About Us:Art's Nursery Ltd. is one of Metro Vancouver's largest retail and wholesale nurseries and prides itself on offering a huge 10+ acre selection of plants, shrubs, trees and more. We are located at: 8940 192nd Street, Surrey-Port Kells, B.C., Canada Tel: 604.882.1201 www.artsnursery.comReg Hours:
Mon-Wed 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thu-Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sat 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sun: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Extended hours in spring & summer. Contact Us:We welcome your comments and suggestions on this email newsletter. Email the editor. | Arts Nursery March 2010 Newsletter Well the 2010 Winter Games may be over, but our hearts are still glowing and I’m looking forward to the Para-Olympians who will carry on the flame. We aren’t the only ones enjoying this mild weather. It seems like the plants are responding with buds swelling, flowers ahead of their bloom time and perennials are coming out of hibernation. So, ready set go!
It is an exciting and busy time here with new plants arriving every week. In the past two weeks, we have received new perennials, trees, conifers, camellias, bare root fruit trees, primulas, packaged seeds, spring bulbs, Japanese maples, and the list continues to grow – literally!
The newletter is packed with information to get you in the garden. I’d like to get you started with a pot of gold, print the coupon below and redeem it for a free #2 pot of Bradner daffodils (with any purchase). Some are in bloom now and some are budded. Several types to choose from! Nothing says spring like yellow daffodils!
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! This could be an interesting year ahead with most plants springing to life about 5 weeks early!!!!
Weed
Sigh.
Lawns
Aerate, topdress with sand or soil as needed. Overseed any dead patches. If you haven't done so already - lime. Lime makes the soil less acidic and therefore helps to reduce the occurence of moss.
Dolopril Lime is the traditional favourite but have a look at the Way-To-Grow Brand Organic Lime made from eggshells. It's an excellent option thats good for your lawn and the environment!
Time to make that long distance phone call to any friends or relatives you have back east so that they might enjoy the sound of your lawn mower.
Yes, I said mow. If you don't have any friends or relatives back east you can phone mine. They love the sound of mowing…don't let their anguished mutterings in french deter you.
Towards the end of the month you can fertilize with a good spring lawn food like Art's Triple-17 with Iron. Why Iron? Its a greening agent that makes your lawn colour deep and beautiful.
Pruning
Normally I'd say March is a great time to prune, but this year I'm really pushing my luck pruning my fruit trees this week, I can see the Gravenstein is about to bloom!!!
You can still squeeze in a little tidy up of some shrubs if they are still dormant. I use the Forsythia as my timeclock. While it is still in bloom you can do a little clean up of your shrubs.
I think you are pushing your luck to do too much more than that. Avoid pruning Maples or Birch, it is too late for them.
You will have another shot at thining your Birch or Maples again in August when the sap has slowed. Any deciduous ornamental grasses can be cut back.
I did a little thinning on my roses even though they were leafing up. Your mantra for pruning is only remove dead, damaged, crossing, rubbing or broken branches.
The tree or shrub should not look like it has been pruned. It should just look more open.
Check the International Society of Arboriculture website for guidelines or check with your local gardening club or come and visit us for some pruning tips.
Hedge trimming can be done now. Trim your Heather once the blooms have finished for a nice dense shrub.
Planting!!
Now is a great time to be planting new trees, shrubs and perennials. New stock is coming in to Art's and keep your eyes open for those hard to find plants.
Bareroot fruit trees are in and the new Camellias and Daphne. You can also get your veggie and flower garden ready and sow those sweet peas.
Start your tomatoes inside in the grow trays. There are amazing varieties and starting from seed is easy peasy. You can also pick up your garlic and onion sets.
The strawberry and raspberry starts should be in soon. Seed peas, cabbage, swiss chard, cauliflower and other cool season veggies.
You could try some salad green in a pot on your porch too! Now normally we'd get off to a more sedate pace, but jeepers, look at the weather!!!
Bulbs
If you ran out of time to plant your bulbs, don't sweat it, we've got some great spring colour potted up for you.
When they're done blooming, just bring them round to the back yard give them a bit of bulb food and let the leaves die down naturally.
This is the number one rule for bulbs!!! Don't cut the leaves or tie them in lovely bows. They are making food for next years bloom.
If you do mess with the leaves you will get smaller and smaller blooms each successive year.
If you've placed your bulbs in pots, just bring the pots round to the back to die down.
Art's has their selection of summer bulbs and corms like Dahlias, Lilies, Glads in-stock now. Now is the best selection to buy them.
