Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/303615
By Kirsten Klahn Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD – Whether you're looking for gardening supplies, or hoping to find someone to landscape for you, the Brookfield area offers several great options. Simon's Gardens Simon's Gardens, 14780 W. Greenfield Ave., Brookfield, provides annuals, vegeta- bles, herbs, perennials and garden supplies for those hoping to plant their own garden. The garden center also provides flats of flow- ers, hanging baskets, seeds and flower pots during the spring. Simon's Gardens focuses on quality and customer feedback, said Chris Simon, who operates Simon's Gar- dens. "At Simon's, we are pro- ducing all of our herb and vegetables plants in an organic manner. The cus- tomer can choose to contin- ue that way, or grow conven- tionally. Both our systems are nutritionally equal and it is a personal choice," he said. "We have six generations of vegetable production in our family and use our knowledge and connections to obtain and grow the best varieties for this area. We know what works and what doesn't because we've grown it ourselves and sold the har- vest." For more infor mation, visit www.simonsg ar- dens.com. Stein Gardens & Gifts Stein Gardens & Gifts, 14845 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, offers lawn and garden products, annuals and perennials. "The Stein stores carry something for everyone. For the casual to the most avid gardener, each store features lawn and garden products, an extensive selection of nursery stock, along with perennials and annuals," according to the company's website. Customers can expect to see row after row of flower and vegetable seeds in Stein's indoor gardening department. For more information, visit www.steingg.com. Ace Hardware Ace Hardware, 15360 Watertown Plank Road, Elm Grove, carries lawn and gar- den essentials, such as tools, plant and lawn care sup- plies, planters, and baskets and fertilizers. Visit www.acehardware.com for more information. There are also several options for those who would rather hire someone to do the planting. Brookfield Property Management Brookfield Property Man- agement, P.O. Box 241, Brook- field, offers fertilization and weed control, mowing and trimming, spring and fall clean-ups, shrub pruning and shaping, and aeration. To learn more, visit www.brookfieldlandscape.co m. Mariposa Landscape Design Mariposa Landscape Design & Construction, P.O. Box 412, Brookfield, offers services that include design; brick and stone patios and walkways; retaining walls, seat walls and decorative walls; fire pits, water fea- tures, outdoor kitchens, and fireplaces; outdoor lighting; and planting trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns. More information can be found at mariposadesign- landscapes.com. Scheive & Scheibe Landscape Scheibe & Scheibe Land- scape Contractors, P.O. Box 625, Brookfield, also offers landscape services, and more information can be found at www.scheibeand- scheibe.com. Kanavas Landscape Management Kanavas Landscape Man- agement Inc., 13575 Juneau Blvd., Elm Grove, offers a variety of services includ- ing horticultural mainte- nance, landscape construc- tion and renovation, arborist tree and shrub care, lawn care, Japanese beetle grub control, bark mulch delivery and mosquito con- trol. "Kanavas Professionals are very serious when it comes to your residential or commercial landscape. We understand that you don't have time to worry about the details – that's our job," according to the company. To learn more about the services Kanavas offers, visit www.kanavasland- scape.com. Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove • Page 3A MAY 2014 2 3 8 0 2 2 0 0 3 Garden From Page 1A And, whether it's a container or the ground, be wary of the soil. "Do not use the free compost from municipal sites for vegetables," Simon said. "They can contain herbicides from lawn services in grass clippings that really wipe out most vegetables. Don't spray lawn chemicals or use weed-and-feed-type fertilizers anywhere near your gar- den. Do not put any un-decomposed leaves or any wood chips ever in the garden." "As bacteria decompose these things, they lock up the fertilizer for the process. The result will be stunted, yel- lowed plants. Check to make sure there are no walnut trees within 50 feet as they produce a toxin that keeps plants from competing with them and your garden will not produce," he added. Test the soil by seeing if it breaks up easily when squeezed into a ball, Simon said. If it stays in a clump when pressed, it is too wet, he said. Time to grow Anticipate investing some time in the garden each week, Simon said. Gardeners should spend around an hour or two, twice a week taking care of their vegeta- bles. "Weeding is a continual necessary job, as is harvest- ing. Leaving fruits on too long damages many plants – think zucchini," Simon said. "Easily degradable mulches like straw, or untreated grass clippings can be used to keep weeds down once the soil has warmed to the temperatures that your plant thrives. Mulching too early insulates the soil at a cold temp and slows growth." And, fight the urge to overwater. Use about a cup of water or starter fertilizer when first setting plants out, Simon said. Other than that, avoid watering a vegetable garden, he said. "There are exceptions, but more bad than good comes from watering," he said. Bad news can also come if plants don't have enough space. Figure out how big the plants will be once fully grown, and space them out accordingly. Know the plant heights, so the tallest ones are facing the north or back of the garden and the shortest are south, Simon said. This will prevent the plants from shading one another, he said. Most importantly, make sure to enjoy it, Simon said. "Chances are you will look forward to spending more hours in the garden," he said. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Elmbrook Garden Club President Judy Newman plants peas in her backyard garden. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Flats of bedding plants sit outside Simon's Gardens, 14780 W. Greenfield Ave. Brookfield area offers gardeners plenty of options