Special September Pansy Recipe

To celebrate a successful first week of September, we have a special pansy recipe to share with you. Pansies, popular cool-weather garden additions, keep their vibrant, smooth texture during the fall and winter seasons. If taken care of properly, pansies can thrive in cold climates and often retain their color through the end of the year. Pansies can bloom twice when treated well. Gardeners generally enjoy planting these flowers now rather than during the summer months because they have been known to stand tall when challenged by colder temperatures.  

Now, are you ready to get outside and improve the attractiveness of your garden with a perfect pack of pansies? With great pleasure, we share our signature Garden Supply Company recipe.

First, collect half a bag soil conditioner, one bag composted cow manure and one bag (4 lb.) of Plant Tone Organic Fertilizer. Once collected and layered over the ground, rake the supplies together, so the materials are evenly spread out. Next, insert the pansies, which should be placed 6" apart from one another. Finally, pack the bedding with the remaining soil conditioner. 

The planting process is that easy.  Throughout the next couple of months, you will need to thoroughly water the plants, fertilize them every week with liquid food and apply granular fertilizer once a month.

We hope you enjoy the pansy planting process as much as we do. If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to reach out to a garden specialist. We are open every day of the week.

September in the Garden

September is nearly here, which means gardening is quickly becoming more enjoyable. Less heat and humidity, fall colors blossoming all around us and warm treats, will arrive shortly. Now that it is safer to partake in gardening activities again, we have compiled a list of exciting recipes and a maintenance to-do list for you to follow. We look forward to revamping our supply of garden tools and plantable items, and so should you.

You may be asking yourself, what should I plant? During the fall months, fresh, vibrant vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, kale grow well. They are fun to watch evolve and are delicious in lean meals. Also, seasonal mums, asters, ornamental cabbages/kales and beautiful pansies are arriving in batches and are expected to sell out quickly. They will instantly increase the overall attractiveness of your garden until next spring.

In September, we recommend smoothing out all patches of soil and applying fertilizer to prepare for future aeration and overseeding projects. Apply a hefty supply of fertilizer once a month, for three consecutive months, for the remainder of the year. We recommend only applying a brand of fertilizer that is high in Nitrogen.

Check on any perennials you planted earlier this year. They grow tall and wide, which can be problematic for neighboring plants and herbs. If your garden gets too crowded, feel free to dig up any perennials and build them a new home. If perennials are well protected, they should survive until the end of fall. 

Bugs and insects will be sticking around. Some will flee when temperatures drop, but a majority of them will be sticking around, cozying up in and around your precious cargo. Not all of them are harmful, but do carefully look for damaged goods, and fix the situation accordingly, in a timely manner. If you are ever unsure about an unusual growth pattern, abnormal coloring, or an unidentifiable bite mark in your garden, bring a small sample to us, and an experienced gardener will help you understand the problem at hand.

Five DIY Garden Projects

Did you know that there are endless ways in which you too, can make your garden look amazing without breaking the bank? That's right, from do it yourself (DIY) wall planters to elaborate, elegant walkways, you'll be sure to find the perfect gardening activity to suit your needs. Here are five DIY garden projects for you to try this month.

1) A stone border to guard your precious plants and vegetables.

Per Jenna Burger Design, you first purchase an abundance of edge stones (usually found at your local home improvement store) and then line them up one-by-one around the perimeter of your garden. Finally, tightly pack them together with mulch. There are no special tools required to create a stone border.

2) Build a walkway for visitors.

From Ohio Thoughts, you can save your grass and plants from having to endure excessive foot traffic by piecing together wooden beams with concrete. Keep in mind, digging is required to craft the desired slope, so you may want to recruit some extra labor to complete this project. A detailed installation guide can be found on Ohio Thoughts' website.

3) Add some bright, cunning lights to your garden.

Outdoors lights are almost always both aesthetically pleasing and super helpful when natural light is limited. Once the sun goes down, it is dangerous to be walking around without an adequate source of light. There are numerous DIY light projects, which again, can be found at your local home improvement store. Lowe's has an easy-to-follow installation video on their website.

4) Dust off and clean an old walkway.

Sometimes brushing the dirt off of an old walkway and cleaning the creases can greatly improve the look of your garden. Best of all, it's much cheaper than building a new walkway. Per Rain on a Tin Roof, you will need a container of sidewalk cleaner, a gallon (minimum) of tank sprayer, a large brush, and a water hose. You will start by brushing off the dirt and slightly wetting the walkway with warm water.

