Is it Poisonous?

Many holiday plants are toxic...but do you know which ones? Read on to learn more about potentially poisonous plants.

Poinsettia:

Photo from Poinsettia Pictures

Contrary to popular belief poinsettias ARE NOT considered dangerous. In the 1970s, scientists determined that concerns over the plant were unfounded.

Holly:


The berries of these pretty plants, more often found outside than in, can be toxic if ingested. Eating 20 berries can be fatal to a child.

Mistletoe:

Photo from the US Forest Service

This romantic plant has a dark side. The entire plant is poisonous if eaten. Kind of gives a whole new meaning to 'Love Bites'.

Bittersweet:

Photo from Brandeis University

Found on the prairie (and currently in my living room) bittersweet's dainty orange berries are a designer's dream. Be cautious, however, as these bountiful berries can cause a reduced heart rate, sedation and headaches.

Looking for a non-poisonous alternative?
Christmas Cactus is completely harmless.

Photo from Texas A&M.

Poinsettia Tutorial

Photo from Iowa State Extension

I love poinsettias. (Probably because if it's red, I think I have to have it.) I think I have sent more than one to a premature death, unfortunately. However, with a few tips and tricks you and I can both keep our plants alive and thriving. (If we are really lucky, we may even coax it into re-blooming.)

• To start, choose a plant with thoroughly colored bracts ("leaves" in laymen terms).
• Once you get your plant home, place it in an area that will get indirect sunlight at least 6 hours a day.
• Make sure the plant is not near excessive heat or a draft. Poinsettias will suffer at temperatures of 50 degrees or below.
• Be careful not to over water your Poinsettia. Standing water that doesn't drain is a no-no.
• Fertilize your plant after the blooming cycle is over.

How to Re-Bloom your Poinsettia
Once the leaves start to loose their appeal, don't throw the plant out, give re-blooming a try.

• Cut the plant back to 8 inches in height in late March or early April.
• Continue watering as normal.
• Fertilize once.

By May, you will notice some serious growth.

• Once the days are warm and nighttime temperatures are above 55 degrees, move the plant outside. Continue to fertilize every 2-3 weeks.
• Additional pruning may be necessary to keep the plant from getting leggy. Prune as necessary, but DON'T prune after September 1.
• Starting October 1, keep the plant in total darkness for 14 hours each night. (The plant will still need 6-8 hours of bright sunlight a day.)

With patience, and a little luck, the plant should be back in bloom by next Christmas.

Flower Variety Spotlight

Photo from Magnolia Gardens Nursery

Anything with the word "profusion" in its name is a plant for me. Take the new Profusion Zinnia from Sakata Seed America. Flowers can grow up to 12 inches and spread up to 24 inches.

Plants in the series have won the All-America Selections' God Medal three times for white, orange and cherry varieties.

Mulch Roses

If you have any type of rose bush (including knock outs), mulch them after Christmas to help them get through the winter.

Mound 6-12 inches of mulch around the crown of the plant, to protect the roots and the graft union where the rose species you are growing is attached to a hardy root stock. (Don't try to use the soil around the rose bush as mulch. Moving it could expose or disturb the roots.)

The mulch will help keep the soil temperature constant, protecting the plant from heaving out of the ground due to freeze and thaw cycles.

My Christmas Tree

We went with a Fraser Fir:



Send me pictures of your decorated tree! tara patty at ryan lawn dot com.

Crown Reduction on Bradford Pears

Bradford Pears are notoriously weak-wooded trees. High winds can split the trees in half easily, and with winter storms around the corner, prized pears should be pruned to avoid this fate.

Ryan Lawn & Tree recommends crown reductions to keep pears in check. This involves drastically reducing the canopy weight of the tree so that it is not so top heavy. We pruned the Bradford Pear above this fall. You can definitely tell it has been pruned, but it looks great and should be good to go this winter.

Winter Storm Coming...

