A little vitamin boost from Bio-tone Plus before amending your soil is key when planting up a fresh tomato path. More great tips from Bloom and Grow Radio in the full video!
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-04-at-2.15.04-PM.png390781Stephanie Muczykhttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngStephanie Muczyk2020-08-04 14:33:552022-04-12 08:19:01Video: Tomato Planting Tutorial with Bloom and Grow Radio
We’re thrilled to jump back into our Q&A series where we highlight the talented folks who are working hard behind the scene to make Espoma so great. Today we’re shining the spotlight on Dave Jackson, Vice President of National Accounts! We’ve been lucky enough to have him with us for just over three years now during which he’s continually impressed his colleagues and customers alike.
Let’s learn a bit more about Dave’s day-to-day life and his favorite Espoma products! Keep reading to find out his secret is for the ultimate curb appeal.
Q. What’s your favorite part of your job?
A. My favorite part of my job is presenting new products and merchandising ideas to customers and helping them grow their business.
Q. How has COVID-19 affected your day-to-day?
A. Interacting face-to-face with customers has been replaced with virtual meetings and digital presentations. I miss the customer interaction and store visits.
Q. What about your personal life? Any new hobbies and/or habits helping to pass the time?
A. It has been nice to spend more time with my kids who are taking classes from home. They can’t escape!
Q. What are you most looking forward to when the world gets back to normal?
A. I look forward to visiting my parents and family and getting to a few favorite restaurants.
Q. Tell us about your personal garden, yard, or plants.
A. I maintain my own lawn and landscaping, including a rock garden and a few containers on the patio.
Q. What is your top gardening tip?
A. Make sure you get your kids to help when it’s time to do the mulching!
Q. What’s one Espoma product you couldn’t live without?
A. I’m amazed by how well my flowers look soon after using Bloom! Liquid Plant Food. It’s quick and easy.
Q. What do you enjoy most about caring for your gardens?
A. I enjoy trying different containers of annuals, perennials, and herbs. I also enjoy watching one of my kids mow the backyard!
Q. What made you want to enter the gardening industry?
A. I started my career with a seed company and haven’t left the industry since. It’s a great group of people!
Q. What made you want to work at Espoma?
A. I’ve always admired Espoma’s great products and packaging and jumped at the opportunity to join the team.
As always, we’re proud to have such loyal, hard-working employees that keep our company running. Stay tuned to learn more about the great folks behind the brand at Espoma.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IMG_7284-scaled-e1595605672343.jpg8101080Stephanie Muczykhttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngStephanie Muczyk2020-07-24 11:50:472020-07-24 12:00:47Meet the Team: Q&A with Dave Jackson
Here at Espoma, our products are only as great as the team behind them. That’s why we’re excited to begin our Q&A series where you’ll get to learn a bit more about the talented folks behind the brand. We want you to see for yourself just how our company is comprised of hard-working people who genuinely care about our customers and everything plant- and garden-related!
First up is our Southeast Territory Sales Manager, Bonnie Satterthwaite. Bonnie has been with us for 14 years! We’d love to tell you about all her and the amazing things she has done for Espoma over the years, but we figured it would be best to hear it straight from the source. So, we sat down with Bonnie and let her put it in her own words.
Q: What’s your favorite part of your job?
A: Developing relationships and often becoming friends with our customers. And, of course, the opportunity to visit all of the fabulous garden centers in my area.
Q: What about your personal life? Any new hobbies helping to pass the time?
A: I purchased a rowing machine, but have yet to leave the dock…
Q: Tell us about your personal garden, yard, or plants.
A: I truly love gardening, and I know that passion resonates with my dealers. I maintain a floral cutting garden, a white/night garden, over 150 hydrangeas, and a hydrangea graveyard.
Q: What is your top gardening tip?
A: Never think you are finally finished and get rid of non-performers!
Q: What’s one Espoma product you couldn’t live without?
A: Without hesitation, BioTone Starter Plus. I do not plant without it. I have seen what it does for plants and transplants. I have seen unsolicited “with and without” trials by garden centers who use the “trust and verify” model. It is an amazing product. I am proud to recommend all of the Espoma line, because of our dedication to quality, the environment, and the safety of children and pets.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of gardening?
A: My favorite aspect is certainly the seasonal outdoor garden beds — just tending the garden beds and the joy of watching things flourish. There comes, for me, great satisfaction from the hard work — and I find the whole process relaxing. I love a morning and late evening stroll around the garden.
Q: What made you want to enter the gardening industry?
A: I was a stay-at-home mom and my sister was a grower for a local garden center. She asked me to come and help her plant 10,000 geraniums during school hours. The owner of both the growing operation and garden center told me I talked too much to be in the greenhouse and asked if I would come to his garden shop during the busy season and talk to customers. And there you go….
