Blueberries for All

Posted February 14th, 2012 in Container Gardening, Edibles & Recipes, Shrubs & Vines, Small Yards
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Delicious, nutritious blueberries are easy and rewarding to grow in nearly any space.  In larger yards, you can plant attractive rows of full size blueberry plants to create bountiful harvests each summer.  If you have a deck or patio to garden on, you may also grow blueberries wonderfully in containers.  All you need is a location that has full to part sun, and well drained, evenly moist soil.  They are not drought tolerant plants so remember  to provide water during our dry summer months.

Select a container that is at least 24 to 36” high and wide when growing blueberries in a pot.  Fill your pot with potting soil for proper drainage.  Our favorite varieties for containers include ‘Sunshine Blue’ which typically keeps its leaves year round (evergreen) and grows 3’ tall and wide with tasty, medium sized berries.  ‘Bountiful Blue’ also has evergreen foliage and boasts large tangy, sweet berries.  ‘Top Hat’ grows only 1’ to 2’ high with a wonderful wild blueberry flavor. 

In addition to bearing delicious fruit the whole family will enjoy, many varieties boast beautiful fall foliage colors and are attractive plants mixed in the landscape. 

 

Blueberries at Squak Mt. Nursery

(supplies are limited)

Variety

Notes

Berry Size

Harvest Period

Fall Foliage

Bluecrop

Great yields, classic / sweet flavor, disease resistant

Large

Mid-season

Red

Bluejay

Delicately sweet flavor, beautiful in landscape

Medium

Mid-season

Orange, yellow

Bountiful Blue

Great for containers, super sweet berries,

semi-evergreen foliage

Medium

Mid-late

Blue-green

Darrow

Robust flavor

Large

Late season

Orange, red

Duke

Savory, sweet berry, heavy producer

Large

Early season

Orange, yellow

Elliott

Zesty flavor, bountiful yields

Med / Lg

Late season

Red, orange

Hardyblue

Aromatic, very sweet

Medium

Mid-season

Bright red

Northsky

Fresh, wild berry taste. Only 18” tall, great for containers

Small

Mid-season

Red, burgundy

Pink Lemonade

Deep pink (!) berries, pleasant flavor

Medium

Mid-late

Golden, orange

Sunshine Blue

Great for containers, delicious berries,

semi-evergreen foliage

Medium

Mid-late

Blue-green, burgundy

Top Hat

Delicious taste. Only 18” tall, great for containers

Small

Mid-season

Red, orange

Toro

Abundant fruit clusters, sweet flavor

Large

Mid-season

Crimson red, yellow

‘February Flair’

Posted February 10th, 2012 in Container Gardening
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Squak Mt.’s 2012 Early Spring Recipe for Container Beauty

Bright yellow, green, metallic purple and black combine to create a striking, contemporary wardrobe for your containers.  The designers at Squak Mt. have created this exclusive design to inspire you as you welcome the first hints of spring to our neighborhoods.

All of these plants in are grouped together at our nursery to make their selection quick and easy.  This recipe is designed for a container about 15-18” wide.  Our friendly staff would be pleased to assist you in adding or subtracting plants to fit a pot of any size. We also have some stunning black or mirrored silver containers pre-planted with this design to allow you to take home instant beauty for your front porch or patio.  Light conditions are not as important during the first months of the year.  In future months, many of the plants in this recipe can either be transplanted to your landscape, or kept in the pot for year round interest in a sun or partial sun location. Come outfit your pots with eye catching style and color at Squak Mt. today.

(This recipe and the suggested layout for this pot is available as printed handout at Squak Mt. Nursery today.)

A.   Ceanothus ‘Diamond Heights’-1 plant: Attractive chartreuse leaves with a dark green center, pale blue flowers in April or May. Low growing evergreen shrub grows 10-12” high, trails nicely in containers.  Hardy to 20 F.

B.   Heuchera ‘Shanghai’-1 plant: Shimmering metallic silvery-purple leaves on a tightly mounding plant. Evergreen foliage performs well through winter. White flowers above dark purple stems in the summer. 10” H x 12” W.

C.   Dwarf Hinoki Cypress ‘Meroke Twin’-1 plant: Gold-green evergreen foliage. Slight twists of branches lend movement and individuality to upright growth. Excellent for tight spaces or containers.

D.   Black Mondo Grass-1 plant: Glossy black grassy foliage with a dense, clumping habit. Spikes of tiny lavender flowers are followed by black berries in the autumn. 6-12” H.

E.   Emerald Isle Spike Moss-1 to 2 plants. Small mounding moss with bright green foliage. Good groundcover for shade to part shade.

F.    Obconica Primrose-1 plant: Upright growing clusters of lavender, pink or purple blooms, soft green round leaves. This primrose grows to 9” tall.

G.   Primrose-2 to 3 plants: Rosettes of green foliage and cheery flowers in an array of colors on this perennial. Orangey-red or purple hued blooms recommended.

