Evergreen Nursery blogs

Late Summer Blooms

Evergreen Nursery — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:50:11 +0000

Keep the color going in your garden from summer into fall with these with these late summer bloomers!

*Not all varieties included may be in stock. Contact us for inquiries about current availability.*

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Late Summer Blooms

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Gardening To-Dos for September 2021

Evergreen Nursery — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:20:21 +0000

September in Your Garden:

Bedding Plants

As the month closes as the fall season begins, clear the garden of failing summer annuals. Pick off spent flowers to encourage new blooms. Turn the soil to aerate; level. Plant Primrose, Calendula, SunPatiens, Ivy Geranium, Begonia, Pansies, Snapdragons, Stock, Sweet Alyssum, Lobelia, Dianthus, and Viola.

Planting and Transplanting

Consider planting a fire-retardant groundcover on a bare slope or next to the house. Some of these include Algerian Ivy, African Daisy, Baccharis, Myoporum, Rosea Ice Plant, Gazania and Honeysuckle. Select trees and shrubs that won’t necessarily protect you from fire, but won’t add to the situation either. Good choices would be Aloe, Acacia, Bougainvillea, Rockrose or Yucca. Water and fertilize regularly to maintain vigor and keep moisture levels up.

Fruiting Plants

Citrus and avocado trees need half their annual doses of actual nitrogen now, plus one application of iron and micronutrients.

Lawns

Reduce watering. Plant or refresh cool season grasses such as fescues and ryes now.

Roses

Your roses might have stopped blooming by this time, but with a little careful pruning and fertilizing you will be able to force them to bloom one or even two more times before the year is finished. Remove all dead and weak growth. Remove spent flowers and any seed pods (rose hips). Water deeply once a week if needed. Fertilize with Gro-Power.

Maintenance

Prevent weedy poa annua from germinating by applying a pre-emergent herbicide like Amaze Grass and Weed Preventer. Roses and other plants are susceptible to mildew now. To control, don’t water overhead or in the evenings. Thin out old leaves for better air circulation and remove any debris, particularly under deciduous trees which might start losing their leaves this month. Spray with Neem Oil to control.

September is the Month for Hot, Dry Santa Ana Winds. Be Prepared.

Click here for a printable gardening to-do checklist to view and save!

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Trees for Summer Shade

Evergreen Nursery — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 19:26:02 +0000

Here are a few of our favorite shade trees to add beauty to your landscape and increase the comfort of your environment.

*Not all varieties included may be in stock. Contact us for inquiries about current availability.*

Click on cover image below to open book:

Trees for Summer Shade

Check out our other FlipBooks here

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Gardening To-Dos for August 2021

Evergreen Nursery — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:25:59 +0000

August in Your Garden:

Work in the Garden

Continue to water and fertilize hanging plants regularly since they dry out quickly now with the increasing day length and decreasing humidity. You may occasionally need to submerge them and other container plants into a pail of water to rewet the entire root ball. Leech periodically to remove excess salts. Cut spent blooms to encourage increased flowering. Feed everything once more with an all-purpose fertilizer. Yellowing azaleas, citrus, and camellias may indicate an iron deficiency. Supplement with Iron Chelate or Ironite.

Bedding Plants

Pinch back cosmos, marigolds, petunias, vinca, and zinnias to prevent them from going to seed. Long lasting verbena will bloom from now until November, then again in spring. For areas of full sun and poor soil, try using coreopsis, African daisy, gazania, or sea lavender. Plant winter-spring color later in the month as they come available including calendulas, pansies, Iceland poppies, primroses, snapdragons, stock, sweet alyssum, dianthus, and viola.

Vegetables and Herbs

Feed tomatoes for a later harvest. Harvest ripe vegetables such as cucumbers, melons, onions, potatoes and squash. Pick blackberries and raspberries as they ripen. Cut and dry herbs including chives, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme before they have a chance to flower. Cut flowers and herbs early when dew has dried and before the sun gets hot. Store dried plants in a cool, dark place and in airtight containers.

