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Edition 14.42 H&H Gardening Newsletter October 16, 2014

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3 day forecast

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October

While many plants will hunker down soon for their winter dormancy, there is a whole host of plants that actively grow during the winter season. Winter annuals such as snapdragons, stock and pansy need a continual feed to keep them blooming.



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Telephone:
(562) 804-2513

Address:
6220 Lakewood Blvd
Lakewood, CA 90712

Store Hours:
Mon.-Fri.: 7:30 to 5:30
Sat. 8:00 to 5:30
Sunday: 9:00 to 4:30

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Kellogg Garden Products


Kellogg Garden Products


Kellogg Garden Products


 
featured quote

Featured Quote:

"Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise."
~Michael P. Garafalo



SOFT order program ends November 5, 2014

Pre-Order Fruit Trees for the 2015 season.
Stop in or give us a call at 562-804-2513, to pre-pay for your fruit trees and receive a 20% discount of the listed price. Hurry, offer ends by 11/5/14. We will notify you
February 2015, once your fruit trees have arrived.

 
New Roses and descriptions

Pre-Order Roses for the 2015 season.
Stop in or give us a call at 562-804-2513, to pre-pay for your roses and receive a 10% discount of the listed price. Hurry, offer ends by 11/3/14. We will notify you in December 2014/January 2015, once your roses have arrived.

Full Rose List with Prices

 

  Now is the time for Prohibit Pre Emergent Weed  Preventer & Lawn Food 26-4-6

To prevent Annual Blue Grass (Poa Annua) in your lawn, we recommend a pre-emergent herbicide like Prohibit.

A pre-emergent herbicide that provides residual control of many broad leaf weeds, grass and crabgrass in turf grass. New to homeowners, but widely used in the landscape and golf course industry. Prevents weeds and feeds the lawn all in one step.

 
we recommend bumper crop

Grow Swiss Chard this Fall

Looking for something a little out-of-the-ordinary to plant in your fall garden? Why not give Swiss chard a try? Swiss chard makes a healthful addition to the cool-season garden; it contains no fat, is low in calories and cholesterol and is a good source for vitamins A and C as well as calcium and iron. It is easy to grow as long as its basic requirements are met: full sun (or at least 6 hours of sun per day), and a fertile, well-drained soil.

Both leaves and stems are edible and can be eaten either cooked or raw. A 10-foot row will typically yield between 8 and 12 pounds of chard. White stemmed varieties generally out-perform their more colorful relatives (red, pink, yellow or orange-ribbed varieties), but for a little diversity plant both types.

Soil Preparation
  • Incorporate 2"-4" of a good-quality soil amendment into the planting bed, along with some pre-plant fertilizer.

Planting
  • If planting by seed, plant them 1/2"-1" deep and 3" apart, then thin them to 12" apart (this is more easily done by using small scissors rather than pulling them out).
  • If planting seedlings, space them 12" apart.

Watering
  • Apply regular water to maintain even soil moisture; plants that have been subjected to water fluctuations will often produce tough leaves.

Weeding
  • Since Swiss chard does not compete well with weeds, be vigilant and remove them early.

Insects and Diseases
  • Swiss chard is relatively fast growing and is not susceptible to many diseases.
  • The main pests to watch for are aphids, slugs and flea beetles. Treat these insects with an appropriate insecticide labeled for use in vegetable gardens.

Harvesting and Storage
  • Leaves can be harvested when they are young and tender or at their mature stage. Harvest leaves from the outside of the plant first.
  • Chard leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.

Swiss chard can be substituted for spinach in any recipe, and the crisp ribs of the plant can be grilled for a unique side dish.

When the weather warms up in the spring, the plant will "bolt" (produce flowers). This is your cue that it's time to remove your chard plants and replace them with a warm-season vegetable of your choice.

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Autumn Rose Care

Next to spring, fall can be the best time for some colorful action in the rose garden. While most modern hybrids do bloom through the summer, the bloom size tends to decrease substantially as a result of the high summer temperatures. As fall approaches, roses once again "come into their own," sporting some of the largest blooms seen since the previous spring. Take some time to enjoy this display, because all too soon, they will be entering their winter period of dormancy.

