June Newsletter from Tom's Thumb Nursery & Landscaping

JUNE

My Dad, Tommy Thompson, started this nursery in 1973. To honor him, we continue with our annual tribute to fathers this month. With any purchase from now thru Sunday, June 19th, you may register for a $100 gift certificate. A drawing will be held at the end of business on Father's Day.

In our newsletter this month you will find great deals on select plants, information about an upcoming fairy garden class, suggestions for Father's Day gifts and much more.

Janielle, our Landscape Architect, has written Part I of an informative three part series on Trees.

We are looking forward to a great summer here on the island.

Hope to see you soon.

Peggy

Back Garden Tour Postponed

Due to the predicted bad weather for this weekend, the Clean Galveston Back Garden Tour has been postponed until next weekend.

Saturday, June 11 from 10am to 5pm

Sunday, June 12 from noon to 5pm

$8 Advance tickets are available for purchase online

and at Tom's Thumb Nursery.

Gift Certificate Giveaway

Honoring Father's Day

Sunday, June 19

With any purchase, register to win a

$100 Gift Certificate

to Tom's Thumb Nursery.

A drawing will be held at the end of business on Father's Day.

We will notify the winner and publish the winner's name in our July newsletter.

Peggy's father is pictured on the right.

"Mr. Thompson in his garden"


	Plant Nanny - A great way to make sure your plants stay watered while you are away on summer vacation!

Introduction

In this newsletter you will find.......

Father's Day Drawing
Event: Fairy Garden Class for Children & Adults
Seasonal Ideas & Information for June
From Our Landscape Dept: "Trees I - Planting your new tree"
Sale on Select Plants
Olivia's 10% Coupon
In the Garden
How to have the best hummingbird season!
Around the Giftshop & Father's Day Gift Ideas
Seaside Casual Outdoor Furniture
Mother's Day Drawing Winner

Special Event for Children and Adults:

"Under the Sea" Fairy Garden Class

Participating child must be accompanied by an adult.

Hosted by Peggy Cornelius and Staff

Saturday, June 11

from 10am to 1pm

Class fee is $50 plus tax. You will receive a clam shell to plant in, soil, rock, one plant, $20 in miniature mermaid under the sea merchandise, and lots of fun!

Hurry and register because class size is limited.

To register you may call 409-763-4713 or email [email protected]

Clam Shell

Seasonal Ideas and Information

June Seasonal Checklist

50% off Vines (sizes 1, 3 & 5 gallon containers & trellises)

Passion Vine	Rangoon Creeper	Mandevillia in Assorted Colors	Mexican Flame Vine	Coral Honeysuckle
Edible Fruiting Passion Vine	Fig Ivy		Wisteria Purple or White	Confederate Jasmine

Vegetables and Herbs - The most common watering mistake that gardeners make is to water too little, too often. Established plants do best with a good soaking less often. Drip irrigation is better than sprinklers. Drip irrigation puts the water on the soil and into the root zone. Sprinklers wet the foliage which can promote disease and waste water to evaporation.

Blossom End Rot

Cause: Calcium imbalance

Treatment: Add calcium

Bonide

Rot Stop

Urban Farm tomato and vegetable food contains calcium.

Tomato Blight

is a fungal infection

" Serenade "

biological control of fungus on tomato plants

Perennials & Annuals - These perennials love the heat and come back year after year: lantana, salvias, verbenas, coreopsis, rudbeckias, grasses, potato vine, and purple coneflowers. Once again the nursery is stocked full of your favorite purslane in 4" pots , 6" pots and hanging baskets.

Fruits & Nuts -
Last call for using Neem oil to spray your fruit trees. Now that the trees have set fruit you can spray; however, soon the temperatures will be too hot.

We have a nice

selection of

fruit trees in stock.

What a great

gift idea!

Banana

Fig

Papaya

Peach

Citrus:

Kumquat

Lime MexicanThornless

Grapefruit

Neem Oil

available in a trigger spray , hose end sprayer or concentrate

Biological Insect Control - Live Beneficial Nematodes is 100% safe for humans and pets and all of your plants. Nature's Guide Antidote kills fire ants, fleas, white grubs and over 230 other soil borne insects.

