Home & Garden 040414 by Anton Media Group

HOME & GARDEN An Anton Community Newspapers Special Supplement • April 2 - 8, 2014

• Trees: Value-Booster Or Hazard? • Home Decorating: Perfect Inspiration • Impatiens: Why They’re Still A Bad Choice GENER AL’S ROW 325 Ellington Avenue, Garden City

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

THE REGENCY | OPEN HOUSE | SUNDAYS 11 AM - 3 PM | 260 CENTRAL AVENUE, LAWRENCE This is the pinnacle of living, let yourself indulge. You’ll experience luxury from the very moment you pull up to the valet and your 24‑hour doorman. The Regency achieves every buyer’s ideal by seamlessly coupling the benefits of a luxury hotel, with the warmth and comfort of home. Enjoy family and friends at any of the community meeting rooms from fitness to relaxation or extraordinary indoor/outdoor heated pool and spa tub. This glamorous retreat is an oasis of relaxation where our residents enjoy the finest things life has to offer. Just steps from all of the Five Towns and the Village of Lawrence, this incredible location has it all: beautiful parks, shops, fine dining and more. Built with extensive quality and care, our diligently created homes are designed with only the finest brands: Jenn‑Air, Bosch and Kohler, to name a few. Armed with an accommodating staff, the doorman, concierge and valet orchestrate your living experience to be one of utmost pleasure and leisure. Choose from several models that best suit your lifestyle and needs from one to three bedrooms. All available with exquisite wood trim, wood flooring, granite countertops, marble, stainless steel appliances (including two sinks and two dishwashers) and so much more. Near to NYC for work or play, village shopping, dining and entertainment. This is luxury that you have been dreaming of… luxury that you deserve. Price Upon Request Open Sunday through Friday Call On-Site Sales Office 516.592.5670 www.theregencyatlawrence.com *THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS ARE IN AN OFFERING PLAN AVAILABLE FROM THE SPONSOR. | 110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY, 11746. 631.549.7401 | © 2014 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE, THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS ARE DEEMED RELIABLE, BUT SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. PHOTOS SHOWN MAY HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

Keep Your Shady Garden Bright And Beautiful BY KAREN MUSGRAVE

editorial@antonnews.com

Above: Hosta and astilbe. At right: Sonic salmon colored New Guinea impatiens.

It’s easy to see why impatiens have long been the go-to plant for shady gardens; they are bright, beautiful and full of color. You may have noticed fewer impatiens the last few years or maybe your impatiens died suddenly and you don’t know why. This could be due to a devastating fungus named downy mildew. Although there is currently no cure for this disease, there are a multitude of other beautiful flowering plants you can use — many of which I think are even more beautiful than impatiens. First, let’s talk about the fungus. Downy mildew is an airborne fungus that spreads by the “splashing” of spores by rain or overhead watering. It is prevalent across the country and has been found across Long Island in many places including Oyster Bay, Riverhead and Manorville in 2013. Early symptoms include yellowing or stippling of the leaves or a white, downy-like color on the underside of the leaves as well as stunting of growth. Advanced symptoms include a grayish, fuzzy substance on leaves and stems. Leaf and flower drop eventually results in bare, leafless stems.

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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The disease spreads most commonly when the foliage of impatiens stays wet for extended periods of time and there are cool night temperatures and moist conditions. Therefore, areas of deep shade, beds that receive overhead watering and densely planted beds are more highly susceptible to downy mildew. Once the disease is identified remove all of the plants and plant debris (leaves, flowers, etc.) from soil and containers. Spores can overwinter in the plant debris so the removal is imperative to help limit future spread. It is not recommended to plant impatiens in that location for several years. Chemical treatments are not recommended as most are ineffective. To help reduce the spread of diseases in your flower beds, be sure to follow the spacing requirements found on the plastic plant tag and water beds with a soaker hose or during early morning hours only. Please be aware that downy mildew only affects impatiens walleriana, which is what most of us know as a traditional impatien. New Guinea impatiens and Sunpatiens have proven to be highly tolerant to the disease. It is okay to plant flowers (other than impatiens walleriana) in the same soil. They cannot “catch” downy mildew. Now on to the fun part. There are many other beautiful flowering plants that thrive in shade. Instead of creating a garden bed full of only one type of plant — get creative and try something new! Mix together plants of different sizes, colors and textures to create interest. Some of our favorite annuals include: Wax Begonias are a popular oldtime favorite and grow 8-16 inches tall. They grow well in a multitude of conditions from shade to full sun and require little maintenance.

