Deck the Halls With a Few Handy Hints

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. Roy L. Smith.

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I'd bring in a little holiday spirit with a few useful hints for your Christmas decor. I have been recently transfered to Ruthven Nursery and Garden Center for the winter season for their annual 'winter wonderland'. From Christmas trees, to garlands and wreaths, to the most gorgeous display of ornaments you can find from here to Stratford, it's amazing some of the helpful hints you can pick up!

Potted Christmas Trees

An interesting alternative to an artificial or cut Christmas tree, is a potted live evergreen. Having the option of planting the tree after the

holidays as opposed to having to pitch it in the garbage, not only helps to save the beautiful evergreens, but the money you spent on it too. At Ruthven nursery, or other Christmas tree suppliers, a variety of potted Christmas trees are available for purchase, usually including Frasier Firs, Douglas Firs, and Blue Colorado Spruces (to name a few). If this option interests you, there are a few things that you need to consider before purchasing one:

Be sure to dig your hole in November so that you can easily plant your Christmas tree when the ground is hard and frozen. See former blog "Preperations Before you Start Planting" in order to get a keen sense on preparing the soil for adequate root growth in the spring.

You must have an area within your home for your potted Christmas tree that provides cool temperatures, far away from any direct heat. This helps with any seasonal confusion the tree might have if kept in warm temperatures during a winter season.

Be sure to have a large drainage tray that the tree can sit in when you water it during this time. Remember to water it every day until planted.

Make sure that the indoor lights you use on a live plant produces little heat.

This is not a difficult thing to find, in fact, most indoor lights produce minimal heat.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Another interesting idea is trimming holly bushes during December. If you grow your own female and male holly bushes, do some quick trimming before the holiday season, and bring in some of the branches for a little home decor. To prolong the use of any fresh evergreens that you may bring inside your home, spray Wilt-Pruf before bringing indoors. This clear spray coats the evergreens and prolongs their life to get you through the holiday season.

Christmas Wreaths

It is believed, in Christmas traditions, that hanging Christmas wreaths on the door will keep all the evil things away. As with most Christmas decorations, the wreath symbolized Jesus' birth and God's grace. Evergreen wreaths are the most popular, providing a splash of colour among the (usually) white landscape. Pine boughs are the basis of many Christmas wreaths. You can pick up pine boughs at a local garden center, home center, etc. Combine it with dried grape vines, fake apples, and bay leaves (or magnolia leaves have been the new 'hit' this year), for a nature-inspired wreath. Include rosemary boughs for an effective and holiday fragrance. Or, as is popular with our frequent costumers, traditionally design your wreath, adding ribbon and ornaments for a classic and elegant look.

Of course, the holidays puts us in the mood to try out some new home decor ideas, placing us in a "too strapped for cash" position. Hopefully some of these natural and innovative ideas help make your home beautiful and classic for the Christmas holidays, and a little more "cost friendly" too. Happy decorating!

A Little Spring Before Winter

Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration.- Lou Erickson

To get away from these chilly Novemeber nights, and to satisfy my gardening woes, I decided to post a little something to help drive us through these winter months and give us gardeners something to look forward to!

A Growing Guide for Roses

I have a few great tips that will make your roses prosper in the spring. First, it is essential to have the perfect location for your roses. Be sure to choose an area in full sunlight, a location with approximately 6-8 hours of sun per day, as well as one that is open and airy required for good air circulation. Plant your roses in well-drained soil, seeing as roses do not like "wet feet!" You must dig the soil to a depth of eighteen inches, and then cover the ground with approximately two inches of peat moss as well as a layer of composted manure. At the time of planting, be sure to add 100 grams of 12-4-8 Rose Food to one square meter. (rememeber: roses are heavy feeders of magnesium and iron, nutrients necessary for chlorophyll production and leaf development).

NOTE: Climbing roses should not be placed on a north-facing wall.

Planting of Rose Bushes:

Dig a hole of sufficient size to accommodate the root system of the container rose. Next, gently remove the rose from the container, being careful not to injure the root system. Be sure to set the plant deep enough so that after the soil is leveled, the graft union is one and a half centimeters below the soil level. Then you can back fill the soil firmly around the root system. After planting, water the plant well to set the soil firmly around the roots. You can add two inches of mulch on top of the soil, but be sure to shallowly cultivate the mulch between the plants to help retain soil moisture around the roots. Do not plant rose bushes any closer than eighteen inches apart.

Fertilizing Roses:

After the growth is well under way, feed roses with one or two feedings of Rose Food during the growing season. This should be evenly distributed over the soil surface and worked into the soil with a cultivator. The last feeding should be done no later than the end of July to reduce the chance of winter-kill. During the growing season, rose plants showing deficiencies in their leaves or generally lack vigor, can be fed with a fertilizer of 24-18-16 (Miracle Grow for Roses or Iron Plus) for immediate recovery.

