Gardener News 16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059
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Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities
April, 2013
GARDENERNEWS.COM
No. 120
It’s official: Jersey Grown brand for annual bedding plants
(TRENTON, NJ) ― The New Jersey State Board of Agriculture gave final approval of the expansion of the Jersey Grown program to annual ornamental bedding plants in January 2013, allowing growers to become licensed to use the Jersey Grown logo and market their plants as Jersey Grown for the first time. The Department worked with Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, Hunterdon County, last season on a Jersey Grown annuals pilot project, which was met with much success and excitement. To be identified as a Jersey Grown annual, plants must: have enough healthy roots to hold their root ball intact when removed from their growing container; have a canopy large enough to cover the soil when viewed from above and/or have a stem caliper large enough to support its normal canopy or floral display; should be no taller than three times the container depth; foliage should be in a normal state of growth and not overly hardened or stunted; shall be free of all disease, physiological defects, and physical injury; containers shall be free from the presence of any foreign plants (weeds, grasses, etc.); and each bedding plant package must have a care/culture tag and an identification (Continued on Page 7)
2 April, 2013
Garden Center direCtory
Gardener News
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April, 2013 3 Around The Garden By Tom Castronovo Gardener News
Happy Easter
Gardener News seeds sown 10 years ago
Please join me in celebrating the paper’s 10th Anniversary this month. Since germinating in April 2003, I never thought in my wildest dreams that the paper would grow into what it has become today. I must say that those were some pretty nifty “magical” seeds. Over the years, many of you have asked me about my background and how and why I created the Gardener News. Here we go. The first edition was a double April/May issue. The regular monthly editions began to blossom in June 2003. As a life-long “Garden State” resident, and a former landscape professional by trade, with family roots in farming, garden centers, nurseries and florists, I found it difficult, at best, to locate information on up-to-date gardening and landscaping information in print. After successfully completing a Master Gardener course, taught by Somerset County Agricultural Agent Nickolas Polanin and Somerset County Horticultural Consultant Joseph Gyurian, I recognized the need to assemble, publish and disseminate reliable and timely information to the gardening public in a friendly format. I think it was also my lifelong interest in gardening and a passion for environmental stewardship that led to the founding of the Gardener News, as well. These two gentlemen also taught me to take my experience and my unique ability to take complicated subjects and present them in a fresh, entertaining and easily understood style. This was soon noticed, even before the launch of the newspaper. After graduating the Master Gardener program, my first recurring television opportunity sprouted. From June 2001 to October 2008, I was featured as the “Backyard Gardener” on News 12 New Jersey every Sunday night and Monday. My two-minute segments featured eco-friendly gardening; landscape do’s-and-don’ts; lawn mower and equipment safety; tree, shrub and turf tips; picking and choosing fruits, vegetables and flowers; organic gardening; public gardens; pavers and hardscaping; and other gardening-related topics. News 12 New Jersey is the exclusive 24-hour local news cable channel dedicated to serving 14 counties in Northern and Central New Jersey. While the television appearances afforded me a level of exposure and public recognition, the Gardener News provided a forum where I could delve much more in-depth into gardening and agricultural topics, including those written by a wide array of people in the industry. The paper was a labor of love, and the efforts I put into it were returned greatly by others in the field. In January 2008, I was a featured guest on Daily Connections, an informative and entertaining one-hour talk show that airs on Ebru Television. Daily Connections covers topics on health, family and relationships, as well as home, gardening, beauty and fashion. Ebru Television airs on satellite networks. In June 2007, I was recognized for my “sincere appreciation and outstanding contributions and dedication” to the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. At the Rutgers Gardens annual dinner in December 2006, I was recognized with a “Media Specialist Award” in sincere appreciation for the time and talents contributed for the benefits of the Rutgers Gardens. In September 2006, at the 30th Anniversary of the Rutgers Home Gardener’s School, I received the Rutgers-Cook College Continuing Professional Education’s “Community Outreach Award.” I was also honored as the “Volunteer of the Year” by the Professional Landscape Alliance of New Jersey in 2005 and as the “Volunteer of the Year” at the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture in 2004. Throughout the years, I have been very fortunate meet some of the most influential people in the agricultural, gardening and landscape industry. On a national level, this includes Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture; Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture; and United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretaries Edward Avalos and Michael T. Scuse. Did you know that there are 3.28 million farmers in the country? And that each American farmer produces enough food to feed more than 144 people. By state, I’ve met South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers; Connecticut Commissioner of Agriculture Steven K. Reviczky; New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine S. Merrill; New York State Commissioner of Agriculture Darrel J. Aubertine; Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Walter Whitcomb; Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Ross; and Rhode Island Agriculture Chief Kenneth Ayars. Here in the Garden State, I’ve met three different secretaries of agriculture, the legendary Art Brown, Charles M. Kuperus, and the current Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. My highlight was meeting Al Murray, New Jersey’s assistant secretary of agriculture. I will tell you that everyone that works at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is tops on my favorite list. I’ve also met Paul Hlubik, the state executive director for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, Troy M. Joshua, who was the director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Troy is now chief of the Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch for the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service; Bob Goodman, who is the executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and executive dean of the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. I’ve met lots of other great folks at Rutgers as well. And over the years I have met landscape industry leaders, garden club leaders and New Jersey Farm Bureau leaders. Everyone associated with the paper is awesome. Thank you! I’ve also had the chance to meet many of the paper’s readers. Most of all, I’ve met and have become friends with all of the great columnists and writers in the paper, past and present. The most important folks to be recognized in this big 10th Anniversary celebration are the paper’s advertisers. Without them, the Gardener News would not have made it to the 10-year benchmark. Please try to support them in any way possible. In closing, I will tell you that each and every one of you who reads this paper, cover to cover, is the inspiration that drives me forward every month to bring you the best agricultural, gardening and landscaping information possible. Thank you! As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable. Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State. -Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.
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Gardener News
At this time of year in many school districts around New Jersey, students are beginning to learn about the life cycle of plants and such things as how to make compost, not in their school rooms, but hands-on in their own school garden – a veritable outdoor classroom. We are thrilled there has been a growing interest by school administrators, teachers and parents in developing school gardens. They have seen the many benefits for not only the children, but for the community as a whole. We are also seeing an uptick in the desire students have expressed in growing plants for food. It is life-changing for students to be able to become involved in a garden. They learn such things as sowing, cultivating and harvesting fruits and vegetables. They gain an understanding of fresh, local foods and learn recipes that can be derived from the food they have produced. They develop an appreciation for the environment and the wise use of soil, nutrients and water. They learn the benefits of plants to the environment, such as reducing the effects of pollution, as well. In some cases, the produce grown in a school garden is
transformed into a teaching garden. There is an enormous amount of resources at schools’ disposal. They can call Rutgers Master Gardeners, enlist the help of their local FFA chapter, or reach out to garden clubs. The New Jersey Farm to School Network frequently has seminars, webinars and workshops about school gardens. They are holding a conference on April 3 called “School Garden Champions: Creating Sustainable School Gardens.” Go to their website for more information www.njfarmtoschool.org. Just as Tom Castronovo, Executive Editor and Publisher of the Gardener News, says, “Every farm, garden and landscape begins with a vision…”
NJ Dept. of Agriculture By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture
School Gardens – Get Involved incorporated into the school meal program. In others, excess produce is donated to the hungry or even offered up for donations that are given to the local food bank. I have been on hand when the students have eaten the food they grew in their school garden. The salad that they ate that day was the star and the kids lined up to get their bowl of it, like they were lining up for a sweet treat. After all, a major goal of school gardens is to connect children to foods that nourish their bodies and help them make healthy food choices that will provide them with a lifetime of benefits. Just last fall during Jersey Fresh Farm to School Week, I visited the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School in Margate, the winner of the first annual New Jersey Farm to School Network and Edible Jersey School Garden of the Year Award. There, I saw
wide-eyed students becoming involved in a way that perhaps would not have happened a generation before. There was much excitement throughout the community. The school had broken the garden into specialized sections to which students could relate – a butterfly garden, a rain garden, and even a meditation garden. All this took place in a small, paved school courtyard that previously, it seems, was not used in a way that was all that appealing. With hard work and extraordinary imagination coming together, this enclosed space became a vibrant hub where students could learn and congregate. It was not just a lesson plan, it was, in fact, a source of inspiration that will remain with these children. I know that because they told me. This was a true partnership between the administration, teachers, parents, students and residents who wanted to help.
Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!
It’s in the news
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Television veteran Regis Philbin, who has entertained viewers for more than 50 years, looks over the March Gardener News before headlining “A Heart-to-Heart Live with Regis Philbin” at a special heart disease program to benefit the Somerset Medical Center Foundation. Philbin is best known for his long-running morning show “Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee,” which later became “Live! With Regis and Kelly,” as well as the prime-time game shows “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” “Million Dollar Password,” and the inaugural season of “America’s Got Talent.”
