| Hostas | Books |
| Now | Mints |
| Gifts | Pesticides |
| Organics | Habitats |
Hosta Gardening in Texas
Hostas are popping up all across Texas! These diverse groups of plants are grown in many of the most renowned gardens in America. Their lush foliage has added beauty in shade gardens and their fragrant blooms evoke romanticism in even the most callus of gardeners. If you have decided to add them to your Texas garden here are nine things you need to know about growing Hostas in Texas.
Top 10 Hostas For Texas Gardens
For more information on Hosta Gardening in Texas be sure to attend Hosta Weekend, May 23 and 24 at North Haven Gardens. We'll have a Hosta lecture on Saturday at 10:30 and hosta experts will be on hand to answer any questions. If you have hostas in your garden now and have forgotten their names bring a leaf and we can ID it for you. Look for the special collectors' section were serious Hosta gardeners can select those hard to find varieties.
Hosta growing tips
The long growing season in Texas takes a toll on Hosta foliage.
Just cut the foliage back and fertilize to regain new growth for fall.
Hostas love to eat. Fertilize with a slow release, high nitrogen fertilizer.
Hostas don't mind wet feet and they resent going dry.
Now's The Time
Plant:
Caladium bulbs, summer bedding like Periwinkles, Lantana, Marigolds, etc.
Summer vegetables like Squash, Okra, Melons.
Fertilize:
Tomatoes, Azaleas after blooming.
Prune:
Spring blooming shrubs and climbing roses after blooms are gone.
Pests:
Sun Spray Ultra Fine Oil for Lace Bugs, Spider Mites and Scale.
The Gift Corner
Gift giving for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation and weddings— it's a great time for shopping at North Haven Gardens.
Take time to look at the new botanical design jute rugs. They come in several designs and two sizes (three by eight-foot runners and four by six-foot area rugs). We have a great collection of Toland rugs and mats in many bright summer designs. These add a special touch to entry patio or garden room.
Moms and Dads who garden would enjoy a basket of garden gloves, tools, and a sampling of organic products. Add a few packets of botanical interest seeds (these are untreated, environmentally safe seeds). Add a gift certificate or some plants and you are sure to have the perfect gift.
Our book nook is a treasure of books for the gardening enthusiast. The following is a sample: ‘The Japanese Garden’, ‘Monet's Garden’, ‘One Hundred Garden Designs’, ‘Antique Roses’, ‘Penelope Hobhouse Garden Design’, ‘Mother Nature's Herbal', ‘The Hummingbird Garden’, ‘Native Texas Gardens’ by Sally Wasowiski (maximum beauty with minimal upkeep).
We have enlarged our collection of beautiful teak furniture. There are many new designed for the garden area or garden room.
A new supply of antique ‘Church’ bird houses are here. These are built out of used boards and antique knobs and trim. If you are looking for a special piece to decorate the garden, this may be just the touch you are looking for.
We continue to offer a great selection of decorative containers. To complete our ceramic plant container collection, we have added several small metal trellises to hold that favorite vine.
Just remember at North Haven, all your gift needs is waiting for you. If you can't make up your mind – get a gift certificate. See you soon at North Haven!
The Organic Approach — It's a Good Thing
Interest in organics is everywhere. From the grocery store to the garden center, the range of organic foods and products is growing rapidly. The explanation is simple–the organic approach makes sense. It works because it's based on working with nature to promote life and health. It's a good thing!
There are four basic principles that explain what organic gardening is all about:
It's About the Soil! The soil is the heart and soul of the garden. Every success depends on the health of the soil because the soil is alive! A handful of healthy soil contains 50 billion microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, mites, worms, etc. Their job is to break down the organic matter that falls on the ground and release from it the nutrients that make plants grow. This perfect system of growth, decay, nutrition, re-growth, is nature's way of sustaining plant life. Nature lets the soil feed the plants. How do we keep this process going in our gardens? Feed the microbes by continually adding organic matter to the soil. One way is to leave the clippings on the ground when we mow. Your grass will get about 25% of the nitrogen it needs by doing this. Also, add compost to planting beds each time you plant something. Compost is organic matter in various stages of decay. You can make our own or buy bagged products such as ‘Back to Earth’ or ‘Living Earth’. Just mix the compost about 50-50 with the native soil to create a nice healthy soil for your plants.
Plants also take in nutrients through their leaves. Foliar feeding provides an extra boost to keep plants healthy and resistant to insects and disease. When sprayed monthly or more often, foliar materials can produce dramatic results. These materials include fish emulsion, seaweed, compost tea, molasses, apple cider vinegar, humic acid, etc. To control insects and diseases, other materials may be added to the foliar tonic like garlic, hot pepper, Neem, or citrus oil.
Love It and Layer It! Mulch all bare soil. Mulch is critical because it provides a renewable source of organic matter to the soil, keeps the soil warmer in winter and cooler in summer, prevents soil erosion and soil compaction, and inhibits weeds. Good choices are shredded hardwood bark, Texas Cedar mulch, cypress mulch, or native tree trimmings.
Variety is the Spice of Life! Encourage biodiversity in the garden by planting different native or adapted plants side by side. The results is a more natural, relaxed look in the garden and a habitat for beneficial critters like toads, lizards, birds, and beneficial bugs.
Putting these organic principles in place in our landscape will result in healthy soil, plants, and an abundance of life in your garden. The organic approach is a good thing!
Source: Texas Organic Gardening by Howard Garrett (Available in our Book Department)
The Book Report
Now that spring is in full swing the time is here to get those plants from North Haven. Stop into our book section and get the right book to ensure those plants' success Our book section is well stocked with specialty plant books on bulbs, day lilies, ferns, hostas, camellias, ornamental grasses, sedum, hydrangeas, and succulents, and more.. At present, we have sixteen different books on roses alone, just to name a few. Garden books make perfect gifts!
