Hydrangea Special: 3 gallon $24.50!

Our Signature special, choose from Endless Summer the Original or Nantucket Blue! Offer valid while supplies last.

Growing Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas do best in morning sun with afternoon or dappled shade. Too much sun and they’ll need frequent watering, too little sun and they’ll have fewer flowers. They prefer an organic, dark, loamy soil. Amend soil with a good quality compost planting mix to increase organic matter in the soil. Top dress with a 2-3 inch layer of mulch to insulate the roots an to help retain moisture in the soil. For more growth and more flowers, fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every spring.

Pruning hydrangeas

Any pruning of macrophylla hydrangeas should always be done by the end of July to prevent cutting off next years flower buds.
To revitalize older plants, thin them out by cutting some of the older stems.
To reduce the overall size, cut above a set of leaves.

Take action against winter moths! Research has indicated that tree mortality is likely in as little as four consecutive years of defoliation.

Last fall we had a heavy Winter Moth population (you probably saw them flying around – sometimes looking like snow). Then we had an exceptionally mild winter. Now factor in our crazy warm early spring, and you have a perfect storm for Winter Moths. Forestry officials are already warning that Winter Moth populations are expected to be significantly heavier than last spring, and because of recent high temperatures they will likely hatch earlier than normal. In average years, the tiny inchworm-like caterpillars hatch in mid-April and wiggle into closed buds where they feed until the leaves emerge, towards the end of April. Once the leaves emerge they feed heaviest, and heavy infestations can defoliate a tree in a matter of days. With leaves on the verge of popping out in some areas, it’s not unreasonable to expect damage to begin appearing in March.

Winter Moth Solutions: Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew (left) and All Seasons Horticultural Oil (right) by Bonide. Fortunately, there are effective and environmentally-friendly remedies. For plants that have not leafed out yet, a horticultural oil spray will help control exposed eggs on the bark and small caterpillars that may not have entered into buds. Mahoney’s oil of preference is All-Season Oil by Bonide. Once the leaves expand you should apply a foliar insecticide containing spinosad, such as Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew by Bonide. Captain Jack’s is a natural bacterium that targets caterpillars and similar insects. Once ingested, the caterpillars will stop feeding immediately and die within two-to-three days.

Winter Moth Damage: A winter moth caterpillar eating, an already, partially consumed leaf. Research has indicated that tree mortality is likely in as little as four consecutive years of defoliation. If not treated promptly, leaves could be riddled with holes. Consecutive defoliation can ultimately kill the tree in as little as four-years. In fruit trees, such as apple or blueberry, this may lead to a loss of fruiting. Many new outbreaks popped-up last spring, and they appear to be spreading. Most homeowners can handle spraying their smaller trees.* Larger trees require commercial spraying equipment.

* IMPORTANT: When spraying fruit trees and other flowering trees, take care to protect foraging bees by spraying late in the afternoon or early evening when the bees are less active. This gives the spray time to dry – the greatest threat to bees is if they come in contact with the spray when it’s still wet.

Did you know that a house plant can not only brighten up any room in your home or office, it can also make that room healthier to be in?  Indoor air, due to its lack of circulation, can often build up levels of potentially harmful chemicals, which can be greatly reduced by the presence of air-cleaning plants.  NASA published a study in 1989, which focused on the ability of houseplants to effectively clean the air of three common indoor air chemicals, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.  Their study produced a list of the top air cleaning plants that are also generally pest resistant and relatively easy to care for.  Come check out our selection of air-cleaning plants we currently have in our greenhouse.  Look for the blue air-cleaning symbol!

Some of the overall Top Indoor Air Cleaning Plants

Dracaena – leader in removing formaldehyde, also removes benzene & trichloroethylene. Attractive, tropical foliage.  available varieties – Warneckii, Janet Craig, Marginata

Ficus Alii – removes benzene & formaldehyde.  Attractive, tropical foliage, easy to care for.

Spathiphyllum – ‘Peace Lily’ – removes benzene, formaldehyde, & trichloroethylene.  Easy to care for.

Philodendron – removes benzene & formaldehyde, attractive foliage, easy to care for.

