With all the crazy in the world around us, we are lucky to be here every day at the Nursery surrounded by plants. As we have mentioned, there are so many benefits to adding plants to your interior or spending time outside in nature. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits. Concentration & Memory Being around plants has been shown in multiple studies to improve concentration and memory. People who are around nature performed better and with greater accuracy. Attention span and memory performance can benefit by being in a natural environment which helps to successfully complete tasks. Plants and Flowers Generate Happiness It goes without saying that having plants and flowers around improves people’s moods. That’s why we send them to our friends in the hospital! The natural aesthetic is soothing and reduces stress levels. When stress levels are lowered, your positive energy and outlook grow. They offer pleasing visual stimulation and an increase in perceived happiness which helps improve overall mental health. Health & Recreation Being inspired by your natural surroundings can increase desire to move. Your body and mind benefit from continued movement and physical activity. Increase physical activity makes you less susceptible to physical ailments and more resilient when a minor illness comes along. The soothing powers of just seeing plants help you heal more quickly when illness does occur. Improved Relationships People who spend time taking care of plants are more likely to have better relationships with others. Taking time to think of someone or something and their needs instead of your own develops compassion and empathy. Extended contact with nature encourages people to want to better their environment and the people in it. We would love to help you find a way to be “under the influence” of plants.

We have talked a lot over the last few months about the many great benefits of houseplants – they remove pollutants from the air, add oxygen, reduce stress, etc. If you are looking for an easy houseplant that offers these benefits, consider a ZZ plant.

The ZZ plant, which is short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia, thrives in a number of adverse indoor environments that might challenge another plant. Regarding light, the ZZ plant prefers to be in indirect light (meaning away from windows and direct sun). It even works in offices with fluorescent light or a room that doesn’t have windows!

The deep green leaves look tropical, but it actually is a succulent. It has rhizomes (bulbs under the soil that store water) so it is naturally adapted to survive long periods without water. During the cooler months, the ZZ plant only needs to be watered about once a month or so – when the top inch or two of the soil gets completely dry. During the warmer months, you will need to offer your plant more water. Make sure you get to know your plant throughout the year as your indoor conditions vary and with it your plant’s water needs. A sure way to kill it is to overwater it!

Another great feature of the ZZ plant is that it has very few pest and disease problems. It also doesn’t need to be fertilized much – maybe a small application in spring and summer.

Alden Lane comes alive in October with colorful and artistic scarecrows posing around the nursery. You can enter as a group or individually – families are encouraged to have fun building together. If you do not want to build, just come to watch and enjoy the fun.

This year we switching things up and not limiting the creativity of our scarecrow building friends to specific categories. Be as creative as you want with your straw-stuffed creations.

Please call ahead to register to reserve your frame.

Important Details:

• We provide the wooden frame and the straw to fill your scarecrow.
• You provide the imagination and clothing/accessories/props to decorate your scarecrow.
• Plan to build your scarecrows to withstand strong winds and rain.
• Scarecrows must be left on display at Alden Lane Nursery through Saturday, October 31^st. Do not use real pumpkins or anything that will decay within a few weeks.
• Scarecrow clothing and accessories must be picked up between Sunday, November 1^st and Tuesday, November 3^rd. After Tuesday, November 3^rd, clothing & props will be donated to charity.

This contest is judged by the public. Voting takes place in person at Alden Lane from Monday, October 12th until Saturday, October 31st. Winners receive recognition on our social media and lots of bragging rights!

Reserve your space today by calling (925) 447-0280. When you call, please let us know:

1. Name of your group, contact name & phone number
2. Which date you plan to be here (Oct 10th or 11th)
3. Number of scarecrow frames you want (the number of scarecrows your group plans to build).

Looking to purify the air in your home? Houseplants to the rescue. These air cleaning plants will help you remove toxins and improve air quality.

1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

One of the easiest houseplants to care for. It likes light, but can live in lower light. They like to dry out between waterings. It’s trailing, heart shaped leaves come in different colors.

2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace Lilies are another easy plant. Their glossy leaves & white flowers make them a great addition to any room. They can tolerate lower light, are very happy in bright indirect light and love water.

3. Philodendron

Another heart-shaped leaf, philodendron is a welcome addition to indoor spaces. They are relatively easy to care for. They just need moderate water and bright, indirect sunlight.

4. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are a favorite of new plant parents or those with a bad track record. They thrive in bright, indirect sunlight and tolerate a wide temperature range.

