Cinnaminson Nurseries

How not to be a plant killer

2010-07-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

A common fear I hear from customers is that of killing plants. Sure. Makes sense. Quality plants aren't cheap and to lose something that costs a small fraction of your paycheck hurts both the psyche and the wallet. Reduce your risk considerably by following a few basic steps.

Soil/Nutrients:
Buy a soil test kit, follow the directions, amend the area accordingly if need be.

Light:
Take note of the sun and its location in relation to your new plant(s). Generally plants requiring full sun need about 6 hours of direct light per day. The most intense light is around noon on. Earlier light is less intense and could be considered part-sun.

Water:

Soaker Hoses run under the mulch in this Delran 'scape

The biggest killer is lack of water. Make sure you can water things on a regular basis. Allowing water to slowly permeate the surface is best to prevent run off. Set a hose to trickle for an hour at the base of new plantings to really soak deeply. For larger areas, consider a soaker hose.

Texture and subtle color

2010-07-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

Just did a driveway planting using Belgian Block as an edging. The plants used were Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (Picea punges 'Globosa Nana') as a stand alone specimen, Cotoneaster 'Tom Thumb' clustered underneath an existing Flowering Dogwood, and Pieris 'Scarlet O'hara'. It's all tied together with colorized black mulch. Very clean looking for those customers who want low maintenance.

Spring 2010

2010-03-13T05:31:00.000-08:00

FYI, we're open... kinda. This time of year is always fickle with weather. A few warm days and people are stopping in. Then the cold, rain, or snow returns and they're back to hibernating.

In the mean time, take stock of your landscape. Roughly sketch your home and property. No need to be specific or detailed. Write down your landscape thoughts and goals, too. Ready to block out your neighbors with a privacy screen? Did something get damaged from the recent heavy snow and you're not sure if it's going to come back? Maybe it's time for that Evening Garden you thought would be so nice to relax in.

Save everything in a manila folder. This is now your landscape journal. It's important to have. Keep track of your plants, tags, ideas, and thoughts. A journal will also serve you well when it's time to talk to a professional.

As you can see, mine is a 9 x 12" sketchbook. I'm usually pasting interesting landscape scenarios from magazines and sketching plants during downtime. I'm not concerned with looks so much as I'm just keeping track of ideas.

Good luck and I'll see you soon at the nursery.

Dan

'Crimson Prince' Japanese Maple

2009-10-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Probably the nicest Fall foliage Japanese Maple we've seen in a long time. Spectac!

Saturday 8-22-09 Closed Due to Rain

2009-08-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

The rain sucks for business but is a blessing for our inventory. It's also a blessing for your landscape. Conserve water by adding rain barrels to your gutter system. They collect rain water that would otherwise likely end up in storm drains. Soaker hoses can be added to the barrels so you can slowly discharge the water into your landscape and subsequently into underground aquifers. Bonus for you AND our dwindling water supplies! Learn more on rain barrels.

Watering in August

2009-08-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Watering is the single most important factor in a healthy landscape. Water travels to the roots of plants picking up nutrients along the way. Without water, plants languish and become drastically stressed, resulting in disease and insect infestation.

Soaker Hoses

The best, most cost effective way to water is to set up soaker hoses in your landscape beds. Running these soft, spongy hoses around the root zone of each plant (double looping for larger plants) is effective at slowly soaking the soil while minimizing water run off and evaporation.

Duration

Water for around an hour a day during hot stretches in the summer depending on your soil. Heavy clay soils tend to hold moisture longer than sandy ones, so judge accordingly. Make sure to run a six foot section of regular garden hose from your spigot to the soaker, as installing a soaker hose directly to the spigot can cause water to get dangerously close to the foundation.

Timers

Automatic timers are also available for soaker hose systems. This model is available from Hope Depot online. http://tinyurl.com/nzgska

Making Life Easier

Before setting up the soaker hoses, unravel them (make sure the washers don't come out; they are important), stretch the hoses with a partner to release any "memory". This makes laying them much easier.

You may need to pin the soakers in place. Coat hangers or thick wire (utility markout flags are ideal) are great for holding the hose in place as your winding them through your beds.

Slopes
Water pressure decreases with distance and elevation. Make sure to account for these factors as a single spigot probably wont have the pressure to make it a great distance.

2009-08-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

This Variegated Dwarf Weigela has been a solid seller for us. And it's pretty easy to see why. Bright yellow leaf margins couple with sporadic pink and white blooms through summer. Ideal for well drained soils.

Welcome

2009-08-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Snapped this photo this morning while getting ready to open. It pretty much sums up what we try and do here: Great Plants

Welcome to our blog.

(PS, that's a Horse Chestnut [Aesculus parviflora])