May Newsletter from Tom's Thumb Nursery & Landscaping

MAY

Our welcome mat is out and our flowers are in bloom.

Special events are on the calendar for May. We continue with our annual tribute to mothers. With any purchase prior to Monday, May 9, you may register for a $200 gift certificate. A drawing will be held at the end of business on Mother's Day.

As you enjoy all the wonderful activities available on the island this month, add a visit to Tom's Thumb Nursery to your itinerary.

Sincerely,

Peggy

The first shipment of purslane has arrived!

Gift Certificate Giveaway

Honoring Mother's Day

Sunday, May 8th

With any purchase register to win a $200 gift certificate to Tom's Thumb Nursery.

Drawing to be held at the end of business on Mother's Day.

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

Miss Dolly

Peggy's Mother - Dolly Thompson

Introduction

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


	DRIFT ROSE

Mother's Day Gift Certificate Drawing
Seasonal Ideas & Information for May
From Our Landscape Architect: "Using irrigation.....
Event: Organic Solutions to Insect Control
Olivia's 10% Coupon
Floral Designs by Judy Moran
In the Gift Shop
Event: Back Garden Tour
In Our Garden
Garden Statuary, Fountains, Pottery & more!
Seaside Casual 2016 Collection
Event: Oleander Festival

Seasonal Ideas and Information

May Seasonal Checklist

The following is a list of activities to consider for your May gardening:

Vegetables and Herbs - Some crops to plant this month: summer & winter squash, eggplant, peppers, southern peas and melons. Go organic! Be sure to use organic substances such as Dipel dust (or liquid thuricide), Neem oil and diatomaceous earth to control pests in the garden. For a safer fungus control, try a biological control, potassium bicarbonate, sulfur or Neem oil.

Dipel Dust

Biological control for caterpillars

Thuricide

liquid concentrate

biological control of caterpillars

Diatomaceous Earth

Serenade biological control of fungus

Neem Oil

available in a trigger spray or a concentrate

Neem Oil is also available in a hose end sprayer

Perennials & Annuals - Some warm-season flowers for planting this month include petunias, pentas, marigolds, zinnias, periwinkle (vinca), salvia, and lantana are just a few of what we have to offer. Remember to plant for the hummingbirds and the butterflies! When planting transplants, water them in with a liquid fertilizer solution to get them off to a good start. A couple of weeks after planting, fertilize with a granular fertilizer such as Nelson's ColorStar.

Trees, Shrubs & Vines - Many new trees were planted across the island this past fall and winter. It is very important to continue to water them twice a week for the first summer season to keep them alive and to encourage lots of growth.
Fruits & Nuts - Yes, we have a variety of fruit trees for sale: orange, lemon, lime, satsuma, avocado, peach, plum, fig, kumquat and more. Advice for citrus tree owners: After the flowers have turned to fruit, apply neem oil to the tiny fruit. This will protect the new fruit and prevent black sooty mold. Re-apply the oil in 4 to 6 weeks. Always apply oil in the early evening hours when the sun is going down. Keep your citrus well watered and in full sun. Feed with a slow-release citrus food. Get it done now before it gets too hot!

NELSON'S SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZERS

AZALEA

BOUGAINVILLIA

CITRUS AVOCADO & OTHER FRUITS

COLORSTAR

HIBISCUS

PLUMERIA

ROSE

Lawns & Groundcovers - If you haven't fertilized this year, you can do so now. Avoid weed-control products in the turf when temperatures are above the mid-80's. For a healthy lawn, frequent mowing (weekly is best) and proper watering (1/2 inch a week) will build your turf and combat weeds.
Grub worms are busy feeding on the grass roots this month. Now is the time for a treatment of Milky Spore. Apply one level measure teaspoon of Milky Spore powder on top of grass in spots every four feet in rows four feet apart. Use 10 ounces per 2500 square feet (50 feet by 50 feet). Water lightly after application
to soak spores into soil. Areas between spots will be inoculated naturally. Milky Spore has been known to last 15 years or longer with one application.

Introducing FoxFarm Soils

Your potted plants deserve the best. Their roots can't seek out nutrients in the ground, so you have to bring it to them. That's why Happy Frog® Potting Soil is alive with beneficial microbes and fungi that help break down organic matter and feed the plant roots.

Between the earthworm castings, the bat guano, and the aged forest products, your container plants have never felt so good.