‘Big’ & ‘Whopper’ Begonias grow up to 36 inches tall and can handle sun to shade conditions. These varieties are hybridized for long lasting color and have twice as many blooms are standard begonias. You may have noticed them planted in the Hicks Nurseries’ parking lot last summer. Caladium are a great tropical foliage plant for containers or border plantings growing 18-24 inches tall. They are available in pinks, reds and whites with multiple levels of variegation. Caladiums are best for part to full shade. Coleus is available in dozens of sizes from low growing 1-2 foot tall plants all the way up to 4 foot tall. The many different colors, shapes and sizes mean you can use coleus all over the garden. Torenia is a great blue/purple colored flower for the landscape and is also available in pink. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for hanging baskets or the edge of a large pot. This annual blooms all summer in part to full shade and grows 8-10 inches. New Guinea Impatiens are a cousin of regular impatiens and are NOT affected by impatiens downy mildew. They perform well in sun or shade gardens and produce a larger plant and blooms than normal impatiens so you need to plant less plants. And let’s not forget about perennials. Sometimes gardeners tend to plant annuals year after year because that’s just what they have always done; but there are some beautiful perennials out there. Try heuchera, hostas or astilbe for a pop of color that comes back year after year. Visit www.HicksNurseries.com for information about downy mildew on impatiens and the many other plants you can use instead. Karen Musgrave is the marketing and education specialist at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury.

HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

Trees: Adding Value Or Added Hazard? BY ANTON NEWS STAFF

editorial@antonnews.com

costly repairs. Homeowners should be on the lookout for signs regularly that your tree could be at risk for failure. Walsh Brothers arborists suggest homeowners should look out for the following: • Do you have large dead branches in the tree or have any branches recently fallen?

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• Are there detached branches hanging in the trees? • Does the tree have cavities or rotten wood along the trunk or major branches? • Are there cracks or splits in the trunk? • Are there mushrooms present at the base of the tree? • Have any adjacent trees fallen over and died? • Has the trunk developed a strong lean? • Have the roots been broken or damaged by installing pavement, lowering the soil level or digging trenches? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are not only putting the value of your home on the line, but the safety of your family and neighbors as well. “It’s important for homeowners to recognize that pruning is extremely important to a tree’s health and their function in your landscape,” continued Grilli. “Each cut into a tree can change the growth of the tree and shorten its life.” Spring presents the best time for pruning allowing experts to easily

spot diseased areas. When pruning for structure, young trees can be aided in developing a strong structure and desirable form. Pruning for aesthetics can increase the form and beauty of the tree while enhancing the structure of limbs and canopy. Finally, pruning for safety removes the chances of falling limbs and costly property damage and injury.

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While spring is finally here, homeowners are getting ready to clean out the cupboards and more importantly clean up their yards. According to the USDA Forest Service, “Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value.” In addition, a Money magazine study ranks recovery value of landscaping “First” among all home improvements, bringing as much as a 200 percent return on investment. “Trees provide significant value to communities, the environment and landscapes,” commented Paul Grilli, president of Walsh Brothers Tree Service in Westbury. “However, we have seen that they can be extreme liabilities when they become weak or diseased.” Proper care to trees is essential and should be viewed like any other necessary home improvement to maintain and increase your property value. Unhealthy trees can have severe consequences, costing homeowners when it comes to real estate values and property loss. As seen in recent storms that have passed through Long Island, unhealthy trees blew over in record numbers, causing substantial property damage, injuries, power outages and

HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

| GARDENERS CALENDAR Long Island Home and Garden Show Fri.-Sun., April 4-6 This annual event brings hundreds of exhibitors showcasing landscape and lawn supplies, hot tubs and outdoor kitchens, “green” energy options and more. Barbara Levine of the Long Island Horticultural Society will be presenting “Color in Your Garden” on Saturday and Sunday. Some of Long Island’s best professional organizers will be on hand to offer their tips for a clutter-free life. Local speakers will be joined by luminaries from across the country, including the notoriously snippy Jeff Lewis. At Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $10. Strollers welcome.

