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Get Ready,Get Set,But Don’tPlant – Yet
By Ronald Scaglia
Because of the mild winter thatLong Island experienced this year,and temperatures that climbed into
the 70s during the middle of the March,many gardeners are likely chomping at thebit to go out into their backyards and gar-dens and start planting. Even the plantsseem ready to go, as many bulbs areswelling and opening, weeks before ex-pected. However, before you grab yourwatering can, work gloves and a packageof seeds, Michael Veracka, chairperson ofthe Department of Ornamental Horticul-ture at Farmingdale State College has aword of advice – patience.“It’s too cold still to plant,” Veracka ad-
vises Long Island gardeners. “One shouldnot be fooled by warm winter and earlyspring. Exhibit some patience.”Veracka compared our region’s recent
climate to that of North Carolina or Vir-ginia, where milder winters lead to earliersprings and plants blossoming sooner thanis typical here on Long Island. However,he is quick to caution that although theweather may make it seem as if we areliving in Raleigh, we are still in the north-east and cold temperatures, and yes, evensnow is still possible. Furthermore, he
also advises coastal area residents, espe-cially those on the North Shore, that theseareas warm up more slowly than inlandareas.“The first thing to recognize, although
it’s technically spring now, both soil andair temperatures are still cooler than idealfor most plants,” Veracka advises.However, those who can’t wait to begin
the growing season should take heart. Justbecause he believes it’s still a bit too earlyto be planting, it doesn’t mean it’s too ear-ly to plan a beautiful garden or yard andtake steps toward it becoming a reality. Infact, he advises that now is the time totake the first step toward a beautiful gar-den by inspecting it and determining thehealth of the horticulture that is alreadythere. He suggests gardeners examine
their plants to determine if they are aliveand healthy.“Keep in mind that in the past year
we’ve had some pretty crazy weather,”says Veracka. “We had a hurricane. Wehad a very wet late summer into the fall.We’ve had quite a few wind events andbefore that we had a very dry part of2011.”Because of the unusual conditions, it is
possible that some plants may not havesurvived the winter or may not be healthy.According to Veracka, those who wanttheir garden to look its best come summershould begin making plans about whatmight replace anything that will be re-moved or any new plant, shrub or veg-etable additions that they hope to make.In addition to inspecting the health of
the horticulture, Veracka also advisescleaning up yards, flower beds and gar-dens and removing any debris. He saysthere might be fallen branches, leaves, orother debris that needs to be removed,especially if a clean up was not per-formed last autumn. Additionally, byraking up leaves and other debris, gar-deners are giving their lawns the addedbenefit of aerating the soil, which hesays is very beneficial.“It introduces more oxygen into the
soil,” explains Veracka. “The biggestthing that can happen with lawns is theyget very compacted from machinery,from people playing sports or just walk-ing on it.”He also said that those preparing areas
for flowerbeds should turn the soil inthese areas over. Ideally he suggests dig-ging to the depth of at least a spade, whichis 8 inches.Something else that Veracka strongly
advises is a soil test. He recommends thatgreen thumbs collect a sample of soil andsend it to a lab to determine both the pHlevel of the soil as well as the nutrientcontent and the level of organic matter.“Doing a soil test is a lot like going to a
doctor and getting bloodwork done,” ex-plains Veracka. “What you get is a lot ofgood information about the overall healthof your soil and you get a better under-standing of the ingredients that are inthere. Then you can make adjustments. Ifyou don’t do that then you’re strictlyguessing.”A scale of zero through 14 is used for
pH levels with seven being neutral. Levelsbelow seven indicate that the soil is acidicand could need some limestone. Levelsabove seven, which are uncommon onLong Island, indicate that the soil is alka-line and might need to have sulfur added.
Doing a soil test can determine the pH level of the soil and whether limestoneneeds to be added.
SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 20124
For the life of your trees .
