Welcome to Sloat Garden Center's blog! We hope you'll check back with us often for updates on what's new at Sloat. From plants to pottery to furniture,
if it's at Sloat, you'll read about it here first. Send feedback to
sloat@sloatgardens.com
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April 24, 2008 -- Store update: Roses! Roses! roses!
All our stores have just received large quantities of budded and blooming roses. The quality is truly incredible. If you've ever considered buying a rose bush, now is the time!!
April 24, 2008 -- Our 2008 Tomato selection...
We present delicious tomato varieties for you to try in your garden this summer. Click to view>>
April 22, 2008 -- Happy Earth Day.
Happy Earth Day Sloat gardeners. At Sloat we deeply believe that gardening is good for the planet. We urge every gardener to plant something this Earth Day...because as we learned in 6th grade science class, through photosynthesis plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen - and that’s a really good thing these days...
5 ways gardeners can celebrate Earth Day
1. Use non-toxic methods to help plants both resist and recover from attack by pests and diseases.
2. Reuse garden waste in compost and mulch.
3. Choose plants that are an appropriate fit for your soil, sun and shade conditions.
4. Use Bay Area native plants (or Mediterranean plants) in your garden: these all need less water.
5. Provide wildlife habitat in your garden.
April 22, 2008 -- Celebrate Earth Day in Marin with a ladybug release at Edna Maguire School in Mill Valley
April 18, 2008 -- Happy Gardening this weekend...
Look what's blooming in our stores!
All our locations have the following in stock this month...
Fresh budded and blooming azaleas in many sizes, blooming magnolias, cherries, crabapples, pink jasmine, hardenbergia, calla lilies, Spanish lavender and wallflower. Also, Japanese maples are leafing out and cistus (rockrose) are budded up. Ranunculus looks beautiful, as do orchids, succulents and lilacs. And don't forget to GROW YOUR OWN vegetables this summer. We have all the plants, soil and amendments for a delicious harvest this summer! CLICK here for specific plant information for many Sloat locations.>>
April 18, 2008 -- April Gardening GUIDE
Plant
• Plant your favorite annuals for spring. Impatiens, petunias, marigolds, cosmos and lobelia are all budding and blooming now!
• Plant bulbs and perennials now to fill your garden with summer color. Lilies & dahlias will be beautiful additions.
• It may be time for a new watering can. We have them in stock now.
• Organic vegetable starts and seeds are here. Start your edible garden early this year.
Prune/Maintain
• Improving the quality of your soil should be at the top of your spring garden activity list. An optimal loamy soil balance promotes drainage, air and water penetration. Use Sloat Loam Builder, Sloat Forest Mulch Plus or Sloat Planting Mix. All are custom-blended for Bay Area gardens.
• Control pests before they take over your garden by adding plants that attract beneficial insects.
• Continue to control destructive snails that ravage gardens by night and hide by day. Sluggo Snail Bait works great and is the perfect non-toxic alternative to products with metaldehyde.
• Apply Greenlight Rose Defense to roses and other ornamental plants at the first sign of fungal and pest problems to control black spot, powdery mildew, rust, mites, aphids and more.
• Prune azaleas and camellias after they bloom.
Fertilize
• Use E. B. Stone Organics Sure Start (with mycorrhizae) with all new plantings to help them get established quickly.
• Use Agricultural Lime to balance your soil’s pH and add calcium and magnesium to vegetable and other garden beds.
• Fertilize with E. B. Stone Organics All-Purpose Plant Food and Citrus and Fruit Tree Food. See our staff for other plant-specific fertilizer recommendations.
• Lawns are ready for some attention. Feed them with GreenAll Pro Formula Lawn Food.
April 18, 2008 -- Fast Forward!
Each month Sloat Garden Center sponsors a different school garden in Marin County. The April school garden is Brookside Upper Elementary School. Their established school garden is enjoyed by the entire school community.
April 18, 2008 -- We've got the poop deck covered...
May 4
Dog Day on the Bay
A great event for a great cause! This San Francisco SPCA benefit features a Sloat sponsored "poop deck" using our best sod. For tickets & details visit here:
April 18, 2008 -- Everything you ever wanted to know about Wisteria....
