Everything you need to make your garden grow!

Join us in celebrating 55 years in business with our Anniversary Sale.
April 5-15

Visit our Anniversary Sale Ads to see what is on sale!
Certified Handpicked For You
Some of you may have noticed a new tag on some of the plants last year. The green and white tag read “Certified Handpicked for You” .   This new program comes courtesy of our largest nursery, Overdevest Nurseries in Bridgeton, New Jersey along with 4 other industry stalwarts. What it means for you, the customer, is that these growers are bringing you the newest plants available to them. The difference is that they are thoroughly field trialing the plants in their nurseries and even in their own gardens before they release them to the public. We have had too many bad experiences throughout the years where highly touted plants fail to perform in our gardens.  "Certified Handpicked for You" changes all of this, they bring us not only the newest but also the most trusted and tested plants available. Look for the green and white label this year and know that these plants will not only survive but thrive in your landscape.  
 
Let's try something new to grow!
Selected Seeds for Flower Mixes

Several of the seed companies have preselected flower mixes. Botanical interests does a particularly good job selecting compatible combinations of plants and also plants with a purpose.

There are specific mixtures for shade or sun, hummingbirds or wildlife, cut flowers or perennials and many more.

Some of the other seed companies offer great combinations also - and trust us - we have plenty of them to choose from.
 


6 Easy Steps for Flower Mixes 
  1. Shake seed packet to mix seeds.
  2. Sow seeds 2 to 6 weeks before your average last frost.
  3. Mix seed in a bucket with some of the soil seeds will be sown in. Evenly spread out over the square footage the packet recommends. 
  4. Rake seeds in lightly.
  5. Keep moist until seeds begin to emerge - then water regularly as needed. 
  6. Enjoy months of blooms and visits from pollinators!
Plant of the Month
Pieris japonica – Andromeda
By Dan Ziomek

With the onset of spring weather comes our desire to surround ourselves with spring flowers. One of the first shrubs to flower is the plant called Pieris or more commonly, Andromeda. These evergreen, shade loving shrubs grow from 2’ – 6’ high and wide. They perform best in well-drained soil and can bloom from late March until mid-May. Two often overlooked attributes of these plants are its’ flower buds and foliage color after flowering. The flower buds start green but as the weather warms the buds swell and take on a beautiful pinkish-red coloration. As with Mountain Laurel I feel these swollen buds rival the fully open flowers for showiness. Another part of this plant’s beauty is its bright red to orange-red new growth. This foliage appears soon after flowering and again, in my opinion, rivals the flowers for affect and color. If shade is a problem in your yard take a look at Pieris but look beyond the flowers for beauty and color.  

  
Six Steps to a Greener Garden
Starting an organic garden is the perfect way to ensure you are giving healthy food to your family, and protecting the earth. Here are some helpful hints for a greener garden.
1. Right plant in right place.  Don't fight your site, but rather, embrace your sunlight levels, climate, and soil type, and choose varieties that will naturally thrive in your gardens' conditions, reducing the need for excess water or amendment.
2. Compost.  Reduce landfill waste by composting yard scraps and food waste.
3. Water wisely.  Conserve water by watering deeply and less frequently, encouraging plants to build deeper, water-mining roots.
4 . Prevention is key to a healthy garden.  Rotate plant families (see inside of packets) annually, so they are not grown in the same space but once every three years, reducing debris build-up and potential for disease. Scout for pests, diseases, and natural predators weekly so you can identify problems early, and decide if action is needed and use organic pesticide to avoid harming bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
5. Sow a cover crop! Cover crop enriches the soil, fights weeds, and breaks up compacted soil naturally.
6. Submit a soil test for analysis. By understanding your unique garden site you can know exactly what amendments are needed, avoiding pests, diseases, and pollution, which can be caused by over-fertilizing. Improving soil by reaching the ideal, 5-6% organic matter also helps conserve water and prevent run-off.
Roses
echinacea
Perennials & Nursery Stock
Fruits
April is the Month
  • Replenish mulch in your beds to help prevent weeds.
  • Fertilize your lawn and apply a pre-emergent crabgrass control when Forsythia blossoms drop.
  • Work the soil in your beds as soon as the weather permits, adding compost and other amendments.
  • Start seedlings of: Cucumbers, Eggplant, Melon, Spinach, Okra, Onions, Peppers, Squash, Tomatoes
  • Plant: Beets, Carrots, Dill, Endive, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Artichoke
  • Transplant:  Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Clematis, Daylilies, Foxglove, Fruit Trees, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Pansies, Raspberries, Roses, Strawberries 
 
Messsage from Tom and Janine
The season starts again with our 55th year. Truly amazing! It will be hard to top 2017 but we know you are all anxious to get out into your yards and gardens. We have some new varieties of plants that we are very excited about as well as some great new products and garden decor. Despite some extended snow and cold weather things are hopping here with trucks arriving daily and the nursery yard filling up fast. Please stop in and take advantage of the great prices the items on sale for the anniversary. There are lots of unadvertised specials besides the great deals in our print ads. Register for our drawing and pick up a complimentary pack of Bee Mix seeds. And don't forget we have Pansies at only $1.88 per pack. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. Happy Spring!


Tom & Janine Giles
& the staff of the Hadley Garden Center
Hadley Garden Center | 413-584-1423 www.hadleygardencenter.com