The Good Earth Garden Center Blog - Gardening & Landscaping Services
Want to know what's on our minds here at The Good Earth Garden Center? Well, it's all right here on our blog. Here, our lawn and garden professionals share planting tips, pest control tips and yard maintenance advice. Our blog gives you the chance to learn more about some of the unique plants and outdoor living products offered at The Good Earth Garden Center. You can learn how well these plants adapt to different environmental conditions. You can also find out more about the blooms and watering frequencies. Check back often to see the latest plant or outdoor living product that The Good Earth Garden Center staff is buzzing about.
January 16th, 2012
This is a well debated issue and one that plays out differently all over town. Some of us even call the severe pruning of crapemyrtles ‘crape murder’! Here are some facts to base your pruning practices on:
1. Pruning of tree crapemyrtles is optional; if the plant is in the correct place, let it grow.
2. If the plant is improperly placed and gets too large for its current position, consider transplanting it before a severe pruning. These plants transplant very well! A severe pruning will result in a ‘knee’ and will result in many smaller weak limbs shooting out from the knee. If cut in the same place each year, the plants develop a nob on the end which is particularly unsightly in the winter. Pruning lower limbs that are less than a pencils’ width in diameter is completely acceptable since this will not leave any scars.
3. If you do choose to prune your crapemyrtles, pruning should take place in February to avoid winter injury.
4. Pruning is NOT necessary for blooming. The seed heads from last year can remain on the plant all year, and you will still get good blooming in the current year although not as large and profuse.
5. Crapemyrtles come in all sizes; harsh pruning of dwarf crapemyrtles is acceptable and will not result in ‘knees’.
6. As a bonus, pruning correctly is much less work than incorrectly pruning!
So, in conclusion, crapemyrtles trees are usually grown as small trees with 3 to 5 trunks that are kept free of small limbs up on the lower part of the tree (up to 2/3 of the height). Thinning of limbs every few years will encourage new growth and blooming but remember to prune only limbs that are less than a pencils’ width in diameter. While the trees are young, the tips of the small limbs can be pruned off (again only those a pencil width diameter or less). As the tree grows, it become difficult and even dangerous to prune the top and it’s not necessary anyway. Here are a few images of correct and incorrect pruning.
Bad pruning:
This is the correct way to prune a crapemyrtle! Notice that she (Janet Carson I think!) is taking off only low limbs that are small in diameter, while leaving the large trunks in place.
Here are some images of tree crapemyrtles after both correct and incorrect pruning:
Growth after incorrect crapemyrtle pruning:
Growth after correct crapemyrtle pruning. Isn’t that a beautiful tree?!
Tags: Bonus, Conclusion, Crape Murder, Crapemyrtles, Current Position, Diameter, Dwarf, Images, Knees, Nob, Pencil, Pencils, Plants, Scars, Trees, Trunks, Winter Injury
Posted in Crape Murder, Crape Myrtle, Crapemyrtle, Crepe Myrtle, Pruning, Summer Blooming Small Trees, Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 12th, 2011
Read on for some great gift ideas!
It’s Christmas time again! And whether you need gift ideas for you, or someone you love, these will do the trick!
- Support our local artists! The Good Earth now has wonderful candles, pottery, soaps and jewelry to choose from.
- Collectibles from Mark Roberts are on sale for a limited time, 60% off! There are Christmas items like Elves and Santas, and fairies from other holidays too.
- Good Earth landscape consultations- a gentle way of suggesting that landscaping needs to move up on the honey-do list.
- Fun garden tools- a sure way to motivate even the hesitant gardener.
- The Good Earth now has amazing jewelry from Uganda, with 100% of proceeds returning to an Ugandan orphanage called Save the Street Children Uganda. Check it out on our FB page under Photo Albums!http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Good-Earth-Garden-Center/103346516366867
- Membership to Garvan Gardens- a wonderful gateway to a weekend retreat!
- Bionic gloves- because who doesn’t need to feel like the bionic woman or man sometimes?
- Good Earth gift certificate- since you have this one thing you have been looking at for months and you can’t justify getting it for yourself but….
