MONTHLY PHOTOS

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SEASONAL TIPS

See Archives for June 2002

Try to wait as long as possible to water but, it’s almost time for most of us. . . Moisture Meters and or a shovel will help you make an educated decision.

       
TWO consecutive 15-20 minute cycles a couple of times per week gets more water, deeper into the soil than one loooong cycle.

Liquid soil penetrant - an easy, economical, safe way to help your plants and lawn absorb more moisture and nutrients. TRY IT!

Have your lawn impregnated with moisture storing gels - a local company executing the process is ‘A Different Drip’ call: John Perry @ 801-414-5865.

Start enjoying annuals but don’t let the late frost catch you unprotected - keep your frost cloth handy until June 20- 25th.

It’s NOT too late to plant. Even with the heat. Try to avoid undue stress on new plants by getting them in the ground. Don’t expose the roots to excessive heat and wind.

Check your strings on established trees and shrubs to avoid the ‘choke’ of death.

A LOOK IN THE GREENHOUSE

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PLANT OF THE MONTH

Bristlecone Pine

                       -pinus aristata - Zone 2

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Bristlecone pine are the oldest known species. They exist natively in the Himalayan mountains and more locally, in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

They have a unique, contorted growth habit and are extremely slow growing- ideal accent plants for our tough high desert climate. They are naturally drought tolerant. They live longer (hundreds of years) with natural precipitation. When they are watered in a landscape setting, they may only live one to two hundred years!

The needles are dark green with little white ‘sap’ specks, resin on them to protect the plant from wind and stress.

Extremely slow growing to 20'-45' tall. To see a prime example, check out the one on Deer Valley Drive in front of the little old brown miner’s cabin.

MONTHLY SPECIALS

* In house Aspen Special: Buy 5 or more 1-1½” caliper Aspen (8-12' tall) in a row for only $59.99 each. Regular value $62.00-85.00 each! Incredible Quality.

* 10% off your June ‘Thymes’ Lotions and Potions with this coupon, print it out.

* Awesome shipments of annuals and perennials arriving daily - Must see the nursery to believe how beautiful they are.

ORGANIC LESSONS

“No-See-Um” Mosquito and Tick Repellent - is a new product this season put out by the makers of Repellex®. It is a safe way to spray your outdoor living space for unwanted visitors.

Is an easy, HOSE END SPRAYER ideal for mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, gnats, house flies, crickets, ants, grasshoppers flying moths and cluster flies. Pet area and water gardening safe. Deet free too!

Main Ingredients: Lemon grass oil, Citronella, Geroniol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

They have also come out with PERSONAL MOSQUITO AND TICK REPELLENT. One application to your body protects you for up to 3 hours. And, it doesn’t smell bad!

Please add to our guest book , we want to start our message board/guest book out right with your comments this summer and e-mail us at info@parkcitynursery.com but remember we answer them once a week so call us anytime at (435) 649-1363.

© 2002-2003  Park City Nursery All Rights Reserved

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MONTHLY ARTICLE

    Flowers, flowers, flowers. . .

Well, we went from a cold Spring-Late Winter directly to the heat of summer. Although it is only the beginning of June, it is hot! Hard to believe we will have another frost - but, I believe we will. Hopefully I’m wrong but. . .

With the heat on we turn our thumbs to flowers - Perennial and Annuals Galore. A bit of advice on planting annuals before June 15 - Be ready for the late frost but, go ahead and start enjoying your annual planters now. Frost cloth and sheets will protect most plants if you keep your eye on the weather and cover your pots that one night.

                             

We thought you might enjoy a twist on planting annual planters. We have been and will continue to receive shipments of annuals from now through July (and longer if the demand lasts!) We have been using all kinds of planting containers over the years. Here is a list of some of our favorite things to pot up:

Baskets - Big, small, old, new, round, square, oval, oblong...
Buckets and Pails - stainless steel, conventional, old, new. . .
Wagons - little red, old mining carts, etc.
Pots - of course
Wire containers - baskets, hanging pots, designer items
Whiskey Barrels
Wooden Boxes
Any thing with a hole or potting space

We suggest you plant your planters very, very full. Due to the short duration of the growing season, pack them in and enjoy the blast of color. You don’t have to wait for them to fill in - they might not. . .

Color, texture, combos. The plants available today have so many interesting colors and textures, it’s hard to go wrong. Most plants that grow in the shade have interesting foliage and shapes while sunny plants usually jump with color. Plant like light tolerances together. Due to our intense sun, frequently plants that require full sun in other zones are happy to take a half day of shade.

If you are planting in an intense heat spot, consider using moisture saving water gels like
Nutra-gel® with a slow release fertilizer. This will help you water less frequently. Also, in a hot spot like that, choose plants that require less water like:

Portulaca
Yarrow
African Daisy
Daisy
Succulents -like Sedums, Hens-and Chicks, etc.
Calibrachoa - trailing million bells
Petunias
Cosmos
Artemisia
Assorted Herbs
Vina - Cooler Series
Verbena
Geraniums - Zonal
Coreopsis

Remember, when you first start your pots, Don’t let them dry out. It takes a few days for them to establish. Don’t expect them to go right away without water.

Plants are pretty amazing. They will show you when they need water and can bounce back amazingly well from stress.

BE CREATIVE! DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.

Park City Nursery “we know what grows"     (435) 649-1363

TROUBLESHOOTING

SYMPTOM: Dandelions invading your lawn.
SOLUTION: Solution: Spot spray with a selective herbicide that kills broadleaf, not grasses or use a weed and feed (only if you have a severe case of infestation).

QUESTION: How long should your grass be to stay healthy?
ANSWER: Try to raise your mower blade as high as you can tolerate. NEVER cut more than 1/3 of the blade per mowing. This will avoid plant stress.

SYMPTOM: Got Aphids?
SOLUTION: Aphids are one of our few tenacious insects compared to other areas on the planet. Insecticidal Soap, Lady Bugs and Repellex® Bug-A-Tak are organic ways to control them. If you already have, or need to use something stronger, Diazinon, Malathion, Thiodan, Pyrethrins, and Permethrins all kill aphids.

           
 
                 Ladybug - Hippodamia convergens           

SYMPTOM: Grass in your flower beds?
SOLUTION: Picking it out by hand is painstaking and ineffective in the long run. Selective grass killers kill narrow grass leaves but leave the broadleaf plants alone. You usually have to apply it 2x or more to be totally effective. Herbicides work better if you make the “Cocktail” - use the appropriate amount of Soil Acidifier (to neutralize the water) and a Surfactant (to make the chemical stick to the plants you are trying to eliminate).

 Please go to our newsletter archives for additional information, photos and more.