Revised 8/20/2003 9:36:01 PM

Volume36, Issue 5                        September/October                    Julie Muhilly, Editor

Look what’s new? 

Check Out Our Local Artists Corner

Fall Festival at Moana Lane Store – Oct 17-18

New from The Florist at Moana – Flower Club Membership

Moana Brite Lights are back!

Closing early on Sunday September 21^st for Moana annual employee picnic. Both stores close at 2:00 PM

In This Issue

Timely Garden Tips

Why Fall Is a Great Time to Plant

Scotts Fall Promotion – Look for your mailer soon!

Tree/Shrub of the Month

Plant your Spring Bulbs Now!

Houseplant Tips

From The Florist at Moana

Gardening Tips for September/October

Cut back perennials after 2-3 killing frosts.

Fertilize your lawn!  Now that summer’s heat has passed, our cool season grass will respond, in brilliant green, to a fall feeding.  Apply a fall/winter fertilizer to your lawn now and then again in six weeks.  Scott’s Super Winterizer Fall Lawn Fertilizer or Scott’s Super Winterizer with Plus 2 weed control are great choices.  Look in your mailbox for Scott’s Fall Promotion for savings on Scott’s Speedy Green and AccuGreen 3000 drop spreaders for the best method of application.

If needed, aerate lawns to improve water and fertilizer penetration.

September is the best time (but not the only time) to plant a lawn.  Try Scott’s Starter Fertilizer which provides an optimum supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for encouraging vigorous seedling growth and root establishment.

Plant flowering kale, pansies and mums for fall color in the garden and containers.

Plant bulbs now for great spring color.

Garlic and onion sets do best when planted now and harvested in the spring.  Try planting on the full-moon in October.

The leaves are falling.  Now is a good time to start a compost pile.  We can teach you how!

Deep water all trees after leaf drop.  Wet soil to 18” deep.  Evergreens may need additional watering during the winter if there is no moisture for 3 or 4 weeks.

Scott’s Promotion. Check your mailbox soon. Rake in the savings this fall!  Our mailer is packed full of money savings coupons and useful lawn care info.

Why Fall is a Great Time to Plant. . .

In the Truckee Meadows, fall is the best time to plant most trees, shrubs, perennials and spring-flowering bulbs

1. The sun is not as high in the sky and the air temperature is lower than in summer which helps to cut down on heat stress for both you and your plants!
2. The ground is warm from months of summer heat.  It will stay warm long after the air outside begins to cool.  The warm ground will cause the roots to continue to grow into early winter. This larger root system will support much more growth for the following year.  Plants set out in fall will grow much faster than spring planted ones.
3. Watering needs will be greatly reduced.  Soon the fall and winter rains and snows will come and the need for irrigation will be greatly diminished.

Fall planting season comes and goes quickly.  Starting in September and lasting through October and sometimes November, it ends with the cold of winter.  So plan your visits to Moana Nursery to take advantage of Reno’s “other” planting season.  Watch for our weekly specials in the Reno Gazette Journal Thursday through Sunday.

Tree/Shrub of the Month

Dwarf Burning Bush

Euonymus alata ‘Compacta’

A dense, bushy, deciduous shrub that grows 4-6 feet tall and equally wide. Plant is tolerant of many conditions, full sun to partial shade, no serious pest problems.  Landscape use is for fall foliage color, grouping or massing, and foundation planting.  The Burning Bush is useful in almost all settings.  USDA Zone 4

Flowering Pear

Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’

The Aristocrat pear is a flowering tree that reaches a mature height of 40 feet. The fruit is insignificant. This tree is pest resistant and tolerates drought, poor drainage, any soil; moderate winds, and extreme temperatures. Foliage is dark, glossy green with a deep red fall color.  Flowers are white, one inch across, and form in clusters in March.  Bark is smooth and light grey in color. USDA Zone 4

Either one of these would be a welcome addition in any landscape or garden.