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Spring is the right time for homeown-ers on Long Island to look at the out-side of their homes and evaluate
what, if anything, needs to be done. Whenit comes to trees, it is the time to determineif certain aspects are adding value or unnec-essary risks. A well-manicured yard withcurb appeal can increase a home’s marketvalue. Conversely, a sick or dead tree or anunkempt landscape can reduce the value ofyour single largest asset and pose a danger.“Trees provide significant value to
homeowners, communities, the environ-ment and landscapes,” commented PaulGrilli, president of Walsh Brothers TreeService in Westbury. “However, we haveseen that they can be extreme liabilitieswhen they become weak or diseased.Proper care to trees is essential and shouldbe viewed like any other necessary homeimprovement to maintain and increaseyour property value. Clearly, proper careis essential to prolong a tree’s life and inturn increase the benefits it provides.”As seen in recent storms that have
passed through Long Island, unhealthytrees blew over in large numbers, causingsubstantial property damage, injuries,power outages and costly repairs. Home-owners should be on the look out for signsthat trees could be at risk.Walsh Brothers Tree Service trained ar-
borists suggest homeowners should look-out for the following:• Large dead branches in the tree or
branches that have recently fallen• Detached branches hanging in the trees• Cavities or rotten wood along the
trunk or major branches• Cracks or splits in the trunk• Mushrooms present at the base of the
tree• Adjacent trees that have fallen over
and died• A strong lean in the trunk• Roots that have been broken or dam-
aged by installing pavement, lowering thesoil level or digging trenches“It’s important for homeowners to rec-
ognize that pruning is extremely impor-tant to a tree’s health and their function inyour landscape,” continued Grilli. “Eachcut into a tree can change the growth ofthe tree and shorten its life.”Spring presents the best time for pruning
as experts may easily spot diseased areas.When pruning for structure, young treescan be aided in developing a strong struc-ture and desirable form. Pruning for aes-thetics can increase the form and beauty ofthe tree while enhancing the structure of
limbs and canopy. Finally, pruning for safe-ty removes the chances of falling limbs andcostly property damage and injury.Walsh Brothers Tree Service and Con-
tracting has been an established businesswith more than 25 years experience with areputation for service, reliability and lowcost. Their certified arborists, highly trainedworkers, and state-of-the-art equipment con-tinue to deliver the high quality service thatclients have come to appreciate and expect.Walsh Brothers specializes in tree removal,pruning, land clearing and much more.Homeowners are encouraged to contact
Walsh Brothers for a free assessment tosee if pruning is necessary. For further in-formation or questions, please call (516)-333-TREE (8733).
Published byAnton Community
Newspapers132 E. Second St., Mineola, NY 11501516-747-8282 www.antonnews.com
HOME &GARDEN
Angela Susan AntonPublisher
Editor In ChiefRobbie Woliver
William M. Delventhal, Jr.General Manager
Cary SeamanManaging Editor
Ron ScagliaSpecial Sections Editor
Frank A.VirgaDirector of Sales & Marketing
Lisa SchiavoneProduction Manager
Iris PiconeClassified Manager
Lucia D’OnofrioPage Designer
While healthy trees can add appeal to a home, unhealthy trees can be a danger.
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As Nassau County residentsbegin to decorate theirbackyards and gardens in
preparation for the spring andsummer season, they are advisedto keep in mind the pesky un-wanted warm weather visitorsthat can make them sick – andthat doesn’t mean snowbirdsfrom Florida. Nassau County res-idents are being urged to takeprecautions to reduce the mosqui-to population and help preventthe spread of the West Nile Virus.“Last year, we had a lot of
mosquitoes and the populationwas really high, especially theones that we call the house mos-quito,” says Mary Ellen Laurain,spokeswoman for the NassauCounty Department of Health.According to figures from the
Nassau County Department ofHealth, 16 Nassau residents con-tracted West Nile Virus in 2011including one fatality while 29mosquito pools tested positive forthe virus, which first appeared inour area in 1999. The previousyear, there were 57 human casesincluding three fatalities and 145mosquito pools that tested posi-tive. The numbers for both yearsare significantly higher than 2009when there were no human casesreported and only 18 mosquitopools that tested positive.“It’s relatively new for a dis-
ease,” explains Laurain aboutWest Nile Virus and scientistssearch for a cause as to whatmakes the virus more prevalent
during certain years. “They’re re-ally exploring weather patternsand what’s going on in the envi-ronment and how that plays out.They still are exploring them.They really don’t know yet.”Laurain says that just because
the mosquito population will behigh, it doesn’t necessarily trans-late into an increase in West Nilecases. However, because of themild winter, it’s likely that themosquito population will indeedbe greater and residents shouldtakes measures to control it.According to Laurain, the most
important thing that homeownerscan do is to remove standing wa-ter from their property. She saysthat it doesn’t take a lot of water
to become a mosquito breedingground. In fact, the water thatcollects in the lip of a flowerpotis sufficient. Furthermore, it onlytakes about three or four days fora mosquito to develop in standingwater. Therefore, homeownersshould take this into considera-tion when doing their outdoordecorating and should either con-sider not using flowerpots thatcan collect water or be sure toclear the water regularly.“It’s fine to do so,” says Lau-
rain of decorating with flower-pots. “As long as after rain theyjust dump the water. Some ofthem have that little lip on themand it collects water and it’s aperfect breeding ground.”