H.   Dwarf Narcissus-1 plant: A sure sign of spring when these cute daffodils are blooming. Tete-a-Tete or other dwarf varieties will work best. 6-12” H.

Tips for Tree Repair after the Ice Storm

Posted January 30th, 2012 in Plant Care
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This past Saturday, Alan Haywood, city of Issaquah’s horticulturalist, spoke at a a free seminar here at Squak Mt.  His class focused on repairing trees damaged in the recent ice and snow storm.  For those with damaged trees perhaps the following points will help.

The first thing Alan said was do not go near trees with heavy burdens of ice or snow on them.  They are not safe!  True, there is no ice or snow now but remember this for future storms.  In addition he emphasized that broken tree tops and branches that are still hanging in trees pose a serious danger, and you must assess the danger they pose today.  Unless they are definitely wedged in the tree so they cannot fall, they should be removed for safety.  Alan spent much of his talk on the danger of  material falling out of trees, so please be warned.

You may have a tree, often a white birch, that has been bent by the weight of ice and snow, often into a perfect bow.  Be extremely careful if you want to cut this tree, it has large amounts of energy stored in the bow and can cause injury or damage when it is released.  A twisted tree presents the same danger.

When trying to decide if a tree should be completely removed because of extensive damage review the following:

 

  1. What was the overall condition of the tree prior to the storm?  If it looked sickly and past its prime, now might be the time to remove it.

 

  1. Has the tree outgrown its current location?  If so, why try to repair it? Considering removing it and planting a more appropriate tree.

 

  1. After damaged branches are removed will the tree have sufficient branches to produce enough leaves to sustain life?  If not, then cut your losses by removing the tree.

 

  1. Are the main scaffold branches basically in good condition?  If yes, then you probably have a tree worth working on.

 

  1. What species is the tree?  Some trees like Douglas firs and cedars live a long time, so work invested in these trees will give will have a long pay back period.  Other trees like alders, big leaf maples, and cottonwoods have a short life span and may not be worth repairing.

If you are pruning broken branches, cut back to the main branch, making sure you leave a smooth, flat cut.  Also, if a branch has completely broken off, make a fresh pruning cut to produce a smooth flat surface.  Jagged surfaces leave more surface areas for disease and insect to invade the tree.

For branches that are cracked but mostly still attached to your tree you may want to stabilize the branch by wrapping the cracked area with duct tape or electrical tape.  If the tape does not stabilize the branch, a splint or tying the branch to an adjoining branch may be necessary.

There is no need to apply a paint or pruning compound to the cut areas.   They do not provide any benefit and may provide a cover for insects to hide in.

If  you have questions concerning your tree please gives us a call Squak Mt. Nursery.

Redeem your Squak Mt. Holiday Dollars

Posted December 16th, 2011 in Greenhouse & Nursery News
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We are once again thanking our customers by distributing Squak Mt. Holiday dollars.  For each $10 spent at Squak Mt. from today through December 16, 2011 you will earn a Holiday Dollar.

Holiday dollars will be redeemable December 17th through the 23rd in 2011.   When redeeming Holiday dollars you can save up to 50% off of your purchase of holiday merchandise.

Each holiday dollar redeemed must be matched with a U.S. Dollar.  (For example: A $100 purchase = $50 cash, plus $50 Squak Mt. Holiday Dollars)

 

Holiday merchandise includes all ornaments, greens, cut and permanent Christmas trees, poinsettias, holiday ribbon and holiday décor.   This offer is good while supplies last.

 

Our general holiday sale for the public will not begin until December 26, 2011.

Winter blooming Camellias

Posted December 15th, 2011 in Shrubs & Vines
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Add large, colorful blooms to your landscape in our coldest months by planting winter blooming camellias (Camellia sasanqua).  These evergreen shrubs feature attractive deep green foliage and are easy to grow.  Their care and culture is the same as that of rhododendrons. They prefer well drained soil in the winter months and evenly moist soil in the summer.  Partial sun conditions are ideal for all camellias and sasanqua types will also grow well in full sun locations.

One of our favorites at Squak Mt. is the Camellia ‘Yuletide’, featuring cherry red blooms with golden yellow centers. Blooming from the beginning of December through the first of the year, this shrub provides color in your garden for the holiday season.

For those of you that live in the colder areas of the greater Eastside (North Bend, higher areas on Cougar Mt. or the plateau) consider picking out an extra cold hardy camellia, which has been bred for a zone 6 hardiness (-10 to -0 F).  They include ‘Winter’s Snowman’ which features pink buds that open to white anemone formed flowers.  Foliage on this beauty is dark green with burgundy new growth in the spring. Another good choice is ‘Winter’s Joy’, which boasts semi-double bright pink flowers.

Squak Mt. Nursery has a wonderful crop of camellias offered in a wide selection of sizes and varieties, including some espaliered on trellises. We are sure to have the ideal camellia for your landscape or large container.  Visit us today and allow our friendly, knowledgeable staff to assist you.

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