indiana county at home dig in! 2012...

Dig In!2012Spring GardenPreview

Thu

rsd

ay,

Ma

y 3,

201

2Sp

ec

ial s

upp

lem

ent

to

AT HOMEIndiana County

The best butterfly bloomersA monthly guide to the perfect bed of roses

5Nearly-no-cost ways to garden

How to get your garden ready2 — Indiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012

A beautiful landscape doesn’thappen on its own. You can helpyour lawn, trees and shrubs get offto a healthy growing season.

“Trees and shrubs add tremen-dous appeal to our urban homeenvironments, but to thrive, par-ticularly out of their natural world,they require regular care withadded nutrients and protectionagainst invasive pests,” said BenHamza, Ph.D., director of technicaloperations at TruGreen.

Here are some lawn and land-scape tips to help you take care ofyour yard this spring.

CLEAN UP: New spring growthcan be hampered if it’s coveredwith debris. Clean out dead leaves,branches, trash or anything elsethat could impair your lawn’sgrowth.

PRUNE PROPERLY: Correctivepruning of your trees and shrubscan make them not only look bet-ter, but help them grow better, too.

■ Don’t top-shear overgrownshrubs or trees — thin them out topreserve their shape.

■ Spring-blooming plants likeazaleas, rhododendrons, forsythiaand lilacs should only be prunedafter they flower.

THE RIGHT PLACE: When you’reready to plant new plants, makesure you put them where they’llthrive.

■ Be sure you know the light re-quirements for a new plant.

■ Fences or other structures canrestrict air flow, which can inter-fere with growth.

■ Make sure you have the righttype of grass for your lawn. Wher-

ever grass has a hard time growing,plant shady ground covers instead.

■ If you’re considering sod,make sure the temperature iswarm enough for grass growth.Firmly pack sod into the soil andwater as needed to encouragedeep root growth.

NOURISH THE ROOTS: Springlawn, tree and shrub roots seek

nourishment after the dormancyof winter.

■ Make sure your early springfertilizer has less nitrogen andmore phosphorus to promotestrong roots. Consider a profes-sional company, such as TruGreen,which will design a custom plan togive your yard exactly what itneeds.

■ Be sure to keep fertilizer on

target to prevent run-off, andsweep fertilizer granules that mayreach pavement back onto yourlawn.

GET READY TO WATER: Give yourlawn a slow, steady watering aboutonce a week, but adjust dependingupon rainfall, grass and soil type inyour area.

■ Follow the owner’s operatingmanual to take an automatedsprinkler system out of hiberna-tion.

Ensure sprinkler heads and relat-ed water lines are working proper-ly.

■ Make sure the irrigation sys-tem covers your landscape effi-ciently.

For example, you can place a 1-inch deep, empty food can in themiddle of the lawn area to meas-ure the depth of water collectedafter each watering cycle to ensureuniformity.

MULCH THE RIGHT WAY: Mulchcan keep soil in place, reduceweeds and retain moisture. Butyou need to make sure you’redoing it right.

■ When the soil has warmed up,apply 3 inches of organic mulch tothe base of shrubs and trees tohelp conserve soil moisture and toreduce weed pressure.

But be mindful not to cover theflare of the tree base in mulch “vol-canoes,” which can lead to rot.

■ When your lawn is activelygrowing, return grass clippingsback to the soil for added lawnnutrients and consider usingcomposted materials to nourishplants.

— TruGreen and Family Features

Getty ImagesCLEAN UP debris and dead leaves before you plant anything new in yourgarden.

■Butterfly

gardening.

■Advice

for new

gardeners.

Page 6

■ Getting rid of weeds.Page 10

Page 4

■ Rosegardening.Page 7

www.infirstbank.com

Member FDIC

Main Office 724-349-2810Townfair Office 724-349-2840

Punxsutawney Office 814-938-2355Burrell Township Office 724-459-9333

* Certain conditions apply. Other rates and terms are available. Cost of appraisal, if required, must be paid by applicant. Homeowners insurance is required and flood insurancemay be required. Loan-to-value ratio may not exceed 80%. Loans for 120 months at 3.05% APR and 3.49% APR would require monthly payments of $9.65 and $9.88 respectively

for each $1,000 borrowed. If refinancing an existing Indiana First Bank loan, a minimum of $5,000 in new money must be borrowed to receive the home equity loan rate.All loans subject to credit approval by Indiana First Bank. Offer subject to change or withdrawal without notice.

APR3.49%HOME EQUITY LOAN MORTGAGE

UP TO 10 YEARS UP TO 10 YEARS

APR3.05%

ReFinancing • Remodeling • Purchasing

Seasonal Bedding Plants4 Miles South of Punxsutawney

on Route 119MAY: Mon.-Fri. 9am-8pm; Sat. 9am-6pm

JUNE: Mon.-Sat. 9am-5pm

Gift CertificatesAvailable for Mom!

•Complete line of Spring bedding plants•Large variety of annuals, perennials, & herbs

•Great selection of Mother’s Day hanging baskets

LARGEST GREENHOUSE IN THE AREA!

By MAUREEN GILMERScripps Howard News Service

For years I used a valuable tech-nique for helping my landscape-design clients communicate bet-ter. I’d ask them to go through theirback issues of magazines and tearout pictures that show how theywant their landscape to look.When they hand over their pack-age of tear sheets, I know exactlywhat they want.

Most people cannot articulate el-ements of design.

They don’t have a grasp of thelanguage and, therefore, cannottell me in aesthetic terms whatthey want both conceptually andvisually.

Problem is, magazines aren’t sopopular anymore; their numbershave dwindled substantially due tolack of advertising. They are alsoexpensive, making tear-sheetgathering rather costly. So findingpictures often led to a stack ofswanky garden books with slips ofpaper marking dozens of pages ofphotos. This is harder for me towork with because I can’t see it allat once like I could with the tearsheets, and I can’t put them in myclient file.