Kids & Family: Open the Door and Explore Sat. April 5 Bring your little buds for a sneak peek at what spring brings. Join our guided walk to view early blooming plants and delight in the timely change of seasons. At Old Westbury Gardens, from noon to 1 p.m. All ages. Free with admission.

Shady Summer Annuals Sat. April 5 Dr. Nora Catlin of Cornell Cooperative Extension provides a wealth of information on what’s new in shady summertime annuals, based on her extensive research. At 11a.m. and 1 p.m. This free lecture is hosted

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Dahlia Society Spring Luncheon Sun. April 6 A full sit-down menu is only the garnish; the main event is the social intercourse — and, of course, the “cup auction.” New items — including some tubers — and old treasures are donated, the raffle tickets are put in corresponding cups, and the winners are called between courses. It is a great way to donate any items you no longer need or win a new treasure. $38 per person. Cash bar. From 12:30 to 4:30 p.m at the Irish Coffee Pub in East Islip. Patrick Schlidt, hospitality chair, manages this event. To make a reservation call him during the day at 631-563-8787.

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Sun. April 6 Hops grower John Condzella of Condzella’s Farm, Rich Stabile of Long Island Spirits, and Duffy Griffiths of Crooked Ladder Brewing Company join forces in a presentation on “Hops and Brews,” part of the lecture series, “Long Island Grown: Food and Beverage Artisans at Work,” sponsored by The Peconic Land Trust. At Bridge Gardens, 36 Mitchell Ln., Bridgehampton, From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. $25 per person, $20 for members. Seating is limited, pre-paid reservations a must. Call Robin at the Peconic Land Trust at 631-283-3194, ext. 19.

The Mid Island Dahlia Society Mon. April 7 The Mid Island Dahlia Society will show you how to grow beautiful dahlias with a full explanation of best practices, including demonstration of several methods used by propagators to make cuttings. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Winthrop Hall Church of the Advent, 555 Advent St., Westbury. Free refreshments. For details, visit midislanddahlia.com or call 516-650-0595.

Bridge/Card Party Garden Fundraiser Mon. April 7 Come to Clark Botanic Garden for an afternoon of sandwiches, coffee, tea and dessert, followed by your favorite game, e.g. social bridge, canasta, mah-jong, Scrabble, etc. and raffle prizes. Tell your friends, organize your group of four, and send in the form on the back of this flyer with one check in the amount of $100. If you are unable to complete a table, we may be able to help. Starting at noon. $25 per person. Presented by the Clark Botanic Garden Auxiliary. Space is limited.

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

Maximize Your Harvest Despite Limitations BY MELINDA MYERS

editorial@antonnews.com

Increase your garden’s productivity even when space, time and energy are limited. Just follow these six simple planting, maintenance and harvesting techniques for a more bountiful harvest. Maximize your planting space with wide rows. Leave just enough room for plants to reach their maximum size. Make wide rows, 4 to 5 feet wide, so you can reach all plants for maintenance and harvest. Minimizing walkways means more planting space. Try interplanting. Grow short season crops like lettuce and radishes between long season crops like cabbage, tomatoes and peppers. The short season crops will be ready to harvest when the long season crops are reaching mature size. You’ll double your harvest and grow more vegetables, not weeds between your longer season plants. Grow more plants per row with succession planting. Start the season with cool season vegetables like lettuce and spinach. Once these are harvested and temperatures warm replace with beans and onions. Harvest these and plant a fall crop of radishes or lettuce.

When you use these intensive planting techniques, be sure to incorporate a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer at the start of the season. Then add a mid-season nutrient boost if needed. The slow release nitrogen won’t burn even during the hot dry weather of summer. Plus, it won’t interfere with

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flowering or fruiting. Go vertical. Train vine crops up decorative or functional trellises and supports. You’ll not only save space, but you will also reduce disease problems and increase the harvest. Growing cucumbers and melons increase light penetration and air flow, reducing the risk of fungal diseases. Pole beans are much easier to harvest and produce

an additional picking. Secure large fruited vegetables like melons to the trellis with a cloth sling. Be sure to plant vegetables in containers if in-ground space is limited. A 5-gallon bucket or comparable size container is perfect for a tomato. Peppers and eggplants will thrive in a bit smaller pot. Grow vine crops in containers and allow them to crawl over the deck or patio instead of valuable gardening space. Mix flowers and herbs in with your vegetables. You’ll increase the beauty while adding additional fragrance to the pot. Harvest often and at the proper time. Zucchini and other summer squash should be picked when 6 to 8 inches long or in the case of patty pan squash it reaches three inches in diameter. The flavor is better than those baseball bat size zucchini and you’ll have plenty to eat and share. Harvest your head of cabbage when firm and full size. Leave the bottom leaves and roots intact. Soon you will have four or five smaller heads to harvest and enjoy. With a bit of planning and creativity you can find ways to increase the enjoyment and harvest in any size garden.

