The Great Watering Debate
To water or not to water, that is the question! Most homeowners take this question to heart as they watch their green lawn turn brown during the drought of a typical Wisconsin summer. If you’re facing this same question, don’t fret! Here are some points of discussion as you make your decision.
- A lawn that has browned due to hot, dry weather is not dead but only dormant. It will return to its lush green appearance with the return of cooler, moister fall weather. A brown summer lawn doesn’t necessarily mean a neglected lawn.
- No amount of mid-summer watering will make your bluegrass lawn look as it did in spring.
- If you decide to continue watering, continue to water as long as the heat and drought persist.
- Most lawns require one inch of water per week through the summer. This includes rainfall that has soaked into the soil as well. More may be required in times of intense heat.
- One deep watering per week is best when compared to more frequent light waterings.
- If possible, water early in the morning. Not only does this conserve water, but it also limits disease that is spread when grass blades stay wet all night.
- Lawns mowed to a height a of greater than 2.5 inches require less water through the summer than closely shorn lawns
Don’t forget that The Vande Hey Company does install irrigation systems so you can set it and forget it all summer long and still enjoy lush lawns. Stop in to meet with one of our associates or give us a call at 920-788-6344 to set up an appointment today!
The decision to water is solely yours.
Employee Spotlight: Jessie Cousineau
After graduating from UW-Milwaukee with a degree in Architecture, she pursued a masters degree in in Landscape Architecture at the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, Jessie joined the landscape design team at the Vande Hey Company.
Jessie brings in-depth knowledge of sustainability, design and aesthetic sensibility, and a high proficiency in 3D modeling, AutoCAD, and the Adobe Suite.
Jessie loves all aspects of designing outdoor spaces and believes that landscape architecture has the power to create spaces and systems that enrich the lives of their users while enhancing environmental performance. She uses her rigorous masters' training as a source of inspiration in design, creating places that are meaningful, enduring, and beautiful.
She also draws upon her experience as a teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota to ensure environmentally sound designs. Currently at the Vande Hey Company, Jessie is a designer, doing site analysis, surveying, measuring, base plans, designs, and project management.
Jessie loves the outdoors and in her free time she likes to canoe, kayak, camp, and hike. She draws on her love of outdoor recreation in her designs.
Educational Background
- University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee: Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- University of Minnesota - Twin Cities: Masters in Landscape Architecture
- WILA - Women in Landscape Architecture
- University of Minnesota Founders Fund fellowship in Landscape Architecture
- Site Inventory
- Design Concept to Detail Development
- Graphic Design
- Residential Design
- Presentation Graphics
Plant of the Month: Blue Angel Hosta
Common Name: Blue Angel Hosta
Latin Name: Hosta ‘Blue Angel’
Family: Liliaceae
Native to: China, Japan
Height: 36” tall
Spread: 48”
Growth Habit: Mounded
Flower: White on 48” scape in July & August
Exposure: Partial shade to shade
Soil Preference: Well-drained, moist, .organic
Growth Rate: Medium
Pruning: When top growth has died back in autumn, trim for neatness as desired. Leave some top growth “stubble” for winter protection
The Blue Angel Hosta is known for it’s attractive, textured, heart-shaped leaves that emerge blue in the spring and turn a bluish-green throughout the season. These plants can be used as a border or in a rock garden and their slug-resistant foliage make them highly sought after. In July and August, white bell-shaped flowers rise on dainty spikes above these massive leaves.
Come in to the Vande Hey Company today to get a few of your very own!
Timeline of Events for Your Yard
Early July
- Stop harvesting asparagus and rhubarb.
- Don’t neglect vegetable garden; continue weed control.
- Water flower border once a week during dry periods.
- Spray or dust tomatoes for blight control.
Mid July
- Prune Yews, Junipers, and Arborvitae by mid July.
- Watch for rust on hollyhocks.
- Renovate old strawberry plantings when bearing is finished.
- Pick off dead flowers for attractive borders and blooms.
Late July
- Stop feeding roses and most perennials.
- Tie Dahlias to stakes.
- Keep lawn mown at 2 1/2” height.
- Make last granular fertilizer applications on woody plants.
- Watch for powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases on flowers and ornamentals.
Turf and Weed Care:
- Your lawn might turn brown and go dormant for a while due to the higher temperatures and lack of water. If you want to prevent dormancy, water your grass a minimum of 1” per week in deep, thorough watering.
- Watch for grub damage to your lawn. Some symptoms include thinning turf, or grass patches that appear droughty or dead. Treat only when there are 3-4 grubs per square foot.