Tags: Bionic Woman, Christmas Items, Christmas Time, Earth Garden, Elves, Fairies, Garden Tools, Gardener, gardeners, Garvan Gardens, Gift Ideas, Gloves, Good Earth Garden Center, Great Gift Ideas, Landscape Consultations, Limited Time, Local Artists, Mark Roberts, Orphanage, Photo Albums, Soaps, Weekend Retreat
Posted in Bionic gloves, Christmas, Christmas tree, Garden decor, Garden tools, Gift certificates, Local artist, Mark Roberts collectibles, Ugandan jewelry, Uncategorized | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2011
During the summer, plant health issues are more prevalent than any other time of year.. Extreme heat and drought expose problems that might have been brewing since last season or even last year. And as with all kinds of health issues, awareness and prevention are the keys!
Damaging insects can cause a destructive domino effect. For example, aphids produce a substance that can quickly become an ideal environment for spores of sooty mold to collect and germinate. This is pretty common on crepe myrtles. Proper treatment requires both an insecticide to control the aphids and a fungicide for the sooty mold. Ferti-Lome Triple Action will treat both, but since it’s a contact spray and not systemic, follow up with a systemic fungicide and insecticide. Even though not all insects create fungus problems, they all weaken the plants. A wonderful systemic insect control by Ferti-Lome is called Systemic Insect Drench for trees and shrubs, and it will treat for 12 months! For best results, apply when plants first break dormancy in the spring. The Insect Drench treatment can prevent all sorts of common insect problems such as lacebugs, scale, whiteflies, spider mites, borers, bagworms and aphids.
Don’t know what you have? Bring an infected plant sample in to The Good Earth for diagnosis. Just be sure to seal up your sample and bring it within a few hours of collection! For plants that have existing insect problems, treat with Ferti-Lome Systemic Insect Control, which is available in both ready-to-use and concentrate bottles. Borer damage has been especially prevalent this year; even on plants like arborvitae, an unusual plant host for this pest. We have even seen them on crepe myrtles. Crazy! Treat with Ferti-Lome Borer, Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar and Leafminer Spray or with Hi-Yield 38 Plus which should be sprayed with a surfactant. During high temperatures, be sure to spray only in the late evening or early morning.
Since we cannot control the weather, and Arkansas often has the perfect fungus-inducing conditions, here are some prevention tips. First, plant disease resistant varieties, such as Knock-Out Roses. Secondly, air flow is key on cutting down the occurence of fungus and insect problems, so space plants appropriately. When planting shrubs that are prone to disease, be sure to account for the mature size of the plant. And this last tip is very important; if possible, modify your sprinkler system so that the plant roots are receiving the water instead of the foliage. The Good EarthWet Tech Team can help with these modifications.
Lawns are showing the effects of both fungus and grub damage. For control of fungus in lawn, use Ferti-Lome F-Stop granules. For the best grub control, use Bayer Season Long Grub Control which can be applied from mid-May to mid-August. Be sure to water the grub control in completely, as directed on the label. As with all products, read the labels carefully to insure the best results.
Don’t forget to bring your samples to the experts at The Good Earth Garden Center. Landscaping is an investment, and we want to help it grow!
Tags: Bagworms, Domino Effect, Drench, Extreme Heat, Fungus Problems, Good Earth, High Temperatures, Insect Control, Insect Problems, Insecticide, Late Evening, Leafminer, Plant Health, Plant Host, Sooty Mold, Spider Mites, Systemic Fungicide, Tent Caterpillar, Trees And Shrubs, Unusual Plant
Posted in Azalea, Insect Control, Lacebug, Scale insect, Systemic Insecticide, Uncategorized, Whitefly | No Comments »
June 30th, 2011
The floodwaters have receded but what remains might be a new mosquito habitat! Stagnant water is usually the culprit, so walk around your landscape, and empty any standing water. And then immediately investigate and fix the area to prevent future standing water, because you may forget after the next rain. Damp areas like old leaf piles and debris areas are ideal for mosquitoes to hang out in during the day so be sure the area is as cleared out as possible. Also, cut your grass low. Mosquitoes can travel several miles as adults, so if possible, involve your community.