Q: Tell us what made you want to work at Espoma and what makes it a special place to work?
A: I met Jeremy Brunner on a garden center bus tour and, unbeknownst to me, my Espoma adventure was about to start. I was very happy at my previous job, but Jeremy’s passion and vision for the growth of the Espoma company was something that was missing from my previous job. I wanted to be a part of something that I could see and feel was going to be spectacular. Espoma cares just as deeply for their work family as they do for their products. So, for me, there was just no question on where I wanted to continue my career.
We were so fortunate to have Bonnie join us when she did — and we hope to keep her around for as long as possible! At Espoma, we definitely pride ourselves on being able to congregate hard-working employees who genuinely enjoy the gardening industry the same way our loyal customers do. Thanks for all you do, Bonnie!
Summer weather brings with it new planting projects. If you love having a fresh bouquet of flowers to keep you happy and refreshed while you’re spending more time than usual indoors, it may be time to start your own cutting garden. And the best part about it is that it’s completely customizable to what you like. You can grow roses, shrubs, perennials, and even bulbs. Try growing berry bushes to add an accent to your next bouquet!
If you’ve always thought growing your own flowers isn’t worth the hassle, take a look at these five reasons for why you should definitely reconsider. And don’t forget to stop by your local garden center to find out which plants will work best in your yard.
1. So many blooms
If you love to spend all day staring at your vase of flowers every time there’s a special occasion, you’re going to love having a cutting garden. When all the flowers are in your backyard, you get to enjoy them inside and outside! Plus, there’s no more waiting around for special occasions. When you use Espoma’s Bio-Starter Plus, your flowers will be ready to be freshly picked every week.
2. Health benefits
Gardening really can be a great workout. All the same, it can be incredibly relaxing and meditative. Take a moment to get some fresh air, move around by digging and planting, and reap the benefits later (physical wellbeing and fresh flowers)!
3. Unlimited bouquets
Who says you have to stop at one bouquet a week? Fill your entire home with color-coated bunches of fresh flowers! Once your garden is fully bloomed, you no longer have to run to the store or tip for delivery.
4. Quality bonding time
There’s no better way to teach the kids how to care for living things and to connect with nature — all while spending quality time together. Even if you don’t have room in your yard, taking a family trip to a community garden can also help expand your circle of friends!
5. Curb appeal
If you do have room in your own yard, your cutting garden will instantly boost your curb appeal! Your home will not only be filled with beautiful flowers but will be surrounded by them too. Proper maintenance with Espoma’s liquid Bloom! will help keep your neighbors green with envy and your plants nice and bright.
Are you convinced yet? As you can see, there are numerous benefits to starting your own cutting garden, and very few cons! Who wouldn’t want unlimited access to fresh flowers? Even when you have to roll up your sleeves and put in the work, you’re still getting a great workout and great payoff. Find your nearest garden center and get started today.
With Memorial Day in the rearview, summer is officially here once again — and while we wish that meant nothing but sunshine and barbecues, bugs seem to always make an appearance this time of year. But did you know there are ways to avoid getting bitten and bugged every time you want to relax outside?
The fragrance of certain plants can actually block the receptors insects use to find us. It’s just another great reason to get a garden going in your backyard, around your patio, or anywhere you like to enjoy fresh air. All you really need to sustain these helpful plants is some good starter fertilizer like Espoma’s organic Bio-tone Starter Plus and to make sure they’re fed every two to four weeks with Grow! to ensure they get the proper nutrients.
So, if you’re getting some unwanted guests during those summer cookouts, try planting some of these simple staples.
Lemon Grass
Did you know many mosquito repelling candles and sprays are made from citronella oil? Lemon grass naturally produces this ingredient and doubles as a beautiful grassy plant for walkways and around tables. Alternatively, you can plant it in its own pot and use it wherever your local mosquitos tend to congregate.
Other Lemon-Scented Plants
Similar to lemongrass, other plants that give off a strong citrus fragrance — like lemon-scent geraniums, lemon thyme, and lemon balm — work well to repel bugs. These plants use their fresh scent to keep their leaves from being eaten — and in turn can help you keep from being bitten.
Lavender
Despite lavender’s sweet smell being quite popular among people, most insects hate it. Keeping this plant near seating areas will help ward away mosquitos and other pesky flies. A great thing about this plant is that you can use it fresh or dried to get the job done — or even just use the extracted oil. This way you have different options on how you want to decorate while still keeping the pests at bay.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a great addition to your cookout. Throw a few sprigs on the grill as you’re cooking to release its fragrance into the air. It’ll smell wonderful to you and your family but make the bugs fly in the other direction.
