J | Spring Home & Yard The Dallas Post April 14, 1999 For ten years, a team of expert horticulturists and home gardeners have evalu- ated entries and awarded the Gold Medal to superior plants that are both disease and pest resistant. Hardy from New York to Washington, D.C., each plant has The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Seal of Approval. To date, 61 plant selections have won this award. Five out- standing plants have been selected as 1998 Gold Medal Plant Award recipients. The Bottlebrush Buck- eye, Aesculus parviflora, is a low maintenance shrub whose large white summer flowers are set against a bold texture. Growing to 12' with a width of 15' in moist soil, Buckeye prefers partial shade and acid soil. It is also deer resistant. ‘Ruby Spice’, Clethra alnifolia, is the only pink blooming summersweet that will not fade to white. It will delight gardeners with rich pink flowers in July. Grown in moist soil, ‘Ruby Spice’, tolerates sun or shade, and works well as a specimen or in mass. Mahonia bealei is a striking evergreen shrub,’ adding a bold textural statement to any garden. Deer resistant, the plant will grow to 5' in part shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. Older plants bloom with chains of yellow flowers followed by blue berries. Schizophragma Hydrangeoides, ‘Moonlight’, is a noninvasive vine. It displays a silver variegation and will attach itself with no mechanical supports. ‘Moon- light’ tolerates sun or shade. It is a wonderful accent plant with white flowers blooming in June and July. Thuja, ‘Green Giant’, has a graceful texture and is a vigorous grower in any soil condition. A wonderful habit makes it ideal for use as an evergreen screen or specimen plant. It ultimately reaches a height of 75' with a spread of Gold medal award winners! Maximum impact/minimum maintenance 12-20. A visit to your local garden center or landscape profes- sional will provide you with the information you need to include these plants in your garden. Visit the Pennsylva- nia Landscape & Nursery Association’s (PLNA) website (www.plna.com) for more gardening and landscape ideas. You can also visit The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's website (libertynet.org/~phs). ‘Goldsturm’ black-eyed susan named Perennial Plant of Year The Perennial Plant Associa- tion (PPA) has named Redbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ (Goldsturm’ black-eyed Susan) the 1999 Perennial Plant of the Year. ‘Goldsturm’ blooms from July through September. It's 2-1/2 to 3-inch flowers feature bright yel- low rays surrounding a black eye. The plant reaches 3 feet tall and requires 1-1/2 feet of spacing be- tween specimens. It reportedly combines well with Sedum ‘Au- tumn Joy (‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop), Stokesia laevis ‘Omega Skyrocket’ (‘Omega Skyrocket’ stokes aster) and Pennisetum alopecuroides (Chinese pennisetum). Hardy in zones 3 to 9, ‘Goldsturm’ prefers full sun or partial shade. It grows well in any average garden soil and report- edly doesn’t have any significant pest or disease problems. ‘Goldsturm’ is a seed- propa- gated strain that should be sown at temperatures between 68 and 77 . Some germination may oc- cur after two or three weeks, but a subsequent three- to four-week cold period with temperatures be- tween 25 and 40 is necessary to initiate development. Be sure to visit the Pennsylva- nia Landscape & Nursery Association's (PLNA) website (www.plna.com) for more gar- dening and landscape ideas. Or, visit your local garden center or landscape professional. PPA is an international professional as- sociation which disseminates in- formation of benefit to the public regarding the use and care of perennials. pruce Up with a New Window Treatment! Stock & Custom Shades Your Home for Spring Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18702 824-5733 BEST PRICES ON LouvreDrape Custom Vertical Blinds * Horizontal Blinds * Wood Blinds ¢ Custom Scalloped Shades & Clutch Roller * Pleated and Honeycomb Shades * Roman Fold Shades * Basswood or Vinyl Porch Shades e Much, much more! 587 Hazle Street MasterCard Dallas Nursery and Landscaping By Nick & John Stredny ¢ Since 1954 “From Rough Grade to Finished Landscape” DESIGN + INSTALLATION MAINTENANCE EXECUTIVE GROUNDS CARE WEEKLY OR SEASONAL FREE ESTIMATES * FULLY INSURED MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, DALLAS 6/5-1152 RESIDENTIAL ¢ COMMERCIAL ¢ INDUSTRIAL C Cost Efficient * Durable Attractive ° * Versatil A MORTARLESS, STACKABLE CONCRETE BLOCK RETAINING WALL SYSTEM Spring Home & Yard The Dallas Post April 14, 1999 § 1 Begonia Begonias are available as tubers in early spring and as bedding plants in late spring through summer. In most parts of the country, plants grown from tubers, as well as plants that have been lifted and stored over winter, should be started indoors. They should be planted out into the garden after the threat of frost has past. They will flower 12 to 15 weeks from start-up. Starting Tubers Indoors Select tubers that are firm to the touch. : 1. To get earlier blooms, start begonias growing in- doors about six weeks be- fore your planting-out date, the date in your area when the threat of night frosts is past. Choose clean con- Lush tainers (at least 2-3 inches deep) with a drainage hole. Good drainage is essential. Use a commercial potting soil mixed with equal parts peat moss and a drainage material such as sand or perlite. 