Planting a Flower Garden

Here in San Jose, we are lucky to enjoy a mild climate and diverse ecosystems that constitute an ideal environment for a wide variety of flowers. Whether you’ve been landscaping with flowers for many years or are just starting out, there is always more to learn about the art and science of crafting a beautiful, climate-appropriate flower garden.

Below, please find some helpful tips to make the most of your efforts:

• Know your microclimates: The Bay Area has a range of microclimates due to variations in topography and proximity to the ocean. Research the specific microclimate of your location to determine which flowers will thrive. Coastal areas are generally cooler and foggy, while inland areas can be hotter and drier.

• Choose native and drought-tolerant flowers: Native flowers are well-adapted to the local environment and require less water and maintenance. Consider planting species such as California poppy, Douglas iris, seaside daisy, or lupine. Incorporating drought-tolerant varieties like lavender, yarrow, and succulents can help conserve water.

• Plan for year-round blooms: Select a mix of flowers that bloom at different times of the year to ensure your garden remains vibrant throughout the seasons. Research which flowers are in bloom during each season and create a planting schedule to maximize color and interest.

• Consider sun exposure: Pay attention to the amount of sunlight your garden receives. Some flowers prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade. Place sun-loving flowers such as sunflowers, marigolds, or zinnias in areas with ample sunlight and shade-tolerant plants like impatiens or begonias in shadier spots.

• Provide proper soil conditions: Soil quality is crucial for healthy flower growth. Conduct a soil test to determine its pH level and nutrient content. Most flowers prefer well-draining soil, so amend it with organic matter like compost to improve its texture and fertility.

• Mulch and weed regularly: Apply a layer of organic mulch around your flowers to retain moisture, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperature. Mulching also enhances the visual appeal of your garden.

• Water efficiently: Water your flowers deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Use a drip irrigation system or water early in the morning to minimize evaporation. Consider installing a rainwater harvesting system to collect and use rainwater for your garden.

• Prune and deadhead: Regularly prune your flowers to promote healthy growth and shape them as desired. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering and prevent the plants from putting energy into seed production.

• Attract pollinators: Flowers play a vital role in supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant a variety of flowers with different colors, shapes, and scents to attract these beneficial creatures to your garden. Avoid using harmful pesticides that can harm pollinators.

Gardening is a creative process, so don't be afraid to try new flowers and experiment with different combinations and arrangements. Enjoy the process of working with nature and appreciate the beauty, color and exuberance that your flowers bring to your landscape.

Ride Harleys, Work with Plants! - An Interview with Terri

This month, we had a chance to sit down with longtime nursery employee Terri A. (pictured on the right, above, with fellow nurserywoman Dana) to talk about the nursery’s history, riding Harleys, and the best way to shop our nursery.

So when did you start working for the nursery, Terri?

Eight years – December will be eight years. I came in, I didn’t know anything about plants – I could tell you what a palm tree was, but I had no clue. I was going to only be here for a few months, get out of the house until I found another job. But one foot in front of another – in the very beginning, it’s really hard – I never make the new people answer the phone. If you don’t have a clue what a loropetalum is, it’s like a foreign language. But once you get some of the names, you start really learning – I never in a million years thought I would be able to learn – at my age – then I thought, no way I’ll be able to identify the plants!

When I started, the plants weren’t even labeled – the labeling was something we always wanted to do, but it was one of the trade shows – we brought stuff back to show [nursery owner] Robert, and he was like yeah this is cool! [Fellow nursery employee] John has really nice penmanship, so that was his job back in the day – handwriting the labels.

How has the nursery changed?

There’s so many people! Back in the old days, Saturdays were task days, stocking, we’d get it all done on Saturday. It was a tough adjustment having the customers all the time – it started before COVID, but with COVID it exploded. You get in the wholesale zone with the contractors; when you start getting 35, 50, 80 customers a day coming in – it’s an adjustment.

Are you adjusted now?