Or so I hear on the news. So far, we haven't been hit very hard. I went out to my car late this morning to get some change and it was wet, but not icy.

If we do get some major snowfall tonight and tomorrow, you may salt your driveway. If you decide to use deicing products, only use as much as you need. Over applying can cause damage to your lawn and ornamentals.

Douglas Fir

Photo from Taylors Trees

Larry Ryan pointed out that I forgot a species during my Christmas Tree series. He was talking about Douglas Fir, a species native to the west coast.

The branches are spreading and drooping in its natural shape, and have dark green to blue green needles. (Most of the Douglas Firs on the lots that are conical have been pruned that way...this may result in a compact tree that is more difficult to decorate.)

You can buy Douglas Firs that haven't been pruned, if you prefer. Heartland Nursery has them in stock.

Christmas Tree Review
Fraser Fir
Scotch Pine
Eastern Red Cedar
Blue Spruce
White Pine

New Heuchera

Photo from Smith's Gardens, Inc

It is COLD outside today. Luckily, I received a magazine yesterday that highlighted some new cultivars that will be available this spring, so I was warm at heart.

One of my favorites: Autumn Leaves Heuchera from Terra Nova Nurseries.

Autumn Leaves is a four-season plant with vibrant red leaves. The leaves gradually change through the season, finishing off with dark red leaves in the fall. The plant will grow in sun or shade, but prefers well-drained soils. Try it for accent or contrast in mixed beds.

Seed Bombs?

Photo from Jayson Home & Garden

I came across these on a design website this afternoon - I have to admit, I was intrigued. I have never heard of such a thing.

I did a quick Google search which, to my horror (delight), revealed the underbelly of the gardening scene. Apparently Guerrilla Gardening is all the rage in bustling metropolises on the coasts (read - New York and L.A.)

In order to be a rouge gardener, you need seed bombs (or seed grenades, as they are sometimes called). You take the "bomb" which is made of a compressed ball of soil containing live vegetation and drop (or throw, with sound effects) them into neglected or vacant spaces that - gasp - don't belong to you. Guerrilla gardeners use these bombs to beautify their environments in secret.

(Some guerrilla gardeners wake up before dawn to plant abandoned expanses of earth the old fashioned way. They may continue to visit the plot to weed and maintain their crop.)

Who says gardening can't be edgy?

Learn more about the movement at guerrillagardening.org.

Robotic Gutter Cleaner?

Money Magazine featured this product in its latest issue: A robot that cleans your gutters. Climb a ladder and insert the robot, then use your remote control to clean dirt, leaves and sludge out of the gutter. You can watch a video of the robot in action here.

Is it a gimmick, or does it really work?

You can read the Consumer Reports review here. I may have to wait for robot 2.0, but if you have patience and get a rush from new technology, you may beg to differ.

Have any of you tried this product? It is manufactured by iRobot.

Christmas Trees Day 4 - Colorado Blue Spruce

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Are you headed out to get your Christmas Tree? This week I am showcasing a few of the favorites.

Today's variety is the Colorado Blue Spruce, Christmas Tree of the Presidents (seriously, one was planted in 1978 as the official living White House Lawn Christmas tree). Because they can be bought balled and burlapped, and then planted after the holidays, Blue Spruce have enjoyed an increase in popularity as a Christmas tree species.

Photo from Balsam Creek Lane Tree Farm

The tree is symmetrical with attractive dark green to powdery blue foliage. (The needles take on a silver hue depending on the tree.) Needle retention is among the best for the spruces. Once planted, blue spruces are slow growing, though they are long lived.

BONUS tree.

Photo from Delaware Christmas Tree Growers Association

I would be remiss if I did not tell you Tom's favorite tree (and, as a result, the species we decorate from year to year) - the Eastern White Pine. White Pine needles are long, soft and range in color from bluish-green to silvery green. Needle retention is good to excellent, but the trees' flexible branches make heavy ornaments a no-go. The tree has little to no aroma, which may result in fewer allergy problems for humans. (They are very lovely.)

