Booster or Petunia Feed on your flowers to get more blooms? Were you happy with the herbs you tried out, and if not, what varieties might you enjoy more? Did you really have any use for all the zucchini you grew (and no, “paperweight” or “doorstop” are not valid uses!)?

Next time you’re at Vander Giessen's buying bird seed or lime for your lawn, take a minute to share what went well and what could have gone better. Sure, gardening is winding down for the year, but that doesn’t mean you have to forget your accomplishments! Start a journal today and you’ll thank yourself in the spring.

Big Changes at Vander Giessen's!

If you've driven by in recent days, you've probably noticed some big changes here at the nursery! So, what's going on?

Several years ago, when we remodeled much of the nursery to expand back into shrub and tree sales, we tore down most of the house on the corner as it severely limited the space we would have to use for plants. At that time, we converted the remaining portion of the house into our office. Now, as we continue to expand, we need more space for plants, as well as better visibility of the nursery from the street. So, sadly, it was time for the house to go.

While the newly-created space where the house once stood leaves a void for now, we encourage you to watch the changes that we plan to make over the winter and into next spring, including more flower beds, additional space for displaying shrubs and trees, new structures to display our famous Lynden Baskets and more! We're excited about the potential this new area holds and look forward to using it to expand our business and make it more visible to passersby.

As we transition into winter, our first order of business will be spreading gravel into the area for our Christmas tree lot. After Christmas, we'll get to work on reconfiguring the flower beds and creating displays for our Lynden Baskets.

Share the news about the changes at Vander Giessen's with a friend today--chances are, they'll be glad to know :) If you'd like to view an album of the house demolition, please follow the link below.

Demolition at Vander Giessen's!

So Now What?

In case you've had your head in the sand these last few days, our fall clearance sale wrapped up on Saturday. And if you're at all like many of our customers who've stopped at the nursery in the last week, you're wondering, "So now what--do you close for the rest of the year?"

The simple answer? NO! We understand if you think we do--for years we did. But last year we decided that we could better serve you in your lawn and garden needs by staying open year-round. If you have a gardening question or a need, you don't want to wait until spring to get help--and we don't want you to have to wait, either!

Soon, we'll be getting stocked up with our Christmas items: live and cut trees, poinsettias and wreaths. But it's only the beginning of November, so you've got plenty of time to get ready for the holidays. In the meantime, we're pleased to offer you...

a sale on all our birding supplies! 

This is the time of year birds are preparing for winter, so it's important that you keep your feeders full and available. Whether you're looking for seed, feeders or nesting houses, it's all on sale at 15% off! This sale is only for a limited time, so stock up with great supplies at great prices!

P.S. In the next few days, you might see some exciting major changes at the nursery if you happen to drive by. Stay tuned for updates--we'll keep you posted!

Final Days of the Fall Clearance!

It's the final weekend of our fall clearance sale at Vander Giessen's! If you haven't taken advantage of our 50% off sale on almost all plants, do so before prices go back up on Monday. The cooler, wetter weather we've had lately is great for planting shrubs, trees and perennials, so make some time in your schedule this weekend to get in a little more gardening before winter.

Several people have asked if we'll be closing after this week. NO! We're open year-round, so if you need any plants, the stock we carry through the winter IS available for sale. Remember, we're also stocked with birding supplies, lawn and garden products, and soon, our Christmas trees, poinsettias and wreaths, so there's always something to help you out if you need a gardening fix! 

It's Not Too Late to Garden!

Did I get your attention? I know, you probably read the title and thought, “Good grief—it’s already mid-autumn, the weather has been cold and rainy, I’m sick of mowing…and you expect me to keep gardening?!” It’s okay if you feel that way—you’re certainly not alone. And while a comfortable recliner and a good book sound great to just about anyone, I have a few reminders (the list is short, I promise!) to pass along to you as you wind down your gardening endeavors this fall.

First, about your lawn: I know that by this time of year you’re tired of caring for it and would like nothing more than to just put it out of your mind entirely. While it’s easy to do so, there are a couple things you can (and should) do yet before winter to keep your grass healthy and strong.

