NEW HAMPSHIRE PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION / DECEMBER 1993 & JANUARY 1996 K^^^yjjid I prefer the birds that sing when snow is here,,. What do you want for Christmas? You Want Someone Who is Responsive to Your Needs At Sibgo Tree Company we offer a wide variety of high quaUty Christmas Trees. Other tree companies can say that too. But, since we also have a retail Christmas Tree business, we know what retailers want. What sets us apart is our understanding oi yaiir needs. We know w hat you want from a supplier. You Want to Keep It Simple. You are looking for trees that are ready to go. Our trees arrive individually wrapped. All you have to do is remove the wrappers and set the trees out. No broken branches. And since our trees are basal pruned, you and your customers will not have to hassle with any additional trimming to fit the tree to the stand. You Want Quality. \\"c offer heavily needled trees that have been pruned to achieve a traditional, yet natural form. The sturdy branches and careful h shaped profile offer room and support for your customers' valued Christmas ornaments. You Want Freshness. The later a tree is cut, the better it is able to retain water. (Did you know that if a tree loses 40% of its moisture it will never recover.') Since our trees are grown in New Hampshire and Vermont, they are not shipped long distances. This means that the trees can be cut later in the season. In addition, after cutting, we do c\erything we can to minimize loss of moisture. For example, we interlock the tops of the trees after cutting to prevent drying. You Want Variety. We grow blue balsam, known for its lo\ ely color, fragrance, and good needle retention. Fraser, another favorite at our plantation, also has good needle retention. And this year we will be offering something new: fralsam. a fraser- balsam cross. White, scotch, and red pine, and white spruce are also available. You Want On-time Delivery. We guarantee on time delivery — on the day vo// have scheduled to receive your order, not the day icfore or the day after. You Want the Number of Trees That's Right for You. You can order either 2.S trees or a trailer load. Have We Missed Anything? Call 800/694-8722 or 603/237-,S702 and ask for Mike Godzyk. He would love to talk to you. While you're on the phone, schedule an appointment to visit us and inspect our trees. This summer.. .or any- time. Or if you don't have time in your busy schedule to \isit us, we'd be happy to \isit you. Sibgo Tree Company We know \\'ha{ i/i'ii icdii/ \of Ciiiislnuis] 800/694-8722 or 603/237-5702 FAX 603/237-8439 COLEBROOK, NH CALENDAR Co ontents ]anuary lANUARY 4-6 Christmas Tree Pest Man- agement Course, Keene State College, Keene, NH; information:MarshalI Patmos at 603-352-4550 JANUARY 9-1 1 ERNA's Best Trade Show, Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, NY; 203-872-2095. JANUARY 10 Maine Landscape & Nurs- ery /Kssociation (MeLNA) Annual Meet- ing, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Me; Edith Ellis at 207-225-3998. lANUARY 15-17 Massachusetts Turf Conference, Copley Marriott, Boston, MA: information: Denise Ruszala at 413-562-0120. lANUARY 16 MeLNA Annual Trade Show, Holiday Inn by the Bay, Port- land, Me; 207-225-3998. lANUARY 16-17 Connecticut Nurserymen's Association Annual Meet- ing, Education Seminar, & Trade Show, Aqua Turf, Southington, CT; 203-872-2095. %■**■ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 New Hampshire Plant Growers Associa- tion/New Hampshire Landscape Associa- tion ]oint Winter Meeting, Old Mill Restaurant, Epsom; information: Pe- ter van Berkum at 603-463-7663. JANUARY 18 Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association Annual Meeting, Ag- ricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT; 203-261-9067. lANUARY 21 FTDA District Meeting, Elliott & Williams Roses, Dover, NH; for details: Debra Defreze at 603-474-3020. lANUARY 23-24 Rhode \sland Nursery- men's Association Education Day and Trade Show, Doubletree Inn, New- port, Rl; information: Ken Lagerquist at 508-761-9260. lANUARY 26-27 Farw & Forest Exposi- tion, Center of New Hampshire Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Manchester, NH; information: Mary Ellen Pitman on Wednesdays at 603-271-3788. February FEBRUARY 1-3 New England Crows, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA; 508-653-3009. •W%"W WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Seminar: "Busiwess Planning for Orna- mentals Firms," co-sponsored by UNHCE, NHPGA, & NHLA; Concord, NH (location to be announced); in- formation: Merrimack County Exten- sion at 603-796-2151. FEBRUARY 16 Ecological Landscaping Association Wi«ter Conference, Holiday Inn, Boxboro, MA (co-sponsored by ELA and UMass Extension); informa- tion: Andrea Knowles at 508-667- 5636. FEBRUARY 22-25 Rhode Island Spring Flower & Garden Show (theme: "The Gardens of Rhode Island"), Rl Con- vention Center, Providence, Rl; 401- 421-7811. FEBRUARY 22-25 Hartford Flower Show, Hartford Civic Center, Hart- ford, CT; 860-529-2123. FEBRUARY 26 Law« Care II Semi«ar, Sturbridge MA (co-sponsored by MALCP & UMAss Extension); infor- mation: Karen Connelly at 508-287- 0127. March MARCH 9-17 New England Flower Show (theme: "Celebration"), Bayside Ex- position Center, Boston, MA; 617- 536-9280. MARCH 15-17 Vermont Flower Show. Sheraton Inn, Burlington, VT; )ane Wilkening at 802-253-2350. MARCH 25 Thompson School of Applied Science Centennial Lecture. Alex Shigo: "Some Good News for the World of Trees," 7:30 pm. Cole Hall, UNH, Durham, NH; information: John Bozak at 603-862-1099. MARCH 28-31 Bangor Garden Show, Bangor Auditorium, Bangor, ME; Dick Stockford at 207-942-0220. MARCH 29-30 2bth Annual University of New Hampshire Greenhouse Open House, Plant Biology & Thompson School Greenhouses, UNH, Durham NH; information: Bill Lord at 603- 862-3203. April APRIL 26-28 Fiftd A««ua/ New Hamp- shire Orchid Society Show, location to be announced; information: Joanna Eckstrom at 603-654-5070. 1 DEPARTMENTS 1 FORUM 2 NH NEWS 5 ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS 8 MEMBER PROFILE Heath's Greenhouse & Nursery 13 HOW ABOUT HERBS Tanya \ackson 23 DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE Dr. Cheryl Smith 27 FROM THE BOARD 28 1 FEATURES 1 New Pest Arrivals Alan T. Eaton 9 Children: A market you can tap with a clear conscience Margaret Hagen 11 History of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the East Dennis Souto and Tom Luther 17 Spring Back in the Woodlands Leslie van Berkum 21 1 COLUMNS 1 The Green Spot 15 The Griffin Guru Mike Cherim 18 Z-notes Jim Zablocki The Plantsman Is published In early February, April, |une, August, October, and December with copy deadlines being the first of each prior month. While camera-ready ads are preferred, set-up assistance Is available at a nominal fee. Free classified advertising Is offered as a mem- ber service. We will carry a short message (no artwork or logos) for one or two Issues of The Plantsman. AD SIZE 6x U 3 3/8"w X 1 1/4'h $120 $30 3 3/8'w X 4 3/4"h $160 $40 7'w X 2 1/4'h $160 $40 7"w X 4 5/8'h $250 $50 7"w X 9 1/2'h $400 $IOC For further Information, please contact the editor: Robert Parker at the UNH Research Greenhouses, Durham, NH 03824, 603-862-2061; or PO Box 5, Newflelds, NH 03856, 603-778-8353. DECEMBER 1995 ♦ JANUARY 1996 BARK MULCH DIVISION: P. 0.80x527. Route 122 Poland Spring, Maine 04274 WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS Jolly Farmer PRODUCTS NURSERY DIVISION: P. O. Box 56. Route 10 East Umpster.N.H. 03605 WHOLESALE GROWERS Bark Mulch • Hemlock . Mbc & Cedar... by the Tractor-Trailer load. Bagged Mulch • Our own bark muk:h now available In 2 and 3 cu.tt. bags...Henilock, Pine-Spruce, Cedar, Spruce-Hemlock & Dark Bark. Alsc.Plne Bark Nuggets & Mini Nuggets. Bagged Soils & Manures - Top soii. Potting Soil. Peat Humus. Peat Moss, Composted & Dehydrated Cow Manures. Cut & Split Firewood Annual Plugs Rooted Cuttings Geraniums Bedding Plants Potted Annuals Hanging Baskets Fall Mums Cyclamen...Uners, Rnlshed Poinsettlas...Cuttlngs, Finished Telephone: 1-800-879-2275 C^ Telephone: 1-800-695-8300 1-207-998-5580 ) 1-603-863-3370 1-207-998-2006 FAX: 1-603-863-7814 "Integrity, quality and reliable service since 1967" ^^^= NORTHERN NURSERIES WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS \3S. Route S, White River Junction, VT 05001 ^ 1 6 Pinkham Road West, Banington, Nh 03825 A SERVING THE PROFESSIOKAL WTIH ABOVE GROUND PLANT MATERIAL Distributors in tlic following lines: • Lofts Seeds • Birchmder Sprayers •DeWitt Weed Barrier . Lebanon TurfFertilizen • Corona Hand Tools Mulch & Grow Hydrosccding Fiber • Earthway Spreaders • Nursery & Landscape Supplies Contact: Jim Babb, Mgr., White River Junction, VT, (802) 295-2117 Bob AvcrcU, Mgr., Barrington, NH, (603) 868-7172 GOOD SERVICE . DEPENDABLE QUALTTr- CONVENIENT LOCATION THE PLANTSMAN FORUM Thank you... On September 21, the final NHPGA twilight meeting of the year was hosted by Rick and Beth Simpson at Rolling Green Nursery in Greenland The concept of the nursery itself being a garden, with areas of potted material framed by lawn or shaded by specimen trees is, 1 suppose, not new, but it is unusual to see the idea as well articulated as it is at Rolling Green. Stone walls, seating areas, and a pool and waterfall (a major focal point) using rocks large enough to work as individual design units in themselves add to the illu- sion. With this in mind, it seemed ironic that the tour, led by Rick, dealt al- most entirely on the most practical aspects — wells and watering systems, traffic patterns, informative signage, color coding. The attractiveness of the place was attested to by the guests, who lingered well after twilight. The NHPGA thanks Rick and Beth — and the Rolling Green staff — for hosting this pleasant and informa- tive meeting. Approximately 60 people attended the NHPGA Pesticide Applicators' Re- certification Program held in Man- chester on October 18. Most stayed for both sessions and received four credits for the five hours of talks and demonstrations given by representa- tives of the pesticide, protective equipment, and information tech- nologies industries. Speakers included David Brock (Ful- ler Systems, lnc.