5. Rubber plants (Ficus elastica)

These popular ornamental plants are hardy indoor addition. They love bright, filtered light and weekly* watering in summer (you can go to twice a month in winter). Rubber plants can vary in size. They will grow in a small pot or can be encouraged into a larger indoor tree.

*watering frequency varies with pot size, light and room temperature.

6. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniensis)

This lovely fern with sword-shaped fronds makes it perfect for a hanging basket or plant stand. The Boston Fern likes a more humid environment and requires consistent moisture – think about your bathroom. They do like bright indirect sunlight near windows, balconies and patios.

7. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas)

If you are looking for a unique, easy care plant, consider a ZZ Plant. They do well in low light to medium and like to dry out completely between watering.

8. Dracaena

Dracaena are another statement plant as they can grow up to ceiling height. They have one of the widest range of “looks” – colors and width of leaves vary quite dramatically. These guys love indirect sunlight and can survive in lower light than many. They definitely won’t do direct sunlight.

9. Ficus/Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

Like many of it’s air purifying friends, the ficus prefers bright, indirect sunlight. They enjoy regular water and like to dry out between drinks.

10. Snake Plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

One of our customer favorites is the Sansevieria or Snake Plant. It is a succulent plant that grows fairly straight upright. Sansevieria is a low-maintenance plant that is hardy and thrives on neglect. It is one of the few houseplants that continues to produce oxygen round the clock. This plant needs to go dry between waterings!

Chrysanthemums just say “Fall”! We will have many wonderful colors to choose from. Use in the garden, for pots and for seasonal indoor decorating. Come in and check out what’s new.

Sow flower seeds. Many wildflowers and spring annuals grow from seeds scattered now. Try California Poppy, Bachelor Button and Alyssum.

Feed your fruit trees one last time until March for increased vigor in the spring. Use E.B.Stone or Master’s Fruit and Vine Food.

September is a wonderful time to set out winter vegetables and flowers. We will have a full range of cool-season seedlings by the middle of the month. Plant root crops like carrots, radishes, and beets from seed now.

Revitalize your lawn now with these easy steps: Thatch, aerate, add Iron Sulfate, Gypsum, seed, Master Start Fertilizer and top with Gold Rush. 

Attend to acid-loving plants such as camellias, gardenias, and azaleas now. Feed them this month with Master’s Camellia, Azalea, Gardenia, Rhododendron Food. In October start feeding with Master Bloom 0-10-10 Fertilizer monthly through March. For Gardenias, continue the acid fertilizer through November then transition to the Master Bloom.

Start working now to prevent fall weeds. Apply Bonide Weed Preventer plus Lawn Food. This product does a great job of creating a protective barrier to prevent the pesky annual bluegrass. If you plan to reseed your lawn next month, delay this application.

It’s time to start planting winter vegetables from seed! The cabbage family members, root crops, and leafy vegetables such as broccoli, beets, carrots, radishes, onions, spinach, and chard are ready to be planted this month from seed. (Farmers in the valley are planting winter vegetable crops from seed this month.) Planting from seed now allows for a deep, established root system and a very long growing season resulting in larger harvests. Starter plants will start arriving when the weather cools (probably mid-September).

Aphids are usually found in clusters on the underside of new leaves or stems where they feed. Aphids are attracted to plants with new growth because they prefer to feed on young, tender plant tissue. Aphids feed by piercing plant tissues and sucking out the sap. This can cause leaves to curl, yellow, or drop prematurely.

There are several approaches to fighting aphids on crape myrtle trees:

1. The first line of defense is to blast them off with a strong stream of water daily
2. Horticultural Oil or Neem Oil (only if less than 90 degrees)
3. Spray with all-natural Take Down Garden Spray = oil + pyrethrin (fast kill of insects) (only if less than 90 degrees)
4. Introduce natural enemies such as ladybugs
5. Control the ant population

Any of these approaches may need to be repeated as aphids quickly reproduce.

Humble shrubs can play a number of roles in the garden. Take time to walk our aisles to see our fantastic selection of these “garden workhorses” to meet any landscape situation.

Shrubs can be used to unify or fill in a space, bridging the gap between large elements like a house or tall tree and lower growing flowers and lawns. Plant shrubs along entryways, pathways and property lines to direct traffic through your garden for both people and pets.

To screen out unwanted views, chose shrubs that maintain a dense foliage from top to bottom year round. Plant them close enough so that at maturity they provide the cover you are seeking. Select shrubs that are faster growers to get to your goal more quickly.

