- How do I care for my lawn?
- Where is Varnell Nursery?
- Why doesn't my Crape Myrtle bloom better?
- Who is the Varnell Nursery Landscape Designer? ?
- What is the hardiness zone for this area?
- When is the best time to plant a tree?
- If you need an answer to specific plant or landscaping questions, please contact us.
Starting a New Lawn:
Lime soil with pelletized lime at the rate of 40-50lbs. per 1000sq.ft. (every two years is recommended).
For especially hard or clay type soils, apply pelletized gypsum at the rate of 40-50lbs. per 1000sq.ft.
Apply a blended Fescue seed at the rate of 10lbs. per 1000sq.ft. (fall is the best time).
Apply a New Lawn Starter after seeding to help develop a strong root systems.
Spread a thin layer of wheat straw to conserve moisture and to prevent erosion.
Mow lawn with mower blade raised to a high setting when grass blades reach about 6 inches. Never cut more than 1/3 of grass blade when mowing. Ideal mowing height is about 4 inches.
After lawn is established, follow a regular maintenance program by applying quality lawn care products.
Caring for Established Lawns:
Late Winter (Feb.): Apply Crabgrass Preventer plus Lawn Food to established lawns only. For the prevention of both grassy and broadleaf weeds, apply Lawn Food plus Crabgrass and Weed Preventer. (Lawn must be established for one year before using Crabgrass Preventers!) If lawn is not yet established, feed with a quality Slow Release Lawn Food.
Spring (April): Apply Weed Out plus Lawn Fertilizer to kill any broadleaf weeds such as Dandelion and Clover.
Late Spring (May): To prevent diseases during especially wet weather combined with mild night temperatures, apply quality Lawn Fungicide granules.
Summer (June): Re-apply Crabgrass Preventer plus Lawn Food.
Late Summer (July-Aug.): Feed lawn with a quality Slow Release Lawn Food for a long lasting, dark green lawn.
Fall (Oct.-Nov.): Feed lawn with a a quality Winterizer fertilizer to increase winter hardiness. If over-seeding is necessary, spread fescue at the rate of 5 lbs. per 1000sq.ft. Apply New Lawn Starter with new seed instead of Winterizer.]
Varnell Nursery is located at 3355 South Lee Highway (Highway 11), 1.5 miles south of the APD 40 Cleveland bypass. The easiest way to reach us is to get off at I75, exit 20. Turing toward Cleveland, travel 1.3 miles and turn right onto South Lee Highway. If you can not locate us, call 423-472-1842.]
Crape Myrtles require at least six (6) hours of full sun to perform at their best. They should be fertilized with a complete, slow release nitrogen product in the Spring and Fall (1/2 the amount used in Spring). In additiion, they should be treated with Super Phosphate in February and June. Prune off only the spent blooms in the late Fall or early Spring, and you should have abundant blooms.
Their are several employees at Varnell who can assist customers with designs. The principal designer, however, is the Nursery Owner, Tim Davis. Mr. Davis is an acclaimed, much sought after designer, who has designed some of the more noticeable landscapes in this area.
This area occupies an unusually small micro climate that is Zone 7 (5 to 10 degrees F). We are surrounded on three sides by Zone 6 (-5 to 5 degrees F).
In this area, you can plant any time the ground is not frozen. This allows a much better opportunity to plant when it is convienent for you. If you had to select a time to plant, it would generally be in the early fall season. There are several reasons for this; not the least of which is comfort of the planter. The plant material will have a longer, less stressful period in which to develop a good root system. | 