2. Place tubers in the soil mix with the rounded sides pressed gently onto the surface of the soil. Cover with about ~ inch of soil. Space the tubers about 2-3 inches apart. , velvety begonia light up the shade with colorful flowers in the ymuuiest hues of rose, red, pink, apricot, orange, white and bi-colors. 3. A warm humid setting is optimal for promoting growth. Keep soil moist, but not wet. Never let it dry out completely. 4. When shoots reach 6-inches tall, transplant the begonias to the garden or outdoor containers. (By this time, the threat of frost should be past.) Tuberous Bego- nias in the Gar- den or Containers 1. Tuberous be- gonias also may be planted directly into the garden. 2. Keepin mind, they do not like hot sun. In warm cli- mates, place plants in beds that receive filtered, indirect sunlight. Keep away from direct sunlight, midday heat, and out of the wind. In cooler. cli- mates, direct morn- ing and afternoon sun is okay, but avoid windy areas. Wind can dry out the plants. 3. Most upright- flowering plants will need staking. Be careful not to damage the roots with the stake. Apply ties gently to prevent stem injury. 4. For container plantings, tuberous begonias do not like much root space. Depending on the size of the plant, an 8-inch pot is plenty large for individual plants. Keep sun and heat re- strictions in mind when selecting a location. (Hanging baskets are especially susceptible to being dried out in a windy location.) 5. ‘Keep moist, but don’t overwater. Never let the soil dry out. Water the soil only and not the plant. A light application of houseplant fertilizer is recom- mended about once a month. 6. Pinching leggy plants pro- motes stronger stems and better flowers. The time to pinch (nip off extra or too-long stems) is when plants are developing. Keep the strongest three stems and nip off any others. Potted showpiece be- gonias look best with fewer (thus s beauty regimen: Warm, moist, not too much sun larger) flowers, so pinch off early developing flowers (until the plant reaches 10 inches) to promote sturdy growth and fewer buds. For bedding plants, pinch off only the first few buds as flower size is less important as mass display. 7. In fall when night frosts hit, begonia season is over. Either bid begonias adieu as annuals or, prior to a killing frost, lift the tubers for over-winter storage. To store: after letting the tubers dry off for several days, layer them in peat or vermiculite in a cool dry place (45 to 50 F). In spring, replant plump, healthy tubers. 2186 Parrish Street, Wilkes-Barre WHEN THE NEED ARISES: The good service you deserve is only a phone call away! Phone: C.W. SCHULTZ & SON INC. Famous for quick response to emergencies and prompt professional attention to every assignment! PLUMBING « HEATING + AIR CONDITIONING WATER TREATMENT « SEWER & DRAIN CLEANING Repair « Maintenance ¢ Installation The Service Experts Since 1921! C. W. SCHULTZ & SON INC. Phone: 822-8158 « FAX: 824-8509 KETTELL'S GREENHOU VEGETABLES & HERBS You can find a wide selection of vegetables growing in our greenhouse. Many of Harris Seed Company exclusives are featured in our selection. HANGING BASKETS It is surprising the importance hanging baskets have become. It seems every porch has a hanging basket on it. You can find hanging baskets cascading with vibrant color in our greenhouse. ANNUALS Annuals account for the biggest share of what we grow. Their great popular- ity is due to the fact they bloom all summer long with continue bloom. The selection of color, form, texture and height all add to their appeal, giving the creative gardener much to choose from. OPEN MONDAY THRU SATURDAY | A J 81006.4:30 1" POTTED PLANTS We offer a large selection of container gardens. These are already planted. They make a perfect addition to a deck or patio. PERRENIALS Perrennials are plants the survive through out the winter. They do not need to be planted every year. Although, most have a short blooming period. This problem can be relieved by picking varieties with stagering flowering periods or filling in with large potted annuals. Kors 0. RRI Box 103 Falls, PA 18615
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