- If you notice 2-4 inches of dead grass patches in your lawn, you may have billbug damage. Check the soil for these insects and treat in the spring with an insecticide specific for killing billbugs.
- Continue to pull weeds from your beds before they go to seed.
July “To Do” List:
- Divide iris plants every 3-5 years to rejuvenate them and clean out any borer infested plants.
- Plant ornamental kale by the end of the month. This will provide colorful foliage as many of the other bedding plants die back in fall.
- Fertilize non-hardy bulbs, bedding plants, and perennials for good leaf growth and flowering.
- Continue to “deadhead” annuals and perennials after flower blooms have faded.
- Visit local arboretums or botanical gardens to see what is in bloom that you might want in your garden.
- Cut back your old-fashioned bleeding heart if the leaves have turned yellow. Don’t worry - this garden favorite will be back next spring!
- Pinch back lavender, mums, and asters one last time at the beginning of the month. The mums and asters will form flower buds for fall blooming at the end of August.
- Cut back old stems of delphinium to encourage a flush of basal growth and a second flowering.
- Prune yews, arborvitae, juniper, spirea, and any other sheared shrubs you have in your landscape. Never prune any shrub more than 1/3 of its size! (for example, if a shrub is 6 feet tall, the most you can prune off is 2 feet)
- Go on any garden walks in the area, and be sure to bring a camera or sketch pad for ideas.
Schedule of Area Events:
For the Kids
· Garden Buds Club (GBBG - Green Bay Botanical Garden)
· Tuesdays, 10:00—11:30 AM (July 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th)
· Each week, youth gardeners will get their hands dirty by tending to their own 4'x5' garden plots. They'll plant seeds, weed and harvest, then cook some tasty garden snacks and learn about garden-related topics..
· Cost: $72/Members; $85/Non-Members
· Free Wednesday Evenings featuring Children’s Discovery Station (GBBG)
· Wednesdays, June 3rd—August 26th, 4:00—6:00 PM (Table) 4:00—8:00 (free admission to gardens)
· Stop by the Children's Garden from 4-6 pm for FREE, fun, hands-on activities your family can do at your own pace. Learn more about the world of horticulture and gain an appreciation for plants and nature. In case of inclement weather, activities will be held indoors.
· July 14th, 10:00—11:00 AM: G3 (Grandma, Grandpa, Grandchild): Backyard Edibles (Mosquito Hill, New London)
· Can your yard provide part of your next meal? We’ll be taking an easy walk on the nature center property in search of plants commonly found in your yard that are edible. Optional sampling of nature’s bounty will take place right on the spot.
· Cost: $3/Adult; $2/Child (Registration and payment due July 7th)
· July 14th—17th, 10:00 AM—2:00 PM: Nature Rangers: Animal Planet (1st & 2nd Grades) (Mosquito Hill, New London)
· Mosquito Hill is home to oodles of animals, from microscopic insects to tiny hummingbirds to big whitetail deer. All these critters have skills for finding food, building homes, and getting around. We’ll fish like heron, find nectar like honeybees, jump like frogs, build lodges like a beaver, and so much more!
· Cost: $60/Members; $65/Non-Members
· July 15th, 9:30 AM—3:30 PM: Summer Day Camp: Story Book Adventures (Ages 6-8) (GBBG)
· Bring the adventures of Dr. Seuss’s book The Lorax to life! Kids will explore the story through games and projects while learning about the effects of pollution and the importance of trees. They’ll also plant a Dr. Seuss inspired garden to take home!
· Cost: $30/Members; $40/Non-Members (Pre-registration required)
· July 16th, 9:30 AM—3:30 PM: Summer Day Camp: Story Book Adventure (Ages 9-12) (GBBG)
· Bring the adventures of Dr. Seuss’s book The Lorax to life! Kids will explore the story through games and projects while learning about the effects of pollution and the importance of trees. They’ll also plant a Dr. Seuss inspired garden to take home!
· Cost: $30/Members; $40/Non-Members (Pre-registration required)
· July 21st—24th, 10:00 AM—2:00 PM: Eco-Explorers: Wilderness Survival (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades) (Mosquito Hill, New London)
· How did hunters and gatherers survive living off the land so many years before cars, computers, and fast food? How would you do living in the wilderness today? We will learn how to build a shelter, create a small (safe) fire to keep warm, and search the land to learn what’s safe, and not safe, to eat. From food to tools to shelter, nature has it all.