Basil
Basil is another herb that will keep the mosquitos away. It’s also toxic to mosquito larvae, so placing this plant near water can help discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Mint
Mint’s fragrance is great at repelling pests like ants, mosquitoes, and even mice. It’s also always a nice addition to any dish, so incorporating it into your barbecue can be beneficial in more ways than one.
Garlic
If cabbage moths are just as pesky as mosquitoes in your backyard, garlic can be your saving grace. When crushed, the garlic bulbs release allicin — an enzyme that produces that classic garlic smell. Your local pests will definitely not enjoy your garlic breath, so go ahead and use it up all weekend long.
Any and all of these plants can be used purely to keep the bugs away, but they’re also beautiful decor for your outdoor area. Be sure to keep up with them all season long in order to reap the benefits whenever your cookouts come around.
Here are some of our other blogs we thought you might enjoy.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Basil.jpg400495Stephanie Muczykhttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngStephanie Muczyk2020-05-28 13:39:152021-01-15 16:52:25Use These Garden Staples to Avoid Being Bugged at Your Next Barbecue
It’s not too hard to walk through the yard in mid-summer and
pick enough flowers for a vase. But, oftentimes, gardens are less showy in
autumn. Heare are five winners you should look for now and plant next spring.
All five varieties can be grown from seed for pennies. They will liven up your
fall bouquets and your fall garden next year. Best of all, three of them dry
beautifully and will last all winter. Don’t forget to feed your flowers Espoma’s liquid Grow!
fertilizer for the best possible harvest.
Chinese Lanterns
Chinese lanterns, sometimes called Japanese lanterns, have
bright orange seed pods that look like puffy lanterns hanging from their stems.
These dry beautifully and may be used in arrangements for many months, even
years. Their vivid orange color makes them ideal for all things Halloween. You
can sow the seeds indoors in the spring or outside directly in the soil. They
are vigorous growers and can be grown in pots to keep them in check.
Blackberry Lily
This is a twofer. Blackberry lilies have beautiful, bright
orange flowers with deep orange freckles on tall graceful stems. After they
bloom, seed is produced inside puffy capsules. In late summer the capsules
break open and you’re left with a cluster of black seeds that looks exactly like
big, fat, juicy blackberries. The glossy berries look beautiful in fresh or
dried arrangements. Together with the Chinese lanterns, you’ll have the
ultimate Halloween combination.
Zinnias
Zinnia’s have been garden favorites for hundreds of years
because they are so easy to grow from seed and come in so many different colors,
shapes, and sizes. They’ll start flowering in mid-summer and bloom until frost,
attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. They make outstanding cut flowers and
long-lasing bloomers in the garden. They like good air circulation and always
water at ground level, wet leaves can lead to mildew.
Money Plant
Money plant, also called the silver dollar plant is not the
same as the house plant. Its botanical name is Lunaria. This lovely annual
blooms in spring with bright pinkish-purple flowers but don’t cut them. After
they bloom, they develop an oval seed pod. Toward the end of summer, the pod
becomes papery and if you carefully rub them the husks and seeds fall off and
you are left with a stem of almost transparent, silver dollar-sized disks that
look like parchment. They are so unusual and because of their neutral color, they
blend well in any bouquet. Throw the seeds back where they came from for and
you’ll get more the next year.
Sunflowers
Annual sunflowers now come in a wide range of colors from
yellow, orange and bronze to ruby red and even white. They also come in a
variety of heights from six feet tall to shorter branching varieties to dwarf
varieties that reach just a foot or two. They are all easy to grow from seed
and are especially fun to grow with kids because they grow so fast. Cut them
early in the morning, when the flower petals are just beginning to open for the
longest lasting cut flowers.
Foraging
If you don’t have enough varieties of fall blooming flowers,
foraging may be an option. Foraging isn’t legal everywhere but if you have
friends or family with some property ask if you could cut some wildflowers.
Goldenrod, asters, and tansy can add beautiful and flare to a cut flower
bouquet. Think of berries too. Many shrubs have fall berries and many roses
offer hips. Don’t forget about adding dried grasses, hydrangeas and foliage
with fall color. The most important thing is just to be creative and have fun.
Mother Nature already made the flowers beautiful, so you can’t miss.
Here are links to other blogs we hope you’ll find interesting.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/zinnia-cut-flower-bouquet.jpg6671000espomahttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngespoma2019-09-19 09:30:102019-09-19 09:20:54Fall Flowers Extend the Season In Your Garden and Beauty in Your Home
Danger could be lurking anywhere when you’ve got kids and pets. That’s
why parents do their best to baby-proof and petscape. And when you’re a plant
parent, the last thing you want to think about is your real babies or furbabies snacking
on your plant babies.