Yes, of course! When I first started, for the quotes, Robert would make notes on an email, or we would just type them in as they came, then print out a quote, then put it in a box, then he and Gayle would pick it up, bring it over here, make notes if we could get the plants, and then bring it back to us to see if we could adjust it – back then nobody did sourcing, just Robert and Gayle. Now everyone does it.

The biggest blessing – the most awesome thing – is the online pricing. We used to spend 30, 45 minutes standing at the counter – there used to be just 2 doors where the counter sits, and we had an island in the middle, and we would stand up against the wall and type on our computers against the wall, and customers would look over our shoulders – so we made the office bigger. We used to spend forever giving people prices. That’s how we always did it. There is no way we could do that now – we are so much busier. It’s been a tremendous tool.

What’s your favorite thing about working here?

There’s many things. I really enjoy when we get new employees, watching them get all excited and learn – Dana really gets a kick out of learning new things – there’s always something to learn! The hours are nice. And the people in general! After 23 years in a grocery store [where I worked before this], a can of green beans is a can of green beans - you’re there because you have to be there, you need your groceries. But people come to the nursery because they want to! They’re trying to make their yard pretty, they’re looking for something special, and it’s still super nice – guy called me for an Irish yew, in a 36 inch box – then I remembered – I have one across the street! It’s planted up, ready to go! Finding that one plant that people have looked all over the place for – that’s the best – when we find it they get so excited!

This was never a passion for me, necessarily, but I’ve learned respect for the plants. And I do actually miss going out and working directly with the plants. But I get the time sometimes.

It’s fun! For the most part, except when it’s 110 degrees and I wimp out!

What do you do when you’re not here?

I watch tv! (laughs) I listen to very loud music and clean my house – my poor neighbors, but my stove is sparkling clean! (laughs) Ride Harleys—love my Sunday rides with my son!

Not everybody appreciates when you’re taking a walk and pointing out all the plants by name – not everybody else gets excited about that. I’ve kept what I do to myself mostly – but my next door neighbors, they know. Everyone else? Zip it! You learn to kind of keep quiet about what you do – otherwise everybody’s got a question. But it’s cool though.

What would you tell customers?

Get the information before you start your search. When you shop here, you have to do it yourself. Let us know when you want the plants.

I wish customers would do more research on their own before they come to the nursery – or have some idea – I tell them, just go take a look around – you are in the beginning phase. You’ll get overwhelmed. Walk the nursery, take notes, take pictures, then go home and do your research, because these plants are babies. You may not want to pay for the 5 or 15 gallon, but go look at the full size first to see what it’s going to do. Then you can buy the one gallon. What you see out here – it’s a baby. Do some research. Google is your best friend.

Thank you so much, Terri, for taking the time to share your insights and memories with us! We love working with you.

We’ll Miss You, Charlie!

This month, we had a chance to talk with one of our favorite folks, Charlie! Charlie has been with CWN for two years now — completely, she tells us, by accident! — and will be heading off to college this year.

How did you get started working for the nursery, Charlie?

“My mom, who’s into plants, said to me, ‘I know this nursery that has golf carts.’ I thought, Golf carts? That’s crazy! It’s nice that it was the summer of COVID, because I’d just graduated high school and we weren’t supposed to be around other people.”

Charlie tells us that when she started, she weeded plants for 8 hours and had, shall we say, a resistance to the work – “I wanted to quit a month in and go to college. But then I said to myself, meh, maybe I’ll just work 2 days a week - then 2 days became 3 days, and 3 became 4; and a month became 2 months, and a year became 2 years – and now I’m going to miss it!”

What is your favorite part about working for the nursery?

“When I started here, I would do the same thing for hours and had no social interactions. Then I got moved over here [to the office] and got to meet people, and then I started making friends! And now I like it!”

What do you do when you’re not here?

“I play lots of video games, and I read a lot. And I paint my nails. I like to hang out with my sisters and parents whenever I can!”

 So what are you studying in college, Charlie?