Lawns

Repair any worn or bald spots. Fertilize warm season lawns such as Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia. Brown spots on your lawn may be lawn moth which can be controlled with Spectracide Once and Done, or brown patch which can be controlled with Bayer Fungus Control. The most common reason though is your dog (control is difficult).

Roses

Continue planting container grown roses. Prune them moderately. Water one to three times per week depending on soil and climate conditions. It is still a great time to buy while they are in bloom.

Citrus Issues

Inspect citrus regularly for mites. Use an insecticidal soap or a horticultural oil as necessary in the morning so plants are dry before the heat of the day. Browning of leaf tips at this time can usually be attributed to salt burn. This is the month to apply gypsum and iron to citrus and the entire yard - gypsum to leach excessive salts and allow for better drainage and iron to correct iron deficiency, which is common in our soil.

Watering

To save water, don’t water on windy days or in the middle of the day when evaporation is high. Make sure your sprinkler system is working properly and all areas are watered evenly and drain well. Water as needed depending on soil characteristics, plant requirements, and weather conditions.

Click here for a gardening to-do checklist to view and print

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Waterwise Favorites

Evergreen Nursery — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:40:26 +0000

Are you thinking about starting a waterwise garden, or wondering what you can add to an existing one? Browse our selection of plants with low water requirements below.

*Not all varieties included may be in stock. Contact us for inquiries about current availability.*

Click on cover image below to open book:

Waterwise Favorites

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Gardening To-Dos for July 2021

Evergreen Nursery — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:03:06 +0000

July in Your Garden:

Work in the Garden

Continue to fertilize regularly because plants are using food as quickly as you supply it. Prune faster growing plants to keep them vigorous and to control water use. Fertilize lawns when the grass is dry but the ground is moist; then water thoroughly. Leech container plants by flooding to remove excess salts.

Planting and Transplanting

Hardy Bougainvillea vines are blooming now in an array of beautiful colors. If you’re planting any new plants do not disturb the roots. Water deeply. Trim hedges and bushes to promote dense, new growth. Since flowering is usually produced on old wood, prune new wood to control growth.

Bedding Plants

Pinch back summer annuals to increase flower production. At this time of year they need to be watered almost daily. Color packs of summer color, including Alyssum, Dusty Miller, Marigolds, Petunias, Portulaca, Celosia, Vinca, Salvia, Cosmos, Ageratum, Dahlia, and Lobelia are available at the nursery now in Evergreen Nursery’s economical 4” 8-packs.

Vegetables and Herbs

Plant beans, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes and summer squash. Trim and support tomatoes to keep fruit from touching the ground. Remove most side shoots to train from a single leader. Harvest onions when foliage turns yellow. Continue drying flowers and herbs for year round use or for holiday gifts.

Fruiting Plants

Peg down runners of late variety strawberries for the next crop. Pick apricots, early apples, citrus, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums. Evergreen provides a wide variety of your favorite fruiting trees and vines. With proper care and planning you can grow delicious and productive fruit trees all season long. For smaller spaces choose from a variety of dwarf and espaliered fruit trees.

Roses

Use Bayer Rose & Flower Spray every 4-6 weeks as needed; use Neem Oil if necessary to control mites and mildew now through September. Water once to three times a week depending on soil and weather conditions. Remember to water deeply.

Pest Control

Keep fallen fruits and vegetable and spent flowers picked up so as not to encourage pests.

Longer, Hotter Days Encourage Plants to Grow Quickly

During hot summer months plants may be stressed for water. Check the irrigation system and schedule. Maintain soil moisture and quality with consistent watering, fertilizing and mulching.
Extend the productiveness of your fruit garden by choosing varieties to stagger the fruiting season.
Mulching your beds for the summer will help keep some moisture in the soil and also help protect against weeds.

