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Your Independent Neighborhood Garden Nursery
Beautiful Plants and Inspired Designs since 1954
| | Dear Friends of Anderson's La Costa, | | |
Happy Mother's Day!
What a beautiful month! Summer is almost here. But first, we get to celebrate our wonderful moms, enjoy our longer spring days with mild temperatures, see so many blooming flowers in all the colors of the rainbow, and see your smiling faces every time you visit the nursery!
We hope you will come in to notice how full the shelves are in every plant category - from indoor tropical plants, a huge selection of veggies, fruits, and herbs, to everything for the beautiful Mediterranean climate we live in.
We are happy to announce our monthly special: all Hydrangeas, Ornamental Grasses, and Indoor Ficus are now 20% off.
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20% Off
Hydrangeas, Ornamental Grasses, and Indoor Ficus
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You'll find Steven's awesome write-up in the next section, followed by May Gardening Tips.
Wishing you and/or the moms in your life a very happy Mother's Day. We will be open during regular hours on Sunday. We hope you'll consider coming in for a stroll. Enjoy your weekend and this absolutely beautiful month.

Best wishes,
Your Anderson's La Costa Team ~ Marc, Mariah, Steven, Manny, Hanna, Tandy, Julie, June, Josh, Mo, Zoe, Madeline, Ella, Gabe, and Alvaro
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What's New at the Nursery...by Steven Froess
Happy May, Everyone!
Surprisingly, we are almost halfway through the year. May is a great month. Talk about a consistent low 70s with cool nights and plenty of sunshine. May also has many notable days, including Mother's Day. Hopefully we celebrate our mothers as often as possible, but on May 10th, we spoil them and tell them how much we appreciate them. May can also be a great month for gardening and flowers, even if we are stuck with gray, overcast skies. Regardless of the May gray, the weather will be warmer, with plenty of sunlight hours to keep plants growing.
Growth and warmth bring many benefits, but insects also begin to emerge. Staying on top of them and monitoring your garden regularly will significantly reduce damage. Aphids usually appear at the first sign of new growth and are the pest I've seen the most so far this season. There are several types, from green to yellow to gray-bodied. They multiply quickly and are piercing insects. The resulting damage can include stunted, deformed leaves and honeydew on the foliage, which can lead to a sooty black mold. The good news is that they are easy to control. Their soft bodies are unprotected and can easily become damaged. I initially recommend using the hose nozzle on a stream or jet setting to both rinse off the leaves and control the aphids.
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Ladybug and lacewing larvae also naturally control aphid populations. Releasing ladybugs into your garden regularly will benefit you and surrounding gardens. If aphids start to get out of control, a pyrethrin-based insecticide such as Take down or Orchard Spray will be extremely effective. Spraying in the evening, when pollinators are inactive, is important. You can also prune any damaged growth if necessary; however, remember that each time we do this, the plant must expend energy for new growth. A healthy plant can recover quickly, but a struggling plant will not. This reinforces that regular monitoring and catching problems early is the best way to control damage.
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Flowers, flowers, and more flowers. This month explodes with plants showing off their beauty. Hydrangeas are now in bloom, with some new varieties and some classics, such as 'Miss Saori' (purple new growth followed by double pink and white flowers) and 'Nikko Blue' (a classic light blue/purple). These are two of my favorites, but there will be several other varieties available, including white and a variegated lacecap.
Another flower to peak this month that everyone has been waiting for is dahlias. This month we will see dahlias at their finest, showcasing flowers in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Enjoy the extra-large flowering dinnerplate series, the dark-leaf mystic (great contrast), and everything in between.
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| Alstroemeria are also at their peak this month. Indian Summer is one of my favorite varieties, with longer stems, darker foliage, and sunset-colored flowers. The dwarf, pure-white-flowered Colorita Claire is one of our most popular and goes with any color palette. A couple more great Proven Winner brand plants are Oenethera (Calylophus) Superlophus (low-growing, drought-resistant with bright yellow flowers all summer) and Cuphea 'Vermillionaire,' which is a guaranteed hummingbird magnet. | | Many people have been requesting the tall verbena bonariensis after seeing the one we planted in the raised bed in full bloom. These bright-colored, fast-growing plants will attract all sorts of butterflies to your garden. These are in stock, along with different cultivars, including a Proven Winner variety called Meteor Shower. Yarrow is another great addition to any garden as a filler and spring bloomer. It comes in almost every color you can imagine, and some of my favorites include Moonshine, Pomegranate, and Paprika. | | Salvias are really starting to pop with color as well, including Mystic Spires, Skyscraper Purple, Waverly White, Greggii hybrids, and White Flame. For a repeat, long-flowering garden or potted plant, you can't go wrong with a salvia. Also starting to bloom are tropical Mandevillas. Right now, we have climbing Apricot and White, with more coming as we get some steady warm weather. This month is a fantastic time to be planting and playing in the garden. | | |
Other notable stocked items include berry bushes such as blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and blueberries. There are many varieties, including golden raspberry, thornless boysenberry, emerald, jewel, and sunshine blueberries, just to name a few. When planting berries, use acidic soil amendments like cottonseed meal and fertilizers for the best results.
Several varieties of edible passionfruit vines are back, including Nancy Garrison, Red Rover, Purple possum, and Frederick. We are at the time of year when we receive lots of new plants every week, especially in the edible garden, so be sure to check back to see what's new.
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This month's outdoor sale includes hydrangeas and ornamental grasses. Hydrangeas are in their bloom season and do well in mostly shade. The blue/purple flowering types require a lower (acidic) pH to maintain their color. Other flowering types just require regular watering, occasional fertilizing, and spraying or preventive measures against powdery mildew, especially along the coast.
Ornamental grasses can add movement to any garden, and their fibrous roots are great for soil retention, especially on slopes. Lomandra has gained popularity for its durability and does not need to be cut back yearly like other grasses. Enjoy 20% off these plants through the end of May.
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From the indoor greenhouse, Ficus are on sale now! There are so many to choose from, including Fiddle Leaf (Ficus Lyrata), F. Audrey, F. Triangularis, F. Alli, many forms of F. Elastica, and more.
The greenhouse is looking spectacular, just in time for Mother's Day. Enjoy pre-potted, ready-to-gift arrangements and a huge selection of orchids. Hanna and team have just installed brand-new tables to make it easier to view and browse the bountiful plant selection.
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There's so much more to talk about, but instead of going on here, I'll stop and let you come in and see everything for yourselves.
I hope there is plenty of sunshine this month, and I look forward to seeing you all at the nursery!
Your Local Horticulturalist,
Steven