A school garden starts with the idea that this is something that needs to be explored. But, while the interest is there, many people do not know how to get involved or the process of introducing a garden. Go to your local school and ask what help they need to get a garden off the ground. We know it is clear from speaking to folks that a lot of people want to help. It just takes someone to start it. You will find there also are many businesses who will gladly donate the materials and expertise necessary if they are asked. Those who want to start a school garden can learn from the schools already doing it. One example is Riverside Elementary School in Princeton, which offers workshops for educators on school gardening. And space is not an issue. There are many styles and configurations that essentially allow for any area to be
Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http://www. state.nj.us/agriculture
Gardener News
April, 2013 5
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6 April, 2013 In 2003, a great newspaper was born here in the Garden State, suitably named the Gardener News. In the past 10 years, throughout all the trials and tribulations of the agricultural industry, one thing became a constant: the diverse, thoughtprovoking and informative articles and commentaries from the Gardener News. The paper and its Executive Editor Tom Castronovo made a large impact and, it could be said, influence on the direction of events that have happened since its inception. I credit its creator and the array of writers who dedicate hours to put together columns that are interesting, fun and influential each and every month. I have been honored to write for the paper for the last five of the 10 years and have met and been a part of the agricultural industry here since coming to New Jersey in 2007. I thought that a brief timeline of important events in the last 10 years would be fun and interesting. At the beginning of the Gardener News in 2003, Jim McGreevey was the Governor of New Jersey and Charles Kuperus was the Secretary of Agriculture of this great state. There were many achievements noted by Secretary Kuperus in his overview, but the main focus was the preservation of farmland
The last week of March, I noticed that I had a yard full of robins?! Hmmm, I thought to myself, robins eat worms and grubs on the ground and…. the ground is frozen AND covered in a foot of snow! After a little research, I put out a number of suet cages and, along with the flock of blue jays the suet attracted, they wiped those out, so I felt better about my backyard buddies not starving to death. During my research I came across an article on puffins and I had no idea that in 1973, Stephen Kress, the Director of the National Audubon Society’s Seabird Restoration Program, re-introduced puffins to Eastern Egg Rock, Maine, following a 100-year absence. Holy feathered friend Batman! I watched this really cute video where it didn’t matter to one puffin, waddling over to join his companion, that it was a one-legged wooden decoy. The deception is one of the techniques that Stephen Kress used to lure the colorful birds back to this rocky island. “I used an old hunter’s trick, something that hadn’t been done with seabirds before,” Kress whispered as he watched from a blind about 20 yards away.
Gardener News Passionate About Produce By Paul Kneeland The King of Produce
A decade of serving the industry in New Jersey. The smart growth program was designed to protect farmland for the future of agriculture for our state. In 2004, New Jersey launched Jersey Grown, a takeoff of the highly successful Jersey Fresh campaign, designed to promote horticultural ornamentals. In addition to that new brand, Jersey Seafood also was launched to support the seafood and aquaculture industries in our state. Jim McGreevey resigned the state’s highest office in 2004, replaced by Richard Codey, who was the State Senate President at the time of the resignation and served out his term until 2006. Richard Codey was acting governor after Christine Todd Whitman and also when Jon Corzine was in a serious accident in 2007. This was before New Jersey adopted the Lieutenant Governor’s position in 2009. In 2006, a new governor was
elected; one that would make history in many ways for our state, and especially regarding the agricultural industry, Jon Corzine. Governor Corzine was, of course, the governor who wanted to eliminate the Department of Agriculture in New Jersey in 2008. Outrage spilled into the streets of Trenton on April 1 of that year, prompted by many in the industry and featured in this paper with one of the most famous covers in its history. A picture of Governor Corzine as the Grim Reaper and tombstones that were the Department of Agriculture’s branding programs adorned the cover. It was one of the most viewed papers in its history. Most writers also took the side of agriculture, creating a solid piece of work. During the rally in Trenton, more than 15 legislatures took to the flag-draped podium to speak to a crowd of over 500 in a light
rain. Tractors clogged the streets that day and Governor Corzine decided not to attend and had his own press conference at the same time to reduce the coverage of the rally. In the end, the Department was saved and agriculture continues to bloom in the state. In 2008, Charlie Kuperus left his position of Secretary of Agriculture and was replaced by Douglas H. Fisher, a longtime supporter of the industry. Secretary Fisher was appointed by the New Jersey Board of Agriculture. The Secretary of Agriculture is the only cabinet position not appointed by the governor. In 2009, Chris Christie was elected governor and the industry held their collective breaths to see where the former prosecutor stood on agriculture. Speaking at the Agricultural convention in an early appearance, the Governor made it clear. He supported the
The Miscellaneous Gardener By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer
Yippee, They Came Back!
Puffins, which resemble half-pint penguins, except that they can fly, were heavily hunted along the Maine coast for their meat and feathers, and by 1901, only one pair remained, researchers said. They remained plentiful elsewhere, however, and Kress set out three decades ago to bring them back to Maine’s islands, on the southern end of their range around the North Atlantic. In 1973, with backing from the National Audubon Society and help from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Kress began transplanting puffin chicks from Great Island off Newfoundland, 1,000 miles to the northeast. In 2012, there were 104 nesting pairs on Eastern Egg, among more than 700 nesting pairs on four Maine islands, Kress said. Eastern Egg Rock, a treeless, seven-acre island, is a breeding ground for 6,000
surface-nesting birds: puffins, guillemots, laughing gulls, eider ducks, Leach’s storm petrels, and three species of terns. Each summer, biologists move onto the island to oversee the project and to protect the seabirds. Two supervisors spend the whole summer on the rocky outpost, joined by rotating shifts of interns and volunteers. A human presence is necessary to scare away predators such as bald eagles, river otters, great black-backed gulls and herring gulls. The large black-backed gulls have a five-and-a-halffoot wingspan, rob nests and eat chicks. Earlier this summer, when five days of fog kept the volunteers away from Seal Island, another puffin nesting spot, the gulls destroyed eggs laid by 2,000 pairs of terns, Kress said. The biologists are repaid for their protection by
regular bird assaults. Divebombing terns, screaming “kikkik-kik,” swoop down to peck at their Audubon guardians’ heads. Even worse are laughing gulls that take to the air by the hundreds. “Our hats, backpacks, shoes, shirts are pretty well covered in poop,” said Jeff Kimmons, a co-supervisor. The birds also keep up a 24-hour din of screeches and flapping wings, making it hard for newcomers to sleep in tents sheltered underneath poop-stained tarps. Puffins are often confused with penguins. They have similar colors, and both swim under water using their wings as fins, but they are not related and live at opposite polar ends of the world. Each puffin pair raises one chick in a burrow under big boulders, taking turns feeding their offspring fish; herring, hake butterfish, etc.
industry, backed its leaders, supported its growers and looked forward to the continuation of its success. Speaking clearly and with conviction, Governor Christie brought the industry to its feet. In further support, Governor Christie kept Doug Fisher as the Secretary of Agriculture, a clear indication that quality of people, not the designation letter next to their name, was what mattered. In 2012, the state suffered a huge hit with Hurricane Sandy. The camaraderie of relationships formed in the industry and through the Gardener News helped victims of the disaster to clean up and rebuild. This is the nature of our business. This is what we are all about. Cheers Tom! Great job for the past 10 years, looking forward to the next 10! Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Floral, Meat, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets, 1st Vice President of the Eastern Produce Council, and a newly elected board member of the Produce Marketing Association. He holds degrees in Business Management from Boston College as well as Northeastern University. He can be reached at pkneeland@kingssm.com.
The breeding grounds are off limits to the public, but several boat tours take nature lovers on cruises that circle the islands. Last year, Audubon opened a Project Puffin visitor center in Rockland, drawing 10,000 people. Sandy and I want to see some puffins, so guess who is going to be on one of those tours this summah with the BIG binoculars and zoom lens! Besides boat tours, Project Puffin operates Internet cams that show puffins inside and out of their burrows until the chicks leave by Labor Day, to over 1.6 million viewers world-wide. If the volunteers left, the puffins would be wiped out by the gulls. “Sometimes people ask, ‘How long are you going to have to do this?’” Kress said. “In this project, we don’t see an end.” Good for Kress and his team of biologists! Thanks for reading and see ya next month! Editors Note: Richard Perkins is an avid horticulturist, a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the Seacoast Writers Association. He can be reached at perkinsphoto7@aol.com
Gardener News
April, 2013 7
It’s official: Jersey Grown brand for annual bedding plants (Continued from Page 1)
tag correctly specifying the common name and the botanical genus and species of the plant in the package. Since its inception, the Jersey Grown program has been expanded several times and now includes cut Christmas trees, firewood, sunflower seed birdseed and wood products. Jersey Grown, similar to the Jersey Fresh program for local produce, was launched in 2004 to draw consumer attention to the availability of New Jersey trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. The program helps promote the state’s horticulture industry, which brings in more than $453.6 million in revenue a year. Floriculture is big business in New Jersey, accounting for $179.6 million in sales in 2011. Bedding and garden plants were the largest contributor, bringing in $107.7 million in revenue. New Jersey ranked seventh in the nation in expanded wholesale value of floriculture crops in a survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service. To assist in the marketing of Jersey Grown ornamental annuals, those licensed to participate in the program will be listed on the Jersey Grown website at www.jerseygrown.nj.gov. The website lists all Jersey Grown growers, explains the different aspects of the program, has a search for New Jersey nurseries and garden centers and provides all the materials to become part of the program. The Department of Agriculture and horticulture industry representatives urge consumers to buy local from our state’s farmers, nurseries, garden centers and Good Shep Apr Ad GN_Layout 1 3/7/13 5:13 PM Page 1 landscapers as we head into the planting season.