Click here for a gardening to-do checklist to view and print

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Plants for Narrow Beds and Containers

Evergreen Nursery — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:36:31 +0000

Are some plants taking over your narrower garden beds? Browse our selection of plants that work in narrow beds, containers and tighter spaces.

*Not all varieties may be in stock. Contact us for inquiries about current availability.*

Click on cover image below to open book:

Plants for Narrow Beds

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Gardening To-Dos for June 2021

Evergreen Nursery — Fri, 28 May 2021 17:50:39 +0000

June in Your Garden:

Work in the Garden

Take the time to look at small jobs in your garden this month. Remove any unwanted suckers from trees and shrubs. Pinch tips of Fuchsias, Geraniums and Marguerites to encourage dense growth. Mulch annual and perennial borders to keep the soil cool and help retain moisture during the hot summer months. Deep water rather than light sprinkle if the weather is dry.

Planting and Transplanting

The warming weather is a great time to start sub-tropicals such as Avocado, Banana, Bird of Paradise, Citrus, Gold Medallion Tree, Silk Floss Tree, Figs, Orchid Tree or Palms. Be careful not to over plant your landscape to get fast coverage. You’ll save plants and money by knowing your plants space and growing requirements. Plant tubs, window boxes, and color bowls with colorful annuals early in the month before it gets really hot. Place hanging baskets outside in their final location. Water them well and often during dry, hot weather, particularly during Santa Ana winds.

Bedding Plants

Pull out winter annuals such as Pansies, Snapdragons and Violas, as they finish blooming and replace with summer favorites such as Celosia, Cosmos, Dianthus, Marigolds, Petunias, Periwinkle, Verbena, and Zinnias. Remove spent flowers from Azaleas, Marigolds, Lobelia, and Sweet Alyssum to clean up and encourage another blooming period.

Vegetables and Herbs

Continue to plant warm weather vegetables such as corn, beans, beets, carrots, cucumber, eggplant, melon, peppers, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes. Hoe between rows to keep down weeds. Harvest broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, early lettuce, and radishes. Thin vegetables as needed. Plant herbs such as basil, mint, oregano, chives, cilantro and parsley in rich, fast-draining soil. Cut herbs and flowers for drying. Mulch or top-dress soil to protect from heat and help control weeds. Our Planting Mix and Mulch works great as a top dress.

Fruiting Plants

Thin out the fruit on your fruit trees to prevent over-bearing. Protect ripening fruit from birds by covering the trees with netting. Prune citrus to desired shape. Prune biannual berry vines that have finished fruiting. Pick up any fallen fruit to prevent brown rot.

Roses

Plant container grown roses. Apply Bayer Rose and Flower throughout the season for control of insects and diseases. Adjust watering schedule depending on weather and soil conditions. Fertilize with E.B. Stone Rose and Flower. Remove spent blooms and dead leaves. Leech salts in the soil by adding a handful of gypsum and watering in thoroughly.

Houseplants

Wash dust from the leaves and pots, trim off damaged and dead foliage and check for insects such as aphids, mealy bugs, and mites. Wash them off with a strong spray of water. Spray with insecticides if necessary.

Pest Control

Begonias, Crape Myrtle, Dahlias, Roses and Zinnias are some of the plants susceptible to powdery mildew. Water in the morning and try not to water the leaves as much as possible. If you need to, use insecticides to control aphid and whitefly. Control weeds before they have a chance to set seed.

Get Ready for the Summer Growing Season

• Plants grow vigorously during the summer, particularly in June. They will demand a lot of watering and fertilizing attention.
• Visit the nursery for beautiful blooming vines such as Bougainvillea, Lavender Trumpet Vine, Bower Vine, and Star Jasmine.

Click here for a garden to-do checklist to view and print.

