Houseplant of the Week - Orchid

      Orchids are a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants with blooms that are often colorful, showy and fragrant. The showy orchids favored by most people are usually either phalaenopsis hybrids or dendrobium hybrids. Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) is the most common of the Orchid family. The golden rule for orchid success is to duplicate the plant's natural conditions as closely as possible.

       Orchids prefer bright light, but no direct sun. Water them thoroughly once or twice a week - more when it's warmer, less when it's cooler. A pencil or a wooden skewer inserted into the soil will come out almost dry, indicating it’s time to water again. Make sure the water drains completely out of the holes at the bottom of the pot. Never leave the plant sitting in water! Placing ice cubes on the soil surface, to provide slow even watering as they melt, works great for watering. Provide some humidity for the plant; most do not like very dry environments. Gentle air circulation is also good for orchids.

       Keep the daytime temperature between 65°- 75°F /18°- 24°C with a nighttime temperature drop of just a few degrees. In nature, most orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other objects, clinging to rough bark or even stone. With that in mind, the growing media can be made up largely of bark chunks. Most garden centers offer Orchid soil mix that will work well. Orchids also tend to prefer smaller pots. If a pot is too large, the orchid will expend most of its energy rooting, and show no real new growth or foliage for months, so keep the containers small. They prefer being somewhat root-bound with their roots protruding from the top of the media (or aerial roots should simply hang free). However, as plants produce more new canes or spikes, they can eventually outgrow their pot.

       Orchids can be fertilized once a month - or when they are blooming only. Look for fertilizers that contain nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), plus trace elements like iron (Fe). Do not over feed orchids - this can damage them. If you're growing your orchid on bark, use a fertilizer that's significantly higher in nitrogen (in a ratio of 30(N)-10(P)-10(K)). The bacteria in the decomposing bark will consume a lot of nitrogen. Water your orchid thoroughly before feeding.

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20% OFF
Orchid Plants  

Good through 1/15/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases.
Mention this offer at the checkout counter.

Code: 004

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Letter to Lawn Service Customers

Dear Lawn Service Customers,

       You may have received your 2019 Property Analysis letters by now - or will be very soon. We will be offering the same type of program, but have made a couple of changes in order to better serve you. You will see that we have included all six steps on your P. A. sheet, and have added a liquid pre-emergent to step 2 for better crabgrass control. We feel this is the best way to maintain a healthy lawn throughout the season. You are free to make changes to suit your specific needs.

       We will be using the same line of products that have been formulated for our area conditions as well as weather factors. We hope to work with you for the 2019 season and encourage everyone interested to respond by the February 1st deadline to take advantage of the 5% discount pre-pay offer. This is available with an order of four steps or more only. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our landscape office.

See below for a list of steps with descriptions to be used in this year’s Lawn Program.

Hillermann’s Lawn Program

Step 1:  Late February / March – Fertilization with Pre-emergent
This step is a dry granular application and will provide lawn fertilization as well as helping with crabgrass control.

Step 2:  March / April – 1st Weed Spray with Pre-emergent
This step is a liquid application and will be a blanket coverage for broadleaf control as well as helping with crabgrass control.

Step 3:  Late April / Early May – Grub and Insect Control
This step is a dry granular application and will target non-beneficial species of grubs and insects at an early development stage. This is attached to a fertilizer carrier.

Step 4:  May / June – 2nd Weed Spray
This step is a liquid application and will be a spot spray on areas as needed for continued broadleaf control.

Step 5:  September – Fertilization
This step is a dry granular application and will provide lawn fertilization.

Step 6:  October / November – Fertilization with Pre / Post emergent
This step is a dry granular application and will provide lawn fertilization with a Pre/Post emergent to target cold season weeds and help with weed control in the spring.

Step 7:  ( Optional ) November / December – Iron supplementation /Pelletized Lime
This step can be on an as needed basis for different lawn requirements. Please call for estimate.

*Steps 1 and 6 will affect over-seeding results. Please call our office at 636-239-6729 for details.

Again, please feel free to contact us with any questions. We look forward to working with you this season.

Thank you,
Keith Kennedy
Landscape Superintendent

Hillermann Nursery & Florist
Phone: (636)239-6729
Cell: (636)221-4753

Garden Solutions - January 2019

By Sandi Hillermann McDonald

            HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! We truly welcome 2019! If you can tolerate the cold weather, there are several things that you can do this month in your landscape that will lighten the load for the rest of the season. The main item is pruning or thinning of our woody ornamentals. Deciduous trees such as maples, oaks, ash, etc., can be pruned at this time. Interior, broken, or crossing branches should be removed now while you can see exactly what you are removing.