Then I discovered a secretweapon for conveying aesthetic el-ements without language. It’s anew social site calledPinterest.com. In short, this newsite is an electronic bulletin boardgeared for pinning up digital pic-tures on the Internet. You canbrowse the world for sites that fea-ture great landscape projects. If Ifind a picture on a site, I simply hitthe newly installed “Pin It” buttonon my task bar. This click copiesthe picture along with its websiteaddress for import directly intoPinterest. Any time I click on thepicture it takes me to the site oforigin so I can buy, learn more orfind additional images.

My experiment led me to createa Small Budget Gardening Pinter-est board where I’m collecting allthe innovative ideas I can find forlow-cost garden making. You canfind it at http://pinterest.com/maureengilmer/small-bud-get-gardening/ or just type “SmallBudget Gardening” into the searchbox on the Pinterest home page.Up comes the board with morethan 200 new ideas for cheap orfree garden making. I make surethat everything here is doable forthe average person.

I often “repin” ideas that comefrom other pinners’ boards, andoften the collections of others of

similar interest are treasure troves,too.

My Small Budget Gardeningboard is always growing with newpins and repins because I’m ab-solutely addicted to this site. Click“follow” and you’ll be notified ofall my new discoveries. It feels likeI’m shopping the world withoutspending a penny, and that feelsgood.

For gardeners, there are manyother boards filled with great gar-dening ideas.

This is the best source of raisedbeds for home food gardens,which has become the subject ofmy newest Pinterest board. Ifyou’re planning to build a gardenthis year, check Pinterest for bedshapes, arrangements and materi-als.

Pinterest is a valuable tool. If

you’re remodeling or redecoratingyour house, this is a superior wayto hunt for and gather ideas andproducts.

If you’re a foodie, it’s your onlinephoto recipe book.

For anyone looking for great gar-dening ideas this spring, searchPinterest for the best of the Web.Travel the world, bring thingshome and set them up on a singleboard where you can study, com-pare, cull or add to anytime youwant.

And when you give your board toa new designer, he or she will knowexactly what you have in mind.

Maureen Gilmer is an author,horticulturist and landscape de-signer. Learn more at www.MoPlants.com. Contact her at [email protected] or P.O. Box 891,Morongo Valley, CA 92256.

Site lets you gather ideas for your gardenIndiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012 — 3

Scripps Howard News

IF YOU’RE planning on building a garden, check Pinterest for ideas.

Helping you to make your lawn beautiful!

7055 Rte. 119, Marion Center • 877-611-4323

FULLY

STOCKED!

MOWERS

CLEARING & TRIMMING

CHAIN SAWS

GROUND CARE

• Zero Turn Mowers• Riding Mowers • Reel Mowers• Push Mowers

• Trimmers• Hedge Trimmers• Brush Cutters• Maintenance Kits

• Rototillers/Cultivators• Utility Vehicles• Power Cutters• Blowers

“HUSQVARNA SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON”

• Accessories• Protective Apparel• Cases/Gear Bags• Bar & Chain Oil

634 Main St., Rural Valley, PA 724-783-7241Check us out at shannockhardware.com

SHANNOCK HARDWARE-ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM INDIANA

-ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM INDIANAWe have all your outdoor & gardening needs!

Miss Your Local Hardware Store?

•Mulch •Fertilizers •Loose Seed

•Valspar® Paints•Cabot® Stains

•Echo® Outdoor PowerEquipment •Much More

CustomerAppreciation Day

May 5Free Food, Drinks &Gift With Purchase

By AMY LORENTZENFor The Associated Press

For a spring project that can getyour family working and learningtogether — and also help somebeautiful insects — try a backyardbutterfly garden.

With just a little planning, youcan create an attractive and wel-coming habitat for butterfliesthrough the warm weathermonths, says Rick Mikula, authorof “The Family Butterfly Book”(Storey Publishing, 2000).

The biggest problem facing but-terflies is destruction of habitat,Mikula says. Even if your gardenoffers just a few butterfly-friendlyblooms in pots or containers, itcan help the insects’ population —and improve the look of your livingspace.

“Any offering for butterflies in agarden, no matter how small, islike chicken soup for a cold,” hesays. “It can’t hurt.”

The choice of nectar-producingplants on which butterflies feedvaries by region. But wherever youare, Mikula says, your optionsdon’t have to be fancy. Simpleflowers such as varieties of Echi-nacea, daisies, asters and evensome violets can serve as butterfly-friendly snacking spots. Non-inva-sive milkweeds can be especiallyappetizing to migrating butterflies,without taking over your yard.

“Even one or two plants like thatare going to be great because whenthe butterflies are moving, there’s aplace for them to stop,” says Miku-la, who lives in Hazelton.

You can start your research withbooks such as Mikula’s, or by con-

tacting the Indiana County Coop-erative Extension Office at (724)465-3880.

Online, try bugguide.net or butterfliesandmoths.org, recom-mends Nathan Brockman, curatorof the Christina Reiman ButterflyWing of Reiman Gardens at IowaState University, in Ames. Somegarden-supply retailers, such asLowe’s Home Improvement stores,offer online and in-store advice aswell.

There are some concessions youmay need to make if you plan toentice butterflies into your yard,Brockman says.

One is understanding that cater-pillars, the butterflies’ offspring,are going to eat host plants, in-cluding some herbs and vegeta-bles you may have planned toserve at your own dinner table.

Plant extra, and remember you’llbe rewarded for the sacrifice whencaterpillars turn into flutteringbutterflies.

Also, be prepared to give up theuse of pesticides on vegetable gar-dens or lawns.

“Don’t use any at all if you aretruly gardening for butterflies,”Brockman says.

Mikula’s tip is to soak tomatoleaves overnight in water, thenstrain and spray the solution ontoplants as an effective and organicpesticide that won’t harm butter-flies.

