Welcome to the Thayer Nursery Blog
December 10th, 2011
Myths and rumors about the toxicity of the poinsettia plant are common when the popular red-leaved plants take center stage in holiday decorations. While the genus (Euphorbia) to which the poinsettia plant belongs does contain some highly toxic plants, the popular poinsettia itself is not toxic.
Some sources attribute the rumor about the dangers of poinsettia leaves to a case of poisoning in 1919 that led to the death of a two year-old child. At the time, the cause of the poisoning was incorrectly determined to be a poinsettia leaf.
According to the POISINDEX information source – the primary resource used by the majority of poison control centers nationwide – a child who weighed 50 lbs. would have to eat over 500 poinsettia leaves to reach an even potentially toxic dose of compounds in the poinsettia plant. Doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Poison Center conducted a review of 22,793 reported cases of poinsettia exposures, the majority (93%) of which occurred in children, and found that 92% of those exposed did not develop any symptoms at all. Ninety-six per cent of those exposed were not even treated in a health care facility. Furthermore, no deaths resulting from poinsettia ingestion have ever been documented.
Even though accidental ingestion of poinsettia leaves will not damage your body or kill you, it may lead to nausea and vomiting in some cases. Since the taste of poinsettia leaves is reportedly very unpleasant, it is unlikely that a child or animal who attempts to eat or chew the leaves will continue to do so after the first taste.
While ingestion of house plants is never a good idea (some popular plants can be extremely dangerous when eaten) parents of young children can be assured that the poinsettia plant is not a dangerous risk in the home.
-By Maggie Oldfield Thayer Nursery
December 7th, 2011
Now that you have selected the perfect Christmas tree, here are some tips for keeping it fresh through the holiday season! If you follow the steps below and treat your fresh cut tree as you would a bouquet of flowers, you can enjoy its warm glow into the New Year!
With a pre-cut tree, it’s vitally important to make a fresh cut across the bottom. This is because after a tree is cut, its sap will form a seal across the base after about 3 hours. A fresh cut, at home or at the nursery, will ensure that your tree can absorb water and that its needles will stay fresh.
As soon as possible, get your tree in water! If you aren’t going to trim it right away, place it in a bucket of water until you are ready (if your tree dries out in the stand, another fresh cut will be necessary). Your tree will “drink” more in the first few days, so be sure to keep your stand topped off.
A variety of organic products are available to keep your tree fresher longer. At the nursery, we recommend spraying your tree with Wilt Stop to seal its needles and slow the drying process. Mixing Tree Life nutrient powder in with the first watering will also help to keep your tree soft and green.
Try keeping your tree away from heat sources, as these tend to speed the drying process. Lastly, check that your lights and outlets are in good working order and are designed for use with indoor trees. If you follow these steps, you will never have to miss the joy and warmth of a real Christmas tree!
Merry Christmas!
Andy Archer Thayer Nursery
November 21st, 2011
We all know deer feed on trees and shrubs, a scary thought when the deer population is increasing and the resulting damage can permanently disfigure your plantings! Even worse, this damage is more likely to occur in the winter when other food supplies are limited. Luckily, there are proven-effective cultural practices and organic repellents for control!
“They must be starving! Maybe if I feed them, they’ll stay away from my plantings.” Sound familiar? As tempting as it may be, do not feed foraging deer. Feeding the deer trains them to think of your yard as a reliable source of food and they won’t stop at handouts, your landscape plantings will become their tasty treat!
Deer-X protective fencing is a more direct method of cultural protection against browsing. Whether used to erect vertical fences (to prevent access) or simply draped over shrubs (to interfere with chewing), this simple, rugged mesh can provide seasons of control!
An application of a deer repellent, such as Liquid Fence or Deer Scram, on and around landscaped areas will also help stop deer from making a winter meal of your trees and shrubs. Because they work by scent, repellents stop damage before any feeding occurs:
Liquid Fence is available as a liquid concentrate and in a ready-to-use spray bottle. Simply apply to plants and their perimeter to discourage foraging by scent. The active ingredients dry odorless to humans and do not need to be rotated with other brands!
Deer Scram is available as a granular formula with no mixing necessary. Simply apply in a 16 inch strip around plants to discourage browsing for up to 100 days!
Always remember that it’s much easier to prevent feeding damage than it is to stop a foraging cycle that has already begun. Call or stop by the Nursery to discuss your cruelty-free options with our knowledgeable staff!
-By Andy Archer Thayer Nursery
July 8th, 2011
We are trying to think “cool” here at the nursery as we transition into the crazy heat, so we have put all of our favorite “blue” flowering perennials on sale this week for you to enjoy.
Are you never sure of which blue or purple is you? Well now is the time to try them all! At 50% Off, you can’t go wrong (until 7/15/11).
Artists and gardeners use blue to show perspective. Blue gives a feeling of distance. It allows us to look beyond and increase our perspective outward. Plants that have blue, violet or lilac flowers are said to be soothing on the eye and hence the soul.
Blue Energy: Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism thus producing tranquility and calmness. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, confidence & wisdom.
Put some blue in your life when you want:
- calm and relaxation to counteract chaos
- to open the flow of communication
- to broaden your perspective in learning
Come visit for the cure of the summertime blues!
planting for the future.
-By Maggie Oldfield Thayer Nursery
July 1st, 2011
Is There A Fungus Among Us?
The roller coaster weather pattern we experienced this spring switched back to prolonged wet and chilly weather last week. While the moisture was needed as soils were quite dry, the constant wetness creates ideal conditions for disease causing organisms. Disease causing organisms are natural inhabitants of the soil and infect grass plants when the environmental conditions are favorable or the plants become weakened by poor growing conditions. The pathogen is favored by warm, humid weather, wet or compacted soil, drought stress, and low mowing heights.
The spores of these parasitic forms of plant life are spread by wind, air, water, animals, people, insects and mowing.
Important steps to manage plant diseases include proper soil preparation, proper selection of grass seed including ones with a natural genetic resistance to diseases, and application of proper cultural practices.
If you have a fungus, spraying now with Dr. Earth Natural & Organic Fungicide effectively combats a broad spectrum of fungal diseases found in your lawn, on your vegetables, flowers & shrubs. Dr. Earth can be used both as a foliar spray for your plants or a soil drench for your lawn & trees.
Once you have sprayed the fungicide, you should then fertilize your lawn & your plants with Fire Belly Bio-Blast to reintroduce beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.
Healthy soils that have the ability to fight off disease causing pathogens increase the chances of plant survival and thus control the pathogens so they will not multiply in great numbers. Beneficial microbes fill up the available spaces in the soil so that pathogens cannot become established and destroy healthy plants.
Most lawns recover with changes in environmental conditions and proper cultural practices. For severe cases due to poor soil, poor grass selection, or excessive thatch, the best solution may be renovation. Please give us a call with any questions or to schedule a courtesy consultation for a lawn renovation.
planting for the future.
-By Maggie Oldfield Thayer Nursery
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Myths and rumors about the toxicity of the poinsettia plant are common when the popular red-leaved plants take center stage in holiday decorations. While the genus (Euphorbia) to which the poinsettia plant belongs does contain some highly toxic plants, the popular poinsettia itself is not toxic.
