Flood Information from NDSU

by lowes on April 20, 2012

NDSU Offers Tips on Repairing Flooded Landscapes
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The flood of 2011 devastated many landscapes. However, it is a new year and
spring is here, so it’s time to get landscapes back into shape.

Bare spots in the lawn can be reseeded or resodded when the ground is dry
enough to work.

“Prepare a smooth seedbed and apply a starter fertilizer,” says Tom Kalb,
North Dakota State University Extension Service horticulturist. “Usually we
wait until mid-April or later after the ground warms up and the risk of
bitter cold temperatures are over.”

A blend of hardy varieties is best. In sunny areas, look for a seed mix with
Kentucky bluegrass as a dominant seed. Fine fescues will do better in shady
areas. A minor amount (around 20 percent) of perennial ryegrass is valued in
all seed mixes because it germinates quickly and will stabilize the exposed
ground.
Crested wheatgrass and blue grama grass are better suited to
low-maintenance, rural landscapes.

Many people apply crabgrass preventer on the lawn. However, the most common
crabgrass- killing chemical (pendimethalin) will prevent all grass seeds
from germinating. If you are sowing lawn grass seed this spring, select an
alternative crabgrass killer, such as siduron, or just forget about using a
crabgrass killer. Crabgrass populations are expected to be low this year
because of the flooding and cool weather of last summer.

“When it comes to fertilizing, many of us can’t wait to feed the lawn in
early spring,” Kalb says. “Thin lawns will benefit from fertilization,
especially if you did not fertilize last fall. In the future, focus on
fertilizing the lawn in the fall, which will contribute more to root
development.”

Trees and shrubs can be planted in early spring as soon as the ground is
dry.
The lack of snow this winter will allow people to establish these plants
earlier than in most years.

Although it seems like spring, it’s too early to plant vegetable seeds in
the garden. Most of the state is susceptible to frost damage at least until
mid to late May. Many frost-tolerant vegetables, such as radish, spinach,
peas and broccoli, are planted in mid to late April.

Although it’s too early to plant your garden, you can use this nice weather
as a time to improve your garden soil. One or 2 inches of compost, peat moss
or rotted manure can be mixed into the topsoil. This organic matter will
improve the drainage, fertility and overall structure of the soil. For these
reasons, it’s also a good idea to enrich the soil of flowerbeds with organic
matter now.

“The harmful effects of last year’s floods on the garden should be over,”
Kalb says. “Any raw sewage deposited by floodwaters has had eight or more
months to decompose. Organic growers often use six months as the recommended
span between applying fresh manure and growing vegetables. However, it is
recommended that gardeners thoroughly wash their vegetables after
harvesting.”

For more information, see the NDSU publications “Home Lawn Establishment” at
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/h1311.pdf., “Helping Flooded
Trees and Shrubs at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/trees/h1592.pdf,
“Lawn and Garden Care After a Flood” at
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/h1593.pdf and “Annual and
Perennial Flower Selections For North Dakota” at
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/landscap/h322.pdf.

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Colorful Poinsettias

by lowes on December 8, 2011

Poinsettias make a festive addition to a home during the Holiday Season. We offer them in three standard colors(Red, Pink, and White). We also offer many varities of painted poinsettias. We offer theme poinsettias too. We have NFL team theme and UND theme with matching foil and bow. We have some poinsettia that have glitter on the leaves that add a nice accent. We offer three sizes 6″ @ $19.99 or upgraded to a basket for $24.99; 8″ @ $35.99 or upgraded to a basket for $39.99; 10″ @ $45.99 or upgraded to a basket for $49.99. Supplies are limited. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

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At Lowe’s Floral and Garden Center, we get many questions about how to keep a fresh cut Christmas Tree fresh and alive through the Holiday Season.

The absolute best practice to keep your tree healthy is to ADD WATER DAILY. Fresh, clean water is essential for a fresh cut Christmas tree to keep its needles and create less mess in your home at the end of the Holiday Season. One of the things you can add to the water to help add longevity to your tree is a professional Christmas Tree preservative.