Pruning Bush Roses:

Newly purchased roses usually do not require pruning at planting time. During the growing season, do not let the blooms go to seed. Faded flowers should be removed immediately. Early in the summer, cut the flowers with a long stem, leaving only two to three leaves close to the old wood. As the season advances, cut the flowers with a shorter stem. Each spring, after the roses are removed from their winter protection, the following pruning procedures should be carried out:

1. Remove all broken or injured branches back to solid healthy wood.

2. Cut off all weak growth, leaving only four or five of the healthiest, strongest branches.

3. Then cut back these branches to five to six inches long, leaving two to three buds on each branch. The cuts should be made clean and slanted one inch above the buds.

Remember: A strong pruning in the spring will result in bigger and more roses during the season. Roses which are not well pruned will produce masses of blooms in June, but very small and very few blooms later in the season.

Winter Protection

Of course, I must throw in a bit of winter talk in this post! However, it is important for your roses to have efficient protection during the winter months.

- for Hybrid Teas and Floribundas: When the weather turns very cold, before the heavy frost, the roses should be cut back to approximately two feet from the crown (knee height). All the leaves should be cleaned away and the soil should be built up against the crown of the plants. Rose collars are very handy for this purpose, as they will hold the soil around the crown.

- For Climing Roses: Climbing roses should be built up around the crown as well. In very cold locations, (unfortunately Canada), it is recommended that the branches be tied together and protected by covering with burlap or similar material. Do NOT use plastic.

- For Shrub Roses: Hardy shrub roses do not need the special pruning and winter protection as described for the other roses.

**If there is any other question about growing roses, feel free to post a question in the comments, and I'll be sure to answer you back. Hopefully, this guide will help keep you on the right track! --Good Luck Fellow Gardeners--

Keeping Your Trees Warm for the Winter

Bulb: potential flower buried in Autumn, never to be seen again.

To Wrap or Not

During the winter season, it is believed that in order for your evergreens to make it through the winter, they must be wrapped in layers of burlap. I'm here to tell you that this is only a myth, and instead, multiple layers of burlap can actually hurt your trees rather than help. However, as in all cases, there are just some exceptions where burlap, or other preventative measures, can help, and I'm here to guide you through the necessities of winter care.

Instances Where Burlap or Other Winter Care is Needed

1. Any newly planted evergreen is prone to "winter-burn" and should be covered in burlap for the winter.

2. If your trees or shrubs are planted close to the road or driveway where they may fall in close proximity to salt spray, they should be covered with at least two layers of burlap.

3. In some instances, such as protecting your mums for the winter, cover the root area of the plants with at least three inches of mulch.

4. Use plastic tree guards to protect the plant from any animal searching for bark to knaw on during the winter. Make sure that the tree guards go higher than the level of snow, seeing as this may pose the problem after a snowstorm.

5. A very popular product, called wilt-proof can be used on any broadleaf evergreen, such as azaleas and rhododendrons. This product ensures the saftey of your plant through the winter months by coating the leaves with a thin layer of wax coating.

Of course, these are just a few things that you may do when prepping your garden for the winter. However, do not stress out if your garden has been feeling a little neglected lately and you don't have time to get out there before the frost. Most of the time, us gardeners tend to let nature take its course. It helps build anticipation for the next season!

A Little Halloween Decor

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. -ScoobyDoo

Walking around the neighbourhood as a child, I can distinctly remember the excitement and anticipation of finding a house with the most haunted aesthetic appeal. Ignoring the "undressed and boring" neighbours, I would climb the steps in a frantic fury, hoping the candy was as good as the proposal.

Maybe this is why, as a student still living at home, I beg my mom to take part in the festivities of Halloween, hoping she'll turn our home into the dream of every costume-wearing child roaming the streets on October 31st.

**Remember- the first thing that attracts the costumers on Halloween night is the front yard and garden of your home!

Halloween Ideas for your Garden

1. Transform you haven into a graveyard (if only for a couple weeks). An important thing to remember is that halloween is ALL about lighting and a whimsical touch.

note: leaving the garden un-tended for a good month can give your future "graveyard" an even eerier look with long, unkept grass and fallen leaves.

Tombstones can be purchased at your local wal-marts, grocery stores, and even some garden centers. Caution tape, spider webs, skeletons, and shovels can add suspense and allure to your gravesite.

2. Pumpkin carving can prove to be a very easy and traditional way to attract witches, gouhls, goblins and ghosts! Picking your pumpkin is a very important part in achieving your jack-o-lantern look. You need to choose a pumpkin that will suite what you want to carve on it. Pick pumpkins that are uniformly orange (which indicates that it is ripe), as well as pumpkins which have no bruising or visible damage (bruised pumpkins have a shortened life span).

**Make sure when transporting your pumpkin that you do NOT hold it by the stem because it can easily break.

3. Halloween Wreaths (using vines from the garden!)

Using a thick, tightly wound grapevine is a perferable and cheap way to spread halloween cheer! Just wind the vines into a hoop shape and tie it off with a twine. However, grapevines are not the only vine that is useful for halloween wreaths. Bittersweet vines can also be used for halloween wreaths, providing great yellow/orange colour and an attractive peice for your front door.

