Let The Planting Begin!

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1 May To-Do List: The average last frost date has passed for most of us, which means that it is time to plant summer annuals and vegetables! We have had some unseasonably cold early May weather however, so we are advising people to be still be cautious and monitor the weather situation. As the soil warms up, it is easier to work up and add organic material. Organic material will make a huge difference in the health of your plants and soil! We carry compost in bulk and by the bag. May is usually the start of irrigation season, so keep an eye on the temperatures and rainfall and be prepared to start watering. New plants will need special attention, and should be watered regularly after planting. Slugs are still on the march! We recommend Sluggo, a safe and effective slug bait that is safe around children and pets. This is a great time to plant! As an added bonus, many plants are now leafed out or blooming so it will be easier to pick out what you like. April is a good time to fertilize trees and shrubs. Rhododendrons in particular should be fertilized now. Volume 4, Issue 4 Let The Planting Begin! May 7th, 2010 Although most of us are past our average last frost date, the weather seems to have thrown us a curveball over the past few week with unseasonably cold temperatures and even snow in some areas! Nonetheless, we should be past the danger of frost in the next week or so. Our safe from frost date has already passed by for many, but some of the outlying areas will still have to contend with the possibility of some cold evening temperatures for a bit. With that said, as soon as this unseasonably late cold spell is over, we will be into the main planting season. Tomatoes, Peppers, Marigolds, Petunias, Geraniums and Impatiens all await you as we enter the warmer months! This is also a prime season for planting trees, shrubs, and perennials since the soil is rapidly becoming more cooperative as it warms up. Just be careful for the next few days with the more tender plants, as you never really know exactly what the Oregon weather has in store for us. Mother s Day is Sunday, May 9th, so be sure and stop by the nursery and pick up something for your Mom, or better yet, bring her along and let her pick something out! The nursery is absolutely brimming with beautiful plants right now, and our plant professionals are here to answer all of your gardening questions! Inside... Japanese Maples Our Favorite Japanese Maples The New Dogwoods Start Your Tomatoes Right! Upcoming Events

2 Page 2 Japanese Maples The world of Japanese Maples is vast and constantly growing! Although many people think of Japanese Maples as those weeping red lacey leaved things, in reality there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of varieties in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Farmington Gardens currently carries over 50 varieties of Japanese Maples that we grow ourselves, with more varieties being introduced yearly. So what s the attraction to Japanese Maples? For starters, they are elegant, graceful specimens that absolutely thrive in the Northwest. They thrive because they are so closely related and similar in needs to one of our native trees, the Vine Maple (Acer circinatum). These two are so closely related, in fact, that many Vine Maple varieties are grafted onto Japanese Maple rootstocks because they are more suitable than their own rootstocks! Our climate is literally perfect for Japanese Maples. They require little care once established, and come in a size and shape to fit nearly every garden. No garden should be without at least one Japanese Maple. We personally recommend at least 6, but then again we are rather biased on the subject. We have a special affection for Japanese Maples in the Northwest, as they perform so well here and a surprising amount of Japanese Maple history has occurred here in our own backyard. J.D. Vertrees, the gentleman who wrote the book (literally!) on Japanese Maples and introduced many of the best varieties that you find today, lived and ran a nursery in Oregon. His 1 1/2 acre garden housed the largest collection of Japanese Maples in the US at the time, and his nursery supplied plants to people all over the country, including many Northwest growers. Whereas Japanese Maples might have originated in Japan, they gained a lot of added momentum in the Northwest. Read on for more information on Japanese Maples, including how to care for them and a list of some of our favorite varieties!

3 Page 3 Japanese Maple Care Japanese Maples are easy to care for, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Proper planting is especially important, as this will set the tone for the rest of the plant s life. After they are established, care requirements should be minimal. Japanese Maples need good drainage! Due to the way they grow and their branches form, they can be more susceptible to root rot in wet conditions than other plants. When planting, plant on a mound or raise the soil level up slightly so that the tree not sitting at ground level. If you have an area that stays perpetually wet in the winter (standing water), these might not be the plants for you. Orange Dream Japanese Maples prefer partial shade. Japanese Maples can handle sun, but do not like a lot of heat. Southern exposures and reflected heat, can spell doom for these plants. Partial shade and protection from the hottest afternoon sun is recommended. The red leaved and variegated types tend to burn worse in the heat. Keep in mind that red and gold Japanese Maples do need some sun in order to develop the best color, they just need moderation. The leaves of young plants may burn slightly for the first few years as they establish, but they usually grow out of it as long as the sun exposure is reasonable. Be cautious with fertilizer. A little bit is good, but a lot can be destructive. Mature plants should need little if any fertilizer. Heavy fertilizing leads to rampant growth, which can ruin the form of the tree, make it weaker and more prone to breaking, and could make it more prone to disease problems down the road. If you are going to fertilize, fertilize lightly and preferably use an organic or slow release fertilizer to keep the growth under control. Water appropriately. Young plants or plants grown in pots need special attention paid to watering. Failure to water can result in crispy leaves or scalded bark. Older trees are better able to take care of themselves because of their more developed root systems, but might still benefit from a good soaking in the hottest parts of summer. Prune lightly, prune in winter. It is generally best to keep pruning to a minimum, but you should still prune lightly to remove weak or dead growth, prune out crossing branches, and encourage a good form. Pruning is best done in the winter months.

