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May, 2013 GARDENERNEWS.COM No. 121

Gardener News16 Mount Bethel Road #123Warren, NJ 07059

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This spring I was in the market to purchase a new gas grill. Should I visit a big box store for a price savings deal or a small, local, family business? I chose the

small, local, family business. I always believe that when you are making a substantial purchase that you will get the best and most educational advice possible, as well as service, from an owner-operator.

I headed out to my local hardware store to see Bill

MacDonald, owner and operator of Warrenville Hardware in downtown Warren, Somerset County, New Jersey.

Being able to trust the person that sells you something is half the battle. I know I could trust Bill because he has been selling

electric, charcoal, liquid propane and gas grills for over 36 years.

Bill first asked me if I would be using the grill on a small balcony? On a backyard patio? Or in a custom-designed outdoor kitchen? He said today’s grills are specially designed

for specific areas, ranging from small apartments and condos to fully-equipped, permanent outdoor kitchens and patios. He said that these are all standard questions.

He then said grills are measured in square inches of cooking surface. Are you going to (Cont. on page 7)

By Tom CastronovoExecutive Editor

The backyard barbeque: Buying one and great tips

Tom Castronovo/PhotoBill MacDonald, owner of Warrenville Hardware in Warren, New Jersey, gets ready to grill up some good old-fashioned tips in his store’s electric, charcoal, liquid propane and gas grill showroom.

Gardener News2 May, 2013 Gardener News2 G A R D E N C E N T E R D I R E C T O R Y

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Here come the bugs!Get ready for the buzz of the year.And no, I am not talking about drinking a great bottle of wine or having a few too many beers.I’m talking about the buzz of periodical cicadas, millions of them. And this type of buzz has

not been around for 17 years. The buzz is caused by male cicadas trying to attract a female mate. The buzz is like a

deafening chorus that can reach 90 decibels. This “mind-blowing buzz” begins shortly after day-break and continues uninterrupted until sunset. I hope you don’t work nights and sleep during the day.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s website, sounds that are louder than 85 decibels can cause permanent hearing loss. I can’t imagine listening to a kitchen blender or a food processor all day long.

The timing on when we will see the cicadas and exactly where they will show up in New Jersey depends on the weather. No one is certain. I’m told that when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), the noisemakers will rise up through the ground in chimney like tunnels, wriggle out of their shells, take flight and look for mates. I think we might see them, and most certainly hear them, in mid- to late-May or early-June, depending on where you are in the Garden State. When I last encountered them, I was amazed at the vast numbers of them. They covered the landscape like birds looking for grubs in the lawn. They were everywhere.

When these Brood II cicadas (Magiciada) last emerged in 1996, I think the highest densities of them were in northern New Jersey. I don’t remember any reports of them at the beach. And to tell you the truth, all I want to hear at the beach is the ocean.

Cicadas are most active during the day when the temperature is at its warmest, so the best advice for avoiding them is to stay indoors during peak hours. You might even see a sky-darkening swarm.

The cicadas mate within one week, and females begin to deposit their eggs about seven to 10 days after emergence, all while females prepare to lay between 400 and 600 eggs. After a long six or seven weeks, eggs deposited in twigs by female cicadas hatch and the tiny young (nymphs) will drop to the ground, dig into the soil, and remain there for the next 17 years.New plantings might be at risk.

Carl Schulze, director of the Division of Plant Industry for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, says where cicadas have been previously abundant, closely monitor newly planted young trees and shrubs for signs of egg-laying. Small fruit trees and shrubs may be protected by covering them with an open-weave cloth. The cloth should be put in place as cicadas appear and should remain for about six to seven weeks.

Injury to trees and shrubs is caused by female cicadas as they insert their eggs in twigs. The twigs die from the egg-laying site to the branch tip. Thus, leaves turn brown and the small branch tip generally breaks off at the egg-laying site. In most instances, this loss of branch tips amounts to a “natural pruning.” Injury is not caused by feeding.

New Jersey’s State Veterinarian and Director of the NJDA’s Division of Animal Health, Dr. Manoel Tamassia, says not to use pesticides to kill cicadas anywhere that an animal, bird or one of your pets might come into contact with one after it dies from the pesticide.

In the summer, I usually wash off the spider mites from my Albert spruce with a blast from the garden hose. I bet the same environmentally friendly trick will work with the cicadas. I probably will have to do it more often, though.

KC Theisen, director, Pet Care Issues for the Humane Society of the United States, advises to use common sense when dealing with your pets and the cicadas. Clean up empty shell piles as soon as possible. Do not let your pets gorge themselves on them. Over -eating can cause digestive issues. Be very, very protective of your pets. Extra vigilance is important. Keep pets on leashes and don’t leave them unattended outdoors. She also said that dogs are very curious by nature. Watch them closely. When your pets are outdoors, she added, the constant loud noise might also cause behavioral issues.

I know that I will keep my windows and doors closed very tightly when the cicadas emerge. I’ve already repaired my window screens.

Here’s the best news in the column: Cicadas (Brood II) will not been seen again until 2030.As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State. -Tom

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

Around The GardenBy Tom Castronovo

Gardener News

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Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the newsFour-time Stanley Cup-winning hockey legend Claude Lemieux

looks over the April Gardener News at Sports Minded Unlimited in Warren, New Jersey. Lemieux is one of only 10 players in Stanley Cup history to win the Cup with three different teams, the Montreal Canadiens, the Colorado Avalanche and twice with the New Jersey Devils, once in 1995 and again in 2000. His shining moment was winning the NHL Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1995, as he led the Devils to their first Stanley Cup by scoring 13 goals.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

New Jersey was dealt a terrible blow on many levels when Superstorm Sandy hit last October. Even though it has been several months, neighborhoods and businesses at the Jersey Shore and throughout the state are working to rebuild. One of the best things we can do to help in this recovery is to spread the word that New Jersey is open for business and to patronize local establishments.

So please take notice of our state’s horticulture industry. New Jersey has 1,193 certified nurseries with 18,157 acres of nursery stock. There are hundreds of garden centers as well, ready to help you plan the garden of your dreams. Visit these businesses, support the local economy and, by your acts, help to rebuild our state.

Nurseries and garden centers are part of the almost half-billion-dollar New Jersey horticultural industry. The Department of Agriculture developed Jersey Grown, which includes annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, cut flowers, Christmas trees, firewood, black oil sunflower seed for birdseed and wood.

Jersey Grown plants are grown or propagated by New

Jersey farmers here in the Garden State and are pest and disease-free, accustomed to our state’s climate and are of the highest quality.

This program, first started in 2004, has expanded to help identify more products as grown in New Jersey. The first Jersey Grown items were trees, shrubs, cut flowers and perennial plants. But, we found there was extraordinary interest in using Jersey Grown for other products, so firewood was added. Jersey Grown firewood also serves another purpose – reminding people to use local firewood to minimize the risk of spreading invasive pests, like the Emerald Ash Borer, which has killed trees in our neighboring states.

Soon after firewood, we were approached by New Jersey Audubon, which wanted to use Jersey Grown

for its sustainable sunflower seed birdseed. That was followed-up by Audubon’s use of Jersey Grown wood planks to build birdhouses and feeders.

Most recently, as discussed in the Gardener News, Jersey Grown annual bedding plants were added. We hope to see a wide array of Jersey Grown annuals this season, brightening up gardens and landscapes all over the state.

To go along with the growth of the brand, we are proud to announce the development of a new Jersey Grown website that has information about all the products available. Located at www.jerseygrown.nj.gov, the site has a wide range of information about the program and industry.

The site includes a search function for nursery or garden centers near you. You can find

a choose-and-cut Christmas tree or locate a garden or arboretum to visit.

Here, you will be able to get details on all the Jersey Grown products and information for growers on how to become part of the program.

There also is helpful information for gardeners, such as New Jersey weather and the plant hardiness zone map and a number of links to resources covering everything from where to get your soil tested to what plants are deer resistant.

