Tips for the Garden - December 2020

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The month of December brings the holiday season and warm thoughts of family, friends and community. I would like to say, “Thank You” and wish you and yours a “Blessed Holiday Season” with all the best in the New Year!

 

Fall will turn into winter this month. It may not always be the most comfortable time to be planting anything in your landscape, but it is a great time for the plants. Trees and shrubs are completely dormant now, so the concept of transplant shock does not apply. 

 

If you want to think of warmer days of spring, garden seeds for 2021 are available for purchase in the store. Our selection of Botanical Interests seeds is a large diverse selection. Start gardening in your mind to make you feel better when it snows.

 

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Houseplants are another way to keep the warmer thoughts of spring and summer around! And they are fantastic for keeping your home fresh and cleaning the air! Here are a few tips on winter houseplant care. Flowering plants need at least half a day of direct sunlight. Cacti and many succulents require a sunny location, and croton plants need direct sun to maintain the decorative color. The ideal temperatures for foliage plants are 68-70 degrees during the day and slightly lower at night. The amount of water the houseplants need declines during winter, so increase the amount of time between watering.

 

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Some of the plants in your landscape can help you decorate for the Christmas season as you prune them for next year. Holly and Boxwood can be trimmed now with some of the cuttings used to accent wreaths or live indoor plants. Some of the growth of evergreens such as White Pine, Norway Spruce, and even some of the seed heads of ornamental grasses can be used to make a harvest wreath or basket for your front door or porch. Talk about recycling! After Christmas, you can take them to your compost bin for future fertilizer!

 

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Continue to feed our fine feathered friends and place heated birdbaths with fresh water out for them. Our wildlife needs care and attention as numbers have been dwindling and they are needed for pollination and health of our planet, join in the fun, or ask us how you can. We will show you the way.

 

Again, I wish you and your family a very Blessed Christmas season. Let’s get to work on planning that beautiful garden scene for next year!

 

See you in the Garden……

Sandi Hillermann McDonald

Give to Local Charities

Dear Friends,

       It is not without regret that we have had to cancel our popular holiday events for 2020 including the Evening Holiday Party and Pictures with Santa. In the midst of a pandemic we cannot consciously hold these events knowing that they normally draw large indoor crowds. Even more regretful, these events always brought in a good amount of donations for some wonderful local charities. This will be a very difficult season for charities that may not receive the usual amount of donations from fundraising events and private donors. If you are able and can find it in your heart, we ask that you please give to our many wonderful local charities in honor of the Holiday Season.

Here are pictures of donations in 2019

       Below is a list of charities that we collect donations for through our events this time of year. You can send donations to the charities directly by mail or online for some. If you will be visiting our store this season, you can also leave your donation with us and we will give the donations to the charities at the end of the season.

Loving Hearts Outreach, 1902 West Main Street, Washington, MO 63090  http://www.lovingheartsoutreach.org/

Graces Place Crisis Nursery, PO Box 83, Washington, MO 63090, https://gracesplacecrisisnursery.com/

The Pregnancy Assistance Center, 310 International Ave, Washington, MO 63090, https://www.facebook.com/pregnancyassistancecenter/

Franklin County Humane Society, P.O. Box 400, Union, MO 63084, https://fchsmo.org/

Area Food Pantries:

     St. Peter’s UCC Food Pantry, P.O. Box 510, Washington, MO 63090, https://www.stpeters-washington.org/children

     St. Francis Borgia Church Food Pantry, 115 Cedar Street, Washington, MO  63090, https://borgiaparish.org/food-pantry

ALIVE - Alternatives to Living In Violent Environments
Franklin County Office - P.O. Box 223, Union, MO 63084
St. Louis Office - P.O. Box 28733, St. Louis, MO 63146
https://alivestl.org/

            Thank you all so much for your generosity throughout the years. We wish you a Happy Holiday Season!

The Hillermann Team

Tips for the Garden - November 2020

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            Our fall season has been very dry. Even though the foliage on trees and shrubs is gone, the roots need moisture to build up spring buds and increase root growth. The amount of water needed may be less than when the foliage was on the plants, but water is still very important.

            It is sad to watch the garden fading into winter, but at least we don’t have to say goodbye. Spring will return, as naturally as the sun will rise tomorrow morning. All we have to do is get the garden prepped so that it can rest until its renewal a few months from now. Here is a to-do list that will help you prepare your garden for its winter’s nap.

