Are my old seeds still good?

Are my old seeds still good?

If you have unused vegetable seeds in packets leftover from the last several year.  Are they still good to plant this spring?

Under ideal conditions - dry and dark, with a temperature in the 40 degree F range - some seeds with germinate well for five or more years.  Per Iowa State University's Department of Horticulture:

Onions - One Year

Corn and peppers - Two Years

Beans, carrots, peas - Three Years

Beets, pupkins, squash, tomatoes, watermelon - Four Years

Broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers,

 lettuce, cantaloupes, radishes, spinach - Five Years

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

Put a HIPPO in Your Garden!

Put a HIPPO in Your Garden!

When pest insects attack crops, many plants release chemicals that signal to beneficial insect that lunch is nearby.  One of the more common HIPPOs - Herbivore Induced Plat Protection Odors - is Methyl salicylate, aka oil of wintergreen.  Numerous studies have confirmed that oil of wintergreen attracts a variety of beneficial insects, including ladybugs, lace wings, minute pirate bugs and aphid eating hover flies.  Although available commercially, a DIY approach would be soaking cotton balls in the oil of wintergreen and placing them in the garden inside an empty cottage cheese container with perforated lid. 

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

Why should I use Mulch?

Why should I use Mulch?

Mulching is used primarily to prevent weed growth and retain moisture.  It also can add to nice manicured fresh look.

 Mulching is mostly known to be put around trees and shrubs, but also adds a lot to perennials, annuals and even vegetables.  Mulching is usually in a wood/bark form but with vegetables grass clippings, leaves and even paper can be used.

Here at Danville Garden we sell a composted hard wood bark that we call Less Care.  This mulch is all natural, brown color and breaks down over the year.  It can be worked in to the soil the next year.  It looks nice, adding moisture retention and nutrients to the soil. 

We sell Less Care in bulk by the yard.  You may pick it up or we can deliver.  Please call 217-442-4944 for pricing.

We also sell Top Soil and Compost in bulk.

http://www.danvillegardens.com/

Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How far and when do I cut down my perennial grasses?

How far and when do I cut down my perennial grasses?

Grasses do not need to be cut down before winter.  They add great interest and texture to the winter garden, plus the foliage helps insulate the crown of the plant. 

In the spring before growth begins, cut back the foliage to about 4-6 inches (late February to early March is a good time for this area).  When foliage is removed, spring growth will begin earlier.  Old foliage left on the plant can delay the crown’s warming and will delay the new growth from emerging.  If old foliage is left on too long it becomes more difficult to remove without damaging the new growth. 

Ornamental grasses are a beautiful addition to any garden, adding height, visual interest and movement.  They are easy to grow and require little maintenance.

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How and when do I cut my butterfly bush?

How and when do I cut my butterfly bush?

Leave old growth on the plant over the winter.  Cover the ground at the base of the plant with at least 3-4 inches of organic mulch.  The branches of the butterfly bush normally die back to the ground and new growth will emerge from the base of the plant in the spring.  We are in a marginal zone for butterfly bush and some years it is possible for the plant branches to survive a mild winter, I always leave the old growth on to see if any new growth begins to come back at the base of the plant and there is no evidence of new growth on the last years branches, the old branches should be cut back to ground level.

Deadheading the plant throughout the blooming season will encourage new blooms to appear.  Trim back the blooms to the top of the leaflet right below the dead bloom.

Butterfly bush is a beautiful addition to the garden.  It will provide continuous blooms from early summer through the fall with butterflies frequently visiting the plant.

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How and when do I prune my hydrangea?

How and when do I prune my hydrangea?

Endless Summer Hydrangea

Endless Summer Hydrangea should not be pruned the first year.  This will give the plant time to get established.  After the first year you can remove up to 1/3 of the old stems from the plant.  Remove the stems in the fall, after the leaves have dropped.  This makes it easier to shape the plant.  Mulch at the base of plant to prevent winter damage.

Big Leaf and Oak Leaf Hydrangea

These varieties bloom on old wood.  To determine if your hydrangea blooms on old wood, think about when it flowers.  If it blooms in early summer and finishes blooming by mid-summer, it blooms on old wood. 

These shrubs form next year’s blooms in late summer or early fall.  To make sure they bloom next season, prune just as the flowers begin to fade.  The earlier you prune after bloom, the quicker the shrub will recover, producing more and larger blooms for the next season.

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How do I prune a knock out rose?

How do I prune a knock out rose?

