May 2010 Newsletter©
New and Cool Plants and
Other Things You Should Know
No, you didn’t miss the April newsletter…there wasn’t one (and this one will be brief). Normally in late March or early April there is a cold, rainy day to write the newsletter. Remember the last three years we’ve had an April 15th frost or freeze. Not so this year. It went from cold, to spring, basically over night. There’s been no time for writing, no time for house calls and barely anytime to sleep. However, I don’t want to sound ungrateful; we needed a good April after the worst January and February I can remember.
It’s raining now (or there might not have been a May newsletter) and boy has it rained. I’ve had over 8” of rain at my house in Bartlett in the last 36 hours.
We’ve begun to see some of the damage and the surprises from this winter. Yaupon hollies have sustained some damage and yet Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis) appears to have come through unharmed. I would have expected the opposite. We’re also seeing some damage that I suspect was from the excessive moisture of late summer and fall. Normally July through October is fairly dry, the ground is warm and plant root growth is rapid. With the soil full of water instead of air, many plants that don’t tolerate summer moisture have begun to die this spring.
We’re seeing significant and early infestations of insects and diseases such as… fire blight in pears, azalea leaf gall on azaleas, leaf diseases and borers on fruit trees, scale on althea and euonymus. (This year is a nurseryman’s dream…good weather followed by lots of weeds, insects and diseases! Just kidding, but know that we are here, if you need help.)
MSMA News…
The latest ruling now allows dealers to sell existing inventory through the end of the year and allows applicators and homeowners to use the product according to label directions until it is gone. Here is a link to the University of Tennessee’s latest understanding of the EPA’s ruling if you’d like to read it.
http://www.tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org/admin/Lists/Fact%20Sheets/Attachments/15/W222redu.pdf
We’ve purchased some additional inventory of Drexar 530 and been able to lower the price, so with your VSF discount the cost per half gallon is $17.99.
Fertilize warm season turf (Bermuda, Zoysia, etc.) with a good quality turf fertilizer. Quality turf fertilizers have a little quick release nitrogen, but mostly slow release nitrogen along with sulfur and iron. Refrain from using high doses of quick release nitrogen in products like 13-13-13 or ammonia nitrate. These products cause excessive growth, which in turn, you cut off and this repeated process will thin your grass. Constant micro-doses of nitrogen is a much better way to feed your lawn if you are on a once a week mowing schedule.
You can seed bermuda grass now if you need to. If you put down a pre-emerge early, sow a handful of annual ryegrass first in the area and wait 7-10 days to see if it germinates. If it does, sow Bermuda, if not, water a couple times a week and try again in a couple weeks.
Here’s a sample of what’s new at Dan West.
Loropetalum Carolina Midnight – a new purple leaf cultivar from N.C. State University. Very deep purple foliage, deep red flowers (not pink) and it grows to about 6’ tall and wide.
Loropetalum Emerald Snow – New growth is emerald green becoming dark green with age. Pure white flowers in the spring on a compact plant to 4’ tall.
Gardenia Jublilation – A new compact cultivar that grows to 3’ tall. Beautiful, fully double, traditional gardenia flowers. Blooms consistently summer through fall, extremely fragrant.
Crimson Majesty Azalea – A southern indica azalea with purple foliage. This one grows to 5’+ wide and tall. Large 3” purplish red flowers.
Crimson Princess Azalea – Similar to above, even deeper purple foliage, but a very compact plant to 2’ tall and wide.
Both of the azaleas above are sports of Red Formosa. Protect them from hot afternoon sun and northwest winter winds.
‘Jelena’ Witch Hazel – An orange flowered cultivar that grows to 8’ tall and wide.
Two new Cityline Hydrangea additions:
Hydrangea Cityline Mars – A compact plant to 3’ with unique variegated flowers of magenta and white or blue and white depending on the pH of your soil.
Hydrangea Cityline Rio – Large blue to purple flowers on a 4-5’ plant.
More hydrangeas…
Hydrangea Let’s Dance Moonlight – A new reblooming Mophead cultivar to 3’ tall. Vigorous plant, large flowers, strong rebloomer, color varies pink to blue depending on pH.
Hydrangea Let’s Dance Starlight – A new lacecap reblooming cultivar to 3’ tall. Strong rebloomer, color varies from pink to blue depending on pH.
Hydrangea White Diamonds – A compact paniculata cultivar from Dr. Dirr at the University of Georgia. Bright white, upright flowers.
Echinacea tennesseensis – Our native coneflower.
Alocasia Jurassic Dark – A nearly black leaf form.
Verbena Princess Dark Lavender – A lavender Verbena similar in habit to Homestead purple.
Salvia Golden Delicious – A golden leaf variety of pineapple sage, great for hummingbirds.
Buddleja davidii ‘Blue Chip’ – The first of a new series of dwarf butterfly bushes known as the Lo & Behold series. Blue flowers and only 2’ tall.
Wisteria Niagara Falls – A white flowered form of Amethyst Falls wisteria. Not as aggressive as other wisteria.
The March challenge was mouse ear chickweed.
May’s challenge is to name this plant.
The contest ends on May 15th. Drop by either store to enter or you can email your entry to
questions@danwestonline.com.. One winner, selected from all correct entries, will receive a
$25 Dan West Gift Certificate.
Thanks for shopping with us at Dan West.