$5 off on these beauties THIS month!
Check it out......
Thursday, July 2, 2009
All about the Marin Open Garden Project....
Wondering what to do with excess bounty from your garden?
Join the Marin Open Garden Project at one of their weekly exchanges where gardeners meet to share fruit, vegetables, eggs, cut flowers and other goodies from their backyards. To learn more, visit the MOGP website at http://www.opengardenproject.org/ to find the most current schedule of exchanges as well as other useful gardening information.
and their latest press piece:Keeping it Local - Marin Magazine: Currents July 2009
http://www.marinmagazine.com/Marin-Magazine/July-2009/Currents/
Join the Marin Open Garden Project at one of their weekly exchanges where gardeners meet to share fruit, vegetables, eggs, cut flowers and other goodies from their backyards. To learn more, visit the MOGP website at http://www.opengardenproject.org/ to find the most current schedule of exchanges as well as other useful gardening information.
and their latest press piece:Keeping it Local - Marin Magazine: Currents July 2009
http://www.marinmagazine.com/Marin-Magazine/July-2009/Currents/
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
New flower photos taken yesterday!
hydrangea, nemesia, sunflowers and snapdragons to brighten up the summer!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sloat garden tip #1 --- Know Your Soil!
It’s simple to find out if your soil is acid, alkaline, clay filled or sandy. Dig a hole 8 inches deep and fill with water. How long does it take to drain away completely? Sandy soil will drain quickly and will need water more often. Natives and drought-resistant/Mediterranean type plants will do well in sandy soil. Clay soil will drain slowly and need less water.
tobacco budworms are back.
The tobacco budworms are back. These caterpillars are very good at camouflage, taking on the color tint of the flowers they eat. The adults are moths. The moths are about 1” long , brown with greenish overtones.
Three dark bands traverse the wings and each band has a cream border. Eggs are laid on the flower buds of Petunia, snapdragon, Geranium, and Nicotiana. They are also known to attack lettuce. They can be seen best at dusk busily munching the flowers.
Symptoms of budworm are tattered petals, circular holes in the flower ovaries (Base of flowers), plants stop blooming (empty buds!), or small caterpillar pellets (feces). The best controls are handpicking, Spinosad, and lastly, BT.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Buckingham Palace to add organic veggie patch
In keeping with the trend started by First Lady Obama at the White House, Queen Elizabeth has given the OK to create an organic vegetable garden at Buckingham Palace. It has been decades since the palace has had a vegetable patch.
During World War I, turnips grew among the exotic plants and flowers. The vegetable plot is called the “Yard Bed” and is located at the back of the palace's 40-acre garden.
During World War I, turnips grew among the exotic plants and flowers. The vegetable plot is called the “Yard Bed” and is located at the back of the palace's 40-acre garden.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tea time for your PLANTS
Tea Time for Plants
Mix 1 cup E.B. Stone Organics All Purpose Fertilizer &
1 cup E.B. Stone Earthworm Castings with 2 gallons of water.
Mix and let sit for 24 hours.
Stir well and water plants.
Great for both indoor and outdoor container plants or for plants in the ground.
For foliar feed, pour strained tea into sprayer and apply to plant leaves.
Use residue as mulch around outdoor plants.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Urban gardens take root on rooftops
High above new york city streets, gardeners are raising fruits and vegetables in rooftop gardens. Some are simply cultivating plants for the fun of it, others are doing it for the environment.
At P.S. 6, an elementary school on New York's Upper East Side, plans are underway to transform one-third of its roof into a vegetable and herb garden, which will supply food for the cafeteria. The school is using about $950,000 in city funds that it has put aside, and parents and alumni are providing almost a half-million dollars more.
Check out the article here!
At P.S. 6, an elementary school on New York's Upper East Side, plans are underway to transform one-third of its roof into a vegetable and herb garden, which will supply food for the cafeteria. The school is using about $950,000 in city funds that it has put aside, and parents and alumni are providing almost a half-million dollars more.
Check out the article here!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
basil and thyme
Our display garden in Mill Valley has prolific amounts of herbs growing right now. This basil & lemon thyme looks happy & healthy.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Furniture SALE starts today!
Table & 6 chairs with Lazy susan
ON SALE: $599
Reg $749
includes local delivery
ON SALE: $599
Reg $749
includes local delivery
Friday, June 19, 2009
Pictures from the Sale: Buy 1, get 1 FREE 4" Perennials
By the way...Pennsylvania Garden (a community garden in SF) visited the sale. Check out their blog!!)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Solstice Sale extras in San Rafael....
Our San Rafael location will feature the following additional specials during the Solstice sale tomorrow. These items will not be available at any other location.
All 5 gallon Fruit Trees (citrus not included) ---30% OFF !
5 liter Watering Cans --- 30% OFF! (reg. $29.99)
All 5 gallon Fruit Trees (citrus not included) ---30% OFF !
5 liter Watering Cans --- 30% OFF! (reg. $29.99)
Tomorrow is our annual Solstice Sale!
Friday, June 19th from 8am to 8pm at all Sloat Garden Center locations. Incredible specials on plants, pottery and soil. You'll be there, right?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Vacation tips for your plants...