Butterfly gardening can either bebudget-friendly or, Mikula says, itcan be like buying a car and get-ting carried away with all the ex-tras. Don’t overlook smaller, lesscostly nectar-producing flowersthat will entice tiny but attractivebutterflies, he says.

Brockman suggests choosingplants native to their region.They’re most beneficial to the en-vironment and require less main-tenance. Colleen Maiura, a spokes-woman for Lowe’s stores, saysthere are more ways to make a gar-den hospitable to butterflies be-sides offering flowers. Butterflieslike to bask in the sun, so puttingout flat rocks near feeding spotscan provide a perfect place forthem to rest. While butterflies canget most of the moisture they needfrom feeding, many like to gatheraround puddles and wet places.You can offer a “puddling station”by simply creating a damp area ofground covered with sand.

“Place stations where butterflies— and you — can easily see them,and where they are sheltered fromthe wind,” Maiura advises.

Beyond the “sheer joy” you getwhen finding a butterfly in yourgarden, Mikula says, butterfly gar-dening also can teach familiesabout the life cycle of insects, andabout caring for plants and theirenvironment.

The best part, he says, is that youwill be doing the beautiful insects“a world of good.”

Don’t be disappointed, Brock-man cautions, if you don’t draw alot of butterflies right away. Keepat it, and try to get neighbors togrow a few plants that will encour-age butterfly activity too.

We “need to instill in our youththat insects are good,” he says.“Fortunately for the butterflies,they are considered the prettyones.”

4 — Indiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012

Butterfly gardening fun

Associated Press

WITH SOME planning, an attractive butterfly garden is easy to achieve.

Proud Member of the Indiana-Armstrong Builders

FREE ESTIMATES724-354-3232724-354-3232724-354-3232724-354-3232724-354-3232

• Commercial • Residential • Industrial

PA006111

34 Years Of Paving A More Beautiful Indiana County

EXCAVATING & BLACKTOPPING• Asphalt Driveways • Parking Lots

• Bonded Road Repairs

SHARP RT. 422, SHELOCTA

PAVING

HILDEBRAND’SMOWERS & SAWS(724) 465-8481www.hilmow.com255 Ben Franklin Rd. N.Indiana, PA

57 GILPIN STREET EXT., PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA • 814-938-8850OPEN DAILY 8 TO 5; FRIDAY 8 TO 7; SATURDAY 8 TO 3

WE HAVE ALL YOURPLANTING NEEDS

Potting Soil•Peat Moss•Seeds •Onion SetsFertilizers•Manure•Bulk Veggie Seeds

Potatoes•Bulk Soil•Bark•Much, Much MoreBuy bulk or buy your own variety by the pound.

For the ultimatebuck this year, plantyour food plot now!

FAMILY OWNED S INCE 1909

Fishing Licenses & Supplies•Old Town® Canoes & KayaksLarge Variety of Firearms

Visit us online at www.mahoningvalleymilling.comCheck us out on Facebook & Guns of America

By HOUSTON CHRONICLE

To attract butterflies to your gar-den, it’s necessary to includeplants that offer nectar and othersthat offer food for caterpillars.

Butterflies lay eggs on plants thatwill feed their young.

LARVAL FOODThe following are larval (caterpil-

lar) food plants and the butterfliesthey attract:

Altheas: gray hairstreakMock orange: tiger swallowtailRedbud: Henry’s elfinParsley hawthorn: gray hair-

streakTexas lantana: painted ladyShrimp plant: Texan cres-

centspotSpicebush: spicebush swallow-

tail, tiger swallowtailWisteria: silver-spotted skipperFrog fruit: buckeyeMilkweed: monarchClover: sulphurPassionflower vine: Gulf fritillaryRue: swallowtailMexican ruellia: Texan cres-

centspot

NECTAR PLANTSButterfies gather nectar from nu-

merous flowering plants such as:AgeratumAllysumAstersBird of paradise (Caesalpinia

gilliesii)BuckeyeButterflyweed/milkweedButterfly bushBlack-eyed SusansCitrusCosmosGaillardiaGayfeatherGlobe amaranthGoldenrodLantanaMexican plumPassionflower vinePavoniaPentasPhloxPlumbagoPurple coneflowersSalviasShrimp plantVerbenaVirginia sweetspireYellow bells (Tecoma stans)Zinnias

Indiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012 — 5

Bringing winged guests to the gardenPlants butterflies

loveBy DEBBIE ARRINGTON

Sacramento Bee

Let’s talk about birds and bees.Not that conversation; instead,we’re buzzing about bringing morewinged guests to our gardens.

The surest way to get them tovisit more often: Plant flowers theylike. Invite some butterflies, too,and other beneficial insects. Makeit a wildlife garden party.

These guests not only entertainus with their beauty and aerial an-tics, but they do a lot of work —making fruits and vegetables.They’re the key to a bountifulbackyard harvest.

Pollinator-friendly gardens arethe way to go. The idea is to makeyour garden a nature sanctuary,providing the kind of plants and

food that birds, bees and otherbeneficial insects need to surviveand thrive.

“Plants are the basis for animaldiversity in nature and in the gar-den,” explained Ellen Zagory, theUniversity of California, Davis, Ar-boretum’s horticulture director.“Plants provide food and shelterfor many creatures, some so smallas to never be noticed but that arethe foundation of the food supplyfor the rest of us.

“Native insects — those creepy,crawly critters that make ussqueamish when encountered inthe garden — have an importantrole in the natural world aroundus,” she added. “They provide fruitby transferring nutritious yellowpollen from flower to flower, the Metro Creative Graphics

POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY gardens attract birds, butterflies and bees.Continued on Page 6

Located on Rhine Road, Off Rt. 119, 4 Miles S. of Homer CityMon.-Sat. 9am-7pm • Sunday 9am-5pm • 724-479-0808

GREENHOUSE

•Beautiful Perennials • Specialty Annuals •Largest Selection of Vegetable Plants

•Unique Selection of Herbs

SATURDAY, MAY 12th • 1- 4PM

• PLANTS • FOOD • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT with Mark & Sean• WINE TASTING featuring Walnut Hills Winery

PLANT-IT EARTH

Proven Winners Plants • CHECK OUT OUR DAILY SPECIALS • Hort Couture Plants

“Lettuce” Help YouWith Your Garden!