|, Keiren Halprin (FMC Corporation), Cliff Plourde (Nespack, Inc.), Wayne Wells (Sandoz Agro, Inc.), and Jim Zablocki (The Scotts Com- pany). The NHPGA thanks these people who took time from busy profes- sional and personal schedules in or- der to make their presentations. Thanks also go to Chris Robarge, who handled publicity, paperwork, and registration and, most especially, to Bob Demers, |r., who planned and coordinated the whole event. Next year, members can be get- ting credits at the New England Greenhouse Conference in Stur- bridge, but the year after that (1997), the NHPGA plans to offer another all-day recertification seminar, hope- fully for five credits — or more. Dear NHPGA: I am writing to you for your help. As you know, for forty years, the Oc. Ed. program at UNH has provided trained professionals certified to teach both Adult Education and Agricultural Science. We are currently the only New England post-secondary institution graduating certified Ag. Ed. teachers. Now, as part of the University's proposed budget cuts. Adult and Occu- pational Educational undergraduate and graduate programs are being re- viewed for possible reduction or elimination. I believe it is essential to our programs that your concern and apprecia- tion of their value be known. The following people need to be contacted: Dr. Walter Eggers, VP Academic Affairs, Thompson Hall, UNH, Durham, NH 03824; Dr. William Mautz, Interim Dean, College of Life Sciences & Agriculture, Taylor Hall, UNH, Durham, NH 03824. Copies of letters of support should be sent to David Howell, Coordina- tor of AOE, 316 lames Hall, UNH, Durham, NH 03824. Thank you for your action in this matter. We appreciate your support. Sincerely yours, Bruce Farr, President, NH Vocational Teacher's Association New Members ALMQUIST GREENHOUSES PO Box 435 Mirror Lake, NH 03853 BOULDER FARM 87 Garrison Lane Hopkinton, NH 03229 ROBERT BOWEN 460 Mammoth Road Londonderry, NH 03053 CAMPBELLS COUNTRY GARDENS 1322 Mad River Road Campton, NH 03223 DAVID DAVIS 27 River View Drive Charlestown, NH 03603 GLENN GRISWOLD PO Box 35 Nottingham, NH 03290 HIGHLANDER GROWERS 56 Old Auburn Road Derry, NH 03038 MATAROZZO GREENHOUSE 98 Fordway Extension Derry, NH 03038 D. MCLEOD, INC. 49 South State Street Concord, NH 03301 POTTER FARM RFD #1, Box 342 Barnstead, NH 03218 HOWARD ROGERS 27 Providence Hill Road Atkinson, NH 03811 SILVER MAPLES PO Box 155 Gilmanton Ironworks, NH 03837 STONEROOT GARDENERS PO Box 1425 Meredith, NH 03253 DECEMBER 1995 ♦ JANUARY 1996 ; Tanglewood Gardens ^ Growers of Fine Plants ^j^ 424 State Route 101 ^ Bedford, NH 03110-5029 ^J 603/472-3737 \|/ Wholesale & Retail ^ 2 1/2" - Geraniums • Fuchsias ^j^ Dracaenas • Vinca Vine ^^S Ivy Geraniums & j Poinsettias v 4 1/2" - Prefinished ^ Geraniums & New Guinea \J/ Impatiens ^M^ ALSO j\ Over 1 00 Herb Varieties ^ Open seven days a week ^|" Located on Rt. 101 : 1000 ft West j of Weathervane Restaurant ^1/ (JUAIITY New England's Leading Full Line Seed House • Packet Seeds • Lawn Seed • Fertilizer • Grounds Maintenance Chemicals 1 (800) 326-HART FAST. COURTEOUS SERVICE The Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. P.O. BOX 9169 WETHERSFIELD. CT 06129-0169 1 (800) 326-HART ^/O^^bk"0ur goal, quality Our strength, our employees" F(?R A GREENHOUSE VEFJNJTLV VJFFERENT CONTACT: ELLJS B.SPRAGUE OMtiO, «AIWE TEL: 207-866-7919 FAX: 207-866-4747 O HRRnOIS WINDING BROOK TURF FARM, ""^ 240CritwoUR4 WeOierifieU. CT 06109 FT J II KtiiMbiuik. ME 04043 QUALITY BLUEGRASS BLVEGRASS - FESCUE BLENDS LOW MAINTENANCE BLENDS PENNCROSS BENTGRASS Outsidt CT I-600-243-O232 •^^ A THE PLANTSMAN NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS A Landmark Recycled The old town hall on Route 33 (for- merly 101), in Stratham, New Hamp- shire, has been a focal point in the town for over a century. But after the town services were moved to the municipal building off 108, the old town hall seemed to have outlived its usefulness. It was rented to differ- ent businesses, but none had much commitment and seemed more and more likely that this 1877 landmark would eventually disappear. However, things seem to be turn- ing out quite differently. A local business owner, David Short of Stratham Circle Nursery, and a part- ner, a local builder, have recently purchased the building from the town. "We're not sure yet exactly how we'll use it," Dave says, "but it's a neat old structure, structurally sound, everything plumb." It will be fixed up ("most of the work is cosmetic") and landscaped. Use will be mixed and will probably include a "small retail profile" for the nursery on the Route 33 side of the circle. In October, no definite plans had been made, but it is clear that the old building's robust attributes are appreciated by its new owners and that it should remain a landmark for some time to come. Stratham Circle Nursery was begun in 1991; since then, the yard has grown from approximately three-quarters of an acre to nearly seven The specialty there is having a "greater-than-typical" variety. The phone number is 778-371 1. The old town hall in Stratham. FFA Worldwide This fall's FFA Invitational Interscho- lastics were held at the UNH Plant Biology and Thompson School Green- houses in Durham on October 28. Sat- urday transportation costs and SAT ex- ams may have been factors, but only two teams, Winnisquam (Tilton) and Dover, participated. The clear winner was Winnisquam with the highest team total and the three highest scoring in- dividuals: Sarah Clark, [ason Cross, and |oe Banan (in that order.) Congratula- tions. Hopefully more schools will par- ticipate at the spring event. (from A^LiM*, fall, 1995): New Hamp- shire State FFA Director, Dr. Rick Barker, spent a month this summer at the Yakhromsky State Farm and College in Novosinkovo, Russia, as part of the Farmer-to-Farmer program sponsored by the US Agency for In- ternational Development. Barker was ne of ten US educators making up an FFA team. While there, he conducted seminars and looked into youth de- velopment opportunities, looking specifically at the possibility of es- tablishing a version of FFA in Russia. Barker noted the "great potential for growth and development;" for more. Rick can be reached at 603- 271-3885. Laughton^s nursery stock • annuals Garden Center Inc. ^^^^ ^^^""^^c^r^r.^^ , . FERTILIZERS • INSECTICIDES Cat Laugnton, Florist Distributors ofNurszery Overwintering Blankets WHOLESALE AND RETAIL NURSERY Tel. 1-800-633-0159 155-165 Princeton Blvd. No. Chelmsford, MA 01863 DECEMBER 1995 -f JANUARY 1996 NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS Tree Memorials The New Hampshire Funeral Direc- tors Association has joined with the New Hampshire Department of Re- sources and Economic Development, Division of Forests & Lands to create and promote a memorial tree pro- gram that allows people to purchase a tree for a community in memory of a person who's died. The funeral home will contribute a portion of the total money needed ($150 to $200), contact the community where it is to grow, and make arrangements for the purchase and the planting. An 8x10- inch brass plaque mounted flush to the ground on a concrete block can be purchased for an additional $100 to $200. It's a thoughtful memorial, but somewhat expensive, and one option is that a tree can be purchased by a group of friends or relatives. The Divi- sion of Forest & Lands will be helping with this program's promotion. Nursery operators could contact local funeral directors and let them know there's material available. For information, call Dave Pollard at 603- 435-8329. Meetings, Seminars, Shows... The FTDA District IVleeting at Elliott & Williams Roses, Dover, on January 21, is about roses — "just in time for Valentine's Day." The program begins at 4pm and includes design demon- strations, a talk on care and han- dling, and a tour of the greenhouse and packing facility. Reservations (required) can be made through Sweet Meadows, 559 Central Avenue, Dover. The phone number is 603-742-1165; the Mercury number, 33-0373AA. This year's Farm & Forest Exposition will be held on (anuary 26-27 (for only two days because the hotel is booked by people involved with the primary) at the Center of New Hamp- shire Holiday Inn & Convention Cen- ter in Manchester. The theme is "Pre- serving Our Farms and Forests for Future Generations;" Friday night is the traditional 4-H night, with kids teaching kids; Saturday activities in- clude the Awards Breakfast and, at 2 pm, an auction of products donated by New Hampshire's various agricul- tural groups and enterprises. The Food Festival is back, as well as the familiar range of displays and booths. What is new this year is FARMO, "the new interactive Farm & Forest Bingo game," designed to get people to exhibitors' booths and to "encour- age the Expo-goer to get in touch with his/her rural character..." It sounds intriguing. ..worth a visit. For more, contact Mary Ellen Pit- man on Wednesdays at 603-271-3788. One of the ways the Thompson School of Applied Science at UNH, Durham, is celebrating its centennial this year is by the sponsorship of a lecture se- ries. Each of the six curriculums is sponsoring one lecture, the topic of which relates both to the individual curriculum and to the 100 years of the Thompson School's existence. On March 25, the Forest Technology cur- riculum is sponsoring a lecture by Dr. Alex Shigo, well-known expert on trees, tentatively titled, "Some Good News for the World of Trees." It will be held in Cole Hall at 7:30 pm. In April, the Horticulture curriculum will be sponsoring a lecture by Mark Zelonis, Executive Director of Blithe- wold Mansion & Garden in Bristol, RI. The topic will be "A History of Public Gardening in New England;" the date is to be announced. Both lectures are free and open to the public. For information: 603-862- 1025. Horticultural Courses at the Thompson School This is a partial listing of courses offered this winter at the UNH Thompson School. The winter/spring semester runs from January 17 through May 7, 1996. (Prerequisites for Landscape Design are Introduc- tion to Woody Plants, Woody Landscape Plants, and Landscape Design & Construction, all offered in the fall semester.) HT244 Plant Propagation 3 cr. MW 9-10 & T 10-12 or T 2-4. HT249 Introduction to Floral Design (7 weeks: |an 17-Mar 7) 2 cr. T TH 2-5. HT252 Floral Design. Weddings (7 weeks: Mar 19-May 7) 2 cr. T TH 2-5. HT257B Horticultural Facilities Management 2 cr. M 8-9; 2 hr. lab arranged. HT259A Pest Management: Diseases (7 weeks: fan 17-Mar 7) 2 cr. T TH 5:30- 7pm & T 7-9pm or TH 7-9pm. HT259B Pest Management: Insects (7 weeks: Mar 18-May 6) 2 cr. MWF 10-11 & TH 10-12 or TH 2-4. HT260 Garden Design & Culture 2 cr. TH 5:30-8:30pm. HT264 Horticultural Pruning 2 cr. F 1-4. HT267 Herbaceous Plant Materials 1 cr. TH 10-12. HT272 Landscape Design Studio 4 cr. W 10-12 & W 1-5. HT280 Garden Center Management 2 cr. M 1-4. HT288 HorticM/lMra/ Business Management 4 cr. MW 6-8pm. You can enroll by phoning the Division of Continuing Education at 603- 862-2015. For information on course content, the part-time associate's degree program, or the diploma in landscape horticulture, call 603-862- 1035. Additional horticulture courses are offered at UNH in the Plant Bi- ology Department. THE PLANTSMAN NEW HAMPSHIRE The University of New Hampshire Greenhouse Open House is the long- est running show in New Hamp- shire— this will be its 26th consecu- tive year. It will be held on March 29-30 in conjunction with the Little Royal Horse Show on the 30th. Co- sponsored by the Plant Biology De- partment and the Thompson School horticulture curriculum, it will be held in the greenhouse complex on Mast Road Extension and feature the usual mix of displays, sales, talks, and lots of people willing to answer lots of gardening questions. The theme is "Toward a Sustainable Agri- culture." For more, contact Bill Lord at 603- 862-3203. ?f The New Hampshire Orchid Society (NHOS) is planning a show sched- uled for April 26-28. The format — a mix of displays and sales — will re- main the same; locations in Manches- ter and Nashua are being consid- ered. NHOS is planning to show in other places — at the Cape and the Islands Show in February, perhaps at the New York Show at the World Trade Center in March, and at Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in April. For information about the Society and its activities, contact loanna Eckstrom at 603-654-5070. Seminar "Business Planning for Ornamentals Firms" Planned The New Hampshire Plant Growers Association (NHPGA), the New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA), and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension (UNHCE) are sponsoring a seminar entitled "Business Planning for Ornamentals Firms" to be held on Wednesday, February 7, 1996, in Concord. The purpose is to "provide education on the basic concepts and procedures associated with developing a business plan for the operation of a greenhouse, nursery, or landscaping firm. Emphasis will be on developing financial and marketing plans for family- owned-and-operated businesses." This seminar is specifically aimed at "individuals who have been operating/managing an ornamentals firm for one-to-five years and who want to carefully plan future operations;" individuals who are considering starting a greenhouse, nursery, or landscaping firm are also seen as part of the targeted audience. Broad topics covered are "Family & Business Goals," "Financial Management — Sources and Uses of Funds," and "Market Analysis & Strategies." Sub-topics include family communications & goal set- ting, balance sheet, cash flow budget, customers & sales estimates, pricing products, and product promotion. Details — speakers, fees, exact location — are still being worked out. Fliers will be sent at an appropriate time. For information, contact Nancy Adams (603-679-5616), Margaret Hagen (603-673- 2510), or Dave Seavey (603-796-2151). PRUNERS ■ LADDERS ■ SPRAYERS ■ FORKLIFTS m PUMPS ROUTE 116, P.O. BOX 540 CONWAY, MA 01341 413-369-4335 For Friendly, Courteous, Efficient, Technical Service CALL US AT 1-800-634-5557 FOR INFORMATION AND CATALOGS HOSE ■ TANKS ■ REELS ■ MOWERS ■ SAFETY EQUIPMENT DECEMBER 1995 ♦ JANUARY 1996 ELSEWHERE THE NEWS NENA Listening Session On September 14, the New England Nursery Association hosted a meet- ing of the New England state asso- ciation leadership, the primary focus of which was a three-hour listening session designed by Extension to help the New England Cooperative Extension System find ways to better serve to the regional green industry. A professional facilitator led the group of industry leaders through "a series of specific questions designed to elicit candid responses." And, according to |eff Huntington (Pleasant View Gardens), who was NHPGA's representative at the ses- sion, comments were "frank and to the point." Suggestions included bet- ter communication between states to avoid duplication of effort, improved communication between Extension and their respective associations, more timely communication of the results of local research, and greater emphasis on the use of computers. A review of Extension's soil testing sys- tem regionwide was suggested; it was felt that Extension's educational pri- orities should include "marketing, business management, computer ca- pabilities, and consumer understand- ing of the green industry." The session was transcribed and sent to the six state Extension sys- tems. The state association leader- ship group strongly recommends that there be follow-up on the ideas sug- gested. The NHPGA thanks Jeff for repre- senting us at this meeting. For de- tails, you can contact him at 603-435- 8361. New Plant Trials at UVM (from Tfte Dirt, Fall, 1995) During the last two years, aided by a $1500 grant by VAPH, the number of trees and shrubs under test at the UVM Research Center has greatly in- creased. Many new plants have be- come available from China and Rus- sia and from breeding programs in this country. Some were supplied by the Center for Development of Hardy Landscape Plants at the University of Minnesota. At UVM, special emphasis is placed on testing for hardiness, pest resistance, and landscape po- tential. Four hybrids (from Russia and Yu- goslavia, but purchased from One Green World Nursery, Molalla, OR) of mountain ash with edible fruit are on trial. These include 'Ivan's Belle' ™ — European mountain ash crossed with hawthorn, described as a hardy small tree with dark green foliage and wine-red fruit the size of a cherry; 'Ivan's Beauty'™ — a hybrid of Euro- pean mountain ash and chokeberry (Arowifl), with sweet almost-black fruit one-half inch in diameter; 'Shipova' re- 's S'-:.r^^~ rr ^'^-% Pleasant View Gardens LTrowers of Quality Liners ^& Finished Material 7316 PLEASANT STREET LOUDON NEW HAMPSHIRE 03301 603-435-8361 OR 1-800-343-4784 FAX 603-435-6849 THE PLANTSMAN ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS — a hybrid of European mountain ash and pear, with dark silvery gray foli- age and yellow-orange fruit the size of an apricot; and 'Nevezhinskaya Rabina' — European mountain ash se- lected for its large red juicy fruit. For information on the ongoing testing of these and over 50 other new or uncommon small trees, con- tact Dr. Norman Pellett, College of Plant and Soil Science, UVM, Bur- lington, VT. His number there is 802- 656-0467. Winners: FloraStar... The FloraStar Board of Directors is proud to introduce portulaca 'Yubi Apricot' from Sakata Seed's Yubi™ Series as the newest FloraStar winner. ludges appreciated the thicker fo- liage, the color ("Apricot's great — very different") of the large, bright, more upright flowers, and the attrac- tive rose eye in the center of each. One plant of 'Yubi Apricot" [Portu- laca oleracea L.) will spread to a one- and-a-half foot diameter and grow five inches high. In a hanging basket, five or six plugs can quickly make a cascade. In full sun, 'Yubi Apricot' will do well where other plants might suffer drought stress. lust the plant for a hot dry sum- mer. For more: PPGA at 1-800-647- 7742 or Sakata Seed America at 408- 778-7758. (Portulaca are intermediate feed- ers: a constant liquid feed program with 200ppm nitrogen works well; soluble salts should be monitored; care should be taken not to over-wa- ter younger plants; later in the crop, they can be grown dry — but not wa- ter-stressed— to control height. Portu- laca is scheduled as a ten-week crop.) ...and Proven (from GrowerTalks, November, 1995) Proven Winners expands its flowering plant line with Tapien verbena An exclusive agreement with Jackson & Perkins includes production and sales. On the German market since 1994, Tapien was named Best New Introduction at Germany's Plantec Ex- hibition. Because its multi-branching growth habit gives it a compact car- pet effect, it has been nicknamed "Carpet of Blossoms." Tapien has high powdery mildew resistance Con- tact Proven Winners (telephone 619- 942-9526). New Pest Arrivals Man T. Eaton With our modern technological systems, distribution of information on pests can be almost as rapid as introduction of the pests themselves! This fall I re- ceived electronic mail about two new pests of greenhouse crops. The first came from Dr. Stanton Gill of the University of Maryland. He reported a new mite of California citrus and Mexican papaya now being found in poinsettias grown from cuttings that came from those areas. The Lewis mite feeds on the undersides of poinsettia leaves. A peppered or speckled effect results. Continual feeding causes chlorosis. In heavy infestations, webbing may be present. He suggested placing a white piece of paper under speckled foli- age, then tapping to dislodge and detect the mites. Another alert came from Clayton Antieau of Washington State Univ. Coop. Extension. He warned us that chrysanthemum white rust (caused by Puccinia horiana) has been introduced to the west coast. The fungus is in Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and South America. It may become a serious pest. It is specific to some chrysanthemums, primarily C. moriifolium and its hybrids. Symptoms — light colored circular spots on the upper leaf surface, up to 5mm across — appear as the days shorten. The spots become sunken, and white or buff colored pustules appear on the undersides of the affected leaves. Please let Cooperative Extension or the state entomologist know if you think you have a problem with either of these pests! Dr. Eaton is Extension Specialist in Integrated Pest Management, UNH Cooperative Extension. He can be reached at 603-862-1 159. FOR THE LATEST QUALITY TURF BLENDS CALL TOLL FREE 1 ■800-556-6985 WcmBnSif Turf for Home Lawns, Athletic Fields, Parks, Commercial Buildings, Golf Courses, Schools, Garden Centers, Wetland Stabilization. BIG ROLLS AND ROLL OUT SERVICE. FORK LIFT UNLOADING. CONVENIENT FARM PICK UP IN THE MANCHESTER - NASHUA AREA GROWING FOR THE TURF PROFESSIONAL FOR 25 YEARS DECEMBER 1995 ♦ lANUARV 1996 Ernie's Greenhouse 107 WHITEHALL ROAD, ROCHESTER, NH 03868 TEL. 1 ■603-332-91 95 T Wholesalers of Pre-finished Geraniums, Ivie Geraniums, Fuchsias, Geranium Ivie, Vinca, Dracaena he heart of our own rapidly expanding retail business is our lavish display of the best geranium, ivie geranium and fuchsia varieties on the market today. Many of these are new Oglevee varieties that clearly out-perform the old standbys. We dazzle our retail customers with color, growing plants in all popular sizes, including spectacular big planters priced to sell in volume. Let us help you increase your sales and profit by helping you custom design just such a sales program. Available Varieties iOgl = Oglevee patented) ZONAL GERANIUM Kim, Red, Ogl Sassy, Dk Red, Ogl Veronica, Rose, Ogl Melody, Pink, Ogl Pink Expectations, Ogl Snow White, Ogl Aurora (violet) Beth, (light pink) Additional varieties may be introduced. We ship rooted cuttings IVIE GERANIUM Sybil Holmes (rosebud pink) Amethyst (violet) Bluebeard (deep burgundy) Beauty of Eastbourne (rose) Simone, Red, Ogl Nicole, Pink, Ogl Minicascade (red) 806 Packs. 4 1/2 FUCHSIAS Swingtime (red/white) Dark Eyes (red/purple) Blue Eyes (red/blue) Starry Trail (purple/white) Southgate (pink) Pink Marshmallow 8" and 10" pre-finished zonal geraniums, and 8" 10" pre-finished ivie geraniums and fuchsias. We may also be able to custom grow some selected annuals in 806 packs (pre-finished). Insurance Promems? No PrOblBm' WHU a ladenoon Greenhouse Your Insurance Comes Built-in Jaderloon's Gutter Connect Greenhouses have the leading structural & polyethylene gutter design in the industry All aluminum extruded gutter provioes practically unlimited life compared to galvanized gutters Unique structural design of the gutter gives I-beam type support for extra strength Deadmen bracing provide extra wind & snow load Kwic-Klip™ polyethylene film fastening system is extruded as an integral part into gutters providing watertight seal and efficient installation of poly coverings Jaderloon's Quonset Greenhouses ' Quonsets have a truss with every bow. providing superior strength over other types of greenhouse stmctures. • Unique system of cross connectors maintains 100% of structured integri- ty. Most other areenhotise companies bolt their purlins to the bows resulting in a 25% loss of strength where the connection occurs ' Free-standing greenhouses include 2x4 endwall brackets, a tremendously helpful feature in framing out your endwalls QQllied QyaillyGreenliflysES&Equipinenl Contact Your Northeast Product Specialist: Bob Rimol 1-800-258-7171 • 1-603-425-6563 THE PLANTSMAN children A Market You Can Tap With A Clear Conscience Margaret Hagen ccording to an article in the June issue of CrowerTalks, "gardeners are the hottest in dividual consumer market in the industrial ized world today." Roughly 78 million households are involved in gardening and in 1993, each of those households spent an average of $309 on this activity. So who is doing all this gardening? According to Wayne Dickson (co-owner of the horticultural marketing firm Dickson Felix Inc., Washington, D.C.), the most obvi- ous division of gardeners is by age. And the three pri- mary age groups that he sees evolving consist of matur- ing baby boomers (aged 30-39), "golden" gardeners (65 and over), and children. Clearly, boomers are the most numerous, and, in some ways, the most affluent of these three groups. But we wouldn't want to overlook the saplings for the trees. A pre-schooler growing cherry tomatoes at the age of three may be a passionate gardener at the age of 35. And he/she may have the income to match. And since re- search shows that children's attitudes about the environ- ment are formed before they get to school, the savvy garden center may want to stock some plants, toys, and books designed to capture that young gardener's eye. Not only will you be sowing seeds for the future, but you'll most likely be tapping into the parents' desire for