Steps to Kill Lawn Moss and Other Spring Rebuilding Projects

Moss in lawns--an all-too-familiar battle!

Recently, I overheard someone say that in gardening, “every year is a rebuilding year.” Not that our gardening endeavors each year are for naught, but as spring rolls around and we begin a new season of gardening, it’s time to start fresh with yard care, discover new plants for the garden and take steps to keep your landscape thriving. As you begin the process of “rebuilding” this spring, here are some ideas to keep in mind.

First, in the process of “rebuilding” your lawn, there is one major task to tackle right now: eradicating moss. Remember the three steps to success: 1) Kill existing moss; 2) Discourage moss re-growth; and 3) Feed grass to build strong turf. Killing moss is easy with the right product, so pick up a bag of ferrous sulfate at Vander Giessen Nursery and wipe it out in one application.

To discourage moss re-growth, follow up in a week or two with Lilly Miller Super Sweet. Then, later this month, apply Scotts Turf Builder with Moss Control to feed your grass. The moss killer in this fertilizer is mediocre compared to ferrous sulfate, but the fertilizer itself is a good blend for feeding lawns without forcing too much growth. Consider it a good fertilizer for people who don’t like to mow! 

Second, it’s time to begin the process of “rebuilding” in your flower beds. Unlike the last few years, we’ve had a fair amount of sub-freezing weather this winter. That’s great for killing insects and keeping plants dormant through winter, but if you have—or rather, had—tender plants in your yard, it might be time to tear them out and replace them with something hardier. 

For gardeners who only shop for plants later in the spring, there’s a shade-loving garden beauty they might miss out on entirely. It blooms in winter, boasts thick, evergreen leaves and is tough as nails when it comes to winter weather. Hellebores, once a boring and unappreciated plant species, have recently experienced a renaissance with some impressive plant breeding. 

Hellebores come in many great colors and textures!

Just five years ago, most hellebores either had leggy foliage, unimpressive flower colors or blossoms that drooped so low they were almost unnoticeable. Thanks to hard-working plant breeders, however, many of today’s hellebores come in more defined colors, have fuller foliage and hold more upright blossoms. Additionally, many bloom more prolifically than older strains, adding great color to your yard in an otherwise drab time of year. 

As to cold weather, hellebores can withstand anything we get in our part of the world. Many varieties are hardy to as low as -30F, so if you’re concerned about a hellebore freezing during a northeaster, fear not! 

Today, there are dozens of options to choose from in hellebores. Three  of my favorites are ‘Ivory Prince,’ a heavy bloomer with upright, cream-colored flowers, ‘Frilly Kitty,’ with ruffled, double  blossoms in soft pink, and ‘Snow Fever,’ an impressive new introduction last year that’s the first hellebore with speckled green and white leaves. 

Finally, take some time this month to “rebuild” existing plants in your yard by pruning. Whether cold temperatures burned the tips of branches or our recent freezing rain brought down whole limbs, ensure that you keep your trees and shrubs healthy by cleaning up dead wood. Particularly on plants that suffered broken branches, prune or saw off the jagged remnants to create a clean break; this will allow the plant the best chance to recover in the coming year. 

As we get underway with another year of gardening, enjoy the beauty this season has to offer and relish the opportunity to start anew in the garden.

Garden Center Finished!

It's been a busy winter, but after 5 long months of construction, we're pleased to say that our new
garden center is open for business! While we are still wrapping up some of the smaller projects around the nursery, the new facility is nearly complete, and we're eager to welcome you.

With wider aisles, better ventilation and all of our annuals under one roof, our new greenhouse was designed with our customers and plants in mind. Already, the most common remark we hear from customers visiting for the first time is how spacious the new garden center feels.

As spring gets underway and you begin planting in your yard and garden once again, we invite you to come check out Vander Giessen Nursery's new garden center and see how we might be able to serve you!

Hellebores In Stock!

They're the quintessential flower of winter, and they're now in-stock at the nursery: hellebores! This great shade-loving perennial has undergone a wonderful renaissance in recent years, and today's hellebores are showier, more compact, more floriferous (i.e. bloom more!) and more colorful than any from just 10 years ago.