NOW OPEN!NOW OPEN!

Free Flower for MomFree Flower for MomFree Flower for MomFree Flower for MomFree Flower for MomFree Flower for Mom

GET YOUR GARDENSTARTED RIGHT

With All Our Reliable,Durable Equipment.

Rototillers • Rock HoundsAugers • Trimmers

Tow Behind ChippersMuch, Much More!

724.463.9145 • 1667 Phila. St., Indiana, PA 15701

We Rent Almost Everything!

STATESRENTALSince

1959

NURSERY OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY • 8:00 AM TO 5:00 PMwww.pikespeaknurseries.net

a Evergreens aTrees a Shrubsa Perennials a Ground Covers aVines

Pikes Peak Nurseries

8289 Rt.422 Hwy. E.Penn Run

724.463.7747

• Seedlings•Transplants

Established 1921

GROWING TODAY FOR TOMORROW!

You Have The Plans?WE HAVE THE PLANTS!Unusual Selection of Ornamental Plants

OPEN MOTHER’S DAY, MAY 13 • NOON TO 5 PM

Home and Garden Television

New to gardening? Here are freshtips for successful gardening:

START SMALL: The surest way tobecome frustrated with gardeningis to bite off more than you canchew. Of course, “small” is a rela-tive term; in an area of, say, only100 square feet, you can plant a lotmore than you might think.

START A COMPOST PILE: Itdoesn’t matter whether youchoose to build an elaborate binand compost on a grand scale, cre-

ate a simple pile in an out-of-the-way corner of your property orplace a store-bought composter ina sunny spot in the yard.

All that matters is that you makecompost — and use it, of course.

MAINTAIN HEALTHY SOIL: Theuse of compost goes hand in handwith maintaining healthy soil, butthere are other things to consider:

Try to avoid walking on the soilin established gardens, becauseevery step compacts the soil, andcompaction makes it difficult forroots to grow. Create paths be-tween rows or in beds, or place a

board on the soil adjacent to areaswhere you work to distribute yourweight more evenly over the soil.

Avoid working the soil when it’swet.

MULCH: Mulch suppresses weedgrowth, maintains soil moisture,stabilizes soil temperatures andmuch more. So do yourself a favor:Mulch everything in sight withwhatever organic mulch you like.

WATER PROPERLY: Don’t waterfrequently for only brief periods.Doing so causes plant roots tohover near the soil surface. In-stead, deep-soak each time youwater to encourage roots to growdeep down into the soil.

GO NATIVE: Native plants tend tobe easier to grow, have fewer pestand disease problems and requireless supplemental watering. As aresult, if you grow a lot of nativeplants, you’ll develop more confi-dence with fewer hassles.

MINIMIZE MAINTENANCE■ Cut back on fertilizers■ Prune only when necessary

VISIT THE GARDEN REGULARLY: Ifyou’ll spend just 10 minutes a daywandering around your lawn andgarden — say, early in the morningwith a cup of coffee or right afterwork — you’ll form an invaluablebond with everything that grows.

Scripps Howard News Service

process called pollination.”The three B’s — birds, bees and

beneficials — have been chal-lenged by urban expansion; theydon’t eat concrete. Without them,we don’t eat.

Said Zagory, “Insect pollinatorssustain our wildlands, provide de-pendable harvests of fruits andvegetables for our tables and feedmany of the smaller creaturesaround us — especially the birdsso treasured for beautiful song andflashes of color in our gardens.”

Being a “green” gardener meansgiving nature a helping hand.

“‘Green’ gardeners — those whowish to become more sustainable— now have an important envi-ronmental role to play,” Zagorysaid. “If enough of us select theright plants to supplement what

we grow, we can provide food forinsect pollinators. Pollinators canbe beautiful butterflies, bee-mimichoverflies, entertaining bumble-bees or tiny, non-stinging wasps.But the most important group —and hardest-working for crop pol-lination — is the bees.”

But in recent years, bees havebeen particularly challenged.Colony collapse disorder, or CCD,a mysterious threat to honeybeepopulations, has researchers fo-cusing more on native bees as analternative for crop pollination.

“Here at the Bee Lab in Logan,Utah, we have been working tofind alternative pollinators for al-monds, raspberries, alfalfa andother crop production using nativebees,” said Bryan Love from theU.S. Department of Agriculture’sPollinating Insect Research Unit.

“We’ve also brought nativeplants into agricultural productionto provide better habitat and foodsources for the native-bee popula-tions.”

Understanding bees helps ushelp them.

“The European honeybee (whichcollects pollen to make honey inits hive) is the most common beewe see in our gardens,” Zagorysaid. “Native bees are very differ-ent, often not social and living inlarge groups but instead living asolitary existence and nesting inplants or in the ground. They comein an amazing variety of sizes andcolors, from the golden, male car-penter ‘wooly bear’ bee, to the iri-descent green sweat bee, a tiny fly-ing jewel.”

Native plants attract native bees.That’s key to a bee-friendly sus-

tainable landscape.“These fascinating native bees

provide ecological services to usand our gardens, and they nowneed us to help them,” Zagorysaid. “Planting plants that have

lots of nectar and pollen in theirflowers is like putting seed in a birdfeeder.

“If you plant (the right plants),they will come.”


Basic advice for new gardeners


Bringing in winged guestsContinued from Page 5

Metro Creative Graphics

NATIVE PLANTS attract native bees.

INDIANA’S ORIGINAL SUPPLY YARD

PRICE. QUALITY. SELECTION.WE DELIVER.

Owned & operated by a licensed landscaper for over 34 years.