Lowe’s Floral and Garden Center recommends the “Keeps It Green” brand of professional Christmas Tree preservative. Much like the little packets of “Flower Food” that come with fresh flowers from Lowe’s Floral, a Christmas Tree preservative includes:

1. an acid which forces water up the trunk of the tree faster, promoting proper hydration and better water uptake,
2. a sugar solution, which feeds the tree, and,
3. a biocide, a checmical like bleach which kills bacteria.

Bacteria can threaten a fresh cut Christmas Tree in several ways. Bacteria in the water can cause the tree to stop taking up fresh water by blocking the microscopic tubes in the phloem (the system of tubes located just below the bark that takes water and nutrients up from the roots, or in this case the fresh trunk cut).

Professional Christmas Tree preservative assists in the uptake of water, the feeding of the tree and the prevention of harmful bacteria and can help you keep your tree healthy and fresh thoughout the entire Christmas Season!

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Christmas Cheer For FEMA Trailers

by lowes on December 6, 2011

With the Christmas Season fast approaching, my thoughts turn to family and friends. Which leads me to think about all of the displaced families due the flood. Some of who are now calling a FEMA trailer home. If you haven’t been in one yet, you’re not missing much. They are very small, especially if you have kids. So  how can you turn a small government living space into a festive, warm Christmas home. Here are some small ideas with big holiday cheer. How about trying a spruce top, which is creatively decorated in small a container with floral foam (for low maintenance watering) and can serve as a table top tree. A large poinsettia would also serve as a very nice table top replacement tree. You would be able to place some Christmas ornments both on the spruce top and the large poinsettia. We do offer small 3′-4′ and 4′-5′ fresh cut Christmas trees, which might be small enough for a FEMA trailer. We also can flock the fresh cut tree. Flocking is a powder(usaully white) that is sprayed on the tree, which gives the appearance of being covered in snow. It also seals the tree, so there is no need for watering. The most important thing to remember is Christmas is in the heart and soul. It doesn’t matter where you are at, where your staying,  or how big or small your home is, as long as you keep Christmas in your heart, your Holiday Season will be a great memory.

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Common Questions: Advice for new gardeners about planters.

27 May 2011

Q. Do you have any tips for a first time gardener of potted outdoor plants? A. Outdoor planters (also called container gardens) are a great alternative to traditional in ground or “flower bed” planting. There are a few key things to keep in mind when planting in containers. 1. Make sure the container you choose […]

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Common Questions: Should I use skim milk to wipe off the leaves of my houseplants?

23 May 2011

I was invite to speak to the Minot Headstart educators during their end of year in service meeting. It was a great time interacting with the group and they had great questions! This was the most unique question I had ever recieved during a talk: “Should I use skim milk to wipe off the leaves […]

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CSI – Florist

18 May 2011

We had the most amazing experience last weekend when a woman walked in with a photo of her mother and father’s wedding. They were celebrating thier 40th anniversary and she wanted to recreate the entire wedding including the bride’s bouquet, the four bride’s maids, the two flower girls baskets and the boutonnieres for the groom’s […]

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How often should I fertilize my flower beds?

25 March 2011

Q. How often should I fertilize my flower beds? A. Flower beds, garden plots and even container gardens (patio pots) need fertilizer at two critical times each year. When you first turn the soil in preparation for plating a flower bed or garden plot you can add well rotted manure (organic) or spread a balanced […]

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5 New Trends in Sympathy and Funeral Arrangements

23 March 2011

As the torch passes from one generation to another, the ways in which we remember our departed loved ones are changing as well. Focus is shifting from traditional funeral services to new and more personal for of remebrance. New trends include: 1. Less formal services; focus on “celebration of life” 2. Personalization in all aspects […]

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Watch Out for Online “Florists”

9 March 2011

The item below the line of *’s is copied and pasted directly from the flowerhand.com website at 9:51 AM CST on 03/09/2011. The direct link to the information is http://shop.flowerhand.com/index.jsp?info=10 . Watch out for companies claiming that they “deliver to” Minot. Lowe’s Floral is a real, local florist, greenhouse, landscaper, and garden center with roots […]

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