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May usually brings prime planting conditions to Southern California gardens and landscapes. Temperatures are mild, the soil has warmed up, and we'll often have high overcast skies that help new plants gradually ease into warmer weather.
May is the best month to plant summer-flowering shrubs and to start transplanting indoor plants outdoors. If temperatures are cooperating, this month will be your busiest until September, with planning, planting, and projects to prepare for summer. We could not find a more pleasant place or time of year to be out working in the garden in our area than during the month of May!
May can also be a frantic month in our gardens, as we’ve already had a taste with our recent rain burst. In warm climates, conditions can shift rapidly from mild to hot. Colder (inland) gardens have suddenly appeared out of nowhere and demand immediate attention. You may not need a list of what to do in the garden, because it is staring you in the face every time you walk into it. But here are some reminders of what you can do...
To continue reading May Gardening Tips, click here.
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Welcome to Anderson's La Costa Garden Design Services. Our talented staff has designed hundreds of gardens for Southern California homeowners. Having a dedicated garden designer visit your home or office will help you create the beautiful outdoor space you've always dreamed of.
Our experienced Garden Designers can assist you with:

- A garden designed to your preferences
- Optimal plant selection and options for your unique setting and microclimate
- Advice on drought-tolerant and California native designs
- Recommendations on soil amending
- Plant problem identification and resolution
- Address maintenance needs
- A scheduled nursery visit to view the recommended plant materials
- Professional garden advice as needed
We hope you stop by to learn more about how we can help with your garden. Our Garden Design team is talented, creative, passionate, and professional. Please call, visit us at the nursery, or visit our website:
andersonslacostanursery.com/garden-design-services
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