Use the Jersey Grown website. It is the most up-to-date and easy to navigate resource for gardeners who are interested in buying locally grown for their landscaping needs.

All growers are encouraged to join the brand. There are many benefits, such

as identifying your product in the marketplace; capitalizing on the popularity of Jersey Fresh; and, it is high quality.

To find Jersey Grown products, look for signage and the Jersey Grown logo. If you do not see it, ask your retailer and express your interest.

When you support local growers and outlets, you are helping to rebuild our state and the lives of all New Jersey residents.

For more information about New Jersey Agriculture, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture, www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov, and www.jerseyseafood.nj.gov. Also find us on Facebook w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m /NJDeptofAgriculture or on Twitter @NJDA1.

NJ Dept. of AgricultureBy Douglas H. Fisher

Secretary of Agriculture

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture

Kicking Off a New Season of Jersey Grown

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When you’re shopping for JERSEY GROWN nursery stock, you know the trees, shrubs, plants and flowers are checked for quality, disease, are pest free, and accustomed to the Garden State’s climate and soil conditions.

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How is everyone doing? Hanging in there, I hope. Every day, and I mean every day, it is getting better and better down here. Business after business is reopening every day. It is very motivating and uplifting to see. Everyone you speak to down here seems to have a story, whether it be of resilience, heartache or hope.

Believe you me, I am not trying to dwell on what happened, but it is hard to adjust to the “new” normal when you see so much of the tragedy that happened every day for the past six months. We will get past it, but we will forever be changed. Much of the landscape you remember has remained somewhat the same. Your memories will not all be washed away or forgotten. I’m sounding so uninspirational, I know. Sorry. On a great note, as I mentioned before, so many businesses are reopening and anticipating the coming summer season. The attitude down here seems extremely positive and I, myself, am definitely looking forward to a nice hot summer.

As for this month’s recipe, I have decided to

do a dish that I made for a great friend of mine and his girlfriend who recently visited the restaurant. They started off ordering grilled clams with a side of garlic-parsley butter. After devouring those and requesting a second, I chose to go out on a limb and make them something I like, using clams as well, but just a bit different, and not on the menu. Well, needless to say, they loved it. Especially the girlfriend, for whom I am writing this recipe. Clams are great eaten raw or cooked, in a sauce or just fried, and the best thing is that they are available year-round and basically are as local as our Jersey scallops. Yes, I do consider Maryland local as well, being that we get bi-weekly deliveries of clams and oysters from this region throughout the year.

If you can drive me clams and oysters from where they are harvested to the restaurant on the same day, yes, they’re local. We also get Jersey clams, especially in the summer months. To me, the best way to prepare clams, aside from raw, is to steam them in their own juices with herbs, butter, citrus and perhaps a bit of vino. Served with a nice piece of crusty bread for dipping, you can’t go wrong here folks. One thing to remember is that once the clams are opened, they are done. This dish is super simple to make, the hardest thing to do is the prep. It makes a great family-style dish because you can present it in a large bowl, place it in the middle of the table, and just pass the bread. I hope you enjoy this recipe and I look forward to some sort of

funky grilling recipe for next month’s recipe because it will be prime time grilling season.

Steamed clams with fresh herbs and wine

(serves two as an appetizer)12-16 little or middle neck

clams, rinsed in cold water1 tsp. fresh garlic, chopped1 Tbsp. shallots, chopped1/2 cup dry white wine,

such as pinot grigio1/2 cup chicken stock (or

broth)Assorted finely chopped

fresh herbs, such as chives, thyme or flat leaf parsley, a half teaspoon of each is sufficient

1 Tbsp. butter1 tsp. light olive oilPinch of red pepper flakes

(optional)Method

- in a small stock pot--sauté shallots and garlic

in olive oil over medium heat until translucent and fragrant but not browned

(add red pepper flakes now if desired)

-add clams and toss gently to coat

-add wine and chicken stock (or broth) and cover pan with lid

-cook just until clams open

-add herbs as desired, about a pinch of each, omitting any you do not like

-gently toss with cooking liquid

-finish by turning off heat, adding butter and swirling butter into liquid until dissolved

-serve with good, crusty bread

Enjoy!

From the DeepBy Craig KorbExecutive Chef

Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visitwww.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.

Greetings from the Jersey shore!

How many of you have ever dealt with the subject of compaction on your lawn? I’ll bet very few, since it may involve shovels and rakes and machinery and some hard work. Many of you may not be aware that your soil may be compacting each year right under your nose.

First, let’s look at your soil. Quality soil is required to grow many plants, including your lawn. Quality soil will infiltrate water, store water for the plant to use it, hold nutrients for the plant to utilize, have some organic matter and air spaces, limit erosion and have an abundance of soil microbes. As we see more agricultural land turned into residential and commercial developments, the soil suffers. Historically, farmland was regularly tilled by horse and plow or tractors. The soil was maintained with a level of friability desirable to grow crops. As more homes are built with foundations that require stable land and construction equipment to build a house, the area around the home, including landscape beds and lawn areas, can become very

compact and hard to grow grass successfully.

How about the area between the sidewalk and the street? Constantly being walked on by dogs, kids, salt spray from ice melters, rainfall with poor drainage, this area rarely gets a break. What about the fenced-in areas for the dog or children’s playground areas? Do they always have a carpet of grass to play on? No! Poor drainage, human activities, dog traffic, lawnmowers and clay soils are main causes for compaction. Can you imagine how much this can add up over the years? Have you noticed that weeds tend to thrive in compacted soil much better than your desirable lawn grasses? You can live without food for 15 or more days, you can live

without water for five or more days, but you cannot live without oxygen for more than eight minutes. The same goes for your lawn!

How do we reduce these compact areas? Avoid foot traffic in muddy areas. Rotate the kids’ and dogs’ playing areas as best you can, (send them to the neighbor’s yard!). Fix any poorly drained areas since standing water only leads to harder compaction. If you can aerate your lawn a few inches deep and then add some organic matter such as compost, that is great. However, only a few of you may put in the sweat and tears or hire a professional to do this. Renting an aerating machine with a few neighbors to share the costs is not so bad and it will do wonders for your lawn soil.

Starting a lawn program that includes organic fertilizers is a wonderful way to relieve compaction over time. Soils are alive and contain a wide array of bacteria, fungi, mycorrhiza, organic matter and earthworms. Organic fertilizers stimulate soil microbial activity, which helps to create better soil quality. While the microbes and earthworms are stimulated by the organic fertilizers, the soil particles allow better water and air penetration deeper into the soil.

There has been a lot of talk about using gypsum to reduce salt damage from the many storms. Gypsum can also be used to reduce compaction in clay soils. Gypsum or “calcium sulfate” comes

in anhydrate and dihydrate forms. The dihydrate form is much more soluble and works better to break the chemical bonds between soil particles. Theses gypsum-type products work well when applied after aeration to get the material down to the root systems, but aeration is not always practical. It may take a few months to see noticeable results with gypsum and you may have to repeat these applications each spring and fall for a few years to achieve the quality soil you desire.

If you love your lawn you should love your soil and treat it with some tender loving care. Do not spend all of your time on the lawn trying to find a way to only green-up the grass with fertilizer applications. Look below the surface. You need a healthy soil foundation to grow a great lawn.

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

Compaction requires action!

Turf ‘s UpBy Todd Pretz

Professional Turf Consultant

Gardener News May, 2013 7

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cook for yourself, family, or are you going to use it primarily for entertaining guests? He said these questions would help him decide how big a grill I needed.

Bill also wanted to know if I was an adventurous gourmet griller or just a basic hot dogs-and-hamburgers type of guy. We joked back and forth a bit.

He then said stainless steel is the preferred material of professional cooking equipment and they are easier to clean. And his store has a lot of them, and in all different sizes.

