The Online Garden Gossip

1011 North Woodlawn, Kirkwood, MO 63122                         314-965-3070                                 www.sugarcreekgardens.com

Double Knock Out Roses are here

This incredible rose was introduced last year, but due to its outstanding characteristics, we are reintroducing it.  The same breeder who brought us the Knock Out Rose has developed its sister, with all the same disease-resistance and blooming power but with double flowers and more shade tolerance.  It will bloom
in as little as 3 to 4 hours of direct sun.

Unstoppable cherry red, classic-shaped rose blossoms appear from early summer all the way until frost.  A wonderful low-care shrub that needs no spraying and no fancy pruning.  It is a little smaller than Knock Out, growing 3 feet tall and wide.  Double Knock Out makes a fantastic hedge with its deep green, dense foliage and nonstop flowers.  It is also exceptional as a specimen plant or in containers. J

Up close and personal with
Karen Collins, Sugar Creek horticulturist

As children, my three sisters and I had a pinto pony named Tony.  I think we may have ridden him twice during his time with us.  I was the youngest and just a little kid, but I loved to climb up on the fence and pet his soft nose, and for some strange reason, I liked how he smelled.  I suspect the only reason my mother consented to having the horse was because of the manure that she could use in her gardens.

Mother loved to garden, and she, like me, had limited sun because of the huge trees in our yard.  But she prevailed with her roses, shrubs, and annuals, and Tony the Pony's gifts to her.

I can only recall one nursery that we went to each spring and that was on Olive in University City.  The owners of the nursery knew my mother by name, as did the firemen in our community.  Each fall when we raked up all those leaves into piles for burning (do you remember when we could burn leaves?), inevitably my mother would set the garage (really a barn for the chickens and Tony) on fire, and she'd have to call the fire department for help.  "We were expecting your call Mrs. Murphey."
                                          continued

Features
Join the container gardening craze

Container gardening is one of the hottest trends in gardening today.  It's easy, inexpensive, and can be enjoyed by even the most horticulturally challenged gardener.

Don't know where to start?  Or want to freshen up your tried-and-true combos?  Check out these container "recipes" from Sugar Creek's own Mary Reedy for shady or sunny locations.  Every plant featured is available at Sugar Creek.  Enjoy!

Why we love
Cotton Burr Compost

If you garden in St. Louis, chances are you suffer from the worst of all soil conditions: the dreaded clay soil.

But don't despair.  Cotton Burr Compost is an excellent soil amendment and mulch for your landscape and garden.

Cotton is a heavy feeder that drains the soil of nutrients as it grows.  The nutrients eventually wind up in the fleshy seed pod or "burr" of the cotton plant, making Cotton Burr compost "nature's perfect soil conditioner." 

Rich in protein and 100 percent organic, Cotton Burr also is the primary food source for beneficial soil organisms.  In nature, these organisms provide aeration through their tunneling, convert nutrients to a form plants can use, improve moisture characteristics, and provide protection from temperature extremes -- a common occurrence in St. Louis!

It is also a natural, organic fertilizer.  It is prized for its ability to break up tight, clay soils.  It improves moisture retention and fertility in sandy soils, and unlike wood and wood-based composts, it will not tie up nutrients in the soil.  And finally, Cotton Burr Compost is free from weed seeds, insects, and chemicals. 

What's not to love?!  It's available at Sugar Creek for $6.99 a bag.J

Upcoming talks at Sugar Creek:
You're invited, and they're free!

"Captivating Container Combos," Tuesday, May 2,
6 p.m. with Mary Reedy, and Thursday, May 4, 10 a.m. with Tina Paletta.  Learn from the best!  Mary and Tina are legendary for their creative combinations of plants, colors, and textures.  Learn stunning plant combinations for your window boxes, moss baskets, hayracks, and pots.

"Roses for Every Garden," Tuesday, May 9, 6 p.m. with Ann Million, horticulturist.  Ann will share her passion for roses with you! You'll learn about the hot new hybrids, along with the tried-and-true classics that will keep your garden in show-stopping form.  And for those of you who love roses but hate the work, Ann will fill you in on the new disease-free shrub and groundcover roses that need minimal care.

"Exceptional and Rare Annuals," Tuesday, May 16,
6 p.m. with Mary Reedy, garden designer and horticulturist.  Learn about the plants that will have your containers and gardens overflowing with breathtaking flowers.  You'll hear about the most colorful, exquisite, and unique plants to date.

Join in the fun at our Garden Party, Thursday, May 18, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring a Moonlit Garden Demonstration.  Learn how to create an enchanting night garden that shimmers in the moonlight during the party.  Bring family and friends for an evening of merriment.  You'll enjoy 10 percent off your total purchase, refreshments, door prizes, one free herb with any plant purchase, and other surprise specials during the evening.

"Garden Stroll," Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. at Ann Million's home.  Here is a chance to see a fabulous mature garden, spilling over with luscious blooms.  This class will take place at Ann's extraordinary perennial and rose garden in Crestwood.  You'll see for yourself exquisite plant combinations and mature specimens.  Fertilizing and maintenance techniques also will be discussed.  All attendees will receive a 10 Percent Off Any Purchase Coupon.

"Colorful Shade Gardens," Tuesday, May 23, 6 p.m. with Peggy Hoelting, landscape designer and horticulturist.  There are a surprising number of beautiful perennials and shrubs that thrive and bloom profusely in the shade.  You will learn how to incorporate these plants into your garden to create dazzling displays.

Call 314-965-3070 for reservations. J

Karen's gardening calendar

Every few weeks we feature timely advice on things you can do in your garden, thanks to Karen Collins, one of Sugar Creek's longtime employees and a master gardener.

Things you can tackle in your garden this month include:

• Recycle those used plastic plant pots!  The Missouri Botanical Garden is offering pot collection at the Monsanto Center at 4500 Shaw Blvd. at Vandeventer May 20-21, 27-28, and June 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25. For more information, call 314-577-9440.
• Pinch back faded blossoms of azaleas and rhododendrons.  Double flowered azaleas need no pinching.  Fertilize azaleas after bloom.  We recommend Espoma Holly-Tone or Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food.
• Next year's spring bulb flower production will decline if you remove foliage too early.
• Begin planting warm-season annuals.
• Summer bulbs such as caladiums, dahlias, cannas, and elephant ears may be planted now.
• Begin fertilizing annuals. We recommend Miracle-Gro Liquafeed Ready-to-Use Plant Feed, Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Bloom Booster Flower Food, Osmocote, Bayer Advanced 2-in-1 Systemic Rose and Flower Care Ready-to-Use Granules, and Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Concentrate.  Continue feeding at regular intervals.
• Bulbs can be moved or divided as foliage dies.
• To promote bushy growth, pinch back mums.
• Birds eat many insect pests.  Provide good nesting habits within your garden for our bird friends.
• Herbs planted in average soils need no extra fertilizer.  Too much fertilizer may reduce flavor and pungency.
• Houseplants may be taken outdoors when nights remain above 50 degrees.  Most houseplants prefer only direct morning sun.
• To conserve moisture in pots containing houseplants, sink pot to rim in soil or mulch.  Fertilize regularly.
• Watch for fireflies on warm nights.  Adults and larvae are important predators. J

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