Plant directly into Salamander Soil™ Potting Mix. Under the right moisture conditions beneficial micro organisms can flourish and NEWT-trient uptake can be enhanced. Plants that are grown in hot climates need that extra thirst quench so that they can stay vigorous and not get stressed from drying out.

Ocean Forest® is a powerhouse blend of premium earthworm castings, bat guano, and sea-going fish and crab meal.

Aged forest products, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss give Ocean Forest® its light, aerated texture.

In every bag, you'll find finely screened, pH-balanced aged forest products, earthworm castings, and bat guano, not to mention beneficial microbes that stimulate root development and help plants access nutrients in the soil. We also add humic acid to help increase the uptake of important micronutrients.

From our Landscape Architect

"Using irrigation to "Green" your landscape" by Janielle Guzinski

Most of us don't really know about irrigation systems. We have them put in when we install the landscape and then we just let it go. We adjust it seasonally according to a schedule handed out by others. But are we really doing what's best? We have only to look at California or at the drought we just went through to worry about overuse of water. There is also the recent increase in water cost down the island. Are we just soaking our landscapes, wasting water, and biting deep into our pockets?

Here at Tom's Thumb landscaping department, we don't warranty installed plants or sod without an irrigation system. That is just a precaution, especially if you are only in Galveston one or two weekends a month. But sometimes people balk at the cost of an irrigation system. But I want to say that not all systems are created equally. Installing an efficient and top-notch irrigation system will cost you more when you put it in, but it can save you significantly on water every month over using an outdated irrigation system. Things like rotary nozzles, check valves in the nozzles, rain sensors and smart controllers can help reduce your water consumption. I'm not even really talking about drip irrigation which is another great thing for water use.

Even with an old system, you can save water by adjusting it to your specific needs. I would advise anyone interested in testing their irrigation needs to do so. Try watering more frequently but less water and see if the plants still do just fine. Water your lawn separately from the beds since they require different amount of time. Some established beds, especially those with grasses or very salt/drought tolerant plants, may never need an increase in watering from winter to summer. Cut back the system severely in the winter when lawns are dormant, to the point that you water our lawn for a small amount of time only once per week. There are lots of ways you can experiment with your watering regime.

Resources

http://water.tamu.edu/water-resources-homeowners/

Overwatering Lawn

Rotary Nozzle

can help reduce your water consumption

Please Join Us!

Saturday, May 14, 2016

10am to noon

Andy will be teaching you about some common pests and how to control them using organic-based products. Andy is a fun and extremely knowledgeable speaker that our customers always enjoy.

Save 10% coupon	Olivia	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. Please share this offer with your friends and family.
Offer Expires: May 31, 2016

Floral Accents

Designs by Judy Moran

A Native Texan, Judy comes to us by way of Las Vegas, where she ran a very successful event planning business. Her love of Galveston has brought her back to Texas. Many of you already have one of Judy's designs on your table or hanging on your door. If not, stop in and let her create something special for your home.

In the Gift Shop

Beautiful Home Decor

Reclaimed Rope Mats from Maine are back in new colors!

New Art Poles, Bird Baths, Birdhouses, Pots and Mat Mates

Fairy Gardening

Take a look at our new line of adorable fairies. Meet Maisie, Gigi, Mikayla, Eva and Lily!

Inspired by the beauty she finds in nature, Maisie loves to dream big and get a little messy while she paints in the garden.

Brave, spontaneous, and quick-witted, Gigi is always ready for adventure. She loves hiking, camping, and watching birds in the wild.

The garden is Mikayla's favorite place to read. She loves to soak up a great story surrounded by warm sunlight and the peaceful sounds of nature.

Strong-willed and independent, Eva loves digging in the dirt, planting seeds, and growing her own food to share with her friends.

Lily loves to soak up the beauty of the outdoors, while she watches over your garden. She brings contagious joy and happiness with her wherever she goes.

Mark your calendar

Event: Annual Back Garden Tour

June 4th and 5th

Clean Galveston will present its Back Garden Tour featuring some of

the most incredible gardens on the island.

Advance tickets will be available for purchase online and

at Tom's Thumb Nursery.

In Our Garden

BANANA

PASSION VINE

SHRIMP PLANT

The flower of Spring is the Rose. We have many varieties that do well with minimal care. The popular yellow Julia Child, fragrant Belinda's Dream and Knockout roses are available as well as the low growing, hardy Drift Roses which are an island favorite. Come in now for the best selection!

A new shipment of tropicals from Florida arrived last week, including bromeliads, beautiful ferns, Norfolk Island Pines, pitcher plants, and so much more!