At Gale’s Westlake We Keep You Growing! With Tips from On-Staff Experts “Is there a place in your yard where you’ve had absolutely no success growing plants? A spot that is just too shady, too many roots from other plants or maybe too hot and dry? Try installing a water feature, a fountain, or an above ground pool surrounded by stone. Create an exciting refuge out of stubborn areas!“ - Rick Miralia, Master Ohio Certified Nursery Technician, Nursery Department Head. “Our South Lot area where we house our perennial, vegetables and herbs has gotten a much needed addition – a shade hut. The new addition will allow us to expand our shade perennial line. We will not only have the traditional favorites like hostas, ferns, lamiums, astilbes and ajuga but now we will have perennials like heucheras, pulmonarias, brunnera cimicifuga, epidium, tiarella and more. The selections are now endless.” - Melinda Pariza,Ohio Certified Garden Center Technician, Greenhouse Department Head “The use of submergible and floating aquatic plants helps keep pond water clean and free of green water algae. The submergible plants live under the surface and compete with green water algae for available nutrients in the water. This helps to keep the pond clear and reoxygenates the water. The use of floating plants will help to maintain water quality. The roots of the plants help to remove dissolved mineral salts and other nutrients directly from the water. They also provide shade which will help to block the sunlight that the green algae need to live. Floating plants also add interest to ponds and water gardens with texture, color and beautiful blooms. ” - David Farr, Master Ohio Certified Nursery Technician, Nursery Staff “Azalea Lacebug is a fairly new pest to this area. These insects feed primarily on Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Andromeda. The eggs are either inserted into the veins of leaves or attached to a leaf with a brown or black crusty material. In this area the eggs hatch before the end of May. At least two generations can hatch each year. The damage that is caused by the adult stage of the Azalea Lacebug looks like white spots on the surface of the leaves resembling the kind of damage done by mites. However, Lacebug damage leaves dark shiny spots on the underside of leaves as well. To control the insect apply a systemic insecticide such as Isotox or Orthenex once a month from May through September.” - Jerry O’Brien, Ohio Certified Nursery Technician, Nursery Staff With this issue, Gale’s Westlake welcomes and congratulates our newest Ohio Certified Nursery Technician, Jerry O’Brien. We look forward to hearing from him in seasons to come.