Laurain also reminds homeown-ers to remove the excess water af-ter watering those plants and to bedilligent about removing waterwhen the plants are indirectly wa-tered, such as when a sprinklersystem is used to water a lawn.Gutters are another area that col-
lect water and can become a mos-quito breeding ground. After thewinter, it is quite possible thatleaves have collected in gutters andwill clog them up, thus becomingan area for water to collect. Laurainrecommends that homeownersmake the gutters a part of theirspring-cleaning efforts.Decorative ponds, which are be-
coming popular in Nassau County,are another area where mosquitoesmay potentially breed. Laurainsays that those who have theseponds or those who are consider-ing installing one should take thisinto consideration.“If they don’t have the water
moving or they don’t treat it, itcan become a breeding ground,”advises Laurain about the ponds.Birdbaths can be a nice aesthetic
addition to any property and canattract feathered friends for thosewho enjoy bird-watching. Howev-er, these can also attract mosqui-toes for breeding, so Laurain saysthat birdbaths should have the wa-ter changed four times per week.Children’s toys are yet another
potential area for collecting water.Parents should be mindful of thiswhen preparing an outside playarea. Toys such as pails or anyitems that have a lip should be
monitored for the collection ofwater and have any water removedregularly or perhaps should bekept covered up or inside.Of course, pools are a huge
source of standing water. Laurainrecommends that pools be keptcovered if not being used. Poolcovers also collect water, so thisshould be monitored. In addition,abandoned pools can also be ahuge area for water to collect, sohomeowners should be attentive toremoving any standing water thatmay collect there.Keeping a property well-
groomed can also prohibit waterfrom collecting so homeownersare advised to properly landscapetheir property.“If they’re in their backyard and
they’re being bitten by mosquitoes,it’s most likely coming from theirown environment,” emphasizesLaurain about the need for resi-dents to remove standing water.She further elaborated that house
mosquitoes, which are most oftenimplicated in the spread of the WestNile Virus, travel only 200 to 250feet from their breeding ground. So,any mosquitoes preying in back-yards likely originated there.In addition to maintaining their
own properties, Laurain also saysthat residents may report theirneighbors who fail to do so.Those who have issues with theirneighbors regarding standing wa-ter and the risk of mosquitoesmay call the Nassau County De-partment of Public Works at(516) 571-6900.
Buzz Off: Keeping Your Property Mosquito Free
By removing standing water from their properties, homeownerscan help protect themselves from mosquitoes that carry the WestNile Virus.
SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2012 7
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SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 20128
Travel through Nassau County andyou will see some of the nicestlawns in the country. We take
pride in our lawns here and do our best tokeep them nice and green. Now that springhas sprung, many of us will be headingout to our front and back yards to workour magic and landscape our properties sothat the grass is indeed a work of art.One of nicest lawns you’ll find any-
where is on the campus of LIU-Post. Asthe landscaping season begins, CaseJoosse, the grounds manager offerssome advice for those who are workingon their own masterpieces.“Any lawn will benefit from simple
steps,” says Joosse.The first of those steps is raking up the
lawn. Joosse advises that most, if not alllawns, will have accumulated debris dur-ing the winter. This includes leaves thatare still being blown around and settle inthe grass. Joosse says that leaves and oth-er debris can shade grass and deprive it ofvital sunlight that is necessary for lawnsto thrive. Therefore, he suggests that thefirst step for home landscapers in springtime is to give their lawns a thorough raking.Following a good raking, the next step that Joosse recommends is an aeration of the
lawn. He says that lawns become compacted for a variety of reasons. By aerating a lawn, ithelps to loosen this compaction, and more importantly, helps vital nutrients get to the roots.“To get the air and water to penetrate deeper into the root zone is always beneficial,”
explains Joosse.Ideally, lawns should have been seeded in the fall. However, if they weren’t, or if there
are bare patches caused by other reasons, spreading seeds onto existing lawns, called“overseeding,” can help fill in those spots. Joosse says that this can be done right now,even if the weather is still chilly.“Coldness does not affect a lawn as it does other plants,” says Joosse. “It’s a matter of
getting the seed down and good soil contact.”To achieve this, Joosse recommends aerating the lawn prior to overseeding. Joosse fur-
ther advises that lawn caregivers push the seed down into the soil to make that good seedto soil contact. Although, he says that this can be done with your feet in small areas, headvises using a tamper.“The bare areas have to be loosened up and then the seed has to be applied and then the
seed has to be pressed down,” explainsJoosse, who also adds that a light sprin-kling of mulch on top of the seed is alsobeneficial.Joosse additionally suggests using a
spring fertilizer to help a lawn achievethe lush look that is so desired. As withseeding, a fertilizer should have been ap-plied in the autumn. However, if a fertil-izer wasn’t applied then, or if the lawnlooks unhealthy now, a spring fertilizermay be in order, according to Joosse.“We do a fall and spring fertilizer,”
says Joosse of the lawns at LIU-Post.He adds that if a fall fertilization was
done, the benefits may have carried overto the spring. However, if a homeowneropts for doing an additional spring fertil-izer, Joosse advises that it will not hurtthe lawn and will likely be beneficial.He also recommends applying fertilizerif overseeding is needed.“As a general rule, it’s a good idea to
do it,” states Joosse about applying fer-tilizer in the spring.One more suggestion for lawn care
comes from a professor at FarmingdaleState College, recognized for its outstanding horticulture program. Michael Veracka, chair-person of the Department of Ornamental Horticulture suggests that homeowners remove anyvisible weeds such as dandelions before aerating a lawn with a rototiller. He says that simplyusing a rototiller on a lawn with weeds may actually do more harm then good.“Some weeds have very deep root systems,” explains Veracka. “Crabgrass hasn’t
emerged. You might see dandelions coming up. You want to remove those before you ro-totill those. If you just rototill them you’re going to be chop, chop, chopping those upinto little pieces and you’re making more plants.”Veracka further elaborated that the process of removing weeds in the springtime is
more difficult because some of the weeds, such as crabgrass, are not visible. That is whyit is best to remove weeds in the fall after they have emerged and can more easily be seenand removed. Nevertheless, Veracka says that those who have weeds will have to do theirbest to remove them to protect their lawns.“When you rototill this time of year, all those weeds are going to emerge and you have
to then outcompete with the crop that’s desirable,” says Veracka. “It’s inevitable thatyou’re going to have competition, which is why most experts will tell you to seed in thefall because all of the crabgrass is up and you can pull it up and see it.”
Experts Give Advice on Having an Outstanding Lawn
Experts from Long Island colleges have suggestions for homeowners that can makelawns look as beautiful as this one.
SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2012 9
Take advantage of this special o�er now only atRiverhead Building Supply Design Showroom in Greenvale located at 65 Glen Cove Road.
Valid one time only until December 31, 2012 for free installation by Riverhead Building Supplyinstallers of any front entry door over $1,000 value. See showroom for details. One per household purchased from the Greenvale Showroom only. Cannot be combined with any other promotion, redeemed for cash orapplied to previous purchases. Riverhead Building Supply reserves the right to cancel or change any and allpromotional o�ers at any time for any reason without prior notice and is not responsible for typographicalerrors. Employees of Riverhead Building Supply Companies are not eligible.
SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 201212
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1-APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Vehicle Loan Rates range from 2.25% APR to 14.09% APR. Rates are based on applicant’s credit history and other restrictions. Applicants who are not offered the lowest rate may be offered credit at a higher rate. Not all applicants may be approved. Payment by Auto Pay requires automatic payment from your active Sperry checking account. Rates and terms subject to change without notice. Rate shown is for new loans booked as of 3/26/12 or later. 2- $10 offer will be reported as interest earned and payable upon submission of completed vehicle loan application. 3- $75 offer will be reported as interest earned and payable upon the closing of an approved Sperry vehicle loan. Cars purchased through GrooveCar are not eligible for the $10 or $75 offers. Special offers of $10 and $75 expire as of 6/15/12. Sperry FCU membership required. Everyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in Nassau County is eligible for membership. Equal Opportunity Lender. AntHmGrdApr12
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By Ronald Scaglia
Does your home need a new look but your budgetis limited? Or perhaps, you love the current de-sign of your kitchen and bath and are just looking
to change the look to give your home a new design andfeel without undertaking a complete renovation project. Ifso, a simple facelift might be just what is needed. Bychanging doorknobs, kitchen and bathroom faucets, or thehandles of kitchen and bath-room cabinets, a completelynew and refreshed look can beachieved, and it can be done ina cost-effective way.“In this market, people are
not moving, they’re renovat-ing,” says Dale Landy, ownerof Kolson Korenge Inc. inGreat Neck. “You keep whatyou have and you embellish upon it. There’s nothingwrong with that.”According to Landy, many homeowners have turned to
changing the faucets in their kitchens and baths to givetheir homes a new look. She says that currently, tradition-al styles are most in demand.“Occasionally we sell contemporary, but the majority is
traditional,” explains Landy. “Traditional style is popularin kitchens and baths. We’re getting some call for transi-tional which may be less ornate, but [it’s] a simpler pat-tern that is still traditional. It’s not fully contemporary.”Landy says that her store has recently sold many Victo-
rian-styled kitchen and bath faucets, which she says havea traditional flair. In finishes, she says that polishedchrome is the most popular choice followed by satin nick-
el and then polished nickel. She advises that those withlarger budgets can do even more changes so that every-thing in a room matches.“[When doing a] big renovation you gut the bathroom
and carry a nice suited series so the sink faucet matchesthe shower sets and the towel bars match too,” statesLandy. “Everything’s matching from the same serieswithin the company and it looks very nice.”
Another popular choice forbathrooms, says Landy, islarge, overhead, showerheads.She says that 8- to 10-inchshowerheads coming from theceiling are traditional styledand currently popular amongconsumers. She further ex-plains that her customers arepurchasing these because they
want a nice shower and the feeling of rain coming downwhen showering.Freestanding tubs that whirl are another popular addi-
tion to bathrooms according to Landy. She says somehomeowners have extra space in their baths and are fillingit with freestanding tubs. Because companies are now de-signing acrylic freestanding tubs, homeowners are able toadd a freestanding tub to their bathroom and still get theeffects of a tub that whirls. In addition, those who do nothave an area in their bathroom with three walls for a tubare turning to these freestanding tubs as an option.“I see it as a nice alternative,” Landy comments.In the kitchen, homeowners can get the same renovated
look without busting their home improvement budgets bychanging kitchen faucets or kitchen cabinet knobs. She
says that changing up the knobs can invigorate the look ofa kitchen, and do so in an economical way. Later on, amore intense renovation can be done when the homeown-er has a larger budget to work with. As with baths, shefinds that traditional styles are the most popular.“A small change can make a big difference,” she says.Landy also recommends matching the design of the
bathroom with that of the kitchen. By keeping the stylesand finishes consistent, it gives the home a more appeal-ing look, according to Landy.“Shapes and styles that would match the plumbing and
the faucet carry through to the kitchen cabinets,” advisesLandy. “Not only in style but in finish. You want it all tomatch so it’s nice.”For those who are seeking to change the look of their
entire home without completely renovating the house,Landy suggests changing the doorknobs. She says that al-though this can be a little more costly, it is still more cost-effective than a full renovation.“It can also change the whole look when you change
the doorknobs,” recommends Landy.As with kitchens and baths, Landy finds that more tra-
ditional styles are the most popular. She finds that levers,egg-shaped knobs, traditional round knobs, and what shedescribes as “simple classic designs” are popular choicesamong her customers. And, as with kitchens and baths,she finds that polished chrome is the most popular finish,followed by satin nickel and polished nickel.Of course, homeowners may not choose to select what
is popular and may instead opt for a contemporary designand finish. Landy stresses that whatever look homeownersdesire, it can be achieved, and the simple act of changingknobs and faucets can do so in a cost-effective manner.She adds that design and budget are of the utmost prioritywhen she recommends style changes to homes.“We always find something to accommodate someone’s
taste and style,” says Landy.