As Bill was showing me the grills, he said that the old days of lava rocks are out. They’ve been replaced by inverted v-shaped porcelain-enamel coated bars that do a much better job of channeling away grease and preventing flare-ups. Make sure they are solid, with no holes or cutouts. He also said that you can now control the heat with the kind of precision that previously you would only get from an indoor gas stove. Lighting a gas grill is easy, too. All you have to do is lift the lid, open the valve at the top of the tank, turn the knob on the burner controls, and push a button. No more matches. The spark of an igniter lights the gas vapors and, like magic, a flickering flame appears.

As Bill was showing me all the grills, he was interjecting some really great grill tips. I think he was just as excited to tell me them as I was excited to shoot the breeze with him. Bill is a great guy!

First he said to use the grill at least 10 feet away from your house or any building for that matter. And he said you should not use the grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under any surface that can catch fire.

When I light the grill, I always keep the lid open to prevent a flash off from gas build-up. Never lean over the grill when igniting the burners or cooking. And keep children and pets as far away from grills as possible.

Bill then looked at me and said, “Since you were a volunteer firefighter, you should know what I’m going to say next.” As I looked at him funny, he said, “Make sure that you have a fire extinguisher handy.”

He said that if a burner doesn’t ignite, turn off the gas. Keep the grill lid open and wait five minutes before trying to light it again. If the burners go out during operation, turn all gas valves to “off.” Open the lid and wait five minutes before attempting to relight, using lighting instructions. I told him that this is a new grill and all the burners had better light. He said after a real good grilling season, sometimes things happen. I agreed. I was just poking fun at him. Bill said a blue flame indicates complete combustion. A yellow flame means air inlets are clogged or burners need to be adjusted. I was learning a few things here.

Before I grill, I was told to preheat the grill with the lid closed and all the burners on high for about 10 minutes (the temperature should rise to at least 500 degrees F.) This will make the grates much easier to clean and it improves the grill’s ability to sear. But before you light the grill, apply non-stick spray on the grates. The protective spray cuts down the clean-up time afterwards.

He then pointed to the heat settings and said even if the settings (high to low) are set exactly the same on all the burners, the gas grill will still have hotter and cooler spots.. Get to know where the cool and where the hot spots are located on the grill. Knowing the different areas will allow the griller to move the meat around as necessary for flare-ups. It will also insure that all the pieces of food will be done at the same time.

Super Chef Bill then snuck this little tidbit in. Do not press down on meats like a hamburger because this will cause the juices to drain out and result in drier, tasteless meat. He got that look from me again. And as I was giving him that look he said that if you have a flare up, close the lit as fast and as safely as possible.

After spending about a half-hour with him in the back of the store, in the grill showroom section that looks like an outside deck, I decided on a Weber Spirit 2-Burner (26500 BTU) Liquid Propane Gas Grill. This grill has two fold-down stainless-steel tables with integrated tool hooks; porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates which retain heat for even grilling and superior searing; two control knobs located on the front control panel; an LP fuel gauge which takes the guess work out of grilling; and an easy to clean surface that will not rust.

We then loaded the grill into my SUV. He handed me a propane cylinder and said to take it home immediately and to open my windows. It’s a good thing that it wasn’t too cold outside.

After all that, he handed me the manufacturer’s instructions that accompanied the grill and said I should read it before I do anything with the grill. I said to Bill, “I thought you explained everything to me.” Bill said, “Just doing my job, Tom.”

When I unloaded the grill from my car, Bill snuck in a grill cover when I wasn’t looking. By the way, the grill was the same price as a big box store and I did get a great education. And I had

a lot of fun. I knew I could trust him.Thanks for everything, Bill.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

The backyard barbeque: Buying one and great tips(Continued from Page 1)

Farming the old-fashioned wayAn inner-city garden came to life on April 9, as Belgian

workhorses Jack and Chester from the Howell Living History Farm pull a walking plow as New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher guides it through the Chestnut Community Garden in Trenton. On this bright sunny day, the Howell Living History Farm, teamed up with the Isles Garden Support Network and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to show Trentonians how gardening was done back in the day. Students from the International Charter School of Trenton participated as well. They learned how to shell corn to feed the horses, and also learned how to make compost. Each student also had the opportunity to guide the horses through the garden.


prestigious Summit Club award for 2O12 from The Toro Company. This annual award is presented to qualifying Toro dealers In Recognition of Outstanding Sales of Landscape Contractors Equipment.

This year’s Summit Club award winners represented our best dealer’s in Toro’s sales and service network across the United States, explains Scott Wozniak, director of sales for Toro’s Residential and Contractor Business. “There sales performance is a reflection of their overall commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience.”

As an award-winning Toro dealer, Central Jersey Nurseries offers a complete line of Toro

special Toro promotions, plus financing offers for qualified customers. Customers can also count on Central Jersey Nurseries for genuine Toro parts and accessories, as well as reliable service from technicians trained on Toro equipment.

NJ Power Equipment Dealer Receives Award

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Even though many products from New Jersey are year-round, May officially begins the Jersey Fresh season. Created back in 1983, the program was originally started to get consumers educated on the availability of fresh produce grown in New Jersey. The program morphed into a brand that was embraced by growers and sellers alike. It was simple enough that consumers could easily identify products grown in New Jersey. It has become the benchmark for other state departments of agriculture and has helped launch similar programs in many states and in Canada.

Established by then-Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Brown, whose numerous contributions to the local growers and industry have made him a legend, the Jersey Fresh program continues to lead the nation in excellence. He was a strong advocate for farmland conservation and served on many national and local boards. Former Secretary Brown was recently given the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for all his contributions from the Eastern Produce Council at their annual Dinner Dance in April 2013. Arthur continues to serve the

industry, working with Rutgers University, and continues to drive usage of Jersey Fresh produce.

Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray has been a strong advocate of the program from its inception and currently runs the program along with Joe Atchison from the Department of Agriculture. May will highlight Jersey Fresh Strawberries, according to Mr. Atchison. “Some stores do sell Jersey berries, but many do not due to the limited supply,” he said.

This makes for a perfect trip down a country road to support your favorite grower. Local strawberries are so flavorful and so full of sugar they need to be bought and eaten basically the same day. Your taste buds will cry for more once the container is finished.

May will also begin to peak Jersey asparagus. Great grilled, using just a bit of olive oil along with some sweet roasted red peppers and pecorino cheese, this makes a meal all by itself! As always, look for the Jersey Fresh logo usually found on a hanging tab or label on the rubber bands. If you have never seen asparagus grown, well it really is amazing. Stalks shoot straight up directly from the dirt, no plant to be seen.

According to Mr. Atchison, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will launch a new ad campaign this year “Jersey Fresh…Another Great Season!” with radio and television spots that will remind consumers that now is the time to buy Jersey Fresh products. The Department has done a great job securing funds through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program,

alleviating additional funding from the state, although there is strong support for the Jersey Fresh program from Trenton, Governor Christie and First Lady Mrs. Christie.

Consumers this year should expect to see more items with “Made with Jersey Fresh” labels on them. These items use ingredients grown in the great Garden State. Many local bakeries will be on board using blueberries and ingredients to make up delicious delectables. Sauces and salsas made with Jersey Fresh ingredients like tomatoes and peppers will be on shelves of stores this summer. Beverages, cheeses and other products will also be adorned with the “Made with Jersey Fresh” logo and extend the growing season to year-round.

Longer-term plans for the Jersey Fresh program include

social media outlets, blogging and getting more involved with the “foodie” circles. It sounds like the Department under the careful guidance of Secretary Douglas Fisher is up to date with the latest media outlets. Secretary Fisher personally promotes the brand throughout the state, passionately pushing fresh produce from New Jersey. His team of seasoned professionals know their stuff.

Now is the time for all of us to enjoy the great flavors of Jersey Fresh. The season is officially started. You can find Jersey Fresh products at your favorite market or your closest farmers market. Either way, please support Jersey Fresh, the talk of the town and the benchmark of agricultural programs around the country.

