Seasonal

Espoma: Trusted For Generations

Whether you love the fresh taste of homegrown vegetables,

the beauty of colorful flower beds, or the year-round appeal of

 evergreen shrubs, give your plants the natural nutrition they

deserve with the Espoma Organic Tone family of fertilizers.

Trusted by gardeners for generations, Espoma has been a

 pioneer in natural and organic plant foods since 1929, helping

plants thrive through environmentally responsible gardening

practices. Formulated with long-lasting natural organics, natural

 proteins, and Bio-tone beneficial microbes, these fertilizers provide

  slow, steady feeding that promotes strong roots, lush green foliage,

 vibrant blooms, and abundant harvests while enriching the soil

 with valuable organic matter and supporting beneficial microbial

 activity. Naturally low in salts, Espoma Organic fertilizers won't

 burn plants when used as directed, making them a safe and

effective choice for gardens of all types. Stop by today and explore

 our new selection of Espoma Organic fertilizers, including All

Purpose Plant-tone, Rose-tone, Tree-tone, Azalea-tone,

Bio-tone Starter, and Garden-tone, and find the perfect

 formula to help your garden thrive naturally.

Blueberry Bliss

July is National Blueberry Month! Established in 2003 by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, National Blueberry Month celebrates

one of North America’s most beloved native fruits. Blueberries have

 grown wild across the continent for thousands of years and were

 enjoyed by Indigenous peoples long before commercial cultivation

 began. In the early 1900s, the pioneering work of Elizabeth White

 and Frederick Coville helped transform blueberries from a wild harvest

 into the cultivated crop we know today. There’s no better time to

celebrate this remarkable fruit than during July, when blueberry

 season is at its peak. Blueberry plants are easy to grow, highly

productive, and provide year-round beauty with delicate spring

 blossoms, delicious summer fruit, and brilliant fall color. Whether

 planted in the garden, incorporated into an edible landscape, or

grown in containers on a patio, blueberries offer something for

every gardener. Choose from old favorites like ‘Draper’, ‘Earliblue’,

and ‘Darrow’, or try newer varieties such as ‘Cabernet Splash’ and

 ‘Sapphire Cascade’. Stop by McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery this month to

 explore our selection of blueberry varieties and let our knowledgeable

 staff help you choose the perfect plants for

 years of fresh, homegrown harvests.

Hummingbirds In The Garden

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we're fortunate to enjoy the

company of our resident Anna's hummingbird, along with migrating

 visitors from faraway places. These energetic little birds are true

 jewels of the garden, flashing brilliant colors as they dart from

 blossom to blossom, sipping nectar from their favorite flowers.

 Hummingbirds create remarkable, teacup-sized nests woven

 from moss, dried flowers, cattail fluff, fine grasses, and other

 lightweight, pliable materials, all held together with strong, stretchy

 spider silk that allows the nests to expand as the chicks grow and

 makes repairs easy throughout the nesting season. Their tiny nests

 are carefully tucked high among tree branches, securely nestled in

  the natural contours of the limbs. Highly territorial, hummingbirds

 often return to the same nesting site year after year, patching

 and rebuilding their nests to provide a safe haven for the next

 generation. With all that flying, these busy birds have hearty

appetites, and fortunately, our gardens offer an abundance of

 nectar-rich plants they love, including Rudbeckia, Penstemon,

Monarda, and many more. Stop by and chat with our friendly

staff about adding these hummingbird favorites to your garden,

 and enjoy the beauty and excitement of these

 dazzling birds all season long.

Tropical Flair

Bring a touch of the tropics to your landscape this season

by incorporating plants celebrated for their bold foliage and

 vibrant color. Successful tropical-inspired plantings often

 rely on contrast, pairing large-leaved specimens with finely

 textured fronds or strap-like foliage to create balance and

visual interest. Consider adding favorites such as Podophyllum,

  Caladium, Heuchera, Hardy Schefflera, Coleus, and Fatsia

 to partially shaded containers, mixed borders, or focal garden

 beds. These versatile plants provide exceptional texture,

color, and structure, creating a lush, vibrant display that

brings exotic appeal to the garden throughout

 the summer months.

Cool Canopies

A shade tree is one of the best long-term investments you can

make in your landscape, providing cooling relief in summer while

adding beauty, structure, and seasonal interest for years to come

 In the Puget Sound region, many deciduous trees thrive in our

 mild climate. Japanese Maple varieties such as 'Bloodgood', 'Omato',

 and 'Tobiosho' offer graceful form, filtered shade, and spectacular

 fall color, making them excellent choices for smaller gardens. The

 Katsura Tree is beloved for its heart-shaped leaves, golden autumn

 color, and sweet caramel-like fragrance in fall. 'Persian Spire' and

'Vanessa' Parrotia provide exceptional multi-colored fall displays,

 attractive bark, and adaptable growth habits. For larger landscapes,

 'Red Sunset' Maple and 'October Glory' Maple are outstanding shade

 trees, prized for their rapid growth, strong canopies, and brilliant shades

 of orange, scarlet, and crimson each autumn, along with Red Oak, a

 classic long-lived shade tree known for its strong branching habit

and deep russet to red fall color. Whether you're creating a shady

 retreat, enhancing curb appeal, or planting for future generations,

the right shade tree will transform your landscape and

 provide enjoyment throughout every season.  Come in today

and see our huge collection of these important additions to

the landscape.

July To-Do List

Stake and support your fruit trees,

tomatoes and beans, as well as tall

flowers like delphiniums

 and crocosmia.

Fertilize your roses and other

 flowering shrubs and

  perennials with Espoma Rose Tone

 Fertilizer is uniquely formulated to

 encourage lush foliage and

 bountiful blooms.

Fertilize your hanging baskets and

Flowering containers with

Tiger Bloom Liquid

  Fertilizer.

Deadhead your perennials and annuals

 to encourage continued flowering.

Aphids and other damaging insects have

returned. We recommend Neem Oil

Spray, which is safe and effective at

keeping their population from

growing and damaging 

 your garden.

Start another crop of cilantro and

 Lettuce, if yours have bolted.

Continue to feed your vegetable garden.

We recommend slow-release

organic fertilizer,

 Espoma Garden Tone.

Turn your compost bin as you introduce

 new trimmings to the pile.

We recommend staying on top of slug

 and snail control with pet-friendly

 & environmentally safe Sluggo.

Mulch around your plants provides a layer

of insulation during the cold winter

months and reduces water loss during the

heat of summer. G&B Soil Conditioner

 will offer nutrition, insulation

 and improve the soil texture.