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Gardening To-Dos for May 2021

Evergreen Nursery — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:12:00 +0000

May in Your Garden

Water in the Garden

Begin increasing your watering schedule as the weather warms. Water seedlings and young plants frequently for short periods; water trees and shrubs deeply and less often. All kinds of plants will benefit from an application of a micronutrient foliar spray like Citrus Grower’s Mix.

Planting and Transplanting

For summer fragrance, consider planting summer flowering citrus, Gardenias, Star Jasmine, Mock Orange or roses. Indian Hawthorn, Rockrose, Escallonia, and Daylily are flowering this month. These are hardy mid-sized shrubs for sunny areas.

Fire-resistant Plantings

Low-growing African Daisy, Algerian Ivy, Carmel Creeper, Trailing Gazania, Prostrate Myoporum, Rockrose, and some ice plants, watered properly, make great fire-resistant shrubs or ground covers.

Bedding Plants

Plant summer flowers weekly for successive bloom including: Plant Ageratum, African Daisy, Angelonia, Begonia, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Dianthus, Dusty Miller, Gazania, Impatiens, Lobelia, Marigold, Petunia, Portulaca, Salvia, Vinca and Verbena.
Before planting, scatter and work into the soil an all-purpose fertilizer such as Gro-Power and a handful of gypsum for drainage and pH; scatter the grow power again in four weeks. Choose from a large selection of ivy geraniums, which are in full bloom. Stake flowering plants that tend to droop.

Vegetables and Herbs

Harvest early vegetables and strawberries. Consider planting a marigold border interspersed with garlic or onion around the vegetable garden to discourage pests. In your herb garden plant basil, dill and garlic. Herbs require a sunny location with light, well-drained soil.

Fruiting Trees

Avocado, banana, citrus, and stone fruits all can be planted now before the weather gets too warm. Whitewash thin-barked trees such as citrus, macadamia and avocado to prevent sunburn. This is the best time off the year for stone fruit availability.

Lawns

Cut cool season grasses long (1 ½”) to encourage a deep root system and to discourage weeds. We no longer sell sod, but we do have a few types of grass seed available for different situations, like sun or shade and heat tolerant types. Plant now before the heat of the summer comes along. Seed germination in high heat areas can be challenging.

Roses

Plant container grown roses. Remove old buds. Use fungicide every 4-6 weeks and an insecticide for mites and aphids as needed through September. Fertilize every 6 weeks through July. Check out Bayor All-in-One Rose and Flower to feed, kill insects and control disease all in one application. Water once or twice a week as needed. Remove dead flowers right after petals fall to discourage bacterial growth. Remove any unwanted suckers.

Houseplants

Inspect plants for insects and wipe dust off leaves to discourage pests. Feed with a timed released fertilizer like Osmocote or with houseplant fertilizer spikes for easy feeding. Just do not let the soil dry out when using these types of fertilizers.

Some Specific Plants

Lightly prune to shape old wood on hibiscus plants. Pinch new growth tips to increase flower production. Start azaleas and camellias on a regular feeding program using an acidic fertilizer to encourage stronger growth and heavy flower set later in the season. If you are growing Butterfly Bush start inspecting for caterpillars or bud worms.

Pest Control

Geranium budworm can bother geraniums and petunias at this time of year. Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) as soon as you see signs of damage. Use the same spray to control cabbage worms and cabbage loopers. Continue to blast spider mites and aphids with soapy water or, if necessary, an insecticidal soap. Hoe, pull or spray weeds while they’re still small and before they set seeds. Slow weed growth by mulching.

Finish Major Garden Projects Before the Weather Gets Too Warm

May is a great month to plant, clip, sow, and renovate your entire landscape. Create a garden with fragrance as well as color by planting flowering vines such as jasmine or honeysuckle.
Check and adjust your watering system. The best time to water is early morning, when evaporation and wind are minimal. Make sure you have proper coverage to avoid wet or dry spots. Trim grass around sprinkler heads.

