Category: gardening

October Tree Sale

Fall is in the air, leaves are changing colors, temperatures are cooling and pumpkins once again, are everywhere in sight.  And it’s also a perfect time of the year to plant a tree – especially a colorful deciduous one.

A deciduous tree can add beautiful color to your yard for the fall, it will let the sun in during the winter, and they will help to shade and cool your home during the summer. The freshly planted roots love the warm soil of October and the cooling temperatures that follow reduce transplant shock. Add the rain of November, and you’ve got the perfect formula for successful tree planting.

We have a sizable selection of trees waiting to get out of their pots and into your soil. Our sale WILL include Evergreen Trees, Deciduous Trees, Japanese Maple, Magnolias, Vines and selected Conifer plants, Tropical plants excluding edibles.

Sale includes 75% off roses, grapes and berries, and deciduous fruit trees.

Sale excludes Carpet Roses, Tropical Fruit trees, Avocados, citrus and capers.

Our sale is good thru October and applies only to ­IN-STOCK Items. All sales are FINAL, and NO other discounts apply. Sale prices are NOT good on Special Orders or Pre-Orders.

Let us help you select the perfect tree. We will be sure to get you started with everything you need for success with your fall planting.

 

Start Sweet Peas Now


September and October are sweet pea planting months for us here in the mild-winter west. We have a great selection of seeds to choose from including the earliest bloomers and the very popular Old Fashioned varieties. Old Fashioned sweet peas are particularly fragrant. We also have collections of sweet peas from 6-packs.

Sweet peas planted now, in soil that has been enriched with 2-3″ of Gold Rush or Steer Manure will sprout and become established before winter cool temperatures arrive.

The earliest ones can actually bloom as soon as January as they require just 10 hours of sunlight per day to set buds. The later varieties will be nice large plants by the time early spring arrives and will set a profusion of blooms.

Protect new seedlings from insects, snails, and slugs with Sluggo Plus.

Sweet peas are beautiful and fragrant and they make great cut flowers. Choose from dozens of varieties including a number of mixes.

If you’d like to start with plants, we have six packs of knee-high & tall trellising varieties.

 

Ornamental Grasses Add Instant Interest

grassesAutumn is in the air and this is a glorious season for ornamental grasses. Many of them are crowned with beautiful wispy blooms. These hardy, plants offer a tremendous variety of size, form, color, texture, even sound and movement and now is a perfect time to check them out.

An autumn breeze sets these graceful plants in motion to provide interest to the eye as well as a cooling sense that water must be nearby. The gentle movement creates another layer of interest in the garden.

Many grasses do well in low water use landscapes; most appreciate good drainage. Some grasses are evergreen, some rest in winter and all provide dramatic change throughout the seasons. We have many different options to view in both 4″ and gallon or larger sizes.

Grasses seem to look their best when planted with perennials or shrubs which contrast their fine texture and vertical line with broad leaves and horizontal lines.  Try planting with sages! Come and give the grasses a closer look.

Orchid Tough Love

orchid2400Tough Love for Your Orchids to Thrive

For those of you who have experienced disappointment with the orchids you have loved and nurtured, only to have them turn on you, becoming sullen and unresponsive to your good intentions and constant worrying and care . . . I say STOP!

In order for most indoor orchids to flourish and thrive – stop hovering. Find them a very bright spot to call their own, in or near a window, (or under grow lights), and figure out their watering needs – which, if you have lost orchids in the past, usually means you have over-nurtured and drowned them in your loving good intentions.

They are plants that grow in trees, hang around without the benefit of soil (or YOU), get watered only when it rains, and are designed to go through drought. So water only when very dry. In most cases they are potted in moss, or moss and bark, and in a typical 4″ pot you would water every 2 to 3 weeks, and never let them sit in water for more than a few minutes.

One of their other needs is very strong, filtered light in order to thrive and bloom. They can’t bloom without it! So I say, in the language of tough love, kick them out of the house! When our temps are above 50 degrees at night (usually around May to October), find them a cozy spot under cover of porch or patio where they get bright shade and occasional water and fertilizer, and before you know it they will THRIVE!

Having said all this in the spirit of tough love – if you need an orchid counselor, I am on call most days at Alden Lane. So let me know if you need some hand-holding and words of ­­encouragement. I am here for you – just ask for Sue.

 

Gardens at the Fair

We’re proud to announce that Alden Lane Nursery has won Best of Show at the Alameda County Fair Professional Landscaping Competition!