• BARK MULCHES (Incl. Red Hemlock)• MUSHROOM MANURE • SEED• TOPSOIL • LIME • FERTILIZER• SAND & GRAVEL• DECORATIVE STONE

Keystone Carports &Steel BuildingsAll Sizes For All Purposes

American Made Steel & Workmanship

M-F 8:30-5; Sat. 8-? • • (724) 463-79801 Mile North of YMCABen Franklin Rd. N

BBRRUUNNNNEERRLandscaping

& SupplyPA064336

PRICETALKS!

visit www.simplicitymfg.com

The way to a beautiful lawn.

25-hp** Kawasaki, 28-hp or 30-hp** Briggs & Stratton Vanguard™ Big Block™

52˝ or 61˝ mowing width capacity

Commercial grade quality components and durable construction

COBALT & CITATION ZERO TURNS

**Power rated by engine manufacturer.

**Power rated by engine manufacturer.

MANOR MOTORSPenn Run, PA 724-254-4753

FINANCINGAVAILABLE*

*Ask dealer for details.

From June to Sept., roses add aspecial flourish to yards, gardensand public parks throughout theU.S. But for many gardeners, tend-ing roses may seem intimidating.With 23 years of experience, JamieShiffer, head gardener at HersheyGardens in Hershey, knows a thingor two about cultivating a beauti-ful rose, in all of its varieties.

Here are Shiffer’s top five rosegardening tips for gardeners of allexperience levels:

PLANT AND FERTILIZE EARLY: Con-sider planting new rose bushes inearly spring.

“Both new and existing roseplantings will need to be fertilizedat this time,” Shiffer said.

He recommends applying aslow-release fertilizer surroundingthe base, such as the GreenViewwith GreenSmart Rose Food,which is formulated with essentialmacro and micro nutrients thatprovide extended feeding for up to12 weeks. Research reveals it helpsto produce superior plant growth,improve plant health and vigor,and increase buds, blooms andplant yield. After fertilizing, thor-oughly water your roses. If desired,you can apply 2 inches of mulcharound the plant.

AVOID OVERWATERING: “Youshould water roses sparinglythroughout the very hot season,”recommends Shiffer. “The biggestmistake people make when water-ing is to water from overhead witha hose, instead of at ground level,”says Shiffer. Watering from above,Shiffer explains, can cause blackspots to appear on the petals andthroughout the day. As the heat in-tensifies, the water on the petalspromotes fungal growth. To avoidthis, water at ground level firstthing in the morning.

PREVENT BLACK SPOT: While goodwatering techniques can preventfungal growth, for some gardeners,a humid environment can still leadto the same problem. “Treat blackspot using a fungicide spray appli-cation on the plants every twoweeks,” Shiffer said.

PRUNE FOR INCREASED PLANTGROWTH: To encourage rejuvena-tion and growth from your rosebushes, be sure to deadheadthrough September. Count fromthe blossom down to the fifth leafand make an angled cut.

For novice gardeners, Shiffer rec-ommends starting with star rosesor knockout roses, as they areamong the most disease and insectresistant.

“They come in many differentcolors and produce bloomsthroughout the year,” Shiffer said.

To discover more about HersheyGardens, visit www.hersheygardens.org and to learn about GreenView with GreenSmart Rose Food,

other plant-specific formulations,and find more gardening tips, go towww.greenviewfertilizer.com.

GreenView and Family Features

How to grow beautiful rosesIndiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012 — 7

A monthly breakdownRegardless of variety, roses require year round maintenance. Use

this calendar as a guide to care for your rose bushes. March — Thin out the plantings; cut them back to 8 or 12 inches in

length. April — Beginning in late April or early May, fertilize roses with a

slow-release fertilizer that will last for three months. May to October — Use spray application on roses every two weeks.

From June to September, deadhead your plantings, so they will pushnew growth.

September — Remove rose petals without cutting the bulb offcompletely.

November — Cut all roses back for the winter to 32 inches inheight.

Family Features

THE ROSE garden at Hershey Park has many types of roses.

BestPlants!

Best Prices!Buy Direct!WE DELIVER!

Large Selection ofAnnuals & Perennials

Large Landscape

Ready Plants!

Rt. 119 North of Indiana 724-465-5684

Pickup &DeliveryAvailable

QUALITY PRODUCTS FRIENDLY SERVICE

● ●

●●

Tony’s SmallEngine Repair

245 Franklin St.Clymer

SALES & SERVICE • 724-254-4541

FULL LINE OF•MOWERS •TRIMMERS/BLOWERS

•GENERATORS

10 Year

48 Months NoInterest!

724-349-3904www.yarnicksfarm.com

Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS

like Farmer Dan Plants!

Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS


Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS


Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS


Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS


Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS


Lots of Our Own

VEGETABLE PLANTS

Like Farmer Dan Plants!Lots of Joey’s Famous GIANT TOMATO PLANTS!

We’ve Been

Growing Plants for30 years!

Beautiful • FLOWERS • HANGING BASKETS

• PLANTERS

Lots of •Onion Sets •Seed Potatoes •Large Selection of Seeds•Vegetable Plants

•Flower Plants - Huge Variety!

We have all your VEGETABLE PLANTS ready for your garden!

Lots of Variety!Come to the Farm for the

Best Quality & Price!

OPEN DAILY

9am-5pm


How to build a water garden

By JOE LAMP’LScripps Howard News Service

There’s something primal aboutwater — we’re drawn to it. Watch-ing clouds reflected on its surface,listening to the musical sounds itproduces, seeing fish swimminglazily among rocks and plants, cansooth us like nothing else. Maybethat’s why so many people have awater feature in their gardens.

A water feature is usually thefocal point of a garden, and shouldmatch its style. An elegant rectan-gular or circular pool would com-plement the geometric beds andstraight paths of a formal garden.Meandering pathways and easy-going planting schemes wouldfavor a water feature with undulat-ing edges and a natural look. Thepaving and planting at any pool’sedge should blend the pool andsurrounding landscape together.