Passionate About ProduceBy Paul Kneeland

The King of Produce

Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Floral, Meat, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets, 1st Vice President of the Eastern Produce Council, and a newly elected board member of the Produce Marketing Association. He holds degrees in Business Management from Boston College as well as Northeastern University. He can be reached [email protected].

Jersey Fresh is Here!

I am still amazed at how many homeowners are willing to spend significant amounts of money on their landscape yet are unwilling to invest a minimal amount of time and money on a professional landscape plan to understand how and where their money is being spent. In my opinion, this clearly falls into the category of being penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Naturally, the reason that people shy away from paying for a plan is because they don’t understand the value of it. They see it as just another cost and would rather spend their money on the landscaping itself rather than looking at ideas on paper. I’m sure that many of them believe that a landscape plan should be “free” as a normal cost of doing business or as a way for each landscape contractor to compete for your business. After all, that’s how it’s done on HGTV.

Well, I can tell you from experience that a landscape plan is the least expensive and most important part of any landscape design-build project. Now I’m not telling you that the plan has to be incredibly detailed or even graphically attractive, but

it should contain good ideas and information that can help you determine which direction you should go in. Also, developing a landscape plan is a process, not a show-and-tell exercise. In other words, clients should be working hand-in-hand with their designers to develop a plan that suits their goals and objectives, now and in the future. You are the one that is living there, not the designer, so the layout should reflect your needs, not theirs.

One of the best attributes that a good designer can have is the ability to listen. If they listen well, they can then help you generate ideas that you never even considered and solve problems that you didn’t know you had. You know what else? They can often do it in a cost-effective manner, helping you invest your money wisely

and not waste it on bad ideas or expensive solutions.

A landscape plan is an important tool that allows you to try out various “what if” scenarios on paper and not out in the field, where changes and mistakes are very expensive. While developing your plan, you can experiment with different ideas, something simple and safe or explore ideas that might seem over the top at first. You should think of a landscape plan more as a “visual brainstorming session” rather than just a pretty picture that costs you money and takes away from your installation budget.

Here’s a perfect example. Last week I met with a new client who needed a lot of work. They have a beautiful home on a corner lot on a relatively busy street with no

parking. Unfortunately, their driveway leads to the back of the house, forcing everybody to enter their home through the back door instead of the front. The house is set back pretty far from the street, so the little bit of backyard that they do have is currently all driveway. What this also means is that their patio sits right next to their driveway, so every time they wanted to relax outside or BBQ with friends they feel like they are entertaining in a parking lot.

From their perspective, that’s just the way that it was and they wanted me to help them make the best of it. From my perspective, they were looking at the project completely the wrong way. In just a few minutes I showed them a completely different concept that solved all of their problems and was less

expensive to boot. Had they not agreed to work with me and invest in a design they would have spent tens of thousands of dollars on an inferior project.

Although a landscape plan may seem like a waste of money or an unnecessary expense, I can guarantee you that taking the time to explore different ideas on paper can and will save you time, money and aggravation once the project is built. Spending money is one thing, wasting it is clearly another.

Editors Note: Jody Shilan is the owner of Jody Shilan Designs in Wyckoff, where he provides landscape design and consulting services for homeowners and landscape contractors. He earned his bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Cook College, Rutgers University and his masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Currently, he is Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He can be reached at 201-783-2844 or [email protected].

Penny-Wise and Pound-Foolish

Creating Outdoor SpacesBy Jody Shilan, MLALandscape Designer

Gardener News10 May, 2013A look at a lawn which

is not responding to the spring rains and warmer temperatures may show a layer of stems, crowns, roots and undecomposed organic matter that is more than one-half inch deep. Although a perfect cover for a hut in another clime, this thatch layer will prevent good air and water percolation and will increase the susceptibility of the lawn to disease and insect damage. Conditions which will increase thatch development are compacted soil conditions, the over application of Nitrogen, over-watering, planting varieties which produce large amounts of tough, fibrous tissue and improper cultural practices. To find out how much thatch is in your lawn, take a core or remove a wedge of lawn with a spade and measure the amount of thatch from the soil surface to the grass blades.

Many times, a lawn choked in thatch looks to be beyond control. All hope is not lost, however. The first step is to test the soil. A soil medium which is stagnant will lead to compaction and an increase in thatch. Investigating what is going on in the soil will help alleviate

the core problems associated with these conditions. The pH will probably need to be addressed. Many times, the use of high-calcium lime is warranted. Acidic soil conditions will decrease the rate of decomposition, as will any pesticides which restrict earthworm and microbe activity. There are many products available which can be applied that will increase microbial and earthworm activity.

During the growing season, the soil test results can be acted upon. Proper mowing can be implemented. Cut off no more than one-third of the grass blade whenever possible. Leave clippings on the turf whenever they cannot be seen readily after mowing. Aerate the lawn through the use of soil conditioners or by mechanically

pulling cores from the lawn. Water the lawn deeply and infrequently. This may be only once or twice a week, but you may need to water up to 60 minutes per area. Your yard’s exposure will dictate this as well. Lawns which bake in the summer sun will need more water than a shaded condition. You may need to adapt an automatic sprinkler system to target areas which are getting improper water. Your irrigation contractor can address improvements which will allow you to get this accomplished.

When the thatch layer is more than one-half-inch thick and implementing soil test recommendations and improved cultural practices are not enough to see an improvement, then mechanical means may be necessary. In

late-summer or early-fall, the removal of some of the thatch layer may be necessary. The use of hand rakes made for thatch removal can be used on very small lawns. On larger areas, a power rake or vertical mower will be needed to expedite matters. This removal will open up the soil and in the case of the vertical mower will create a bedding area for seed.

Choosing seed varieties which are adapted to the site is important. Shade conditions require blends which have more fescue varieties, sunny locations lean toward the blue and rye varieties, and high-traffic areas can use the turf type tall fescues. After the mechanical process is completed and seeding to upgrade the lawn is accomplished, your fertility program will need to be addressed. The use of organic

products, which will increase the amount of microbial activity, will help prevent the future buildup of thatch. Returning clippings into the lawn will help. Cutting no more than one-third of the grass blade and keeping a sharp blade on your mower will help as well. You may even look into the use of reel mowers. There are many updated push mowers which are much more efficient and will afford some exercise time as well as helping to reduce pollution.

As your lawn recovers and fills in, continuing a natural organic fertility approach will increase the health of your lawn and the vitality of the soil. Keeping the soil in balance will prevent many weeds from returning. Your local landscape professional or garden center can help you analyze and cure your thatch issues.

The LandscaperBy Evan Dickerson

Landscape Professional

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

Well You Know it’s Not a Roof

Every season is a guessing game when it comes to trying to predict the latest trends in the marketplace. As a grower of fruits, vegetables and flowers, we are always trying to stay one step ahead of our customers so that we may offer them the hottest and most up-to-date varieties. Sure, it would be easy to just go by what sold well last year, but there are many other factors that come into play in the shaping of customer preferences.

Over the last 25 years, I have seen the popularity of certain vegetable varieties wax and wane quite a bit. I have also seen some types of vegetables fall in and out of favor as well. Take tomatoes for instance. In the past 10 years, there has been a huge increase in the popularity of heirloom varieties. Because many of these are known by their name, customers will ask for them in particular and might not be satisfied with just plain old red round tomatoes (although they still have wonderful flavor!)

Cabbage is a different story. Over the past few years, it seems as if we have been

selling less and less cabbage at the retail level. There might be several reasons for this. First of all, maybe there are just fewer people who choose to prepare cabbage. Sure, it is great sliced up in fresh coleslaw, but other than St. Patrick’s Day, when was the last time anyone had boiled cabbage for dinner? That’s what I thought. Also, in years past, people would prepare and preserve their own sauerkraut for use in the winter months. That is something that is just not seen that much anymore.