Chlorophytum comosum –  ‘Spider Plant’ – removes benzene & formaldehyde.  Flowers, easily propagated, easy to care for.

Aglaonema modestum, ‘Chinese Evergreen’ – removes benzene & formaldehyde.  Attractive foliage, easy to care for.

Sansevieria trifasciata, ‘Snake Plant’ – removes benzene & formaldehyde.  Attractive foliage, easy to care for.

Epiptrmnum aureum – ‘Pothos’ – removes benzene & formaldehyde.  Unusual foliage, very easy to care for.

Additional Info:

Benzene –  Industrial solvent  plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers. some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Also present in cigarette smoke.

Formaldehyde –  Chemical compound used in the manufacturing of building materials, ie. Partical board and pressed wood products. Can also be found in insulation and carpet backing. Also present in cigarette smoke.

Trichloroethylene – Industrial solvent, used for degreasing metal.  Consumer products containing trichloroethylene include – paint removers/strippers, adhesives, spot removers, and rug-cleaning fluids. typewriter correction fluids

Chemical info found on the following websites

Lifetips.com

Epa.gov

Formaldehtdetesting.com

The answer is pretty easy: dig some holes, drop in some fall bulbs and voila, you’ll get flowers. One small detail: you have to plant the bulbs now, in the fall (hence the name), and then wait until spring for them to bloom. That’s because “fall bulbs” need the time in the cold ground in order to bloom next spring.

Why buy them at Jardin Mahoney?
All our bulbs are imported directly from the finest growers in Holland. We have lots of varieties to choose from: some of the newest hybrids as well as the most popular classics. And most of our bulbs are top sized. Planting fall bulbs is pretty easy.

Believe it or not, planting success is all about the roots and you can plant later than you may think. When you plant in the fall the soil is still warm from summer. Warm soil temps encourage new roots to grow. Fall is also the time when plants naturally shift their energy from top growth to root growth. This helps plants establish faster. Rainfall is more plentiful and predictable in the fall. New plantings require moisture for optimal growth. In addition, annual weeds that compete for nutrients and moisture are finishing their life cycle, which reduces this competition. And fall’s ample rainfall encourages roots to grow more deeply. Deeper roots are better able to find water now and next spring.

Another counter-intuitive benefit to planting in the fall is the cooler air temperatures above ground. Cooler temps mean less stress and fewer pest and disease problems. Last but not least, roots continue to grow until the ground freezes. The results are that plants that are put in the ground in the fall will have stronger roots to start off next spring. Then when summer comes, they will be better equipped to deal with heat and drought.

Some things need to be planted in the early fall. There are many plants that will thrive when planted about four weeks before the first hard frost. These plants – grass seed, turf and cool season vegetables – need to establish a root system before the ground starts to cool in late fall.

Seeds or seedlings of lettuce, radishes, broccoli and spinach can be planted in early fall. To extend the harvest later into the fall, a row cover of black plastic can be added for further protection once heavy frost arrives.

Early fall is the best time for rejuvenating your lawn or for planting a new lawn. Grass seed germinates at cooler temperatures than summer can provide. Weeds are not germinating now making it the perfect time for lawn work. Ideally, new grass seed should be planted about a month before the first hard frost predicted for your area. Groundcovers such as Vinca or pachysandra will develop strong root systems when planted in the fall. When spring arrives your fall planted beds will be thick and full of healthy plants.

Some things can be planted even into late fall. Any perennial, shrub or tree that has been grown in a container or ball and burlapped can be planted late into the fall – right up until the time that the ground freezes. Later plantings will benefit from a protective mulch once the ground is frozen. This insulates the soil and keeps it from freezing and thawing.

Tulips, Daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs are best planted from mid-October through ground freeze. Planting too early can cause the bulbs to send up top growth at the wrong time. Planting bulbs in the fall ensures a good root system and a beautiful garden when spring arrives.

Final benefit

Savvy shoppers know that plant prices come down as the year comes to an end. Perennials are an especially great bargain because most people see a perennial that has passed and assume it’s dead. Fact is planting perennials in the fall means you’ll get a great price, and the plant will have the fall months to grow a strong root system. Next spring you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic, established plant and some extra money in your pocket to boot.