Plant Your Bulbs – When the Soil Cools

Fall is the time to plant spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, iris, etc.  If you plant spring bulbs too early in the fall when it is still too warm, your bulbs will start growing as if it were spring.  In order to prevent this from happening, we recommend that you buy your bulbs now while the selection is good, store them in a cool, dark location, then plant them later as the weather cools.  We are starting to receive our shipments of spring bulbs and our selection and colors are outstanding.  When planting your bulbs, don’t forget to condition the soil with organic matter and use a fertilizer high in phosphorus such as Dr. Earth’s bonemeal.  We carry a full line of Dr. Earth products that actually invigorate and improve the biological life in your soil.

Houseplant Care

With fall just around the corner, it will soon be time to bring your house plants that have been vacationing outdoors inside.  Here are a few tips to minimize the shock:

Your well-rested and well-adjusted plants will thank you next spring with a burst of new growth.  For more information come join our Houseplant seminar on Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 AM at the Moana Lane store.

Moana Continues to Support Artists of the Truckee Meadows

As an outgrowth of our participation as an Artown host at the Moana Lane store during the month of July, Moana Nursery will continue to exhibit and sell the works of local artists.  Our artist of the month for September is Cindy Ryan who works in mixed media.  In October we will feature water colors done by Patty Melton.  We will also be featuring ceramic works by local artists Shelly Yoshiwara and Angie Fraley as well as one-of-a-kind glass ornaments made by Gerhard Rossbach.  

We invite you to join us in supporting the Truckee Meadows art community.  Come in, browse and take shop for those special people on your holiday list or for yourself!

Moana Brite Lights – Quality Lighting Service for Businesses & Residences

It's not too early to start thinking about your holiday decorations.  Moana Brite Lights offers     displays built to last year after year for virtually every season and holiday.  And if you can describe it, we can have it custom made!  For more information, visit our Moana Lane Store where these are on display.

Halloween/Harvest Time:  We have a wonderful variety of designs from which to choose -- black cats, ghosts, pumpkins, Jack O' Lantern's, Frankensteins, bats & turkeys.  Each of these can be mounted in your yard or affixed to a wall or window.  Good for indoors or outdoors. 

Christmas:  Sold exclusively by Moana Brite Lights in Nevada are the linkables -- mini-lights in a variety of unique designs (snowflakes, bow & swags and candy canes just to name a few) affixed to steel rods that are easy to install and last for years.  Plus, they hold up well in the brutal winds we can get during the winter.  Also available are lighted wreaths and garland plus a myriad of other display pieces, including a golfing Santa, ringing bells, a twinkling Christmas tree, an elf relay, a running Santa scene and Santa on a motorcycle.

Moana Brite Lights can be purchased and installed by you.  Or better yet, let us take the hassle out of holiday decorating.  Our unique service includes design, installation, take-down, maintenance and storage for you. For more information, call Sean or Katie at 825-0600 or visit the Moana Lane store to see samples.

Fall Festival

Moana Nursery will be holding its first Fall Festival, Saturday October 18 at the Moana Lane Store.  Entrants will bring in their pumpkins for weighing and judging in seven categories for adults and kids. The winner of the largest pumpkin will go home with a $100 gift certificate and many other prizes will be given out.

This year in addition to the annual pumpkin growing contest, we will have two new categories for the largest zucchini and largest tomato.  Entries will be judged by weight.  All entries, including pumpkins, should be dropped off at the Moana Lane store anytime on Friday, October 17 during regular hours (8:00 AM – 6:00 PM) or Saturday, October 18 between 8:00 and 11:00 AM.  Winners will be announced at 3:00 PM at the awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

For all you perennial gardeners, we want to see what you’ve been up to this year. 
Bring any unusual, difference, exotic flower or just any that you’re proud of.  The only requirement is it must have been grown in the Truckee Meadows by the person bringing it.  We invite you to share your tips and tricks with us. 

Hey Kids, Big Jack will be back!  Guess the weight and you can take the gigantic pumpkin home for Halloween.  The Florist at Moana will be doing face painting Saturday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

And for you bakers. . .  we are looking for the best zucchini and pumpkin bread in Reno.  Bring your entries, including a copy of the recipe with your name and phone number, to the Moana Lane store, Saturday, October 18 between 8:00 and 11:00 AM.  Our panel of judges will do the tasting and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.  The winning recipe will be included in the Nov/Dec Newsletter.