· Cost: $60/Members; $65/Non-Members
· July 27th—31st, 9:30 AM—12:00 PM: Youth Summer Camp: Nature Explorers (Ages 6-8) (GBBG)
· Kids will get into nature with games, crafts and dirty adventures! We’ll explore all the nature the Garden has to offer from pond ecosystems and compost to vegetable gardens, birds, flowers and trees. New adventures each day make for a week full of fun!
· Cost: $65/Members; $85/Non-Members (Pre-registration required)
· July 28th—31st, 10:00 AM—2:00 PM: Eco-Explorers: Where the Wild Things Are (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades) (Mosquito Hill, New London)
· Insects and flowers in the prairie, squirrels and acorns in the forest, and frogs and logs in the pond. Wild things are all around us. Each day we will embark on a new and exciting adventure in the wilderness that surrounds us!
· Cost: $60/Members; $65/Non-Members
For the Family
· Farmer’s Market (Downtown Appleton)
· Wednesdays, June 3rd—September 30th, 2-6 PM
· Saturdays, June 20th—October 31st, 8:00 AM—12:30 PM
· Farmer’s Market (Shattuck Park, Neenah)
· Saturdays June 20th—October 17th, 8:00 AM—12:00 PM
· Menasha Farm Fresh Market (Marina Terrace, Downtown Menasha)
· Thursdays, June 12th—October 30th, 2:00—6:00 PM
· Cookouts at the Garden (GBBG)
· Wednesdays, June 3rd—August 26, 11:00 AM—1:00 PM
· Includes choice of hamburger, brat, chicken sandwich, or hot dog, 2 snacks (chips, granola bar, or cookie) and a beverage PLUS free admission to the Garden
· Produce used for cookout will be grown at the Gardens in partnership w/ Northeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association
· Cost: $5/GBBG Members; $9/Non-Members.
· July 13th, 6:00—8:00 PM: Garden to Table—Granola Bars (GBBG)
· Discover the many plants we eat while you improve your skills as both a gardener and cook. Help in the garden, harvest fresh produce, and prepare a healthy snack! This cooking class is designed for families with children of all ages. There are 4 different sessions to learn to cook something new each time!
· Cost: $13/Member families ($45 for the series); $17/Non-Member families ($60 for series)
· July 14th, 5:30—7:00 PM: VHC Grilling Event
· Be our guest at our next grilling event! Sample delicious faire from the lines of grills we offer and learn from company representatives how to grill to perfection. Enjoy complementary wine tasting as you savor these unbelievable flavors!
· Cost: Free!
· July 15th—19th: Fond du Lac County Fair (Martin Road, Fond du Lac)
· July 16th—19th: Kewaunee County Fair (Kewaunee County Fairgrounds, Luxemburg)
· July 17th—19th: Paperfest (Sunset Park, Kimberly)
· Friday: 5:45 PM—1:00 AM
· Saturday: 9:00 PM—1:00 AM
· Sunday: 11:00 AM—7:30 PM
· July 21st-26th: Outagamie County Fair (637 N Main St, Seymour)
· July 26th, 9:00 AM—4:00 PM: Art at the Park (City Park, Appleton)
· Cost: Free
· July 27th, 6:00—8:00 PM: Garden to Table—Zucchini Fries and Chips (GBBG)
· Discover the many plants we eat while you improve your skills as both a gardener and cook. Help in the garden, harvest fresh produce, and prepare a healthy snack! This cooking class is designed for families with children of all ages. There are 4 different sessions to learn to cook something new each time!
· Cost: $13/Member families ($45 for the series); $17/Non-Member families ($60 for series)
· July 29th—August 2nd: Door County Fair (John Miles Fair Park—812 North 14th Ave, Sturgeon Bay)
For the Adults
· Cookouts at the Garden (GBBG)
· Wednesdays, June 3rd—August 26, 11:00 AM—1:00 PM
· Includes choice of hamburger, brat, chicken sandwich, or hot dog, 2 snacks (chips, granola bar, or cookie) and a beverage PLUS free admission to the Garden
· Produce used for cookout will be grown at the Gardens in partnership w/ Northeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners Association
· Cost: $5/GBBG Members; $9/Non-Members.
