Spring fest is Saturday, May 3!
Join us for our family friendly event to celebrate the spring gardening season. Come and enjoy prizes, specials, a petting zoo, product demos and more.
Mother's Day is May 11th
Honor the moms in your life. Inspire her with a colorful hanging basket or a pre- made planter from the greenhouse. Our gift shop has a huge selection of unique items. From luscious bath products to whimsical garden art, we have a pleasing selection of gifts to make mom feel special. Call or stop by the floral department and have our florists can create a striking arrangement for mom. Choose from a large selection of beautiful cut stems to personalize her bouquet. Our floral team delivers throughout Teton Valley. Call 208-354-8816 ext 120 to place your order.
Ready, Set Grow!
Now is the time to plant:
- Grass and wildflower seeds: Don’t forget to keep them evenly moist while they germinate.
- Trees and Shrubs: Follow this link for planting instructions. Peter: can you make a quick link to this here? Plant with Myke™ transplanter for a 5 year warranty.
- Perennials: Most are ready to be planted. Our outdoor perennial area allows our plants to become acclimated to the outdoors before you take them home.
- Veggies: Radishes, salad greens, peas, carrots, seed potatoes and onion sets can all be planted in May. Cold tolerant veggie starts like cabbages and broccoli are also good to plant.
- Bare root edibles like berries, rhubarb and asparagus are only available in limited quantities in the spring, so now is the time to plant that strawberry patch!
Wait to Plant:
Annuals: Although some, like pansies can survive cool weather and even light frost, it’s best to wait and plant after the last frost in June. Always allow a day or two to acclimate plants that have come from our greenhouse. Exposing tender annuals to the cooler temperatures, dry air, wind and intense sun can damage or kill your plants.
Veggies: Tomatoes, squash, beans and corn should be planted after the last frost.
Cheating the season…
It is possible to cheat and plant heat-loving veggies or tender annuals earlier than June if you pay attention to the weather forecast and are prepared to intervene. Armed with one or more of the following ‘season extenders’, you stand a good chance of saving your plants when the temperatures dip. For a little investment, season extenders will give you the upper hand when Mother Nature cools things off.
- N-Sulate™ Fabric: This fabric is used to insulate from cold temperatures. It allows air and water to
permeate, but is not intended to be left on your plants all summer long. Seed Guard fabric provides protection from insects during the growing season and can be left in place all season. - Planket™: Similar to the N-Sulate, the circular shape and drawstring are designed to fit over containers and hanging baskets.
- NuVue™ Shrub Tent: Insulating fabric tents to place over shrubs
- Aqua Wrap™ Plant Protector: Water-filled plastic keeps tender plants warmer so you can plant earlier.
Lawn Care 101
A patch of lawn is a welcome addition to any landscape. Used as an area for play, entertaining or for your pets to lounge on, a healthy lawn will add value to your property. While there are a great number of lawn care tips out there, here are the most basic principles for a beautiful, healthy lawn:
Water: To survive, lawns need one to two inches of water per week. To calculate the amount of water your lawn is getting from your sprinkler or irrigation system, use this handy method: Set out two or three empty, straight-sides vessels (tuna cans work well) around your lawn. Turn on your sprinkler or irrigation for a half hour. Dump all the water into one of the vessels and measure the depth. Divide the depth by the number of vessels. Multiply that number by two to make one hour. For example:
I set out 3 cans. In a half hour I measured 1 inch from all three.
1 / 3 = .33 X 2 = .66 inches of water per hour
Therefore, if I watered my lawn for two hours once a week, I would be giving it 1.32 inches of water, enough to survive.
A deep, thorough soaking is more beneficial than frequent, light watering. This will encourage deeper roots which allow your lawn to withstand drought and stress. Water first thing in the morning to minimize waste from evaporation.
Fertilizer: Apply lawn fertilizer in the spring, summer and fall. Lawn fertilizers have a high nitrogen content to promote lush, green growth. Spring is the best time to apply a weed and feed type fertilizer. Use a winterizer lawn fertilizer in the fall. Winterizers have a higher percentage of nitrogen that makes your lawn ‘green up’ faster in the spring. Soil conditioners (such as Revive™) can be used at any time. With the exception of a weed and feed, water your lawn well after fertilizing.
Mowing: Set your mower to its highest setting. Grass that is kept on the long side will be able to shade its roots better and the shading will reduce weed growth.
Weed Control: A healthy lawn will be able to outgrow weeds. Following the steps noted above will greatly reduce weed problems. Broadleaf weeds such as dandelions or thistle can be controlled with lawn weed killer or weed and feed-type lawn fertilizer. Applied at peak growth in the spring or early summer, these products will kill the weeds in your lawn without harming the grass. Similar sprays can be used throughout the growing season to spot treat weeds. Herbicides are best applied in warm, calm and dry weather. Always follow label directions!
Critter Control: Unfortunately the vast fields and meadows that surround our houses are also prime vole habitat. In winter, voles live in between the snow and the ground. They can significantly damage your lawn by eating the grass to the roots and creating tunnels and runways throughout your lawn. Damage tends to be worse in years with persistent snow coverage. Although it may not be possible to control the damage entirely, a few steps can help limit the damage:
- If possible, mow any surrounding tall, grassy areas in the fall. This will limit the vole habitat.
- Cut your lawn shorter than normal for the last mowing of the season. This gives the voles less food.
- Apply a repellent such as Repellex™ or MoleMax™ in the late fall. Repellents will not last for the entire winter, but help to slow the onset of vole damage.
Recipe Corner: Fresh Pea and Feta Crostini
Plant shell peas such ‘little marvel’ or ‘green arrow’ to use in this simple recipe.
- 1 Cup shelled peas
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 Cup olive oil, plus extra for brushing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 baguette
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Cut the baguette into 24 slices and brush each side with olive oil. Place on a baking sheet and broil on both sides until lightly toasted. Meanwhile, cook peas in 2 inches of water until tender and bright green, about 1 minute. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well and add the peas to a food processor. Add olive oil, lemon and mint and process until coarsely chopped. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top the baguette slices with about 2 teaspoons of the pea mixture. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and freshly ground black pepper.
Product of the Month: Revive Organic Soil Treatment
Revive™ is an organic- based soil treatment that helps lawns with brown spots, thatch or dry areas. It will permeate and improve the soil texture to allow for better water absorption. This means that your lawn will be healthier and require less water. Revive™ is also fortified with iron to make the grass deep green. Revive™ is safe to use around kids and pets. Use Revive™ in addition to a lawn fertilizer. It can be applied every 10-14 days during the growing season to revive and improve the health of your lawn and the soil that supports it.
$5 off Revive 25lb bag! Bring this coupon in before May 31st. Must present coupon to cashier.
New books are here!
Our book nook is loaded with heaps of new books. Learn how to raise goats, prune a bonsai or bake amazing bread. Check out our great selection of children’s books, regional gardening books and field guides. Our book nook is located along with a lending library and free wifi in the spacious loft of the gift shop.
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