August 4, 2009
"Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?"
~Betsy Cañas Garmo
I’d like to welcome everyone who signed up for our newsletter when they were in the
greenhouses earlier this spring. We try to have a bit of timely gardening information
in each edition as well as some specials for all our online friends. Not to worry you
will only get mail from us about once a month.
I’d like to thank you again for being our customer. It is YOU that allows Cindy and me
to do what we truly enjoy - growing flowers!
Oliver
From Oliver...
Current Specials
We are offering ALL pottery at 25% off. Come see what we have in stock.
Wanted Dead or Alive Event
To explain how this works, just bring in your old hanging basket (dead or alive) and pick out a
replacement one from our big beautiful basket selection and get $6.00 off the purchase price. We
already have baskets priced for summer so this is an especially nice bonus savings. And a really
good way to freshen up your summer colorscape.
Garden Tip of the Month - Dividing Bearded Iris
Wait until after your tall bearded irises have finished blooming to dig up any clumps that are in
need of dividing and transplanting. The plants go semi-dormant after they flower, so you
can move them without much problem.
If your schedule is flexible, it's always easier on the plant if you can move it on an overcast
day when a rain shower looks promising.
You will find the irises are easier to transplant if you first cut the leaves back to about
12-inches with a sharp blade or pruner. This makes the plant easier to handle and helps it
recover faster if there happens to be root loss during the division.
The plants grow from rhizomes, which are just under the soil. Lift the rhizomes by working a spade
under them. Then remove the clump from the soil. Next shake off the soil or wash the rhizomes
with a garden hose. This will give you a better view of where to make the cut. With a clean,
sharp knife, separate the clump, dividing the rhizomes with 2 or 3 fans of foliage attached.
Now you are ready to plant. Prepare a hole 8 to 10 inches deep and work in some compost. In the
center of the hole create a mound of soil that rises almost to the top of the hole. Place the
rhizome on top of the mound and spread out the roots. Refill the hole until it just covers the
crown. After all the plants are in place, water them in.
Your newly transplanted divisions should bloom the following year.