Hellebores are a durable, easy-to-maintain perennial great for shade to part sun, and we've just received our first shipment of 5 of our favorite varieties. From pink flowers to white to dark purple, from deep green leaves to speckled green and white, from dwarf to full size varieties, there's bound to be a hellebore with your name on it! Stop to check them out today.

Bareroot Fruit Trees $10 Off!

If you've ever considered growing your own fruit trees, now is the time of year to plant. While trees
are still dormant is the best time for transplant--like a sleeping baby laid in his crib, a tree that hasn't yet leafed out for the year won't even know it's been moved!

This year, we've greatly expanded the number and variety of fruit trees available for sale, and for a limited time, they're $10 off when you purchase them bareroot.

Included in our selection are the following:

• Apple (Braeburn, Gravenstein, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, King, Spartan)
• Cherry (Bing, Lambert, Rainier)
• Plum (Italian Prune, Stanley)
• Oriental Pear (Shinseiki)
• Peach (Frost)
• Pear (Bartlett, Bosc)

All of our fruit trees are grafted onto dwarf rootstocks, reaching a mature height of 12'-15' unpruned--all varieties may be pruned shorter for ease of harvest. Honeycrisp apple is also available as a mini-dwarf, reaching only 6-9' tall.

If you need help picking out varieties of fruit to suit your taste, growing conditions or gardening experience, let us help--we can help eliminate the guesswork and ensure your gardening success. 

Popular varieties of our fruit trees tend to sell fast, so take advantage of our great pricing while supplies last! 

Sand or Clay--Take Steps to Improve Your Soil

Good soil goes a long way toward gardening success!

Working in a nursery, it’s one of most common questions I’m asked by customers: “How do I deal with ____ soil?” The question is asked because they have a problem on either end of the spectrum of soil types: sand or clay. In our area, chances are pretty good you have one of these two types of soil, and knowing how to properly deal with both can go a long way to ensure gardening success in the coming year.

First, sandy soil—although a nuisance, it can be easily remedied. The two main problems associated with sandy soil are lack of nutrient-holding capacity and the inability to hold water. Gardeners with sandy ground know how frustrating it can be to try to keep plants growing in soil where both nutrients and water simply drain away. 

If the soil in your flowerbeds is too sandy for plants to thrive, spade or rototill nutrient-rich compost into your beds; if that’s not an option, spreading a layer of compost on top will allow the nutrients and organic matter to slowly work into the soil, albeit over a longer period of time. At Vander Giessen's, we carry compost both in bulk or bags, so no matter how much or little you need, we can help.

As frustrating as some gardeners find sandy soil, it’s far better than clay. For much of the year, rains keep our gardens well-watered and without the good drainage that sandy ground provides, many plants struggle and can even rot in clay. 

In established flowerbeds, treat clay soils like you would sand: add compost. Breaking up the heavy consistency of clay will promote drainage and allow plant roots to develop. Compost must be added liberally and often, though, as clay has a tendency to make a comeback. 

If in the coming year you have plans to plant anything new in clay, take time to first dig a test hole several feet deep. In some parts of Lynden, for example, clay is only a couple feet thick, and beyond it is pure, clean sand. 

If you find that your beds have only a shallow layer of clay, it may be easy enough to dig a drainage hole under each shrub or tree you wish to plant. If you’re not so fortunate, however—or don’t feel like going to the work of that much extra digging, don’t think you can get away with just adding some good soil to the hole when you plant a new-found treasure. 

No matter how wide or deep you dig a hole when you plant something in heavy clay, all you’re really doing is making a bigger bowl for water to collect in when it rains. While fresh, well-drained topsoil is just what your plants need, the key to planting in clay is to raise the roots above it. 

First, dig your hole as deep as the root ball of your plant. Then, before planting, backfill the hole at least halfway with a good mix of fresh topsoil and compost. Set your plant onto that layer—the top of the root ball should be sticking up at least halfway out of the hole—and finish filling in around the roots. Gently slope the new soil down away from the base of the plant, creating a mound for the newly-planted shrub or tree. On a larger scale, you can replicate this by planting new flowerbeds up on slightly-raised berms. In time, most plants will root into clay soils, but for the first season or two, the presence of well-drained, nutrient-rich soil will allow plants to get established and begin to develop healthy root systems. 

As spring approaches, take some time to plan what you can do in your flowerbeds to improve your soil. Sand or clay, taking the proper steps early on in the season will reward you with healthy plants all summer long—and for years to come.

