As you plan your garden this year, think not only about varieties of flowers but the containers you plant them in. All great gardens begin with a backdrop of greenery highlighted with splashes of color. Containers, window boxes and garden accent sticks are excellent ways to add a splash of color and unique character to your plan. The added touch of playful garden accent sticks can really add charm on a cloudy day. Our growing season is short so don’t be afraid to express yourself with colorful containers packed full of tall, medium and trailing plants to make them “overflow” with vibrancy.

The choice for containers is wide and varied these days.  Shape, size and color accents are all things you should take into consideration when selecting your container. Placement of your container should be carefully considered, even debated when it comes to buying. If shopped wisely, great deals can be had on all sizes of planters all throughout the season. These are great investments that last a long time if cared for properly.

 Caring for your plants:

• If you’re planting an oversized container, plug the bottom of it with plastic milk containers, pop cans and other filler type items. This will reduce the soil volume and make it lighter to move.
• Start your containers with Pahl’s premium potting soil. It is light and loamy; able to take in moisture and nutrients. Our premium mix is also filled with slow release fertilizer so your plants are healthy and vibrant throughout the growing season.
• Choose plants that address your sun exposure and your plant’s watering needs.
• All the rest is just a colorful spectrum!

 Pahl’s Market has the greatest variety of plant containers in the entire Twin Cities area. You’ll be delighted to have volumes to choose from when looking for that “perfect” container to start your gardening plan off right.  We look forward to seeing you at Pahl’s.

The growth rate can range from slow to fast. Although a fast growing tree may be desirable it might not always be the best choice. A fast growing tree may have some undesirable characteristics. Many of the fast growing trees available inMinnesota, have shallow root structure and weaker wood.  The moderate to slow growing trees have many satisfying characteristics, such as deeper root structure and stronger wood, that will help the tree thrive for a long life. Apply a simple rule of thumb; don’t be tempted to select a plant that provides a quick fix. 

Plant tolerances are very important when selecting a tree for your site. Choose a tree that tolerates the site’s environmental factors. An area that’s impacted by winter de-icing salts should be planted with salt tolerant trees or should be avoided altogether. Areas with heavy soils and poor drainage should be planted with moisture tolerant species. 

The hardiness number indicates the trees ability to survive the temperature extremes of a particular region. Our hardiness zone in the Twin Cities is 4. The trees are tested and given a number that indicates the zone in which it will survive and thrive.  Choose a tree with a hardiness zone of 2, 3 or 4 and look forward to seeing the tree as it continues to mature. 

The southern metro area typically has heavier soils with a higher percentage of clay. It may be best to select a tree that tolerates moist locations and heavy clay soils. Trees that fall in other categories, such as dry locations or harsh sites, may never reach their mature size or may simply limp through life. 

Site preparation is one of the most important parts of the tree planting process. The planting hole should be dug approximately twice as wide as the soil ball. The sides of the hole should be roughened or loosened up which will help the tree root faster. The depth of the hole should be approximately 1 to 2 inches less than the soil ball. This will stop water from ponding next to the base of the tree.    

The knowledgeable staff at Pahl’s Market will help to select trees that best fit your site.  Stop in today to stroll through our nursery filled with a fantastic selection of trees and shrubs to meet all your spring landscaping needs.

Spring Snow Crabapple

Springtime, the days get longer and the anticipation of a great new year is on the horizon.  We have had plenty of time to fix and manufacture new equipment over the course of the winter.  So what is our spring plan on the farm?

1)      We have our soil tests in hand so we are familiar with what we need to put down as far as fertilization.

2)      We vow not to go into our fields when they are too wet.  WHY?  Because soil compaction is a sure bet to yield reduction and inconsistent production.

3)      Our planters have been gone thru with a fine tooth comb to ensure great seed spacing and consistent depth throughout all of our planters.