“College? I’m a history major! which is hilarious because every time someone asks, Are you in horticulture? I say no, I’m in the most useless major ever – and I love it! Fun fact about me: My eldest sister also studied history, so I studied psych for a quarter because I didn’t want to take the same as my sister! That’s another reason I didn’t go to Berkeley. So I stuck with history and I really enjoy it. The college classes are so much fun. They’re so focused.”

Do you have a favorite plant?

“One favorite plant? No – I’m a Libra, I can’t make choices. Although Coprosmas, the mirror plants! — they were one of the first I really liked. When I started this job, I didn’t know a Buxus from a Lonicera. I can’t pick a favorite anymore because being here for a while, you kind of just see things that come in, some are beautiful always, some never look beautiful, some look beautiful some times but not others. I’m too indecisive!”

What are you gonna miss the most about working here?

“My coworkers. And people asking me funny questions! One story is during January, a lady came in and said I’ve been looking everywhere for this pear tree and you have it, but it has no leaves! I said, yeah, it’s January. And she said, I want this one, but I want it to have leaves! Can you get it from Southern California? I said yeah, but it’s January there, too! When trees don’t have leaves!”

How has the nursery changed you as a person?

“I have a really bad habit when I walk near any garden or landscape – I’m like, ‘I know what that [plant] is!’ And it annoys my friends because I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a Coleonema ‘Golden Sunset’!’ The only person who’s ok with it is my mom because she works with plants. I went on a hike with my sisters and kept calling Calla lily by its scientific name and my sisters got mad!”

Do you have any advice for people buying plants?

“If you buy milkweed, buy narrow leaf milkweed! If you buy tropical milkweed, it makes the butterflies come earlier, which messes with the migration patterns. Also don’t buy ornamental grass for your yard, because I don’t like it and you’ll make me sad if you do!”

What makes us sad is that Charlie will be going off to school in just two weeks. More so, though, we’re super excited for her next steps in life – we know that with her amazing, dry sense of humor, encyclopedic intelligence and people skills, Charlie will go far! Thank you for everything Charlie. We will miss you!

A Talk with Vanessa

If you’ve been to the nursery and seen the beautiful plant displays by the front office, you’re already familiar with the work of Vanessa Rogier, nursery employee, conservationist, landscape designer, podcast creator. This month we had a chance to sit down with Vanessa to discuss some of her many interests and talents: her role at the nursery, her years doing conservation work in the Congo (read: gorillas), her new podcast, and what you should and shouldn't plant during a drought.

CWN: What have you been up to lately, Vanessa?

V: I recently did my third podcast. It was about how bees make honey. It was amazing, I was totally fascinated. The podcast is called ‘2 Chicks and a Ho’ and we are getting ready to launch it.

CWN: Please let us know when it launches. So let’s talk some about you and the nursery. What brought you to work here?

V: I had a career in animal conservation and love conservation, period. I started a landscape design business and I really like it – I have clients here and there – but during the COVID pandemic I recognized that I really had isolated myself, not only because of COVID [protocols], but even after the lockdown I was still working doing yards, but I was by myself all the time. 24 hours a day I was with my dog, Roxy – I needed to chat with people, to be with people, so I thought coming to the nursery would be good idea. It truly has been - not only in terms of getting to be with people again, but also, I have learned a tremendous amount about plants – for me it’s one of those things like [learning about] the bees where you think you know a lot, then you talk to the experts and you’re like whoa! There’s so much to know!

CWN: What are your favorite things to do here at the nursery?

V: I’m responsible for many things - from stocking, to watering the plants, to trimming them and making them look beautiful – but truthfully, my favorite part is talking to the customers. I love it when they’re looking for something specific and I can draw them towards pollinators – I truly believe we need to build corridors for our pollinators, for their survival, and of course for our survival – we are linked. Without the pollinators we cannot survive.

CWN: What are your interests outside the nursery?