Frasir Fir
Scotch Pine
Eastern Redcedar

Christmas Trees Day 3 - Eastern Red Cedar

Happy Thanksgiving! Now that the turkey has been carved, Christmas tree sales will be ramping up. If you are planning on decorating a live tree this year, there are many varieties available for purchase. I am showcasing a few this week. Today's variety is the Eastern Redcedar.

Photo from Eastern NC Christmas Tree Growers' Association

The Eastern Redcedar is not a true cedar, but rather a juniper. The branches of young trees are compact and form a pyramidal crown. The fragrant leaves are a dark shiny green, although sharp and prickly.

Due to their natural, conical shape and ready supply, Eastern Redcedars were the most popular Christmas tree in the South prior to the availability of plantation grown Christmas trees. Redcedars remain a regional favorite in the South today, although they are mainly available only at cut and carry tree farms.

Fraser Fir
Scotch Pine

Christmas Trees Day 2 - Scotch (Scots) Pine

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means Christmas tree sales will be ramping up in the near future. If you are planning on decorating a live tree this year, there are many varieties available for purchase. This week I am showcasing a few of the favorites.

Photo from Mathisen Tree Farms

Scotch Pines are native to Asia and Europe and were brought to North America by European settlers. They have been cultivated in the eastern United States and Canada. The tree can grow at many different elevations under many different conditions and as a result has been widely planted. (The trees do not perform as well in North America as they do in their native habitats, however.)

Scotch Pines have dark green foliage and stiff branches, making them ideal for both light and heavy ornaments. The species boasts excellent needle retention, even when dry and has no problem holding its needles for the 3-4 week Christmas cycle. It is probably the most commonly used Christmas Tree in the United States.

Fraser Fir

Christmas Trees Day 1 - Fraser Fir

Thanksgiving is Thursday, which means Christmas tree sales will be ramping up in the near future. If you are planning on decorating a live* tree this year, there are many varieties available for purchase. I will spend the rest of the week showcasing a few.

The most popular variety is the Fraser Fir. This jewel of the southern Appalachian Mountains is named for John Fraser (1750-1811), a Scot botanist who explored the area in the late 18th century. The trees closely resemble Balsam Firs, although they grow in distinct geographical areas that do not overlap - this leads arborists to believe they were once a single species.

Photo from Green Acres

Fraser Firs are uniformly pyramidal and have flattened, dark green needles. These characteristics, combined with the Fraser's compact form, pleasant scent and ship-ability make it the most popular Christmas tree species. (It requires 7-10 years in the field to produce a 6-7 foot tree.) The tree has excellent needle retention.

*The trees are not actually alive, so why do we refer to them as "live" trees?

Acorn Production Varies From Year to Year

Have acorns been raining down from your Oak tree this year? I was visiting a friend's house the other day, and acorns seemed to be raining down from their tree. Every few seconds you could hear one drop.

Acorn crops are not constant. One year, like this one for my friend, you may have a bumper crop with more acorns than you can handle. Other years, you may have a difficult time finding any acorns.

The factors determining how many acorns are produced in a given year are not completely understood. Weather at the time of flowering is likely an important factor, however, there may also be internal systems in place that dictate how many acorns develop from year to year. For instance, following a lite year, there may be a heavier year, because the tree had extra energy to expend in the second year.

Whatever the reasons one thing is for sure, if you felt like you had an overabundance of acorns this year (or not enough), next year will surely be different.

2009 Fall Color = Spectacular

The drama of fall leaf color plays out as, well, a drama. Mother Nature can giveth and taketh away when it comes to fall leaf displays. Too wet, too dry, too hot, too cold? All of these factors come into play when you are talking about leaf changes.

This year, M.N. dazzled us. That's right, I said it, dazzled.

Were you as impressed?