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Unique Plants By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist
Catch My Drift
For years, many gardeners have known about The Knock Out Family of Roses series, roses that are repeat-bloomers, disease-resistant, winter-hardy and virtually maintenancefree. And while I agree with all that is said here, the gripe that comes our way at our garden center with this series is that they get bigger than expected. Roses that take about three years to mature in size are expected to get three to four feet tall and wide. Most of us who have grown “Knock Out” know that four to six feet is not out of the question. For many, this is just too big of a footprint for smaller gardens. Alas, a new series of roses, Drift Roses, is upon us. Conard-Pyle was responsible for introducing the “Knock Out” Rose series to commerce and the breeding of Drift Roses comes to us from French hybridizers Meilland International. Right off the bat, these durable little gems are much smaller than “Knock Out,” only about 18 inches tall and two to three feet wide, Drift Roses take up a much smaller footprint and look great in mass as a flowering groundcover. “Really the next generation from the Flower Carpet series, Drift Roses have been around to the public for about five or six years now” says David Wilson from Overdevest Nurseries L.P. in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Requiring little care, Drift Roses are easy to grow and will flourish in most any conditions. Pruning should be done in early-spring, cutting them back to about six inches, for best results. Of course, proper tools make all the difference here. Rose gloves and a bypass hand pruner, my personal preference over anvil types, keep things simple and clean. Regular deadheading through the season not only keeps a clean appearance, but also encourages re-blooming. Their flower cycle is about every five to six weeks, and this lasts until the first hard frost. Like all roses, Drift Roses appreciate full sun. Smart applications include pairing them in mixed perennial beds, massing them against a single specimen, using them as a colorful border plant and using them as a container plant. Drift Roses are hardy to zone 4 and Knock Outs to zone 5. According to the website www.pallensmith.com: “In order to harden off your rose for the coming cold months, discontinue fertilizing them about four weeks before your first frost date.” Fertilizing your roses too long into the season could cause excessive growth vulnerable to harsh winter elements. Watering your roses up until the first hard frost will ensure that your plants are well hydrated as winter approaches. Finally, ample mulch at the base of your roses, two to three inches, will help keep a constant temperature around the plant all winter long. “The Next Big Thing for Small Gardens” www.conard-pyle.com, of course has an assortment of flavors to choose from. Drift Rose varieties include: Apricot, Sweet, Coral, Pink, Red, Peach and Popcorn. Apricot offers a true groundcover habit while Coral is more of a mounding, small-shrub type. Peach is one of the most floriferous types available and Pink is low-growing with deep pink flowers. Red, my personal favorite, has the most petite flowers of all the Drift Roses and Sweet has clear, double-pink flowers that seem to “float in clusters atop dark green glossy foliage,” according to www.conard-pyle.com. The most double-flowered of all the Drift series, Sweet looks great on hillsides or at the front of a border planting. Finally, Popcorn Drift Rose is a mutation from Peach Drift. Popcorn starts out yellow and fades to a creamy-white. Aptly named, Popcorn is hardy to zone 5 and possibly zone 4 after some more testing. For the naysayers of the world, and they’re out there in the garden web forums, I say when planted in a thoughtful area, Drift Roses do quite well! Using a balanced fertilizer formulated for roses and making sure the soil is moist when applying, Drift Roses do well. Remember a common fault is too much fertilizer, which could certainly burn your plant. Alain Meilland, head of Meilland International, was recently honored at the annual Great Rosarians of the World (GROW) event. Meilland International and Conard-Pyle Co. have long had a successful history together committed to bringing beautiful roses to market. Alain Meilland has worked in the rose field for some 50 years and his company is a sixth-generation, family owned and managed business. The world has much to thank this French company for, including its illustrious “Peace” rose. Developed prior to World War II by Francis Meilland (Alain Meilland’s grandfather) “Peace” was used in the United States to herald the end of the war. To this day “Peace” is still considered, by many, to be the finest hybrid tea rose of all time. Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, a members of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society, a member of the NJ Plants Trade Show Advisory Board, and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.
8 April, 2013
Gardener News
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The Unexpected Houseplant – Learn how exciting, updated and crucial houseplants can be and discover many varieties you may never have thought to grow indoors. The author covers all four seasons and teaches placement, feeding, pruning and troubleshooting with humor and a true kinship with her plants Garden Centers to make tiny companions. Any level of living landscapes that provide experience with houseplants year around delight. would truly enjoy and benefit from her very real dialogue. Tovah Martin
Miniature Gardens— Enjoy a family time and explore the possibilities of creating your own mini garden. Tiny cottages, wheelbarrows, ahbors and birdbaths are among the many accessories available at WE ARE BACK! Bit by bit, piece by piece, we will be better than ever. Words can’t begin to describe the trials and tribulations of all that has transpired over the past several months. I’m quite sure that most New Jerseyans are in tune with all that has gone on with our beautiful state. It has been such a long, strange, hard ride. Without the strength of everyone involved in the deconstruction/reconstruction of The Crab’s Claw, this would not be at all possible. All who were involved in this long and arduous project fully appreciate what it took to get us back on our feet. And to all of you, a sincere debt of gratitude, never-ending thanks and overwhelming appreciation. However fortunate we are to be open there are still many other businesses that were lost indefinitely, as well as countless families that are either displaced or homeless, and for these we need every New Jerseyan’s help and support. Look toward your local government body in regards to how to help these people. For as many good charities and organizations there are, there are just as many so-so operations that don’t allocate the funds properly. We officially opened our doors on February 1, long before
Preserved Boxwood Home Accents— This natural element of décor can add the perfect touch of elegant whimsy to any room of your home. Many accessories are available from wreaths to topiaries and small potted globes. The boxwood is long lasting and with occasional misting will retain the perfect green color. Available at home décor boutiques and garden centers. Raz Imports
Garden Shopping By Leslie Barlow Garden Educator
Performance Work Gloves — These attractive women’s gloves have a floral pattern and are reinforced for a tight but flexible fit. The comfortable and durable leather palm and spandex back make them a great gift for Mother’s Day. Bellingham Glove Company
Stone Garden Owls — Adopt one or a family of these hand carved owls made of durable natural stone. They are available in many sizes and are perfect for the garden because of the heavy weight and sturdy nature. Available only
From the Deep By Craig Korb Executive Chef
Greetings from the Jersey “Strong” Shore.....
our expected reopening. We were met with an overwhelming response from all who supported us. Again, thank you all. My in-laws have endured not only the loss of their business, but the loss of their home. Having the doors of the Crab’s Claw reopen has offered them hope and reassurance that the Jersey Shore will rise again. For all that I have seen over the past several months, I truly have to say that the shore area is on its way back. Every day I drive home from work, I see more and more lights on in houses up and down the streets, and more and more business signs of reopening. This gives me more and more strength, peace and happiness on a daily basis. Our beloved shore is still here, tarnished perhaps, but HERE! All you grew up with is not completely lost. Maybe a little different, but here.
at independent garden centers. Stone Age Creations
We actually opened with a scaled-down version of our regular menu, due to the fact that much of our storage area and walk-in refrigerators were lost to the storm. Although a bit smaller, we still offer most of our menu, focusing specifically on our best sellers. In closing, I am leaving you with a great recipe for our Crab’s Claw steamer pot, which consists of an array of seafood including Dungeness crab, shrimp, clams, mussels, Andouille sausage, red potatoes, fresh herbs, garlic and white wine. This is a great recipe for a large gathering, similar to a New England-style lobster bake. The broth picks up a great seafood flavor that goes great with some crusty bread for dipping. Crab’s Claw steamer pot (serves 2) 12 oz. Dungeness crab, frozen is fine
10 each cherrystone or other sized clams 12 each fresh mussels, preferably P.E.I 8 each 16-20 count shrimp, peeled and deveined 6 oz. andouille or Spanish chorizo sausage, sliced into wheels 4-5 baby red potatoes, quartered and blanched 1-2 cloves of garlic, sliced super thin or minced Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 cup chicken broth/stock 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 bay leaf Salt and pepper to taste 1 Tbsp. butter 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley Method-
“…I applaud all those botanical warriors who made it through the long winter by my side. No wonder they’re all bursting to blossom. They’re survivors, and spring is their moment of glory” Tovah Martin, “The Unexpected Houseplant”. Editor’s Note: Leslie Barlow is co-owner of Barlow Flower Farm in Sea Girt, NJ, one of the largest retail growers in NJ since 1983. She has appeared on News 12 NJ and has been a guest speaker at local garden clubs. She is a Certified Staging Professional™ with a specialty in Curb Appeal. She has been gardening for many years and is always at trade shows hunting for useful accessories for the home garden. For product information she can be reached at 732-449-9189 or lbarlowbytheshor@aol.com -heat a medium-sized soup or stock pot over medium heat for about two minutes -add oil and swirl around pot -add garlic and pepper flake and quickly sauté until fragrant, but not browned -add sausage, clams and mussels, and sauté, coating with oil -add wine and cover -steam until clams and mussels are open -add chicken stock, potatoes, Dungeness crab, thyme, bay leaf and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. -simmer for about 4-5 minutes. -add butter at the end and swirl until incorporated into sauce. -garnish with the parsley -enjoy with crusty bread! Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visit www.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.