            Now, I want to mention “bird feeding.” It’s hard to say who benefits more from backyard bird feeders, the birds or the people who feed them. Hang different types of feeders at different heights and near enough to your house so you can watch the birds at relatively close range.  

            It is important to provide unfrozen water for the birds throughout winter. Put your birdbath in an open area, but near some trees or bushes to permit a quick escape if predators approach. Birds will visit regularly once they discover it is a safe and steady source of fresh water. Open water in freezing weather will attract as many or more birds, as a well-stocked feeder! Besides for drinking, birds use water to help keep them warmer in winter. By cleaning their feathers and grooming them with natural oils, our feathered friends are able to help insulate their bodies from cold. You can keep water thawed with a submersible heater placed directly in the water. Heated birdbaths are also available.

            Birds appear to be homeless in winter, which makes people wonder where they go at night. In general, they choose to roost in the same kind of places as they build their nest during breeding season. Some birds will use the same roosting spot every night unless predators disturb them.

            Visit the nursery often as the greenhouse is a great place to spend some time during dreary days of winter. In addition, new houseplants will be arriving weekly!

Time flies fast, so enjoy this winter, do an analysis on your landscape and prepare for spring projects… and we will “see you in the garden”.

Sandi Hillermann McDonald

Bird of the Week - Northern Cardinal

Basics: Male Cardinals are easily spotted by their red plumage while female cardinals have lovely red highlights in their fawn colored feathers.

Housing: Enclosed housing may not be appealing to this species. Platform housing is best for Cardinals. The planting of thick berry producing plants and evergreens are also very beneficial for this species to roost and nest in.

Food: Black Oil Sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds are two of their favorite foods!

How to attract: Provide food, water, shelter, and nesting sites

Fact: Keeping warm bodies is a number one priority during winter, a snug place to roost overnight is just as important as a full belly.

Tip: Choose larger, heavier feeders that will not sway, or placing feeders on sturdy poles rather than hanging them to provide more stability when cardinals are feeding.

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Bernie’s Blend Birdseed

25# Bag, Regular $19.99

Just $15.99

Good through 1/9/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases. 

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Houseplant of the Week - Cyclamen

       The flowers on Cyclamen are valued for the up-swept petals and variably patterned leaves. Even the foliage is attractive, often having silver marbling on the top sides of the leaves. The florist Cyclamen, which come in several variations of pink, red and white, is the best know species in this genus. The small flowers of this plant are very sweet smelling. These are tuberous plants with the common heart shaped leaves. Cyclamen have a good transpiration rate, and therefore will add to the humidity in your home.

       Plant Care: Cyclamen are great flowering plants to add interest to the home in winter, as they do best here from December through March. The plants prefer a cool location with good air circulation! Temperatures that are too high will cause the plant to begin to yellow, and the flowers will fade rapidly. You will also need to make sure that your cyclamen is properly watered. They are sensitive to both over and under watering. Make sure the plant has excellent drainage with a potting medium that holds water well. Water your cyclamen plant only when the soil is dry to the touch, but do not leave the plant in this dry state so long that it shows visible signs of not being watered, such as droopy leaves and flowers. Water cyclamen from below the leaves so that the water doesn’t touch the stems or leaves. Water on the stems and leaves can cause them to rot. Soak the soil thoroughly and let any excess water drain away. Only fertilize once every one to two months with water soluble fertilizer mixed at half strength.

       To keep plants blooming, remove flowers as they finish by cutting the stems near the base of the plant. Sometimes the petals will fall off and leave a round seed capsule that resembles a flower bud. Remove these, too. In the spring, let the soil dry out and keep the pot in a cool dry place for the summer. The plants will look dead, but as long as the tubers remain hard and plump, they are only resting. Begin watering in the early fall and put it back into a cool, bright window for another season of bloom.

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20% OFF Cyclamen Plants

 Good through 2/9/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases.
Mention this offer at the checkout counter.

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Gorgeous Christmas Items at Hillermann's

SOOO MANY BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS & NOVELTY ITEMS
are available for your Christmas decorating and gift list needs!
Come see us this weekend - 12/15/18 and 12/16/18 and SAVE...

Wrap up Christmas Savings Days!
Wrap up your Christmas Gift List and Decorating with these great savings!
December 15 and 16, 2018: 20% OFF Christmas Items!
Flower Shop items, fresh Christmas trees, fresh greens items, poinsettias and houseplants excluded. Not good with any other offer or on previous purchases.

Check out the pictures below! Click here for more pictures.