Dusty Miller

This plant is nearing the end of its existence, but how intriguing is that foliage?

Dusty Miller is a great plant to grow for foliage. It will grow well into the fall, and I think it would look great paired with succulents or pastel annuals.

Ornamental Cabbage

LOVE it. Especially the pink/magenta center. And how it starts hum drum green on the outside and gradually gets more interesting as you move in. Who knew cabbage could have so much depth?

Snow is Falling

Snow is falling across Kansas today. What better time to celebrate Hollies - their bright red berries and dark green, waxy foliage looks stunning this time of year.

I am sure an artsy photographer would have done the plant more justice...but hopefully you get the idea.

While we are on the subject of "artsy" do any of you have plans for nature-inspired holiday decorations? E-mail your plans to tara patty at ryan lawn dot com.

Need ideas? Check out these birch bark vases, sweet gum ball place cards, and maple leaf "plates" (sprigs from a festive tree, pressed beneath a clear, glass plate).

Mow Fescue and Bluegrass short at Thanksgiving

Photo from Flickr

If you have a Fescue or Bluegrass lawn, be sure to mow it short (1 1/2 - 2 inches) around Thanksgiving. If it is still growing, mow it again before Christmas so that it overwinters at 1 1/2 - 2 inches.

These mowings ensure the lawn overwinters well.

Concerns about Mulch from Treated Trees

We use a lot of mulch at our house.

Mulch is definitely an added benefit to any landscape, but there are some uncertainties when it comes to knowing what mulch to use.

For instance: Is it okay to use mulch that is made from a tree that has been treated to protect it from disease or pest infestations?

The answer is yes. Plant protection products today are very selective. Your plants will not be harmed by coming into contact with mulch from a tree that may have been treated. (Furthermore, herbicides, which have the most potential to kill or harm plants, are not used on trees.)

Need A Gift for the Gardener in Your Life?

The holidays have officially started in Kansas City. (Christmas music has been airing on the radio since November 1. Are we the only city that does this???)

As such, I wanted to point you all to Etsy. A web-site of mostly homemade goods made by artisans across the globe. They have several gifts a gardener will love.

How about 10 seed flats? Easy to assemble and reusable from year to year.

Available at andrewsreclaimed

Not into starting plants from seed? Why not order one of these cute totes to carry your gardening tools from pot to pot. Pins + Paper is currently shipping in the U.S. for free. And for purchasing a project tote - a free gift. (Stocking Stuffer?)

From Pins + Paper

Of course, we all know this is what I would find under the tree:

From Rusty Rooster Fabrication & Design

Planning Your Spring Garden?

Scaevola 'Whirlwind Blue', a Prairie Star Selection
Photo from Cornell University

If you are already thinking about what to plant in your garden next year, head on over the the Prairie Star Flowers site for recommendations about the best plants to grow in our area.

From the Prairie Star site:

"The Prairie Star collection consists of annual flowers of great vigor and spectacular bloom throughout the entire summer growing season. To be included in the Prairie Star list an annual flower must perform at the highest level for a minimum of two years in the university bedding plant field research trials conducted by K-State scientist, Dr. Alan Stevens. Prairie Star annuals have the vigor to grow like crazy and bloom like crazy under lazy gardener care. It is the “WOW look at those flowers” list."

The list is extensive and varied. It's well worth the time it takes to go down the list.

Leeks, Yes Please

Photo from Flickr

I admit, sometimes I read through recipes and I am not familiar with some of the ingredients. I had heard of leeks before, of course, but had no idea how they tasted. What to do but pick some up at the supermarket and give them a try?

I picked up a few and brought them home. Luckily the recipe I was using gave a good description of how to prepare them. Cut the leafy top off, cut the remaining stock in half lengthwise, and then slice in 1/2 inch pieces. Easy enough. They smell similar to an onion, and when sliced they kind of fall apart. (The "stalk" is really tightly wound leaves, when sliced, these leaves separate.)