            Clean out and cut back. But, don’t cut all your plants back to the ground, and don’t pick up every leaf. It is a great treat to leave some seed heads on plants for the winter birds and ornamental grasses for their winter art in the garden.  Leaving some plant stalks to protect the crowns of tender perennials is also beneficial.

            Cover up. Mulch is the best winter protection for your plants. Wait until the ground has frozen slightly, usually around Thanksgiving for us, to ensure the plants are in their dormancy state. If the snow falls before you get the opportunity to get the job done, mulch over the snow.

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            Dig in. Trees, shrubs and plants that have a root ball larger than a gallon can be put into the ground. In addition, now is the time to plant those spring beauties we call bulbs. To enjoy the beauty and bright colors of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils as well as crocus and alliums, plant them NOW.

            Here are a few other duties to think about this month of November. Continue mowing lawn grasses as long as they keep growing, 3” is a good height. Apply Winterizer fertilizer to lawns to strengthen plant stems and roots for winter growth and early spring green up.

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            Set up bird feeders. Birds also appreciate a source of unfrozen drinking water during the winter. Use one of the many styles of birdbath heaters or heated birdbaths available at garden centers. When feeding the birds, set up a variety of feeder types to get the best assortment of birds to come to your yard. Tube feeders are good for songbirds, platform feeders are good for cardinals and larger birds, and suet is a great source of fat and energy for woodpeckers and all bird types.

            Enjoy the antics of wildlife and the beauty of plant art in the garden during this upcoming winter season. I will give you more to look forward to in the winter garden in December. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving to all and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

 

See you in the garden,
Sandi Hillermann McDonald

Holiday Greetings from Hillermann Nursery & Florist

       During the Holiday Season, especially now, we feel it is so important to be thankful for our loved ones, family members and friends. Our customers are included in this list of family and friends. We are very thankful for each one of you who have visited us this year. May memories of holidays from years past bring you warmth and joy. May you have happy moments through this season to hold dear for years to come. We wish you all the Happiest of Holiday Seasons and all the best in the coming New Year.

Tips for the Garden - October 2020

            Fall is the perfect time to evaluate the garden for improvement to your home’s curb appeal, and it is also the perfect time for planting. The cooler crisp days of October make it a great time to care for your yard and garden with the following tips:

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•         YOUR CURB APPEAL can be enhanced by decorating with pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, mums, pansies, kale, and the great selection of Fall plants that are available.

•         Lawn seeding should be finished by October 15th this month to insure growth yet this fall. Choose a seed mix for your specific lawn area; sun, shade, sun/shade, play, drought, etc.

•         Winterize lawn mowers before storage, by draining gasoline from the tank and the gas line.

•         Apply a Winterizer fertilizer on lawns anytime from mid October through November to promote green growth in early spring, the BEST of the neighborhood.

•         The average first frost usually arrives sometime between October 15th and October 20th.

•         You can gain a few degrees of frost protection by covering tender plants with sheets or lightweight fabric row covers. DO NOT USE PLASTIC; this tends to “draw in” the cold temperatures.

•         Dig up Cannas, Dahlias, and Elephant Ears after frost nips their foliage. Before storing them, allow the plants to dry under cover in an airy frost-free place. Store in a cool, dry area, such as a basement, in paper sacks with peat moss.

•         Plant flower bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus, etc.) for spring bloom. Plant them into groupings for a massed effect of spring color. To fertilize them, use bone meal or a complete bulb fertilizer at planting time.

•         October is an excellent month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. This gives the plants a great start in the warm soil and cool weather of fall, with plenty of moisture in the spring to become established before the harsh summer heat and drought arrives.

•         Continue to water all your plants, especially evergreens, when soils are dry. Until the ground freezes, the plants need moisture for root growth even if they are going dormant.

•         After beds have been cleaned and raked, refresh them with bark mulch for the winter months.

•         Towards the end of October, trees should be fertilized with tree spikes at their drip line. Use one tree spike per one inch of tree trunk diameter. This will make for beautiful foliage next spring!

•         Harvest gourds when their shells become hard or when their color changes from green to brown.

•         DO NOT take hummingbird feeders down before mid October. The bird’s biological clock tells them when to migrate south. IT IS NOT dependent on how long we leave our feeders up. Stragglers migrating from areas that are more northern may also find your feeders for some needed nourishment.

            Enjoy your yard and garden in every season!

Time to go… See you in the Garden…
Sandi Hillermann McDonald