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

Strawberry Fields Forever Homegrown berries are a gardener’s delight BY JOAN CASANOVA

editorial@antonnews.com

Homegrown strawberries are a billion times better tasting than the hard, rarely ripe, flavorless selection in the supermarket. Strawberries are cold-hardy and adaptable, making them one of the easiest berries to grow. While most fruit trees take several years to begin bearing, you can harvest your own strawberries the very first summer. And even if you live in an apartment or small home, you can grow strawberries in a container on your balcony, rooftop, patio, or even doorstep. If your horizontal space is limited, consider growing strawberries in a hanging basket or stacked planter, which will allow you to take advantage of vertical growing space as the strawberry plants tumble out over the sides. There are two main kinds of strawberries: june-bearing and ever-bearing varieties. June-bearing, bear all at once, usually over a period of about three weeks. Because of their earliness, high quality and concentrated fruit set,

June-bearers produce high yields of very large, sweet, extra juicy berries in late mid-season, which is usually late spring and early summer, depending on your geographic region. These are the best variety for preserving.

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“Ever-bearing” strawberries produce a big crop from spring flowers, set light flushes of fruit through summer, and then bloom and bear again in late summer and fall. Perfect for large containers or raised beds, where you can give them attentive watering and regular feeding. Bonnie Plants, available at most garden retailers, offers a good selection of ever-bearing strawberries including: “EverSweet” — this variety offers large berries ripening in abundance. Savor a long harvest, with fruits ripening from late spring until frost. “Quinalt” — the most popular variety of ever-bearing strawberry, offers large, soft, deliciously sweet fruit, ideal for preserves or fresh eating. And new this spring: there’s two compact varieties which don’t produce many runners, making them both perfectly suited for containers: “Tristan” —This eye-catching edible ornamental shows unusual pink blooms, which fade to form plump, sweet, medium-size strawberries. “Loran” — Pretty white blooms fade to form large, deep red, coneshaped berries on this ever-bearing variety. Fruits burst with sweet flavor. Harvest stretches all season long, with fruits ripening from late spring until frost. Timely Tips to ensure strawberry success: • When planting strawberries, be sure the crown is above soil level and the upper most roots are 1/4 inch beneath soil level, buried crowns

rot and exposed roots dry out. Strawberry plants should be placed approximately 14 to 18 inches apart from each other in neat rows that are separated by 2-3 feet each. Let runners fill in until plants are 7-10 inches apart. • Use mulch to keep berries clean, conserve moisture and control weeds. • If you want to keep it simple, plant strawberries in a container. Just remember that container plantings need much more water than in-ground plantings, usually once a day; and if it’s hot, twice. Strawberry pots are the obvious, best container choice for growing strawberries. You can fit several plants in one pot; just make sure whatever type of garden pot you use has good drainage. Strawberries have a relatively small root ball and can be grown in containers as small as 10-12 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep. However, the smaller the container, the more frequently you will need to water. Synthetic and light colored pots will keep the roots cooler than dark colors and natural materials that conduct heat. • Strawberries like well drained fairly rich soil, so be sure to add compost or other organic matter when preparing the pot or patch. • They need full sun, 6-8 hours per day, and frequent, deep soakings. They will grow in all zones and should be fed twice a year — when growth begins and after the first crop. You’ll need to feed them with a plant food. • Control slugs and snails by handpicking them off plants and prevent theft from birds by covering your patch with netting as the first berries ripen. Strawberries are one of the easiest and most delicious home garden fruits to grow. Try growing them with kids, plants produce fruit throughout the summer and children will love to pluck them right off the plant, wash and eat. If your kids have yet to plant and care for a fruit or vegetable, strawberries are a perfect choice for their first gardening experience. Kick off this gardening season — with your kids — and get growing strawberries. Bonnie Plants can be found at local retailers such as K-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Morton Village in Plainview, and Shoprite stores on Long Island. For information about growing strawberries visit www.bonnieplants.com

