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SPRING 2009!
SHADE TREES AND
ORNAMENTALS
Yes, even though plants have no idea about our current economy, they do have requirements to remain healthy and continue to flourish in your gardens. You have heard me say time and time again how I feel gardens on your property are “outdoor rooms.” Yes, everything from patios to privacy hedges to entryway gardens to shade gardens to water gardens need to be cared for to protect your investment and provide years of enjoyment to you and your family and friends.
Some of my suggested notes are as follows: Many gardens should have their soil tested for not only the pH level but also the amount of nutrients in the soil that are either present, or in most cases, not present. Soil amending is generally needed for all perennial and groundcover beds and the word ‘clay’ is not a bad thing. If clay is broken up into small particles, the nutrients can usually be used and up taken by the plants. Soil testing, which is minimal in cost is extremely important and can help you determine the correct plant for the particular site in your garden based on the test results. Testing also helps you determine what nutrients and micro-nutrients are needed to add to a site, if a certain genus and species already resides or if you would like to incorporate a new plant into your gardens.
There have been studies that indicate soil amendment is not needed for shade trees and ornamentals, which I truly feel is correct. However, if certain plants are needed for sites and the soil is not at the proper pH and nutrient levels, then I feel you have two choices. 1) Amend the soil to fit the plants requirements or use a different plant that will fit the present soil conditions. 2) Use different types of indigenous/native plants, since they are better adapted to present soil conditions.
Installing the garden and the actual planting process, which is so important for the overall stimulus of each plant, are critical. Many people think that it’s just about digging a hole and dropping in the plant. I have always suggested that all shade trees, evergreen trees, ornamentals, as well as flowering shrubs over 3 feet tall be planted by professional plantsmen.
The professional plantsmen at Mill Creek Nursery specialize in all hardscape work, as well as preparing and planting your “outdoor rooms.”
LANDSCAPE
DIVISION SERVICES AVAILABLE…
The services provided by Mill Creek Nursery and Garden Center include
SO MUCH MORE than just planting trees and shrubs. Listed below are the services we offer to help achieve these goals:
DESIGN WORK:
We will work with you to provide an on-site analysis, plan drawings, as well as perspective sketches for your outdoor rooms.
HARDSCAPES & WATER GARDENS:
Walking on natural stone patios and walkways with stone fireplaces, as well as hearing water cascade into a pond are some of the creations of our plantsmen. Enjoy your landscape for 24 hours with pathway lighting and uplighting in your gardens.
LANDSCAPE IMPLEMENTATION:
Besides the design work, we will install and maintain your gardens.
SUGGESTED ORNAMENTALS AND SHRUBS
FOR THE SHADE OF UNDERSTORY PLANTS
We have many ornamentals and shrubs available to grow under the canopy of large existing trees in our gardens. Some excellent ornamentals are redbuds especially when grown in clump form. The flowering is very dramatic as it appears along all the branches of the plant before the leaves emerge. The color is stunning in the early spring as the dark flower buds emerge to show us a purple flower.
Then, the large heart shaped leaves appear all summer and fall and turn a bright yellow color each fall. This plant is exceptional when planted in a group planting and the branching structure of the plants seems to intertwine one another to form a nice understory habitat.
It’s highly suggested that this plant be put into an area that gets good drainage. The redbud will not tolerate wet areas or low areas in one’s garden.
If planted in these areas, redbuds generally get a soil-borne disease called verticillium wilt, which will cause quick die off of the plant.
Some other great ornamentals for the shade are witchhazels as well as magnolias. Many gardeners know that the witchhazels and all of the newer cultivars are beautiful each spring and in fall for their unique flowering habits and colors.
The spring blooming plants can achieve flowering as early as the first week of March if the weather is warm enough. Also, many of the spring blooming cultivars reach mature heights of eight to ten feet where the fall blooming witchhazels can reach mature heights of thirty feet. Indeed, magnolias will grow in the shade and still be healthy and provide flowering for the garden each year.
Hand select plants for your gardens in our 50-acre nursery fields. The following list shows just some of the available plants.
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Hedge Maple |
American Hornbeam |
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Deborah Norway Maple |
Katsuratree |
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Emerald Luster Norway
Maple |
Kentucky Coffeetree |
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Royal Red or Crimson
King Norway Maple |
Dawn Redwood |
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Superform and
Columnar Norway Maple |
Bur & Swamp White
Oaks |
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Red Sunset Red Maple |
Fastigiate English
Oaks |
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Briotti Red
Horsechestnut |
Redmond Linden |
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European Black Alder |
Sterling Silver
Linden |
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River Birch |
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GARDEN CENTER TALKS 10 am on Wednesdays
The list goes on and on for shade trees as well as ornamentals offered. A few ornamentals are Serviceberry, Redbuds, Corneliancherry Dogwood, Hawthorn, Magnolia and eleven different flowering Crabs, and Ivory Silk Lilacs. Most plants are in tree form, but also are found as clump form.
The shrubs and evergreens offered are too many to mention here. Please visit our website www.millcreeknursery.com
or call 847-838-0501 as we are open daily.
May 6: The importance of understory
planting in your home gardens
May 13: Some of the newer perennial
cultivars for the shade and sun areas in your gardens.
May 20: A walking tour of the
nursery explaining six different plants and the
importance of proper sites for these plants.
May 27: Water plants for your ponds
and waterfall gardens as well as perennials used around
the pond and waterfall gardens.
June 3: Discussion on Serviceberry,
flowering crabs and redbuds and their cultivars
June 10: Upright evergreens to use
and the importance of site location for these plants.
June 17: Ornamental Grasses and
their uses in the gardens and proper time of year to
plant ornamental grasses.
June 24: The importance of soil testing in ones gardens and a
final talk on perennial gardens giving year-round interest in one’s
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Take a 10% discount on all perennials
AND a 20% discount on all deciduous shrubs for anyone
who attends the Garden Center talks. |
THANKS TO YOU
Mill Creek Nursery will continue our on-site analysis of your gardens. This has been a big success for our customers. We want to thank all of our customers for your wonderful patronage in 2008. Yes, we were fortunate enough to have another up year, and it’s because of your continued support. Please see the coupons printed below in this newsletter that may be used at our garden center this spring 2009. This is our way of saying Thank You, and we are looking forward to seeing many of you this spring as we start another exciting gardening year. Please visit our web site at www.millcreeknursery.com for pictures of some of our “outdoor rooms” that we designed and installed in 2008; yours could be pictured on the site, with your permission.
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Valuable Coupon |
Valuable Coupon |
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mill creek nursery
40960 Mill Creek Road
847-838-0501
20% off any evergreen trees purchased.
[Limit: 5 plants
of each variety]
Expires June 30, 2009
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mill creek nursery
40960 Mill Creek Road
847-838-0501
$75 off any Redbuds, Flowering Crabs
and Serviceberrys purchased.
[ Limit:
3 plants
of each variety]
Expires June 30, 2009 |
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Valuable Coupon |
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mill creek nursery
40960 Mill Creek Road
847-838-0501
$50.00 off the purchase of any shade
tree that is larger than 3" in caliper.
[ Limit:
3 trees]
Expires June 30, 2009 |
If you should have any questions regarding any of these topics, please feel
free to stop in at Mill Creek Nursery and
ask any of the Sales staff - they’ll be more than happy to help you. Also, please
take a moment and stop by our Growing Tips page for more
helpful information on plants & gardening.
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