Another reason for the demise of cabbage may be that it is being substituted with other similar foods. Take kale for instance. While it was virtually unknown only a few short years ago, it has taken the

produce world by storm after being labeled as a “super food” which can supposedly do everything from provide antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals to heat your house. All right, maybe I am exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea. But while cabbage had been the mainstay, now kale has become more popular. And let’s face it, there is only room on the dinner plate for one or the other!

As a grower with vegetable varieties, it is not a big deal to miss out for a year or so with a new variety because you can always plant more the next year. But with tree fruit varieties, the situation is not so forgiving. Because it takes several years for a cultivar to come into full production,

and then many more years after that to recoup the initial costs of planting that variety, growers must think long and hard about what they are planting. Not only can mistakes be costly, but growers are forced to live with these mistakes for many years as well.

One other way in which certain items can become popular is through various forms of media. Many times, a product will be mentioned on television or radio and its popularity will then skyrocket. Just a mention form Martha Stewart or some celebrity chef can be enough to vault a previously little known vegetable into the forefront of the culinary world. Of course, in many cases, this is no accident. Many agricultural trade

associations spend a great deal of energy sending out well-timed press releases for the purpose of promoting their products. I remember about five years ago when Honeycrisp apples were first starting to become popular, The New York Times ran an article which espoused all the variety’s great attributes. This article then prompted customer after customer to ask for them. But fittingly for us, we had sold the last of our Honeycrisps about a week before the article came out, thereby negating all of this newfound popularity.

The Town FarmerBy Peter Melick

Agricultural Producer

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is a current member of the Tewksbury Township Committee, and a former Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

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Landscape Industry helps shore communityLavallette Council President Anita F. Zalom, right, and New Jersey

Landscape Contractors Association Executive Director Jody Shilan met at The Crab’s Claw Inn, in downtown Lavallette on April 4 to discuss a volunteer project for Shilan’s members to help rebuild and landscape some of the damaged open space, parks and gardens along the Lavallette bay front from Super Storm Sandy. The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association is a group of over 500 professional landscape contractors dedicated to advancing the integrity, proficiency and continued growth of the landscape industry.


Every morning I start my day with a breakfast of blueberries or raspberries, mixed in with my granola and yogurt. In the winter, I’ll buy them frozen just so I’ll have a plentiful supply. But as soon as it is time, I’ll plan to make a trip to a pick-your-own farm to pick them fresh. There are now three new berry varieties that will revolutionize the way we think about fresh fruit. These are known as Brazel Berries®.

The disadvantage of picking fresh raspberries is that I’m usually in shorts while picking them, and when I’m done I have small cuts all over my legs and arms from the thorns. Now, there is a pain-free option; Raspberry Shortcake™ is an exciting new raspberry variety. Not only does it have the great quality of being thornless, it is also a dwarf plant that has a great compact growth habit. It will thrive in the landscape, but what truly makes this plant unique is that it will also thrive in a container. This is the first time that you can bring the fruit to grow

right on your deck or patio. Children can even pick the fruit themselves without fear of being scratched. Raspberries normally need staking or trellising, but Raspberry Shortcake™ does not need any of this special training. The fruit are full-sized, nutritious and super sweet, and produce fruit in mid-summer. Raspberry Shortcake™ prefers full sun, good drainage, and should be fertilized in the early spring. Keep the soil moderately moist.

The second wonderful Brazel Berry® is Blueberry “Peach Sorbet”™. This compact blueberry is a stunning new variety that provides seasonal interest in all four seasons. Peach Sorbet™ has a compact, non-leggy habit, with leaves

that transition in color from peach to pink to orange and, finally, emerald green. In the spring, it has white, bell-shaped flowers which give way to an abundant summer crop of healthy, sweet blueberries in mid-summer. With our normal mild winters, Peach Sorbet™ should keep its leaves throughout the winter. In the late-fall the leaves will turn a rich eggplant purple, and the color should persist almost the entire winter. This is another great plant for the container or the landscape. It can make a great small hedge, or it can also be beautiful by itself. I’m going to plant one in a mixed, blue ceramic container with ever-bearing strawberries. These will cascade over the edge of

the pot, and will combine to make a container that will be fun, eye-catching, and produce tasty fruit. Blueberries require an acidic soil. Be sure to feed with a fertilizer such as Holly-tone.

The third Brazel Berry® is a cute little plant that is perfect for a small space. Jelly Bean™ may be a small-growing plant, but considering its size, you will be amazed by the prolific amount of super-sweet berries that it produces. The new spring foliage is brilliant green which give way to darker greens and red hues throughout the summer and fall. It makes a great mini-hedge, or you can use it to offset larger shrub plantings.

Prune Brazel Berries™ after the fruiting is done

to encourage new fruiting branches for the following year.

One question that I always get about berry plants is whether they need another plant for pollination to occur and to produce fruit. A great feature of the Brazel Berries is that they are self-pollinating. Even though you’ll want more than one, if you have a small space, you only need one to produce berries.

Abundantly Yours, The Brazle Berry®.

The Great Plant EscapeBy David WilliamsPlant Enthusiast

Editor’s Note: David is a fourth generation partner at Williams Nursery in Westfield. He is a member of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Union County Board of Agriculture. He has served as a board member for the Friends of Mindowaskin Park, the International Garden Center Association, and the Rutgers Board of Managers. He recently finished a two year term as President of Garden Centers of America (GCA). He can be reached at (908) 232-4076.


The merry month of May is upon us and we welcome it with open arms, as the cold lingered way too long and the rapturous joy of seeing life spring up all around us is heady stuff indeed. My usual delight in watching plants emerge, buds opening wide, bees buzzing about and birds intent on nesting, all busy with tasks preordained, has been leavened by remembrances of flora and fauna rarely seen these days.

Not so many years ago in the scheme of life on the planet earth, we had hop toads, salamanders, frogs, turtles, and, yes, snakes giving us a good fright. Nowadays, I am thrilled to see a solitary toad hopping in and out of over-turned flower pots. This scenario, my gardening friends, took place three years ago, and he is long gone. Last summer, I was excited to find a snake skin atop my granite frog, Harry, as I pictured its owner basking in the sun and using the roughness of the granite to help him leave his calling card. Now I read that snakes, like bats, are beset with a disease that is swiftly eradicating them in New Jersey. This is adding insult to injury as they’re been on the wane with development, pesticides sprayed on their prey and they, themselves, preyed on by a fearful public not realizing the good they do in eradicating moles, voles, bugs and the like.

Salamanders, likewise, are a scarce critter, and I was happy to see the public rallying in East Brunswick for the salamanders’ annual rite of passage wherein they exit the forest to cross streets to get to pools and mate. How wonderful that people are stepping in as “Survival of the Fittest” is a realistic “take” on the world and I was enthralled with

Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” when I was a kid, but we can and do make a difference. Since a lot of the decline of native plants and critters can be laid at our doorsteps, it behooves us to try and make “amends” and rescue what we can for future generations.

Last summer brought only two Monarch caterpillars to my stand of native milkweed and now I read that their numbers this past winter in Mexico are the lowest ever. Experts believe there are many components to the Monarch’s decline, including habitat loss (trees that play hosts to the butterflies are being ruthlessly cut down) severe weather conditions and genetically modified crops, especially Round-up ready corn and soybeans, which kill milkweed, the host plant of Monarch caterpillars. Thank goodness, the Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars eat members of the wild carrot family including Queen Anne’s Lace, which I see everywhere. Still, they like to munch on your parsley, dill and fennel, so please share as these caterpillars are beautiful to behold and you’ll have beautiful butterflies this spring and summer. I’m happy to report that the Giant Swallowtail chrysalis overwintering in my gazebo has made it through and should be hatching out any time now.