10 April, 2013
Gardener News
Communication: The imparting or exchanging of information or news and the successful conveying and sharing of ideas and feelings. Communication comes in many forms. In today’s world, the electronic media channels are so wide and diverse that landscape companies would be wise to use these avenues to communicate with their customer bases. Of course, the old fashion snail mail and phone calls will never go away, but in this business climate the need for immediate contact lends itself to the use of e-mail, text messaging and even Facebook and Twitter messaging. E-mail is becoming the preferred method of communication in many companies. It’s a little more formal than text messaging and the infernal tweet, and when used properly can speed up billing and service concerns. Using e-mail to keep customers updated as to what work is to be done as well as what has been accomplished can avoid misunderstandings and false hope. Some companies use the electronic media to alert customers to any emergency
of these communications will help offset the cost of customer acquisition and retention as well as maybe even lower your advertising costs. In all economic times, we need to be creative about advertising and marketing. These types of communication can be as creative as you want to be. Prospective customers will love the direct approach of showing them your knowledge and explaining the methodology that will be used to care for their properties. A note to those consumers: Keep an eye out for those companies striving to inform you of the knowledge that they have and the services that they can perform for you. These forms of contact are a wonderful way of finding a company that can meet your needs, and you will be eagerly awaiting future communications.
The cousin to regular Impatiens (wallerana) is the New Guinea Impatiens (hawkeri). Downy mildew doesn’t affect the New Guinea Impatiens and would make a great substitute for its cousin. Take one guess as to the origins of New Guinea Impatiens. That’s right, they came from the island of New Guinea. They were brought to America through a joint effort of the United States Department of Agriculture and Longwood Botanical Gardens in Pennsylvania in 1970. Since the ’70s, there have been many improvements to them. The first introductions were not as beautiful and didn’t hold up as well as they do today. Now they hold up extremely well and the colors that are provided are spectacular. Why does it make a good sub? New Guinea Impatiens, like the regular impatiens, like loose, welldrained soil. They also do well in afternoon shade. New Guinea Impatiens like morning sun. They do very
The Landscaper By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional
It’s a Method of Communication situations, such as a blizzard warning and when plowing can be accomplished. Application timing can be announced to customers that need such notification and watering and plant care instructions can be conveyed at light speed. Setting up groups for your customers and using broadcast e-mails can help supplement your printed newsletter. Speaking of newsletters, they can be a classy way of relating relevant information to your customer base, as well as giving you a sharp, impressive marketing tool. Your newsletter should educate by containing articles which are timesensitive and which open up possible new work. It should also entertain by containing writings about events which are pertinent to the industry, as well as interesting to your
customers both current and prospective. Highlighting design changes and concepts can spur people’s imaginations, and offering your consultation can open up an additional revenue source. Adding plant and product information will afford you a way to educate the consumer, and we all know the more information we provide the more questions are asked and the more exchange of information occurs. Coupons or discounts can be part of your communications as well. Within your budget, discounts can be offered, which become a cost of doing business and show the consumer that you are running a cost-effective business. All of these ideas for newsletters and coupons can also be done electronically with a little more work. Once done on the computer, it’s very easy
to make changes and send out the new updated versions. We often hear that these types of communication are too costly or we don’t have enough time to even think of working on something like this. If planned out and properly implemented, all of the forms of communication we have been talking about are very reasonable. E-mail is practically free and can be accomplished in a minimum amount of time. Newsletters, after the initial set up, can be updated and printed in such a way as to be very affordable. If you have trouble writing your own copy, finished articles and ghost writers are available at surprisingly low cost. Even the set up and layout of the newsletter can be done for you and the entire newsletter can even be purchased if need be. The cost
The Professional Grower By Tim Hionis Greenhouse Specialist
New Guinea Impatiens
well in stubborn northern sides of building where it is shaded four to six hours in the afternoon during the hottest part of the day. It is sometimes difficult to find annuals with color that do well on the sides of buildings. New Guinea Impatiens grow well when temperatures are warmer. They prefer daytime temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees and nighttime temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees. It is not recommended to plant New Guinea Impatiens early. They cannot handle temperatures below 45 degrees. It will damage the plants. It is also not recommended to plant in the hot hours of the day. This will cause stress
on the plant material. Planting should be done in the morning or the lateafternoon for best results. Make sure to water your plants thoroughly after planting to ensure they take root properly. If planting in container gardening, use only a high-quality commercial potting soil. Do not use garden soil or top soil, bark or wood chip. The soil should contain a peat moss base with some sort of aeration like perlite or vermiculite. They should be planted at the same level of the original potting soil. Providing mulch around the plants will help cool the soil and conserve moisture during the summer months. In my flowerbeds, I allow enough space between plants to
allow them to grow and breathe properly. If planting 4.5-inch pot size plants, allow eight to 10 inches between plants to allow for proper growth. If you desire more height on plants, though, you could crowd them little, about six toe eight inches apart. If planting in sixinch pots, allow 12 to 15 inches between plants for proper growth. Ten-inch pot size plants, allow 20 to 25 inches of spacing for proper growth. Most New Guinea Impatiens varieties will grow to about 10 to 16 inches in height. New Guinea Impatiens are also not heavy feeders. Unlike plants such as Petunias or Geraniums, New Guinea Impatiens do not like to be fertilized
Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490 often. It actually may have adverse effects on the plants. Another tip: If fertilizing or feeding multiple garden plants, skip New Guinea Impatiens’ feed to every second or even third application. When feeding them, mix fertilizer at the lowest ratio as well. Generally speaking, I would only feed them if there is a lot of yellowing leaves on them. Also, remember that if plants are completely dry, try to water them thoroughly before applying fertilizer. So remember, this year when you head out to your local garden center, please look for Jersey Grown products, because you know when you’re buying Jersey Grown you’re buying locally grown and superior plant material. Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis has been growing plants for over 20 years, and is co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, NJ. He can be reached by calling (908) 534-7710.
Gardener News
April, 2013 11
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12 April, 2013
Gardener News
Plant Sale and Earth Day Celebration
April 27 & 28, 2013 Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm Garden Lectures begin at 1 PM
On Saturday, April 27, Ruth Claus presents: “ Wildflowers Seen In North Jersey” On Sunday, April 28, Carl Lewis presents: “Do It Yourself Rain Garden”
Enhance your garden with some spectacular new plant treasures, and help us celebrate Earth Day. Weekend highlights include a plant sale featuring many choice selections of perennials, ferns, alpines, woody plants and troughs. This event is co-sponsored by the Watnong Chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. Buck Garden staff and Rock Garden Society members will be on hand to advise visitors about plants and gardening.
Guided Tours of Buck Garden 2 PM Speakers: Members of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties somersetcountyparks.org
Leonard J. Buck Garden
If you have individualized needs due to a disability, please call 908 526-5650 and we will be happy to arrange reasonable accommodations. Three weeks notice is required to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be provided.
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Gardener News
April, 2013 13 CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE (866) 936-7007
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April is for Arboretum! A n n uA l B A r t o n A r B o r e t u m l e c t u r e
historic gardens of philadelphia Saturday, April 13, 11:00 am | Medford Campus Theater | No Charge
Jenny Rose Carey, Director of the Landscape Arboretum at Temple University Ambler, will share her passion for local gardens of the early 20th Century and the women who developed them. Light lunch and Arboretum tours follow lecture. RSVP requested. e v e n i n g i n t h e A r B o r e t u m — t h i r d A n n uA l B e n e f i t Saturday, April 27, 5:00 - 9:00 pm | Medford Campus | $85/person
Wine tasting, hearty hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, arboretum tours. Proceeds benefit the Arboretum. Paid RSVP deadline: April 14, 2013
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14 April, 2013
Gardener News
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Gardener News
April, 2013 15
As the days start to get a little longer and the temperature starts to rise, it is time to start thinking about doing some spring planting. Sure, many commercial growers and some diehard backyard gardeners have already started to grow many types of vegetables. But it is still plenty early in the season to plant a wide variety of items that you can harvest sometime later in the year. Most people talk about tomatoes and different types of lettuces and maybe some squash and cucumbers, but one vegetable that I feel is really overlooked is the potato. First of all, potatoes can be grown in just about the entire United States. There are large commercial operations that grow potatoes in Maine, Washington, Arizona, and Florida, as well as just about all of the states in between. They are not just grown in Idaho! Most of the commercial operations that grow potatoes have adopted a culture that is almost entirely mechanized. That has allowed potatoes to be grown on a very large scale.
covering them, they will keep in the ground until it freezes. The other nice thing is that after harvest, they will keep in storage for quite a long time. So unlike most of the other garden mainstays which have a narrow harvest window and then must be used quickly, potatoes can be harvested and utilized as needed. One last item to remember, though, is that potatoes are closely related to tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. This means that in the following year, the ground that was used for potatoes should be rotated to some other crop. Good luck!
