Notes From The Timinator

Have you ever noticed that the veggies from the grocery store just don’t taste like they used to? No, it’s not because they quit using all those toxic chemicals on them to kill all the bugs. Farmers have to harvest their crops early, before they ripen so that they will last on the shelves of the grocery store. Because of this the sugars and nutrients don’t always get packed in, leaving you with broccoli that tastes like 20 pound extra white copy paper. Growing your own veggies is not only fun but they taste better, too. Gardening can be easy and it doesn’t need to take up a lot of space. Plant a tomato and a couple of peppers in pots on the back patio or stick a few strawberries in a hanging basket and hang it by the kitchen window. Grow a few of your own veggies and your kids will stop saying “I didn’t claw my way to the top of the food chain just to eat vegetables."

When is the best time to prune your rhododendrons? What’s the best way? Rhododendrons and azaleas are hosts to some of spring’s most brilliant color—so how should we take care of them? First, let your rhodies and azaleas completely finish blooming then deadhead them by removing the old flower clusters. This is easily done by grasping the flower stem and bending it till it snaps. If you need to prune further, use a sharp pair of pruners and don’t prune past the last leaves. Rhodies and azaleas have a hard time recovering from heavy pruning. Once the pruning is done its time to fertilize. Rhodies and azaleas like an acid fertilizer. Stop in for some Fertilome Azalea Camellia and Gardenia Food. This should be the only time you fertilize your rhodies and azaleas. Fertilizing too early or late may result in few if any flowers next spring. Rhodies and azaleas come in a variety of colors and sizes, for sunny or shady gardens. They are easy to plant so plant some in your garden today.

lilac You know, I was out in the yard the other day and I said to myself, “What a drip!” No, I wasn’t talking about myself, I was talking about my drip system I put in to water all my plants. I was happy I put it in because it has saved me a lot of extra work. Drip systems are easy to install and don’t require any special tools (sorry guys). They use less water than sprinklers and they help keep the weeds at bay by only putting the water where it is needed. If you don’t have a drip system, consider putting one in. You can hook them up to a hose faucet or directly to your irrigation system. There are even little battery operated timers for those areas you can’t reach with electricity. Most established trees and shrubs only require weekly watering in the summer but newly planted things and shallow rooted plants may need more. For help setting up a drip system at your home or office, give us a call or stop in.

Hope to see you soon! Tim
Email Tim

VOL 1 • ISSUE 2 • MAY 2008
Notes From The Timinator Have you ever noticed that the veggies from the grocery store just don’t taste like they used to? No, it’s not because they quit using all those toxic chemicals on them to kill all the bugs. Farmers have to harvest their crops early, before they ripen so that they will last on the shelves of the grocery store. Because of this the sugars and nutrients don’t always get packed in, leaving you with broccoli that tastes like 20 pound extra white copy paper. Growing your own veggies is not only fun but they taste better, too. Gardening can be easy and it doesn’t need to take up a lot of space. Plant a tomato and a couple of peppers in pots on the back patio or stick a few strawberries in a hanging basket and hang it by the kitchen window. Grow a few of your own veggies and your kids will stop saying “I didn’t claw my way to the top of the food chain just to eat vegetables." When is the best time to prune your rhododendrons? What’s the best way? Rhododendrons and azaleas are hosts to some of spring’s most brilliant color—so how should we take care of them? First, let your rhodies and azaleas completely finish blooming then deadhead them by removing the old flower clusters. This is easily done by grasping the flower stem and bending it till it snaps. If you need to prune further, use a sharp pair of pruners and don’t prune past the last leaves. Rhodies and azaleas have a hard time recovering from heavy pruning. Once the pruning is done its time to fertilize. Rhodies and azaleas like an acid fertilizer. Stop in for some Fertilome Azalea Camellia and Gardenia Food. This should be the only time you fertilize your rhodies and azaleas. Fertilizing too early or late may result in few if any flowers next spring. Rhodies and azaleas come in a variety of colors and sizes, for sunny or shady gardens. They are easy to plant so plant some in your garden today. You know, I was out in the yard the other day and I said to myself, “What a drip!” No, I wasn’t talking about myself, I was talking about my drip system I put in to water all my plants. I was happy I put it in because it has saved me a lot of extra work. Drip systems are easy to install and don’t require any special tools (sorry guys). They use less water than sprinklers and they help keep the weeds at bay by only putting the water where it is needed. If you don’t have a drip system, consider putting one in. You can hook them up to a hose faucet or directly to your irrigation system. There are even little battery operated timers for those areas you can’t reach with electricity. Most established trees and shrubs only require weekly watering in the summer but newly planted things and shallow rooted plants may need more. For help setting up a drip system at your home or office, give us a call or stop in. Hope to see you soon! Tim Email Tim	new arrivals DWARF CORAL HEDGE BARBERRY: A dense, mounding shrub with tiny green leaves which are smothered by a profusion of yellow-orange flowers, followed by attractive black fruit. A fine low hedge or colorful accent in shrub beds. Evergreen. MIDKNIGHT BLUE® AGAPANTHUS: An exciting new introduction with deep blue-violet flowers held in tight clusters on tall stalks. Lush strap-like foliage is bright green. Great for borders and containers. Herbaceous perennial. VICTORIA CALIFORNIA LILAC: Beautiful evergreen shrub for coastal gardeners. Covers itself with deep blue flowers. Vigorous, upright grower makes terrific tall hedge, screen or windbreak. Responds well to shearing.

Notes From The Timinator

new arrivals