About Wisteria:
This long-lived twining, woody deciduous vine needs full sun, good drainage, a very strong support system, regular water the first season, and very-well amended soil (don’t forget the SureStart). Failure to get nutrients into the root zone at planting time can result in the common ‘my wisteria doesn’t bloom’ complaint, more on that below. Seed pods are poisonous.
Wisterias need a very strong, sturdy arbor, pergola or trellis since they can become very heavy with age. If the trellis is attached to the house, it should be planted on the farthest post, and let it fill in by gradually growing toward your house. They can clog the rain gutters, lift roof shingles, rip up flimsy trellises, and strangle small trees.
Basic Training: Train the main leader to the upper part of the support system and cut it off when it reaches the desired height. Train the main side branches horizontally at least 18’ apart from each other. The first season do not expect prolific blooms since vegetative growth is being encouraged to establish the scaffold/framework. Remove stems that interfere with the desired framework; pinch back side stems and long whips.
The young wisteria will send out a lot of skinny, rapidly-growing, soft vegetative shoots (which make leaves, not flowers) in the spring and summer. These shoots are called runners, or whips, and are roughly the thickness of a phone cord. Some of these can be forced into becoming a spur system by heading back to 3 to 6 inches from where they join their parent scaffold branch. Check out the Cass Turnbull “Guide To Pruning”, pp.196-201, for some great pictures and pruning advice. Page 199 has an excellent explanation of the spur system. Correctly pruning wisterias is another solution to “why doesn’t my wisteria bloom?” This plant will need dedicated pruning every winter and cleanup pruning every summer. NOTE: Wisteria flowers develop in buds near the base of the previous year’s growth.
Fertilizing: Wisteria need very little feeding once established, Nitrogen fertilizer will encourage vegetative growth, not blossoms. Katy Thompson, Advanced CCN Pro, recommends an annual application of Agricultural Lime in the spring since wisteria like a neutral to slightly acid soil pH of 6.0-7.0
The Difference between Chinese and Japanese Wisteria:
Japanese: The pendulous flowers clusters (racemes) are 12”-18” long, and open gradually from the base of the cluster as the leaves are developing during May and June. They are very fragrant. The compound leaves usually have 13-29 leaflets. The vines twine clockwise.
Chinese: The racemes open all at once (ooh, ah) in May, are 9”-12” long and have a mild sweet fragrance. The compound leaves have 7-13 leaflets, the vine twines counter-clockwise.
Trivia Note: A Chinese wisteria planted in 1894 by William and Alice Brugman in Sierra Madre, California now weighs more than 250 tons, is more than one acre in size and has become one of the seven horticultural wonders of the world. It is named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest blossoming plant in the world, and is the star of Sierra Madre’s annual Wisteria Festival.
April 15, 2008 -- The tax man cometh...
But maybe this month's pottery color (kiwi green) will make you smile.
April 15, 2008 -Common Disease Problems on Roses
Downy Mildew- Peronospora sparsa appears after consistent cool conditions (Jan-Feb), then a big temperature hike, followed by cool humid weather again. Symptoms include lesions on the leaves, stems and flowers, they appear purplish to brown, blocky and often accompanied by yellowing of the surrounding tissues. The Downy Mildew fungus forms a downy mass of spores on the underside of leaf lesions, difficult to see without a hand lens. Once conditions turn warm and dry, the disease is kept on check until the next cool, humid period.
Controls-Avoid overhead watering, increase air circulation by pruning out/thinning in the center of the plant. Remove infected tissue, place in a plastic bag and seal before moving it out of the garden. Kop-R-Spray can be used as a preventive measure, use as for grapes.
Powdery Mildew-Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae is recognized by its white to gray powdery growth on leaves, shoots, sepals, buds, and occasionally on petals. Leaves may distort and drop. Powdery mildew does not require free water on the plant surfaces to develop and is active during our warm, dry summers. Overhead sprinkling during midday may limit the disease by disrupting the daily spore-release cycle, yet allows time for foliage to dry.
Controls-The pathogen requires living tissue to survive, so pruning, collecting and disposing of leaves during the dormant season can limit infestations. Plants grown in sunny locations with good air circulation are less likely to have problems. Thinning out the center of the plant can help. Rose Defense or Serenade will also control Powdery Mildew.