When I was a student in the Landscape Architecture program at Cook College, learning about residential landscape design, my professors always stressed the importance of “the arrival sequence.” Back then, it was a totally foreign concept to me, but some 30 years and several thousand designs later, this concept is an integral part of every landscape design that I create. Before I discuss why the arrival sequence is so important, let’s first talk about what it is. The easiest way to do this is by thinking about our own sequence when we arrive at our own homes. For example, some of us park in the street while others park in the driveway. For those of you that typically park in an attached garage, you will have to use someone else’s house as your example. OK, now that you’re parked, what happens next? Do you go to your front door, side door or back door to enter your home? Is there a walkway that leads you to these entrances or do you cut across your lawn, hopping and jumping over landscape obstacles that have encroached on your pathway?
The Town Farmer By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer
French Fries Anyone?
With the right equipment, it is possible for growers to plant, care for, harvest and pack potatoes without ever touching them. Everything can be done from the seat of the tractor. And this nonreliance on human labor is another reason for the potato’s wide adaptability. Here in New Jersey, there is a fairly good-sized potato industry which is located primarily in the southern part of the State. These potatoes are grown for both the fresh market and for processing into chips, French fries, and other potato products. On our farm, we grow about an acre and a half of potatoes every year that we market through our farm markets, tail-gate markets, and our CSA. With this wide adaptability, potatoes lend
themselves quite well to home gardening. And in at least my opinion, they have a great deal to offer the backyard gardener. First of all, it does not take a great deal of skill to get at least some type of crop of potatoes. If farmers can do it without ever getting off of the tractor, then you can do it, too. Just purchase some seed potatoes in the spring, cut them into roughly twoinch pieces, and then plant them about one foot apart in the row and leaving about four feet between the rows. Potatoes do well in nice, loose dirt, so you will want to hill them up at first and then add some more dirt to the hills a couple of more times as the season progresses. The main challenge is to keep your beds weed-free. Make sure that they receive enough water
and hit them a couple of times with a fungicide to keep the foliage healthy (remember the Irish potato famine!) Watch for Colorado Potato Beetles, too, and if you see some, you will want to treat with an insecticide. As the season progresses, they will grow to about three feet tall and will flower. After they flower, usually in early June, the plants will start to look a little less vigorous. This is OK, as now the potatoes are starting to size. The vines will then eventually die off. One of the nice things about potatoes is that you can harvest them over a long period of time. You can grab a few early for some nice fresh potato salad or you can let them sit in the ground until late-summer or fall. As long as they have sufficient dirt
Creating Outdoor Spaces By Jody Shilan, MLA Landscape Designer
The Arrival Sequence
What about your guests? Are they unsure where to park or confused about which entrance to use? Do they just cut across the lawn because your walkway is inconvenient? Well, if this sounds like you and your home, then it’s time to look at your arrival sequence to see what you can do to make it easier and less confusing for you and your friends. Like everything in landscape design, you need to first decide what it is that you want to do. In other words, do you want your guests to park on the street and come to your front door or would you prefer that they pull into your driveway and use a side or secondary entrance, or both. What about when you’re entertaining in the back yard during the summer? Would you prefer that they come
straight into your back yard, through a gate or step-stone path, or through the house itself and then into the back yard? Several years ago, I worked with a client who completely remodeled their home back when people could afford to do this. The architect created a beautiful façade, including a very detailed portico that “said” please enter here. Naturally,I designed a new front walkway that respected the architecture and invited guests to enter through the front door. Because the landing under the portico was wet laid bluestone, it was important to use this same material so that the arrival sequence was clear and there was no confusion as to where guests park or which way they should enter the home. Unfortunately, there were two issues. The first was that
the bluestone walkway was very expensive compared to other material options. The second was the fact that the clients didn’t feel that anybody would use the front door because nobody ever did before. When they did have guests over, everybody would park in or near the driveway and then enter through the garage or through the back of the house. The reason that their friends and family did this was because before the house was renovated, there was no front walkway to the street and there was only a gravel path that led you from the driveway to the front door. Once I reminded them of this, along with the fact that the design of their new home brought so much attention to the front door, they realized that it made perfect sense to
Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is a current member of the Tewksbury Township Committee, and a former Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network. not only have a walkway go from the street to the front door but that the materials needed to be the same as the house itself. Now that all of the work is done, only close friends and family park in the driveway, entering the house through the rear gate, the garage or a new paver path to the front door. However, everybody else parks in the street and enters the house through the front door via the bluestone walkway and they never cut across the lawn. Editors Note: Jody Shilan is the owner of Jody Shilan Designs in Wyckoff, where he provides landscape design and consulting services for homeowners and landscape contractors. He earned his bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Cook College, Rutgers University and his masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Currently, he is Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He can be reached at 201-783-2844 or jshilan@gmail.com.
16 April, 2013
Gardener News
CASE FILES
From the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Garden Help Line
By Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Union County Agricultural Agent and Master Gardeners, MC Schwartz and James Keane
Q. I would like to plant roses in my garden this spring. Do you have any advice for me? Fragrant in Fanwood A. Roses are a beautiful addition to your landscape. There are a few things to consider before you start digging. Where will the roses be growing? What are your aspirations for your rose garden? Roses grow best in a location that has full sun. They need at least five to six hours of sun to grow well. Roses need well-drained soil. A poorly drained soil will hold too much water, which can damage the roots of the plant. In the winter months, the roots may freeze in a water-logged soil. To check the drainage in the area in which you are planning to grow roses, dig a one foot-by-one foot hole and fill it with water. Let the water drain and then refill it with water. The water should drain from the hole within a few hours. If it does not, you will need to amend the soil to improve drainage. Compost or peat moss will improve the organic manner content of the soil. Remove any large rocks from the planting bed. Take a soil test of the area to check the soil pH and nutrient levels. Roses prefer a pH of 6.0-6.5. Soil test kits are available at your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office. The location should have good air circulation. Roses are susceptible to fungal diseases that thrive on wet leaf surfaces. Good air circulation helps dew on leaves dry quickly; suppressing some fungal diseases. Plant your roses at least two or three feet apart so air can circulate around them. What kind of rose garden do you desire? Fragrant cut flowers? Climbing roses over a pergola? Formal or accent plants? A colorful fragrant hedge? Are you looking for roses that bloom for a short period of time or a continuous spring-through-fall bloom? Hybrid teas and grandiflora roses are good choices for a cut flower garden. Hybrid teas are everblooming and many varieties are fragrant. Each stem may have one bloom or a cluster of three to five flowers, depending on the variety. Hybrid teas are two to five feet tall. Grandiflora roses have more height, up to six feet, and bloom singly or as a small cluster. The flowers are smaller than hybrid teas, but have more blossoms. Climbing roses are varieties that produce long canes and require support, such as a trellis or pergola. Rambling roses flower in small clusters. They are vigorous growers, but only bloom once a growing season. Hybrid tea climbers don’t grow as quickly, but have larger, more formal looking flowers over a longer period of time than do the ramblers. Looking for a formal style rose garden? Floribunda roses have a bushy shrub form. They have flowers that are smaller than the hybrid teas, but they bloom in large clusters, giving a marvelous mass of color to the garden. Many floribunda varieties will bloom spring through fall. Tree or standard roses are hybrid tea or floribunda roses that have been grafted onto an upright trunk. They are often used as accent plants in a formal setting. Miniature roses have tiny leaves and flowers and only grow to be 12 to 24 inches tall. Miniatures make a nice boarder planting and do well in containers or hanging baskets. Modern shrub roses make an excellent colorful hedge, screen or specimen plant. The modern shrub roses are hardy to our temperate zone and have good disease resistance. Most varieties are repeat bloomers throughout the growing season. They produce large, showy flowers and colorful rose hips. The shrub roses require very little pruning. Once you have decided what types of roses you would like to grow in your garden, you will find that there are thousands of varieties to choose from. Perhaps you have visited local rose gardens and made notes of what rose varieties appeal to you. All-America Rose Selections (AARS) is a nonprofit association dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. The AARS runs a horticultural testing program to recognize roses that will be easy to grow and require minimal care by home gardeners. Their website http://www.rose.org has information on varieties that do well in our Northeast region. If you are purchasing bare root plants, they should be planted in early spring. Soak the roots in lukewarm water for 12 hours prior to planting to rehydrate the roots. Container roses can be planted anytime during the growing season, but spring is preferable. The planting hole should be 18 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches deep. If your rose is bare rooted, make a small mound of soil and compost at the bottom of the hole. Place the roots over the mound. The roots of container-grown roses should be gently cut with a sharp, clean knife. In northern and central New Jersey, the first bud on the stem should be about one inch below the soil surface. In our southern / coastal areas, the bud can be just above soil level. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension fact sheet FS944 “Roses and Their Care” will give you more information on keeping your new rose garden looking good! Q. When is the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Annual Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale? Looking Forward in Linden A. Hold the date! This year, our Spring Garden Fair and Plant Sale will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2013, in the demonstration garden at Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside. The event will be from noon to 5 p.m. The event features children’s activities, garden tours, horticulture demonstrations and a great variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables and nursery stock. For more information, visit http://mastergardeners-uc.org/. Editor’s Note: The Union County Master Gardener’s HELP LINE fields hundreds of citizen inquiries a year – offering assistance with their indoor as well as outdoor gardening and pest control questions. Responses to resident phone calls and on-site visits comply with current Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station recommendations. Union County residents can call (908) 654-9852 or email mastergardeners@ucnj.org for assistance. A complete listing of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) offices where you can contact a Master Gardener in your area can be found on page 26 of the Gardener News. Free RCE fact sheets are available at www.njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs.