quality family-oriented activities at the same time. In ad- dition, that child, when he gets a little older (8-14), will have a phenomenal influence on his parents' purchasing decisions. Wouldn't it be nice if he had good memories of your store? Also, garden centers that stock product lines geared to children frequently find that children come in with up to $20 of their own to spend. Need anything else to convince you that devoting some retail space to children is a good idea? How about the fact that it's a way to develop one more niche mar- ket? And niche markets are the opposite of what mass merchandisers do. With mass merchandisers gaining quickly in the areas of service and quality, it soon won't be enough to offer high quality merchandise and a knowledgeable sales staff. But filling a niche that no one else in your area oc- cupies, and doing it well, will motivate people to drive out of their way for your product. There are a few things you need to know about be- coming the niche. You'll need to become an expert on children's gardening You'll need to present seasonal pro- motions that will bring customers back four-to-eight times a year. And it could take up to three years before your customers and the community realize that you specialize in children's gardening. If you participate in community events and do some clever advertising, it will take less time. While you're devoting some retail space to children, you don't want to forget the other two gardening groups (boomers and golden agers). And the best way to appeal to all three at the same time is to "Entice, Entertain and Educate". Your store should be user-and-family-friendly. Below are some great ideas from retail owners who have learned how to reach out to and draw their customers in. Maybe you'll want to try some of them yourself. At Gateway Gardens in Concord, NH, they had a sec- tion devoted to just children for over a year after open- ing the garden center. Currently they have a small four- foot-square table and chairs with crayons and coloring books. They also stock packaged products from seed companies (pizza gardens, butterfly gardens, etc), kids' tools and clothing, gloves, books and bug finders. Susan Englund feels the key to children's products is placing them in an obvious and appealing location in the garden center. At Gateway they also have a year-round water garden display in the entrance that enchants children. It features fish, fountains, and a frog that sprays water. In the sum- mer they advertise "free frogs if you can catch them." Outside, during the growing season, mazes are created at the outer edges of pie-shaped gardens using potted perennials, pumpkins or whatever is in season. Garden clinics, aimed at all ages, are held spring and fall (23 so far) and a newsletter is mailed four times a year. Susan states that they will always have some space devoted to children's gardening because "it's a prime tool for getting parents and kids involved in gardening, with the whole family working together." At Wilson Farms in Lexington, MA, 90% of the advertis- ing budget is spent on promotion. Although more a road- side stand than a retail garden center, most of their pro- motions would work in either setting. Keith Hutchins of Wilson Farms says their activities motivate "kids to bring in their parents who don't just buy things, but also have a good time themselves." Their emphasis is on the idea DECEMBER 1995 -♦• JANUARY 1996 that, "Wilson Farms is a fun place to go — period." Wilson Farms has a year-round barnyard full of animals like pigs, chickens and calves so that Boston's city kids can get a taste of farm life. They have a full-time tour guide and offer tours all year of the barns, greenhouses, processing plant, and fields. Some teachers bring stu- dents back often so they can see the entire production process: from cultivating to seeding to thinning and weeding and then to harvest. ci pre-schooler growing cherry tomatoes at the age of three may be a passionate gardener at the age of 35. In January, Wilson's has "Customer Appreciation Week." Between 8 and 10,000 people attend this huge party fea- turing sleigh rides, ice sculpting and food. Every half hour on Easter morning there is an egg hunt, with each child receiving a prize. An old-fashioned 4th of |uly fea- tures a number of activities including watermelon and pie-eating contests. And there's a haunted house for three weeks at Halloween. Wilson's also participates in community events like parades and fairs. All of the events at the farm are free. Wilson's promo- tional activities are intended to build on their existing customer base. This family-owned business holds the philosophy that the more fun it is for customers, the more times they'll come back. And with an emphasis on personal service to the customer, Keith says that the big chains really haven't cut much into their business. At Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, MA, Barbara Rose says they "try to create a fun atmosphere for kids." The idea is to try and attract kids and parents to Russells on a weekend afternoon "for fun." To encourage those "fun" visits, Russell's has Open Houses several times a year featuring popcorn and bal- loons, hayrides, the local high school chorus, face paint- ing. Girl Scouts selling cookies, etc. At Christmas Santa arrives on the Wayland fire truck one Saturday morning to hear kids' wishes. There is also a Winter Garden Fair with booths set up by vendors and local non-profit orga- nizations. Demonstrations and hands-on workshops are the order of the day for this event. At a Spring Weekend, animals are brought in for "looking", and kids get a chance to plant. As part of its permanent setting, Wayland's has a huge wooden train in the outside yard. There is also a toy store with Brio and Play Mobil toys, clay, chalk, trucks, puzzles, etc. Kids find the bird department an attraction and a pond with a waterfall and fishes is also a great draw. On the educational end, Russell's offers school tours on "How a Garden Center Works" and "How Plants Grow in a Greenhouse." More and more, they are trying to send kids home with green knowledge and appropriate handouts when they participate in an activity. Are you beginning to see some themes repeating themselves here? All of the above successful operations are trying some combination of "Entice, Entertain and Educate." And a little bit of community involvement seems to pay off, too. Oakland Nursery in Columbus, OH, focuses many of its child-centered events on Christmas, the 4th of July and its Fall Festival. At Christmas, there is a Fantasyland with 100 pieces of animation (at their height) that children can walk through. At the end of Fantasyland, there are live animals and Santa. At least 100 busloads of kids come to see this each year. And if those kids don't go home and tell their parents about it, I'll eat my hat! During the 4th of luly celebration, there are dime hot dogs and bands with string guitars At the Fall Festival, Oaklands provides hayrides, an all-the-pumpkins-you- can-carry contest and wood carving (tree stumps are carved into animals using chainsaws). On a more local note, Tyngsboro Gardens, MA, has a children's garden on the premises as a way of showing kids what they can do. They grow bean tepees, ghostbuster eggplant, popcorn, pumpkins and hollyhocks, among other things Naturally, they carry children's mer- chandise. And at Halloween, they decorate the barn and a storyteller comes in for ghost stories. XXot only will you be sowing seeds for the future, but you'll most likely be tapping into the parents' desire for quality family-oriented activities at the same time. Applecrest Farm Orchards in Hampton Falls, NH, has also done some very innovative marketing. In winter, they have cross-country skiing and in August, they have an antique show, but fall is really their biggest season. Here are some ideas you may not yet have heard of to try: press-your-own-cider (a hand cider press goes for about $300), horse-drawn hay rides, a bluegrass band on Sunday afternoons, a fall craft shop, a baking contest, or Haunted Hay Rides (co-sponsored with the local high school booster club). Ben Wagner of Applecrest says he would be happy to talk to anyone interested in his mar- keting programs. You'll notice that some of the operations highlighted in this article are not retail garden centers. That's be- cause other commodity groups can sometimes teach us a great deal. It's definitely worth the time to look around you at what other types of businesses do for marketing. And then steal their ideas if they seem worthwhile. One last note: If you're interested in stocking products for children take a look at the National Garden Bureau's factsheet on Gardening Gifts for Children (October 1995). It has the most complete supplier list I've seen. Margatet Hagen is Extension Educator, Agriculture, for Hillsborough County. She can be reached at 603-673-2510. THE PUANTSMAN MEMBER PROFILE H EAT H' S A Lot in Small Spaces HEATH'S GREENHOUSE & NURSERY is situated on twelve acres of south- east slope between Route 18 and In- terstate 93 above the village of Franconia. Well back from Route 18 (the only roadside indication is a hand-carved wooden sign) and clustered together in a cleared portion of the hillside, the structures seem small, but, as the owner, Tom Heath, says, "You don't need a lot of space". Tom's a native of Lit- tleton. He admits most of his high school friends have moved away, but he knew he didn't like city life and made a deci- sion ("it was a conscious choice") to stay. He began a construction business. The first structure here, the 24x30 barn, was built in 1978 (from trees harvested from the land) to house goats (he and his wife Mary sold milk) and horses. Their home, built in 1980 ("Still working on it...") is up the slope, above the bam. When their third child, their daughter Chelsea, was born in 1989, it was also time to rethink the farm. Tom wanted work that would allow him to be with the child. He stopped doing construction (he still has a woodworking shop in which he makes furniture), built a greenhouse, and began developing a retail garden center. The greenhouse, a 24x44 double- poly house with a plexiglass end, was built off the south side of the bam. The barn was divided into a main retail area and three smaller areas used for storage, checkout, and pot- ting. From the potting area, a small foyer leads down into the green- house. The oil furnace is there and creates a warm, humid place in which to germinate seeds. (Flats are put in a wooden shelving unit.) It makes sense — a small space is more easily heated than a large one, but you be- gin to get the idea that every space here has clearly defined — and often He releases ladybugs both inside and out — three or four gallons a year... they eat a lot more than apfiids — but there's also "a nice effect customers love buying plants with ladybugs on them." multiple — uses. The cement floor is painted battleship gray and the walls and ceiling, white; trim is blue-green and dusty pink. The light muted colors counteract the days when cloud builds and moves northward from the notch. The wooden greenhouse benches are also painted white in order to re- flect light. Light is important. Connected to the north side of the barn (you enter through the re- tail section) is "the Milk House," ba- sically a cold frame, its sides consist- ing of the side of barn, latticework, and stone set into the hillside. In winter, its roof is two layers of plas- tic— one clear, one translucent white. He stores potted material here then. In spring, when the material is set outside again, the translucent white plastic comes off, the clear plastic stays, and the space