Sturtz & Copeland

Care for your Christmas Decorations by Connie

December 9th, 2011 . Posted in Christmas Trees, Garland, Poinsettias, Wreaths |

Christmas Trees: I don’t think folks realize how important it is to keep your Christmas tree watered. You need to think of your Christms tree as one big “cut flower”.

For best results, cut with a hand saw right before placing it in your tree stand with warm water. You may add 1 or 2 crushed Aspirin in the 1st container of water only. Aspirin helps with water uptake.

Don’t be surprised if the tree drings a quart or more the 1st night. Water uptake then continues usually at a slower pace. Do not let it run competely dry if you expect the needles to stay supple.

Poinsettias are quite easy to care for if you follow a couple simple rules. :

Place it in a bright spot without direct sun
water when dry on top until it comes out of the bottom of the pot.

Evergreen Christmas wreaths can be kept fresher for longer by using a natural product called Wilt-Pruf. Every wreath we sell is dippind in Wilt-Pruf as a matter of course - so our customers get teh best possible life out of the wreath. For best results do not hang in Southern Sun.

What’s new in Connie’s Garden After Thanksgiving?

November 25th, 2011 . Posted in Uncategorized |

Connie's Dad - Ray Smith

My dad and others often ask if it is okay to trim back perennials that are brown, dry and still standing in one’s garden this time of year. The answer is YES - Trim them back to about a 4″-6″ stubble and allow leaves to accumulate in the stubble around the plants. This acts as a natural mulch and keeps your plants moist and warmer for the winter.

What’s New in Connie’s Garden in November 2011

November 11th, 2011 . Posted in Flowers, Gardening |

Connie's Mom - Trish Smith

My mom said I’m behind on blogging. So here I go…

Remember when cleaning out your garden in the fall to NOT put diseased or buggy plants in your compost pile. I trash them or put them in the The City Compost. Your compost pile or bin may not heat up enough to kill bugs, disease or weed seeds for that matter.

Now that we have had our first cold spell and the soil has cooled and the snow has cleared - It is a perfect time to plant flower bulbs for a blast of color in spring.

Best to mulch afterward to moderate the soil temp. This will help prevent them from sprouting too early.

Plant your winter pansies now too. You can plant them right over your bulbs for a show of color off and on this winter and a very early jump start to color in late winter / early spring.

What’s New in Connie’s Garden - Week of October 1st

October 8th, 2011 . Posted in Deer and Other Pests, Flowers, Gardening, Herbs |

This fall I finally found what seems to be a good solution to the problem of squirrels eating my winter squash. Apparently, they hate the smell of blood, so I sprinkled blood meal all around, on the leaves on the ground and it really worked. EUREKA!

Tonight 10/8 - looks like the first night it may freeze. I will cover my tender vegetable plants like tomatoes, peppers and summer squash in order to eek out another week or two of harvest. THe frost blanket we sell at Sturtz and Copeland is lightweight so it doesn’t crush the plants. I find it works very well down to about 25 degrees F or so. Below that not much helps.

Happy Fall Harvest!

Lets Talk About Fungus Gnats

September 23rd, 2011 . Posted in Deer and Other Pests, Gardening, Uncategorized |

You would not believe how often we discuss fungus gnats with customers.

They are pesty little guys that look like fruit flys that hang around your fresh fruit bowl, but instead are around your plants.

We have found that the best treatment has 2 steps:

You must kill the flys with sticky traps (sold here) or a pyrethrin spray.
You must also treat what you can’t see. The gnats lay eggs in the soil and you must kill the maggots that result, (everyone squirms when I say maggot). There is a home remedy that works very well as a drench for the soil as follows:

Fungus Gnat Remedy

· 1 quart warm water

· 5-6 drops antibacterial soap

· 3 drops ammonia

· 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol

· Pour ½ cup to 1 quart into soil depending on pot size

You must also use a topical spray contacting pyrethrins or sticky yellow stakes to catch the adults

Food For Thought - Brought to You by Connie

September 10th, 2011 . Posted in Gardening, Tomatoes, Uncategorized, Vegetables |

Now that it is September. My choice of what to pick for dinner is affected. I consistently choose Summer Squash, Cucumber, Tomatoes, and other frost sensitive veggies as their days are numbered. My Kale, Chard, Beets and Carrots will be fine even with the snow covering them for a time and even get sweeter with the cooler weather.

This week in Connie’s Garden - Week of August 21st

August 27th, 2011 . Posted in Uncategorized |

So the other day at Sturtz a lady came in and wondered what critter had eaten a large hunk out of a tomato fruit on her vine. We wondered if it was a squirrel or raccoon because she said what a big bite was taken.

