News:  Reilly's Summer Seat Farm & Garden Center

Top New Annuals

Pictured above are some great new annuals Beth our Greenhouse Manager has selected to grow. Come take a look and be impressed.  List of the 15 Top Annuals for 2013.

 May 2013 Events, Seminars & Workshops

• Saturday May 25th Third Annual Iris Dig. 9:30 until Noon. Our Iris garden with 40 new varieties will be in spectacular bloom.
• Saturday May 25th at 10 AM. Join Elise for a seminar and workshop on 'Designing Garden Containers with Perennials'. Elise will discuss what plants work best, how to attractively combine them, care for them through the season and overwinter them. If you wish, we'll help you pot up a container garden. The class is free, but, a basic container and soil is available for $5, (You may also bring one with you). There is a charge for plants used.

 May Specials

• Sienna Chairs, two-tone brown wicker design. Powder-coated steel frame. Stackable for easy storage. Extra chairs $14.99 each.
• Bistro Table, tempered glass with captured rim. Dark brown powder-coated steel frame.
• Solar stake lights automatically rotates red, blue and green.
• Color-enhanced acrylic. Choose from daisy, humming bird, dragonfly and butterfly. 

Updating Your Landscape

Here is some advice

1. First - Live with your land for a while. Watch patterns of sun, shade as they move across your garden areas. 
2. Check out your neighborhood - For plants that you would like to include in your landscape. Take pictures to be used in your planning process.
3. Make a plan - Whether you design your own or hire a professional, time spent planning is time well spent. To quote the old adage: "Plan twice, plant once.
4. Understand your wants and needs - Tailor your garden to satisfy your lifestyle. Allow sufficient space for child play, entertaining and other activities.
5. Be Realistic - About how much time you are willing and able to spend tending the garden, and scale it to your schedule
6. Look all around Include flowering perennials, annuals, and trees as well as a variety of shrubs in your design. Think vertically as well as horizontally, making sure to integrate your home's look and character into the view.

3rd Annual Iris Dig 

• When: Saturday 25 May from 9:30 AM to 12PM.
• What will be available? At least 45 varieties, all colors, many reblooming.
• How does it work? Pick out the Iris colors you desire, and write the names of your selections on tags we have available. Our crew will dig the selections you choose, and wrap them for the trip to their new home.
• Cost: $8.00 for each fan dug.
• Planting Instructions: Select a site in full sun away from any automatic irrigation systems. The soil should be on the dry side and well drained. (Iris can't tolerate constantly wet soil). It is recommended that 'Black Forest' soil amendment be added to ensure good internal soil drainage. Limit nitrogen fertilizer. Plant fans at least 18" apart with the top of the rhizome above ground. In heavy clay like soil, consider a slightly raised planting bed and the addition of pea gravel, sand and compost. 

What is happening to all the impatiens?

Have you heard about the spread of Downy Mildew and it's impact on Impatiens? This is a serious fungal disease which is fatal to certain types of impatiens. The disease looks like white fuzz on the underside of the leaf and soon progresses ending up in complete defoliation. The good news is that, New Guinea Impatiens and Sunpatiens are not susceptible.   Read More...

Give a Spading Fork a Try 

A spading fork will do a much better job of loosening and turning the soil than a shovel ever will.

A Major Weed Problem this Spring

The invasive weed, with a name that reminds me of some cranky old man, is taking over our lawns and gardens this spring. 'Bittercress' is the culprit, and it consists of a base of rosette-type leaves, typically smaller than the palm of your hand, with white flowers atop stems less than a foot tall. It quickly invades thin turf areas especially where there is good soil moisture.  Bittercress has grow rapidly in recent weeks, and its flowers soon will mature to seed pods that explode when touched, throwing great numbers of seed out to distances that can exceed three feet.

The plant is best controlled with a pre-emergent herbicide such as 'Preen'.  Applied in October, Preen will kill the weed's seed at germination. It is too late for this now. The second alternative is to spray the infested areas of your lawn and garden with 'Bonide Weed Beater Ultra'. This is by no means an organic solution, and be mind-full that although 'Weed Beater Ultra' will not harm grass, it will kill or damage all broadleaf plants including your prized perennials. Hand weeding is the third solution and the only organic one. The good news is that Bittercress has taproot and is easily pulled from the ground.

Left unchecked, bittercress can quickly spread to infest the whole garden. This weed that can overwinter can complete its lifecycle in three to four weeks to disperse thousands of seeds, all of which can germinate to release their own seeds in quick succession. Control before it goes to seed is therefore critical.

When Should Roses be Pruned    

Prune your rose bushes when you see forsythia bloom.   Forsythia normally blooms in mid March, but this year mine has yet to show color. In the warmer areas of the Pittsburgh area this may not be the case, and if so get out your pruners.         

The diagrams to the Right show the basics on how to do it.  Just remember to remove all dead wood, and cut the branches back (shorter) to a fat strong bud that is pointing where you want the plant to grow.    

Gardening Tips for May

Take advantage of the longer days to complete the gardening tasks that will pay off with an attractive home landscape.

1. Scoop up a handful of soil and squeeze. Does it ball up or fall apart in your hand? If water trickles out, or if it keeps its shape when squeezed, then it's too wet to work. If it feels dry or crumbles, then get out the tiller or spading fork and start breaking up the soil for planting. A soil test will tell you how much fertilizer, organic matter and lime you need (Call Penn State Co-Op Extension to obtain a soil test kit.412-473-2540)
2. Early flowering deciduous shrubs such as Forsythias, Weigela, and Spiraea should be pruned back when they have finished blooming. Remove a third of the oldest canes to ground level, then cut back the remaining branches to the desired height.
3. Warm temperatures in early May tempt many gardeners to advance the planting season. Petunias, begonias, coleus, impatiens and many other warm season plants can be easily damaged by frost and are not safe to plant outdoors until after May 20th. It is now OK to plant cool-season flowers such as snapdragons, alyssum, and pansies

More on May Gardening Tips!

Non - Profits Welcome

We are extending an invitation to qualifying  non- profit organizations to set up a table, at no cost, to promote their organization. Call Mike Reilly at 412-367-7259 if you would like to apply.

Help Wanted

Elise, our current Perennial manager is nearing retirement, and so we are looking for a replacement.  Not just anybody will do. A firm knowledge of  perennials and their cultural care is required.

FOR DETAILED POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Special Orders

If you can't find something you're looking for, please give us a call and see if we can help you!

In case you didn't know ...

Our meeting room is available for clubs and organizations at no cost. Give us a call, we may even be able to provide a gardening seminar! 412-364-8270.   

Return to Top