Pumpkins, yard signs, scarecrows, corn stalks, Indian corn and many other fall and Halloween items to decorate your home and yard will be arriving the last week of September.  Stop by, see our Great Pumpkin Patch.

Back by Popular Demand

They‘re back!!  Our Kellogg’s Garden Product Representatives will be at the Moana Lane Store, Friday September 5 from 10-3 and at the South Virginia location Saturday, September 6 from 10-3.  You buy the pot and the plants, and our Kellogg’s Product Representatives will do the work!  They will provide Gardener & Bloom Potting Soil and Dr. Earth fertilizer, a combination of soil and fertilizer that has been proven time and again to work the best.  And we have in a great new selection of outdoor pottery just for the event.

Saturday Seminars for 2003

Our seminars are free and conducted by our friendly and knowledgeable staff and local garden experts. Seminars are held at the Moana Lane location at 10:00 AM. It is recommended that you sign up for the seminars as space is limited. 

With just a few seminars left in 2003, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our customers, for making our 2003 Saturday Seminar Series better than ever.  We are already working a great new lineup of seminars for next year incorporating some of your valued suggestions. 

September 20th

BASIC ORCHID CARE

Dr. Gene Horsley, Orchid Society of Northern Nevada, Reno

September 27^th

WINTERIZING YOUR HOUSEPLANTS

Julie Muhilly, Director, Plant Education/Indoor Plant Specialist, Moana Nursery

Julie will discuss her tips for winterizing your houseplants, ways to keep your plants healthy during the short days of winter, and solutions to the most common houseplant pests. 

October 4^th

PUTTING YOUR GARDEN TO BED FOR THE WINTER with the Moana Lane Team!

Ron Gustafson, Consulting Horticulturist, Steve Packer, Nursery Manager, Lisa Braginton, Asst. Nursery Manager, Chad Morris, Asst. Nursery Manager

This seminar will include general clean-up and maintenance, planting your spring bulbs, winterizing your lawns, and starting a compost pile; everything you’ll need to know to get a jump on next springs garden.

October 18^th

MOANA NURSERY FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL

Annual pumpkin growing contest, largest zucchini, largest tomato, pumpkin and zucchini bread tasting, flower show, face painting, pumpkin carving and ‘Big Jack’.  Come bring the family and enjoy fall in the Truckee Meadows.

November 8^th

WREATHS AND BOW-MAKING

Annette Bilyeu, The Florist at Moana Manager

Annette and her team will demonstrate and assist you in making wreaths that will take you from fall into Christmas.  She will also give hands-on instruction to assist you in making that ‘perfect’ bow for the holidays.

from The Florist at Moana. . .

New from The Florist at Moana is the Flower Club Membership for 3, 6 or 12 months.  It makes a perfect gift for anyone (including yourself) who lives in the Reno/Sparks and surrounding areas.  It is ideal for business associates, customers, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.  It is truly a gift that keeps giving.  Call The Florist at Moana at 825-0671 for details.

Fall is a great time to begin your holiday decorating. Ghosts and ghouls alike would agree this season boasts some of the best festivities of the year with Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner. The experts at The Florist at Moana are ready to assist you in dressing up your home for the holidays. Consider a fall wreath for your front door accented with dried corn stalks, gourds and Indian corn or how about a classic fall silk arrangement for your buffet or dining room table. If you have a special theme or colors we’re happy to make a custom one-of-kind design just for you. Come in and check out our fall displays.  You’ll be sure to see some great ideas and unique decorations. It makes a perfect gift for anyone. Ideal for business associates, customers, anniversaries, birthday, etc.  It is truly a gift that keeps on giving.  Call the Florist at 825-0671 for details.

Don't forget to stop by and ask one of our experts about sending a thoughtful arrangement for Grandparents Day on September 7. Show Grandma or Grandpa how much you care.

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