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Memorial Day Weekend is traditionally the best time to start planting your annuals and veggies. Luckily the forecast for the
weekend is overcast, which will give your plants time to adjust to a new home before the hot, sunny weather returns. It will also provide
you with a more comfortable environment for working in the garden over the next few days. We've put together a few planting tips to help you take advantage of the long weekend. Our plants look especially fantastic this year. Happy planting and happy spring! -- Tom Estabrook, Vice President |
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How to Plant Your Annuals
Colorful annuals add all season beauty and minimal maintenance to any landscape. Follow our
instructions below to get them off to a healthy start.- Choose the right number of plants for the area to be planted. This information can usually be found on the back of the plant tag, in our online plant catalog or by asking one of our knowledgeable staff members for help.
- Pull back any bark mulch and add a 1-2" layer of compost, composted cow manure or other soil amendment to the existing soil for optimal results. Work it in to a depth of 4-8".
- Make sure your plants are well watered, then remove the individual plants from their containers and place them onto your planting area in the desired pattern. If you're working on hot days, remember to plant small areas at a time so your plants won't dry out.
- Pick up each plant and loosen the roots to encourage them to spread, then dig a hole wide enough to encompass the roots yet shallow enough so the plant sits level with the ground once planted.
- Consider using a well-balanced time release or organic fertilizer scratched in to the first inch of soil before replacing the bark mulch and watering thoroughly.
- Check for dryness daily for the first two weeks and water when needed until established. All plants appreciate extra water in periods of drought.
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Growing Herbs in Containers
Whether you don't have the space to plant herbs in the garden or you just want to brighten up a deck, patio, or the front stoop in a fun
(and useful) way, container gardening offers you the chance to always have fresh herbs on hand.Although many herbs grow well in containers, growing in a pot is not like growing in the garden. Here are some tips to help get you started:
Choosing a Container
You will want the pot you choose to be attractive as well as functional. The two most common types of containers you'll encounter are clay and plastic, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Clay pots are beautiful, but they are more porous than plastic and will dry out more quickly, which means more watering. Plastic pots are inexpensive, durable and lightweight. They will also lose water much slower than their clay counterparts. If you want to have an upscale look without the added work of monitoring a clay pot's water supply, you can always slip a plastic pot inside a clay one for the best of both worlds!
Whichever container you choose, good drainage is the number one priority. Herbs do not like sitting in standing water, so holes in the bottom of your pot is a must. If you have the perfect pot and it doesn't have any holes, drill them yourself!
Location
For best results when gardening in containers, choose plants that suit your climate, give them the right light, and protect them from strong winds and intense heat or cold. Although plants need sun, remember that they are sensitive to the intensity of sunlight. Some like full sun all day, some morning sun, some do best in partial shade and others full shade.
Planting
Before removing your herb from its container, water the soil thoroughly. Moist soil will clings to the roots, helping to hold the rootball together. To remove a plant from a pot, invert the pot and tap it gently on the bottom. If it doesn't come out, run a knife around the pot's inside edge and try again. Check the root ball after it comes out. If the plant was pot bound, score the roots lightly with a sharp knife, and loosen the roots by teasing them with your fingers.
Prepare your container by laying a cushion of moist soil mix in the bottom so that the top of the rootball is about 1" below the pot's rim. Position the plant in the middle of the container and fill in more moist soil mix around the plant's sides, pressing it in firmly so as to plug air holes.
Do an initial watering from the top, or put the pot in water and let the soil seep up the moisture. Set the pot in a spot protected from the sun and wind for about a week. The plants should be repotted when you see roots coming out of the bottom drainage holes.
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 Blooms abound this Memorial Day Weekend at Estabrook's!  Osteospermum  Knock Out Roses  'May Night' Salvia  'Kansas' Peony  Endless Summer Hydrangea |
 Treat your annuals with Sluggo to protect them from the nasty effects of slugs when wet weather arrives We continue to receive reports of brown tail moth, various leaf beetles, and aphids - give us a call if you see any signs of trouble |
 "Private Gardens of the Kennebunks" Garden Tour July 17th P. Allen Smith Day August 6th Learn More... |
 From the ultimate garden solution to perfect gifts, you're sure to find something great in our emporium!  Protect your vegetable beds from harmful weather, birds and insects with Harvest-Guard covering  Keep your plants watered during hot weather with colorful wands, sprinklers and timers from Dramm |