4. Pumpkin-and-mum arrangement

Items needed:
Large pumpkin
Mum in nursery pot
Disposable cloths or paper towels
Petroleum jelly
Carving items for pumpkin such as a kitchen knife, jar lid or ice pick

Steps:
Place the base of the nursery pot over the pumpkin and gently score the edges of the pumpkin to mark the width of the mum pot. Cut out the top of the pumpkin using the scored edges from the width of the mum pot, discarding the cap and the stem of the pumpkin. Scoop out the insides of the pumpkin. (Note: You may wish to save the seeds to toast later.) Using the ice pick, poke four holes into the base of pumpkin. This will allow for water drainage. Gently dry the interior of pumpkin using a cloth or a paper towel. Next, spread a coating of petroleum jelly over the interior of pumpkin. This will help to keep the pumpkin from drying out and decaying quickly. Insert mum into pumpkin and keep mum moist (drying out is the kiss of death to mums).

Hope you use some of these ideas to create the eerie, festive halloween garden for those who roam your front doorstep!

A Few Ideas For Fantastic Fall Foliage

Bulb: potential flower buried in Autumn, never to be seen again. - Author Unknown

Fall Shrubs for Fall Colour
Burning Bush- Burning bushes are known for their bright red colour in the fall. The maximum height and width usually spans about 9'x9', making this a larger, deciduous bush. It has a slower growth rate, and requires full sun. It is best pruned in the late fall.

Highbush Cranberry- this shrub is a specific variety of viburnum. It is also noted for its brilliant, deep red fall colour. This shrub usually reaches a maximum of 10-15 feet, making this shrub one of the largest around. The leaf resembles that of a maple, but can considerably vary in size and shape even on the same shrub. It does best in rich soils, and also opts for full sun, however, it can tolerate various conditions. This shrub also produces small red barries, and flowers white in the spring. It is best pruned in the late fall, or very early spring.

Maples - Beautiful Fall Foliage

Flame Amur- (pictured left) - This maple is a rather small tree, with dense, finely textured foliage. Around here, Flame Amur's are usually found as a clump variety. This is one of the few maples that have fragrant flowers, that are a creamy white in the spring.


Red Sunset Maple- This variety of maple can grow an extensive 40-60 feet tall! Throughout the spring and summer, the foliage remains gree, however, in the fall, it produces spectacular red foliage. This particular maple requires full sun, and will grow at a moderate pace.

October Glory Maple- This is a wonderful shade tree, and provides almost instant shade, seeing as it is a very quick grower. It turns from a dark green leaf in the summer to a beautiful orange/ crimson red colour in the fall. This maple will not reach the same height as the Red Sunset, however it will still grow approximately 40-50 feet high.

Fall Sales!

Why are husbands like lawn mowers? They are difficult to get started, emit foul smells, and don't work half the time.- Author Unknown

Fall Sales!

Across Essex County, people are flocking to nurseries and garden centers to take advantage of sales on all plant materials. At the end of the year, nurseries will put their plant stock on sale in order to make room for storage in the winter. The more trees and shrubs they can get rid of, the better!

During the spring and summer months, garden centers provide at least a one year warranty for all plant material, however, they usually trade in that warranty in order to give you a better deal. So, if you don't have the strongest and "luckiest" gardening thumb around, you might want to consider doing your shopping in the spring!

Fall is a wonderful time to do some planting. You can plant right up until the ground freezes. However, if you are planting in the fall, do NOT use fertilizer. Trees and shrubs are preparing to go dormant for the winter, so you don't want to promote any new growth during this time.

Most nurseries fall sales are offering 40-50 percent off of their fall stock, saving you a pretty penny, and leaving you with a great sense of bargaining accomplishments!

Remember, take advantage of the sales during this time, plant material goes quickly!

Fall Mums

The best fertilizer is the gardener's shadow. - unknown




Annual or Perennial?


A question that is constantly being asked this fall is whether or not mums will come back every year. Unfortunately, it cannot be guaranteed that your mums will come back next year due to weather conditions and the location of the plant. However, if proper care is followed, the chances of your mum surviving through the winter and creating spectacular blooms in the fall is significantly greater!






Growing Fall Mums


The best time to plant mums is in the spring, guaranteeing sufficient time for the roots to establish. In the early spring, feed the fall mums with compost (see sept 21- importance of composting), as well as giving them a boost of fish emulsion every two weeks to help push out multiple blooms. Let them grow in the early spring, and when they reach about 12-18 inches tall, prune them back 6-9 inches so that they are half of their original length. This severe pruning will force the plant to become more dense by producing more shoots. Warning: If you neglect to prune back the mum, the flowers will only grow on the top portion of the mum, which will prevent an abundance of blooms.


The trick to growing fall mums and promoting multiple buds is to keep them in constant sunlight, as well as thoroughly watering them twice a week.





Note: Mums are one of the few plants that can be successfully transplanted (see sept 16- transplanting: a how to) while they are in full bloom, provided that it is done carefully and adequate water is given after the move.

Hope these hints and suggestions help make your fall mums the most beautiful bunch on the block!