V: Developing this podcast has a lot to do with my other loves, conservation and environmental awareness – it’s about providing solutions and getting involved. How can someone get involved with the bee issues? They may not be a scientist but if you have an idea of what’s going on – “once you know, you do better.” Maybe you will pick a more pollinator friendly plant that provides food for bees and pollinators. That’s a huge passion of mine. And animal conservation of course – I worked for years in mountain gorilla conservation in the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo. I was there on and off over the years. That was my job at Happy Hollow Zoo – animal conservation. My role was getting our community – the Northern California zoo community – involved somehow in conservation, understanding what’s going on [with the gorillas and the environment]. No other zoo in the world has mountain gorillas! They are an umbrella species – by protecting them, you’re protecting an entire environment and ecosystem. If you take care of them, everything underneath them [in the ecosystem] thrives. That has always been the driving force in my life – animals, insects, plants, the natural world. And I love gardening! I create my own sanctuary, so when I go home from the craziness, I sit and I have amazing – well I’ve been feeding the birds for 25 years, and the stuff I planted for all the bees and the butterflies – and squirrels and possums and racoons.

CWN: What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned working here?

V: When a plant is labeled drought tolerant, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t require water. It requires less water, but [at the nursery I learned about] the idea that it needs an entire season of TLC, and then it becomes more established and drought tolerant. In particular in our severe drought that we are having here, I don’t think people should stop planting – it’s important as communities that we have plants around us. It brings calm and peace – there is a balance there [that we get from nature] – but plant the RIGHT plants. Make sure we have plants for our native pollinators – we need to take care of them. Put water out for birds and beneficial mammals that come visit – skunks, possums, squirrels – they all have roles they are playing in our garden. We are all in this together. Continue planting – just pick the right plants for whatever purpose it is that you have. Just because we are in a drought, it is still important to keep planting.

Not to mention the joy, the aesthetics of gardening – we need things that make us happy. During the pandemic as well, the turn to gardening was huge, and there’s a reason for that. There was a study done that said that being in the dirt and touching it and breathing it in – you breathe in all these microbes that actually calm you down and bring you joy. There’s a happiness involvement with getting your hands in the dirt. That thing about going out in the garden – it's crucial. There’s a connection back to the earth. Touching it – being a part of nature is critical for our happiness, for so many of us. I think that’s why the popularity of gardening jumped so much in the pandemic – first people thought, I have some time, let’s spend it fixing up my yard – then once they get started, they realize the joy it brought.

CWN: Thank you so much, Vanessa, for taking the time to speak with us today. I’m sure our readers will be absolutely thrilled.

V: Thank you Jane!

Going Green: How Gardening Can Improve Your Physical and Mental Health

by Tina Martin

If you’re looking for new ways to improve your physical and mental health, you might want to consider gardening. Getting into the yard is a great way to exercise, soak up the vitamin D, eat healthier and recover your mental health. And today, Capitol Wholesale Nursery is here to help you get started.

Physical Benefits

Whether you’re planting, picking, or pruning, time spent in nature is time spent physically and can help you to develop hand strength and dexterity. It can also double up as a form of light cardio, especially when you’re trimming bushes, carrying mulch, or lawn mowing - in fact, the CDC considers gardening as an official form of exercise, as just 30-45 minute sessions are believed to burn up to 300 calories. Just make sure to take breaks from repetitive exercises as it can be easy to pick up stress injuries, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel.

The physical benefits extend beyond just exercise - a 2013 study found that DIY gardening can cut heart attack/stroke risk by 30% prolonging life for those over 60. Not only are you moving your body in a healthy way but you’re also soaking up valuable Vitamin D, which can help you fight off cold and flu, increase bone strength, and feel more positive throughout the week.

Mental Benefits

Speaking of feeling positive, gardening has also been shown to provide major benefits for mental health, relieving stress, releasing endorphins, and even reducing the chance of Alzheimer’s. Getting hands-on is a surefire way to feel better about yourself and make yourself more pleasant to be around for others.