Some of the plants in the packages can go in right now like the Hostas and ferns and other hardy perennials.
I'd wait a bit to put the Dahlia's and Glads in though. Check the package timing and you can probably put them in a good 2-3 weeks early this year.
Ponds
Check and do any additional cleaning, clipping and skimming needed. Watch your fish and begin feeding once they are active. New water plants will be in-stock soon!
Fertilize
Feed your Rhodo's, and other acid loving plants with a fertilizer designed for these types of plants like GardenPro Rhodo & Azalea Food.
Apply lime around the dripline of your fruit trees. By mid-month fertilize your deciduous trees and shrubs with a good slow release fertilizer.
Top dress your garden beds with compost or mulch. Remember never raise it up more than 3 inches or you will stress your plants.
Oh yes…Weed some more.
Read This Article Online
Camellias are the sophisticates of the plant world with their glossy leaves and their picture perfect blossoms in a collection of apple blossom pinks, snowy whites, lipstick reds and butter yellows.
There are classic single blossoms and voluptuous doubles. There are even striped, dappled and flushed blossoms for those with more extravagant tastes.
Two major types are available, Japanese Camellias (Camellia japonica) and Sasanqua Camellias (Camellia sasanqua). They are similar in many ways with the notable exception being the bloom times. Sasanqua camellias bloom earlier - usually mid-late winter, while japanese varieties tend to bloom in very early spring (Feb-Mar).
If you think they are all flash and no substance, think again. Tea, yes tea! Camellia sinensis is grown commercially for tea leaves.
These classy ladies deserve a place in the spotlight, but not in the full sunlight thank you very much! As heavy rains or harsh frosts have a tendency to ruin their gorgeous flowers, a partially protected site is ideal. Under the eaves of a house, near a front door or partially under a much larger tree can be excellent locations.
They prefer dappled to full shade to maintain a manicured complexion and a moist humic acidic soil.
Camellias are rather light eaters; use the fertilizer sparingly in March and again in late May. A fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants is recommended. GardenPro Rhodo & Azalea food is an excellent choice.
A mulch to help keep in the moisture on those hot summer days is a good idea. Avoid planting them in a high wind areas or areas of poor air circulation to maintain glossy trouble free leaves. You can clip to shape as needed after blooming. Given the right spot and right soil, these evergreens are really quite trouble free.
These lovely evergreen shrubs make a statement in a formal garden or a woodland garden and are stunning in the background or front and centre. The blooms are a welcome sight and one of the signs that spring is just right round the corner. Here are some outstanding varieties and some of my favorites:
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Camellia sasanqua Apple Blossom
A versatile camellia with white blooms edged in rich pink with golden yellow stamens. Dense growth habit with glossy, dark green, evergreen foliage. Early to mid-season bloomer. Hardiness zones 7-10.
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Camellia Jurys Yellow
An attractive, large flowered camellia with white to creamy yellow flowers. A ray of large petals on the outside surround the small elongated petals in the center. Glossy dark green, evergreen foliage. Hardiness zones 7-10.
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Camellia japonica Pink Perfection
Slow growing, upright to spreading shrub with soft pink, formal, double blossoms. Flowers appear from early to late season giving it a long bloom time. Glossy, evergreen foliage. Hardiness zones 7-10.
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Camellia japonica Bob Hope
A large, deep red semi-double flower with yellow stamens and ruffled petals makes this Japanese camellia a winner! Blooms in mid-season. Glossy dark green, evergreen foliage. Hardiness zones 7-10
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Camellia sasanqua Kanjiro
A stunning camellia with cerise pink to red semi-double blooms edged in red. Golden stamens adorn the center of the flowers. An outstanding cut flower that is also slightly fragrant. Dense semi-weeping habit and glossy dark green, evergreen foliage. Mid-season blooming. Hardiness zones 7-10
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Camellia x Coral Delight
This camellia features deep coral pink, semi-double blooms with yellow stamens. Foliage is leathery and dark green. Mid-season bloomer. Evergreen. Hardiness zones 7-10
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Most camellias are in bloom in February and March so hurry in and see them in their glory. For more information about Camellias or to check availability, give Art's a call at 604.882.1201.
Read This Article Online 
In order to produce fruit, the flower of an apple tree must receive pollen from a different apple tree variety. This normally means that the homeowner or gardener should plant two different varieties in the same general area.
The actual movement of pollen usually occurs as a result of bees and other insects moving from flower to flower.
Apple trees flower at different times during the spring. They are usually classified as either early, mid or late season blooming.