The good news is that we have “reversed” and saved several endangered and threatened species from extinction, by eliminating “DDT’ in the instance of the eagle and who knows how many other species. We’ve gone from a low of just one nesting pair in New Jersey to 119 pairs at present, although they’re still on New Jersey’s endangered list. Isn’t it thrilling to see these magnificent creatures, the symbol of our great country,

in all their heroic glory? We were just witness to Duke Farms “cam recorder” showing an unfortunate hawk making a bad decision of attacking the eagles nest at Duke’s when he is summarily taken out by the resident eagle. Bluebirds, too, are a success story and humans are a big part of their resurgence. I never remember seeing Bluebirds as a child, but now their beautiful sky blue and rose feathers are everywhere. All that was needed was providing them with the precise nesting boxes they required.

Think about the native plants and critters we can help by being observant, active participants in nurturing them and encouraging their survival. Dutchman’s Breeches, the Swamp Pink, and Bloodroot need our help, as do over 300 species that are endangered. Teach our children the sanctity and beauty of life. Try photography to encourage them as my husband’s photography hobby has let me and my garden club members appreciate, even more, the beauty that resides in every bird, flower, butterfly and bug as the patterns and colors are stunning and the naked eye doesn’t do justice to them at a distance. Get Out There and Garden---Join a Garden Club!

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Horticultural Chair and NGC Accredited Judge for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., GCNJ Community Garden Chair and Central Atlantic Region Community Garden Chair of National Garden Clubs, Inc. She can be reached by emailing jeannieg42@earthl ink.net Garden Club of New Jersey’s website is: www.gardenclubofnewjersey.com and phone number is: 732-249-0947.

Survival of the FittestBy Jeannie GeremiaGarden Club of New Jersey

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at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens are budding with excitement! Bloom Season is anticipated to last from May 10 through June 5.

The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens is internationally renowned as the largest public iris garden in the United States, with display beds containing nearly 3,000 iris varieties (around 14,000 plants) that produce over 100,000 blooms. It is a living museum of botanical preservation with some varieties dating back to the 1500s and is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Sites.

In addition to the iris display, this year the Walther House living room will be host to an art exhibition showcasing works by Contemporary American Impressionist Lisa Palombo. The Bloom Room gift shop will be open with an exciting mix of affordable house, garden and iris-related items. Plus, a variety of fantastic events are planned.

The Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens is located at 474 Upper Mountain Ave. in Upper Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey. During bloom season: admission is a suggested $5 donation; the Gardens are open daily from dawn until dusk; the Bloom Room gift shop and Walther House are generally open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Largest public Iris garden in the United State set to bloom

Kings Food Markets Debuts Another Store

introduced its premiere store in Gillette, New Jersey with a Grand Opening event for the community on Friday, March 22. The event began at 10:00 a.m. with Kings’ signature “pasta-ribbon” cutting ceremony, during which Kings donated $7,500 to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey through its “Act Against Hunger” initiative. Following the ceremony, customers were invited to shop the new store and enjoy a variety of signature tastings and samplings, nutritionist consultations and cooking demonstrations from Chef Franco Lania. For more info visit kingsfoodmarkets.com


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Many homeowners often wonder what arborists do during a typical spring property inspection and evaluation. Most times we function as a “tree doctor” and give the property an annual checkup. Arborists usually analyze the entire property and determine overall tree health as well as ways to improve (or maintain) proper growing conditions. Having a healthy tree is only part of the solution – making sure the plants have the best growing conditions possible is equally important. An experienced set of eyes can be a valuable way to keep your trees and shrubs healthy. Here is an example of how I would do a property “check-up.”

The first step in any evaluation is to properly identify the tree. An arborist must know the species and variety of tree as well as the origin, age and time of planting. Each species has its own ideal growing conditions and, frequently, insect and disease problems. Knowing the proper shape, color and habit of the leaves, trunk and branches can help you determine whether the tree

is healthy or stressed. As arborists, we like to evaluate a tree over all four seasons, as each season brings its own clues as to tree health.

Second, I look at the trunk and branches. Many problems start with the trunk, and this can harm a tree and reduce vigor. Everyday activities like lawn mowing can cause damage to the trunk, and rope left over from a pet leash can “strangle” or girdle the trunk. It is important to look for evidence of improper pruning such as wounds from climbing spikes or stubs and damaged branch collars from careless pruning cuts. I look for animal damage - woodpeckers and insects often cause small holes in bark and produce frass (“sawdust”) on or under the tree. Disease organisms often produce depressions

and discolorations as well as fungal fruiting bodies on or near the damaged or dead areas.

Next, I look at the root collar. The root collar (also called root flare) is the area that joins stem to root. Since the root collar area is stem tissue, it should remain dry and free of debris and moisture. If necessary, it is important to pull mulch, grass, vines and other debris away. This helps to get a clear visual of the root collar area. Mulch and soil should cover the root system, but not the root collar. The buttress (main) roots should look healthy with no wounds or “bleeding” areas. Look for girdling roots as they can ultimately kill a tree and should be removed if appropriate.

Proper water and soil conditions are essential for tree health as well. An arborist will check the soil for proper amounts of water. A tensiometer is great for regulating soil moisture. If the ground is saturated, I look for a runoff or drainage problem. For example, I check to make sure gutters are working properly or a hose is not leaking. I will also suggest a soil analysis to determine the soil conditions, pH and nutrient levels. Your county extension office can help with this.

Most importantly, I check the tree for overall condition and any hazardous situations that require immediate attention. This could be large, dead branches in the tree or large branches on the ground. It is important to look high

into the canopy to see if any detached branches are hanging in the tree. Cavities, mushrooms or rotten wood along the trunk are a sure sign of a declining or dead tree.

Next time you schedule your next doctor visit – don’t forget to call your arborist as well!

As always, I hope you learned something!

…..’Till next month

Spring Tree Checkup

Editor’s Note: Robert graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University with degrees in science education and forest biology. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert. Robert is currently teaching AP Environmental Science, Biology and Chemistry at Liberty High School in PA., and on staff at Temple University teaching Horticulture. He delivers many short courses and seminars at various outdoor education facilities. He is available for talks and consultations in both NJ and PA. Robert can be reached by calling (484) 560-5744.

Wow! The snow melted and due to the winter salt and the idiot sidewalk plow guy, who took a large chunk of my turf and deposited it on my neighbors walk, my quaint front yard looks awful!

The grass, what is left of it, is all light-brown, matted and, again, looks terrible! I do not ever remember it looking this bad. I also had six bricks on the corner next to the driveway that held the dirt in place for a very nice thick bunch of yellow daffodils….and I am not sure they are still even there. Very sad!

My neighbor, a local landscaper with over 30 years’ experience, and her husband were walking their pair of neatly manicured and very well-behaved Springer Spaniels by the house this past weekend and I asked for her advice. Jackie tilted her sunglasses up, took a good look, walked around a bit as if feeling the lawn with her feet, her eyebrows popped right up and she grimaced. She looked at me and suggested I get a note pad, and that is what I did.

First thing you need to do is to aerate, punch holes in

the lawn. The holes allow air and water to reach roots and fertilizers to settle in. Because my yard is so small, Jackie told me to buy a small hand-held aerator that I can step on and that will do the trick. Next, you need to spread a thin layer of fertilizer over your entire lawn to rebuild your soil’s ecosystem, which in turn will support healthy grasses. She told me that she would test my soil pH to see if is too acidic, where I will need to apply lime to raise the pH or use sulfur to lower the pH for alkaline soil. Fertilizing helps build dense turf, like ryegrass, fescues and Kentucky bluegrass that crowds out most weeds. Thin grass and bare spots invite weed seeds to sprout and take hold. Fertilize lawns when they’re actively growing.

She told me to apply lawn fertilizer as soon as the grass begins growing vigorously, which typically is late-spring in Maine, and then plan to fertilize again in the summer. Jackie also suggested I throw a small bag of the newer technology grass seed in the freshly aerated holes because they are enhanced with a special coating that helps produce a thicker, healthier and more drought-tolerant lawn compared to untreated seed. Lawns grown with these seeds may use up to 30 percent less water, saving you time and money. Neat, all stuff I knew nothing about!