Black Spot-Diplocarpon rosae produces black spots with feathery or fibrous margins on the upper surfaces of leaves and stems. Small black fruiting bodies are often present on the upper sides of leaves, there is no fungal growth on the underside of the leaves. The fungus requires free water to reproduce, so leaves should not remain wet for more than 7 hours.
Controls- Remove infested and fallen leaves in a plastic bag. Thin out the center of the plant for good air circulation. Prune out infected stems in the dormant season. Rose Defense or Serenade is effective in controlling the disease.
April 11, 2008 -- Happy Gardening this weekend!
April 9, 2008 -- ooooooh. Echium and a hummingbird. Can you spot it?
April 9, 2008 -- A list of some of the new items at Sloat this year
Bonide Orchard Spray for Citrus, Fruit & Nut
As part of the all natural, “Garden Naturals” line from Bonide, the Orchard Spray uses a unique combination of natural pyrethrins and sulfur that is ideal for Citrus, Fruit and Nut trees, as well as many other edible and ornamental plants. It kills pests on contact including aphids, mites, caterpillars, scale and others. It is highly effective at controlling a wide range of diseases including scab, powdery mildew, rust, blight and brown rot. Sloat carries both a Ready-to-Spray bottle and a concentrate. It can be used up to the day of harvest, from early Spring through late Fall.
Handmaster ROC Garden Gloves
With a 100% bamboo shell (yes, we said “bamboo”), this glove is lighter, cooler and more absorbent than other cotton gloves. Bamboo fabric is moisture wicking and breathable, and its natural UV protection makes working outdoors worry free. It has a nitrile coated palm for added gripping power and maximum control.
Its fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Grown without pesticides or chemicals, it is 100% biodegradable and naturally regenerative. As an added benefit, bamboo fiber products will not hold odor or grow fungus, even if left in moist conditions. So you will not have to throw these gloves away after limited use!
April 9, 2008 -- The meaning of organic. A few things to ponder...
According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary- organic “means of, relating to, or derived from living organisms”.
In terms of organic gardening, that explanation has expanded from 1) growing only with fertilizers derived from animal or plant materials or naturally occurring elements to include 2) avoiding the use of environmentally destructive chemical (traditional) pesticides and fertilizers and 3) using good cultural practices by choosing the right plants, composting to build healthy soil, attracting beneficial insects and other organisms, crop rotation, and mulching to prevent runoff and conserve water. Organic Gardeners choose plants that will work in the neighborhood, not picky, temperamental plants that need constant fertilizing. They aim for biological diversity with plants that will attract a wide variety of beneficial organisms.
Organic gardeners mimic Mother Nature by adding decomposing materials (organic fertilizers) to the soil that slowly permeate and help build the soil (encourage beneficial soil organisms). They are patient, observant people that check their plants frequently for any signs of pests.
In terms of pests, most of us practice Integrated Pest Management. After first choosing the best plant for the site, watering correctly, building the soil and using biological, mechanical and physical controls for pests, it is sometimes necessary to use a pesticide as a last resort. However there are now numerous less toxic materials like insecticidal soaps, narrow-range or horticultural oils, microbials and botanicals like Serenade, Spinosad, Copper Soap and Bt available.
Interestingly, products labeled organic can also include naturally occurring elements like green sand, sulfur, volcanic pumice, agricultural lime and gypsum. Sulfur, for example, is mined from natural mineral deposits. It is not only a basic element but also an essential plant nutrient. It has been used in agriculture for well over a hundred years as an insecticide, fungicide and miticide.
Finally, “Organic” definitions and standards are evolving all over our country as we deal with environmental issues-don’t let semantics keep you from enjoying your garden.
April 8, 2008 -- Impatiens, impatiens, impatiens
Ever wonder about the difference is between all those cultivars of Impatiens? We usually see 5 main types at Sloat. All the cultivars encompass the basic colors of white, red, pink, orange, rose, violet, and salmon. Of course, there are other colors such as scarlet, apricot, bright eye, cranberry, etc.