Prune your knock out rose in the early spring when you start to see new shoots growing from the canes.  Determining how far back to prune the bush depends on how high you want your knockout rose to finish the season.  Your rose bush will usually triple in size during the growing season.  For example:  if you want your rose bush to be 3 feet high at the end of the season, cut it back to about 1 foot high in the spring.

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How do I winterize my perennials?

How do I winterize my perennials?

Remove dried tops of flowering perennials, once they die back, cutting each stem back to the ground.  Clean away debris, pull any weeds and cover with at least 3 inches of organic mulch

Cut back spent stalks on asparagus, rhubarb and perennial herbs to ground level and cover with organic mulch or dried leaves to a depth of 2-3 inches.

http://www.danvillegardens.com/

Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How far and when should I prune my roses?

How far and when should I prune my roses?

Dead-heading is a form of pruning, in the summer, that can be done on a day to day basis by the removal of the faded flowers.  Stop removing spent flowers after October 1^st, letting the plant form rose hips and allowing the plant to harden off for winter.  Before winter, after a hard frost, shape up the plant as needed, cut back tall canes to reduce their height and prevent them from being whipped in the winter winds.  Mulch around the base for added protection.

In the spring, remove all dead and dying canes.  (They will be dark brown, black or shriveled.)  Also, remove any canes that are smaller than the diameter of a pencil.  Make sure the center of the plant is open enough to where air and light can penetrate easily, taking out any canes that look like they are tangled into one another.

A good rule of thumb for pruning roses in the spring is to prune when the forsythia starts to bloom.

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Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.com

How often do I need to water?

How often do I need to water?

Water your plant whenever it is necessary. The best way to know when it is necessary is to touch the soil or stick your finger in the soil.  If it is dry - then you need to water thoroughly.  The best time of day to water is in the morning.  It is best to water under the foliage and water thoroughly.  If it is extremely hot you might have to water more than once a day if plants dry out and are in distress.  But always check the soil first, sometimes a plant looks wilted but it could be because of the extreme heat.   If you don’t have time to water in the morning, you might consider investing in a Water-Wise system that will water for you automatically.

Also make sure that your container has large enough soil space.  More soil equals less water as there will be better water retention.

Danville Gardens
1307 Cleary Ave
Danville IL 61832
217-442-4944
customerservice@danvillegardens.comhttp://www.danvillegardens.com/

Why are supertunias so spectacular?

Why are supertunias so spectacular?

Supertunias are vigorous growers that produce fragrant blooms from spring until frost. They are great for flowerbeds, borders, window boxes and containers.  Most Supertunias are 6 to 10 inches high, but can trail up to 2 to 3 feet long, however there are a few varieties that have a mounding and cascading habit, reaching 24 inches tall with a 24-inch spread.  The best part about Supertunias is they do not require deadheading to produce new flowers. They perform the best when they are given a Proven Winners Time Release Fertilizer upon planting or Proven Winners Water Soluble Fertilizer several times a week. 

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How do I plant a mixed container?

How do I plant a mixed container?

Depending on your container size, choose at least 3 different plants: one for “height” another for “spill” and the third for “fill”.  It is also important to select plants that have similar light and water requirements. It’s fine to plant close, side to side, but allow plenty of room for the roots to grow down.  To avoid root rot, choose a container with drainage holes, or a container that allows you to add holes. Always use a good quality potting soil, never garden soil. When finished look at your container to make sure there are no holes.  You may need to add more potting soil to ensure the roots are firmly surrounded soil. Make sure to leave enough space below the rim of the planter to prevent water from spilling over the edges.  For best results, add Proven Winners Time Release Fertilizer.  Water thoroughly, so that the soil is evenly wet.

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What can I use to keep the deer away from my plants???

What can I use to keep the deer away from my plants???

My husband and I live in an area of Danville where there are many deer. I have tried all the deterrents from soap in pantyhose, human hair clippings to all the sprays with coyote urine, etc. and still couldn't keep them from eating everything in our yard. Danville Gardens carries Deer Scram. It is a repellent for deer and rabbit. I found it also repels squirrels. Deer Scram is granular organic formula that smells like spices. Very pleasant, I think. It protects up to 1600 sq. feet! It is guaranteed to work and from my own experience, it's the only thing that does! Use it every 30-45 days depending on the weather. After a very heavy or extended rainfall we reapply. It lasts up to 100 days in winter. It will NOT hurt animals or the environment. I LOVE IT!! Christy Hillery

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