Store Hours

Winter Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM
Saturday 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday Closed

Rose Care

1. Plant new roses using a soil high in organic matter. Water using Plant Starter with B-1 for healthy root formation.

2. In early March fertilize your existing roses with a good rose fertilizer such as Espoma Rose food.

3. A systemic insecticide such as Bayer Advanced All-in-One Rose and Flower Care will kill sucking insects for up to six weeks.

4. When new leaves appear, treat roses with a Rose and Flower dust, or ready to use insecticidal spray or use Bayer All-in-One Rose and Flower Care to control both insects and diseases.

5. Throughout the growing season use a water soluble fertilizer every 7-14 days, or use a granular fertilizer every 6 weeks.

HELPFUL HINTS

Avoid watering roses from the top.

Always cut flowers just above the first five-leaved leaflet.

Remove dead blossoms to encourage new blooms.

Gary's Calendar

Lawn Care Information

Lawn Care Guides

Forest Weather

	Tomorrow: Rain Showers 67°F \| 41°F
	Thursday: Rain Showers 58°F \| 46°F
	Friday: Rain Showers Likely 65°F \| 51°F

Forecast Details

Protect Your Plants

Potato and Onion Sets
Available NOW

New Shipment of Shrubs/Trees

Just Arrived

New Birdbaths/Fountains
Pottery/Doormats
and Much, Much More

Over the last couple of months the Lynchburg community has exceeded 30 inches of snowfall and more is now in the forecast. We would like to remind you of the importance of protecting your landscape plants from snow and weather damage.

Gently brush snow off the branches of broad leafed evergreens, such as hollies, azaleas, -rhododendron, boxwood and nandina. If they have an upright multi-stem habit it might be prudent to secure them with plant ties to prevent bending and breaking from the weight of the snow. Weeping Japanese maples are particularly vulnerable to being damaged by heavy snow. Remove the snow carefully from a Japanese Maple, you might break it before the snow has a chance. I had a customer to call after the December snow concerning a multi-stem maple he purchased from us a few years back at a cost of $495.00. My guess is the tree now should have been worth twelve to fifteen hundred dollars. The weight of the snow had split the tree down the middle. His question, was there a way to reattach the broken stem? The answer was no. His best solution cut the broken piece off and maybe over several years he might gradually get some shape back.

If you have needled evergreens such as junipers, yews and cypress gently brush off the snow. While these plants will handle snow loads better than broad leaf plants they still can be damaged by heavy snow loads. At times their branches will bend all the way to the ground and while they may not break they also may not ever come back to their natural shape.

What do you do with big trees such as magnolias? The answer is, take your chances. A 30 to 40 foot magnolia or other large tree would require more money than most of us want to spend. Large equipment would be required to even start a protection program.

In my case I lost the battle. My magnolia suffered severe limb damage. A number of limbs 3 to 4 inches in caliber were broken. The tree is not completely ruined but it will take several years to recover.

Plant of the Month: Primrose

Primrose (primula)

Primroses provide early spring bloom in an assortment of colors. They like cool temperatures, rich soil with plenty of humus, and partial shade. Provide them with full sun in the spring and semi shade as the temperatures warm. They are easy to transplant even when in bloom. Older plants may be divided right after they are finished blooming. They should be planted so the crown is at ground level. Plant approximately 6 inches apart in a slightly acid soil.

Primroses may be grown indoors. They should be provided with a cool night temperature (50 to 60 degrees F), high humidity, filtered sun and moist soil. Daytime temperatures should remain below 80 degrees. Once they finish blooming move them to the garden

Maintenance Tips

Gary's lawn and garden maintenance tips for end of January - February.
Read more...

Composting Tips

COMPOSTING TIPS from Gary’s Garden Center

1. PLACE COMPOSTER in a bright sunny spot to make sure the compost stays hot. 95° - 160° F. Best range 120° to 130° F. 130° - 150° F will kill seeds and pathogens but don’t go above these temperatures.

2. COMPOSTING MATTER: use 1/3 green to 2/3 brown to ensure a good finishing batch. Add a thin layer of fresh top soil to introduce fresh microbes. Dolomitic limestone should be added to help acceleration and to neutralize acid. Manufactured accelerants may be used, to be sure follow the directions on the package. If you are using an enclosed composter, fill half to 2/3 full. Otherwise you reduce aeration and kill your microbes.

3. TURN YOUR COMPOST once a week and when you add new items. You should see the materials all turn a brown, moist, soil like material with an earthy smell for plants, lawn or vegetables in about 2-4 weeks. Outside in a compost pile may take slightly longer.

IF YOUR MATERIAL IS NOT COMPOSTING

In an enclosed composter remove some material. If too full and add more top soil. Turn several times. If outside, turn more frequently, add slightly more lime, sprinkle with water and be patient. Check temperatures. Too cold? Move to a sunny location or cover with an insulating cover. Too hot? Move to a cool, shady, breezy area. If nothing seems to work, empty the bin and start over from step one.

Composting Materials

Green-Nitrogen Rich 1/3

· Bread

· Cooked food

· Dairy products

· Egg shells

· Fruit and vegetables

· Garden house plants

· Grass cuttings

· Raw meat & bones (sparingly)

· Tea leaves /bags

· Coffee grounds

· Weeds (not gone to seed)

Brown-Carbon Rich 2/3

· Bedding of pet cages

· Feathers

· Hedge trimmings

· Paper and cardboard

· Straw and hay

· Wood chips and sawdust

· Dried leaves and grass

Never Add

· Cat or dog litter waste

· Ashes not made from wood

· Diapers, glass, plastic, metal

· Toxic materials

· Plants that are diseased or gone to seed

· Grass clippings that have been treated with a weed killer or chemical in the last 60/90 days

Composting Tips

· Maggots can help compost but indicate a wet batch.

· Breaking material down before composting will reduce composting time.

· Don’t add to much meat or grass as they can make for a soggy batch and reduce aerobic bacterial growth.

· Make compost tea by adding a small amount of compost to about a gallon or two of rain water for nutrient packed plant food.

· Don’t add paper with lead based ink on it.

· Adding to a batch will increase compost time.

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Scandanavian Granite

NVA Creative Garden Granite of Scandinavia

Beautiful Fountains, Benches, Birdbaths, and Garden Sculptures all carved from solid pieces of granite.

Made to use either indoors or outdoors.

Easy to install.

Comes in ready to assemlbe kits or individual pieces.

Add beauty and the relaxing sound of water to a sunroom, deck, patio or that secluded outdoor garden.

Come by and take a look or click on the Gary's Photos and Videos at the top and view our granite items.

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