It can also be an excellent way to get closer to others in your household. If you have a partner, kids, or friends you live with, dedicating some time to gardening vegetables can become quality time as well as giving you food to prepare, cook and eat together later. You can benefit mentally from the healthy diet provided by a well-cultivated diet, as well. In fact, studies show fewer symptoms of depression, stress, and overall negativity in those who regularly eat fruit and vegetables.

Beginner Tips

Getting started with gardening is a lot more straightforward than you might think. All you need is a few key components:

●      A garden patch (at least 3 by 4 feet across) with exposure to 6-8 hours of full sun every day

●      A plan that corresponds with your regional climate

●      Basic garden tools, including garden & shuffle hoe, dirt & leaf rake, garden shovel, and hand tools

●      Good soil with basic nutrients and a PH of around 7 (neutral) benefits most common garden crops

Once you’ve created the conditions for growing, it’s then a question of picking vegetables or plants that you like the taste of or that are easy to grow. Recommendations include beetroot, bush tomatoes, salad leaves, potatoes, and peas but there are plenty of other options if you want to get experimental.

You should also pay close attention to the surrounding environment. High winds can make it difficult for crops to grow, as can pollution or contamination from nearby sources. Animals are another factor, especially in areas with large populations of groundhogs, rabbits, or deer and you may need to take measures to protect your produce or else lose them to a hungry herbivore.

Gardening can have extraordinary benefits for mental and physical health, it’s also a lot of fun (especially with a partner). And who knows? You might even decide to turn this into a side business! To get started, all you need to do is grab a shovel and head out into the yard with the right knowledge. I promise you won’t regret it.

Capitol Wholesale Nursery has been servicing the Bay Area for over 40 years as a premier grower, plant broker, and re-wholesaler. Need landscaping or wholesaling services? Call (408) 239-0589.

Image by Pexels

Best-Selling Plants of 2021

Fruit Trees

Fruit Trees
#10 Plum 'Santa Rosa' (Prunus salicina)
#9 Pomegranate 'Wonderful' (Punica granatum) multi
#8 Orange 'Washington Navel' (Citrus sinensis) semi dwarf
#7 Avocado 'Hass' (Persea americana) Type A
#6 Blueberry 'Sunshine Blue' (Vaccinium corymbosum)
#5 Blueberry 'Peach Sorbet' (Vaccinium corymbosum)
#4 Blueberry 'Bountiful Blue' (Vaccinium corymbosum)
#3 Strawberry 'Tristan' (Fragaria x ananassa)
#2 Persimmon 'Fuyu' (Diospyros kaki)
#1 Lemon 'Meyer' (Citrus limon) semi dwarf

Groundcovers

Groundcovers
#10 Vinca minor 'Alba'
#9 Gazania assorted
#8 Epilobium (Zauschneria) 'Everett's Choice'
#7 Myoporum parvifolium 'White'
#6 Rosmarinus 'Huntington Carpet'
#5 Verbena 'Tapien Blue-Violet'
#4 Lantana 'White Lightning'/'Alba'
#3 Thymus pseudolanuginosus
#2 Dymondia marguerite
#1 Satureja douglasii (Clinopodium)

Shrubs

Shrubs
#10 Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum'
#9 Rosa x 'Noaschnee' Flower Carpet White
#8 Lavandula intermedia 'Grosso'
#7 Coleonema 'Golden Sunset'
#6 Acacia cognata 'Cousin It'
#5 Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'
#4 Coleonema 'Golden Sunset'
#3 Lantana montavIdensis (sellowiana)
#2 Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'
#1 Trachelospermum jasminoides

Trees

Trees
#10 Pistacia chinensis 'Keith Davey'
#9 Syzygium paniculatum 'Monterey Bay'
#8 Myrica (Morella) californica
#7 Quercus agrifolia standard
#6 Laurus nobilis 'Saratoga' standard
#5 Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' ('Senkaki')
#4 Prunus caroliniana column
#3 Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea'
#2 Cupressus sempervirens 'Glauca'
#1 Podocarpus (Afrocarpus) gracillior

Bamboos

Bamboo
#8 Phyllostachys nigra
#7 Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess'
#6 Phyllostachys nigra 'Hale'
#5 Phyllostachys aurea
#4 Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'
#3 Fargesia robusta
#2 Bambusa textilis gracilis
#1 Borinda boliana

Ferns

Ferns
#10 Dryopteris pseudo 'Crispa Christa'
#9 Dryopteris erythrosora
#8 Asplenium bulbiferum
#7 Adiantum capillus-veneris 'Banksianum'
#6 Athyrium filix-femina
#5 Woodwardia fimbriata
#4 Aspidium capense (Rumohra adiantiformis)
#3 Woodwardia fimbriata
#2 Polystichum munitum
#1 Asparagus d. 'Myers' (A. myersii)

Grasses

Grasses
#10 Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'
#9 Muhlenbergia rigens
#8 Carex pansa
#7 Carex praegracilis
#6 Festuca glauca 'Beyond Blue'
#5 Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue'
#4 Calamagrostis foliosa
#3 Sesleria autumnalis
#2 Lomandra longifolia 'Breeze' ('Tanika')
#1 Carex divulsa (formerly C. tumulicola) - #1 best seller

Perennials

Perennials
#10 Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo'
#9 Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
#8 Gaura lindheimeri
#7 Limonium perezii (Statice perezii)
#6 Geranium 'Rozanne' ('Gerwat')
#5 Heuchera maxima
#4 Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita Bop'
#3 Achillea x taygetea 'Moonshine'
#2 Iris douglasiana
#1 Erigeron karvinskianus

Succulents

Succulents
#10 Echinocactus grussonii
#9 Agave shawii x attenuata 'Blue Flame'
#8 Echeveria cv. 'Perle Von Nurnberg'
#7 Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'
#6 Echeveria 'Afterglow'
#5 Echeveria x imbricata
#4 Delosperma cooperi
#3 Senecio serpens (Kleinia repens)
#2 Agave 'Blue Glow'
#1 Senecio mandraliscae

Vines

Vines
#10 Clytostoma callistegiodes (Bignonia violacea)
#9 Bougainvillea brassiliensis (spectabilis)
#8 Hardenbergia violacea 'Happy Wanderer'
#7 Bougainvillea 'Orange King'
#6 Bougainvillea 'San Diego Red'
#5 Distictis buccinitoria
#4 Solanum jasminoides (S. laxum)
#3 Pandorea jasminoides 'Lady Di' ('Alba')
#2 Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'
#1 Trachelospermum jasminoides staked

Fall Yard and Garden Tips

by Tina Martin

In late Autumn, many changes appear in the garden. Leaves fall, and some smaller bushes, shrubs, and plants can start to shrivel. While some plants may be dormant during the winter, that does not mean you are left with no action or directive for November. The cold season is the season your yard and garden is at the most risk. Mold, compaction, and a lack of nutrients are but a few of the things that can hinder growth in your yard.

In order to keep the plants in your yard and garden healthy going into next spring, we suggest you try a proactive approach in the fall.

Garden Tips

In the fall, venturing out early into the garden is essential if you want to avoid the dreaded spring restart. As you already know, each plant rooted in your garden has its own seasonal lifespan. Identifying and maneuvering different sorts of plants in cohesion with the season they thrive most in will help your overall garden’s health.

●        Assess where you stand. Go over each area and determine which summer plants were successful. Trim any that have overgrown. Find any patches of soil that seem bare.

●        Add healthy mulch. Add a healthy, moist mulch around the base of each area. Check for any discoloration, as this may be a sign of harmful mold.

●        Replace summer annuals. The winter will likely bring an end to any summer-season plants that can’t hold-up. Try potting them and placing them in windows. For easy replacement ideas, pansies, mums, and violas look beautiful and are hardy enough for the winter.

Yard Ideas

Apart from your garden, the rest of your yard will need careful attention before winter. Similar to garden health, your yard can easily fall victim to smothering by mold, and overbearing leaves. While you tend to the garden, make sure to keep a keen eye on the status of the other plant life surrounding you.

To begin the process of prepping your yard, rake the leaves. Raking leaves and other debris is directly connected to the vitality of your yard. When grasses, bushes, and shrubs are faced with matting layers of dead leaves, bad outcomes tend to occur. Sunlight does not reach the bottom plants, depriving them of vital nutrients. Also, stagnant water that lies upon dead material develops mold. That mold eventually filters down into the soil which can inhibit all other plant growth.

Raking your leaves and composting them is the best option during the winter. Composted leaves can be applied to both gardens and yards and can aid nutrients in the soil.

Lawn Care

Good news! Not only can your lawn be salvaged, but it can also thrive and be ready for the return of spring. A majority of North American types of grass grow the most between the months of September through November. Because of this, tending to your lawn in the fall enables a more productive seed life going into the winter. To keep your lawn healthy, perform the following:

●      Aerating: Aerating your lawn is a process every lawn enthusiast should go through during the fall. By opening up solid spaces in the soil, the soil is allowed to breathe and receive nutrients more easily. Also, water and sunlight can pass through making life easier for new seeds.

●      Trimming: Set your lawn mower lower than what you normally would during the summer. Longer blades of grass tend to get matted by heavy frost, which can potentially kill them.

●      Fertilizing: Most seeds, in response to drought, go into a mild dormancy during the hot and dry summer months. Once fall hits, however, seeds and plants exhibit higher growth rates. This means that one of the best times to add fertilizer is during the fall when lawns need it most.

●      Remove dead or dying trees: Diseased or dead trees pose a hazard, and before winter sets in, it’s wise to connect with a tree removal service. These specialists can assess the health of your trees and determine what needs to be removed and what can be saved. Only consider professionals with strong reviews and top ratings.

Just because the summer is over doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of important work to do in your garden and yard. By using the above tips, you can make sure your lawn and plants are healthy and protected over the winter.

Drought: How You Can Help

Sources (clickable links): Public Policy Institute of California; CBS News; CA.gov

Sources (clickable links): Drought.gov

Article Links (clickable links): Plant Native & Drought Tolerant Plants; Learn Proper Care Techniques for a Drought Landscape; Learn the Official Santa Clara County Dos and Don’ts; Use the Landscape Rebate Program

Additional resources (clickable links): Save Our Water; SCC.gov Newsroom; San Jose Water Restrictions

A Drought-Tolerant Rainbow for Your Garden

Photo Credits: Jane Albertson

Want to Sell Your Home Quickly? Improve It!

by Tina Martin of Ideaspired.com

The goal is to sell your home quickly and at a profit, but in a competitive market, you might just find that this is easier said than done. It’s a good idea, therefore, to do all you can for your home to rise above the competition. But while home improvements can single-handedly make this happen, they need to be done right. So let’s dive into why home improvements matter and how to choose the best improvements for your property.

Why It’s Time For Home Improvements

Home improvements are always a great idea, not only when selling your home. Knowing the potential benefits you can look forward to with the right projects will surely keep you motivated.

●      It’s been said that the right home improvements can boost happiness at home.

●      Certain projects can also increase your home’s appraisal value, giving you a more tangible ROI.

●      Before you start breaking ground, it’s a good idea to determine which upgrades will offer you the most value.

Home Improvements You Can DIY

Contrary to popular belief, value-adding home improvements need not break the bank and can be simple enough to do on your own.

●      There’s no shortage of affordable home improvement projects that you can DIY with maximum impact.

●      Beautify your property and boost curb appeal with plants and flowers from Capitol Wholesale Nursery, who offer retail services for DIY customers.

●      Upgrading your interiors can be as easy as decluttering your home room by room.

●      A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any home, and you can easily learn how to paint for a flawless finish.

