Turn Signal
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Gardening
The Kerby's Nursery E-Newsletter
July 15, 2021
Weekly Special   |   A Fungus Among Us  |   New Arrivals
Turn Signal
by Joey Bokor
Listen 

Click, clock, click, clock, click, clock,. . . . I was sitting in my car the other day, waiting to make a right turn on Highway 60. For some reason I didn't have the radio on, and it was quiet, except for the click, clock of the turn signal. And suddenly I was sitting in my grandfather's old red station wagon, with the same sound of the turn signal, breathing in earthworms and fish, getting ready to head on to the Rainbow River for a day of fishing.

What fun we used to have! We would rise from bed way before the sun came up and have our morning coffee. (I was allowed to have a little coffee to get me going, I think it was decaf anyways...). With the car packed full of poles and provisions, we'd drive down to Angler's, load our items in the boat and, depending on what we were fishing for that day, decide what to do for bait. If we were heading for bass, we would bring two long cane poles to catch our own shiners for bait. If it was bream we were after, we would load up on earthworms. Then we'd head down the river to my grandfather's favorite fishing spots. Once the boat motor cut off and the poles were in the water, the silence and serenity of the river was breathtaking. Of course, my grandfather would have said we were so loud with our chitter-chatter that we scared the fish away. I still remember it being pretty peaceful.



We caught plenty most days and returned to the marina where Grandpa taught me how to filet a fish with no bones, a skill I'm proud to say that I still have to this day. Once the cleaning was done, we would take the catch back to the house and Grandma would cook it up for dinner.

Great summer memories and they all tumbled into my head from the simple sound of a turn signal. I wonder what direction I will go tomorrow.

Happy Gardening,
The Kerby's Nursery Family



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The Weekly Special
Pentas - $6 each, when you buy 3
Feed butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators with hardy pentas. This week only, save almost $6 when you buy 3.
Regular Price - $7.99, 1G Pots only
Can't be combined with other discounts.
While Supplies Last
Discount valid through 7/21/2021


A Fungus Among Us


The rainy season is here and that means fairly regular afternoon thunderstorms. All around town, you see trees, shrubs and flowers putting on fresh flushes of new growth as they soak in the welcome water. However, if you're like us, you are also starting to see mushrooms pop up throughout your yards and flower beds, which is a sure sign that there is a fungus among us. Fungus thrives in wet areas and at times of the year when the humidity is high (which is all summer in Florida). It shows up in a variety of ways, from whole limbs dying and black spots on leaves, to brown patches and mushrooms in your lawn. Fortunately there are some preventative measures that you can take to keep your plants healthy.

1) Water Smart - We always lecture folks on not watering enough, but plants can have too much of a good thing. Make sure that you turn off your sprinkler systems when we get large amounts of rain and take a break from daily hand watering. Watering an already wet flower bed is a sure way to make fungus grow. When you do water in the humid season, make sure to do so early in the morning so that the plant can take up water during the day and leave the soil relatively dry by night.

2) Keep it Clean - To avoid spreading disease, keep garden areas clean and weed free. Weeds can often be hosts for plant diseases and of course, leaving piles of rotting leaves and weeds around will definitely bring fungus to your garden. Clean all lawn tools that you use with a light bleach solution. This is especially important if you've just pruned a plant that has disease on it.

3) Plant Well - Probably one of the best things you can do to protect your plants from disease is to get them off to a good start. For most plants, use a well-drained soil, such as Kerby's Planting Soil when you plant. A good soil helps the plant get nutrients and water, but also keeps the soil from staying soggy. If the area you are planning on planting in has poor drainage, think about creating raised beds, since most plants do not want to sit with their feet wet. Check out Kerby's Planting Instructions for more information on how to make plants happy.

4) Treatment - In our humid season, no matter how clean your garden or how carefully you water, you will likely face disease issues at some point. Before a disease spreads to too many plants, treat with a good fungicide such as Copper Soap Fungicide or Liquid Systemic Fungicide (the specific fungicide that you need will depend on the disease and the type of plant.) If you have a tough plant problem, bring a picture of the plant and a leaf sample into the nursery and we can diagnose the problem for you and get you the right treatment option. There doesn't have to be a fungus among us anymore.


New Arrivals
Sunshine Ligustrum

Bright, Hardy Foliage
10" Pot - $29.99
Roman Red Salvia

Bring on the Butterflies
6" Pot - $7.99

Lime Sizzler Firebush

Make Your Yard Sizzle
10" Pot - $27.00





Send a living gift to your favorite plant person anywhere in the lower 48 states from the Kerby's online houseplant shop. New plants added every Thursday at noon.

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Kerby's Nursery

2311 S. Parsons Ave.

Seffner, FL 33584
(813) 685-3265
www.kerbysnursery.com


Store Hours

Monday - Saturday
9am - 5:30pm
Sunday
11am - 4pm