(Fruit Tree Care)

Don’t you want your family and friends to look at your fruit trees this year and exclaim, “What a fruiting beauty?! Don’t you want to share your bountiful harvest of peaches, apples, and plums with those you love? I am assuming your answer is a hardy “Yes!” Okay then, let’s make this happen. Fruit tree care begins now.

There isn’t much happening right now or is there? Yes, there is plenty going on with our fruit trees right now. The root system is waking up and busily absorbing nutrients and water, the canopy is starting to push out green buds that will open into beautiful flowers, and unfortunately, diseases and insects may also be waking up on our fruit trees.

Let’s begin, shall we!? Grab a bottle of Bonide’s All Season Horticultural Oil. If using concentrate, mix at a rate of 3 tablespoons per gallon of water. Spray the entire fruit tree from the tips of branches to the bottom of the trunk. This will help eliminate any overwintering insects or insect eggs. I always recommend horticultural oil to wake up the garden. Spray when temperatures are above 40 degrees but before the buds open.

When you grab your bottle of Horticultural Oil, be sure to pick up a bag of Espoma’s Tree-Tone. Tree-Tone is the perfect, organic, slow-release fertilizer for your fruit trees. Don’t be shy. Most people under-fertilize. Remember, it takes a lot of energy for fruit trees to push out that delicious fruit. Depending on the size of your fruit trees, you can use anywhere from 3lbs/9 cups to 6lbs/18 cups per inch of trunk diameter. I know that sounds like a lot, but trust me! Apply the fertilizer at the drip line of the tree always. That is where all the hungry feeder roots hang out. Feeding and Horticultural Spray can both happen NOW!

Don’t get too comfortable. The next step will happen soon. When you start to notice green tips appearing on your fruit trees, it is time to switch to Bonide’s Citrus, Fruit & Nut Orchard Spray, or Bonide’s Fruit Tree & Plant Guard. If using the concentrate of the Orchard Spray, use at a rate of 2.5 ounces/5 tablespoons to 5 ounces/10 tablespoons to 1 gallon of water. Spray every 7 to 10 days up to the day of harvesting fruit. If using the Fruit Tree Guard, mix at a rate of 2 ounces/2 tablespoons to 1 gallon of water. This product packs a potent punch and only needs to be applied 3 X’s in the season…at the green tip to pre-bloom, at petal fall, and at fruit set. Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Have you already done your winter pruning? If not, now is the time to clean up those suckers! I literally mean, it is time to clean up those suckers. Suckers are the unwanted branches that grow straight up from the base of the trunk, from shallow roots, and from branches. Anytime you see suckers growing, cut them off at the base. We don’t like suckers.

After all this work, you and your family will be able to reap the bounty of your plentiful harvest or simply enjoy eating a homegrown apple or two.

Come see us at Van Wilgen’s. We would love to help!

SHOPPING LIST:

*Bonide’s Horticultural Oil

*Bonide’s Citrus, Fruit, & Nut Orchard Spray

*Bonide’s Fruit Tree & Plant Guard

*Espoma’s Tree-Tone

What will happen with my Hydrangeas this season! That has been the most asked question at the garden center recently. My advice to all…don’t panic. With the recent up and down weather temperatures experienced over the past few weeks, some plants may show effects from it. However, it is too soon to tell. The good news is we should have plenty of time for our plants to bounce back.

Some of you may be asking what I can do now. Now is the time to examine your plants. Pay close attention to the buds. If the buds that began to swell during the warm weather we had in February and early March are still alive chances are they will be fine. If the buds at the tips of the stems have been damaged it will cause the buds below to eventually open with flowers. This is called apical dominance. Please resist the temptation to prune your plants to the ground. This may cause your plants to not flower this year and next. There are so many hydrangeas these days that require different pruning times, I recommend speaking to one of our many knowledgeable staff members to learn how and when to prune. I have also attached an awesome link from our friends at Proven Winners outlining the What, When, and How of Hydrangea care.

Why isn’t my Hydrangea Blooming Chart

Jason Scire, Nursery Manager

For as long as I can remember, there was a thin line between winter weather and spring weather. A question often asked is, “what’ll happen to my bulbs that have popped?”
Good question. Most spring bulbs, with the exception of tulips, are very hardy and very reliable. Most come from mountain climates where the weather is extreme. Connecticut is slightly more hospitable than the mountains of Tibet, Turkey, and the Swiss Alps. Not to worry, my suggestion is to let nature take its course. When the weather dips in temperature, many bulbs shrink back into the soil.
Tulips are a different matter. Should the temperature dramatically, cover the emerged foliage with burlap or towels for the night. If blooms or buds are facing cold temps, just cover clumps with a five-gallon bucket secured with a brick. Tulip flowers are delicate. Be sure to remove the covers in the morning to keep flowers from bolting.

