Sharon Business Spotlight: American Landscape at Sharon-View Nursery

American Landscape at Sharon-View Nursery on South Main Street has been a staple in the Sharon Community for more than 35 years.

Upon entering, patrons are treated with an enchanted garden filled with flowering trees and garden sculptures. Cats roam the grounds, while goats, dogs and ducks stay back at the main house with it's man-made lake. The large green house is complete with a waterfall and koi pond.

Jim Zappo, the principal of this family-run business, has had many years in the media, teaching others about gardening. Zoppo is a pioneer in organic gardening methods and was a popular radio host for 15 years with his own radio talk show called the Jim Zoppo Garden Show which ran on major stations in Boston. He also worked with print media to promote such publications as People Places and Plants, Mother Earth News and Organic Gardening.

Sharon Patch sat down with Zoppo to learn more on how local residents can care for their gardens, as well as how to plant a tree and how to get that green thumb.

Sharon Patch: When you're planting a tree, just how big should the hole be?

Zoppo: The planting hole should be two to three times as wide as the diameter of the root ball and just deep enough so that the top of the root ball is at or slightly above the soil level.

Patch: What is the proper care to give to an Amaryllis after it has bloomed?

Zoppo: You can continue to grow the Amaryllis in bright light. It will benefit from being moved outdoors once the weather is warm enough. You will need to water and fertilize throughout the summer. Before the frost, bring it indoors and refrain from watering. This dormant period will last for one to two months. You can begin watering again when new growth from the bulb becomes evident.

Patch: What happens to daffodils that have beautiful flowers the first year and after that, nothing but greens?

Zoppo: This could be from lack of sunlight. Shade can increase over time as surrounding plants grow. If shade is not the factor, then the bulbs may have become buried too deep as mulch and soil levels have built up. Before the greens die back, gingerly lift the bulbs and replant to a depth of about 4 inches and fertilize with a 10-10-10 fertilizer.

Patch: Can you help our readers understand the terminology that is found in the analysis on grass seed packages?

Zoppo: The most common categories are:

• Purity - The percentage of each seed type labeled in the blend. This is merely an indication of quantity, not quality.
• Germination - The percentage of pure seed that is capable of growth.
• Crop - The percentage of seeds grown as an agricultural crop.
• Weeds - The percentage of seeds in a package that are not included in purity or crop.
• Noxious Weeds - The number of per pound or per ounce of weed seeds considered by a state because of difficulty to control.
• Inert - The percentage of material in the package that is in capable of growth.

Patch: When is the correct time to prune hydrangeas?

Zoppo: This would depend upon the variety of hydrangea. Hydrangea macrophylla (which includes the common Nikko Blue) and Hydrangea serrata bloom on tissue of the previous season and should be cut back immediately after flowering. Hydrangea arborescens , H. quercifolia and H. paniculata (PeeGee hydrangea) bloom on new wood and can be cut back when dormant, or after new growth appears at the base. Newer hybrids like Endless Summer bloom on both old and new growth.

Patch: What's the best way to get rid of those pesky inch worms that eat the leaves off my tree every spring?

Zoppo: Bacillus thuringiensis (sold as BT or "Thuricide") and Spinosad are two of the safest and most effective treatments. Both of these are derived from natural bacterium and are harmless to humans and most no-targeted insects. To use, simply mix the concentrate with water and spray on the foliage using a hose attached prayer. Within 48 hour of ingesting the treated foliage, the moth larvae will die. Be sure to apply at regular intervals throughout the hatching/feeding period.

American Landscape at Sharon-View Nurseries has recently renovated their garden center. Visit the local business online at www.american-landscape.com or contact Zoppo directly at jfzoppo@comcast.net.