5) Divide your property into sections with a berm.

Berms, small mounds composed of fill dirt and soil, can be used to highlight certain areas of your garden and protect precious cargo. They look natural when kept at a height of 2-4 inches. Plus, at that height range, the grass surrounding the berms can easily be mowed. You will need a garden hose, spray paint, sod cutter, shovel, fill dirt, clay soil, topsoil, boulders (optional), and mulch. SFGATE has a great step-by-step installation guide on their website.

Three Popular Garden Recipes for the month of August!

For some people, August is a month filled with constant trips to and from sporting events, school, work, and various retail stores. The amount of daylight is diminishing and time for meal prep is limited. 

The good news, shiny, fresh fruits and vegetables are blossoming all around us. These easily accessible vibrant ingredients coincide to form the foundation for a lovely, healthy seasonal dish that everyone can enjoy. Peaches, Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and green beans are especially ripe this time of year.

If you are interested in harvesting, crafting, and perfecting your own sensational seasonal dish to celebrate the distant cool temperatures, check out some of the top recipes of August below.

Per Foodiecrush.com, Spiralized Zucchini, Quinoa and Turkey Sausage Stuffed Peppers, a compilation of warm, vibrant peppers stuffed with a soothing combination of spices and garlic. Here is what you will need.

6 bell peppers of assorted colors

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 medium zucchini spiralized or diced, about 4 cups

2 tablespoons olive oil divided

1 pound ground turkey

4 cloves garlic minced or pressed

1/2 teaspoon dried fennel seed crushed

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup chopped yellow onion

1 cup crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce

4 cups cooked quinoa

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for garnish

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Grilled corn and peach cobb salad, an energizing salad with fresh vegetables and bite-size meats, is made to satisfy your cravings and keep you in shape. Also, it is gluten-free. Here are the ingredients you will need to complete this dish.

1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup honey

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar or cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

From BHG.com, Peach crumble bars, a warm and tasty sweet treat, which is particularly popular in July in August, is a must-try dessert item. Here is how you can make a batch for yourself:

For the crust:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

 ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

 ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

 ¼ teaspoon salt

 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces

For the filling:

1 cup granulated sugar

 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch

 6 large peaches, peeled and chopped (about 6 cups)

 2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the toppings:

1 cup all-purpose flour

 ⅔ cup packed brown sugar

 ⅔ cup cold butter, cut into pieces

 ⅔ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

 ½ cup shredded coconut

Five Tips for Protecting Your Beloved Garden

To some, July is a wonderful month for numerous reasons. Schools out, fireworks light up the sky, pools are open, amusement parks are flooded with energetic tourists and refreshing drinks are flying off of the shelves. While humans have access to amenities and shelter to keep them cool when temperatures become unbearable, plants usually don't have that luxury. They are forced to stand tall and fighting through the dry, humid air. 

Be honest, how often do you thoroughly inspect your garden during the month of July? Probably not very often, right? It may be too hot or you are busy traveling the world. Understandable, but we recommend seeking out some assistance from a nearby gardening buddy. A little bit of maintenance can go a long way in ensuring that your precious plants reach their full growth potential. We want your garden to shine when the light gets dimmer. Here is how you, too, can protect during the scorching summer months. 

1) Now is the perfect time to clear out any dead, injured or permanently damaged flowers to make room for new prospects to grow in.

2) Look out for snakes meandering through your garden during the quiet times of the day. We recommend you stock up on snake repellent and have one container loaded and ready to use just in case an unexpected slim, but scaly intruder sneaks onto your property. Consider checking out the organic repellent from I Must Garden, which is made with botanical oils and several other completely natural ingredients to avoid harming yourself or your plants.

3) Looking to add some flavor to your garden? Trellis’ for vines are looking exceptionally healthy this time of year.

4) Protect your bedding plants and vegetables with an extra layer of healthy fertilizer during the warmest and driest months of the year to prevent them from losing too many nutrients. Plant-Tone, a premium organizer fertilizer product, is a great brand to try.

5) Don't terrorize the bees! Once you can look past their (somewhat) frightening looks and odd buzzing sounds, you will quickly realize they don't mean any harm. Besides, they help plants to grow up big and strong. If you must spray chemicals, it is best to wait until later in the evening or after sunset.

We wish you the best and hope that you and your garden have a happy summer. Come by and see us if you have any additional questions. An expert will be happy to help you protect your beloved garden during your battle against the heat waves.