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

Bring Unexpected Ideas Into Your Home BY ANTON NEWS STAAFF

editorial@antonnews.com

A furniture showroom can give you more than just ideas for pieces to buy. The room itself can inspire you. Take, for instance, the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Signature Store at 1900 Northern Blvd. on Manhasset’s Miracle Mile. The 8,000-sq.-ft., two-level showroom, which has an official grand opening event on Thursday, May 1, from 6 to 9 p.m., is designed, the company says, to show “customers serene ways to integrate eclectic styles of furniture.” The key word is “serene,” amid soft white walls and floors, bright modular lighting and furniture settings showcasing the company’s design philosophy of making comfort the priority for look and feel, and mixing unexpected pieces to give each setting a unique, modern twist. This approach to design is given a book-length treatment in the new volume, Who We Are, a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book that celebrates the company’s 25th anniversary. The grand opening event benefits Long Island Cares, a local non-profit dedicated to feeding the hungry on Long Island. Visit LIcares.org for information.

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Home Decorating: The ‘Perfect’ Inspiration BY ANTON NEWS STAFF

editorial@antonnews.com

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It costs a lot of money and it is very complicated to have a professional decorator design the interior of your home, right? Wrong, says Georgia Katsoulis of Manhasset’s Munsey Park Décor (www.munseyparkdecor.com). “I tell my clients that making the house comfortable and personal doesn’t need to be expensive, you just need to find the right synergy to put it all together,” said Katsoulis, an interior designer who came to the business by way of a fine-arts background that first led her into fabric design and then to a career with Calvin Klein Home, as director of product development. “Working closely with Calvin Klein’s Creative Director taught me how one piece of artwork could inspire an entire collection of home products.” That notion of the inspiring piece also applies on the home level. “I love to help clients find that perfect piece of furniture, light fixture,

Georgia Katsoulis of Munsey Park Décor floor covering or accessory,” she said. Finding that perfect piece requires a keen eye for color, composition and balance of spaces. “All clients want the same thing — a beautiful home they can relax in and show to others, one that reflects their own personality,” said Katsoulis. “The key to building that is listening to their needs, finding their inspiration, and using that to spark the entire palette.”

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

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16B

HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

35 Things Every LI Gardener Should Know BY BEN PARRIS

editorial@antonnews.com

Home ownership can be a pain or a joy. Gardening season is here and time is short so let’s not kid around. There are 35 things you need to know right now. We kick off our compendium of tips with advice from Doug Ackerly of Hicks Nurseries, who says, “There are three common mistakes [in addition to the one we highlighted last time] that homeowners frequently make and they are all easily avoidable.” These are: 1. Prepare the soil — “One of the cheapest insurance policies is to purchase and use compost or a formulated planting mix. This gives the plant a real boost the first few years. Get a planting and maintenance guide from your local garden center.” 2. Purchase healthy plants — “This year, impatiens, which is a garden staple for most people, are not recommended on Long Island because there is a devastating disease called Downey Mildew, which has wiped them out. Look for our list of replacements and exciting combinations which will thrive in your gardens.” 3. Water properly — “A slow, deep watering is necessary once per week to get the roots established for long-term success. An automatic sprinkler system is just not adequate and must be supplemented with a more substantial system. Most reputable garden centers offer a warrantee, but who wants to plant the same plant twice? The best warrantee is one you never use.” Thanks Doug! And that brings us to: 4. Mind your drainage — Just as too little water is a problem, so is too much. If moderate rains bring persistent puddles, you may have a layer of clay below your soil. Adding organic matter will bring it closer to balance. 5. Protect your foundation — Water in your basement can come from cracks in the foundation that need to be sealed, though experts tell us that it is also a prime indicator of something called negative grade, where part or all of your land slopes towards the house. Any arrangement that allows water to pool against the house can invite foundation damage as well as our other urgent reason for addressing the problem6. Don’t have a landscape that favors termites — One of the worst Long Island problems is the persistence of termites. Water flowing toward your house from a negative grade, particularly when it seeps into the walls, is an invitation that helps termites thrive. If