· Farmer’s Market (Downtown Appleton)
· Wednesdays, June 3rd—September 30th, 2-6 PM
· Saturdays, June 20th—October 31st, 8:00 AM—12:30 PM
· Farmer’s Market (Shattuck Park, Neenah)
· Saturdays June 20th—October 17th, 8:00 AM—12:00 PM
· Menasha Farm Fresh Market (Marina Terrace, Downtown Menasha)
· Thursdays, June 12th—October 30th, 2:00—6:00 PM
· July 11th, 10:00 AM—5:00 PM: Homeless Connections’ 25th Annual Garden Walk
· Cost:
· General Admission: $15 from retailers throughout Northeast Wisconsin, $20 on day of walk
· VIP: $75 (Includes a coach bus tour, lunch, and a personal guided tour of each of the gardens by a local Master Gardener)
· 9 Gardens throughout the Fox Cities
· All proceeds go toward programs and services offered by Homeless Connections
· Rain or Shine!
· July 14th, 5:30—7:00 PM: VHC Grilling Event
· Be our guest at our next grilling event! Sample delicious faire from the lines of grills we offer and learn from company representatives how to grill to perfection. Enjoy complementary wine tasting as you savor these unbelievable flavors!
· Cost: Free!
· July 14th, 6:00—7:30 PM: All About Perennials (GBBG)
· Whether you’re a new gardener planning your first perennial bed, or an experienced gardener hoping to improve your existing plantings, this class can help make your green thumb even greener! Leo will guide you step by step through designing a perennial garden, choosing plants, preparing the beds, and maintaining your new garden.
· Cost: $14/Member; $23/Non-Member
· July 15th, 5:00—6:30 PM: Fragrant Garden Showcase (GBBG)
· Smell the roses and other blooming beauties during this fragrant Garden walk. Stroll through the Upper Level Rose Garden and the Kress Oval Garden to view the stunning fragrant summer blooming perennials including the numerous orienpet lilies and of course, roses!
· Cost: $9/Members; $18/Non-Members
· July 15th—19th: Fond du Lac County Fair (Martin Road, Fond du Lac)
· July 16th—19th: Kewaunee County Fair (Kewaunee County Fairgrounds, Luxemburg)
· July 17th—19th: Paperfest (Sunset Park, Kimberly)
· Friday: 5:45 PM—1:00 AM
· Saturday: 9:00 PM—1:00 AM
· Sunday: 11:00 AM—7:30 PM
· July 20th, 6:00—7:30 PM: Canning Traditions: You CAN Do It! (GBBG)
· Explore the basics of food preservation and learn the many canned products one can make from the summer harvest. From juice to salsa, Judy Knudsen will share her tried-and-true recipes and tips for simplifying the canning process. Research regarding steam canners has been completed at the University of WI-Madison and Information on using this piece of equipment will also be shared.
· Cost: $9/Members; $18/Non-Members
· July 21st, 6:00—7:30 PM: Growing Blueberries in Containers (GBBG)
· Rich in antioxidants, blueberries are one of the most popular berry crops among gardeners. Learn the simple technique of growing blueberries in a soil-less media container that can produce successful results! Learn the soil-less media recipe, cultivar selections and general blueberry maintenance in this informative class.
· Cost: $9/Members; $18/Non-Members
· July 21st-26th: Outagamie County Fair (637 N Main St, Seymour)
· July 26th, 9:00 AM—4:00 PM: Art at the Park (City Park, Appleton)
· Cost: Free
· July 28th, 6:00—8:00 PM: Fresh from the Farmer’s Market (GBBG)
· Struggling with creative ways to utilize the fresh produce you picked up at the farmer’s market? Join Leslie as she prepares a variety of dishes with freshly harvested foods from the farmer’s market. Bring your appetite; participants will learn how to prepare the recipes and sample them during class.
· Cost: $18/Members; $27/Non-Members
· July 28th, 7:00—9:00 PM: Moonlight Photography (GBBG)
· The beauty of moonlit nights combined with the splendor of the Garden make for a fantastic evening of photos and fun. This class is designed for amateur photographers who want to develop their nighttime photography skills through hands-on guidance and personal instruction. Digital SLR camera and tripod required.
· Cost: $16/Members; $25/Non-Members
· July 29th, 6:00—7:30 PM: Mid-Summer Garden Maintenance (GBBG)
· The flowers are planted, containers are blooming and weeds are pulled… now what? Proper watering, fertilizing, deadheading, staking, seasonal pruning and mulching practices can make the difference between a healthy, well-kept garden and a landscape that gets ahead of you. Learn how to make your garden succeed through the entire growing season in this informative class. Please dress for the weather as a portion of the class will be outside to look at examples in the Garden.
· Cost: $9/Members; $18/Non-Members
· July 29th—August 2nd: Door County Fair (John Miles Fair Park—812 North 14th Ave, Sturgeon Bay)