If possible, locate your water fea-ture where you can enjoy it most— near a window close to youreasy chair or next to the patio ordeck where you can spend a pleas-ant summer evening. Once you’vefound the perfect setting, considerthe needs of the feature and its oc-cupants before you dig. Avoid lowor poorly drained areas whererainwater runoff might contami-nate the water.

You’ll want at least five hours ofdirect sun daily to support light-hungry water plants. Still water isthe ideal environment for many

delicate aquatic plants like waterlilies that can’t take rushing tor-rents. A still-water pool makes aperfect mirror to reflect the colorsof summer, the clouds in the skyand the fire of fall leaves. If yourpool is large enough, a flowingfountain or waterfall at one endwill leave the water still enough atthe other for fragile plants.

Moving water’s ever-changingsounds and shapes can have a re-laxing effect. Water’s sound caneven be adjusted to personal taste:the farther it falls, the louder thesound. Dampen the tones withlush plantings or amplify them bybuilding a small, cavelike resonat-ing chamber behind the waterfallto reflect sound back.

There are several basic types ofaquatic plants for a water garden.Oxygenators are rapid-growing,floating plants sold in clumps.They release oxygen into the waterthrough photosynthesis, andshade the water to help preventalgae growth. Parrot feather, waterhyacinth and water poppy arepopular oxygenators.

Emergent plants like water liliesare the signature water plant.Hardy varieties have roundedleaves and white, yellow or rosyflowers that float on the water.They overwinter in Zones 3-10.Tropical water lilies also come inlilac and blue tones, have scal-loped leaves and hold their flowerson stems that stand out of the


A WATER feature is often the focal point of a garden.

Continued on Page 9

It Pays to Own Orange

$0 Down &0%

A.P.R. Financing for 5 Years*

BX2660

This is the year to reward yourself with a new Kubota. Right now you can get long-term, low-rate financing on a versatile BX Series sub-compact tractor. It always pays to own quality. Offer ends June 30, 2012.

All New Kubota BX Series Models

$0

10% Down

60 Months

72 Months

0.00%

4.49%

$16.67

$15.87

Eligible Models Down Payment Maximum Term A.P.R. Monthly Payments per $1,000 Borrowed

,

www.kubota.com©Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2012

This is the year to reward yourself with a new Kubota. Right now you can get long-term, low-rate financing on a versatile BX Series sub-compact tractor. It always pays to own quality. Offer ends June 30, 2012.

All New Kubota BX Series Models

$0

10% Down

60 Months

72 Months

0.00%

4.49%

$16.67

$15.87

Eligible Models Down Payment Maximum Term A.P.R. Monthly Payments per $1,000 Borrowed

,

Route 422 West/75 Anthony Run RoadIndiana, PA 15701

724-354-2552wandwequipment.com

Mon.-Fri. 8 am to 5 pm ~ Sat. 8 am to Noon

Indiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012 — 9

An inexpensive way to grow a plant collection

How to build a water gardenwater. They are either grown as an-nuals or removed from the waterand stored in damp moss wherethey won’t freeze. Both have culti-vars tiny enough for even thesmallest water gardens.

Hardy water lilies include brightred “Louise,” bright pink “PinkOpal” and white “Walter Pagels.”Tropical water lilies include deepblue “Midnight,” pink “Texas ShellPink” and night-blooming, white“Woods White Night.” Arrowheadand dwarf papyrus provide astrong vertical accent to low-grow-ing floaters. For the edge transitionzone between pool and dry land,plant moisture-loving ground cov-ers, bog plants and perennials likelady’s mantle, Siberian irises, yel-low flag, lobelias, ferns and prim-rose. If you want to start small orjust create a showpiece containerfor a deck or patio, use a 15- to 25-gallon (or larger) lightweight fiber-glass pot. Run the electric cord of asmall submersible pump throughthe drain hole and seal the holewith silicone caulk. Fill the potwith water and plant with a mix ofoxygenators, low and tall emergentplants. There are plenty of how-toarticles and videos online that cantake you through the entireprocess. It’s a simple and inexpen-sive project that only takes an houror two to set up and a great intro-duction to the many benefits ofhaving a water garden.

Continued from Page 8

By DEAN FOSDICKFor The Associated Press

A creative sideline for gardenersis plant propagation, or enhancingthe landscape through reproduc-tion.

It’s also a cheap way to fillflowerbeds and herbal containerswhile prices continue to climb.

Methods of propagation rangefrom seed sowing to grafting, andall require varying degrees of skill.

“For propagation, you don’t needan education but you may needsome guidance,” said Ken Druse,author of the new “Making MorePlants: The Science, Art and Joy ofPropagation” (Stewart, Tabori andChang). “Most often, though, it’sall about starting plants fromseeds.”

Seeds are an economical way to

grow in bulk, even if you must buythem in commercially preparedpackets. “Getting your seeds froma proven source is a good way toensure high production,” Drusesaid.

Here is a propagation glossary,describing the most commonlyused methods:

SOWING SEEDS: Druse starts hisseeds indoors three at a time inhalf-inch pots, topping the soilwith fine sand. “Moist soil is a greatmedium for seeds but also for fun-gus, which can kill a great manysprouts in just a couple of weeks,”he said. “Gravel is not a hospitablemedium for fungus.”

STEM, LEAF OR ROOT CUTTINGS:Pieces of the parent plant are cutand placed in water or a suitable

growing medium until roots devel-op. They become clones, or juniorversions of the originals and soonare ready for transplanting.

LAYERING: A practice usuallydone with woody plants where liv-ing stems are placed on the groundwith their tips forced downward.They receive nourishment fromthe parent plants while roots formon the planted ends, enablingthem to eventually be separatedand grow unaided.

GRAFTING: Branches are re-moved from one woody plant andsecured to another until they“take” or begin to grow. That unitescertain desirable characteristicsfrom one plant — say hardiness,dwarfing or faster fruiting — withthose of its host. Apple trees com-

monly are grafted, as are Japanesemaples.