Gardener News
April, 2013 17
Industry News
Jonathan Green, Inc. is proud to announce the newest member of its sales team, Diane Swierzbin. Diane has managed one of the largest independent lawn care companies in New Jersey for over 20 years and also managed one of the largest pest control companies for over eight years. Diane has many New Jersey licenses, including turf and ornamentals, IPM and structural pest control. Diane will be calling on professional users in the central New Jersey area. Todd Pretz, Vice President of Jonathan Green, Inc. and a featured columnist for the Gardener News, said: “Diane brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and we are glad to have her on board with Jonathan Green.”
A Study of Switchgrass for Home Heating in the Northeast By Ann Perry
USDA ARS Informational Staff Studies by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist have provided a complete cost-benefit breakdown of using switchgrass pellets, which are potentially a cheaper source of energy, instead of fuel oil to heat homes and businesses in the Northeast. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researcher Paul Adler led efforts on a lifecycle analysis that compared costs of energy generation from coal, natural gas, fuel oil, and switchgrass in the form of energy-dense cubes, briquettes, and pellets. Adler works at the ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, Pa. ARS is USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency, and this work supports the USDA priority of finding new sources of bioenergy. The researchers calculated the economic outlays associated with switchgrass production throughout the supply chain, as well as greenhouse gas emissions generated by switchgrass production, densification, and conversion to heat and power. This included the first lifecycle inventory of switchgrass seed production and greenhouse gas emissions associated with seed production.
The analysis indicated that 192 pounds of “carbon dioxide equivalent,” or CO2e, was emitted for every ton of switchgrass dry matter that was sown, harvested, and delivered to densification plants for processing into pellets. CO2e is a measurement used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential. The researchers calculated that using switchgrass pellets instead of petroleum fuel oil to generate one gigajoule of heat in residences would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 146 pounds of CO2e. Totaling all costs associated with installing an appropriate residential heating system and fuel consumption, the team concluded that each gigajoule of heat produced using switchgrass pellets would cost $21.36. Using fuel oil to produce the same amount of heat would cost $28.22. Adler is now working with Plainview Growers to determine how the carbon footprint differs between heating greenhouses with biomass and heating them with fuel oil. Plainview Growers, which has its headquarters in Pompton Plains, N.J., sells more than 160 million nursery plants produced from seeds every year.
Editor’s Note: Ann Perry works for the Agricultural Research Service, USDA. She can be reached at (301) 504-1628 or by emailing ann.perry@ars.usda.gov
Horticultural Technology Student Honored
(BRIDGEWATER, NJ) ― Frank Merrill, a senior in the Horticultural Technology Program, has been selected as Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School’s (SCVTHS) Share Time Student of the Month for February 2013. Erik Fargo, Frank’s Horticultural Technology instructor, nominated Frank to be Student of the Month saying: “His attitude is always positive, and he interacts with peers extremely well. Frank maintains a glue-like character by uniting all students and supporting them when he sees they need it.” Fargo went on to add that Frank “anticipates when something needs attention, and takes initiative to complete tasks.” While attending SCVTHS, Frank has been a stellar student and an exceptional ambassador for the Horticulture program. Frank has served as SCVTHS FFA Chapter President for the past three years, where he presides over official chapter meetings, organizes fundraisers, and performs other duties related to the position. In addition, Frank is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. At his sending district, Frank participates in winter and spring track and also serves as their Football Manager. In his free time, Frank volunteers as a baseball coach for the North Plainfield Recreation Department, cuts lawns in his neighborhood, and has interned for two summers at Rutgers Gardens. Over the past two years, Frank has competed in the New Jersey FFA Turfgrass Management Competitions. After placing second last year, he gained a first-place victory this year. Because of these placements, Frank has amassed $2,500 in scholarships towards the Rutgers University Turfgrass Program. After graduating from SCVTHS, Frank hopes to attend Rutgers University’s Department of Plant Biology and Pathology and participate in their Turfgrass Management Program. One day, Frank hopes to secure a position as a superintendent at a park or manager of a golf course. Frank is the son of Everett and Peggy Merrill of North Plainfield.
Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Offers 6 Fuel-Related Tips When Preparing Your Lawn & Garden Equipment for Spring (ALEAXANDRIA, VA) ― Spring has sprung, and that means the annual cleaning and preparation of lawn and garden equipment. Whether it’s a mower, trimmer, blower, chainsaw or pruner, if it runs on gasoline, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) recommends a series of steps to avoid fuel-related problems and ensure a smooth-running engine. “Many are so eager to pull out lawn and garden equipment once spring arrives that they sometimes forget basic steps to ensure the powerhouse of the equipment – the engine – is in good working order,” said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. “One challenge is that most fuel contains some level of ethanol, which contains corrosive alcohol, so you want to make sure that fuel does not sit in the tank for more than 30 days, and especially not over winter.” To avoid fuel related problems as you pull out your lawn and landscaping equipment, OPEI reminds consumer to check the following: • If fuel has been sitting all winter long in the fuel tank, don’t use it in the spring. Drain it responsibly and put in fresh fuel. • Do not use gas with more than 10 percent ethanol (E10). Some gas stations may begin to offer 15 percent ethanol (E15), but this higher ethanol fuel is dangerous – and is in fact illegal - to use in any small engine equipment, such as chain saws, snow throwers, generators, lawn mowers, lawn tractors and all other lawn and garden equipment.For more information on E15 and why you can’t use this in lawn and garden equipment, go to www.opei.org/ ethanolwarning. • Don’t leave fuel sitting in the tank for more than 30 days. Untreated gasoline (without a fuel stabilizer) left in the fuel system will deteriorate, which may cause starting or running problems and, in some cases, damage to the fuel system. • After finishing mowing, turn the fuel valve OFF and leave it OFF until it’s time to mow again. Fill the mower’s fuel tank between uses to minimize air in the tank. • Store gasoline in a clean and sealed plastic container approved for fuel storage, and store the container away from direct sunlight. • Keep the air filter properly serviced and check it before each use. A properly maintained air filter will help prevent dirt from entering the carburetor
18 April, 2013
Gardener News
In early-March, my wife and I attended the worldrenowned Philadelphia Flower Show. The show was incredible and the Pennsylvania Convention Center location was great in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love. When I walked into the show, I was thrilled to find it had a British theme. My wife and I met in London, so this show was near and dear to my heart. As you enter the show floor, you encounter a grand Buckingham Palace-type entrance gate, gloriously decorated with many flowers along with the familiar red telephone booths and 15-foottall Royal Guardsmen. I was especially surprised and pleased to see at the show displays how well the Britishbased gardens utilized the lawn as part of their display in all aspects. Rolls of sod were used from the sculptured gardens to smaller English gardens, even at Harry Potter’s house and around the Big Ben display. The grass helped the flowers and plantings to really stand out to create a vision that would be a delight to reproduce at your home.
Lawns may have originated as grassed enclosures in medieval times as communal grazing enclosures. The idea of converting a grazed natural high grass meadow to a more formal lawn area has been a big part of English garden designs and culture since the 17th Century. The framework that a lawn provided created a very tranquil setting to any garden design presenting an idealized view of nature. The English lawn set the style for manicured perfection with their crisp edging. A lush green lawn was a sign of aristocracy and stature. These gardens usually consisted of a lake, sweeping lawns, and groves of trees, hedges, bridges, statues, fountains and flowers to create a pastoral landscape.
These new garden designs eliminated geometric structures and alleys, replacing them with rolling lawns, making the landscape seem even larger. William Kent and Lancelot “Capability” Brown popularized the English garden and lawns. They turned thousands of acres in England into grassy parks only to be surpassed by the number of acres eventually dedicated to lawns in America. The use of lawns was important to provide direction and walkways to wander through the garden. By the end of the 18th Century, this garden design was spreading over many parts of the world. By the 19th Century, this form of garden influenced many city parks and gardens that where built in America and beyond. Eventually, lawn
grasses allowed popular horse races and hunting events to take place on formally lowcut grass instead of high grass meadows. Can you imagine watching Downton Abbey without any lawn areas? Even Jonathan Green himself was building bowling greens in the northern part of England around the time of the Civil War in America. These grassy areas where built more for entertainment than aesthetic value. Their lush green color was inviting and relaxing for the many factory workers that wanted to enjoy the end of their work day before heading out to the pubs for some cheer. As I wandered around the garden displays at the flower show, I imagined myself returning to England again someday. I have not been able to get back there since going
to the University years ago. As I walked, I saw a short film highlighting The Beatles and many other musical groups that were part of the British Invasion. I also saw clips of various James Bond movies celebrating his 50th Anniversary; he still looks good for 50! As I walked slowly to the exit area of the show, I looked up and saw Queen Elizabeth in the window surveying the show floor, perched above the grand entrance, seeming to give her nod of approval to the displays. I thought I saw The Beatles walking slowly into the sunset and I heard a song repeating itself, “All you need is a lawn (all you need is a lawn) all you need is a lawn…” Congratulations to the 184th Philadelphia Flower Show and to Tom Castronovo and the Gardeners News on their 10th Anniversary!