Whether it’s because they’re poisonous or prickly, some plants are
just not safe for consumption.
Luckily, many plants are non-toxic and safe for the whole family
to enjoy.
Boston
Ferns
Not only are Boston ferns safe to have around pets and kids, but
they also clean the air every minute of the day. Studies from the US
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have found that levels of indoor air
pollution can be two to five times— and in some cases 10 times — more polluted
than outdoor air. Feed ferns every two to four weeks with Espoma’s liquid Indoor! fertilizer to keep
plants growing.
Spider Plant
This 70s mainstay and easy care plant is one of the safest you can
find. Spider plants also great for teaching small children about plant
propagation. Just snip off the babies and transplant into Espoma’s
organic potting mix to create more plants.
Christmas
Cactus
With their flat green leaves, stunning blooms in pink or lilac and
longevity, Christmas cacti can sometimes be family heirlooms handed down from
one generation to the next. To trigger blooming, these plants need darkness for
at least 14 hours a day and sunlight between 8 to 10 hours a day for six weeks.
You can cover your cacti if your indoor lighting is bright to create the needed
rest period.
Echeverias
The entire echeveria family is safe for pets and children,
although we still don’t advise eating them. This desert native comes in a
variety of colors and does best in dry conditions. Echeveria should be watered
only once it has dried out. For optimal results, place echeveria in full sun
and ensure the soil is well drained. Use Espoma’s Cactus! liquid fertilizer to give
succulents the optimal amount of nutrients.
Zebra
Plant
Another favorite of succulent lovers, this striking plant gets its
name from the horizontal stripes covering its leaves. Growing about 5” tall and
6”wide, the zebra
plant is tidy, contained and a perfect addition to any small space.
Zebra plants require a moderate amount of sunlight and water.
African
Violets
These stunners are known to bloom continuously, even throughout
the darker months of winter. Place them throughout the house to enjoy their
colors and velvety texture throughout the year.
Once you get in a regular routine of taking
care of African violets, you’ll find they’re very easy to grow. All
of their basic needs need to be met though, or they won’t bloom. Give them the
right temperature, light and a good feeding with Espoma’s Violet! liquid fertilizer, and
you’ll be blooming in no time.
Safety First
Tiny hands and paws often
find their way into the dirt and end up in the mouth. Picking non-toxic plants
is a step in the right direction toward keeping your little ones safe, but go
one step further by choosing organic products and soil for your plant babies.
Plus, it’s healthy for your plants, and the planet, too.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/IMG_1097.jpg30725472espomahttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngespoma2019-09-11 08:00:042019-09-10 13:54:046 Kid and Pet Friendly Plants
Fall is a great time to plant. First of all, the cooler
temperatures make it much more appealing to be outside. Secondly, fall plant
sales are the best. Many garden centers offer deep discounts because they don’t
want to overwinter plants. Take advantage of these deals to add some spice to
your yard and garden.
Star of the Show
Azaleas are some of the most beautiful and popular shrubs
you can buy. The plants are covered with delicate blooms in spring and summer
and many have attractive fall color too. In the right location, they are easy
to grow and they’ll soon become the stars of the garden.
Soil and Light
Azaleas
are acid-loving plants. That means that they prefer soil with a low pH. Fertilizers
like Espoma’s Holly-tone
were developed especially for acid-lovers. You apply it once in the spring and
again in late fall at half strength. Well-drained soil is also a must. They do
best in bright shade. Too much sun can burn the foliage and too little will
result in poor flowering.
Planting with TLC
Azaleas are shallow-rooted shrubs meaning the roots don’t go
deep looking for water. Adding some compost to the soil when planting will help
hold moisture around the roots. It’s also a good idea to add Bio-tone Starter
Plus to the planting hole. It’s a great starter fertilizer to help make
sure your new plant gets established quickly. Water deeply after planting.
Mulching
Fall isn’t the best time to mulch. It can hold warmth in the
soil instead of letting the temperatures gently drop, encouraging the plant to
go into its natural dormancy. Add a layer of mulch next spring after the soil
has warmed up. Bark, pine needles and leaf mold are all good choices.
Pruning
Generally speaking, azaleas don’t need to be pruned unless
you are trying to reduce their height. In that case, prune the shrubs back
after they flower. You can remove dead or damaged branches any time of the
year. It is also a good idea to deadhead the flowers once they have finished
blooming. That way the plant can use all of its energy to grow bigger and
stronger instead of producing seed. Be careful when you snap off the old
flowers as the buds for next year are right below them.
Here are some other blog posts we hope you will find
interesting.
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/autumn_amethyst1.jpg450300espomahttps://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.pngespoma2019-09-04 15:45:412019-09-04 15:39:11Plant Azaleas in Early Fall