We are no strangers to amazing wildlife at the garden center, we have several ospreys that catch fish in the river all day, coyotes that play on our freshly screened topsoil pile, snapping turtles in our pond that more resembles a boulder than a turtle shell, and even a Blue Herron that we’ve had up and close personal encounter with INSIDE our greenhouse. That is a story within itself! We recently had the coolest visitor ever; a bald eagle! That is the first time I have ever seen one on the property and it was so close for everyone to get a good look! For 10-15 minutes the eagle calmly perched at the top of the big weeping beech tree, it seemed like it was watching over us. Our cousin Harry has brought me up around Lake Gaillard, he taps the maple trees to make syrup and in the summer he checks on the health of the trees. While we were checking the trees we saw a Bald Eagle flying, but it very pretty far away. Having seen our visiting eagle up close, it is amazing how big and majestic they really are. It is not every day or even in a lifetime you get to see something like that, we are interpreting the visiting eagle as a good omen and a sign of great things to come, hopefully, it means spring will start soon and it will be a good growing season for us all! Maybe our Eagle will keep visiting us, we’ll keep an eye out.

Ryan Van Wilgen

As we shake off the chill of what seems to be a never-ending winter, it is natural and even soothing to look for those first signs of life in your garden. But while your Crocus may be struggling to push its pretty purple flowers past the snow, there is no plant I look forward to in my winter garden more than my hellebores. Hellebores love the shade, are drought-tolerant, and deal with the ravages of New England’s up and down temperatures better than any early blooming plant I’ve ever planted. Every year, I add two or three more to my under tree gardens, expanding my color palette to pinks, purples, whites, and, this year, even multi-colored varieties. We truly have something for every type of garden.

Will O’Hara

Perennial Manager

March sure came in like a lion this year. But I think we are all ready for it to go out like a lamb, right? As we get closer to April we all have spring on our mind. There is nothing like the smell and colors of the spring season.

Our greenhouse is filled with just that. With Easter, right around the corner, we have lots of extra colors to brighten your smile and warm your heart. The daffodils are so alive with the brightest yellow blooms, and the hyacinths hit your senses as soon as you walk into the greenhouse. You can’t help but say what smells so good! The smell of the hyacinths reminds me of going to the greenhouses with my grandmother when I was young. It was the only plant I wanted around the Easter season. Plus, they were purple, my favorite color.

Now to the true spring flower. The pansies have taken over our greenhouse! There’s nothing like filling the greenhouse with all that color. Just try and pick a favorite. I bet you can’t. They all look truly amazing and are waiting to find a new home. Remember pansies are not only pretty, they are one tough little plant. They can handle temperatures as low as 28 degrees, and any April showers that mother nature decides to send our way. So, If you need a spring fix before mother nature is ready to release it to us, stop by and say hello. The greenhouse is the perfect place to get your spring on.

Darlene Granese, Greenhouse Manager

MARCH COMES IN LIKE A LION…GET A JUMP ON THAT LION!

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. I know March starts out a little chilly but we can still get a jump on that lion. Don’t let that lion intimidate you. It is time to get out into the yard and take care of some business. The more you accomplish now, the more assured that March will go out sweetly, like a little lamb.

WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW TO CALM THAT LION DOWN?

  1. Get your soil pH tested for free at the Solution Center at Van Wilgen’s. A balanced pH is the key to a good start.
  2. Apply Encap’s Fast Acting Lime to areas of the yard that need it. Keep in mind, veggie gardens, lilacs, and clematis love extra lime.
  3. Moss Out will work great in this cooler, rainy weather. Moss is most actively growing when it is cooler, so the early application works well to get rid of unwanted moss patches.
  4. In addition to taming the March lion, you need to control some other bothersome critters.
  1. Apply I Must Garden’s Mole & Vole Repellent now to keep moles and voles from taking over the lawn and garden. An early application will slow down their spring establishment in your yard.
  2. Apply now! Use one of our many Deer Repellents to train deer in advance. Deer are creatures of habit. Break their habit before they start. We have a new, convenient deer repellent system called Scent-inal. It is all-natural and easy to use.
  1. I love All Seasons Horticultural Oil. It is a great part of your Integrated Pest Management program. Spray down your trees and shrubs early in the season to eliminate overwintering insects and insect eggs. This early application will cut down on your pest problems later.

Put the above 5 steps on your March to-do list and you can whip that lion into shape. The March lion will be intimidated by all your pro-active moves in the garden, put his tail between his legs, and crawl away like a little lamb.

Come see us at Van Wilgen’s. We would love to help!

SHOPPING LIST:

*Encap’s Fast Actin Lime

*Lilly Miller’s Moss Out

*I Must Garden’s Mole & Vole Repellent

*Bonide’s All Season Horticultural Oil

It’s time to start your seeds. Most seeds should be started about 6 weeks before our last frost day. In the gardening world, we like to use Mother’s Day as the last frost date.