Now I know from personal experience just this week in my garden, that Tomato Horn Worms can eat a very large “chomp” out of a tomato because I saw it. They also leave “sticks’ where there were leaves. Use BT (organic)and kill em dead.

New Fall and Winter Class Schedule - 2011/2012

August 20th, 2011 . Posted in Flowers, Gardening, Orchids |

Sturtz & Copeland 2011&2012 Fall and Winter Class Schedule

All materials purchased during class will be 20% off

Contact Sturtz and Copeland to sign up for classes (303) 442-6663 or email Hannah@sturtzandcopeland.com

9/28/11 Fall Gardening with Hannah Learn about Planting bulbs, perennials, veggies, and winterizing your garden. $15 lecture class. 6:15-8pm

10/06/11 Beginner Orchid Class with Candace Learn the basics of growing and caring for your orchids! Bring in your own orchids for repotting. $15 lecture. 6:15-8pm

10/19/11 Creating Halloween Fairy Gardens with Hannah–All ages A great class for kids! Design your own creepy fairy garden with our plants and other little fairy furniture. Maybe we’ll even see some fairies, witches and goblins! You are welcome to bring your own planter and materials. $15, not including materials. 6:15-8pm

10/26/11 Creating Gourd Creatures with Hannah- for older kids and adults Design fun creatures for holiday centerpieces out of gourds and pumpkins. $15, not including materials. 6:15-8pm

10/31/11 Trick or Treat at Sturtz! Come in and show off your costumes, talk to Lindy and feed the fish. We’d love to see all the fun Halloween Costumes. FREE!

11/10/11 Seasonal Decorating with Ashley and Hunter Learn terrific fun and unique holiday decorating techniques with our design experts! Make the easy transition from Fall to Winter in your home décor. $20 lecture class.

11/17/11 Beginning Floral Arranging with Emily Come join us for our very popular floral arranging class. Sign up now as slots are limited! Learn the basics of creating your own gorgeous arrangements just in time for the holidays! $15 not including supplies. 6:15-8pm

12/1/11 Wreath Decorating with Becca Learn gorgeous wreath decoration techniques! Bring your own ornaments and trinkets or buy ours! A fun way to make a unique wreath for your holiday décor! $15, not including materials.

12/14/11 Creating Holiday Fairy Gardens with Hannah A great class for kids! Design your own fairy garden with our plants and other little fairy furniture. Maybe we’ll even see some fairies! You are welcome to bring your own planter and materials. $15, not including materials. 6:15-8pm

12/15/11 Beginning Floral Arranging with Becca Come join us for our very popular floral arranging class. Learn the basics of creating your own gorgeous arrangements just in time for the holidays! $15 not including supplies. 6:15-8pm

1/12/12 House Plants with Candice Learn the basics of growing house plants including light requirements, fertilizing and pest management. $15 lecture class. 6:15-7:30pm

1/26/12 Beginner Orchid Class with Candace Learn the basics of growing and caring for your orchids! Bring in your own orchids for repotting. $15 lecture. 6:15-8pm

2/1/12 Creating Terrariums with Hannah Learn the fun techniques of planting terrariums for your home. Bring your own fun glass container, or use ours! $15, not including supplies. 6:15-8pm

2/2/12 Valentine Floral Arranging with Emily Come join us for our very popular floral arranging class. Learn the basics of creating your own gorgeous arrangements just in time for the Valentine’s Day! $15 not including supplies. 6:15-8pm

This week in Connie’s Garden - Week of August 8th

August 13th, 2011 . Posted in Flowers, Fruits and berries, Gardening, Vegetables |

Barely time to blog between Zucchini Harvests! Speaking of summer squash every year about now, it gets powdery mildew, along with my lilac bush, cucumbers among other things - … So over the years I’ve gotten smarter and done a preemptive spray with Safer Fungicide, which is best used as a preventive. It makes a leaf surface acidic and mildew won’t grow there. It is much harder to get rid of once the leaf surfaces are turning white and if you see mildew forming - avoid getting the leaves wet as it spreads it.

This week in Connie’s Garden - July 14th

July 15th, 2011 . Posted in Gardening, Vegetables |

Last week I harvested and dried my garlic which was planted last fall. I knew it was ready for harvest by the leaves which bent over and started yellowing. At that point I stopped watering them for about a week and then pulled them up and laid them out in the sun for a few days. All this drying helps them store better and not get moldy. I ‘ll have it now for a whole winter for use.

Now about Carrot Flowers - Some of my carrots from seed produce flowers each year and this renders the root hard and flavorless. I found out it happens when spring conditions are just too cold. The purple and white carrots are more susceptible to it. Anyway, they are very pretty and one of the best to have in your garden to attract beneficial bugs that help keep the pesky bugs in check and we all know what a problem bugs are this year!

Avant Gardening with Sturtz & Copeland