It was a stormy Monday in the North Valley, and we were fortunate – the hail missed us.  By now, you should be able to tell how much damage your plants suffered. If you see new growth, your plant will likely survive.  If your garden was shredded and you do need to replant, it isn’t too late, and we STILL have a great selection of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and more. 

Speaking of weather, we’re having an amazing season!  This time last year, the temp was over 100 degrees.  We are already seeing monsoon-pattern rain, and we’re grateful for it.  But, really – how far does an inch of rain go?  Not as far as you may think... an inch of rain doesn’t penetrate two inches of lawn or garden, and doesn’t water potted plants.

As soon as temperatures begin to climb, increase your watering efforts.  Drip systems that are running for 20 minutes two-to-three times weekly should run for an hour four times weekly.  Our most common problem is lack of water - you cannot “over-water” here in the Metro!  If you need advice about your drip system, ask your Gardening Angels!

Damage to trees is typically caused from lack of water, although disease and bugs are certainly an issue.  If we eliminate these causes, the damage is likely environmental: Did you use an herbicide?  Install a new sidewalk?  New stucco or exterior paint?  All of this can seriously impact the health of trees. 

We’re here to help, and you can help us, too!  Bring samples from the tree as opposed to pictures on your phone.  We can guess from a photo, and we might get lucky, but a sample tells a more complete story. 

We have spent the week getting more organized, widening the “Yellow Rick Road", with more space to browse. Be sure you make a stop in our chemical section.

Eight is the #1 pesticide we recommend.  It lists 100 bugs on 100 plants, including vegetables and herbs, so it's a good general-use pesticide.

If you need herbicides on the lawn and other places, we have Sedge Ender for grassy weeds and Chickweed Killer for leafy weeds.

It's also time for your second application of pre-emergent weed treatment. Safe to use around fruits and vegetables currently growing.  Use caution near any plant emerging from seed.

Two fungicides top the list:  BONIDE Liquid Copper Fungicide controls powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, peach leaf curl, rust, and other listed diseases. Perfect for use on vegetables, roses, fruits, nuts, herbs, ornamentals, and turf. Incredibly easy to apply and can be used up to the day of harvest. BONIDE Infuse™ prevents and stops major disease on listed roses, flowers, lawns, trees, and shrubs. It's powerful systemic protection won't wash off and lasts up to 1 month on certain diseases.

We also stock high-strength vinegar, excellent for top-killing weeds and grass that are intruding on your landscaping or sneaking into your garden.

KILLZALL is a good weed clean-up product, kills on contact, relatively safe - READ THE LABEL!  Not for use on grass, vegetables or flowers because it Kills All!

Have we talked about quality?  Our quality this year is better than it has ever been, as those "truckloads and truckloads" have kept our inventory VERY fresh!

We work to deliver the best quality, selection, service, and knowledge. In a word: "Value". Smart shoppers know the difference between price and value, and it's VALUE that we count on to grow our business and keep our customers coming back.

We BUY quality and selection, but service and knowledge are things we CULTIVATE. Our visitors often say, “Everybody here is so nice!”  We’re proud to hear it, and proud of our crew. We would love your help in selecting our "Player of the Month" for June! Please take a moment and vote:

Need help putting a name with a face? Click here to view staff photos.

Be sure you notice our new business hours, effective today: Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.

We appreciate your business, and look forward to seeing you again soon! 

Richard, Jennifer, and Your Gardening Angels