Many shrubs look attractive all year. Select an evergreen shrub and you will not have the slumbering dormant look that some plants furnish. While shrubs that provide eye-catching spring and summer flowers are always favorites, consider a shrub whose foliage can delight without the seasonality of floral blooms. The wide variety of options in shrubs is even more attractive when you vary the texture (size & shape of leaves) of the plants you select.

In a smaller area, use a single eye-catching shrub as a focal point in place of a large tree or garden structure.

Many low-growing or trailing shrubs, such as star jasmine or certain roses, can be used as colorful groundcovers.

How often should I water my mature native or drought-tolerant trees?
Trees that have matured in non-turf landscapes adapt the easiest, especially drought tolerant species. Native trees, such as our California oaks, need MUCH less water than most non-native trees. California oaks may only need one or two deep waterings over the summer, but no water within 1 to 2 feet from the trunk. They absolutely need the soil to dry out for a month or two before more water, if any, needs to be reapplied.

Non-natives and higher water need trees such as birch and redwoods will appreciate a deep soak weekly or every other week depending on the heat of summer.

How is watering trees different than watering my lawn?
Your lawn sits on the surface of the ground and has shallow roots. It needs watering a few times a week, usually with a sprinkler. Trees need to be watered less frequently, but with deeper soaking – because their roots grow deep in the earth – the majority of tree roots are 1½ -3 feet deep. Lawn irrigation does not water trees effectively. It generally reaches only the first few inches of soil, encouraging weak surface roots to grow.

How to Keep your Trees Healthy

1. Deeply and slowly water mature trees 1 – 2 times per month with a simple soaker hose or drip system toward the edge of the tree canopy – NOT at the base of the tree. Use a Hose Faucet Timer (found at hardware stores) to prevent overwatering.
2. Young trees need 5 gallons of water 2 – 4 times per week. Create a small watering basin with a berm of dirt.
3. Shower with a bucket and use that water for your trees as long as it is free of non-biodegradable soaps or shampoos.
4. Do not over-prune trees during drought. Too much pruning and drought both stress your trees.
5. Mulch, Mulch, MULCH! 4 – 6 inches of mulch helps retain moisture, reducing water needs and protecting your trees.

If you can’t manage an escape to an exotic island for the weekend then perhaps a garden filled with tropical plants with sizzling colors will be a great place for a retreat. There are two kinds of tropical climates, gardens, one is a dry tropical and the other is a wet, humid tropical. Our water situation means plants with an arid background are best for creating a tropical look in our locale. With a little creativity, you can relax in the tropics in your own backyard.

Palms
What tropical retreat would be complete without palms? One of our favorites, the mediterranean Fan Palm has arching, dark green leaves and a cluster of multiple trunks. Windmill Palm has similar leaf stalks with a single slender trunk to a moderate height.

Succulents
Bold leaved agaves and exotic echeverias as well as many other succulents lend texture and unusual colors to your garden.

Bougainvilleas
We have gorgeous bougainvilleas to train up a south or west facing wall that will give you sheets of color all summer long. Choose from a wide variety of tropical colors. Don’t forget to ask for planting directions as they have sensitive root systems and need frost protection.

Tropical Hibiscus
Bring shades of Hawaii to your plantings with glossy leaved tropical hibiscus and lots of vibrant colors. We have these both in bush and patio tree forms, to give instant height to your garden. Plant these in a protected spot in the garden as they require shelter from the frost and wind. Hibiscus love sun and heat. They bloom late spring through the fall. Also ask about hardy hibiscus, which loose their leaves in winter but, do not require frost protection of any kind.

Rose of Sharon
A deciduous, frost hardy member of the Hibiscus family is the Rose of Sharon. It produces single or double flowers in the summer and makes an excellent single stemmed tree as well as a large shrub.

Cordylines
Add tropical texture with the addition of Cordylines and Phormiums. Both have sword-like leaves but attain different heights. Cordyline ‘Baueri’ has rich burgundy red leaves that are crowned with fragrant white flowers in early summer. ‘Red Sensation’ has long bronze colored narrow leaves. It is an exceptional plant to use for height and texture in container plantings. Cordylines are also available in with green foliage.

Phormiums
Phormiums or New Zealand Flax are big dramatic plants with sword-like leaves. They produce red or yellow flower clusters on stems that reach high above the leaves. Available in foliage colors ranging from purple-red, bronze, purple and variegated with green leaves with a creamy white stripe. Give them plenty of room in your planting bed – leaves can reach 9 feet in height and the clump can spread to 5 feet. Smaller varieties are available