When it comes to watering, more isn’t necessarily better. Turf grasses need adequate water to grow healthy and strong, as too much water invites disease and can

actually make grass more sensitive to drought. Unless you’re living in a region that has experienced a prolonged drought, you can put off your watering until daytime temperatures reach 80 degrees F. Plan on a thorough watering about once a week if rainfall hasn’t been adequate. Apply water slowly, so it sinks in rather than running off. This technique encourages plants to grow deep roots that are more drought-tolerant than shallow roots. Allowing grass and soil to dry between waterings also minimizes disease problems, since most are caused by fungi that need moisture to spread.

My yard also has a lot of weeds in it so Jackie told me to use a pre-emergent herbicide with a corn gluten-based formula. These herbicides inhibit seed germination,

so don’t use them on newly seeded areas.

And, last but not least, you should allow the new grass to get a strong head start before you begin mowing, reaching a height of three to four inches, depending on the type of grass. Use a mulching mower and leave grass clippings on the lawn, where they’ll break down and recycle the nutrients they contain. Then, plan to mow frequently enough so that you remove no more than one-third of the grass blade each time you mow.

Bingo and thanks! I now have a fun project to revitalize my seriously beat-up front lawn. I guarantee you it will, at the very least, make my neighbors happy. I don’t know about you, but living next door to the Addams Family is not on their wish list. Thanks for reading and see ya next time.

The Miscellaneous GardenerBy Richard W. Perkins

Freelance Writer

“My Lawn Looks Terrible!”

Editors Note: Richard Perkins is an avid horticulturist, a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the Seacoast Writers Association. He can be reached [email protected]


This past winter I attended numerous trade shows, garden talks, private gardens, educational seminars and horticultural symposiums. And all the while I knew that the last one on my list, for this past winter, was going to be spectacular. Months prior, I had registered myself and a few friends for the Master Gardeners of Mercer County’s event held at the Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, New Jersey. An event limited to 400 people, the facilities capacity was sold out in less than two weeks.

On the docket for this mid-March event was Dr. Michael Dirr, who needs no introduction, Heidi Hesselein, co-owner of Pleasant Run Nursery, and Barbara Bromley, the Mercer County Horticulturist and Master Gardener Advisor. And while I had to leave early that day, missing Barbara Bromley’s talk, I am told her talk was as equally brilliant as the previous two speakers. A long-time fan of both Dr. Dirr and Heidi Hesselein’s, the information they put before all of us, attending that day, was timely, educational and, well, brilliant! What was most comforting about these talks was that in many ways it qualified the advice that I and many other horticultural professionals dish out to our customers year in and year out.

Dr. Dirr kicked off the event with his typical rhetoric, speaking so quickly that even the most accomplished stenographer would get writer’s cramp. I learned a long time ago, when listening to Dr. Dirr speak, you should just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. His delivery combines the most academic of teachings coupled with a wit and sincerity that grips the listener and keeps him or her begging for more. In short, the guy is awesome! His first talk, “In Praise of Noble Trees,” spoke of the data that supports the economic benefits of Noble Trees and the many reasons for praising and planting these trees. Those trees included in his talk were maples, too many to list here, birch, European/American hornbeam, katsura, redbud, American Beech, ginkgo (my favorite), Kentucky coffeetree, tuliptree, tupelo, Chinese pistache, planetree, cherries, Oaks, baldcypress, elms and Zelkovas. Of course, there were a ton of cultivars he spoke of here too! Bu, the point is, these are solid choices to stick with. “True meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit,” said Nelson Henderson.

Heidi Hesselein’s talk was “Enriching Your Garden with a Plethora of Perennials.” Her passion, in part, lies with her perennials and she stuck to the tried and true. Perennials like agastache, amsonia, Asters, baptisia, bergenia, grasses, sedges, delosperma, echinacea, heuchera, hosta, phlox and salvia were all discussed at length. So detailed in her talk, at times, I was fearful that she wouldn’t get through it all. But, in fine form and a true professional, she delivered a compelling talk and hit her timeline, more or less. Her handout was chock full of new cultivars nestled in among some old favorites. Heidi and her husband, Richard, are known for their passion for “growing rare, new and unusual woodies, perennials, grasses, ferns and groundcovers.” I have known the entire Pleasant Run team for some years now and am proud to have them all as my friends. You can bet that a Pleasant Run plant is true to name, was well groomed and is ready for your garden.

Dr. Dirr’s second talk, a bonus after lunch, was about “Adventures in Breeding Hydrangeas and Viburnums.” “Hydrangeas have accelerated in popularity and numbers in the last decade, the impetus being Endless Summer, a remontant cultivar that injected excitement and hope into the genus,” Dr. Michael Dirr said. Dirr’s arrangement of words here I found to be both clever and truthful. While everyone knows ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea, Dirr spoke of some new ones to get excited about. “Bloomstruck,” “Ruby Slippers” and “Jet Stream” were name-dropped to whet our appetites, while “Qickfire,” “Limelight” and “Pinky Winky” are ones that excite him and are worth trying and revisiting. On the Viburnum front, “Mohawk,” “Pink Beauty” and “Popcorns” fall color all got high marks. However it was “Susy” and “Louise’s Sunbeam” which clearly spoke of Dirr’s private and personal side.

Dr. Dirr and Heidi Hesselein’s grasp of horticulture is both quantum and encyclopedic! Their understanding of plants and their ability to recall the countless stories from which plants are born was storytelling at its finest. Dr. Dirr had several tree quotes throughout his talks. Clearly a man who is well read, opinionated and witty, a profound quote from Thomas Jefferson that stuck with me that Dr. Dirr shared, was, “The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its (agri) culture.”

“Gardening For The Future”

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, a members of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society, a member of the NJ Plants Trade Show Advisory Board, and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

Unique PlantsBy Bob LaHoff

Nursery Specialist


Made With Jersey Fresh Items Headed for School Lunch LinesMade with Jersey Fresh items to schools throughout the state.

Jersey Fresh produce that meets National School Lunch Program nutrition requirements. The new grant will be used to launch these processed items and pave the way for distribution to schools.

Innovation Center to develop single-serving, innovative items that not only meet the nutritional, cost and shelf life requirements necessary to be utilized in school meals, but also are appealing to students.

developed under the first grant. Students received samples of Berry Yogurt Parfait – made with Jersey cranberries, blueberries and strawberries – and Eggplant Parmesan Pizza – using

about their reactions to the products.

commissioned through this grant to: Establish a “value-added farm-to-fork” process that will serve as a model for the state and other regions by identifying a means to integrate locally grown and processed foods into the commodity school food service program; conduct commercial-scale runs of developed products with identified processors; identify distribution systems for commercialized products to enable purchasing throughout the state; formulate and execute a marketing plan for products; and communicate this program throughout the state to agricultural producers.

The Department of Agriculture is actively engaged in connecting schools with farmers and local produce distributors to bring more New Jersey produce into the school meals

industry and encourage children and their families to increase their consumption of fresh produce. The week also seeks to educate about the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and to show the connection between a healthy diet and success in school.

Jersey Fresh

student nutrition, provide health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and support local farmers.

Paul Kneeland, a featured columnist for the Gardener News, who is also known as “The King of Produce,” was elected by the Eastern Produce Council’s Board of

South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

retailers, wholesale distributors, growers, vendors/brokers and logistics providers. Today’s EPC has broadened its scope to become the produce industry’s premier resource for networking, education, business development, information sourcing and support for charitable causes in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.

Pictured from left to right are: New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray; South Carolina Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Martin Eubanks; Paul Gardener

News

Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.


Gardener News columnist leads produce industry organization


Each year I teach a number of garden design classes and inevitably someone wishes to know if there is a formula for the design process. This leads to a discussion on the ill-fated “cookbook” design process, which solely focuses upon the Elements and Principles of Design. The flaw of this “recipe” is that both the Elements and Principles focus upon the human sense of vision and ignore the remaining four senses. Certainly, a garden would not be complete if it was not for something soft to touch, soothing to hear, satisfying to taste or sweet to smell. For the garden in May, nothing says “sweet to smell” like Syringa, the genus for Lilac.

