Impatiens…America’s #1 shade plant

Last Updated on Saturday, 21 January 2012 01:13 Written by Phillip Saturday, 21 January 2012 01:08

The common shade impatiens has been used for years in containers and garden beds as the go-to plant for the shade. Unfortunately people who have only grown impatiens, are going to have to change their gardening habit. A deadly powdery mildew has infected the impatiens family. First observed in 2003, a strain of downy mildew had become a world wide problem by last year. It’s symptoms are appear with leaves turning yellow and are rapidly shed from the plant. A fine white fungal growth may be visible on the lower leaf surface, but affected leaves yellow and fall off rapidly. The fungal spores that are the problem are easily carried by the wind…quickly spreading the disease. Fortunately this mildew seems to be very plant specific, affecting only the Walleriana type of impatiens. The Walleriana impatiens is the common type impatiens that has been in use for years. There is no reason to be concerned that this problem can or will spread to your other plants.

There are a number of good flowering plants that do great in the shade bed or containers. By talking to people at your locally owned garden center you should find plenty of  plants to take the place of impatiens in your shady area. If people at the garden center tell you that impatiens are just fine….you know that you have found a place that is not looking out for your best gardening interests! In no particular order here are some great alternatives….

• New guinea impatiens
• All types of  begonia
• Coleus
• Upright fuchia

This is not a problem that is going to go away, it is real….and it is here now! Growers in Europe are planting ZERO seeds of impatiens this spring! While there will be some growers in the United States (mostly box stores) that will carry impatiens this year, my recommendation is to not purchase them!

To read a few more articles on this issue, check out these links. http://www.greenhousegrower.com/article/23485

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=205

Saving money at the Nursery

Last Updated on Saturday, 8 October 2011 11:29 Written by Phillip Saturday, 8 October 2011 11:29

The other day I saw a post on Facebook that showed a sign reading ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago….the second best time is now.’ This isn’t a new saying; as a matter of fact you’ve probably heard it before. Seeing it again got me thinking how it is probably truer today than when it was originally stated. We all know these are tough economic times, economic times, and everyone is trying to make their dollars go further. I have seen first hand here at Viola Nursery, how peoples buying habits have changed in the last few years. Five years ago customers had no hesitation purchasing a tree for $100.00 or more. The last few years people seem to take more time in researching purchases of over 100 dollars. As the owner of high quality plant material, I applaud these shoppers. When people take the time to check out different sources of these plants, they are usually going to end up making a smarter decision. In my opinion trees are one of  the most economical purchases someone can make. Whether you are buying a small $50.00 fruit tree or a large balled and burlapped shade tree, your one time purchase is going to give you something that will continually increase in value. People don’t generally think of a tree in the perspective of their investment increasing in value. There have been many studies that show a home that has more mature trees and landscaping, generate a higher value when the home is being sold.

So when you are thinking you would sure like to have a tree or two, or three in your yard….take your time and do some research. Start out on the internet, it’s a great resource. When you think you know what kind of tree would look nice and serve a purpose at your home, check out your local independent garden centers. A IGC is where you can be assured of finding trees that have been cared for like plants, not just a product on a shelf. Talk to the people that work there and ask questions. If the people working there don’t take the time to help you with your questions, go on to the next Garden center. If they don’t care about the people who are taking their trees home, they probably don’t really care how their trees have been taken care of.

Fall Mums

Last Updated on Friday, 9 September 2011 08:12 Written by Phillip Friday, 9 September 2011 08:12

The Fall mums arrived this week. Mums are a staple for fall color and decoration. The word Mum is short for Chrysanthemum…a flowering plant that usually blooms in the Fall. With lots of varieties of colors and sizes, mums are a perfect fit for any home owner or gardener. With this large variety comes a large variety of sizes and growing needs. While all mums are perennial(meaning they will come back year after year), many of the varieties that are sold by the mass merchants are not hardy for winters colder than zone 5.  I treat these mums as annuals, using them as instant color in a container by themselves or in combinations with other Fall plants.

In recent years there have been some new releases of mums that were specifically bred for the Northern gardener. A particular favorite of mine is the Minnesota Mammoth mum. These mums can withstand temps as low as -30 degrees, and still come back year after year. They get the name Mammoth from there large size. This is an all around easy plant to grow, with its vigor and no fuss growth habit. Don’t think of these as your ordinary garden mums, that you find at the box stores. Their natural growth habit is large, with a natural dome shape. They make great specimen plants or as a showy hedge.

Trying to establish mums in your gardens can be easily accomplished by following a few easy steps. Most people try to plant their mums late in the year when they are in full bloom. At this time of the year the plants are putting all of their energy into blooming and not into rooting. This is one of the main reasons I am always hearing of customers lack of success in growing mums.  So choose the right mum, give it minimal care and you can enjoy Fall beauty for years to come.