One of the most important yet most overlooked things to do is to spread lime. I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears mention again. Fertilizer is easy to remember—it makes sense that a growing lawn needs food. But what good does lime do? Without getting too deep into chemistry, lime helps to balance the pH of your soil, making the nutrients in fertilizer more available to your grass. Look at it this way: if you’re baking a batch of cookies, you can use the best flour and freshest eggs, but if you forget the baking soda, you’ll never enjoy a good snack!

Now, many people are familiar with dolomite lime—it’s what you’re most likely to find on store shelves. But if you want fast results, dolomite isn’t the best choice as it takes over six months to fully dissolve into your soil. Instead, we recommend Lilly Miller Super Sweet. Per square foot, it’s a cheaper alternative to dolomite. Moreover, because it’s been ground up and made into water-soluble pellets, it’s easy to apply with your fertilizer spreader and starts working in just two to three weeks. With an application of Super Sweet in spring and fall, your fertilizer will be able to achieve its full potential.

Speaking of fertilizer, could your lawn use a pick-me-up? Despite what you see advertised, it’s still best to wait until November to apply a “winterizer.” If your lawn is desperately undernourished but you don’t feel like mowing more than absolutely necessary, use Scotts Turf Builder with Moss Control. Even if you don’t have moss, it’s a good blend to use for greening up your lawn without excessive growth.

Third, have you checked your supply of birdseed? The consensus among forecasters seems to be that we’re going to have a colder, snowier winter this year, and the way they’re feeding, birds appear to think so, too! Visit your local nursery to pick up some high quality birdseed. While it’s often tempting to buy the cheapest seed available, birds can be very discerning and throw away the “junk” seed, meaning you end up spending more time and money refilling your feeders (and cleaning up underneath them!). If you need a new feeder or two, you’ll likely find those at a local nursery as well.

Finally, it’s still not too late to plant. Most nurseries around the county are still having fall sales, so take advantage of excellent prices and get some shrubs or trees in the ground before the snow flies!

This month, wrap up another year of gardening on a high note by properly preparing for winter. When you look out on a healthy green yard next spring, you’ll be glad you did!

Embrace the Forgotten Season

Lime Glow Barberry

Think about it: Which season do you most anticipate? For many gardeners, spring can’t come soon enough after a dreary, cold winter. How about summer? You bet—who doesn’t gladly welcome longer days and warmer temperatures? Winter is great, too—and we don’t get too much say in the matter as retailers seem to start promoting Christmas earlier and earlier each year. Autumn, though, seems to be increasingly overlooked.

It’s not entirely the fault of retailers that fall gets passed by. Around here, summer seems to run from July through September, so with a late start to nicer weather, nobody is eager to welcome autumn. We take a couple weeks in October to celebrate the harvest and then it’s on to Christmas. As a gardener, what can you do to make the most of fall?

First, step outside and reassess your yard. With summer vacations over and kids back in school, you likely have a little bit more time to dedicate to gardening. Maybe you’ve noticed that weeds are popping up again after our recent rains. Grab your gloves and Hula Ho and get to work! There is plenty of time left in the season for weeds to grow, so don’t let them get a foothold.

Second, take a look at what could use pruning. Now before you go crazy with the hedge trimmer, hold on—I’m not talking about serious, “Will-it-grow-back?” pruning like you might do in the spring. But do you have some shrubs that could use a light haircut? Don’t be afraid to trim back unsightly branches—and certainly you should continue to prune back suckers. Remember, most plants are very forgiving; if looking at a misshapen shrub all winter will make you miserable, prune it!

Third, fertilize. For your lawn, it’s still too early to use a “winterizing” fertilizer, which is designed to prepare grass for spring. In September, your best option is to fertilize with Scotts Super Turf Builder. Later in the fall, after grass has gone dormant (usually in November), plan to apply a winterizing fertilizer. Also, now is a great time to apply a fast-acting lime like Super Sweet to help utilize the nitrogen in your fertilizer. At Vander Giessen’s, we prefer Lilly Miller Super Sweet to the more commonly used dolomite lime because it’s cheaper, faster-acting and overall, more effective.