Lilacs are found in the Olive or Oleaceae family and, like most plants in this family, are resistant to deer browse! The various species are distributed from the Balkan Peninsula of South Eastern

Europe to Eastern Asia. The name Syringa is derived from the Greek Surinx or Syrinx, meaning a hollow tube or pipe. The central pith found in the older stems of many Lilacs is hollow and the stems were used to make shepherds’ pipes or flutes! The common name recognizes the flower color, which is typically a bluish purple or lilac. The species most frequently encountered in gardens is Syringa vulgaris, a native of the stony, dry hillsides of the Balkan Peninsula. The species epithet of vulgaris does not infer that the plant is rude, but rather that it is common. Interestingly, this species did not appear in gardens as the result of a plant expedition or other scholarly pursuits, but rather was found in gardens within the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923) and from there emanated out to gardens throughout Europe to become “common.” The popularity of this species was further enhanced by the prolific breeding of the Frenchman Victor Lemoine (1823-1911). Lemoine not only produced

many cultivars within other genera, such as the double flowered Hydrangea paniculata “Grandiflora,” he also created over 200 cultivars of Lilac, many of which sport doubles, or flowers with extra petals – many of which are still in production today. As a result, Syringa vulgaris is also referred to as the French Lilac.

Syringa vulgaris is an upright, multi-stemmed shrub, reaching 12 feet in height, with a long life expectancy. The collection at Rutgers Gardens was planted during the 1930s and thrives to this day! Cold hardy to zone 3, full sun, well-drained soils and a neutral pH are best, but it is very forgiving and can thrive in less-than-ideal conditions. As the individual stems age to the point of declining vigor, they should be trimmed back to approximately 12 inches above the ground in spring, stimulating new and vigorous shoots to flush growth. Come late-summer, the leaves are often the victim of powdery mildew, which appears as a white coating on the leaf. It

is not harmful to the plants, but simply prevents the development of fall color and the leaves drop green.

Another species worth growing is Syringa meyeri var. spontanea “Palibin.” The straight species was discovered in a garden near Beijing China by Frank Nichola Meyer (1875-1918) in 1909. Interestingly, Meyer was as prolific at collecting as Lemoine was at breeding. He collected over 2,500 different plants from throughout Asia before his untimely and mysterious death. The straight species creates an attractively mounded shrub, growing to nearly eight feet and over 10 feet wide. The form “Palibin” is more compact in size, reaching five feet tall by eight feet wide, and honors the Russian botanist Ivan Vladimirovich Palibin. Palibin collected a number of Lilacs and other species, but this particular plant is actually of unknown origin. It blooms slightly later than the Syringa vulgaris, with a pink-purple flower that literally covers

the plant. In addition, this form has lovely deep-purple fall color and few issues with powdery mildew.

There is a bevy of additional Lilac species, all deliciously fragrant and all reminding us that the key to good garden design should never be cookbook in style. A good garden is born and develops through the needs and satisfaction of our senses.

Editor’s Note: Bruce, foremost a lover of plants since birth, is director of the Rutgers Gardens, an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, an instructor for Rutgers - NJAES Office of Continuing and Professional Education and chairperson of the Garden State Gardens group. He is a member of the Garden Writer’s Association and the New York Hortus Club. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visitwww.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

Lilac: The Color of Fragrance

Gerbera Daisies have become a great crop for planting in the gardens. Gerbera is in the sunflower family Asteraceae. It is named in honor of the German botanist and naturalist Traugott Gerber.

Gerbera Daisies have been around for a long time. They originated in South Africa. And who doesn’t know what the Gerbera Daisy looks like? The eye-catching flower is known to attract bees and butterflies.

Gerbera Daisy is well known for its versatility and beauty, being used today in many different ways. The colorful display of the Gerbera is known to brighten up someone’s day. The Gerbera Daisy gives one a feeling of freshness. There is a slight subtle scent to these flowers. It is said to give off a scent like fresh morning dew. This is probably a good reason why the Gerbera Daisy is the fifth most popular flower in the world. (In case you are wondering, the rose is number-one, carnation is two, followed by mums and tulips.)

The Gerbera is easily used as cut flowers for arrangements in thousands of different ways – as a potted indoor plant, and now more recently in landscapes as an annual throughout the state. Gerbera have a large, round center, with daisy petals attached. Think of the old cartoons with the lover picking the flowers saying, “She loves me, she loves me not.” Most of the time, the flower of choice would have been the Gerbera.

They come in all sorts of colors and sizes. Their color range includes red, yellow, orange, white, salmon and shades in-between. The flowers can span two to seven inches in diameter and the plants themselves shoot up multiple blooms throughout the season. Gerbera Daisy

are bred for all-year-long production. The ones for the gardens bloom from May all through September. Gerberas are also grown for indoor enjoyment. Indoors they will bloom on average for four to six weeks, although they do have the ability to periodically re-bloom indoors. A NASA study concluded that the Gerbera Daisy is effective indoors in helping clean the air of toxins and chemical vapors.

Make sure they are placed in a high-light environment, with plenty of room to breathe. Make sure to properly water them It is recommended to water them in the mornings so the leaves may dry by evening. It is important not to over-water Gerberas, as the root

system is very sensitive to overwatering. You may allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid overhead watering and improper watering, and poor drainage will lead to problems such as crown rot and poor flower production.

In cut arrangements, if wilting is occurring, place the whole flower in a tray with water for a few moments and cut a couple inches of the bottom of the stem to rehydrate them. Makes sure to cut the stems underwater and to cut them at a 45-degree angle. In the landscape, it is best to plant them after the danger of frost has passed. Feed monthly with a half- strength balanced fertilizer and every two weeks during the flowering period (spring and

summer). Maintain the plant by deadheading or removing spent flowers and old leaves. Some nice varieties to choose from for the landscape or outdoor containers are the Jaguars and the Revolutions. These varieties are more resistant to disease and bugs. The flowers are more vibrant and last longer than older varieties.

Gerbera Daisies like well-drained soil. If planting in clay soils, amend the soil with either peat or compost. Another option is to plant in a raised bed with proper, well-drained soil. In pots, use a nice light potting soil that drains well. Make sure to periodically check for insects and treat properly. A good preventative insecticide is neem-oil or pyrethrum every few weeks or as needed.

The Gerbera Daisy

The Professional GrowerBy Tim Hionis

Greenhouse Specialist

Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis has been growing plants for over 20 years, and is co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, NJ. He can be reached by calling(908) 534-7710.


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TIP OF THE MONTHSince weed killers are dependent on contact, it is very important to get good contact with the weed. Granular lawn weed killers should be applied when the lawn is damp and should not be watered for 48 hours after application. The dampness ensures the granular weed killer will “stick” to the leaf. Water applied too soon after application can wash off the weed killer from the surface of the weed before it can be absorbed. To get good contact with the weed, don’t mow the lawn before you apply a weed killer.

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Garden Club trip toNemours Mansion

and GardensOn Thursday, May 23rd,

2013, The Garden Club of Toms River will sponsor a trip to Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington, Delaware. This is the 300 acre estate of Alfred I. duPont. After touring the mansion which was designed as a Louis XVI-French chateau filled with antiques, furniture rare rugs and outstanding works of art, there will be a visit to three gardens designed in French Renaissance style with pools, fountains, flower-filled urns and a naturalistic English Garden. One can stroll through the garden or take a bus tour. A late box lunch will be served at the DuPont Country Club nearby. The bus will leave Riverwood Park, Toms River, at 9:15 AM and return approximately 6:30 PM. Included in the $60. cost is the bus trip, entrance fee, lunch and gratuities. Please [email protected] for reservation information.

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