Welcome to Hamlen's
Helping Hand!
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This is our 3rd newsletter of 2003. We
look forward to seeing you at the
garden center. We've added some
new products, not to mention some
new plants for 2003. We will keep you
informed of these in the future
newsletters. We think you will be
pleased with our new additions.
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In this issue...

Water lilies
Water lilies are a beautiful addition to a water garden. Large spectacular flowers surrounded by giant lily pads. They help shade the water, keeping the water temperature stable, provide food and shelter for fish and keep the green algae down. The flowers of lilies last 5-7 days. The amount of blooms will be determined by the size of the clump. There are two categories. Hardy frost tolerant and tropical.

Tropical lilies
These plants usually have the largest flowers, brightest colors, and the most fragrance. Some types of tropical lilies only flower during the evening. This can be an advantage if you are home only in the night. They are not frost tolerant and must be brought in for the harsh winter months.

Hardy water lilies
Hardy lilies always flower during the day. They are available in a variety of colors, orange, yellow, red, pink and apricot. There is a new variety that changes from a yellow to a burnt orange/red. As it matures. Small leafed dwarf types are also available.

Plant requirements
Lilies like a heavy garden soil. They should be fertilized with water lily food tablets at least once a year. Minimum water level above the flower growing tip should be 6-18”. They do not like moving water and should be placed as far away from waterfalls or fountains as possible.

Over wintering
The frost tolerant perennial lily is best left in the pond. The container should be below the ice level. If you think the water will freeze to the container, move the plant to a deeper place in the pond. If the pond is not deep enough to over winter the plant, bring it into a root cellar and place in a clear plastic bag with moist newspaper around it. Make sure that it stays moist through the winter. Tropical lilies can be treated the same way.

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Adding fish to a water garden is the finishing touch. They should not be considered until all pond construction is done. Having the ponds ecosystem established before introducing fish will help them settle in faster. A good plant base is important. Plants provide shelter, gives them hiding space from predators, helps oxygenate the water, and is an important supplement to their diet.

These fish are responsive to human contact and with some patience, can be trained to do tricks. The normal life span is approx. 15-20 years. Some can live for 200 years or more.

Different types
Koi are originally from Japan. Many different breeds are available and range in color, color pattern and scales. Possible colors are blue, gold, orange, white and black. Koi can be identified from other goldfish types by their whiskers.

Bringing your new fish home
When introducing fish into a newly constructed pond, they should be introduced slowly. Purchase only a few at a time. As the ponds ecosystem establishes, you can introduce more. Koi do not like fast changing temperatures in the water. You may need more plant coverage to stabilize the temperature.

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Ornamental grasses have had a bad reputation in the flower garden. If you know a little about ornamental grasses, it will help you to use them properly in the garden.
There are two main types of growth, clumping and spreading.

Clumping
(Festuca ovina, “Blue Fescue”)
This is the most manageable type. They grow only from the center core or crown of the plant. Small tufts can be divided from the sides of the clump and generally do not spread otherwise. This is the best of the non invasive grasses.

Spreading (Panicum shenandoah,
“Red Switch Grass”)
These can be the most invasive of the ornamental grasses. They are ideal for areas that are contained and can not inter mingle with other plants. They spread by underground rhizomes or stems, underground and or above ground. They have a vast network of roots underground sending shoots up where ever they can escape.

Cool season (Helictrotrichon sempervirens, “Blue Oat Grass”)
These grasses only grow during cool seasons when temperatures are lower then 70 degrees f. They stay dormant during the heat of the summer, and then resume growth when the temperatures drop down. In places where they have mild winters, these plants will continue to grow all winter.

Warm season (Miscanthus sinensis purparescens, “Maiden Grass”)
These types will only grow during the warm season. The temperature has to be above 75 degrees f. for active growth. During the spring, the plant will look dead, but it's not. It will lay dormant until the temperature warms up. It may not be until mid summer before you see any growth. This can cause a problem for design purposes. There is a big space where the plant is usually. It is best to keep in the back of the garden or disguise the area with other plants. Warm season grasses are often the largest and showiest of the ornamental grasses. They keep their plumes long into the winter with beautiful fall color.

These can sometimes become invasive and should be watched carefully. A barrier might be necessary. A thick rubber or plastic liner can be buried in the ground around the root system to keep them in one place. Make sure that you place the rubber deep enough so that the roots can not grow underneath and escape.

Colors (Phalaris variegate, “Ribbon Grass”)
Grasses can introduce beautiful colors into a garden such as blue, yellow, gold, red, variegated, and stripes. These types of grasses add interest and focal points. There might be a spot in your garden where you want to bring the eye, to have strong visual impact. A variegated or yellow grass can help accomplish this effect.

Annual grasses (Pennisetum sp.)
These are sold by seed and should be started early and planted outside when it is warm enough. They are very showy with a very feathery look. The most common being pennisetum sp. Using this grass in large containers as a companion with annuals are very beautiful and last late into the fall.

Design and companion planting
Ornamental grasses have great form and texture. They are erect and upright with lance like leaves. They can be used as single specimens, in groups or in mass plantings. Grasses have a very dramatic presence in the garden.
When using grasses in a design, remember that the plant goes through many changes. The height and color will change with the seasons. Most of the grasses have a fantastic fall color.

Hamlen's garden center carries the ornamental grasses listed above and would love to help you pick the right ones for you and your garden.

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Aphids are soft bodied insects and can be fairly easy to control if caught in the early stages of infection. They have sucking mouth parts and attack succulent growth. Well camouflaged, the injury on the plant is usually the first thing that you see. The plant will look deformed or stunted. The insects cluster in colonies on leaves, flowers, stems and fruit. Most of the insect population do not have wings and can be black, brown, pink, purple, red or yellow. They will usually be the same color as the plant it is infecting. They have live births and reproduce every 3-5 days. This is an important factor in the control of the pest.

You can sometimes see black sooty mold on infected plants. This is from the excretion from the insect called honeydew. The honeydew is a good place for mold to grow. This is unsightly but does not damage plant. It can be partly washed off with a mild solution of soap and water.

Treatment
Lacewings and ladybugs can eat hundreds a day and can usually control the problem when outside in the garden. A hose can be used to spray them and knock them off the plant. A mild soap solution can be used but must be repeated every 3-5 days for at least 2 weeks. The soap will kill the adults but not the eggs.

Insecticidal soap works well and can be purchased in a ready to use solution.
Chemical insecticides work well but should only be used as a last resort. Ask for assistance when purchasing chemicals to ensure that you are buying the right kind of chemical for that insect.

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Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, but when they lit a fire in the craft, it sank -- proviing once and for all you can't have your kayak and heat it, too.

A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the Old West. He slides up to the bar and announces: "I'm looking for the man who shot my paw."

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"Nature is the art of God"
Dante

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