Generally speaking, an early blooming variety and a mid-season variety will overlap allowing pollination to occur. Likewise a late season variety and a mid-season variety should also overlap - enabling pollination. But an early and a late season do not normally flower at the same time so therefore can not be used as pollinators for each other. Bottom line, if the trees do not bloom at the same time, pollination can not occur.
To further complicate matters, some trees have sterile or incompatible pollen and can not be used to pollinate other trees. These varieties are called Triploids. If you choose to grow one of these varieties, plant an additional apple tree in the area to serve as a pollinator.
Why Didn't My Apple Tree Fruit?
There are many reasons why an apple tree may not produce any fruit. The most common are listed below:
Pollination problems
Flowers were damaged by frost or rain
Shortage of bees or other pollinating insects
Tree is still too young to bear fruit
Over fertilization with a high nitrogen plant food
Not enough sunshine, or competition for light & nutrients with other plants
Apples are biennial, meaning they produce more fruit every other year
To ensure good fruit production, do the following:
make sure the tree receives adequate sunshine and nutrients like our GardenPro Fruit and Berry Fertilizer
plant at least two different fruit trees in the area that blossom at the same time
use mason bees to ensure pollination
avoid planting in a low-lying frost pocket
thin and remove small, undersized apples in early summer to improve quality of the remaining fruit
For best selection of apple and other fruit trees, visit Art's in early to mid March when our new bare-root trees are arriving. A second batch of potted trees is usually available from mid-April onwards. We carry a large selection of trees year round - please feel free to call us to confirm availability. Read This Article Online | Back to Top | March Web Specials
Art's carries an enormous number of plants and gardening accessories. Print out these specials/features and redeem them at Art's Nursery:
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Camellias
Japanese & Sasanqua Camellias.
Plant one of these gorgeous evergreen shrubs in your garden today. Delivers colourful late winter to early spring blooming flowers and glossy dark green foliage
Your Price:
20% OFF Reg marked price
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Potted Daffodils
Add some early spring colour to your garden with these large #2 pots of Bradner Daffodils. Many in bloom! Several varieties to choose from.
Your Price:
$4.98 ea
or 5 for $20.00
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Pruner & Snipper Gift Set
Its a great time to prune many plants and what better way than this combo gift pack containing a bypass pruner and a snipper for more delicate work
Reg $39.98 ea
Your Price:
$29.98 ea
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Grass Seed
Start a new lawn or improve an old one by overseeding. This blend of grass seed is specially formulated for our Pacific Northwest climate. Assorted sizes and types available
From $11.98+ ea
Your Price:
20% OFF Reg Marked Price
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Terralite Retaining Wall Bricks
Build your own small retaining walls with these flexible and durable, locally produced blocks. Each block is curved on one end to allow you to curve, sweep or change the direction of your wall. Several colours to choose from. Capstones also available.
Reg Price:
From $2.59 ea
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Bare Root Fruit Tree Sale
Plant your fruit trees early and save. Our yearly shipment of new fruit trees has arrived and is available at a reduced price for a short time. Choose from a great selection of apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches and more. Quantities may be limited.
Reg $36.98 ea
Your Price:
20% OFF Reg Marked Price
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Mason Bee Houses
Mason bees are extremely active, harmless little bees that move pollen from flower to flower. Excellent to improve fruit tree production. Mason bee houses are available in several styles. Bees also available until early april.
Your Price:
$5.00 OFF Reg Marked Price
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Onion & Garlic Sets
Its a great time to plant your starter onions and garlic bulbs. Several varieties of each type available.
Reg $1.99-2.98+
Your Price:
20% OFF Reg Marked Price
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| All offers expire Mar 30, 2010. Some conditions may apply. Quantities may be limited. Offer subject to change without prior notice |
Does Your Garden Look Like This?
We Can Help!
Schedule one of our in-store Garden Coaches by the hour for great information, advice, and garden design ideas. This service is great to get the ideas flowing and the direction established. It's just like having your own personal shopper or english gardener. Please call ahead to schedule and bring in photographs, diagrams and maps of the area. Rate: $40.00 / Hour
Soil, Gravel or Mulch Delivered To Your Door
Art's carries over a dozen different bulk materials including soil, mulch, manure, lava rock, gravel and road base. We also carry bulk Organic Seasoil. This product is rich, black and filled with nutrients making it excellent for herb, veggie and other types of gardens. Available by the tractor scoop for pick-up or delivery. Visit our website for more information or call 604.882.1201 to order.
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