Futura (1965) - This cultivar has been around a long time. The flowers tend to be smaller on average than newer cultivars and the plants are taller and leggier (12”-14”) especially at the end of the season (up to 2’ tall!).
Accent (1984) - This cultivar all but replaced Futura. The plants are more compact and the flowers are large and held above the foliage. Plants on average will be 10”-12” tall. They will still tend to some legginess at season’s end (1 ½’ tall). We have Pearl, Apricot, Cranberry and Bright Eye. Also picotees.
Blitz and Dazzler (=1970’s) - These cultivars grow a lot like Futura but they have good bicolors and picotee forms such as red/white and orange/white.
Elfin (1968) - This is the most dwarf Impatiens, growing only 6”-8” tall. The colors tend to be darker, muddier if you will, than average. It is an unhappy gardener who mistakenly mixes Elfin in with their Accents!
Xtreme (2007) - This is the new kid on the block! The colors are as true and as large as Accent but the plant stays more compact (8”-10”) throughout the season. No legginess here!
April 4, 2008 -- Good gardening this weekend....
The weather looks great for Bay Area gardening this weekend. We'll leave you with a quote to ponder as you make planting plans. Have fun out there!
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig
my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar."
-Helen Hayes
April 3, 2008 -- More snapshots from our stores....
April 1, 2008 -- A pretty picture from our Kentfield store...
April 1, 2008 -- And for those who love their dogs...
We really like this new product we just started carrying...it's a combination of grass seed and granulated mulch (made from recycled paper) that is formulated to repair yellow spots in lawns left by pets. It helps neutralize the nitrogen in pet’s urine that causes yellow spots. Directions are easy! Just prepare the area with a rake, remove dead grass, weeds and debris. Apply Dog Patch directly from the easy pour container. Water immediately and twice daily until new growth blends with existing lawn. Expect germination in 7-10 days.
April 1, 2008 -- Sloat on the radio!
Tune in to the Ronn Owens show -- 810am
On Tuesday, April 1st, at 11am our own Richard Avery, Manager of Sloat in San Bruno, will answer all your spring gardening questions on soil, drought tolerant plants, native plants, edible gardening...and more!
You can listen live on Tuesday by clicking here:
March 31, 2008 -- The specials continue!
March 25, 2008 --Bedding Plants & Groundcover spacing. Our nifty chart!
Spacing |
36 Plants |
48 Plants |
64 Plants |
4 Inches |
4 Sq. Ft. |
5.25 Sq. Ft. |
7 Sq. Ft. |
6 Inches |
9 Sq. Ft. |
12 Sq. Ft. |
16 Sq. Ft. |
8 Inches |
16 Sq. Ft. |
21 Sq. Ft. |
28 Sq. Ft. |
10 Inches |
25 Sq. Ft. |
33.75 Sq. Ft. |
45 Sq. Ft |
12 Inches |
36 Sq. Ft. |
48 Sq. Ft. |
64 Sq. Ft. |
15 Inches |
56.25 Sq. Ft. |
75 Sq. Ft. |
100 Sq. Ft. |
18 Inches |
81 Sq. Ft. |
108 Sq. Ft. |
144 Sq. Ft. |
24 Inches |
144 Sq. Ft. |
192 Sq. Ft |
256 Sq. Ft. |
March 25, 2008 -- SALE almost over...
All Sloat Statuary is on sale!
50% off through April 30th
Selection varies depending on location...
March 25, 2008 -- Healthy Gardens start with Healthy Soil
Each spring, we encourage gardeners to learn how to improve their soil because this knowledge has such an enormous impact on gardening success. The easiest way to create a superior growing medium for your plants is to add organic material to existing soil. The goal is to create a balance of sand, silt and clay that will provide easy penetration by roots, air and water.
For many Bay Area gardens, amending high clay content will help achieve a “loamy” soil balance. To break up heavy clay soils, Sloat Loam Builder can help. It contains a unique blend of chicken manure and composted mushroom soil (wheat straw, cottonseed hulls, Canadian peat moss, cottonseed meal and gypsum). This high-powered combination enhances bacterial action in the clay and loosens the soil to allow air, water and root penetration.