Leeks are big in Britain, and are a fairly hardy vegetable to grow as they have little to no pest or disease issues. However, they are cool-season crop and will take a lot of water and TLC to grow through one of our hot summers. For more information on growing leeks, click here.

My first attempt was a leek and bacon creamy risotto. It was a lot of work. And probably would have been very enjoyable, had I not substituted pork bacon for the much-less-flavorful turkey bacon.

Last night, I made a gnocchi casserole. I sauteed three leeks prepared as above, boiled the gnocchi and made a cheese sauce with milk, flour, a little butter and fontina and asiago cheese. The final step is to mix all the ingredients in a casserole dish and broil for 3-4 minutes. Then top with prosciutto. This was much better.

I will be cooking with leeks much more in the future. What new ingredients are you using in your kitchen?

Sea Oats

We have talked about turfgrasses and erosion before, but two weekends ago I was on the Gulf Coast and was able to witness this in practice one again.

Along the Gulf Coast a simple but important grass grows - Sea Oats. Sea Oats can tolerate the salty spray from the ocean and they have dense root systems. This makes them perfect for preventing erosion on beaches. The grass grows mostly on sand dunes and is a protected species in some areas. In fact, the sea oats we saw were completely fenced off and there were warning signs cautioning visitors against disturbing the plants.

All of that, for a Monocot.

And We're Back

Sorry for the delay of game, folks. I got a nasty bug last week and was down for the count. Now that I am back among the living, I would love to share some lawn and gardening tips with you.

Over the weekend, my husband raked the leaves at least three times. There are SO MANY and they just keep falling. For all of you who are in the same boat, keep with it. If you get tired of raking and bagging, you can always cheat a little at the end and mow over them. Just don't leave them on the grass, because this is a problem.

You can do it!

P.S. Haven't the trees been beautiful this year?!

Autumn Enchantments

I just can't get over this season - it is one of my favorites. How can you not love the changing, breathtaking scenery?

These are some of the more beautiful trees in my neighborhood. (Unfortunately, the Sycamore in the front yard is not a bastion of fall color. Boo.)

This Maple is on the boulevard closest to our house. The HOA planted it at some point, and it was one of the first trees in the neighborhood to show off its beautiful foliage.

This golden hued tree is in my neighbor's backyard. You can just see it from the windows in our house, so I get to enjoy it despite its location outside my own landscape.

Is there a tree in your neighborhood that you have been enjoying lately? E-mail it to tara patty at ryan lawn dot com.

Dead Limbs in Your Trees?

If it has been awhile since you have had your trees pruned, have a professional arborist out to look them over before winter.

An arborist can recommend pruning to keep your home safe from falling and/or breaking limbs during winter storms.

When it comes to large tree pruning, it is better to be proactive than to react to an emergency down the line.

Visit Trees Are Good to find a certified arborist in your area. You can also request an estimate from Ryan Lawn & Tree.

Leaves Falling Down

Leaves are starting to fall and gather on our lawns - don't forget to rake them up to protect your grass (allowing leaves to sit in piles on the grass will smother the grass causing portions to die out).

If you are hitting a dead end about how to make the project go faster, try this - rake the leaves onto a tarp and THEN bag or mulch them.

Do any of you have leaf-raking tips? Send them to tara patty at ryan lawn dot com.

Pumpkin Patch

Halloween is coming up in a few weeks - the weather sure feels about right. Over the weekend I ventured over to a pumpkin patch to pick out my pumpkins for the big day.




One of my pumpkins was warty, like the one pictured above. The variety is called "Knucklehead" according the helpful patch personnel. I think it has character. You do have to be careful not knock the warts off, however.

In honor of pumpkins, I decided to make some pumpkin dip this weekend. I mixed about a cup of canned pumpkin with a block of cream cheese and a half a cup of brown sugar. Then, I added 2 teaspoons of maple syrup, some cinnamon, nutmeg and a little vanilla. My friend Lauren recommended it to use as a dip for apples. I thought it was quite tasty with graham crackers as well. FALL IS HERE!