Big thanks to landscape designer, Eric Teberg, for the fabulous design, and to Vineyard Landscape for the installation!

Grand Prize Winning Garden at the Alameda County Fair

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Galvanized Troughs

Convert Galvanized Troughs into Planters

Here’s a fun and easy way to get your garden started! Galvanized bins are traditionally used as animal feed or water troughs, but they also make great planters and are pretty cool looking too! Best of all, this is a project you can easily complete over a weekend.

There are just 3 steps to using galvanized bins as planters:

  1. Drill Drainage Holes
  2. Position Bins and Fill with Soil
  3. Start Planting!

Think about what size would be best for your space and for what you want to grow (Alden Lane carries heavy-duty Tarter galvanized Troughs in a wide variety of sizes).

DRILL DRAINAGE HOLES

You’ll want to make sure what you are going to plant has plenty of drainage, so drilling holes at the bottom of your galvanized trough is important. This takes a little work, but it’s worth it! Here’s how:

  • Flip the Trough upside down for drilling (you may want to put a tarp or a blanket underneath to catch the metal scraps).
  • Using a 1/2-inch metal drill bit, drill holes around the perimeter of the trough, as well as across the middle. This could drain the battery in a cordless drill quickly, so a corded drill might be a better option if you have one.

POSITION BINS & FILL WITH SOIL

Consider the plants you plan to use when you choose a space, as you may need full sun or partial shade. Measure and mark the spot you’ll be placing the Troughs. Take the time to make sure they are level, which is important for drainage. Remember, once the Troughs are full of soil, they will be fairly permanent, because of their weight (though you can always empty the soil out to move them).

If positioning the planter on open ground, place four to six bricks (or more, depending on the size of the planter) in a square or rectangular pattern in the spot where your planter will sit. Space the bricks so they form a shape slightly smaller than the bottom of the galvanized tub. Depending on the size of the Trough, you may need to put some in the middle to prevent sagging.

  • Place the tub on top of the bricks, checking to make sure it sits level. If the ground is not level, add or remove soil from underneath bricks until the tub sits flat
  • If positioning the planter on a patio or other hard surface, use shims to level the planter. This will allow moisture to drain from the tub more easily.
  • For soil, we recommend Master Nursery Professional Potting Soil, or E.B. Stone Cactus and Succulent mix.
  • Fill your galvanized Troughs to the very top with soil. Keep in mind that the soil will settle, and stopping even just a few inches from the top of the bins will create a gap that will cast a shadow on your plants.

START PLANTING

Now you’re ready to plant, which is the fun part! Snap peas and lettuce are examples of cool-season vegetables that can be sown directly in the bins. Cherry tomatoes and summer squash are examples of warm-season vegetables that can either be started indoors or purchased as seedlings. You can mix and match – starting with some direct sowing early in the season and adding other seedlings and warm-season veggies as the season progresses.

Happy planting in your galvanized bins!

 

Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening

Raised Bed Kits &  EarthBoxes

Growing vegetables in a raised bed solves several problems and makes gardening more productive and rewarding. Our heavy clay soil can be tough to work and slow to drain. Adding compost helps on both of these fronts.  Using a raised bed with well-improved soil allows one to garden in a deep friable earth that drains well, plants love and does not require too much bending over to maintain.

The benefits of raised bed gardening over conventional row gardening include being able to give your plants the perfect soil mix, allowing for easier weeding and the ability to block gophers (Using hardware mesh across the bottom of the bed). Redwood raised bed kits are on sale this week, 30% off – limited to stock on hand.

Earthboxes

EarthboxWe also sell EarthBoxes which have many of the same benefits as raised beds… They are self-contained systems, so they use water very wisely and grow more produce in a smaller space.  We are all surprised at how much produce you can harvest from a single EarthBox.

Ceanothus Displaying Color Now

California Wild Lilac (Ceanothus sp.) - spring blooms in shades of blue attract pollinators and provide homes for butterfly larvae
California Wild Lilac (Ceanothus sp.) – spring blooms in shades of blue attract pollinators and provide homes for butterfly larvae

Ceanothus, also known as California Wild Lilac, is enjoyed by gardeners around the world, with climates similar to ours. It provides a dazzling burst of blue to the garden in spring.  Ceanothus has handsome,  glossy leaves and comes in a variety of forms from shrubby rambling groundcovers to larger shrubs and small trees. While most Ceanothus varieties are native to California along the coast, some grow inland naturally up into the Sierras and the Mojave Desert and will be most suitable for Tri-Valley gardens.

