Tips for Caring for Your Garden This Winter

Winter is here, and sometimes people think this means they can leave their garden and landscaping alone until the spring. However, there are several things you can do to maintain your garden during the winter months. We have a garden center serving Lititz, so we have a few suggestions on some winter garden care chores you can do now that could save you some time and hassle when the weather starts to warm up again.

Christmas Tree

After the holidays, don’t just toss your Christmas tree! Put it in a bucket of damp sand out in your backyard. Decorate it with strings of cranberries and popcorn. Spread peanut butter on pine cones and dip them in birdseed and hang them up on the tree too. You will attract some beautiful winter birds and give them another tree to nest in.

Plant Containers

Take the time to empty out your plant containers and store them somewhere dry. If you leave them outside with old soil in them, that soil could get damp and then expand when the soil freezes. If that happens, it could cause your plant containers to break.

Compost and Mulch

If you compost, be sure the refuse you throw in there is not infested with bugs or other pests. You could inadvertently introduce them into your plants this spring if you aren’t careful! You should also be sure you are keeping up with mulching. While this is not a fun chore, especially when it’s cold out, this is a great way to help maintain your garden and landscaping when it’s cold out. If you are unsure of what type of mulch you should be using, just visit our garden center and we can help you out!

Snow and Ice

After a snow or ice storm, do not walk on your grass and don’t allow your pets to either, if you can help it. Walking on frozen grass could cause the blades to break and die, and that could result in unsightly brown patches in your grass this spring. 

These are just a few ways you can keep your garden and landscaping looking good this winter! For more helpful hints, visit us at our garden center.

Are you interested in learning more about our garden center serving Lititz and the surrounding areas? Call Root’s Nurseries at 717-898-0041 or contact us and get a Free Estimate.

It’s Fall! Time to Plant Trees!

It seems almost counter-intuitive, but fall tree planting is a very common practice and it is actually recommended by arborists and gardeners alike. There are a few reasons fall tree planting is a great idea.

In the fall, temperatures start to drop and rain begins to increase in most areas. But the soil still stays warm, so the roots have time to take hold and grow before the worst of the cold weather hits. And before the winter starts to get really cold, there will be a few frosts and the trees will go dormant and will be less active. 

Fall tree planting means that the roots will grow, and that means they will be nice and ready to drink up water when the spring rolls around again. And this means the roots are going to be able to access that water better. Plus, there is less stress on the tree if it needs to be transplanted in the spring.

It is best to do fall tree planting with a tree that has its root system wrapped in burlap, or for trees that are in containers. Trees that are planted in the fall also require less water overall. Plus, the fall sun is a lot less harsh than the spring and summer sun. So that means the leaves are less likely to burn and suffer other damage from the harsh and hot sun.

Fall tree planting also means you might have more of a selection of trees to choose from. Usually, in the fall, tree selection is at its peak. So you should have your choice of trees to choose from when you are ready to do your fall tree planting!

For more information on fall tree planting, call Root’s Nurseries at 717-898-0041 or you can contact us for a Free Estimate.

Fall Home Landscaping: Perfect Time to Begin Planning for Spring

Fall is in the air, which means your lawn and other landscaping will soon take a well-deserved rest for a few months until spring rolls around. However, that doesn’t mean you should put off your landscaping needs until March. Here are some things you should be getting accomplished over the next few months:

Aeration

Do you see rain pooling on your lawn? Then it’s time to aerate your lawn. Aeration will allow water and nutrients to again reach the roots. You can use either a garden fork or a walk-behind aerator to accomplish the job.

Fertilizing

You should have cut back on the fertilizer in later summer, but now is a good time to give your landscaping another mix. Fertilizing in the fall will help encourage root growth, so you have a green lawn earlier in the spring.

One more mow

Fall can be a happy or sad time for you, depending on how you feel about mowing. If you like mowing, sorry, but you should only do one more mow until spring rolls around. If you don’t care for mowing, then congratulations, you’re done until spring! One more mow will give your lawn the shorter grass it needs to avoid disease.

Rake/blow leaves

Sunlight won’t be able to get to soil that is covered by leaves. You’ll want to make sure to rake or blow away the leaves so your lawn gets all the sunlight it can before winter comes about. You can either discard of these leaves or collect them to use as compost next year.

Plant shrubs

Give your shrubs a head start and plant shrubs as soon as possible. This way, you’ll allow them an earlier start in establishing roots in cool, moist soil.

Looking for a local to Strasburg home landscaping company? Call Root’s Nurseries now at 717-898-0041 or Request a Free Estimate.

Manheim Garden Center's August Hours

Summer is almost over, and Root's Nurseries, a Manheim Garden Center, is now on August hours. We're now open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; and closed on Sundays. Stop in to see us and our retail plant center!

Summer Landscaping Tips

Summer has arrived in Central PA! While you're outside enjoying the warm weather, you can also spend more time enjoying and working on your landscape. This season is a good one for completing some of those landscaping projects you've been hoping to tackle, and also a good one for sitting outside, surrounding yourself with your hard work, and relaxing. We've put together a few summer landscaping tips for those who are ready to make some changes to their property.

Add more foilage. Flowering plants can be very visually appealing. Adding some to your yard can instantly upgrade the look and increase your curb appeal.

Fertilize your lawn. If you want your grass to grow to its potential, start up regular fertiziler treatments, and be sure your lawn is getting the right amount of water. Both will go a long way in making sure your lawn is healthy and beautiful.

Experiment with layouts. Not a big fan of traditional landscaping looks? Come up with some of your own ideas, test them out in smaller sections of your property, and if you like the way they look, expand them to include your entire landscape.

Ready to transform your yard? Stop by our Manheim garden center to look at our selection today!

Latest Special: 20% off Fruit Trees & Edible Berry Plants

Looking to add a delicious new addition to your landscape? Root's Nurseries, a Manheim garden center that has been in business over a century, is now offering a special discount on all fruit trees and edible berry plants. Whether you're looking to add an apple tree, a cherry tree, or a blackberry bush, Root's has these trees and plants, plus many more at 20% off.

Fruit trees and berry plants can make great additions to your backyard, allowing you to grow and consume your own fruits without having to make a trip to the grocery store. They can also be very visually attractive, particularly when in full bloom and when the fruits are at their prime. Such trees and plants can do a lot to increase the curb appeal of your home.

Ready to take advantage of this 20% discount and add a fruit tree or berry plant to your property? Visit our plant center today at 2631 Lancaster Road in Manheim, PA. You can also ask about availability by giving us a call at (717) 898-0041.

On sale this month: Zelkova Village Green

Looking to save on something from our Lancaster area nursery this month? You can now pick up a Zelkova Village Green tree, a shade tree, at 30% off.



The Village Green is a variety of the Zelkova tree, and can reach heights as tall as 50 to 60 feet. In warm weather, it shows off its dark green leaves, before they turn a rust red color in the fall. The Zelkova family of trees is native to Japan, but will grow just fine in your yard and will look fantastic as a new addition to your landscape. And, thanks to our discount, you'll be able to take one of these home and plant it at a 30% discount!

What are you waiting for? Stop by the nursery today and check out the trees and plants we have available. Or, if you have questions, give us a call at (717) 898-0041.