DIVIDING: Perennials should bedivided once they outgrow theirsites. That improves their health,bulks up foliage and producesmore flowers.

“Depending upon the species,these divisions may grow to be aslarge as the original plant by sea-son’s end: more plants for free,”Druse said.

“Sowing seeds, cuttings and divi-sion are the most prevalent formsof propagation done by home gar-deners,” said Rosie Lerner, an ex-tension consumer horticulturistwith Purdue University.

“It’s a little work but well worththe effort. It’s a matter of knowingwhich parts of the plants to splitoff and divide.

“Many have a high degree of suc-cess.”

And then there are plant swaps,which add a social component togarden building.

Be careful of those pass-alongplants from neighbors and friends,though — the kind they’re willingto trade because they have somany. Some could be infested withmites, while others may be inva-sive.

“Some plants are thugs,” Drusesaid.

“Anything so easy to propagatemay not be that great to havearound your yard.”

For more about expanding yourplant collection through propaga-tion, see this University of Minneso-ta Sustainable Urban Landscapefact sheet: www.sustland.umn.edu/maint/propagation.html

Updatingyourpatio?

Updatingyourpatio?

Updatingyourpatio?

Marion Center Bankwww.marioncenterbank.com

1.800.556.6262

1.99%APR*

Home Equity Line of Credit1.99%APR*

Home Equity Line of Credit1.99%APR*

Home Equity Line of Credit

*1.99% annual percentage rate introductory home equity line of credit will be in effect for 6months. After the 6 month period, the APR will revert to Prime + .25%. Normal closing costs ap-ply; credit qualifications, 89% LTV, property and/or flood insurance (if applicable) are required. Ifrefinancing other MC Bank debt, a minimum of $5000 new money is required to receive the intro-ductory rate. Other rates and terms are available. Rate is effective as of publication date and all ap-plications must be made by May 31, 2012.

MANOR MOTORSPenn Run, PA

724-254-4753

We Service All MakesOf Lawn Tractors!

Massey Ferguson® 1500 Series Compact TractorsIf there’s one compact tractor that offers you everything you want in ruggedworkhorse, it’s the Massey Ferguson 1500 Series.With 10 models from 23to 59 horsepower and a variety of transmissions, there’s a 1500 Series mod-el that’s just right for you. Plus, each can be equipped with a wide range ofgenuine Massey Ferguson implements and accessories for mowing, loaderwork, tilling, snow removal or light-duty farm chores. Learn from yourMassey Ferguson dealer how to work hard, ride easy and live large with fi-nancing that will fit right.Visit www.masseyferguson.com for more details.*With approved credit from AGCO Finance LLC. Down Payment may be required.Available forequal monthly payments only. Leases and balloon payments available at slightly higher rates. Con-tact your participating dealer for detail, other financing options and eligibility requirements. Of-fers subject to change.

Work hard. Ride easy. Live large.

RATESAS LOW AS

0%APR*

Focus on the seedsto get rid of weeds


Every garden is filled with them:millions of unseen weeds. They aredormant seeds that lurk just belowthe soil surface, ready to spring tolife with just the briefest exposureto light. Weeds can choke a garden,robbing it of space, nutrients andwater. Allowing weeds to maturecompounds the problem, as theyare naturally prolific seed produc-ers. They grow aggressively andcan be tough to get rid of, becausepulling weeds brings more weedseeds to the surface.

The good news is that seeds canalso be key to winning the war ongarden weeds.

To break the weeding cycle, theexperts at Preen suggest a strategicapproach that stops weeds beforethey start by preventing their seedsfrom germinating in the first place.

“If weeds don’t grow, you don’thave to pull them,” said Preen’sMaryanne Bayoumy. “For garden-ers, a simple annual weed preven-tion routine can free up a lot oftime.”

START WITH A CLEAN SLATEEarly spring is the ideal time to

launch a weed prevention pro-gram, Bayoumy said. “But it’snever too late, or too early, to start.Different types of weeds germinateat different times throughout thegrowing season: spring, summerand fall.” First, remove existingweeds to start with a clean slate.The old garden proverb that “oneyear’s seeds yield seven years’weeds” is based on the ability ofmany mature weeds to producetens of thousands of seeds — perplant, per season. There are weedkillers, but even dead weeds needto be removed if you don’t wantunsightly brown patches in thegarden. So you may find it cheaperand easier to simply remove exist-

ing weeds by hand.

MULCH IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

Weed seeds begin to grow whenexposed to light. Even a minisculeflash of sunlight is enough to acti-vate them. A 3-inch layer of mulchhelps block light and retain mois-ture, keeps soil and plant rootscooler and adds organic matterand a nice tidy look to the garden.Popular mulches include shred-ded wood bark, cocoa hulls andpine straw.

STOP WEEDS BEFORE THEY START

Mulch deals with weed seeds inthe soil, but the mulch itself maycontain seeds, plus new seeds arecontinually carried into mulch andgarden soil by wind, birds or ani-mals. For a “one-two punch”against sprouting seeds in the toplayer of soil and mulch, applyPreen weed preventer on top ofmulch. Once watered in to acti-vate, it bonds to soil particles andis effective for three to four monthsbefore biodegrading. It does notwash away or leach into ground-water.

THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUESAs different weeds’ seeds germi-

nate throughout the growing sea-son, it’s good to refresh mulch andweed preventer as needed in mid-summer or early fall to keep theprevention barrier at full force.Next spring, restart your weed pre-vention routine. Following an an-nual anti-weed routine can resultin considerably fewer weeds overtime. And time is what it’s allabout: no weeds, no time wastedweeding!

— Courtesy of ARAcontent

ARAcontent

WEEDS CAN choke a garden if not taken care of.

HAPPENING NOW!

PLEASE ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE APPAREL WHEN OPERATING ANY OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT.