The citronella plant, a scented geranium, can deter mosquitoes from joining your outdoor event. In order for them to work effectively, crush a few leaves and place them around the area. Citronella scented candles work also. If you have a water feature with slow moving water or still water areas, add Microbe-Lift BMC (Biological Mosquito Control), available at Good Earth. This safe product can be applied to areas used by fish, humans, animals, pets, birds and wildlife. Another effective option that you can apply yourself is a product called Mosquito Beater by Bonide. This Ready-to-Use product requires repeat applications every few weeks. Read the label for complete instructions and information.
And by far the easiest method is to have it taken care of through an automatic system such as MosquitoX, which allows you to enjoy the benefitsof a mosquito-free environment, without having to do anything except making a phone call. This automatic misting system, installed by trained professional technicians, is available from Good Earth exclusively. The system consists of an electric motor driven pump, controlled by a state-of-the-art timer. The controller is programmed to turn on the unit at specific intervals, operate for a specific pre-set period of time, and turn off. The system utilizes a series of pressure sensitive nozzles connected by nylon tubing that are placed under the eaves of your home and around the perimeter of your yard. Approximately 3-6 times per day, the system will emit a fine mist of water-based Pyrethrin into the surrounding area. The system also has a manual start switch that will allow you to mist anytime there is a need, or you may purchase our remote control device to mist at your discretion.
For more information, a quote on installation, or to get an installation scheduled, call Good Earth, the MosquitoX headquarters!
Tags: Automatic Misting System, Citronella Plant, Eaves, Floodwaters, Free Environment, Good Earth, Microbe, Mosquito Beater, Mosquito Control, Mosquitoes, Moving Water, Nozzles, Nylon Tubing, Professional Technicians, Scented Candles, Scented Geranium, Several Miles, Stagnant Water, Water Areas, Water Feature
Posted in Mosquito Control, Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 14th, 2011
Well, the rains have let up. Like really let up, as in no rain at all in the past few weeks! If you haven’t used your sprinkler system yet, you will need to soon. Or if you haven’t spread out those hoses and come up with a game plan, you might want to. Don’t let lack of water be the reason all that hard work from the spring doesn’t make it!
Here are some watering tips:
1.Over-watering can be as big a problem as under- watering. For a successful watering program, remember the key concepts. First, water less often but for a longer period of time. This will encourage plants and sod to develop a stronger root system. Be efficient with your water; running your sprinkler system in the heat of the day will cause you to lose a significant volume of water due to evaporation and wind blowing. Water before 6 a.m. in the morning to avoid the peak hours. Central Arkansas Water has a great Water-Wise program to help everyone conserve and properly manage water.
2. So how often and how long should you run your sprinkler system? This time of year, it should be adequate to water your lawn 3 to 4 times a week and the same for your beds. For spray type heads, 15 minutes per zone and for rotor type heads, 20-30 minutes per zone. These are just suggestions so monitor your plants to see how they respond to any schedule and adjust as needed.
3. Preventative care for sprinklers is helpful and can save you some serious heartache and maybe some serious dollars too! It’s a good idea to have a trusted sprinkler technician go through your system at the beginning of the season to check for leaks and make sure your heads are all functioning. It’s still a good time for this check-up since presumably, the weather is going to get hotter and hotter. Problems might not show up until the heat is really on, and a sprinkler issue in July can quickly become an emergency situation. The Good Earth provides knowledgeable sprinkler service and sales if you need some adjustments, repairs or a whole system installed.
4. And what if you don’t have a sprinkler system? Systems of hoses and automatic timers can be set up to take care of much of your water needs. And then handwater as needed. It’s a good idea keep a calendar of when you water, and set some sort of timer so you remember to turn the water off. Mulching landscape beds at a depth of 3″ will decrease the amount of water needed, and soaker hoses can be added under the mulch to help you and your plants with water needs.