fills with newly potted perennials. A modine heater is used when needed. Between these structures and the woods that hide the road a series of retaining walls have been built of stone. Filled with soil, these terraces contain a small nursery yard and pe- rennial beds. HE OFFERS the traditional. Right after Christmas he begins planting seed for spring crops — annuals and vegetables, in cell packs and 2 1/4-inch |iffy pots. There's a lot of 4-inch material and hangers. Annuals are big up here — people like color; geraniums sell well. By May, the greenhouse is full, but the season doesn't linger. Spring sales are over by the end of lune. In late summer there are mums and asters; at Christmas, he makes wreaths (500 or so), sells these and trees and dried flowers and ornaments (cones, etc.). Some years he grows a crop of poinsettias ("if I have the time"); this year he'll buy in. IT'S A SHORT growing season — mid- )une to Labor Day ("our first frost this year was August 28th .") and pe- rennials and nursery stock are cho- sen with this in mind. Hardy shrub roses are popular; he sells 200 a year, "which is good for up here." This year euonymus 'Burning Bush' and potentilla were his best sellers — but this changes from year to year. He buys in all deciduous nursery stock bareroot to prevent the intro- duction of soil-borne pathogens. He makes his own soil mix ("premixes are expensive") of Fafard bark mulch, peat moss, and sand. Lime and fertil- izer are added as well. Proportions vary according to the plants being grown. "It works great." He feeds, us- ing a injector, with an organic liquid feed and also uses a dry top dress- ing, sometimes incorporating it into the soil. Small agricultural businesses in New Hampshire often need to do more than one thing. When Tom had his construction business, he raised DECEMBER 1995 ♦ JANUARY 1996 MEMBER PROFILE goats and sold milk. Now he does some landscaping. He's also a dealer for biological controls — originally for the Arbico Company; now for The Green Spot. HEATH'S ITSELF is a good advertise- ment— Tom uses nothing but biologi- cal controls. He releases ladybugs both inside and out — three or four gallons a year. Ladybugs are an im- mediate control — they eat a lot more than aphids — but there's also "a nice effect — customers love buying plants with ladybugs on them." He talked about some of the more familiar insects he uses: Encarsia formosa, an endoparasitic wasp (en- doparasites live on the inside of their hosts; ectoparasites on the outside), is strictly for use against greenhouse whitefly; he releases Trickogramma spp. (an endoparasitic wasp that destroys moth and butterfly eggs) in the nursery weekly, starting in late May. (this controls caterpillars and loopers); he releases nematodes twice yearly both inside and out ("at least 90% of all insects spend part of their lives underground"); he uses Aphidius spp. (another endoparasitic wasp), against aphids (this is particularly effective against the green peach aphid) and prefers it to Apftidoletes apfiidimyza.a predator midge which does less well in lower temperatures. The small, carefully cared-for spaces are made to seem even smaller and more precise by the view — a pan- orama of the north side of Cannon Mountain and the Cannonballs framed by Scrag Hill rising on the left. .."an old-timer told me that Scrag Hill is one of only three volcanic mountains in the area — so that makes it special." The contrast also makes one wonder how much the success of biological controls depends on the tempera- ment of the owner. Precision and plea- sure in detail might be key factors. NOT ALL CONTROLS are insects. He uses diatomaceous earth — a substance "made from he mined and pulverized fossilized shell remnants of unicellular marine algae known as diatoms" — as a control for earwigs and other crawling insects. These shell remnants are razor sharp and cut the undersides of any insect crawling over them. Tom doesn't use sticky cards, but he does scout. He always asks sup- pliers what they use for insect con- trol. Because he buys in, he has a strict quarantine system (especially for material he uses for his landscap- ing jobs — which he prefers to have delivered to the site). If he sees damage, he isolates the plants. This stops the immediate spread of the insects; after this, he will release an appropriate predator throughout the entire area. He cleans the greenhouse several times a year, usually at the end of a crop (after Christmas, after the spring rush, etc.). This includes washing down benches with a 50-to-one bleach solution, picking up debris, pulling weeds, and raking the peastone floor; it even includes hosing down the in- side of the convection tubing used for heat and air circulation ("it lasts longer if you clean it") After that, there's a three-day quarantine. Spacing is important. Good air cir- culation keeps down moisture-loving pathogens; if there are insects, it's more difficult for them to travel. Whatever is not sold is corn-posted. The pile is turned twice a year; com- post is used in the perennial and veg- etable beds. Although he doesn't make a big point about being organic in his ad- vertising (during the season, weekly ads appear in the Littleton Courier), many customers (most are from Littleton; all are from a 50-mile ra- dius) come for that reason. He also sells North Organics fertilizer ("tons of it") and, again, by using it him- self, is its best advertisement. TOM SOMETIMES hires a summer helper, but Heath's is basically a one-person operation and, although he still needs to grow what sells, Tom tends to experiment, to do what interests him. The use of biological controls is based on personal beliefs. Customers may find the makeup of one year's crop to be quite different from that of the year before... Now he's planting a fruit orchard on land in Landaff. Apples, plums, cherries, apricots — all organically grown — will be sold wholesale. Small fruits — blueberries, raspberries — are being planted as well. As Tom says, "you can do a lot in a small space." (B.P.) Heath's Greenhouse & Nursery (RFD #1, Box 168, Ultieton. NH 03561) is on Route 18 in franconia. Tom's number is 603-823-8500. Wholesale Gold Star Whalesale Nursery b a family owned business. Since 1952 we the finest wholesale planting materials to landscape contractors along with the one element that truly sets competidon-service. welcomes your comments and suggestions, the best in wholesale landscape supplies iliTffl'^flll^lf^ffr^lMfllflfH'1'frl^tflrg THE PLANTSMAN THE GREEN SPOT I'm a little wasp, a parasitic wasp. My Latin name is Encarsia formosa, but most of my friends just call me Encarsia. You may have heard of me. I know the whiteflies have. I'm an interesting gal who's had an inter- esting life and I've much to share. So where do I begin? I know. Let me tell you about my childhood. I grew up in the South Side of the greenhouse. It was a rough neighborhood. Between us wasps, the ants, and those whiteflies, a day didn't pass without something foul goin' down. It all began with my Ma, a bench-wise woman of the crops, who abandoned me at birth. I love her all the same. Ma was into honeydew. She got a fix of some potent H.D. one day, had me, put me inside some whitefly (just a kid himself) while I was still an egg, and flew away. All this happened even before I saw my first ray of sunshine. Living inside the whitefly wasn't so bad. He was a good host. I was snug in there. Warm, content, well-fed — I was basically a happy-go-lucky girl. It was in that whitefly that I grew up — it's where I matured; it's where I "blossomed." Me and my gracious host, good old Bob, we got along fine. Until one crazy day, that is. I woke up on the wrong side of the pupa or somethin' like that. Anyway, I snapped — I killed Bob. Then the craziest thing happened — Bob started turning black. I don't know exactly what happened for sure, but I grew up in a hurry and got the heck outta there. I chewed my way out, in fact. Oh well, that was then and this is now. I guess things turned out all right. I'm not married or anything. Men are hard to come by. The reason was made clear a while back — I ran into Ma and she said that men are not only scarce, but worthless too. Then she proceeded to explain asexual reproduction. She was right. I've had about a hundred and seventy-eight kids now. Truthfully, between you and I, I've lost count. I live in the North End now (although many of my kids, all grown up and on their own, still run the benches of the South Side. The North End's not much better than the South Side, but it is a little. I've got a shabby little leaf that I call home. Hey, it's not great, but it's clean and all mine. I'm still looking for that ideal dream-leaf: plenty of food, clean, no ants, and lots of decent whiteflies for neighbors, just like Bob. If you happen to hear of an opening, contact my agent — I'm willing to relocate. Michael S. Cherim. Encarsia's agent and author of this short anthropomorphic drama, is from the Creen Spot, Ltd., supplier of biological pest control agents nationwide. He can be reached at 603-942-8925. Association Oncers President BOB DEMERS, |R. Demers Nursery & Garden Center 656 South Mammoth Road Manchester, NH 03103 625-8298 Secretary I Treasurer CHRISTOPHER ROBARGE UNH / TSAS Horticultural Facilities Manager Durham, NH 03824 862-1074 Directors KENNETH GOSSELIN 207 Cranwell Drive Manchester, NH 03109 627-6599 TAMMY HATHAWAY 61 Squamscott Road Stratham, NH 03885 778-3912 ANN HILTON Gateway Gardens 430 Loudon Road Concord, NH 03301 229-0655 HENRY HUNTINGTON Pleasant View Gardens RFD #3, PO Box 3701 Pittsfield, NH 03263 435-8361 ROBERT RIMOL 17 Wyndmere Drive Londonderry, NH 03053 603-425-6563 PETER VAN BERKUM 4 James Road Deerfield, NH 03037 463-7663 HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc. 109-113 Essex St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830, (508) 373-6838, (800) 322-0332 We cater to the small and medium size nursery in any quantity desired: 1. New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. untreated & no-rot-treated 2. Open burlap bags 3. New windbreak burlap 4. Balling bags 5. Wire baskets 6. Flat-folded burlap basket liners 7. Truck covers a Sisal twine & poly twine 9. Woven polypropylene sqs. DECEMBER 1995 ♦ JANUARY 1996 Plant pests can be c6n&olled biologically. If you want more detaib on the how-to. please give us a caD or drop us a line. You'll receive an informative catalog / technical manual for FREE Tlie Great Spot, Department of Bio-Ingenuity 93 Priest Road, Barrinpon, NH 03825 603-942-S925 Wide selection Fast. reSabte service. Bcemplary technical support Low prices. ^ i '/QUALHT ' . SELEQION; ■',& SERVICE' This Is What Wfe Grow Al Millican Nurseries. r ^i Let Rough Brothers' expertise turn your greenhouse into a powerhouse — ^for profits. CaS) the experts at Rough Brothers for Information and technical assistance on these quality products. Manufacturers of; • WhiteHouse • The International • Harvest House • The •2100' gutter-connected house • Free-standing poly arch houses • Techlite glazing • Ro-Flo benches • Ebb & Flo benches Distributors of • Alcoa Aluminum Fin Heating • Heating and ventilating equipment • Maintenance supplies, glass, parts ...and more Rough Brothers P.O. Box 16010, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 ROUGH BROTHERS 1-B00/543-7351 Northern Grown Trees Evergreens Shrubs Mon-Sac 7:00 -530 Sun: 9:00 - 5:00 O'DONAL'S NURSERIES Located at junction of routes 22 & 114 Gotham, Maine 04038 Phone (207) 839-4262 or 839-6364 Fax 207-839-2290 W specialize in growing spamea plant materials. THE PLANTSMAN History of the hfemlock Coolly K^delgid IN THE East Dennis Souto and Tom Luther The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae. was