Happy Halloween!

Overstock SALE!!

At our San Rafael store ONLY we are running a 25% off special on ALL trees in stock. Questions? Call our San Rafael location and we can help!

415-453-3977

Gardener's quote of the day

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence

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We print our newsletters on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper (using vegetable based ink) and the paper & printer we use are both FSC certified. However, we will continue to promote the online version of our newsletter as an earth-friendly alternative. Sloat Garden Center thanks you for being environmentally conscious and for subscribing to the Gardener's Notebook online.

If you currently receive our Newsletter via postal mail, switch to email by clicking HERE

If you do not receive our newsletter via postal mail but would like to sign up to to receive it via email, click here

The Ever Popular Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

These natives of Japan and Korea need regular water and actually very little fertilizer. They are slow-growing to 20 feet, with an equal or greater spread. They are famous for the beautiful autumn color of the leaves and the shape and color of the branches seen during the winter. We recommend a fertilizer of 0-10-10 through the winter and very light feeding in the spring with an organic fertilizer like EB Stone AP or Fish Emulsion. They can tolerate full sun to part shade, in fact the red-leaved cultivars need full sun to develop their color.

They do need shelter from hot, dry or constant wind. Drying wind causes a condition we call ‘crispy’. More are killed by over-watering, they can recover from the single summer heat wave that burns the leaf tips.

Acers look fabulous in bowl-shaped containers on front porches or patios. If there is space on the patio, group three different kinds together in different sized pots. In a large garden they can be grouped together as a grove.

Pruning the Japanese Maple can be intimidating, we will have Pruning seminars in February to demonstrate for the faint-of-heart. The best advice we can give is to learn how large the plant can grow. The mature size of a plant is the size it will be in about ten years. The plant doesn’t stop growing when it reaches its mature size; it slows down but continues growing to its ultimate size. That can be roughly twice what is on the plant tag. Then it stops getting taller, although like people, it may continue to get wider. You can then make an informed decision about how close to the path, window or doorway to site one.

In Cass Turnbull’s Guide to Pruning, she recommends going easy on young trees (less than five years old). “Try to limit yourself to removing no more than one-eighth or less of the leaf canopy in a year”. This book is a great help for first-time tree buyers.

Bahco tools are on special for Gardener's Reward Members the rest of October

Here's a bit of information about this great company.

The Bahco Company (formerly Sandvik) is over 100 years old, based in Sweden. Their pruners, loppers and saws are ergonomically designed, with bright orange handles so they can be found easily in the garden.

We have a variety of Bahco pruning tools: the Snips are lightweight and useful when dead-heading, thinning fruit, cutting young vines, or bonsai pruning.

The Pruners comes in three sizes for large, medium and small hands, and are lightweight to reduce hand fatigue.

The Loppers are lightweight to reduce fatigue, and come in several lengths. The shortest lopper also has a Sharpener attached, a definite bargain!

The lightweight Sharpener is usually sold separately for $15.99. It has a handle, that makes it easier to use than the old school sharpening blocks and features a finger guard to prevent the hand slipping onto the blade

The Pruning Saws cut on both the pull and push strokes. They also have a locking mechanism that locks the saw open or closed for safety.

“Ergonomics” is the applied science of equipment design to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort. That means the tools are designed first for the human, not just the task.

When using tools on a daily basis, or for the weekend warrior, you risk overexertion, pain, and numbness in parts of the hand by using incorrectly designed tools, even if you don’t feel it at the time.

Pruning Japanese Maples, some fruit tree pruning and removing dead flowers from shrubs and perennials is the kind of pruning that can be done now. Cass Turnbull’s book, ‘Guide to Pruning’ has tons of practical advice for what, how and when to prune.

The Sale continues!

We still have pottery leftover from our Customer Appreciation Weekend Sale, so we're extending the fantastic prices to all Sloat customers.

Buy 1, Get 1 Free --- any of the below colors this Fall!

Spanish red
Tumarine
Cognac Brown
Scarlet Red
Winter Sonata
Misty Forestii
Ivory
Rusty Honey
Mink Brown
Dancing Cherry
Calligraph Amber
Oceanic Cane
Seagreen Ratan

The Sloat newsletter is available by email

We print our newsletters on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper (using vegetable based ink) and the paper & printer we use are both FSC certified. However, we will continue to promote the online version of our newsletter as an earth-friendly alternative. Sloat Garden Center thanks you for being environmentally conscious and for subscribing to the Gardener's Notebook online.

If you currently receive our Newsletter via postal mail, switch to email by clicking HERE

If you do not receive our newsletter via postal mail but would like to sign up to to receive it via email, click here

The sale is on!!

Are you ready for our big sale?!

October 12, 13, 14 at all Sloat Garden Center locations. We have so
many great specials ready to go...we can't wait !!

Send us a postcard from the patch !

As part of our annual October Customer Appreciation Weekend
(October 12, 13 & 14), Sloat Garden Center will hold a Pumpkin Patch Giveaway.
Enter at any Sloat location to win Sloat Garden Center gift cards & free pumpkins!

Grand prize: 10 customers will each win a $50 gift card
First prize: 100 customers will each win a free pumpkin

Enter in one of 2 ways between October 1st and October 15th:
1. Watch your mail for a coupon entry form during the first week of October.
Fill it out and bring it in to any of our 10 locations.
2. Fill out a postcard from the patch entry card at any of our 10 locations.

Happy Pumpkin Picking!

More pictures from our stores!

Indoor color!


Our iron red pottery


Sloat custom planter design


Another custom planter design


Ah, fibrous begonias


We love attracting beneficial insects


So many succulents to choose from!

Azalea, Camellia and Rhododendron - royals of the shade

Azaleas, Camellias and Rhododendrons could be considered the royal family of the shade garden. Each group has nearly 3000 named varieties of different color, flower form, and growth habit. For all the diversity found within these species there is much they have in common. Their basic growing requirements are very similar.

SOIL: Fast draining acid soil that also retains moisture is best. Soil which is high in organic matter has these properties. If your soil needs improving, work in liberal amounts of Sloat Planting Mix or EB Stone Camellia Azalea Mix. Adding Sul PO Mag will help acidify your soil as well as provide additional minerals to keep your plant’s leaves green. We do not recommend Peat Moss as it is difficult to re-wet should it dry out.

SUN: Sun tolerance varies between species and varieties. Too much sun can cause burning in the center of the leaf, though most can take full sun in cooler, coastal areas. Too much shade can inhibit flowering and cause plants to be “leggy”. The best location is in filtered shade under tall trees, or on the north or east side of the house. Southern indica Azaleas, Exbury Azaleas, small leafed Rhododendrons and sasanqua Camellias will take the most sun.

PLANTING: Plant Rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias with the top of the rootball slightly above the soil level. You don’t want the trunk to get buried beneath the soil. The roots of these plants grow very close to the surface; they will benefit from a mulching of Micro Bark or Forest Mulch Plus to keep them cool and moist. Some gardeners have even forgone the planting hole altogether and create a raised berm, covering the rootball (which is placed on top of the soil and covered entirely with a mixture of 2/3 Micro Bark 1/3 Azalea Mix.

FERTILIZER: Use an acid food once when growth begins in the spring at half the recommended rate. Too much food will push leafy growth ahead of the flowers! Feed again immediately after flowering according to directions. Feed monthly thereafter until August. During the fall and winter, you can use a 0-10-10 formula to help build next spring’s flower buds as well as bolster the plant’s immune system and cold hardiness. Yellowing foliage can be corrected by applying extra iron or SUL PO MAG,

PRUNING: Frequent light pinching or shearing of tip growth after blooming will encourage bushy, compact growth. Extensive pruning will sacrifice spring flowers but sometimes it is required to revitalized leggy plants. Never cut a branch back to bare wood on azaleas or rhododendrons, it will usually not resprout. Always prune off old flower heads and remove spent flowers to keep plants clean.

CONTAINERS: Camellias are outstanding container plants, as are azaleas and dwarf varieties of rhododendrons. Gallon sized plants need a 12” to 14” container. Five- gallon plants require 16” to 18” containers. You can use azaleas and camellias in mixed planters with other compatible plants such as fern, Hosta, Cyclamen, primrose, and Heuchera for larger, more stunning creations. Use Sloat Organic Potting soil or Azalea Camellia Mix. Contrary to popular belief, gravel in the bottom of the container is NOT recommended. A porous barrier, such as Screen Between, over the drainage hole to keep the soil in and bugs out is all that is needed. You may want to use pot feet to keep your planter elevated above the deck or patio rather than have it sit in a water filled saucer. Feed as above using Maxsea Acid Food as directed.