Vacation Tips For Your Plants
As you plan for your vacation you should take into consideration that your garden and plants are going to miss you. There are certain things you can do that will cut down on your absolute need to be there, but it does mean preparing for vacation needs a few days before you leave.
As you well know, a recently fed plant will have a tendency to grow. This can contribute to an increase in water needs or make it more succulent for the voracious appetite of garden invaders. Put off the normal feeding, or if it must be fed, cut the feeding to half strength and plan on providing the second half when you return.
Mulching is probably the most important thing you can do before leaving on vacation. Be sure you have watered the area before you apply mulch, then water enough after it is applied to have the mulch damp on its own without having to draw moisture from the soil.
Mulch can be used in flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and around trees and shrubs. Leave approximately six inches around the trunks of trees and shrubs so they can breathe. It is even safe to add a little to containers but take care that the stems are not choked by the mulch.
Containers outdoors can be moved to a light shade area for the time being. Hanging baskets should be taken down so that they are more easily watched unless you have a drip system that is on a timer. While you are gone, the local bugs will not be on a holiday and would be happy if you forgot about them. However the placement of a multipurpose ‘bug zapper’ will keep this to a minimum.
Use Sluggo Plus to take care of snails, ants, some cutworms and earwigs.
Indoors plants can also be taken care of with a little thought. Large container plants should be watered well before you leave and if the plant can be moved, place it away from the windows so it will not dry out. You can put small plants in the bathtub after they have been well watered. The coolness of the bathroom will help retain moisture. Do not leave plants standing in water.
As you plan for your vacation you should take into consideration that your garden and plants are going to miss you. There are certain things you can do that will cut down on your absolute need to be there, but it does mean preparing for vacation needs a few days before you leave.
As you well know, a recently fed plant will have a tendency to grow. This can contribute to an increase in water needs or make it more succulent for the voracious appetite of garden invaders. Put off the normal feeding, or if it must be fed, cut the feeding to half strength and plan on providing the second half when you return.
Mulching is probably the most important thing you can do before leaving on vacation. Be sure you have watered the area before you apply mulch, then water enough after it is applied to have the mulch damp on its own without having to draw moisture from the soil.
Mulch can be used in flowerbeds, vegetable gardens and around trees and shrubs. Leave approximately six inches around the trunks of trees and shrubs so they can breathe. It is even safe to add a little to containers but take care that the stems are not choked by the mulch.
Containers outdoors can be moved to a light shade area for the time being. Hanging baskets should be taken down so that they are more easily watched unless you have a drip system that is on a timer. While you are gone, the local bugs will not be on a holiday and would be happy if you forgot about them. However the placement of a multipurpose ‘bug zapper’ will keep this to a minimum.
Use Sluggo Plus to take care of snails, ants, some cutworms and earwigs.
Indoors plants can also be taken care of with a little thought. Large container plants should be watered well before you leave and if the plant can be moved, place it away from the windows so it will not dry out. You can put small plants in the bathtub after they have been well watered. The coolness of the bathroom will help retain moisture. Do not leave plants standing in water.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
This is neat....
Abandoned railway becomes ‘hanging garden'
New York City recently opened High Line park, a 1½-mile stretch of trees, shrubs and walkway that was once an elevated rail line. According to AFP, the old railway once carried trainloads of animals to the city's meatpacking plants. Now it's home to wildflowers and other vegetation. Another section of the railway, approximately the same length, is due to open next year and there are hopes to save a third piece.
New York City recently opened High Line park, a 1½-mile stretch of trees, shrubs and walkway that was once an elevated rail line. According to AFP, the old railway once carried trainloads of animals to the city's meatpacking plants. Now it's home to wildflowers and other vegetation. Another section of the railway, approximately the same length, is due to open next year and there are hopes to save a third piece.
Safe & effective pest care
Pests in the home can be incredible nuisances and difficult to get rid of when children, pets or sensitivities are involved. Our home pest control products, when used according to directions and a bit of common sense, are designed and tested for use in homes and living spaces. Some examples are:
Bonide Mite X (organic mite control approved for indoor use)
Terro Ant Killer (effective ant control that’s earth-friendly!)
Orange Guard RTU (made from orange peel extracts, repels bugs for weeks)
Diatomaceous Earth (made from ground fossils, kills household pests)
Safer Houseplant Aerosol (fast acting & environmentally friendly aphid / whitefly killer)
Critter Ridder (patented pepper based formula that produces a powerful odor and taste barrier). Repels woodchucks (ground hogs), skunks, squirrels, raccoons, dogs, and cats. Safe to use indoors or out. OMRI Listed for use in organic production.
Bonide Mite X (organic mite control approved for indoor use)
Terro Ant Killer (effective ant control that’s earth-friendly!)
Orange Guard RTU (made from orange peel extracts, repels bugs for weeks)
Diatomaceous Earth (made from ground fossils, kills household pests)
Safer Houseplant Aerosol (fast acting & environmentally friendly aphid / whitefly killer)
Critter Ridder (patented pepper based formula that produces a powerful odor and taste barrier). Repels woodchucks (ground hogs), skunks, squirrels, raccoons, dogs, and cats. Safe to use indoors or out. OMRI Listed for use in organic production.
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