For cold weather crops like peas, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, and kale you can sow them outside now. We have a great variety of cool weather vegetable seeds to choose from. I have read that is it lucky to plant peas on St. Patrick’s Day. Not sure if other cool-weather plants will bring you luck but they sure will be delicious fresh-picked from your garden this year. Remember New England weather is erratic. We may get a few cold/frost nights where you will want to cover your seedlings with a warm harvest blanket to protect them.

There are many ways to start your seeds. You can begin them in starter kits, trays, and peat pots. Peat pots can be placed right into the ground when ready. Espoma Organic Seed Starting Mix and Fafard Seed Starter Mix are excellent soils to start your baby seeds. Don’t forget to label your seeds.

If you have a south-facing window place your seeds there. If not, we have many different grow lights to help your seeds get the approximate 15 hours of daylight they need.

Flowers have many different attributes. Start your favorite flowers by seed now. Some flowers/herbs are excellent pollinators and help keep certain bugs away from your vegetable garden. Marigolds attract bees and butterflies. Nasturtiums, besides being edible, also help keep away many unwanted insects. The very fragrant lavender is also an excellent general pest repellent flower to use in your garden.

Stop in and get your seeding started right away!

(Be proactive. Get ready for the thaw.)

Don’t worry. I promise no snow monsters are going to jump out of the snow and grab you, no icy pit is going to pull you in, and no frozen furball is going to nip at your ankles. I know that sometimes when it is cold and snowy it can feel like this. “No worries, spring is on its way!”

To help conquer our fears of what lurks beneath the snow, let’s get prepared. Being proactive can greatly reduce winter stress and make the transition into spring a lot easier.

Here is what we may anticipate once the snow melts…

You may see unexplainable squiggly lines all over your lawn that look like a drunken bike rider went joyriding all over your back yard. This culprit is no inebriated biker but it could be a bunch of annoying voles playing chase under the snow. Here is what you must do, immediately! As soon as the snow melts, apply a vole repellent right away. We definitely do not want these heavy breeders taking hold and eating the roots of your garden plants.

Once the snow melts you may also notice these alien-like, irregular circles forming on your lawn. The circles may be grayish or have a pink hue. This is Gray or Pink Snow Mold. Ew! Not a pretty sight but it won’t do tons of harm if you are proactive. Arm yourself with a rake, Lime, and maybe a good fungicide. Get out there and rake up those alien circles. This will help stop the spread. Apply Lime because this will help keep this pesky fungus at bay. If all else fails, it may be wise to put down a fungicide.

Believe it or not, cool-season weeds will pop their heads right up once the snow disappears. Be ready for them. Arm yourself with a good weed control that works in cool temperatures. This is key to a low weed count lawn.

In addition to funky trails, weird-looking patches, and cool-season weeds, you may see some bare patches. Some grass probably just could not make it through the winter. Maybe it died off from too much snow plow salt. Maybe it rotted under the snow or could not recover from the summer drought. Whatever the reason, now is the time to be proactive. Throw some grass seed down with a little gypsum, starter fertilizer, and hay. Watch those bare patches fill in quickly and establish themselves before the summer heat sets in.

Don’t get nervous this winter, get ready. Get ready with the tools you need to be proactive and ready for what lurks below, once the snow melts.

SHOPPING LIST:
1. I Must Garden Mole & Vole Repellent, Vole Scram, or Messina’s Mole & Vole Repellent

2. Encap’s Fast Acting Lime or Soil Doctor’s Pelletized Lime

3. Infuse Fungicide

4. Weed Beater Ultra (for cool-season weed control)

5. NEW!!! WEED BEATER ULTRA FE(new, natural way to attack weeds)

6. Van Wilgen’s Grass Seed

7. Encap’s Fast Acting Gypsum

8. Greenview’s Starter Fertilizer or Espoma’s Organic Starter Fertilizer

9. Mainely Mulch Chopped Straw & Hay

Come see us at VanWilgen’s. We would love to help!

This time of year, one of the most popular questions we receive at the garden this time of year is definitely; Is it too early to plant? The general rule of thumb is if you can dig a hole (no frost in the ground), it is ok to plant. The majority of our perennial and nursery stock is cold climates grown to our growing region and they handle the colder temperatures.
Also, there are some general planting guidelines that we like to offer when it comes to installing plant material. We recommend digging a hole twice the size of the root ball. Also, it is really a great idea to amend the current soil with VW Premium Planting mix (Topsoil, Compost, and Peat Moss). After the hole is completely filled in, an application of VW Jumpstart transplant fertilizer should be made to the plant. If you should have any additional plants about planting instructions or cold-sensitive plants, do not hesitate to contact us at the garden center.
Happy Gardening!