2014 Garden Calendar

In 2013, Vander Giessen's celebrated 75 years of business, and to commemorate the anniversary, we released a special gardening wall calendar full of timely gardening tips and advice as well as deep discounts or totally free items for each month of the year.

This year, we're at it again--and our calendar is once again proving to be a big hit with customers who like great information and great deals! But, because the calendar isn't free (you'll pay $9.99), you might be curious how great the deals are and if they're worth it for you. Here's the complete rundown of each month's coupon you get with your calendar:


January: 30% off Coles Black Oil Sunflower Seed (8lb)
February: 50% off any 3 packs of Burpee or Ed Hume seeds
March: 30% off Super Sweet granular lime
April: FREE bag of Black Gold potting mix (1.5cf)  -- Retail Value $11.99
May: FREE tub of Jack's Classic fertilizer (8oz) -- Retail Value $5.99
June: 50% off any 2 potted rose bushes
July: FREE Bond hand tool (cultivator, transplanter, or trowel) -- Retail Value $4.99
August: 50% off any 3 perennials
September: 50% off any 1 shrub or tree
October: 30% off 1 hanging Cool Wave pansy basket
November: 50% off any 2 packs of spring bulbs
December: 50% off 1 poinsettia (6" size)


Our supply is limited, and as gardeners gear up again for the coming season, our remaining inventory of calendars will quickly sell out, so take advantage of the great year-round savings and get yours today!

Enjoying Garden Life in Winter

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we never really experience the “dead of winter.” Unlike large swaths of the country, our lawns never turn completely brown and evergreen shrubs and trees keep our yards somewhat colorful. But as we go through the more barren months, you may be wishing for more life outdoors.

Caring for wild birds is a great complement to gardening. Especially during the winter months, birds like chickadees, finches and juncos can benefit from a little extra sustenance—and they’ll provide great entertainment in return. Whether you have young children or are empty nesters (pardon the pun), watching birds build nests in birdhouses or vie for a spot at a feeder is simply fun.

If birding is a new hobby for you, start with the basics. A feeder that dispenses black oil sunflower seed will attract the most variety of birds. Tube feeders protect seed from the elements but can limit the number of birds that can feed at one time. If you plan to hang your feeder in a somewhat protected space—such as under the eaves of a shed or your house—a platform or wire mesh feeder will offer the most opportunity for birds to eat; additionally, you may find these feeders easier to clean.

While black oil sunflower seed is a great all-purpose option, you may wish to feed only some of the smaller songbirds. Niger (or nyjer) seed is the food of choice for chickadees, purple finches and of course, the goldfinch, our state bird. While these birds will often eat sunflower seed, you’ll attract larger numbers with niger or a blend thereof. At Vander Giessen’s, one of the popular seed mixes we sell is the “Finch Friends” blend, which attracts the birds previously mentioned as well as nuthatches and wrens.

Until recently, the only major nuisance animals to feed at bird feeders in our area were other non-desirable birds like starlings. In the last few years, however, squirrels have become a nuisance to bird-lovers, eating bird seed, chasing away birds and at times even destroying feeders. To prevent squirrels from ruining the fun, there are a couple of worthwhile options to consider. One option is to occasionally fill your feeders with a spicy, Cajun-flavored seed mix like Coles “Hot Meats” or “Blazing Hot Blend.” The hot, spicy flavor won’t deter birds, but squirrels will quickly give up on trying to eat it. Another option is a squirrel-proof feeder—your best bet is a feeder enclosed in a metal cage that birds can get through but squirrels never will.

Now, if you feed birds, consider the added fun that a birdhouse or two will bring to your backyard. Put a birdhouse within view of a window or your back patio; you’ll love watching birds building their nests each year and be entertained by baby birds tumbling out of their home for the first time each spring.

Choose a house designed specifically for the type of bird you wish to attract—birds will only move into a house if the entry hole size is right. When shopping for a birdhouse, check to see that it can be easily cleaned. Like us, birds don’t like to move into a house full of someone else’s junk, so empty out your birdhouses once a year to keep your feathered friends happy.

In the bleak months of winter, enjoy the added life that birds can bring to your garden. With their varied colors, shapes and sizes, they’ll add interest to an otherwise drab view out your window—and come spring, they’ll serenade you as you get back in the garden.