It’s Tradition: Homeowners Choosing Traditional Styles in Kitchens and Baths
Simply changing a faucet gives a kitchen a fresh, newlook says Landy. Photo courtesy of Newport Brass.
Faucets with a traditional style, such as this Newport Brass faucet, are quite popular says Dale Landy of KolsonKorenge Inc. in Great Neck. Photo courtesy of Newport Brass.
“Traditional style is popular in kitchens and baths.”
Dale Landy, owner - Kolson Korenge Inc. in Great Neck
SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2012 13
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2012. Former president and chief execu-tive officer Steven DiMare stepped asideas president but retained the title ofCEO.“As an owner of the company, we need-
ed Chase to move up to this important po-sition as the company continues to grow,”said DiMare.Peres most recently served as vice pres-
ident of sales and senior vice president ofUnified. He started with the company 20years ago as an installer and has movedthrough the entire company as it hasgrown.Unified Windows, Doors, Siding and
Roofing has increased its product line intoattic insulation and pavers and stonework, and is expanding its area to coverthe entire tri-state region.“It’s a challenge to grow as much as
we have without increasing our responsi-bilities,” said Peres. “The new position isquite challenging but also very exciting aswe grow our business.”Unified has branched out most recently
by having added showrooms throughoutthe region. It recently took over the facto-ry location of U.S. Window Factory inRichmond Hill.For the past 25 years US Window Fac-
tory manufactured windows and doors forresidential and commercial use. The loca-tion is currently being converted for useas a fifth location for Unified, which hasbeen in business since 1989 and carriesan A+ rating with the Better BusinessBureau. For more information contact Unified at
(888) 631-2131 or go to their website atwww.unifiedwindows.com
Chase Peres, hopes to continue thegrowth of Unified Systems Inc. in hisnew role as president.
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5
Pansies: A Plant for
Cooler WeatherBy Ronald Scaglia
Most experts agree that it is too early in the yearto plant the annuals that will last through thesummertime. Even with our region experiencing
a mild winter and a very mild beginning to spring, thepossibility of cold weather still exists and just one day ofa strong cold front can wreak havoc on fragile plants. Infact, Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension projectsApril 20 as the day of the last frost in Nassau County, soit is advised to wait until at least that date before begin-ning to plant a garden.However, what’s a springtime without brightly colored
flowers? And some of us probably are not patient enoughto wait until Mother’s Day, or sometime around then toenjoy some nice color in our yards. For those who want toplant something now, pansies may be the answer.“They’re the first flower of spring,” says Fred Falconer,
owner of Falconer Florists in Port Washington. “They re-ally usher in spring.”Falconer explains that pansies do best in cooler weath-
er. That is why these flowers are so popular in both thespring and the fall. They thrive in moderate to cool tem-peratures, but cannot handle the high heat of summerwhich explains why pansies will be seen mostly duringthe two moderate seasons of fall and spring and not asmuch during the summer.“Pansies can be planted now,” concurs Case Joosse,
grounds manager of LIU-Post. “They’re a cold weatherannual. We actually planted them a couple of weeks agobecause of the warmer temperatures that we had. Pansiesprovide color before the early buds come up. After May,you can start putting out your summer annuals.”Falconer emphasizes that pansies come in every color
of the rainbow including red, white, pink, yellow and oth-er vibrant colors and that they have a very pleasant scent.He comments that pansies will last until warmer weather
takes hold of our region. However, even though they arecooler weather flowers, he says that under the right condi-tions, it possible for pansies to last longer than that.“If they’re in a shaded location, they might last all sum-
mer,” says Falconer, although he reiterates that they are acooler temperature plant and it’s best to plant them inspring and then replant pansies in the fall.Michael Veracka, chairperson of the Department of Orna-
