Well, if you read the title of the post you probably know. the first daffodil of spring. That means we need to start getting ready. It's time to put pre-emergent down to control weed in the lawn and shrub beds.

We recommend master's pre-emergent with fertilizer for the lawn and surflan spray for the shrub beds.

If your lawn doesn't need the pre-emergent I use Masters Fall and winter lawn fertilizer. This works even in cool weather.

If you haven't done your winter pruning you need to get out this weekend. Fertilize your shrubs and young trees and we still have time to get pansies in the ground for spring color.

the first daffodil is the sign spring is almost here!!!

This summer a good combination would be colorful Swiss Chard, curly parsley, some peppers and small fruited egg plant. Mix this with petunias, marigolds or Maybe nemesia and you have a vegetable garden that can be part of the main yard.

You can can have your view and eat it too!

Happy gardening.

Jungle Jim

At home I just fertilized my lawn with Masters Fall and Winter Feed. This is designed to get results in cold (California cold) weather. In addition I sprayed with Kleen-up to kill the weeds that have germinated since fall. If you have been having a weed control problem we recommend a pre-emergent applied now.

In the shrub beds I use surflan a spray on pre-emergent and in lawns we recommend Masters pre-emergent with fertilizer to control crab grass, spurge and other newly sprouting weeds. Weed control is an area where getting ahead of the game is critical for success!

My Magnoliaflora camellia is just starting to break. I am not sure why but the Magnoliaflora camellias in the nursery have been blooming for a couple of weeks. It my very favorite Japanese style camellia. A semi double with a blush pink bloom it is exquisite. This is a plant I gave Martha, my late wife, while we were at Modesto Junior College for a valentine present. I have been able to keep it with me for 5 houses. The last couple of houses I have kept it in a 36" plastic pot and sunk it in the ground. Before that I almost killed it moving. It took about 5 years for it to completely recover the last time I planted it directly in the ground.

Donna and I are still looking at the large juniper planting in front of our house. I am moving closer to taking them out now before we develop our courtyard behind them. My thought now is get the plants in the ground and let them grow before we finish the courtyard. Subject to change at any minute!

Jungle Jim

My tulip tree is in full bloom. Alexandrina magnolia is my favorite because it is so heavy blooming.

My Japanese maple is starting to stir and I can see the new buds pushing. My new fruit bush hedge has some trees that are starting to bud and even a couple of flowers. I have a banks rose that is showing buds starting. And my Bradford pears are starting to show color.

I had to mow my lawn for the first time in about 6 weeks and I had to water for the first time. I pulled a few weeds and fertilized my pansies. I noticed some growth in just one week.

I do use Kleen-up for weed control and Surflan to keep them from coming back.

From Monterey Bay Nursery

A completely different Lepto is a new variety called Dark Shadows. This is a larger growing form, up to 15 or 20’ tall and wide. It has masses of single white blooms in the spring but the main identifying feature is the striking foliage. Young plants are green with a burgundy red highlight. Older plants develop a purple cast that is striking. As leptos generally, it prefers spots that have reasonably good drainage and avoid too much water.

from Monterey Bay Nursery

We are carrying #7 size plants that are grown with a single trunk that is already developing the typical shreddy bark. I think this will make an interesting addition to our small tree collection. I have always liked the Interesting Leptospermum Laevagatum but customers were turned off by the hard looking foliage and the gray foliage. This has soft almost needle like foliage with an arching - weeping habit of growth. I think it is beautiful and Donna and I are looking for a spot to put it in our re-landscaping project in our front yard!

Springtime is creeping up on us and it's time to start thinking about what types Springtime is creeping up on us and it's time to start thinking about what types of fruits and vegetables you'll be planting this season. We are passionate about our tomato and vegetable selections and we're proud to say that we will be carrying a large selection of "New for 2007 " tomatoes as well as other new varieties of eggplants and peppers.

Some of the new tomato varieties being grown for us this year include Earl's Faux (a deep pink, 1 to 11/2 lb. pink beefsteak and winner of tomato tasting contests); Cherokee Chocolate (a 10 to 16 oz. mahogany colored tomato that explodes with flavor) and Kimberly (a cluster tomato with flavorful 1 to 2 oz. red fruit on a heavy producing plant that has an extended growing period). We are also bringing back the Paul Robeson tomato, the winner of our 2006 Tomato Tasting and my personal favorite.

At Scenic Nursery, we like trying new things to assure that we have something for everyone. That's why this year we are going to be carrying over 10 different varieties of Asian vegetables including Bitter Melon, Juro-kusasagemae (Orient Wonder Yard Long Bean) and Thai Pi Eggplant. We will offer Chef Specialty Gardens that include plants for stir-frying and for Thai cooking.

Of course the early birds will get the best pick, so don't wait until the last minute. Come check out what's new for this year and pick up some tried and true favorites while you're here. We are your tomato and vegetable headquarters!!

Happy Gardening

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