first reported on eastern hemlocks in Richmond, Vir- ginia, in 1953-1954. The trees were located in a large municipal park (IV^aymont ParkI that originally was an avid plant collector's estate. In the next 30 years (1955-1985). HWA slowly spread through the Mid-Atlantic states It was considered no more than an annoying orna- mental pest that was controlled with some effort. For ex- ample, Pennsylvania first reported it in the 1960s and New York in the early 1980s — yet concern surfaced in both states only in the late 1980s. Even in Virginia, HWA was considered only a or- namental pest despite its spread from ornamental hemlocks to hemlock for- ests in the early 1960s. Once HWA reached Vir- ginias hemlock forests, the outbreak's behavior changed — the rate of spread and intensity of damage increased sharp- ly. Infested hemlocks (both eastern and Caro- lina) quickly began to show severe stress with scattered mortality occur- ring at higher elevations (about 2400 feet). Two abiotic events occurred in 1985 that sig- nificantly affected HWA in the East. In [anuary, a se- vere cold wave moved across southwestern Vir- ginia At elevations above 2000 feet, temperatures of -20 to -28 degrees F were common. Subse- quent surveys found HWA absent above 2000 feet and greatly reduced at lower elevations. The HWA outbreak in Virginia had been tem- porarily broken. Hurricane Gloria battered the East Coast in September 1985. In 1986 HWA was found in southern Connecticut, pos- sibly cartied from infested areas in Long Island by the hurricane. The discover^' of HWA in Connecticut coin- cided with increased visibility and concern. No longer would HWA be viewed as simply an ornamental pest. Between 1985-1995, HWA spread north and south along the eastern sea- board (See map). Con- cern grew as hemlock deteriorated in the old- er infested areas. HWA recovered slowly, but steadily, from the se- vere cold wave of [anu- ary, 1985. in Virginia. By 1995, tree mortality was again reported in the Blue Ridge Parkway. Uninfested states in northern New England (Vermont, New Hamp- shire, and Maine) insti- tuted quarantines to prevent HWA from reaching their consider- able hemlock resources. A very cold winter in I993-I994 sharply re- duced HWA abundance again. However HWA recovered steadily, just as in Virginia. Only New York reports a stop to HWA's northward spread. Within the Hudson River Corri- dor, no new HWA infes- tations have been re- [\iative range of Eastern Hemlock Hemlock Vioolly Adelgid reported through I99S DECEMBER 1995 ■♦■ JANUARY 1996 ported since 1992. It is intriguing that this location also marks the northernmost limit of red pine scale and red pine adelgid spread. HWA impacts on eastern and Carolina hemlocks vary greatly. One extreme example is the complete mortality of dominant hemlocks at Sparta Glen in northwestern New jersey. At the opposite end of the spectrum are hemlock stands in Pennsylvania that appear vigorous despite HWA presence — in some cases for as long as 20 years. Most states observe impacts between these two extremes with infested trees exhibiting poor crowns and sharply reduced terminal branch growth. Many states report that trees stressed by other factors of- ten show the greatest damage from HWA attack. These pre- disposing stressors range from poor site conditions, drought, and elongate hemlock scale to defoliators like hemlock looper and gypsy moth. Hemlock is shallow-rooted and drought kills many fine roots near the surface. This year's drought may increase tree mortality in the next few years, particularly in areas already weakened by HWA. Tree mortality is reported in 1995 from Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. In fact, mortality is in- creasing. For example, the New Jersey Department of Ag- riculture established permanent plots in 1988 to monitor impacts. Since 1992 they have monitored tree mortality in the I I hemlock stands that contain the permanent plots Tree mortality increased sharply between 1994 and 1995 in the stands with the oldest infestations Based on the history of HWA in the East, we believe three questions are critically important to answer before we can effectively manage hemlock and HWA: How far will HWA spread; how many hemlocks will die and, most importantly, where; and how can we best protect hemlock in our vulnerable forests and ornamental landscapes? Dennis Soto is an entomologist and Tom Luther, a geographic information specialist, with the USDA Forest Service in Durham, New Hampshire. For further information, call 603-868-7709. EDITOR'S NOTE: The hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelgis tsugae, is an aphid-like insect, probably from Asia, that was accidentally introduced into the United States in 1924. It was first seen in Oregon The presence of HWA can be identified by the white cottony egg masses that are lined up along the twigs at the base of the needles. The HWA is unusual in that it is very active during cold periods of the year and relatively inactive in the summer. Therefore, the best time to find new egg masses is in ]anuary and February. The preferred treatment is a dormant oil spray, the key to control is coverage of the entire tree.) TIPS FROM THE GRIFFIN GURU |Bctners (Bavben Center ^nc. 656 South Mammoth Road (Rte. 28A) Manchester, NH 03109-5049 (603) 625-8298 • Fax (603) 622-4073 Nursery • Greenhouses Craft & Christmas Shop We Support The Plantsman Cheaper By the Dozen We are just a bit surprised by the number of orders going through these days in which the amount that is ordered is just below the amount of the next price break, An example of this would be an order for ten Sharpie pens. By ordering a box of twelve (the way they come from the factory), the savings would be equivalent to paying for eleven and getting the twelfth almost free. Lots of suppliers are willing to pass along a sav- ings (discount) of 5 or 10% just to keep from break- ing open the case and spending the time counting out a lesser amount. Always be sure to check the quantity or price break column for the best buy. One exception should be noted however. This is for dated or dangerous products such as pesti- cides. The cost of proper storage or disposal of un- used pesticides can easily outweigh any savings gained by overstocking. CaUus for your young plant/cutting needs. PS. COLE GrowerslaH 251 North VUlage Road, Loudon, NH 03301 Phone 603-783-9561 Fax 603-783-9562 THE PLANTSMAN M i^ The supplier of choice forMNortheast,n GRIFHIN GREENHOUSE & NURSERY SUPPLIES HASSACHUSETTS'NEWYORK'MA1N£. CONNECTICUT CALL 508-851-4346. Ifimtf m Wholesalers & Retailers 'Poned Plants 'Seasonal Crops 'Supplies Visit our 12 Greenhouses & Garden Center Ciaremont Hill, Newport, New Hampshire (603)863-1089 OPEN YEAR ROUND DECEMBER 1995 ♦ JANUARY 1996 RED HEMLOCK DOESN'T GET MULCH BETTER THAN THIS Morse Bros, is offering very special pricing on ronteed Hemlock Bark Mulch fro ' 15ia$i4 Prize Hemlock Deluxe Hemlock Call for Details ces FOB Windham. Effectii Burgundy Hemlock 1-800-866-4991 32 Gambo Rd., Windham, ME 04062 (Tel) 207-892-1400 (Fax) 207-892-3400 Nu-Form Products Restricted Pesticides Landmark Products Kord Products Pre -filled Flats & Pots Fertilizers Distributors for Hyde Park & Sunshine Soils 'Helping You to Qrow" HJE. Supply GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Hemlock Road, Langdon Mailing Address.- RO. Box 0 Charlestown, New Hampshire 03603 603-835-6930 Fax: 603-835-2180 THE PLANTSMAN spring Back in the Woodlands Leslie Berkt T. hink about those early April days, with snatches of warm wind and promising fresh smells; yet the landscape is still a drab expanse of brown ground. We love spring ephemerals— scillas, eranthis, chionodoxas, crocus — yet they can look quite wispy if not planted by the hundreds. Here are eight very early-blooming perennials that can fill in larger ar- eas with their foliage and cheerful flowers. They are se- lected for a woodland site, in zones 4 to 5, with light-to- moderate shade and humusy soil. Many will thrive in nearly full sun if given plenty of moisture and organic matter. Some go dormant, but can be interplanted closely with hosta, ligularia, kirengeshoma, and other large-leaved plants that emerge later to give a totally new look. bergenia cordifoUa. 12-18 inches. A heavy plant with oval leathery leaves and bulbous trusses of white or pink flowers, it's evergreen (lasting better with mulch) and should never be cut back. Bergenia, with its rich cab- bage-like leaves that bronze in cold weather, is often used as an edging plant. It needs moisture to do well. There are many good cultivars, including 'Perfecta,' 'Silverlight,' and the Bressingham series. Brunnera macrophylla (Alkanet). One foot. This early bloomer will actually tolerate some dry shade. It has handsome large textured leaves that contrast sharply with tiny clear blue forget-me-not flowers. The leaves grow larger through the season, making a wonderful filler for any of the spring bloomers that go dormant. Try it naturalized among shrubs. A superior plant! Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) 12-18 inches. This is another bright yellow-flowered perennial, but in early spring, we all could drink bright yellow as a winter anti- dote. Caltha's large buttercup-like flowers are a welcome sight along a stream or pond or in a moist area. The large heart-shaped leaves go dormant by mid-summer. Plant with later-emerging plants such as lobelia or asters. Dkentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart). 12-18 inches. Everblooming rose-pink flowers and fern-like foliage that does not go dormant make this woodland bleeding heart very valuable in any garden. It needs good drainage; oth- erwise it is not fussy and tends to happily reseed — it graces the edges of our nursery, but is easy to pull out. The lacy foliage looks great with large-leaved shade plants. There are many lovely cultivars, including 'Snow- drift' and 'Bacchanal,' with ruby red flowers. Doronicum orientate 'Magnificum' (Leopard's Bane). 12-24 inches. For bright early color that rivals (and compli- ments) tulips and other bulbs, try doronicum. Its large yellow daisy flowers rise high over masses of bright green foliage, which goes dormant by mid-summer. (Note: most summer perennials will hang on much longer if kept moist.) Try doronicum with blues such as mertensia, brunnera, or myosotis for a stunning effect. Helleborus ohentalis (Lenten Rose). 15-18 inches. This plant is truly a classy perennial. It has gorgeous single large flowers of speckled plum, pink, or apple green that fade to creamy white; they appear real early, sometimes though the wet March snow. The handsome leaves are leathery dark green and divided, filling in after the flow- ers and lasting through the whole year if mulched in win- ter. Most hellebores prefer light shade and rich soil — and rarely need dividing. Truly a 3 1/2 season plant! Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells). 1-2 feet. Its clus- tered nodding bells, blue or tinged with pink, are classic harbingers of spring. The large oval blue-green leaves, like those of many early spring plants, disappear by early summer. Try combining mertensia with daffodils and a large-leaved deciduous shade perennials such as hosta, rodgersia, brunnera, or ligularia. These will fill any bare spots. Pulmonaria saccfiarata (Lungwort). 