We have specific plant books on garden design, garden topics, e.g., Arbors and Trellises. And a number of recent publications that are simply inspiring. All of us need a little motivation occasionally and these books are like a personal conversation with famous landscape authorities from all over the world. You can get the best advice available anywhere and keep it handy to read and re-read as much as you like.
Mint – Herb of the Year
Mint has been designated Herb of the Year for 1998 by the International Herb Growers Association. Mints have been used for centuries for flavoring beverages, food, and as a medicine.
Mints belong to the botanical family Labiatae. This huge family also includes other popular herbs such as basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, lavender, and oregano. Most of the true mints belong to the genus Mentha. They have hybridized so much in the wild that it is difficult to classify them.
One thing for sure it has been one of the most popular herbs for centuries. At North Haven Gardens, we carry over 20 different varieties of this delightful herb. One of the newest introductions is Banana Mint. It has a distinctive scent of bananas and can be used with fruit salads, fruit drinks, garnishes, or in potpourri. It combines very well with vanilla flavored dishes. So experiment with this new herb.
Another versatile mint in the landscape is Cunningham Mint, Mentha pulegium ‘Cunningham’. This is a miniature variety of Pennyroyal. Because it does not bloom, it stays very short which makes a compact mat. It is an excellent plant between stepping stones. It releases a mint fragrance as you walk on it. It will grow in sun or shade in moist areas. Like Pennyroyal, it repels fleas and mosquitoes.
Some of our other unusual varieties are: Chocolate Mint, Mentha piperita ‘Chocolate’, a variety of peppermint that has a wonderful chocolate scent. Pineapple Mint, Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’. This variety has beautiful green and white variegated leaves with a sweet fruity scent. This one is very nice cascading over a pot. It symbolizes hospitality and is great in cut herbal arrangements. Ginger Mint, Mentha x gentilis, has beautiful gold mottling in the leaves that disappear in the hot summers. It has a fruity fragrance and flavor with a hint of ginger. Try Ginger Mint with pineapple dishes.
Celebrate 1998 with our wonderful selection of fragrant mints. Mints are very easy to grow in sun or shade, in wet or well-drained soil. Just add a little compost to loosen the soil. But remember it is best to plant your mints in large containers and sink these in the ground. That way their vigorous runners do not invade your garden.
Come and experience all the heavenly fragrances and let your culinary imagination run wild.
Pesticide Safety
If you choose to use pesticides, please use them wisely, safely, and with caution. Use only when needed and according to label instructions. Before buying or using, Read the Label, as all pesticides are toxic and can be dangerous if used wrong. You can tell the toxicity level by the label:
Danger
means Highly ToxicWarning
means Moderately ToxicCaution
means Low Order or ToxicityUse the lowest toxicity possible for the problem. Pesticides can enter the body through the skin, mouth, and lungs, so always follow the label directions for safety precautions. Wear protective clothing if specified.
Keep pesticides out of reach of children and pets, and dispose of as prescribed on label. Don't spray or dust when heavy rain is predicted or winds are above 5 to 10mph. Use in early morning or late evening to protect bees. Do not spray when drift can go into areas where children play, in ponds, lakes, or streams. Incorrect usage can threaten our water supplies. Do not use on fruits and vegetables unless specified.
Use only the amount specified on the label. Pesticides are regulated by law and must be applied strictly according to label instructions. If not, you are risking injury to yourself, loved ones, and the environment. The user is always responsible for the effects of residue and any problems that can arise from drift to your neighbor's property.
Earth Friendly Landscaping
Continued population growth and urban sprawl has become an increasing threat to our country's natural environment. One way that can help reduce this threatening impact on the environment is by providing a natural habitat in our own backyards. It will attract birds and other wildlife and create a retreat that can help reduce the stress from our daily lives.
In 1973, the National Wildlife Federation has developed a program called the Backyard Wildlife Habitat to acknowledge and encourage individuals who garden for wildlife. This program encourages everyone - homeowner, teacher, and community leader - to plan his or her landscape with the needs of wildlife in mind.
This program outlines four basic elements that are necessary for a natural and healthy habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Food – Shrubs and trees provide fruits and seeds throughout the year for backyard wildlife. Some good choices are sweetgum, blueberry, bayberry, holly, viburnum, and cotoneaster. Perennials and annuals are planted to provide nectar for both butterflies and hummingbirds. Some choices can be bee balm, cardinal flower, trumpet and honeysuckle. Butterflies visit butterfly weed, butterfly bush, lantana, purple coneflower, garden phlox, zinnias, and Mexican sunflower.
Supplemental feeders provide nectar for hummingbirds and provide a variety of seeds for other birds.
Water – A birdbath provides water and a decorative touch. Small ponds provide an aquatic habitat for beneficial dragonflies, fish, newts, frogs, and other aquatic life.
Cover – Evergreens and shrubs provide year-round cover from weather and predators. Choices are yew, juniper, Austrian Pine, and hollies. Red Twig Dogwood, bayberry, vibernums, and cotoneasters are good shrubs for massing. Rock, log, and mulch piles offer effective cover for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and a great variety of insects that attract insect-eating birds.
Places to raise young – Nest boxes for bluebirds, chickadees, wrens, and purple martins can be place in your yard. Evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs provide additional nesting areas for birds. Aquatic animals deposit their eggs in the ponds. Butterfly eggs and caterpillars find safety among the herbs, flowers, shrubs, and trees of the habitat.
If you are interested in participating in The Backyard Wildlife Habitat program, you can get an information kit from National Wildlife Federation by either stopping by North Haven Gardens, or contacting National Wildlife Federation, Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia 22184-0001. Their website is
www.nwf.org. where you'll find all the information you need.