the soil around the house has settled for any reason, and reversed the grade from positive to negative, you may have to dig up plants and replant them (adding soil on top of a plant’s roots will suffocate it). Buy a test kit for any soil you intend to add to make sure it’s safe. 7. Get multi-season appeal — A tour of Long Island reveals way too many single bloom gardens; one burst and they’re gone. Dominic Abbatiello of Lewis and Valentine Nurseries of Glen Head says, “If you choose well, you’ve got your azaleas, rhododendrons and

hydrangeas (shown above), crepe myrtle’s blooms will last a long time, and you can enjoy Montauk daisies in the fall. There are species within these choices that come out at different times.” 8. Mind your microclimates — When a growing location on our grounds doesn’t produce, we often blame the soil, and variations in pH will certainly weigh in, but the fact is there can be microclimates anywhere, depending on the contours of your space, places where the conditions are significantly different from the rest, even mimicking those of another

state. The most reliable rule, however, is that the south side of the building gets more sun because of the arc of its travel in at our latitude. 9. Know your tree and garden relationships — Microclimates don’t just occur because of the contours and exposures of your property. You help create them when you plant your trees (or perpetuate them when you preserve those trees). Observe and learn where locations are sunny or blocked at various times of day.

see KNOW on page 17B

HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

KNOW from page 16B 10. Be harmonious — One of the most basic pitfalls is going out and falling in love with particular flowers before determining what colors will go where. There are color guides that can tell you what is most pleasing to most people, but taste is always personal, and you’ll want to match them properly. 11. Let there be scent — Yes, the look, but also the smell. And we’re not just talking about flowers. Depending on how sensitive your nose is, you may be able discern a vast range of fragrances even from one species of plant to another, particular those known for their ability to produce fragrance such as mint. The same rule as above, regarding color, applies. When fragrance matters, make sure each is pleasant and will mix well with others before choosing entirely on looks. 12. Don’t let small flowers be wallflowers — Avoid placing the smallest flowers at the base of a tree or anywhere too close to the ground where their impact is diminished. Instead, show off miniature flowers in tall containers. Perhaps you haven’t done this before because you realize that for tiny plants most of that soil is a waste. One solution is to repurpose inverted soda cans to create safe and solid empty space inside the large containers where there would have been dirt. Rinse the cans out first. 13. Find more ways to go small — If not potted, those diminutive flowers you admire can be the front row accent for increasingly tall lines of plants. Avoid water feature disasters — Many a gardener’s greatest aspiration is to have the amazing touch that only a water feature can provide. Whether you are doing it yourself or contracting the job you want to know what works and what doesn’t. 14. Shape to your needs — Experts tell us to begin with a heavy butyl rubber lining in order to control the size and shape. 15. Balance it up — Make sure that you introduce only a balanced ecosystem. Use aerating plants such as water milfoils and add a fountain. Add fish to clean up the excess nutrients. 16. Provide for your plant’s survival — Make sure water lilies can thrive by giving them their preferred depth of 12 – 36 inches. Put them on shelves if necessary; and 17. Make it look natural — by adding edge softening flourishes like ferns, grasses and hostas. 18. Be systematic about all major changes — Whether you are doing an entire landscape makeover or adding a single tree, these actions will have

long term effects, so yes you really do have to measure all spaces rather than estimate them. 19. Don’t mix trees with wires — Trees grow faster than you think. Mind where you plant trees and know how they tend to grow. If you plant them under wires, your municipality may one day trim them in a very unattractive (i.e. practical) way. Begin with the outline of your house and work outward. 20. Prune trees right — pruning trees early in their life cycle is much easier than it will be later when the branches grow thick, and there are many reasons to do so. Direct branches to the outside for better air circulation (that means thinning the ones pointed inward). Trim low branches that hide a beautiful trunk or make mowing difficult. 21. Prune shrubs always — Many shrubs in Long Island gardens are highly sensitive to having their light blocked by their own upper branches.