4 Our Japanese Maple Favorites! I asked Linda Eshraghi, owner of Eshraghi Nursery and Farmington Gardens to come up with a list of some of the top Japanese Maples. As someone who is very passionate about Japanese Maples and is always looking for new varieties to grow, her response was I believe its truly unfair to pick, each and every plant is unique what s a grower to do? She did share some of her favorites with us, which we would like to share with you. Pictures are on page 6. Page 4 Kiyo hime 1. Fern leaf Full moon Maple Acer japonicum Aconitifolium Upright yet bushy habit, with large rounded, fernlike, rich green leaves that turn scarlet in fall. The fall color is outstanding! This variety tends to be more cold hardy and can be grown in colder parts of the state. 15 x Mikawa Yatsubusa Dwarf Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Mikawa yatsubusa Large, overlapping leaves make this maple quite unusual. Bright yellow new growth matures to rich green. Very striking, slow growing dwarf to Pixie Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Pixie Beautiful deep purple red leaves with longer pointed lobes emerge a reddish pink. A upright yet compact grower, its leaves lie closely to branches to create a dense appearance. Crimson in autumn. 6 x 6 4. Coral Bark Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Sango kaku Best known for its magnificent coral pink bark in the winter. An upright grower with medium sized mid green leaves until fall when they turn a beautiful gold to apricotorange. Very showy tree with a nice upright form to 25 x Lion s Head Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Shishigashira Small bright green leaves curl tightly against branches. Densely packed leaves create a striking appearance on the dwarf, upright tree which turns brilliant gold with some red and pink shades in autumn. Slow growing to 15 x Tsuma Gaki Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Tsuma gaki The new growth on this tree is fantastic. Large leaves begin with deep red margins and lobe tips surrounding a pale cream or soft yellow green. As they age the leaves become a chartreuse green with reddish purple tips. Crimson fall color on a rounded tree. 8 x8

5 Page 5 Our Favorite Japanese Maples!...continued 7. Orangeola Laceleaf Japanese Maple Acer palmatum var dissectum Orangeola Leaves emerge an orange red then fade to dark red. Heavy shade encourages a deeper green cast. It is a beautiful effect enhanced by leaves that are a bit more glossy than most of the reddish purple varieties of laceleaf. Bright red orange in autumn in a long lasting vibrant display. Branches cascade nicely. 8 x 7 8. Red Dragon Laceleaf Japanese Maple Acer palmatum var. dissectum Red Dragon A beautiful weeping laceleaf with new red leaves which mature to purple red. Rich red in fall. This is one of the best varieties for keeping a nice red color through the summer (others can turn a greenish red), and is superior to many older red laceleaf types. 10 x Green Laceleaf Japanese Maple Acer palmatum var. dissectum Viridis The most common laceleaf maple with bright green leaves. Other excellent green laceleaf forms include Waterall and Filigree. Green leaved Japanese Maples tend to have a much more vibrant fall color than their darker leaved counterparts. The fall color on this variety will be yellow gold with hints of orange and red in fall. Cascading habit to 10 x Golden Full Moon Maple Acer shirasawanum Aureum Beautiful tree with bright yellow leaves. Leaves have many more lobes than a palmatum, giving the leaves a rounded appearance. In shade, the leaves will be more chartreuse, then orange red in fall. Upright and bushy growth to 20 x Autumn Moon Full Moon Maple Acer shirasawanum Autumn Moon Similar to the Golden Full Moon Maple in leaf shape and habit but the leaves are tinged with bronzy orange becoming more prominently orange red in fall. 20 x 15 Tobiosho Shishio Improved

6 Page 6 Our Favorite Japanese Maples!...continued Mikawa yatsubusa Fernleaf Full Moon Maple Pixie Coral Bark Shishigashira Tsuma gaki

