THE HEAT IS ON!

Things are heating up around here! When our Central Oregon summer finally hits, grabbing a nice cold glass of iced tea and heading to the lake sounds like the perfect idea. If you need a drink you can bet your plants do too! When temperatures get into the high 90's and 100's, as forecasted over the next few days, your garden needs special attention and water, water, water!

Haven't quite finished your planting yet? That's okay, you can still plant when it's hot outside. Just make sure to water deeply and frequently. Use Fertilome root stimulator for best results.

BOUNTIFUL BLOOMS

Fertilize your pots and baskets weekly with Fertilome Booming & Rooting for continuous blooms.

Don't apply in the heat of the day when the sun is out. Evening is the best application time.

DON'T LOSE THAT GREEN...

Time to fertilize your lawn. We recommend Landsystems Summer Blend (20-8-12-5) with 50% slow-release nitrogen. Specifically developed by Landsystems for use in Central Oregon.

As an organic choice use Cascade Natural (8-3-5).

MULCH MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Adding 2-3 inches of mulch to garden beds and around trees and shrubs can make a big difference in water retention. Be careful to keep mulch away from the base of your plants and the trunks of your trees. We offer a variety of mulches in bags and in bulk by the yard.

Steer Compost - This compost feeds your soil as well as retaining water and beautifying your landscape.

Hemlock Bark Mulch - We carry high quality bark mulch that is sliver-less and is available in dark brown or reddish brown.

Bark-o-Mulch - This fir bark is more economical, but does have slivers.

MULCH TODAY FOR BETTER WATER RETENTION AND FEWER WEEDS TOMORROW!

NO LUCK INVOLVED

Clover is in full bloom right now. That may be all right in clover fields, but not in your lawn! Because of its long tap root, clover is a tough plant to kill. Landsystems has a product that will kill clover as well as other "broadleaf" weeds in your lawn without killing the grass. Weed-Free Zone by Fertilome is effective on most lawn weeds including clover. Apply to actively growing weeds in early morning or late evening. Allow to dry for a few hours before watering the lawn or allowing animals or humans on it.

SUMMER HUMMERS AND FLUTTERERS

Create a haven for the kind of wildlife that only brings smiles without any of the destruction. This type of wildlife does not dig, burrow, chew, or trample our treasured plants.

Butterflies and hummingbirds can add a new dimension to your garden, all you have to do is entice them. Here are some ways to encourage these small "welcomed" visitors to linger, flutter, and hum throughout the summer.

Hummingbirds are attracted to anything with the color red. Flowers such as Petunias, Fuschias, Hollyhocks, Penstemon, Coral Bells, Salvia, Bee Balm, and Honeysuckle are their favorites. By adding a bright red feeder and keeping it filled with instant nectar these little powerhouses will linger until the weather sends them south.

Butterflies love to flit and flutter from flower to flower searching out nectar. To get them dancing and dining for hours, use some of their favorites; Lilacs, Cosmos, Clematis, Columbine, Foxglove, Daylilies, Purple Coneflower, Yarrow, Verbena and of course don't forget Butterfly Bush!

Landsystems can help you create a wildlife habitat of the non-destructive kind!

RUSSIAN SAGE

Russian Sage’s massive popularity is no doubt due to its ability to thrive in dry, tough conditions. It blooms all summer and grows well in almost all soil conditions. And if that weren’t reason enough to plant it, Russian Sage is extremely resistant to deer, rabbits and even elk. Its fragrant blooms attract butterflies and hummingbirds as well.

Russian Sage can grow up to 48" tall and wide. It is a low maintenance plant that looks its best when cut back hard (leaving 6 to 12” of stem above ground) in mid-spring.

5 GALLON BEAUTIES, BLOOMING AND AVAILABLE NOW!

BLACK TOWER ELDERBERRY

A stunning, purple shrub that creates multi-seasonal interest with beautiful pink blooms, deep-purple foliage, and blackish-red berries.

Deer resistant and easy to grow, Black Tower will thrive in full sun to partial shade. Like most elderberries, this one is a perfect choice for creating a fast-growing hedge or privacy screen. It reaches a mature size of 6-8. ft tall by 3-4 ft wide.

HOT & DRY!!

...the perfect conditions for spider mites. Watch plantings carefully for signs of distress. Yellowing and mottled foliage, curling leaves, and webbing are all clear indicators. Treat with a miticide such as Fertilome Triple-Action or a natural product such as Natural Guard Spinosad Soap or Organicide Bee Safe 3 in 1 Garden Spray. Keep plants clean with a strong stream of water to prevent infestation.

Check out our ever expanding fountain selection!

DAYLILIES FOR DAYS

If there ever was a "sure thing" perennial, it would have to be the daylily. They thrive in our climate, tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions, bloom faithfully for years with little to no maintenance and are not troubled by diseases! Do keep in mind the deer enjoy them. The daylily's botanical name, Hemerocallis, means "beauty for a day", and indeed most daylily flowers open in the morning and die by nightfall. However, each flower stem (also called a scape) typically has at least a dozen flower buds, so the plant stays in bloom for several weeks.

Daylilies are well-suited for many different uses in the landscape. The shorter, more compact varieties are great planted directly into perennial borders, where their blooms provide a colorful mid-summer boost. In groups, daylilies are perfect for landscape plantings, especially when paired with ornamental grasses or smaller shrubs. Daylilies are also ideal for mass plantings. Placed along a fence or walkway, they'll form a dense, weed-proof display of color.

Landsystems Summer Hours:

Monday - Saturday 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM