We have Backyard Grower Members all over the United States, some in Canada and others scattered around the world. Some are really small, just starting out, others have been at it for a few years and are doing really, really well selling thousands and thousands of dollars worth of plants.
One of our more successfully growers is Neil Skarzenski from western Pennsylvania. Neil’s place, Skarzenski’s Family Nursery, is not that big, no where near what most consider a “nursery” but he does an amazing job in a really small area.
Neil sells thousands and thousands of dollars worth plants, pretty much year round to our members. He is also a great contributor in the members area.
But I have to say this;
“It is Not Okay to Contact Neil via Email or Telephone to ask him questions!
Why? Because he is busy, his nursery is his full time income. He’s good at it, but he does not have time to consult with people privately. Neither do I. That’s why I created The Members Area years ago so people just starting out could get help anytime they need it. This is a pet peeve of Neil’s. The members area is awesome, you can get questions answered pretty much 24 hours a day, but it’s not okay to call other members for advice without their permission.
Duston and I went to Neils to visit and made a movie. The weather was horrible and we could not shoot outside so maybe another trip is required. Watch the movie;
Questions, comments or mean things to say? Post them below and I will respond.
Are you willing to give us some advice on low maintenance plants or ground cover to plant where scrub brush and sumac were just cut off a bank along a reservoir?
The bank is in front of the first ever hotel in Our little town. It would be nice to have plantings that are not ugly and wild growing brush. Can you give us ideas, and then be a supply source of plants, that would beautify the bank in a dense low height growing manner that would not obstruct the hotel, in the background view? We are looking for low maintenance.
Some ideas already suggested were crown vetch on the steep bank, with rhododendrons, hydrangeas, azaleas or boxwoods, forysithia or coneflowers. We really are not looking for a lot of annual maintenance.
Thanks for your gardening insights.
Dale,
I’m not a big fan of Crown Vetch, it has it’s purpose but I don’t think in front of a hotel. Blue Rug Juniper would be a far better option or blue rug in one area and green mound juniper, procumbens nana in another. Then rhododendrons, azaleas and hydrangeas. If the hill has an irrigation system maybe not the rhododendron but the hydrangea, different kinds. No irrigation the rhodys and not the hydrangea.
I bought some green and red Japanese maple seeds. I followed all the directions perfectly. I had to pick many of the green seeds that sprouted out while they were in the fridge for 90 days. At the end of 90 days I took them both out. None of my red seeds sprouted. After a week on the table inside I went ahead and planted them out and lightly covered the dirt with peat moss. After another week still nothing. When I soaked them almost all the seeds sunk so I thought they were viable. What could I have done wrong
Kristi,
You probably did not do anything wrong. And those seeds still might germinate, it takes time to soften that outer seed coating. In the future, when you soak them in hot water for 24 hours, repeat that step for another 24 hours in fresh hot water. Those green trees have value, we have members asking for them right now. http://backyardgrowers.com/join They are perfect for grafting stock.