Next, take stock of what plants could stand to be replaced or take another look at those unfinished landscaping projects around the house. Historically, September is the best month of the year to plant shrubs, trees and perennials. Though spring is often thought best for planting, in reality, early- to mid-autumn is even better. Cooler temperatures and regular rainfall make care easier and most plants will soon go dormant anyway, suffering less transplant stress. Plus, many nurseries currently have great fall sales going on! Planting now will allow your new plants to establish their roots this fall so come next spring they can dedicate all their energy to above-ground growth.

Obviously, autumn is just beginning, but as you look forward to the season, make room in your yard for some beautiful fall color. Vine maples offer a kaleidoscope of gold, orange and red tones. The fiery crimson hues of the burning bush will be sure to turn heads, and most Japanese maples exhibit their most striking beauty in autumn—‘Orido Nishiki’ is one of my favorites with its distinctive shades of gold and red.

Whether you’re looking to redo a flowerbed, plant a hedge or fill a hole in your garden, enjoy the beauty of summer’s final bow and embrace the “forgotten season” of autumn by getting back outside and visiting your local independent nursery to find the plants you need to brighten up your yard.

Get the Most Out of Your Investment!

I know I’m being repetitive when I say that I love this time of year. Look back at any column I’ve written in the past and you’d probably find some reference to how much I love the current season. The truth is, we live in a beautiful corner of the world and with our moderate climate we really can enjoy four seasons of garden interest.

At the peak of summer, however, we reach a tipping point. Gardens can easily go one of two ways: toward continued color and productivity well into autumn or spiraling down into unkempt and under-nourished plants…and overzealous weeds. If you’re a gardener, you’ve undoubtedly been down that road of wondering how much longer you can keep things looking good or how much time you really care to invest in doing so.

Mini Hula Ho

Believe me, I know what it’s like to be there—nurseries and garden centers reach that same tipping point each summer too. As a gardening enthusiast, you’d like to make your flowering investments last as long as possible, so what can you do to keep things looking good in your yard for the last few months of the growing season?

First things first: tackle the weeds! Many gardeners are familiar with the “Hula-Ho”—its unique design allows it to eliminate weeds without the effort of dragging dirt like a traditional hoe. If you’re working in smaller, raised beds and need a hand tool for killing weeds, try the Mini Hula-Ho! I’ve started using one this year in a couple flower beds where it’s difficult to maneuver the full-size version and I love it.

Second, you’ll need to assess your fertilizing program. When was the last time you fertilized your flowers? Your shrubs and perennials? Your lawn? I know, it’s easy to forget—and even if you remembered, you might have run short on time or decided a picnic sounded better that day. That’s alright—there is more to life than just gardening!

Deciding on what fertilizer is right for your garden can be like picking out toothpaste—how many different kinds can there be? While there are some redundancies in what’s available on store shelves, many fertilizers can offer specific solutions for the gardening problems you might be facing right now. For example, do you have petunias, million bells or bacopa in your planters or hanging baskets? If so, they would benefit from a high-iron “petunia feed,” as they are likely becoming iron-starved at this point in the season.

Jack's Classic All Purpose 20-20-20

Annuals other than those just mentioned will benefit from a “blossom booster” fertilizer for continued blooming through the late summer months. For either of these more specialized fertilizers, I recommend alternating every other week with an all-purpose 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer. With any of the aforementioned types of fertilizer, we use and recommend the Jack's Classic (R) line of water-soluble fertilizers.

For perennials or shrubs, mid-summer is a good time to fertilize with a balanced slow-release like Osmocote so your plants will have sufficient nutrients going into autumn and preparing for winter. Consult your local independent nursery for the best formulation for your plants. And don’t forget to fertilize your lawn! If you haven’t fertilized since spring, you’re past due for another application. For that, now is a great time to apply Scotts Super Turf Builder.

Finally, I can’t stress enough how important it is to maintain a regular watering schedule. Although we’ve recently had some cooler, wetter weather, you need to continue daily watering of annuals to keep your plants looking their best.

As a gardener, you’ve dedicated time and money to make your yard look nice, and with a little extra knowledge and commitment, you can extend the beauty of your flowers well into autumn. Now get out and enjoy the beauty that summer has to offer!