For soils that need moderate conditioning, use Sloat Organic Planting Mix. This mix contains fir bark, mushroom compost, perlite and gypsum and is ideal for improving the soil in flower and vegetable beds.
Mulching your soil with Sloat Forest Mulch Plus will also improve soil in several important ways. As a mulch it will help conserve moisture and its fir bark content will add long–lasting organic matter to the soil and help keep clay particles separated.
How much do you need? As a rule, use 1/3 soil amendment to 2/3 native soils. To provide a boost to existing beds, apply a 2-inch layer.
For mulching, blanket the soil with a ½ to 1 inch layer. Two cubic feet of mulch will cover 48 square feet of surface at ½ inch.
When crops are deprived of basic nutrients they suffer. Improve the quality of your soil this spring and watch your plants thrive.
March 24, 2008 -- We love spring! Here are a few pictures from our stores...
March 21, 2008 -- 2 plants you can have fun with this weekend.
CINERARIA & FOXGLOVE
CINERARIA - Senecio hybrids
This daisy-like flower comes in magentas, blues, purples and white combinations. The flowers may be a slightly different shade when the new seedlings appear next winter. Plant in loose, rich soil, full to light shade, and give regular water. They look good planted as a group, combined with forget-me-knots, as a backdrop for daffodils or species geraniums. The seedlings planted for outdoors may grow 2’ tall and wide. The plants planted as indoor color can also be planted outside after they have finished blooming.
Cineraria are classified as perennial but act more like hardy annuals. They bloom in late winter and early spring, then dry out and look bad when the weather warms up. Give the dry flower heads a shake to encourage re-seeding or to collect the seed and sprinkle in other shady spots in the garden. Pull the old plants and toss in the compost pile.
FOXGLOVE-Digitalis
These Biennials from the Mediterranean need regular water, well-drained soil and fertilizer. They are normally planted in part sun but grew to be 5 feet in one outer Richmond garden with southern exposure. They make a fantastic vertical element to the back of a bed and are very impressive when massed.
After first flowering cut off the main spike and the side shoots will grow and provide additional blooms. Hummingbirds love the bell-shaped flowers. The spikes can grow 2-5 feet depending on the species. Flower colors come in yellow, white, salmon, pink, lavender, purple and rose. All parts are poisonous if ingested.
March 20, 2008 -- Just for Spring....
March 20, 2008 -- Spring has sprung!
Happy equinox...it's Spring!
March 17, 2008 -- Easter lilies are here
All Sloat locations now have lilies for Easter. Why purchase an Easter lily at Sloat? Because ours are thicker and taller, with more blooms, than your average grocery store variety. We have plenty of colors and lovely pots to choose from!
March 17, 2008 -- Start spring the easy way with our creative custom planters. So many to choose from...
March 17, 2008 -- Ceanothus bursting with color, from the SF Chronicle
by Katherine Grace Endicott
Read the article here...
Ceanothus varieties, such as 'Dark Star,' are blooming along roadsides
and at nurseries now. Photo, 2006, by Miriam Owen
March 17, 2008 -- Edna McGuire School garden. Check the video out here!
March 14, 2008 -- Happy Gardening, Happy Weekend
Pictures to inspire you...happy gardening!
March 14, 2008 -- Edible Landscaping in the news
Backyards, Beware: An Orchard Wants Your Spot
"In the last few years, an increasing number of Americans have turned their yards over to mini orchards, planting them with dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees, even in dense urban areas. The backyard orchard makes sense, given the growing popularity of the local-food movement. Nothing is more local than the backyard, after all, and home orcharding, as the practice is sometimes called, guarantees freshness and cuts the energy costs for transportation to nil." - New York Times, March 2008
This spring at Sloat Garden Center we're undertaking an effort toward sustainability by urging gardeners to incorporate edible plants into their landscape. An article in this week's Home & Garden issue of the New York Times discusses this very point. Read it here!
March 14, 2008 -- More Edible Landscaping in the news
Asparagus start slow but produce for years
SF Chronicle
Read it here!
Asparagus shoots sprout from crowns and break through the soil in spring.
A plant can produce spears for 25 years.
March 14, 2008 - Furniture is coming, furniture is coming!
