Dayton "Dirt" - December 11, 2009

It’s strange but there is a definite pattern to business that only changes slowly over the years.

Our cut Scotch Pine trees are beginning to sell now where as before, only our Fraser Firs were the hot sellers.

Unfortunately, we don’t have Concolor Fir and Douglas Fir this year as a severe frost in May killed the new growth on the trees.

The frosted growth is still hanging on the trees and doesn’t do anything for the saleability of these trees so that we decided to skip a year.

Its not too late to order an artificial or live wreath or grave blanket for delivery or pick up as we will still make and customize the decorations according to your specifications even up to and including Christmas Eve.

If you want one shipped to a distant locality though, it’s best to allow 5 business days.

One of the most beautiful poinsettias this year is called Ice Crystals in which the flower bracts are dark pink with a pale pink to white radiating from the midrib of the bract.

This variety seems to be a favorite of the Cleveland Botanical Garden this year as it is quite unusual as well as beautiful.

For those of you who want to keep a poinsettia from year to year, my advice to you is to throw the plant out unless you enjoy playing with it to get it to bloom next year.

I know that I would never mess with left over poinsettias the next year as to me it’s not worth the hassle.

Be sure not to let your cut tree run out of water as sometimes once a tree runs out of water, it won’t “drink” anymore.

If you haven’t covered your tea or floribunda roses yet, get with it as they do need winter protection.

As the snow falls and doesn’t leave the ground, hungry deer will be chomping on your shrubs such as Taxus, Rhododendron and certain deciduous shrubs so be sure to spray them with Liquid Fence as directed the next dry day that is above freezing.

We had a problem with deer in the Rhododendron-Azalea garden a few years back but the Liquid Fence product has kept them at bay.

It works too on the thousands of tulips at the nursery as were sure to apply the product just as the plants emerge in spring.

If you have deer in your area and have tulips emerging, one day the bulbs will be fine and the next morning they’ll be chomped to bits down to the ground so be sure to mark some required action on your gardening calendar or download our online calendar for your convenience.

Hope for snow!
Tom