STIHLdealers.com

$20995

Create a custom lawn care system – buy the KombiMotor and the attachments you need

13 easy-to-switch attachments(sold separately) allow you to trim, edge, clean up, prune and more!

Powerhead OnlyKM 55 R KOMBISYSTEM

One Powerhead. Multiple Attachments.

A $3598 NES-SRP Value!

Offer good through 7/31/12 at

participating dealers while supplies last.

COMBO PACKwith STIHL KombiMotor purchase

Includes hearing protectors and protective glasses

FREE

Straight

Trimmer

Attachment

$9999

All prices NES-SRP. Available at participating dealers while supplies last. © 2012 STIHL NES12-342-103219-5

FSA 65 BATTERY-OPERATED TRIMMER

Eliminates fuel costs and exhaust emissions

Lightweight with excellent balance and low vibration

Up to 60 minutes of run time with the AP 160 battery

$25995

12" Cutting Swath

Battery and charger sold separately.

Mail-in rebate is available at participating STIHL dealers with registered purchase of STIHL Li-Ion battery and a STIHL Battery Kombi unit between 4/1/12- 9/30/12.

$100 REBATE One STIHL Lithium-Ion

Battery

One STIHL Lithium-Ion

Unit

WHEN YOU PURCHASE

SAVE NOW ON THE STIHL BATTERY KOMBISYSTEM!

Tony’s Small Engine Repair245 Franklin Street

Clymer724-254-4541

TonysSmallEngineRepair.netMain Street (Rt. 286) in Clymer

How to achieve flower powerIndiana Gazette Gardening Supplement, Thursday, May 3, 2012 — 11

Chances are you’re itching to digin the soil and fill your garden withplants and flowers bursting withrich color and fragrance.

“Designing with colorful, low-maintenance plants that bloomyear round is one of my greatestpleasures,” said Susan Olinger,president of the Association ofProfessional Landscape Designers.

Check out these tips from gardenpros for eye-popping color andabundant blooms spring throughfall.

■ The right plant for the rightspot. Too often we’re seduced bypretty plants at a garden center,only to find it withers and dieswhen we plant it in our garden.

“You’ll have greater success ifyou know what plants work best inyour yard’s conditions,” said JustinHancock, garden editor for Better

Homes and Gardens online.“Know how much sun, soil andwater the plant needs and makesure it can handle the heat andcold in your area before you buyit.”

Lack of rain can ruin a garden.Plants like new Agapanthus Sum-mer Sky and a new Black HawaiianSpider Lily called Crinum PurpleDream can handle drought condi-tions once established.

If you have deer, choose plantsthey don’t eat such as AgapanthusSummer Sky. This airy plant withstriking blue flowers and variegat-ed foliage is perfect for containers,English gardens or mass plantingsthroughout your landscape.

■ Design for continuous gardeninterest. When designing your gar-den, don’t buy plants that bloom atthe same time. Instead, Hancock

suggests you add plants thatbloom in spring, summer and au-tumn. “Look for long-bloomingplants to be the backbone of yourgarden design.”

Decorate your patio, deck or gar-den with spring and early summerbloomers like the new Bambinobougainvillea in eight dazzling col-ors with unique foliage. Then turnup the color wattage for summerand fall with the new Hibiscus Ba-hama Bay Amazon Queen. Its deeporange tones add tropical punchto any patio or yard.

■ Create drama with foliage.“Don’t forget how powerful foliagecan be,” said Hancock. Manyplants have different colors in theirleaves and can show off brilliantcolor in a small garden or in con-tainers.

“Plants with deep purple leaves

are important in garden design be-cause they look good all seasonlong,” Hancock said. PurpleDream’s leaves look almost blackwhen grown in full sun and aredramatic against its showy pinkflowers.

■ Make your garden naturefriendly. Flowers that attract hum-mingbirds, butterflies or songbirds are good for wildlife and addextra interest beyond their beauti-ful blooms.

A new dwarf butterfly bush,Lavender Veil, grows low to theground and is covered with fra-grant flowers that attract hum-mingbirds and butterflies well intofall.

“This new butterfly bush is per-fect for hanging baskets or con-tainers and drapes any landscapein a sea of purple,” said Hancock,

who recommends mass plantingthree to five of the compact butter-fly bush for vivid flower power.

With a little planning and theright plants, you can transformyour garden to a vibrant gardenparadise with little maintenance.

For more information on the newBloomtastic! plants, visit www.hineshort.com.

— Courtesy of ARAcontent

ARAcontent

USE COLOR to add drama to yourgarden.

Baseball Fields

Recreat

ion for A

ll

OPEN ALL

YEAR!p

Indiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden ClubIndiana Garden Club37th ANNUAL

FRIDAY, MAY 18th - 10am-7pmSATURDAY, MAY 19th - 9am-5pm

497 East Pike, Indiana

724-465-COOL(2665)

Garden and Craft Festival

Free Admission

Free Parking

SeniorPark Garden

SoccerField

Bocci BallCourt

Shuffleboard

Children’sPlayground

PicnicArea@3

RESTROOM

Dog Walk

Ice Rink

BasketballTennisCourts

❧ VENDORS – Including Plants, Pottery, Glass Works,Jewelry and Original Art.

❧ KIDS KORNER – A Variety of games and activities for children.

❧ ORPHANS COURT – Plants at a discount from IGC Member’s Gardens.

❧ IGC KITCHEN – Famous Mushroom Sandwiches and Strawberry Pie!

❧ Educational Displays - From experts in Horticulture & Indiana County Master Gardeners.


• Decorative Stones & Mulches• Topsoil, Mushroom Compost, Fertilizer,

Grass Seed• Mortar, Block and Formed Concrete• Limestone, Sandstone

(various sizes)• Lighting

• Retaining Walls & Pavers• Natural Flagstone &

Wall Stone• Pergolas

• Water Features • Ponds,Falls, Fountains & More

krevelsupply.com

indiana county at home dig in! 2012...

Documents