Shrub Pruning How To Day 3

Finally, prune for height. Prune top growth by cutting the stem back to a leaflet or stem. (This prevents “stubs” which make the plant look funny.) The goal is for the top growth to be pruned to essentially the same height. Step back frequently to make sure the shrub looks the way you want it.

The first shrub you prune may not look perfect, but after two or three pruning cycles, you will get the hang of it. Hand pruning may be more tedious than the hedge pruners we talked about, but the overall result and health of the plant will be much improved by taking a little extra time to do the job right.

Day 1 Day 2

Shrub Pruning How To Day 2

The first step to pruning is to evaluate the shrub. Are you pruning it just because it is getting too big for the space, or do you have other concerns (unhealthy stems, thick, crowded growth at the base)?

The first cuts are to remove any dead branches. Cut these at the point where they are attached to the rest of the plant. Next, prune branches that are too close to the ground (any that are laying on or touching the ground). Again, prune these where they attach to the rest of the shrub, deep in the plant. Also remove any irregular branches.

Take a step back and see how the shrub looks at this point. Remember, a properly pruned shrub is one you can’t tell you’ve pruned.

Day 1

Shrub Pruning How To Day 1

Photo from Mid City Nursery

This week, I thought I would go over some shrub pruning tips. Pruning can be an art – it takes a lot and time and effort to prune a plant in to a chess piece or loveable animal – but for us mere mortals, a few basic steps in the right direction is all we need.

Let’s start with shrub pruning. Shrubs, usually, are pruned more often than large trees and, with a few guidelines; most homeowners will learn the knack without much effort. Bear in mind, when shrubs are pruned well, they look like they haven’t been pruned at all.

You won’t need a lot of different tools to prune shrubs effectively. A pair of hand pruners (I prefer Felco hand pruners) will cut any branch up to 3/4 inches in diameter.

Leaning Tree

I noticed the other day that a witch hazel we planted last year has started to lean severely. We are going to have to stake it. In general, you only want to leave a tree staked for a year, otherwise, the tree starts to grow into the guide wires and it is really quite a mess.

However, this little guy is struggling, and I think a stake will help straighten him out.

Roses!

If you haven't heard enough about my knock-out roses this season, let me give you one more post. The bushes are still blooming and the flowers are so delicate and breathtaking. (Mostly breathtaking due to the minimal amount of care they take to look fabulous.)

They have also had a surge in growth over the last few weeks.

Seeing them looking so good kind of has me sad for fall.

Dig Up Caladiums

My caladiums are starting to look a little worse for wear.

Like cannas, caladiums need to be dug up in the fall and replanted in the spring. However, unlike cannas, it is better to dig up the caladiums before the first frost.

If possible, allow the leaves to dry up and fall off naturally. This will ensure the bulbs have time to absorb nutrients.

Ideally, caladiums should be stored at 70 degrees or warmer, so avoid storing them in an unheated garage or in the basement. (Cannas should be stored in a cool, dark place.)

Apple Picking

My parents come to visit over the weekend. Before they arrived, they stopped at an apple orchard to pick apples. There were only two varieties left to pick, as the season is coming to a close, but they had a good time.

They left some apples for me to enjoy:


I can't wait to give them a try!

What to Do With Cannas

If you have cannas in your landscape, you need to dig them up after the first frost to enjoy them again next spring/summer.

After frost kills the foliage, trim the plant off short to about four inches. Dig it up in the next week or two, any time before the ground freezes.

Use a garden fork or spade to dig up the root. Be careful not to damage it. The root will have grown over the season, so start digging a foot or more away from the stem. If pieces break off, save them, too.

Gently brush off excess soil. Rinse clean with a garden hose if you wish. Air dry at room temperature for a few days before storing.

Every year you will have more cannas to plant the following spring!