Landscapers Kick Off Season with 

 UNH Cooperative Extension 



BY ALLYSON BREHM 



Over 40 landscapers partici- 

 pated in two day-long 

 events in early March 

 designed to inspire and get them 

 ready for the upcoming season. 



The program for the Spring 

 Kick-off tor Landscapers offered a 

 variety of workshops on water 

 gardening, weeds in turf, plant dis- 

 ease, perennials and dwarf conifers. 

 Coordinating the event were UNH 

 Cooperative Extension Specialist 

 for Ornamental Horticulture Cathy 

 Neal, Merrimack County Extension 

 Educator David Seavey (who retired 

 April 1) and Strafford County Ex- 

 tension Educator Geoffrey Njue. 



The kick off is part of a larg- 

 er effort to reach landscapers on a 



regional level, said Neal. The plan- 

 ning committee will be looking into 

 the possibility of adding an addi- 

 tional location up north next year, 

 she added. 



Seavey said he likes to oiler hands 

 on activities so that the landscap- 

 ers can participate. Similar kick-off 

 events have been offered lor the past 

 three years in Merrimack County. 



One ol the workshops only of- 

 lered in Merrimack County was 

 taught by John Lyons, owner of Ly- 

 ons's Family Nursery and focused on 

 Dwarf Conifers. 



Lyons does not consider himself 

 an expert on dwart conifers. A col- 

 lege professor by profession, Lyons 

 has made a hobby and business of 



dwart conifers. Many in the Mer- 

 rimack County conference room 

 would have disagreed. 



Doug Thompson, owner ot 

 Thompson's Lawn Care in Concord 

 was one. "John was extremely infor- 

 mative," he said. "Next time I do a 

 project that require conifers I will 

 remember his nursery for materials." 



Twenty-five years ago, Lyons was 

 walking in the woods on his proper- 

 ty in Newbury when one ot his New 

 England College students, whose 

 family owned a landscaping business 

 in New York, noticed a perfect co- 

 nifer specimen growing naturally. "I 

 would pay $75 for a bush like that 

 in New York," the student said. 



John Lyon's 

 Favorite Dwarf Conifers 



Picea abies 'PENDULA' The Weeping Nor- 

 way Spruce. This one has a nice charac- 

 ter, branches and branchlets are gracefully 

 pendulous. It has a rougher te.xture and is 

 very natural looking. Good for larger area. 

 Prefers full sun. H;/w: depends on training. 



Picea pungens — Colorado Spruce 'MONT- 

 GO.MERY' This miniature, very compact 

 form is slow growing and will grow slightly 

 taller than wide with a broad pyramidal 

 habit. The color is a nice bright greyish- 

 blue. It originated as a seedling and was 

 developed by Eastern Nursery before 19.^4 

 under the name Picea pungens 'Glauca 

 Compacta Globose,' Boy what a mouth- 

 ful! This plant was obtained by Col. R. H. 

 Montgomery who donated it to the New 

 York Botanic Garden where it still grows to- 

 day. Great selection for the small garden! 

 The difference between this and R pungens 

 'Globosa' is this one will eventually develop 



TsiiCA — Hemlock Gentch White' 



a central leader and grow somewhat up- 

 right. This will take many many years. Full 

 sun. H;2' W 2' 



Pinus Mugo 'HORSFORD This nice bun- 

 shaped miniature plant with light green 

 needles was a selection made by Greg Wil- 

 liams of Kate Brook Nursery of Vermont. 

 It is one of the best of the dwarf, tight, 

 globose types and makes a great selection 

 for the small garden area. Full sun is best. 

 H;2' W:2' 



Tsuga— Hemlock 'GENTCH WHITE' (white 

 tip group) This one forms a nicely shaped 

 globose to mounding bush with silver-white 

 tips. Some annual shearing is advised for 

 compactness and a more intense color but 

 the color is brightest in the fall. Does best 

 in partial shade. Discovered by Otto Gentsch 

 of West Merrick, L. I.. NY. H:2' W:2' 



22 



The I'laiilsmaii 



