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Acer's Florist & Garden Center
Edition . Acer's Florist & Garden Center

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Summer Annuals and Tropicals

Shade

Shade perennial gardens are so easy to create and maintain. Stop into Acer's today and create a garden that will give you enjoyment FOREVER.


Arrivals
Arrivals

We have a huge selection of beautiful hanging baskets, and delightfully designed patio planters!


Annuals

Summer is here. Time to get your plants in the ground! See you this weekend.


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Arrivals

Acer's is stocked with with most AMAZING flowering trees, shrubs and flowers. Stop in soon for the best selection.The best plants always fly out FAST.

Arrivals
Arrivals

Flowers, herbs and vegetables are arriving daily! Time to get some cool-weather veggies in the ground for fall harvest!


Chimineas
Fire pits
Long Island's largest selection of
Chimineas and Fire Pits!
Keep the evening chill at bay while your family and friends are over to play!
Do you know that Acer's offers free
computerized landscape design?
Call (631) 343-7123 or send pics to Jim@acersgardencenter.com.


Landscape

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Getting the Most from Cut Flowers

An arrangement of fresh flowers will brighten a room, bringing the beauty of nature indoors. Picking fresh flowers that you have grown yourself is one of the delights of gardening, but whether you are picking your own flowers or buying cut flowers, you will want to do all you can to get the most from your arrangement.

Picking Flowers

When picking flowers from your garden, do so early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Cool them quickly by placing them in a bucket of water left in a cool place for an hour or so. This is especially important in hot summer weather.

Buying Cut Flowers

If you are buying cut flowers, look for bright, fresh-looking flowers that are just starting to open. Avoid flowers that have been standing in the sun or have been exposed to car exhaust fumes. Flowers with yellowing leaves on the stem or those with slimy stems have been in water for quite some time and are unlikely to be very satisfactory. When you get your flowers home, put them straight into a bucket of water without unwrapping them and leave them in a cool place to revive.

Clean Vases

Make sure your vases are perfectly clean. The stains in vases are usually bacteria that will get to work blocking the water uptake to the flower stems. Stains that are difficult to remove with normal cleaning may be removed by filling the vase with water and adding a few drops of household bleach. Allow the vase to soak for a couple of hours; then rinse well.

Clean Water and Preservatives

Clean water is essential for cut flowers. You can change the water in the vase daily or use a floral preservative. Check the vase often to see if it needs filling. Some flowers with woody stems drink a lot of water, especially in the first two or three days after cutting.

flowers brighten any roomPreparing the Flowers

Cut off a couple of inches of stem with sharp shears and be sure to remove any leaves that would be below the water level in the vase. Any left on the stem will rot quickly and pollute the water.

Daffodils, jonquils and tulips should not be placed with other flowers immediately after cutting because their secretions can block the stems of other flowers, causing their vase-mates to collapse. Place them in a separate vase for an hour or two. Then seal the tips of the stems by dipping them in very hot water before adding them to a mixed arrangement.

If flowers develop a bent neck, they probably have an air lock in the stem and are unable to absorb water properly. Recut the stems under water and place them in cool water for a couple of hours.

Most flowers absorb water best if cuts are made between nodes or joints. This is certainly true of carnations and hydrangeas. Never crush the stems, as the damaged tissue will not absorb water well, and the water will become polluted. Sharp, clean cuts are best.

When creating an arrangement from your garden, remember that foliage goes nicely with flowers--try some ferns or other greenery in your arrangement.

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Garden Primer

The Top 5 Mistakes Made by the New Gardener

1. Planting at the wrong time of year:
What this means will vary from place to place. While in some charmed places most things can be planted year-round, the majority of locales have definite planting seasons. For instance, in many areas of the Southwest, fall is considered the best time to plant most shrubs, trees, groundcover and lawns; if you live in the eastern part of the U.S., however, you will wait until spring to install most of these plants.

This timing issue also comes into play with annual flowers and vegetables. Some flowers and vegetables like the warmth of the spring and summer, while others prefer the coolness of the fall and winter. The goal is to time your planting for the earliest part of the season you are planting for, but not too early. Let's use marigolds (a summer annual) for an example. This plant likes heat, but can freeze if the temperatures are too cold. In some areas, you might begin seeing marigolds for sale in the late winter. Can you plant them then? Of course. Should you? Maybe not. Why? While it might work--if temperatures don't drop too low--you could be replacing your plants if they do.

If you are not sure whether to plant something at a certain time, please ask us; we will tell you whether it's the best time or if you would be better off waiting. Many garden centers serve a fairly large geographical area and these areas oftentimes have differing microclimates. That is why you will sometimes see plants in your local garden center that may be out of season for your particular area. The other thing to keep in mind is not to plant too late. Planting too late will not allow your flower or vegetable to achieve maturity before the cold (or warm) weather comes and stops it in its tracks!

2. Planting in the wrong exposure:
While some plants will take any exposure, most prefer predominantly sun or mostly shade. When you are shopping for your plant, take notice of where the plant is situated in the garden center; this will give you a good idea of where it will be happiest in your garden. If you're not sure, ask.

3. Planting in the wrong zone:
Just because you see a pretty plant growing in the sun, does not necessarily mean it will grow in the sun in your garden. Some plants prefer hot, dry areas and some prefer cool, misty spots. This is where the USDA Climate Zone chart (or in the west, the Sunset Western Garden Climate Zone chart) will really help. Most plants sold in garden centers are marked with their appropriate climate zone or if they are not, the garden center staff can tell you if it will grow in your zone.

4. Planting plants with different water requirements near each other:
Some plants prefer dry, well-drained soil and others like more water. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you will be able to manage the two effectively when they are planted next to each other--you won't. Save yourself the angst and use plants with similar needs together. The plants will be happier--and so will you.

5. Watering too often, too much, not often enough or not deep enough:
Whew! The above may seem like a contradiction, but what we're trying to say is that plants have different watering needs and soils (because of their differing compositions) respond to water differently.

The most common mistake in regard to water is not watering enough (in terms of frequency) and not watering long enough (in terms of volume). A small plant can dry out quickly, especially in warm weather. When first planted, it should be regularly monitored to observe its water needs. Also, you need to leave the water on long enough to saturate the entire root-ball of the plant (for some things, this might be longer than you think). Standing over the plant and giving it a quick shower with your hose will probably not be enough. Also, deeper watering encourages roots to go down, thus increasing the plant's drought tolerance.

On the other side of the coin is the gardener who is so dedicated that he/she waters constantly. This is not good either. Too much water (especially in heavy soils) can cause disease; eventually the roots of the plant will rot. So, strive for vigilance but not obsession when applying water to the garden.

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2077 Jericho Turnpike, Commack, NY 11725
631-343-7123
www.acersgardencenter.com
Open Monday-Sunday 9 AM to 6 PM