Tags: Central Arkansas, conserve, Emergency Situation, Evaporation, First Water, Game Plan, Good Earth, Heartache, Heat Of The Day, Key Concepts, Lack Of Water, Little Rock, Peak Hours, Preventative Care, Root System, Rotor Type, Sod, Sprinkler Service, Sprinkler System, sprinkler systems, Sprinklers, summer, tips, Volume Of Water, water conservation, watering, Wise Program
Posted in Mulch | No Comments »
May 24th, 2011
There are many plants that capture our imagination and make us want to plant large swaths throughout our landscape. Sometimes these treasured plants look amazing but don’t fare well over time. This plant, the invincible Oakleaf Hydrangea is another story!
Oakleaf Hydrangeas have a totally different look to them than the traditional mophead or lacecap hydrangeas. The large multi-lobed leaves that resemble large oak leaves give this hydrangea it’s name. The interesting shape of the leaves as well as the size gives this plant a striking texture in the shade landscape. In mid-Spring, cream colored blooms emerge in large, long panicles at the tips of the long branches. The blooms can be as much as a foot long! As the season progresses, the blooms turn to a blush color and then to a nice light tea color, and will remain throughout the fall and winter if not pruned off.
The attributes of the Oakleaf hydrangea do not end here! In the fall, the leaves turn red and purple and hang on until as late as December. The exfoliating bark of the plant then takes center place in the winter landscape.
And the care is easy! These plants prefer part-sun but do very well in shady areas, and can take more sun than the traditional hydrangeas. The Oakleaf hydrangea also can withstand drought conditions once established. Boggy soil will stress the plant, so make sure your area has good drainage. If needed, prune just after blooming, by the end of July as with traditional hydrangeas. If you wait any longer, any pruning will remove next years’ blooms, as these plants bloom on last years’ wood. Water as needed and fertilize with a good slow release balanced fertilizer.
Since Oakleaf hydrangeas can get pretty large; as much as 6 ft. by 6 ft., and in some cases even larger, make sure you space them appropriately. As with most plants, they will be more successful if they have enough room to grow. There is a dwarf variety if you are looking for a smaller plant; which is called PeeWee. The mature size of the PeeWee is about 3 feet wide and 3 to 4 feet tall. Don’t be alarmed if you go to buy one and it looks like a twig! Just make sure that there are several branches coming up for the base and that the leaves are healthy. This plant really takes off after planting and will amaze you with it’s resilience!
Tags: Attributes, Balanced Fertilizer, Blush, Colored Blooms, Drainage, Drought Conditions, Dwarf Variety, Fall And Winter, Imagination, Lacecap Hydrangeas, Lobed Leaves, Mid Spring, Mophead, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Prune, Shady Areas, Soil, Tea Color, Texture, Winter Landscape
Posted in Blooms, Drought Tolerant Plants, Hydrangea, Pruning, Shade loving plants, Summer, Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 21st, 2011
How many times have you had to look around to find
a little one? A child that was just right behind is now nose to the ground looking at something almost invisible to you! Kids love little things; and most also love to play in the dirt and feel the textures of living things like plants. That’s why miniature gardens are a unique way to bring it all together! And they work
for inside spaces like on table tops, or outside near the base of a tree or against a large stone.
To get started, buy a disposable camera and go for a nature walk with the kiddos for ideas. For inside gardens, find a low planter that is at least 12” across. This will give you some room for plants, paths and accessories. Cover the bottom with about 1” of gravel, and then fill with good quality potting soil to just below the top. Create some elevation changes by adding more soil in some areas then surround these areas with stone or moss. Little pea gravel works as a path, and The Good Earth has accessories like gates, furniture, fences and garden tools, as well as miniature plants. Create a forest look and place some toy dinosaurs throughout. Or create a desert look and add some little lizards. Little toy bugs are always a good addition and we have some of those too!
If you would rather keep it outside, the planter can
rest in a bright area without direct sun, water
as needed and enjoy! Or you can transform a little
nook into it’s own little miniature garden with the
same materials.
We would love to see what your family creates, join us on Facebook and share with us!
Tags: Disposable Camera, Elevation Changes, Facebook, Fences, Garden Tools, Good Earth, Gravel Works, Kiddos, Little Pea, Lizards, Miniature gardens, Miniature Plants, Moss, Nature Walk, Nook, Pea Gravel, Potting Soil, Sun Water, Table Tops, Textures, Toy Dinosaurs
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