Here are some fall tasks to help ensure your roses will remain healthy and ready to take off again next spring:

  1. Continue watering
    You will not need to water as frequently as you did in the summertime, but roses still require water through the fall. Continue to water deeply but less often.
  2. Discontinue feeding
    After October, fertilizer is no longer necessary or desirable as you want to encourage the plants to enter dormancy.
  3. Continue treating for insects and diseases
    Treat only if you notice any damage.
  4. Clean the area around the plants
    Pick up and dispose of any fallen leaves or old flowers. Healthy leaves can be used in the compost pile, but do not use those that are damaged by insects or disease.
  5. Do not prune
    While you may continue cutting flowers to bring in the house, do not cut the plants back severely yet. Wait until January to do your major yearly pruning.
  6. Assess your rose garden
    Now is a good time to look at your rose garden with a critical eye. Are there roses that did not perform to your expectations or plants that have lived past their prime? You can remove those plants now to make space for some new plants come bare root season (December through February).
  7. Research
    Think about candidates to add to your rose garden. Whether you're looking for fragrance, large flowers, blooms to cut or unusual color combinations, there's a rose that will fit the bill! Go online and see all the new varieties (and all the old favorites) available.

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Indoor Window Box Plants

Popular years ago, indoor plants are making a huge comeback. Their lush, green foliage can truly perk up a dreary interior environment and can be a beautiful addition to any home or office. Not only are they attractive to look at, but indoor plants also convert the carbon oxide that we breathe out into oxygen, thereby refreshing our indoor surroundings.

Most indoor plants are hybrids that grow wild somewhere in the world. The key to successfully growing plants indoors is to replicate the environment they naturally grow in. The main factors are location, lighting, water, humidity, and feeding. A few minutes of care each week help your plants flourish, providing years of enjoyment.

Bright windowsills are a perfect location for a number of indoor plants to thrive and help chase the winter blues away. (Just make sure to move them in the summer if the area receives direct afternoon sun.) Rotate each container after a few days so that all parts of your plants get an even amount of sunlight.

As a rule of thumb, keep the soil moist but not soaking wet. Ensure that the pot has good drainage for excess water. Too much water locked in the pot rots the roots. Most indoor environments are dry and have little humidity. So, use a mister to spray water on the leaves on very dry days. You can also place your pots on containers full of pebbles. Pour water in the container often. This will hydrate your plants from the bottom.

Even though indoor plants tend to grow much more slowly than they would outdoors in their natural environments, they still require an infusion of nutrients throughout the year. We recommend using a balanced plant food (use as directed).

Indoor plants add color and can dramatically cheer up a home or office, especially during the dog days of winter.

We invite you to visit us and pick up a few of these gems today!

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Garden Primer

Should I use bone meal or bulb food when I plant my bulbs?

Answer:
We recommend bone meal at the time of planting, then applying a balanced bulb food once the foliage appears above the soil line in late winter/early spring.

There are a couple of reasons for this. Nitrogen can burn the actual bulb, which only needs the phosphorus and potash from bone meal in order to stimulate rooting. But once the bulb is sending out a stem, it needs nitrogen to become strong so it won't bend over from the weight of the flowers that it sets. This is especially important for bulbs with large heavy flowers, such as tulips, ranunculus, and hyacinth.

It's also important to dig the holes or trenches a little deeper than the bulb needs to be, applying some bone meal below the bulb, then a little more soil so the bulb doesn't sit directly on the food but has access to the food as it sends out roots (got to give those roots some incentive to stretch).

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Featured Recipe: Garden Fresh Crab Salad

This is super easy, delicious--and will make even a novice cook look like a gourmet chef!

What You'll Need:

  • 1 lb. fresh crab meat
  • 4 celery stalks, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 green onions, diced (use the green stems as well)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 ounces softened cream cheese (1/4 of an 8 oz. package)
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish (you can use the grated or horseradish sauce)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (after serving)

Step by Step:

  • Place shelled and clean crab meat in a large bowl.
  • Combine all diced vegetables and and toss.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream , cream cheese and horseradish until well combined.
  • Pour mixture into bowl with crab meat and vegetables.
  • Gently stir to incorporate everything.
  • Chill for 2 hours.
  • Serve on hoagie buns, or alone with crackers on a bed of lettuce.
  • Serve with salt and pepper so each person can season to taste.
Serves 8

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