●      If you want a bit of a challenge, you can even try your hand at creating beautiful shelves and storage spaces for your home.

Bring In The Pros For These Home Improvements

Of course, some home improvement projects need more TLC than you might have the time or skills for, so turn to the pros to give these projects the love they deserve.

●      You should never DIY renovations like roof work, structural changes, or any other important components that require a license or apprenticeships.

●      Some other value-adding projects are best left to the pros, too, like bathroom and kitchen remodels.

●      When hiring contractors to do your home improvements, make sure to choose ones with verifiable experience and reviews.

●      Licensed contractors can source your plants from Capitol Wholesale Nursery at wholesale prices (find CWN’s wholesale registration form here).

Suffice it to say, your home improvement efforts will significantly contribute to how quickly your home sells and how profitable it will be. So do your improvements right and not in half measures, and you’ll be handing over your keys to a worthy buyer in no time.

Looking to increase your curb appeal before selling your home? Capitol Wholesale Nursery offers the best selection of plants in the Bay Area! (408) 239-0589

Benefits of Autumn Planting

By CWN Staff

Fall is the best time to plant in California, blessed as we are with mild enough weather for a year-round garden. With proper preparation, Autumn’s cooler temps and shorter days set the stage for a flourishing Fall-Winter yield.

With the rainy season approaching, with less of the scorching Summer heat to stress plants (and your gardeners), this is an ideal time to establish plants in anticipation of Winter’s natural watering. Longer days and cooler temperatures means less moisture loss for your plants; while the soil still retains some warmth from Summer, encouraging root growth and hardiness throughout the Autumn and Winter seasons. 

Whether you’re looking to plant vegetables, spruce up your waning Summer landscape, or start a flower garden, take some time to consider what you would like to grow and what your soil is looking like this time of year.

Winter vegetables are a joy to grow in California. Mild weather plants such as beets, chard, and lettuces are extremely nutritious and often require minimal care. While it may be too late to start certain plants from seed (look up lists of planting schedules for your area), it is the perfect time to transplant nursery-grown seedlings into your garden beds.

Autumn is also a great time to plant most trees and shrubs (tropical varieties and citrus are notable exceptions). Planting now ensures they have a head start on those planted in Spring, resulting in greater growth after the first year.

Finally, it’s natural seeding time for California natives, so it’s a perfect time to grow natives from seed. Autumn is a natural growth cycle for California natives; plus, fall-planted natives are less susceptible to Summer-specific threats such as root rot. Drought tolerant plants also love Fall planting.

What to Plant in Autumn

Beets, carrots, sweet peas, calendulas – all flourish in Autumnal California conditions.

Specific varieties for Fall planting include:

·       Almost all perennial flowers - perennials have a head start when planted in the fall.

·       All California natives, from seed

·       Vegetables: artichoke, onion, celery, beets, endive, peas, broccoli, fava beans, radish, brussels sprouts, garlic, rhubarb, cabbage, kale, carrots, spinach, kohlrabi, swiss chard, cauliflower, leaf lettuce, turnips

·       Cool season grasses

·       Most shrubs, trees, ground cover and vines EXCEPT tropical or citrus

·       Hardy herbs such as parsley, thyme, oregano

Fall Garden Tips and Tricks

Soil preparation: You may find it useful to prepare your soil for your Autumn planting. After removing spent Summer crops, check the soil for health. If your soil needs a boost, dig about a foot down into the soil to be planted and add in organic matter or compost, and fertilizer if using, and turn over.

Composting: Dig up and compost any Summer plants that are spent or done producing. Make sure when adding to your compost pile that your plants do not exhibit any sign of disease (exclude any diseased plants from your compost pile).

Flowers: When choosing flowers for your year-round garden, consider year-round bloomers such as those featured in this month’s newsletter. For native gardens, consider California goldenrod, Coyote mint, and Coyote brush.

Whatever you choose, with proper preparation, Autumn will surely favor a bountiful garden and lively, colorful landscape.