7 Page 7 Our Favorite Japanese Maples!...continued Orangeola Red Dragon Viridis Golden Full Moon Maple Autumn Moon

8 Page 8 The NEW Dogwoods Dogwood trees are some of our favorite flowering trees! Experience has told us that we are not alone, judging by the huge demand for Dogwoods that we see year after year. We have carried many varieties of Dogwood over the years, but some of the older varieties have their little quirks that keep them from being the perfect tree. The Eastern Flowering Dogwood, Cornus florida, is the earliest bloomer of the bunch and is extremely floriferous, but this early bloom also means that stormy weather can demolish the flowers in a hurry. They can also be more prone to disease problems, especially in wet areas. The Korean Dogwood, Cornus kousa, is the latest bloomer of the group, shows excellent disease resistance, and has larger flowers, but tends to be a smaller, shrubbier tree with sparser blooms. And last but certainly not least, our native Dogwood, Cornus nuttalii, is certainly a beautiful large tree with gigantic flowers, but can be rather finicky outside of its native habitat. Fortunately, someone else (Rutgers University) noticed these quirks as well and decided to hybridize these species together. The results are astounding, and here are a few of our favorites! The Stellar Series Hybrids of the Eastern Dogwood and the Korean Dogwood, the Stellar Dogwoods are a cut above the rest. They are far more disease resistant than the Eastern Dogwood, and bloom later as well. They also flower heavier and more reliably than a Korean Dogwood, and show much greater vigor and tree like tendencies. The star of the bunch is Stellar Pink, which is an extraordinary pink flowering variety that is quickly becoming the new standard in Dogwoods. Celestial and Aurora are both similar, and are siblings to Stellar Pink. These two white flowering varieties stand out with their crisp white flowers and vigorous growth. Stellar Pink Aurora

9 Page 9 The NEW Dogwoods continued The Jersey Star Series The Jersey Star hybrids are very new on the market, but are taking the market by storm. These are hybrids of the Korean Dogwood and our native Pacific Dogwood. Once again, the results are very impressive, with the huge flowers and large growth habit of our native combined with the toughness and disease resistance of the Korean Dogwood. Starlight and Venus are the only two varieties in this series so far, but we mainly carry Starlight because it s growth and flowering habit are more similar to the Pacific Dogwood. Starlight Start Your Tomatoes Right! Tomato season is upon us, and gardeners all over the area are getting ready to get their plants in the ground. While it may seem simple, there are a few things that you can do to make your tomatoes a huge success this year! Plant Deep. Yes, you have permission to plant this one plant deeper than it was in the container. While this treatment would kill most plants, tomatoes actually prefer it. Strip off all of lower leaves up to the topmost set of foliage, and bury the plant up to just below that top set of leaves. Your plant will root out all along the stem that is buried, making your plant really strong. A cup of lime. Lime is extremely important, and you should always work a cup of it into the soil when planting tomatoes. Tomatoes need the calcium in lime to produce healthy fruit an initial application of lime can prevent blossom end rot later in the season! Enrich the soil. Work some compost into the soil. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and prefer nutrient rich environments. Good tomatoes start with good soil!

10 Page 10 Sneak Peak at Upcoming June Events! Saturday, June 5th at 2 pm Girlfriends Getaway on Decorating Outdoor Spaces Grab a girlfriend or your mom, and join us for our first Girlfriend Getaway of the season! Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and some treats while our favorite designer JJ DeSousa entertains with tips for making your backyard a relaxing family refuge, as well as simple, effective ways to entertain your friends in your garden. Registration fee: $10. Register early: this class filled up last year! Saturday, June 12th, from 10 am to 2 pm Save water, time, and money this summer! Did you know that the greatest waste of water is watering too much and too often? Be sure to visit the Regional Water Providers Consortium s table and learn about water efficient landscaping techniques that will save you water, time, and money. FREE watering gauge kits, waterwise plant guides, and other resources will be available. Sunday, June 13th at 1 pm Glenn Andresen from Metro, on Organic Soils and Compost Dirt may not be glamorous, but we all know abundant gardens are rooted in healthy soil. Get the scoop on compost and organic amendments for a thriving, nontoxic yard. Glen will be bringing lots of great FREE Metro publications great resources for the organic gardener. Saturday, June 26th from 10 am 4 pm Build your own Willow Furniture, with Brian Phillips, from The Willow Station. Choose from several project options a garden bench, chair, plant stand, end table, plant trough, or trellis. Take your unique piece of furniture home at the end of the day! Suggested items to bring: knee pads, gloves, clippers, and a sack lunch. Materials fee: $125 (payable day of the class) and a $10 registration fee. Registration required; space is limited.

11 Page 11 Farmington Gardens SW Farmington Rd Beaverton, OR Phone: Fax: E mail: newsletter@ farmingtongardens.com May Events at Farmington Gardens Avoid the spring crowds and visit Farmington Gardens during the week! We are offering a special weekday selection of classes during the busy month of May. Wednesday, May 12th, 11 AM Spring Container Gardens, with Clare Argast Come meet Farmington Gardens new General Manager! Using the easy formula of spillers, thrillers and fillers, you can create a beautiful container garden that will have months of visual appeal. Clare is an artist with plants; watch her pot up a custom collection for spring. Wednesday, May 19th, 11 AM Blueberries for the Home Gardener, with Celina Gomez Farmington Gardens is a Licensed Landscape Contracting Business in the State of Oregon OLCB# 8633 Blueberries are a wonderful landscape shrub beautiful as well as productive! They are also one of the easiest to grow; every garden should have at least two. Plant them now, and you can enjoy homegrown blueberries on your breakfast cereal by August! Wednesday, May 26th, 11 AM Gardening Organically, with Clare Argast Clare has gardened organically for over 20 years, and has a lot to share about strategies for creating a beautiful and abundant garden that is also safe and sustainable. These classes are free, but space is limited; please register with your name, phone number, and number attending at events@farmingtongardens.com or call us at