12-18 inches. Once you get past the fact that pulmonaria was named after a lung disease, you'll see that the foliage, with its oval silver spots against a dark background, is a prized feature of this perennial. The nodding pink flower buds open to blue flowers, giving a lovely effect. Keep pulmonaria moist and its leaves will last better, but we often cut back ours in August to encourage new growth. Try lung- wort with tall bulbs or dicentras. Many of the prettiest woodland gardens are quite loosely planned, giving plants space to naturalize. Think about combining very early and much later-blooming (therefore late-emerging) perennials for continued inter- est. I hope a few of these plants will inspired you to ex- tend your season. ..backwards. Happy Spring! Leslie van Berkum is co-owner of van Berkunt Nursery, 4 ]ames Road, Deerfield, NH 03037. The phone number is 603-463-7663. DECEMBER 1995 ■♦■ JANUARY 1996 $um al oner -.^C WAYS Tlj i T SI— ifc- CI s. 33 ta L.\N NT'RSERIES ?o:~ i:-'"si5^: !_£":= rv.'^.t;: ]>crgw(»d • ForsTthia •Hyi'-aiigea HoneTsojckie - LlUcs - S'lDebark PotccdHs - Riigc«a Rase S:'-~e^ • Sam2c ^".:--i:Lm • Vme MTtieUiuU G^o-^crs SorriE H.i_ Newton Greenhouse Qjialin Plants greeii o-iiid flowering 6C3 '659-3391 ;i: SOUTH MAIN ?TRI HOW i. 2C~- H£52 = 1 ^ ^p&ere are maaj l-err^ai z..snt= tra: M are now'-* rrnTerrsri w^ -^e A ^.=■- winter Joi-cigys A_X20tiCi 3Ci: as 2- _•» » »" - ^ - »£. TififrtT S£ bsisani. icil^ ^ 3b.c S'ire tfaey iave lefends =nc ise? yea .- - s- Roseaisry tSTne .a^errder arrc I- bedscr3w peairyrs^SL snc 3car- Marrs doafe ased in cjsses toe or 9S 31 ABOUT HERBS lavender, onto which to spread the baby's freshly washed clothes. And after they'd dried there, never again was the lavender scentless. It pos- sesses, to this day, the fresh wonder- ful perfume we connect with cleanli- ness and soap. Lavender now has a variety of named cultivars. I still have the best luck with the Old English type. I grow it from seed and from layering and I revel in each harvest. As long as lavender has full sun, sweet soil, excellent drainage, and — away from the seacoast — a good mulch in win- ter, it should thrive. It flowers in late |une and the harvested flower stalks will retain their scent and color for years. Horehound {Marrubium vulgare) is a native of the Mideast. It's an annual that easily reseeds itself and, with its thick wrinkled silvery-grey leaves, makes a nice contrast plant in our New England gardens. Christian tradi- tion mixes it with the sweet grasses used in the manger. Horehound is also sacred to Horus, the chief god of the Egyptians and, because of this, is sometimes the symbol of the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. Legend says thyme {Tkymus ser- pkyllum) and sweet woodruff {Galium odoratum) were among the clean dried grasses that made up the birth bed of Mary. All thymes are fragrant pe- rennials and love sun-drenched, well- drained locations and sweetness in their soil. Thyme dries beautifully and is one of my favorites for the herb bunches formed into garlands used for holiday decorating Sweet woodruff, a low-growing, shade-loving perennial groundcover, has no noticeable scent when fresh, but as it dries, it develops a heady vanilla/new-mown hay odor. The scent was dearly loved in the Middle Ages and the herb was used to stuff mattresses and scent bedchambers. It is also the major flavoring ingredi- ent in May wine, used to celebrate Spring. The modest little spring-flowering bulb, star-of-Bethlehem (Ornilhogalum umbellatum], is another herb closely bound to the Christmas tradition. The story says that after the Star led the Wise Men to the stable, it ex- ploded. As the pieces fell to earth, they turned into the small, white star-shaped flowers that were given the name, "Star-of-Bethlehem." The flower grows from a small bulb and is related to the onion. It's quite com- mon in old New England gardens and was a great favorite of the Victo- rians. The bulb multiplies with little trouble and a patch can continue for years. The flowers bloom in early spring and can be picked and pressed for Christmas use. There are many of these stories and legends. Share them with your customers and, if you can find a little quiet time during the hectic holiday struggle, think of these herbs, maybe even taste or smell them, and bring a little peace and gentleness to yourself. Tanya \ackson, a well-known local herbalist, can be reached at 603-431-6774. 9^ X NOTI 'XT A New Amendment in Town There's a new soil mix amendment in town. It's called Coir. Origin- ally presented as a peat replacement, research shows that it can stand alone or in combination with a conventional mix. What is coir? Coir is the outside husk of a coconut. Until recently, it was a waste product of the coconut processing industry. The moun- tains of discarded husks were considered useless. Our counterparts in Europe were concerned about future peat sources because of the "Greens " environmental push to stop harvesting. Coir, a renewable resource, seemed to be a satisfactory substitute. Coir has many of the characteristics of peat, as well as some unique differences. Before it is milled, it looks like peat with long fibers and similar color and texture, it has better water-holding capacity and wets out much bet- ter. In fact, you don't necessarily need a wetting agent with coir. (Try wetting peat sometime without a wetting agent.) Coir is more stable, having less shrinkage. The plant's response to coir has been most notable in the root sys- tem, Plants root faster and roots are more evenly distributed through- out the cell than in a peat mix — so coir's place may be in the propa- gation part of your business. Because there is less degradation in coir than in peat, fungus gnat populations are reported to be lower. Algae is reported to be less of a problem. The pH of coir is near op- timum at 6 (unlike peat, which is 4.5). Sodium levels can be high, but one leaching at planting usually solves the problem. A peat replace- ment? Better to look at it as another tool available for our growing needs. Coir, the Canadians must think we've gone "nuts. " |iw Zablocki. Territory Manager, The Scotts Company, Northeast, can be reached at 603-224-5583. THE PLANTSMAN Perennial plants & Herbs 31/2"^ (4" DEEP) POT 18 per tray ^^^LiiPL;i Greenhouses 171, GRAND RANG • ST-THOMAS-D'AQUIN ST-HYACINTHE, P.Q. CANADA HIGHWAY #20, EXIT 123 Phone: 1 800 565-PION Phone: (514) 79M193 • Fax: (514) 796-2121 CD OWNERS! Are You Earning ^^ ^^0/ '"tccst Rate Q Cfl ^0 Guaranteed ^■■^^^ For One Year? No Annual Fees! Guaranteed Return of Principal! Multiple Income Features! Call Now for More information On Tax-Deferred Annuities BOB NORMANDEAU 71 g l^GEMAN INSURANCE ■^^^^^^^i^^:^;^:^^^^^^*^:^^ 1-800-439-2451 Golden Rule Insurance Company Rated ■■A+" (Superior) by AM. Best. This rating Indicates financial strength and stability. ' This annuity includes a 3% first-year bonus. Rate as of 1-3-94, subjea to change. MICHAUD Nurseries & Greenhouses, Inc. Route 85, PO Box 334, Exeter, NH 03833 (603) 772-3698 Wholesale & Retail Annuals, Perennials, Nursery Stock, Landscape Supplies 75 CHESTNUT HILL, RTE 190 STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT 06076 W. H. MILIKOWSKI, INC. GREENHOUSE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT PLANTS BULBS SEEDS ALL YOUR GREENHOUSE NEEDS GROW VmH US Conn. 203-684-5811 Out of State 800-243-7170 STEENBURG & CALLIORAS THE AUCTION PROFESSIONALS, INC. AUCTIONEERS: Archie Stecnburgh 603/989-5690 Route 10. Haverhill. NH 03~65 Peter Cailioras. C_\X 603/ 868-1070 Calef Highway (Lee>, Dover. NH 03820 ^ /1TL4NTIC GREENHOUSE SYSTEMS Your FULL Service Greenhouse Contractor New Construction * Repair m Restoration All types of Structures, Glazing & Equiptment PHONE/FAX (207) 342-5351 P.O. BOX 96, SEARSMONT, MAINE 04973 DECEMBER 1995 ♦ lANUARY 19% supplying Nursery Stock for Landscape contractors & Garden centers from many excellent growers Call us to Discuss Your Needs P.O. Box 64 Mdndoe Falls, VT 05050 Tree Staking System Finally, a staidng system that solves all your staking problems. Safe Reliable Safe for Tree Quick to Install Cost-effective Tel. 800-639-1722 FAX 802-633-2349 SPECIALIZING IN Heath.. .Heather. . .Bearbeny... Herbs . . . Seashore Plants . . . also. aJvU line of quality nursery stock 1028 Horseneck Boad Westport, MA 02790 608-636-6615 issiia The More You Ck)w, The More You Know. rfthe (^^Northeast Nursery, Inc. versitQ^i^ Supp We've been in this business a long time. We know our customer's needs and demands. It dosen't make a difference of the time of year or the size of the project, Northeast Nursery covers all. With the widest selection in wholesale plant materials and landscape supplies in all of New England it's no wonder many consider NorUieast Nursery the best One-Stop shopping for your landscape and green supplies. Supplying Fine Plant Material & Landscape Supplies 234 Newbury Street, Rt. 1 South Peabody, MA 01960 TeL (508) 535-6550 Fax (508) 535-5247 WHOLESALE NURSERY TREES • EVERGREENS • SHRUBS 150 acres of quality plants Write for catalog Member: MNA, NENA Millers Falls Road. Turners Falls, MA 01376 Telephone 413- 863-2510 s Jewarts NURSERY, Inc. THE PLANTSMAN AGNOSTIC UPDATE Well, it looks like the drought is officially over (just in case you didn't notice the rain we've had lately)! Be sure to keep in mind, however, that the effects of the drought of 1995 will be seen during the next few growing seasons (see the Oct/Nov issue for a discussion of possible effects due to drought stress). Samples showing symptoms of drought stress continued to be submitted to the PDL during September and early October. The number of samples re- ceived during the last two months was significantly less than the same time period last year and may be the result of lower disease incidence due to the lack of moisture that fa- vors fungal and bacterial diseases. Drought-related twig dieback was diagnosed on maple, balsam and fraser fir, and dogwood. The dogwood was also infected with the canker-causing fungus cytospora. We will be seeing a greater incidence of dieback and cankers caused by 'weak' fungal patho- gens next year. Fungi such as pho- mopsis and botryosphaeria are op- portunistic fungi that infect weakened and stressed tissues Needle blight {Hormonema merioides) was diag- nosed on balsam fir. This fungal dis- ease is common under conditions of high humidity and is also more com- mon on stressed plants. Several red pine stands around the state, par- ticularly those on light, sandy soils have been showing high levels of mortality. Site visits and culturing have not yielded any pathogens. Ex- tension pathologists and entomolo- gists I've spoken with in neighboring states have also noted the red pine decline. It appears the trees have been weakened by drought stress over the last few years and then suc- cumbed to attack by bark beetles. We didn't get the rains until after the temperatures cooled off, so turf diseases such as Pythium blight and brown patch were not much of a late- season problem Powdery mildew was prevalent on the usual hosts (li- lac, phlox, azalea, rose, turf, cucurb- its...), but didn't seem to be any more of a problem compared to past years. 