Tuesday, March 24, 2015

HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Good Morning Village!!
As you all may know, we have several leaks through our property from the underground water system that goes out to our paddocks. Our water bill was over $750.00 for two months. This weekend we, Sharon Zuk, Richard Zuk, Glenn Franzoi and I attempted to cap the pipe on the side of the barn that ran that way, leaving no water going to the house. So that left us looking for some way to dig a trench through the turnout pen to the house.
We posted a request that if anyone knew anyone with a ditch witch, we could use the help, I reach out to High School friend, Tim Worrell, who owns Beechwood Landscape Architecture and Construction. I explained our little problem and he said that he can help. They will be here on Friday to dig our trench.
Please go to Beechwood's page and like them. If you need any work done, contact Tim at Beechwood. He helped our Village!!
IT TAKES A VILLAGE!! Hug those hounds - Li
Lisa Weinstein Greyhound Angels Adoption 

www.beechwoodlandscape,com

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Emporer's Butterfly' Daylily

 
Hemerocallis x 'Emporer's Butterfly' 
Daylily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 9A
Height    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling and upright or erect
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color
This plant has attractive foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Seashore planting
-    Border
-    Massing
-    Groundcover

Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing
-    Attracts butterflies
-    Extended bloom season

Culture Notes
Hemerocallis hybrids come in a wide range of colors, flowering times, sizes, and some with fragrance.  Some forms can be evergreen.  Most are tolerant of full sun.  Some species will show sun scald and prefer partial sun.  Most are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions.  Flowers generally last for only one day.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: Spring Starflower


Ipheion uniflorum 
Spring Starflower

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    7B to 9A
Height    4" to 8" / 10cm to 20cm
Spread    24" to 30" / 60cm to 75cm
Growth rate    Average
Form    Irregular or sprawling
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and white
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and showy.

Environment
This plant will grow in moist soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy or sandy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has fragrant foliage.

Landscape Uses
-    Container plantings
-    Alpine garden
-    Rock garden
-    Border
-    Massing
-    Groundcover

Attributes and Features
-    Naturalizing

Propagation and Root Form
Propagation is from  division and  seeds.
Best propagation time is in the  winter.
This plant grows from a  bulb.

Culture Notes
This plant is easy to grow and should be left undisturbed for as long as possible.  In areas of prolonged frost, mulch Ipheion for winter protection.  Plants have an onion like odor.  Plants go well with: Tulipa, Phlox subulata, Narcissus, and Crocus.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Let It Go

Let it go, let it go Can't hold it back anymore

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Valley Rose' Japanese Andromeda

Pieris japonica 'Valley Rose'
    Japanese Pieris,  Japanese Andromeda,  Lily of the Valley Bush,  Lily of the Valley Shrub

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    4B to 7A
Height    9' to 12' / 2.80m to 3.60m
Spread    6' to 10' / 1.80m to 3.00m
Growth rate    Slow
Form    Oval
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Pink and white
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are very showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Landscape Uses
-    Woodland garden
-    Border
-    Screen
-    Massing
-    Specimen

Attributes and Features
-    Persistent fruit
-    Inconspicuous fruit

Culture Notes
Be sure to plant in a well-drained soil for root disease can infect plants in wet soil. Organic matter incorporated in the root zone can help plants look their best. Plants are best located in some shade for those in the sun are often infested with lacebugs. A vigilant spray program can allow plants to look good for a long time within its hardiness range. In order to preserve next years flower display, if you must prune, do it immediately after flowers fade. There are scores of cultivars selected for flowering time, color of flowers and foliage, size of plant, size of foliage, etc. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.

Planting and establishing shrubs
 
The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Featured Plant of the Day: 'Asessippi' Lilac

Syringa x hyacinthiflora 'Asessippi'
    Lilac

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    3B to 7B
Height    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Spread    8' to 12' / 2.40m to 3.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded and vase shaped
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Blue and lavender
Bloom Time    Spring

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates drought.
This plant will grow in very dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green
Fall Color    No change in fall color

Landscape Uses
-    Specimen

Culture Notes
Lilac is a common flowering shrub that grows best in a sunny location.  The plant will grow in shade but flowering is poor and powdery mildew is likely to be severe. Pollen bothers certain people. The growth rate is rapid and the plant produces many suckers. Pruning should be completed after flowering and by late spring to ensure next year's flower buds are not removed.

Planting and establishing shrubs 
The most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep.  Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery.  In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off.  The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider.  In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole.  Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential.  Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth.  Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk.  If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer.   This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry.  Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water.  Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.