Two sizes:
Green covers 1/4 acre and Purple covers 1/2 acre.
Nematodes come packed live in an oxygen rich soil container. To keep them fresh and happy the containers are kept refrigerated.
Storage is critical, so call us to place your order.

Prepare for Mosquitos!

Safe for you and your family

All natural products for repelling mosquitos

From our Landscape Architect

"Trees I - Planting your new tree" by Janielle Guzinski

Who doesn't think about the nostalgic days of summer sitting underneath the shade tree with a cold drink and a watermelon? However, that idyllic image is completely dependent on having a decent tree. Shade is one of the reasons why we love having trees in our landscape. But we have to be smart when we plant a new tree so that it has the best chance to thrive generally in Galveston and specifically in your yard.

1. How to choose the right tree?

The main conditions in Galveston that you have to worry about are the salt in the air and the cold, winter wind from across the bay. If you live where nothing blocks the salt air off the Gulf or the cold air off the Bay, you need to think about a plant that can handle those conditions.

The specific conditions at your house to consider are shelter, sunlight, and space. Even if you live near the beach or the bay, you can grow a tree that needs a bit more protection if your house blocks the salt or the wind. Some trees grow better in hot sun than others, so if your yard has no shade currently, you might want to go for a tough tree or one that is larger and already has a good start on life. As for space, remember that trees take up room above and below the surface of the soil. A tree like an oak with aggressive roots wouldn't be the best choice right next to a pool or a house foundation. And you may never be able to grow a tree that tall if you have powerlines above your yard. In that case, I would consider smaller trees like crape myrtle or bottlebrush.

Now here at our nursery we can help you pick out a tree that is appropriate to Galveston, but researching beforehand so you have an idea what you want is a great idea.

2. How to plant your new tree?

There are a couple of easy to follow guidelines for planting any new tree:

Dig your hole at least twice as wide as the rootball of your tree, three times is better. The hole doesn't need to be very deep, maybe half again as deep as the rootball.
Mix in new compost with your existing soil to fill the area around the plant. If you just add new soil, you can create a barrier between existing soil and nice new dirt that the tree roots aren't going to easily grow through.
Stake the tree upright especially in areas of high wind. If you are only using one post, place it upwind of the tree so that the trunk won't hit it when the wind blows. If you are using multiple posts, space them evenly and try to get them angled with the wind.
Water your new tree deeply. Rather than spraying the trunk and damaging it, I would recommend laying a hose on the ground on a low setting for 15 minutes every couple of days. That way the water can percolate into the soil and not run off.

Select Plants on Sale

Sale

$199

each

Giant Timber Bamboo

15 gallon

regular price $249

Sale

each

All hybrid tea roses

and

Floribunda roses

Sale

$10

each

Cardboard Palm

3 gallon

regular price $29.99

Sale

50% off

Autumn Embers
Encore Azalea

Save

10%

coupon

Save 10% off your next in store purchase

(Gift Cards, Outdoor Furniture, Sale Items
and Landscaping Services are excluded)

Show this coupon when making your purchase.

Offer expires 06/30/2016

In the Garden

How to have the best hummingbird season!

PLANTS FOR HUMMINGBIRDS

Try some of these plants to attract more hummingbirds to your yard this summer.

TRUMPET HONEYSUCKLE

PRIDE OF BARBADOS

HAMELIA

MANDEVILLA

PENTA

VERBENA

AGAPANTHUS

SALVIA

FIRECRACKER

MEXICAN BUSH SAGE

SHRIMP

PLANT

ESPERANZA

HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

HUMMERBAR

WATCH VIDEO

SUGAR WATER RECIPE

Combine four parts hot water to one part real sugar. Mix it up until it's completely dissolved. Once it cools to room temperature, it is ready. Do not use honey or sugar substitutes.

RED DYE DEBATE

You don't need red water to attract hummingbirds. In fact, it could be bad for the birds (scientists are still figuring this one out). Either way, it is not worth the risk. It's time to break the habit!

CLEANING

Sugar water eventually goes bad. You should change the water every few days or even sooner if it's really hot out. Also, clean your feeders occasionally. Mold can collect, so you want to make sure you're offering hummingbirds clean, safe water.