mental Horticulture at Farmingdale State College says thathe feels it is still too early to be planting. He advises waitinguntil the weather is warmer and the threat of frost, wet con-ditions and even a late season snow is gone. However forthose who wish to do so, he also advises cold tolerant plantsfrom the viola family such as pansies and johnny jump ups.“Personally, I think it’s too early to be planting any of
those but you could begin to do that,” says Veracka of
plants from the viola family.Falconer also suggests other cold tolerant plants. One
recommendation he has for cooler temperatures is plant-ing primroses. He says that primroses come in assortedcolors such as blue, yellow, white, pink and red and arepopular in the early spring.Perhaps no flowers are more synonymous with spring
than tulips and daffodils. However, bulbs for these areplanted in the autumn. Those hoping to grow their owndaffodils and tulips will have to wait until the fall to plantthe bulbs and then for next spring to enjoy their beauty.For those who absolutely have to enjoy tulips and daf-
fodils now, those that were planted in the fall and are nowsprouting may be purchased and planted. However, Fal-coner points out, that is not as cost effective as buying thebulbs in the fall and having them grow during the winter.
Pansies come in vibrant colors such as these, and can tolerate the cooler temperatures of early spring.
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“Most of your garden variety plants dothe best in a soil between 6 and 7,” statesVeracka. “If you want to have a lawn, youwant to have a pH ideally between 6 and7. Most plants would grow in that sce-nario. The exception would be things likeblueberries, strawberries (and) azaleas.They like an acidic soil.”A soil test will also reveal the nutrient
content of the soiland specifically thethree main nutrients,nitrogen, phosphorus,and potassium. It willalso determine the or-ganic matter of thesoil as well as thecontent of micronutri-ents such as calcium.Veracka says this isimportant for properplant health.In addition to a lab
analysis of the soil,gardeners can dotheir own soil analysis by observes thetexture of the soil. He says that depend-ing on its location, soil can be verysandy or have a lot of clay. Soil that isloose and feels gritty like beach sandwill likely be lacking organic matter. Bycontrast, soil that feels hard, comes upin big clods and feels silky most likelyhas a lot of clay. Veracka said this canalso be problematic, as clay tends tobind and become very hard and thuswil l not al low water to penetratethrough it. Generally speaking, the solu-tion to both issues could be adding or-ganic material.“Generally speaking, adding some or-
ganic material can be very helpful,” saysVeracka. “I would argue that would becompost.”Veracka encourages using compost as
opposed to peat moss, which is commonlyused by gardeners. He says he encouragesthe use of compost because peat moss isan endangered resource.And once again, the most important
piece of advice that Veracka offers to gar-deners is to be patient. Despite, the ap-
pearance of earlyspring, he advisesgardeners to be pa-tient until the plant-ing season is trulyhere. That will besoon enough. A rep-resentative from Cor-nell University Co-operative Extensionsaid that the averagelast freeze date forNassau County isApril 20. Until then,gardeners can takethe steps that Verac-
ka advises and also plan for their gardensby recalling what worked and what didn’twork last year.“The thing that people should not be
doing is thinking, ‘oh we’ve had all thiswarm weather, it’s time to plant my petu-nias and my tomatoes and putting my sun-flowers and all of that’,” says Veracka. “Iwould discourage anybody from doingthat. The most important thing that gar-deners can do now is show some patience.Go out and do some cleanup. Observetheir plants; get ready to plan for plantingannuals and vegetables and scope outwhat they want to plant. Do some educa-tional work.”
Get Ready, But Don’t Plant – Yetcontinued from page 3
“The most importantthing that gardeners can do now is show some patience.”
- Michael Veracka, chairperson ofthe Department of
Ornamental Horticulture at Farmingdale State College
SPRING HOME & GARDEN - ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - APRIL 2012 1981053
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