Susan Mertz's Blog
Posted by Susan Mertz
"Mom, you know how much I love the horse I ride at the stables? Well, Tony is for sale. Can we buy him?" As I was flipping through catalogs of bulbs planning the front garden, my daughter asked that question. Now, I know that when I buy bulbs I will get beautiful flowers in the spring for a little bit of money. What do I get when I buy a horse? Vet bills and boarding fees.
Coming soon - an article on buying bulbs.
Not coming soon - an article on buying a horse!
Posted by Susan Mertz
At a workshop this week on tree roots, we learned a formula for protecting tree roots in areas undergoing construction. Measure the diameter of the tree trunk at breast height. Multiple this measurement times 1.5 feet. This equals the critical root radius that should be protected.
For more information on protecting trees during construction, The University of Minnesota has a Homeowner's Guide with helpful information.
Choosing a Tree with Healthy Roots is full of tips for selecting a tree for your landscape.
Posted by Susan Mertz
My husband keeps telling me that when we retire we are going to play golf and I will love it. I respond that while he is golfing, I'm going to love looking at the gardens.
At work I have been out and about visiting customers. This week I got to go on a garden tour at Shadow Glen Golf Course. Monica was the tour guide and showed us the gardens around the club house and on the front nine. With a prolific deer and rabbit population, gardening at Shadow Glen can be a challenge. A combination planting of annuals that looks great and seems to be critter proof is Cinderella Moss Rose and Desert Sunset Lantana.
For more on annuals in rugged conditions, click on Annuals in the Trial Gardens. The winners of the trial garden must survive deer, rabbits, insects, heat and drought.
Posted by Susan Mertz
Summer is a fun time at the nursery. Although it may seem quiet because it is hot and dry outside, we are actually busy planning for 2007. The plant growers are stopping by dropping off their catalogs and telling us what is new for next year. Watch for upcoming articles on new plants and trends for 2007.
Posted by Susan Mertz
I wandered away from the nursery today and visited some customers at their landscape projects. One of my stops was at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. The controversial Bloch Building has changed the layout of the land at the Museum and the sculpture park. The opening of the Kansas City Sculpture Park is September 30 and the landscapers are working hard getting the Museum property ready. Vic, with Shelton and Son, gave me a tour of the new gardens.
The rooftop gardens of the Bloch Building, that is under construction and due to open in June 2007, just fascinate me. Separating the plantings from the actual roof is a layer of foam, gravel and sand. The sod has the soil washed away and is planted on the layer of sand. Also on the roof in the sand are 1,800 Gro Low Sumacs and over a thousand Autumn Joy Sedums. One of the walls has over 40,000 plugs of Wintercreeper.
It is quite a project. Once the gardens are finished, I'll write an article with all the details.