1 haven't received any samples of powdery mildew on poinsettia from this year's crop. An E-mail no- tice was received this morning (Nov. 9) however, from the regulatory folks in Maine. Powdery mildew was found in one greenhouse on the poinsettia cultivar Freedom Red. If you are growing this cultivar, be sure to care- fully scout the plants for fungal colo- nies. What should we watch out for over the next few months? Based on records form previous years, the big- gest problems have been botrytis blight, oedema, root rots, and INSV. Botrytis blight is always a threat, par- ticularly under conditions of high relative humidity and cool night tem- peratures. Most crops are suscep- tible, particularly when in flower. Be sure to space plants to allow for good air circulation, vent when the humidity is greater than 90%, avoid wounding, and remove senescent or damaged plant material. Oedema, a problem also related to high relative humidity, is most common on ivy ge- raniums, but occurs on other crops such as zonal geraniums, peperomia, and jade. Root rots occur on all green- house crops. Root rots caused by pythium are common in poorly drained mixes, while those caused by thelavi- opsis, fusarium, and rhizoctonia are more common on drier mixes. Fusa- rium rot or wilt is also a common problem on cyclamen. The initial symptoms are yellowing of the older leaves followed by wilting. You can check the plant for infection by fusarium by cutting the corm in half (cross-section). Infected corms will have a brown-black discoloration of the vascular system. Infected plants should be destroyed and the remain- der of the crop should be drenched with a fungicide. I hope everyone has a great holi- day season. Cheers! If you wish to submit plant material to the PDL for diagnosis, send samples {with a check for $12.00) to-. The UNH Plant Di- agnostic Lab, C/O Dr. Cheryl Smith, Plant Biology Department, Nesmith Hall - UNH, Durham, NH 03824. Samples should be accompanied by an identification form {available from your county Cooperative Ex- tension, or at the PDL). Cheryl Smith is the UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist in Plant Health, and can be reached at (603) 862-3841. Route loi PO Box z66, Dublin, NH 603-563-8180 Perennials ♦ Herbs ♦ Wildflowers no Varieties in 6-cell Packs UPS shipping Available Annual Bedding Plants (6-ceU packs) Zonal Geraniums (4 1/2" pot) Hardy Mums in Season Perennials (available in 2, 3, 4 and 6 qt. pots) DECEMBER 1995 -f JANUARY 1996 FROM THE BOARD A Passion for Customer Satisfaction KEN GOSSELIN Most of the resolutions we make are meant to change our ways in order to improve ourselves personally or professionally. And a new year always seems the perfect time for a new start. With these in mind, I'd like to suggest that you consider a resolution to be passionate about customer satisfaction. And 1 mean passionate — not "I'll do it if it's convenient" or touted as advertising. No — I mean having a passion to satisfy your customers that is so strong that it drives all your decisions: that you put the customer first in every department of your business. Horticulture is my third career of choice. I've had careers in the food ser- vice and technology fields — and these three fields are about as diverse as you can get. Between them, I've spent nearly 25 years in positions that demanded customer interaction. In all, I've noticed that the most successful people were those who put customer satisfaction ahead of everything else — not quality; not profitability, not whatever business improvement tool was the new hot cure. Nope — they remained true to their con- viction that customer service was the key to success. Take a moment and think back to a time or two when you were a customer and you were pleased with the product or service you purchased. Why were you pleased? Odds are that the people you dealt with were courteous — they lis- tened; you probably felt that you were treated as someone special and that you got a deal great enough to brag about to friends. Overall, a transaction takes place on both material and emo- tional levels. And satisfying on both these levels is what creates customer satisfaction. Simple, huh? Why, anybody can do it — but in reality, few do. In fact, the reason you could quickly recall the times you were satisfied is that this has become the exception, not the rule. While customer satisfaction is rela- tively easy to explain, achieving it may be one of the hardest change you'll ever make. Fortunately, it becomes easier as you embrace it as the way you do busi- ness. There are a couple of theorems to accept though, before we get to the nuts and bolts. First, everyone in the business has a customer. The person purchasing seed has the seeder for a customer; the seeder has the trans- planters, and so on. Don't define "cus- tomer" as only those who purchase your product, but as anybody in your process who supports another. It's an important mindset to develop. In most small businesses, employers and em- ployees will be customers almost as of- ten as they serve them. Secondly, the passion for customer satisfaction starts with owners and management. The staff expects what the boss expects. Owners and manag- ers must demonstrate the customer satisfaction skills they want. The first time management backslides, the staff will take it as a sign that customer sat- isfaction is okay as long as customers don't get in the way. Let staff members know what is expected of them, why customer satisfaction is so vital, and then stick with it — no exceptions. How do you implement a customer satisfaction plan? Well, the first place to start is with your customers them- selves. Talk with them. A lot. Make it your goal to talk with ten customers every week. Ask them, "How are we doing for you?" Believe me — they'll tell you. Resist the temptation to mail a written survey — the return rate is abys- mal, and customers rarely put a lot of energy into it. On the phone or in per- son, they'll be a lot more candid. Ask quantitative questions ("Were you greeted within two minutes of walking in the door?") and qualitative ones ("Do we do anything that annoys you?"). These types of questions lead to ways to measure customer satisfac- tion in the customer's terms, not your own. After this, it's relatively easy to set up measurement systems. Share the comments with your staff. Again, face-to-face, not tacked up on some bulletin board. Don't let the dis- cussion turn into a finger-pointing orgy. Keep it focused: "The fact is that cus- tomers think we're deficient in these areas, so let's decide the best way to fix them." Encourage staff to talk with custom- ers and share the data at weekly cus- tomer satisfaction meetings (which do not have to be lengthy). Empower staff to be problem solvers — it sends a firm message to the customer that his satis- faction is important to everyone in your business. That's a start. But there's more. Take a hard look at industry leaders (those who've been satisfying customers for awhile — Disney, Hewlett-Packard, Mc- Donald's) and learn from them. (And check out your own industry too.) De- velop a special way that you and your staff refer to your customers, as well as how to greet and talk with them — and allow no discourteous or contemptuous talk. Make sure promises to customers are kept. Provide those in direct con- tact with customers (salespeople, bill- ing, etc.) with the support they need to satisfy customers promptly. Respond to complaints immediately — in fact, try to be better than anybody else in this area, so that the customer is over- whelmed and has no doubt as to your desire to make things right. Put your customer satisfaction philosophy on the wall where everyone can see it. Mea- sure customer satisfaction often (no less than monthly), using the metrics your customers give you. Have an oc- casional anonymous observer visit your business and measure how well you're meeting your goals. Sweat the de- tails— once the major issues are re- solved, plan to make smaller, but con- tinuous, customer-related improve- ments. Customer satisfaction is the most potent weapon you can have in your competitive arsenal, it's inexpensive too — 90% of the changes won't cost you a dime. So make that resolution to get passionate about customer satisfac- tion— the only thing you have to lose are those empty parking spaces out front. Ken is at Chakarian Farm Creenkouses. 1 1 4 Island Pond Road, Derry, NH 03038. W/ie« not with a customer, he can be reached at 603-432- 9103. His home number is 603-627-6599. THE PLANTSMAN Red Maple 1 .5-3" caliper Varieties: Red Sunset", Autumn Flame ® (P.P. 2377), and Armstrong specimen quality, own root (no incompatibility problems), high limbed for street and commercial use 604 Main Street, Cromwell, CT 06416 Phone (203) 635-5500 FAX (203) 635-3685 j^Bk. Trees Since 1929 SWilla^Wursenes,%c. Growing 500 Acres of New England s Finest Trees & Shrubs \ ^ % U]V Van berkum Nursery "^Wholesale Perennials & Qroundcovers 1996 'S. .«,.• t . '^ Les Entereprises Dolbec Cookshire Ltee TREE PLANTER Characteristics ■ Each tree planter supplied with its own trailer ■ 16-30 diameter disc ■ Adjustable shear and disk ■ Made by ' Beloit Woodland model ™ ■ $1,200-2,400 Canadian funds 506, Chemin Dolbec, Birchton, Quebec Tel: 819-821-4188 Fax: 819-875-5372 J.D. Power and Associates ranks International Best conventional medium duty truck in customer satisfaction. 4^ INTERNATIONAl Burn For YbuR Business. LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS, INC. 1400 South Willow Street, Manctiester, NH 03103 (603) 623-8873 NE WATS: 1 -800-562-381 4 Fax #1-603-641-9486 NHPGA WINTER MEETING '96 A joint meeting with the N will be held on Wednesday, at the Old Mill Restaurant just off the traffic circle. After registration and "coffee, tea. and assorted muf- fins"|8-8:30l and the annual business meeting (8:30- 9), the program will begin with a talk by lodie and David Gilson of Gilson's Farms, Groton, IVlassachu- setts. Wholesale herb growers and operators of "The Herb Lyceum," where they teach about and cook with herbs, their topic will be "Herbs — Growing Them; Using Them " The next speaker will be Nancy Adams. UNH Co- operative Extension Agricultural Educator, Rocking- ham County. Nancy will be talking about and show- ing slides of her recent six-month stay in Poland, where she assisted in the redesigning of the Polish equivalent of Cooperative Extension, working to make it function more effectively within the new, market-driven economy. Her talk is entitled, "The Changing Face of Agriculture in Poland " From 11 to 12, Andrea lohnstone, a partner in the Concord law firm of Gallagher, Callahan, and Gartrell, will speak on some of the legal issues affecting the Green Industry — "Who's Agriculture and Who's Not?" Then, within each of those two categories, she will look at "Who Can Be Salaried and Who Can Not?" and "Youth Labor — What Are the Requirements?" All this should give people something to talk about at lunch, for which there are two choices: Grilled Herb Chicken, garden salad, rice, and veg- etables, or "Prima Vera Veggie" (vegetarian) ew Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) ]aniiary 17 in Epsom, Coffee, cookies and brownies will be served in the afternoon. The afternoon begins with Palmer Koelb of Baker Valley Nursery in Wentworth, New Hampshire speak- ing on the nursery's specialty, "Dwarf Conifers." The keynote speaker, from 2:30 until 4, will be Matt Horn of Matterhorn Nursery in Spring Valley, New York. Matt began as a wholesale perennial grower, then moved into the upscale retail market; his establishment includes, along with unique plant material, an excellent bookstore, and the beginnings of a 20-acre arboretum on the land next door; he is described as "a specialist in everything " His topic will be on one of these specialties: "Water Gardens and Water Gardening." It's a full day, certainly one with plenty of variety. For people that preregister, the price is $29.00 per person and $20.00 for each guest from the same business Non-members are $35.00. Registrations should be sent to Guy Hodgdon, NHLA Business Manager. 18 Debbie Lane, Eliot, Maine 03903; they also can be made over the phone at 1-800-639-5601. Without preregistration, it's $20.00, but you're on your own for lunch. For information (there is no trade show; this is an educational session only), contact Peter van Berkum at 603-463-7663. NH PLANT GROWERS ASSOCIATION The Plantsman Editor UNH Research Greenhouses Durham, NH 03824 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 43