Click here for a printable gardening to-do checklist to view and save

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Strawberry Varieties

Evergreen Nursery — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 18:30:19 +0000

The best tasting strawberries come from your garden! Here's a little information about the varieties available this spring here at Evergreen Nursery:*

Chandler Strawberry

The Chandler Strawberry has a very large, medium red, glossy finish, with a large conical to long wedge shaped fruit. The fruit quality is excellent, and the Chandler Strawberry produces a high yield. An excellent choice for coastal areas, this particular strawberry has been adapted to planting for winter and summer areas. Chandler strawberry plants are very popular with commercial growers because of their high yield, brilliant fruit color, and excellent flavor. Chandler plants are a vigorous, early, midseason variety and must be well supplied with water and nutrients. They should be planted in full sun with a spacing of 18” apart, and must have well-drained soil to prevent root rot. They do well throughout the winter and are a good Pick-Your-Own variety. In warmer climates like Southern California or Florida, Chandler strawberry plants may be ready for harvest beginning in early spring with a harvest that can last up to 3-4 weeks.

Eversweet Everbearing Strawberry

Eversweet Everbearing Strawberry is an everbearing variety that thrives in the heat and humidity and still produces exceptional fruit. It is bred for growers in hot southern climates and grows well in zones 5-8, tolerating temperatures over 100 degrees without loss of fruit quality. Very large, deep red berries are cone-shaped and are exceptionally sweet and flavorful - excellent for preserves, fresh eating and freezing. Plants reach a height of 8-10 inches with a spread of 8-12 inches. They should be planted in full sun and spaced 12-24 inches apart in well-drained soil, with moderate watering. Eversweet strawberries bloom in March-April with fruit ripening throughout the summer, producing a yield of 1-2 pints. Plants are highly resistant to pests and viruses. A layer of straw mulch will keep berries off the ground and help deter slugs.

Quinault Strawberry

The most popular variety of everbearing strawberry! Large, soft, deliciously sweet fruit ideal for preserves or fresh eating. Produces from late spring through fall and matures in 60-70 days. Developed by Washington State University, this variety is popular everywhere for its delicious berries that are perfect for home gardens. Plant so that crown is just above soil level. Set transplants 18 inches apart. Strawberries need at least 8 hours of full sun each day, and they prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8. If soils in your area are naturally alkaline, it is best to grow strawberries in half-barrels or other large containers filled with potting soil. Strawberries may also sulk in heavy clay, which should be generously amended with composted leaves, fully rotted sawdust, or another bulky type of organic matter before planting strawberries. After mixing in 4 inches or more of compost, rake clay soil into raised mounds to further improve drainage. If your soil is sandy, simply cultivate to remove weeds, and mix in a 1-inch layer of rich compost or rotted manure.

Sequoia Strawberry (June Bearers)

One of the best tasting berries ever! It produces lots of huge, dark red, sweet fruit. Where safe from early frost, it is the earliest spring crop and keeps bearing fruit weeks longer than the typical spring crop. Works best in California and southern states. Strawberries are extremely adaptable and are grown in every state in the U.S. Plants generally grow 6”–8” tall and 12” across, are shallow–rooted, and benefit from mulch. They should be planted in full sun with a spacing of 18” apart. They prefer a soil rich in all the basic nutrients with a pH of 6–6.5. Susceptible to root rot and must be planted in well-drained soil, with crown set at soil level. Yield under the best of conditions is about one basket per plant per season. June bearers generally produce a single large crop in spring to early summer (as early as March in warmer regions) and are prolific producers for 3 to 4 weeks. Pick the blossoms off June bearers the first year to boost production the second year. Ever bearers are not as prolific as June bearers but are especially suitable for growers who wish to harvest a constant supply of berries throughout the summer. Plant some of both to have a large harvest to preserve, and plenty to eat all summer!

*Stock varies - not all varieties listed may be in stock. Photos do not necessarily reflect what is currently available at Evergreen Nursery.