Alden Lane carries several varieties of which there is certainly one to fit your nurturing needs from very little summer water to watering more frequently.

Following is a sample of varieties:

  • ‘Centennial’: a low spreading variety requiring some shade protection inland.
  • ‘Concha’: upright variety 6′-9′ tall and wide, it is longer lived if given a cooler location.
  • ‘Anchor Bay’: 3′ tall, 6′ wide, away from the coast needs supplemental irrigation and some shade.
  • ‘Joyce Coulter’: 2′-3′ tall, up to 25′ wide, in interior gardens supplemental irrigation is required.
  • ‘Frosty Dawn’ and ‘Point Sierra’: flowers vary on these two varieties, 2′-3′ tall, 5′ wide, grown successfully in interior gardens with some shade.
  • ‘Diamond Heights’: 6″-12″ tall, 3′-5′ wide, discovered in the Diamond Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, has variegated leaves thus needing some shade from the hottest sun to prevent burning, useful in woodland gardens, it will grow through the leaf fall common in such gardens.

 

May Vegetable Guide

Vegetable Plant Time Amount
(family of 4)		 Special Notes Plant Now
Artichoke Year ’round 3 – 4 plants Permanent, perennial.
 4″ Pots
Beans, lima May – June 15 – 25 ft. row Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown.
Beans, String April – May Then later again in July and August 15 – 25 ft. row Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown. Can be planted more than once/year for a continuous harvest.
 From Starts or Seeds
Cantaloupes/Other melons April – June 5 – 10 hills Soil must be warm.
 From Starts or Seeds
Carrots Year ’round 20 – 30 ft. row Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown. Can be planted more than once/year for a continuous harvest.
 From Seeds
Chives Year ’round 1 clump Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown.
 From Starts or Seeds
Corn, sweet April – July 20 – 30 ft. row Can be planted more than once/year for a continuous harvest. Soil must be warm.
 From Starts or Seeds
Cucumbers April – July 6 plants N/A
 From Seeds
Eggplant April – June 4 – 6 plants Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown.
 From Starts
Okra May 10 – 20 ft. row N/A
 From Starts
Parsley Year ’round 1 – 2 plants Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown.
 From Starts
Parsnips May – July 10 – 15 ft. row N/A
Peppers April – July 5 – 10 plants Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown
 From Starts
Pumpkins April – June 1 – 3 plants N/A
 From Starts or seeds
Radishes Year ’round 4 ft. row Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown. Can be planted more than once/year for a continuous harvest.
 From Seed
Squash, summer April – July 2 – 4 plants Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown.
 From Starts or seeds
Squash, winter June – September 2 – 4 plants Known as winter Squash because it stores over winter but it grows in summer-fall.
 From Starts or seeds
Strawberries June – September 12+ plants Bare root in November – 6-Pack arriving in Feb.
 6-Packs Soon
Tomatoes March – July 6 – 10 plants Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown. Weather permitting, starting in March is possible.
 From Starts
Turnips February – August 10 – 15 ft. row Suitable for a small garden if compact varieties are grown.
 From Starts
Watermelons April – June 6 plants N/A
 From Seeds

Set Praying Mantis Egg Cases into the Garden Early


Place mantis egg cases into your garden now. As the cases warm, the young will hatch and go right to work protecting your plants.

Use a clothespin to hold the egg case on twig or branch of a shrub. Place the egg case on the morning sun side of your bush, so can warm up, but has some shade through the hottest part of the day.

Praying Mantids are very territorial and as they grow into larger insects, will patiently stalk their prey. They are amazing creatures and can help control garden insect pests naturally. They are fascinating to have around, spending days just waiting and watching for their next meal. Mantids robotically move their heads, keeping the prey always in sight, they have a quick and accurate attack.

Praying Mantid is so named because, while waiting for food to come by, they hold their long front arms as if it is praying. The mantid is a useful insect to have in your garden; it eats flies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, roaches, and other pests. But if you are a beekeeper, watch out – the praying mantid will sit at the entrance to the hive and devour bees one by one as they go in and out!

If you see a mantid, you may be startled by its aggressive behavior. It will stand up and buzz its wings at you. But that’s because it’s trying to scare you off; the Praying Mantid is harmless to humans.

Praying mantids are terrific pest exterminators. They keep down the population of bugs that are a threat to plants. A master of disguise, they can be an able assistant to farmer and gardener alike.

We have egg cases for sale, 2 cases in a cup for $12.99.