So we are off to the races.  Here is a schedule of what the farm side of our operation will be doing in the next 6 weeks:

Now:  
-Planting sweet corn, 1^st batch…we will plant a batch a week up until July 1^st
-Planting our cabbage transplants (400,000) from the greenhouse
-Seeding Cabbage direct in the field
-Planting our first Green Beans – then we will plant a batch a week up until July 10^th
-Planting Field Corn

May 10^th:
-Plant ½ of our winter squash direct seed, Indian corn, soybeans

May 15^th:
-Plant our peppers (200,000) from the greenhouse, tomatoes, cucumbers – we will plant 3 plantings of  cucumbers, 2 weeks apart.

May 20^th-30^th:
-The other ½ of winter squash, pumpkins, gourds

Have fun and don’t forget your hoe for the garden…..weeds always come up!

September 22, 2012
1-6 p.m.
$25 in advance
$30 at the door

Tickets on sale at www.pahls.com/store

Pamper your palate in one of the coolest spots in the south suburbs at Pahl’s Market Fall Festival.

Top-shelf talent from around Minnesota’s gourmet scene, as well as live musical guests for a September Saturday of up-close and personal hands-on foodie experiences. From grilling veggies to mummania sensations. Spoil yourself with the sights, sounds and laid-back flavor only Pahl’s Market can offer.

Everyone here at Pahl’s Market wants to wish you and your MOM a very special Mother’s Day.  We are a fifth generation farm celebrating 30 years of business at our market location in Apple Valley. We know the importance of having a family friendly business here for you.

In honor of Mothers, we have a lovely selection of pink pottery.  For each piece of pink pottery sold, we donate 30% to Piper Breast Center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.  We help those dealing with breast cancer each time we see a beautiful pink planter leave our store.

This month we are excited to tell you about a couple of lovely lilacs.  “Bloomerang” is a great purple variety that will re-bloom for you in our zone 4 climate.  It is only 4 to 5 feet wide and grows no more than 5 feet tall so is very well mannered in smaller spaces.  This lilac will also do well in zone 3 so if you have a cabin up north it would work well there also. 

Bloomerang Lilac

Our second featured lilac is called “Tinkerbelle.”  This charmer is pink and is 4 to 5 feet wide and grows 5 to 6 feet tall. Also hardy to zone 3, it is very reliable both here and further north.

Speaking of Tinkerbelle—we have a wonderful fairy garden to share with you in our greenhouse.  We call it, “Gardening with Imagination!”  Stop in and see what we have created.  We think you will be inspired to make your very own creation. We have stocked up on all kinds of fairies, accent pieces and miniature plants for you to choose from while you let your imagination soar.

As May brings out the gardening excitement in all of us, we look forward to greeting you again.  Our knowledgeable staff is ready to help with all your gardening needs. Give the gift of a garden in a basket.  Mothers everywhere are hoping for a little extra love on their special day. Pahl’s Market can provide beautiful flowers that will bring a smile to her face all summer long. 

Don’t forget….Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th.  Pick from our endless selection of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, potted plants, roses, pottery and much, much more.  If your MOM is hard to buy for, we have a simple solution with a Pahl’s Gift Card.  See you at Pahl’s!

Photo Title:  At Peace
 
Additional Information:  This was taken at the cemetery located at Fish Lake Lutheran Church in Stark ,MN

Season:  Fall   

Name:  Michelle Crain

Home:  Ham Lake, Minnesota

Photo Title:  Mona and Friend
 
Additional Information:  Here is my Summer image. This image was taken late last summer. We actually raised these beauties from tiny little caterpillars. I am a licensed daycare provider and we try to do this every year, we were really lucky last year and were able to watch about 12 tiny little caterpillars turn into very fat happy caterpillars, to creating their chrysalis to finally breaking free as beautiful Monarch butterflies! These two stuck around for about 2 hours on my Hydrangea tree, made for great photo opportunities! Image taken September 12, 2011 in Burnsville, MN.

Season:  Summer

Name:  DiEtte Henderson

Home Address:  Burnsville, Minnesota

Photo Title:  Nature’s Frosting

Season:  Winter 

Name:  Patti Smith
 
Home:  Lakeville, Minnesota

Cherry Star Calibrachoa

Description:
Abundant, small petunia-like flowers all season on cascading growth; low maintenance.

Height: 6-10″
Spacing: 8-10″
Flower Color: Red
Exposure: Sun