We’ve ordered lots of new styles and colors for spring. Watch our blog for more info!!
March 13, 2008 -- The ladies are here!
We have ladybugs, mantids and nematodes to help control pesky garden eaters. Hooray for beneficial insects!
March 12, 2008 - San Francisco Flower & Garden Show - this weekend
March 12-16
Visit SFFGS website here!
Four acres of inspiring gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 300 exhibits all strictly related to gardening, outdoor living and gardeners.
March 8, 2008 - Daylight Savings hours. We're open longer!
Starting Sunday, March 9th all Sloat Garden Center locations will be open 7 days a week, 8:30am to 6:30pm. Hooray!
March 8, 2008 - New Stuff at Sloat!
We have a few new items to watch for this spring...
Tumbleweed Composter - rugged construction should withstand any Bay Area weather over the course of time; has a center aeration rod to let air in and speed the breakdown process; spins easily to turn compost pile; and has detachable lids on both sides for easy access.
Scarecrow Animal Deterrent – chases animals away with motion sensor activation of sprinkler; protects plants and pond areas; shoots sudden burst of water scaring unwanted animals away
Radius Garden Tools – provide ergonomic comfort, minimizing hand and wrist stress; lightweight yet very strong aluminum-magnesium blades; bulb trowel, cultivator, trowel and weeder available
Barnell Spring Buckets – Collapsible buckets that compress to 3” size for easy storage and transport; rugged enough for professional use; extra thick perforated bottom panel adds longer life span; 3 sizes with padded adjustable shoulder strap
Elizabeth Wilmore Greeting Cards – Photos from a local Marin artist who donates part of all proceeds to Breast Cancer research in Marin County
March 8, 2008 - Plant a Tree for California Arbor Day
March 7 –14
National Arbor Day - a day set aside just for tree planting – is celebrated nationally on the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on dates according to their best tree-planting times.
In California, Arbor Day is often celebrated on March 7, which is also the birthdate of pioneering Santa Rosa horticulturalist Luther Burbank. This year Sloat Garden Center would like to encourage you to do your part to reduce global warming by planting a tree.
HOW TO PLANT A TREE:
Purchasing a healthy, vigorous tree is the first step to a successful planting. Choose a tree that has branching and foliage on about 2/3 of its total height. This will help distribute stress from wind along its trunk. Large roots should not be exposed above the soil. This usually indicates severely kinked or circling roots that can eventually girdle (strangle) the tree, weakening or killing it in time.
The planting hole should be only as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. A deeper hole might cause the tree to settle too deeply, possibly causing crown rot. If the sides and bottom of the hole are glazed (shiny and smooth), roughen them with a shovel so the roots can penetrate into the surrounding soil easily. Prune any dead, broken or twisted roots. Roots matted at the bottom or circling around the root ball should be removed or straightened. Amend the backfill soil with 50% Planting Mix or other organic amendment if your soil is clay-like or sandy.
If wind, hot sun or aesthetics are not factors, position your tree so that the majority of the branches are facing away from the afternoon sun. This will help the tree produce more foliage on the “barer side”. If hot sun is an issue, position the tree so that the bud union (the crook) on a grafted tree is facing away from the afternoon sun (it can burn!). If wind is a factor, position the tree so that the majority of branches face the oncoming wind. Once the position has been determined, backfill ½ of the soil, making sure there is good contact with the roots, and water. Fill the hole with the second ½ and water again. Mulch around the tree (leaving the crown uncovered) with fine or micro bark to reduce evaporation and subdue weeds.
March 5, 2008 -- SALE!
We mentioned it before, but it bears repeating...
Our ENTIRE inventory of statuary, birdbaths & fountains is on sale.
40% off through March 13
50% off March 14 - 27
WOW!
Stop in & take advantage of these terrific savings. More info here.
March 5, 2008 - Sloat Pottery Color of the month is SUGARCANE!
In the Garden --- Repotting for Spring, Mixing in Some Memories
What a terrific article in the New York Times gardening section last week!
By ANNE RAVER, New York Times
Houseplants, which often come into your life without asking, are more than a little like pets: they need food and water — and the kind of attention that verges on love.
Read it here....