Shrubs kept top heavy often end up with denuded lower branches where recovery time can range from years to never. 22. Don’t block windows with shrubs — Too many Long Island homes look like they’ve gone into hiding. As undesirable as it is to lose your windows, it’s also less attractive. Finding out the potential height and/ or spread of your plants is important in any case, but your intent is to hide the foundation and accent your entrance and windows, you want your shrubs to stay within the range you expect without making that endeavor a losing battle for you. 23. Walk this way — Some gardeners in their eagerness to plant and grow forget how much an attractive walkway can add to the beauty of all your projects. The mistake is to pave a narrow path in a rigid grid. A well-designed walk allows room for side-by-side strolling and widens when it reaches the driveway or the

17B street. Don’t hug the house with it; there should be room for plantings on both sides. Do it in style with artistic curves to lengthen and enhance every visit. 24. Light it like a museum — Beyond the pathways, go for artistic highlights and shadows. 25. Get a quick screen up — If you need to close off an unattractive or undesirable view in a hurry, try wire mesh between posts adorned with flowering vines. Or put lattice slats into or over an existing chain link. Ground cover magic — Long Islanders love grass; we use so much of it that most of us are not as acquainted with ground cover as we should be and either don’t realize that there are places where it makes better sense than grass or we misuse it in the worst ways. We have five things to say about it: 26. Help the environment — Comparing ground cover plants to a carpet of grass, it provides significant reduction in pesticides, waste, water, and the noise and pollution of mowing (not to mention labor). 27. Know your prime locations — Steep slopes, soften hard-tomow curves and edges, fill in between trees, between and around hardscape features such as walks or individual stones, and perpetual muddy areas. Slopes have the additional problems of being hard to water and problematic in terms of rapid erosion of your valuable soil. Ground cover forms a thick network of roots the capture soil and water more easily. 28. Beautify — Ground cover doesn’t have to be used only for problem areas. It can provide an astounding array of options for color, texture and height. Lavender, for example, makes a great border, but mixing two plants to enrich each other’s colors and tones such as grayblue lamb’s ears with any similar sized green leafed plants will be striking in its own way. And flowering vines are especially good for camouflaging rough spots. 29. Crowd out weeds — A great use for ground cover is underplanting shrubs to prevent the formation of weed beds, but other areas can benefit from this treatment too. If you’re going to do ground cover and you’re more worried about beating out weeds than the expense, you might want to speed it up by buying more plants initially. Ground cover is not susceptible to stress from crowding problems; it simply spreads until it bumps up against the next plant. Make sure that the more aggressive covers are contained within strong boundaries, and avoid using highly aggressive ones at all.

see KNOW on page 18B

18B

HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

KNOW from page 17B

can be safely buried eight to ten inches deep to minimize animal access; cats do not like to walk on chicken wire laid across the soil and the plants won’t mind it at all. 32. Self-watering planters — help cut down on your maintenance labor. A concealed subirrigated pool allows you to water less often because the reserve collected in the reservoir below is “SIPped” by the plant with a straw or wick with which it gradually draws its water and nutrients They also come in the form of window boxes. 33. Lightweight planters — can be

30. Plant native, not invasive — this is not a comprehensive list but the following ground covers, attractive or not, can leave you with big regrets for a variety of reasons: Porcelain berry, Japanese barberry, mock strawberry, periwinkles, English ivy and variegatum. These will climb or be carried by animals beyond any boundaries you attempt. Check with your gardening centers to find out more. 31. Garden in harmony with animals — daffodils are undigestbable; tulips

large and attractive with a variety of textures while having the virtue of being lightweight and therefore easy to take home, and once there, rearrange to perfection. They come in fiberglass and other materials. 34. Consider our winters — If you want perennials — plants that come back every year — you may have heard of zones, such as Long Island’s Zone 7. These are winter hardiness measures, in our case meaning it’s fairly reliable that temperatures don’t get below zero here. While they rule out certain plants on the cold end of the spectrum, they

don’t rule them in at the same time. Past that, you will need to address other considerations. 35. Annuals can be king — Norma Gattulli from Oyster Bay’s Dodds and Eider says, “You can have your tropical paradise at home this year.” Because tropicals can survive as annuals! “Right after Mother’s Day you can theme it up with the hot colors of exotic realms. Hibiscus, cannas, oleanders, banana trees, elephant ears, palms, Mandevilla vines, and spectacular spiky flowers called birds of paradise come pre-potted or plantable.”

HOME & GARDEN DIRECTORY

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HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2 - 8, 2014

19B

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Celebrating over 160 years. Special Sale Store Hours: Thursday–Sunday 8am -8pm 100 Jericho Tpke., Westbury, NY | 516-334-0066 www.HicksNurseries.com | facebook.com/HicksNurseries Discounts do not apply to previously purchased merchandise. All discounts are off regular prices. 112624