Gardeners are a strange group of folks when it comes to growing plants. If it is too easy to grow, we often disregard the plant, viewing it as something horticulturally “beneath us.” However, if it is too challenging to grow, we complain bitterly, holding the plant in contempt as if it were purposely trying to undermine our horticultural prowess. Many years back, I found myself guilty of this trait and caught myself looking down on some beautiful and easily grown plants. Fortunately, I moved on and for the April and May garden, I can think of no plant more beautiful and easier to grow than Bleeding Hearts. Probably, the most well known Bleeding Heart is the Asian form, which was formerly known in the botanical world as Dicentra spectabolis. Unbeknownst to most, in August 2006 the name of the genus for this
species was officially changed to Lamprocapnos spectabolis. Dicentra is from the Greek Dis or twice and Kentron meaning spurs. It was an apt description, since each flower has two spurs on the outer petals of the flower. Lamprocapnos was first penned in 1850 and became acknowledged as the proper name when molecular testing determined that this species was significantly different than others found in the genus Dicentra. Lamprocapnos is from the Greek Lampros for shining and Kapnos for smoke, referring to how the dissected foliage looks like plumes of shining smoke from a distance. Lamprocapnos spectabolis was first brought into the gardening spotlight by the Scottish plant explorer Robert Fortune in 1846, who collected it on the Island of Chusan off the coast of China. Native to Siberia, Japan, northern China and Korea, its popularity spread rapidly, and even as early as the 1880s, it was deemed a rather common perennial.
Lamprocapnos spectabolis is a very long-lived perennial. Thriving best in light shade and humus-rich, moistureretentive soils, mature plants will grow to 24 inches tall and 30 inches across. The individual flowers are typically 1½ inches long and consist of two heart-shaped, pink outer petals and two white inner petals. It resembles the traditional symbol of a heart d’amour with a small drip of white blood hanging from the base of the flower. With upwards of 18 flowers arranged along an arching two- to three-foot long flower stem, it is easy to see how this plant became common by the 1880s. During late-July and August, the plant begins to enter dormancy and the foliage yellows – not a desirable ornamental trait. As such, it is best to position the plant to the back of a planting or to simply cut-back the stems. A whiteflowered form named “Alba” is also readily available. It sports a smaller stature, growing to 20 inches tall and wide. However, it too enters
dormancy early. Several years back a form with golden yellow foliage appeared named “Gold Heart.” The foliage is golden yellow throughout spring and certainly brightens a shady location. Ideally, pair it with dark green foliage of plants such as Hellebore or Mahonia. In summer, the foliage turns to chartreuse yellow, allowing it to appear less offensive when it begins dormancy. There remain a number of other Bleeding Hearts in the genus Dicentra that are ideal garden plants as well. Dicentra cucullaria is a species native to New Jersey that sports small, one-inchlong white flowers in midto late-March. The flowers resemble a pair of long-johns hanging upside down, which gave rise to the common name of Dutchman’s Britches. A cucullus was a small hood worn by Roman children in chilly weather. Evidently the flowers also resemble this piece of clothing and gave rise to the epithet name. Only reaching eight to 12 inches tall, this spring ephemeral is
Turf ‘s Up By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant
All you need is a lawn…
A Heart of Gold
Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com
great for the dry woodland garden and it is deer resistant. It is obvious that easily grown plants need not equate to boring or unattractive plants, nor dismissed as something horticulturally “beneath us.” Bleeding Hearts provide a long period of great joy and ask so little in return. It should be obvious to the erudite gardener that they truly do have a heart of gold! Editor’s Note: Bruce, foremost a lover of plants since birth, is director of the Rutgers Gardens, an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, an instructor for Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing and Professional Education and chairperson of the Garden State Gardens group. He is a member of the Garden Writer’s Association and the New York Hortus Club. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu
Gardener News
April, 2013 19
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By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey What word is more pregnant with meaning than the word, “seasons”? The mental images that this word conjures up are filled with instant pictures of the four seasons and we, as gardeners, are running through the delights and tasks that each season affords us. We all have our favorite season of the year and we have just embarked upon mine. Oh, yes, it’s spring that makes my pulse race and my heart sing as I am witness to the neverceasing wonder of rebirth and renewal. Nothing compares to greeting “old friends” as they awaken from a long winter’s nap, breaking through the earth once more and vying for our admiration and attention. Every day brings new discoveries as we wander through our gardens surveying our domain and assessing, too, any lingering damage wrought by Superstorm Sandy. Some of us have a “changed palette” to work with as the loss of trees may have turned a once shady garden into an opportunity for a butterfly garden with sun-loving plants to make this a reality. Planning new strategies for the coming year and keeping a four-season interest in our gardens is the challenge that we welcome and embrace. Having attended the great flower shows of late-winter, we have plenty of new ideas to make our gardens the best they can be in all seasons. One of the best trends is focusing on a healthy lifestyle by embracing locally grown fruits, vegetables, in other words “Jersey Fresh,” and combining these plants in our own gardens with our “Jersey Grown” shrubs, perennials, and annuals in containers and our garden beds. It’s gratifying to see more restaurants growing their own produce, and/or purchasing products from local farmers markets, that more and more are operating year-round,
Seasons
and it’s equally gratifying to see our grocery stores feature locally grown “Jersey Fresh” and “Jersey Grown” products. Our local garden centers are full to bursting with tried and true plants that serve as “backbones” in our gardens, but also offer new species, varieties and cultivars that prove irresistible and end up in our ever-expanding garden. This is why, my gardening friends, I have a “cottage garden” with “wall to wall” plants. I have no will power. Speaking of will power, I was just at the bestattended Garden Club of New Jersey District meeting ever with District IV Director Myque Koenig’s program “Chocolate—My Favorite Vegetable.” There are 17 garden clubs in District IV, from Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren and Morris Counties, and this program, held at the Bridgewater Library, attracted attendees from near and far as we celebrated cocoa, the new “Apple a Day” healthy herb. The Neshanic Garden Club is following suit with a program entitled “The Chocolate Tree: From Ancient Food to Modern Medicine” by Tom J. Gianfagna, Professor of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University. So you say you want to join a garden club as we celebrate the good life?! You’ll be happy to know that you are welcome to attend these upcoming events sponsored by GCNJ garden clubs. The Garden Club of Long Valley will be presenting a Historic Standard Flower Show, “History in Bloom,” to help celebrate Long Valley’s 275th Anniversary. The flower show will feature historic heirloom flowering bulbs and plants by period designs from 1700 to present and will be open to the public at the Washington Township Library, 37 E. Springtown Rd in Long Valley from April 19, 2013 at 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., April 20, from 10 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., and April 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. Following on April 25, 2013, at 11 a.m., Neshanic Garden Club invites you to “Celebrate Jersey Fresh and Jersey Grown,” featuring Peter Pascale, Somerset Medical Center’s Executive Chef, showcasing three spring menus utilizing “Jersey Fresh” produce, followed by Rob Swanekamp, Sr., Kube Pak Grower of Annuals and State Board of Agriculture member, advising us on the implications of the downy mildew affecting Impatiens, exactly which Impatien species are affected, and alternative substitutes as the “Jersey Grown” portion of this Garden Education Day at Duke Farms Orientation Center, 1112 Duke Parkway West, Hillsborough, N.J., a $20 donation suggested as lunch is being catered and included by Duke Farms Café. For tickets: Call: 908-782-6091. We will have “Jersey Fresh” and “Jersey Grown” door prizes, including native plants, bird houses, bird feeders and seeds and are honored to be able to showcase Duke Farms’ new programs and projects. Lastly, the GCNJ would like to congratulate Tom Castronovo and Gardener News on their 10thAnniversary. We’re also celebrating our 5th Anniversary as part of the Gardener News family. Kudos to Tom for connecting likeminded organizations in the Garden State! Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Horticultural Chair and NGC Accredited Judge for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., GCNJ Community Garden Chair and Central Atlantic Region Community Garden Chair of National Garden Clubs, Inc. She can be reached by emailing jeannieg42@earthlink. net Garden Club of New Jersey’s website is: www. gardenclubofnewjersey. com and phone number is: 732-249-0947.
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20 April, 2013
Gardener News
Highlights from the Springfest Garden Show
Every year in March, when you think you just can’t endure another damp, cold, raw day, a world of gardens bloom in the town of Augusta, New Jersey. Springfest, a non-profit show produced by garden-lovers for garden-lovers, was held this year on March 14-17 in the Conservatory at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. The show featured beautiful garden displays by premier landscape companies and some of the greatest garden shopping under one roof. Springfesters also enjoyed renowned speakers and a beautiful café. Children enjoyed learning about plants in the Kid’s Zone. The show is also well known for showcasing flower-filled garden displays designed to inspire visitors with the latest trends and ideas for their own home landscape. Proceeds from the show benefit the promotion of excellence in horticulture, including year-round educational opportunities.
A Jersey Grown greeting
Tom Castronovo/Photo
New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray, center, is greeted by David H. Wright, left, co-founder of the Springfest Garden Show, and Barbara Abita, a Springfest Garden Show committee member, in The Entry Garden, designed by the staff of Three Seasons, LLC., at the 17th Annual Springfest Garden Show.
Growing food
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Herb Sudzin, right, host of the Gardening Hour on Sudzin Country radio (WRSU 88.7 FM), learns all about hydroponic gardening and what he can grow at home to feed his family, all with a high nutritional value and chemical-free from Wendi Blanchard, president of Hydrotable Home & School Hydroponics at the 17th Annual Springfest Garden Show.
Industry recognition
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Jody Shilan, executive director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), congratulates Brian Hautau from Hautau Landscaping, Inc., on winning the American Horticultural Societies Environmental Award for his garden display, for best demonstration of skillful design that incorporates environmental stewardship in the garden at the 17th Annual Springfest Garden Show.
Gardener News Finally, after a long winter of short days and long nights, cold weather and wind, and some snow, spring is ready to greet us, and our trees, with its warm embrace. Flowers will be in bloom, the birds will be singing and the gentle warmth of spring will be in the air. With the good comes the bad, and there are some things to look out for as spring unfolds. Most important is the threat of some potentially serious disease outbreaks. So, put on Vivaldi – “Spring,” of course, and read all about the hazards of spring (if you are a tree, that is). Anthracnose, Scab and Rust (fungal foliar diseases) and Fireblight are diseases that occur early in the season and can produce symptoms that persist throughout the summer. This can make your trees look bad throughout the growing season. But early detection and treatment can really help plants prone to these diseases look good throughout the summer. Proper timing is essential for successful management. For now, I will concentrate on Anthracnose and Fireblight,
April, 2013 21
but all disease problems need to be treated early, before they become a problem. Anthracnose: This is a foliar disease caused by a large group of closely related fungi. Highly susceptible species include sycamore, oak (especially white), maple, ash and walnut. In our area, ash trees are infected by both Anthracnose and Rust. Foliar symptoms vary according to the host species. On sycamore, white oaks, and maple, large irregular brown to purplish lesions develop along leaf veins. On ash, black oak and walnut, discrete circular or angular lesions occur on leaves. Foliar lesions will coalesce, causing distortion, blight, and defoliation. Symptoms first appear from May to mid-June but by then, treatment is already
THINK SPRING!
too late. Applications to treat Anthracnose should be done in April through early-May. Fireblight: This disease is caused by bacteria and causes wilting and blackening of the blossoms and leaves of terminal shoots. All plants in the Rose Family are affected – Cherry, Pear, Apple etc…this results in the characteristic symptom of this disease - a shepherd’s crook. The affected plant parts remain attached to the terminal shoot and start to bend downward. Cankers usually develop on the stems as the disease progresses and the bacteria usually overwinter in these cankers, making winter pruning an effective treatment. Bacterial ooze can be seen exuding from these cankerous areas in early spring. Fireblight activity begins to occur in
outbreaks this early. These problems must be addressed preventively. Contact your Certified Tree Expert as soon as possible if you suspect a history of tree disease – especially Anthracnose and Fireblight. The good news is that with early treatments, these problems can be a thing of the past. May through early-June in our As always, I hope you area. learned something! Anthracnose and …..’Till next month Fireblight favor cool, moist weather in early spring. Editor’s Note: Robert Monitor weather conditions graduated from SUNY College during these months to of Environmental Science determine if a heavy disease and Forestry and Syracuse outbreak is likely. Examine University with degrees your landscape for host plants in science education and that are highly susceptible to forest biology. He is an ISA Anthracnose or Fireblight. Certified Arborist and a New Determine if a history of these Jersey Certified Tree Expert. diseases exists. If the plants Robert is currently teaching suffered from heavy disease AP Environmental Science, infestation in previous years, Biology and Chemistry at there will be good chance Liberty High School in PA., and of infection in the spring. If on staff at Temple University this is the case, preventative teaching Horticulture. He treatments should be initiated delivers many short courses in the spring. Always consult and seminars at various with a Certified Tree Expert outdoor education facilities. before beginning a pest- He is available for talks and management program. consultations in both NJ and It can be difficult to PA. Robert can be reached by predict the severity of disease calling (484) 560-5744.
22 April, 2013
Gardener News
NASS suspends certain Statistical Estimates and Reports due to sequestration (WASHINGTON, D.C.) ― USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is suspending a number of statistical surveys and reports for the remainder of the fiscal year due to reduced funding caused by sequestration. Before deciding upon the program suspensions, NASS reviewed its survey programs against mission- and userbased criteria as well as the amount of time remaining in the fiscal year to conduct the surveys with the goal of finding available cost savings and maintaining the strongest data in service to agriculture. The decision to suspend these reports was not made lightly, but it was nevertheless necessary, given the funding situation. • All Catfish and Trout Reports including Catfish Feed Deliveries and Catfish Processing • July Cattle Report • Potato Stocks Reports • All Non-Citrus Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Forecasts and Estimates • June Rice Stocks Report • All Hops and Hops Stocks Estimates • Mink Report • M ilk Production Reports including Production, Disposition and Income • June on- and off-farm stocks for Austrian Winter Peas, Chickpeas, Dry Peas and Lentils • July acreage forecasts for Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas and Lentils Issued March 12, 2013 by the Agricultural Statistics Board of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Seasonal Gardeners needed for the Frelinghuysen & Willowwood Arboreta
Seasonal gardener positions are available at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown and the Willowwood Arboretum in Chester, New Jersey, for the 2013 growing season. Gardeners participate in all aspects of garden and arboretum management including but not limited to, planting, mulching, watering, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, mowing, propagating, and record keeping. Gardeners rotate through the different specialty gardens and collections and may select an area of concentration. Applicants must possess a keen interest in horticulture and enjoy physical outdoor work. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to: Kate Gutierrez, Morris County Park Commission, P.O. Box 1295, Morristown, NJ 07962 For additional information call (973) 326.7629 or e-mail kgutierrez@morrisparks.net The Morris County Park Commission is an equal opportunity employer.
Chiller Theatre Expo April 26-28, 2013 Sheraton Parsippany Hotel 199 Smith Rd Parsippany, NJ 07054 www.chillertheatre.com
Gardener News
The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 120 Published Monthly Contact Information Phone: 908.604.4444 Fax: 908.647.5459 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff
Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . . Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tom Castronovo Justin Kukuc Tom Castronovo
April Columnists Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Evan Dickerson Richard Perkins Peter Melick Jody Shilan Craig Korb
Douglas H. Fisher Tim Hionis Bob LaHoff Paul Kneeland Robert Andreucci Leslie Barlow
Bruce Crawford Jeannie Geremia
Union Co. Master Gardeners Ann Perry
Contributing Writers
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16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059 Subscription Information Subscription: One year by mail $24.99 The Gardener News invites correspondences on gardening subjects of interest. Gardener News, Inc, and its Publisher reserve the right to accept, refuse, or discontinue any editorial or copy, and shall not be liable to anyone for printing errors, misinformation or omissions in editorial or copy. The information contained in articles herein represents the opinions of the authors and, although believed to be accurate and complete, is not represented or warranted by Gardener News, Inc. to be accurate or complete. All advertising is subject to the Gardener News advertisement rates, and must be PAID IN FULL at time of submission. Publisher reserves the right at its absolute discretion, and at any time, to cancel any advertising order or reject any advertising copy whether or not the same has already been acknowledged and/or previously published. In the event of errors or omissions of any advertisement(s), the newspapers liability shall not exceed a refund of amounts paid for the advertisement. NOTE: All editorial, advertising layouts and designs and portions of the same that are produced and published by Gardener News, Inc., are the sole property of Gardener News, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any form unless written authorization is obtained from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: Gardener News, 16 Mount Bethel Rd - #123, Warren, NJ 07059. (c) 2013 Gardener News, Inc.
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RutgeRs CoopeRative extension phone DiReCtoRy Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-307-6450 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830
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FOR SALE
3 - 4’ Specimen American Boxwoods Hidden Pond Farms Please ask for Chris
973-865-6362
Full Moon, April 25, 2013
TIP OF THE MONTH
This spring, the message is “buyer beware.” Offers that sound too good to be true just may be. The collecting of all the debris that was left after superstorm Sandy may contain unwanted plant material, like invasive bamboo. As trees came crashing down and homeowners pulled any and all debris to their curbs for pick-up, what is being sold or in some cases given away as mulch this spring may contain unwanted plant parts. Roots, stems, seeds and bark may have problems and thus may have been mixed in with desirable parts. This spring, trust your independent garden centers for purchasing mulch for your landscape beds.
Gardener News
April, 2013 23
In this business, downtime is not an option. That’s why every piece of Toro landscape contractor equipment is engineered to be extraordinarily tough. We’re talking heavy-duty welded 7-gauge steel decks, high-strength spindles and blades, commercial-grade engines and torture-tested components — all built to stand up to the harshest job conditions. Let’s face it: When you can’t be out making money, you’re losing it. Choose the mowers that pay off with longer life, fewer repairs and less downtime.
AvAilAble At your locAl toro DeAler | toro.com / DeAler © 2013 The Toro Company
© 2012 The Toro Company
24 April, 2013
Gardener News