Super Spring Savings

It’s definitely time to think spring savings with Three Z Supply!  Take advantage of tremendous savings, April 1 – springa15, 2016, through our pre-season order program.  It’s pretty simple – the more you order, the more you save!  And deliveries can be made any time in 2016.  All orders placed and paid for by April 15, 2016 will receive the following discounts.  For example:

Order:
$100-$199, save $10.00
$200-$299, save $20.00
$300-$399, save $30.00
$400-$499, save $40.00

As an added bonus, by taking advantage of this offer, you’re locking in last year’s standard retail prices before they increase for the 2016 landscape season.  Or, use your own truck and receive 2015 pricing on all loads picked up before April 15, 2016.  Please note, the discount is based on material cost before standard delivery and sales tax is applied and cannot be combined with any other offers.  (2016 pricing takes effect on April 16, 2016.)

Visit our website, http://three-z.com/ to check out our wide assortment of soils and amendments, mulches, sands, aggregates, limestone, and washed gravels.  We deliver the quality materials you need and provide the service you expect.

Attention past customers — watch for a green flyer from Three Z with additional information!  Call (216) 524-4544 for details or to place an order.   Think spring…think savings with Three Z!

March Gardening

It’s been an exceptionally mild winter in Northeast Ohio, even setting record high temperatures in bulbsaFebruary.  Even Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring!  So with the month of March upon us soon, here are a few “to-dos” (from Rodale’s Organic Life) for those of you who just can’t wait to throw on the gloves – gardening gloves, that is!

•    With warmer temperatures, watch for hosta shoots poking up through the soil.  If the ground is fully thawed, dig up clumps that need to be divided, split them apart, and replant them. Water generously.
•    Free the foliage from spring-blooming bulbs that are tangled in mulch.
•    If the weather is mild, consider planting roses, trees, and shrubs towards the end of the month.
•    Move your cool-loving broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower outdoors to a cold frame or protected spot.
•    Now’s the time to start seeds of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, perennials, and annual flowers indoors under lights.
•    As soon the garden soil is workable, plant peas, potatoes, sweet peas, poppies, rocket larkspur, and mignonette.
•    If there’s no snow, top-dress the lawn with compost; fill in low spots and reseed.

Gardening Shows & Attractions

Have a case of the winter blues?  Longing to be outside toiling in your garden?  Wondering if you’ll ever see the sun again?   Why not take advantage of your area’s gardening show or attractions.

Many cities have botanical garden centers, which are open all year long.  There is typically a fee for non-member admittance. For example, at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, running January 30, 2016 through March 6, take advantage of Orchid Mania.  As the description on the site states, “Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Cuba as you stroll through tropical landscapes and colorful scenes that evoke this exotic island. Among the dazzling orchids, you’ll be transported away from winter into the warmth of the tropics.” Now that sounds way more enticing than shoveling show!
http://www.cbgarden.org/orchid-mania.aspx

flower-purple

Another regional attraction which draws huge crowds every year is the “Great Big Home + Garden Show.” (Events like this one take place throughout the country.) This show runs February 5-14 at Cleveland’s IX Center, offering expert advice and tips on home improvement, outdoor/indoor gardening, and products.  Stop by and visit Three-Z-Inc. at booth #413!  You can also explore this year’s “Celebration!-themed” garden showcase, a wonderful way to gather ideas for your spring garden planting. For more information, visit http://www.greatbighomeandgarden.com/.

This site offers an array of regional activities throughout Ohio – both indoor and outdoor. You may also submit a gardening event to their staff.  http://statebystategardening.com/oh/calendar/

Or maybe you just can’t wait to get your hands dirty…visiting all of those garden shows got you motivated!  There are plenty of simple gardening activities you can stay busy with all winter-long!
http://www.almanac.com/gardening/tips/OH/Cleveland/01

Artificial or Real: Which one are you?

Do you traipse out into the cold December air, all bundled up with your family to pick out the perfect Christmas tree or do you drag the tree down from the attic and do your best to reshape the branches each year?

If you’re the “real tree type,” you’re faced with a variety of evergreens to choose from.  Some species are grown right here in Northeast Ohio, while others are shipped from out of state to tree farms throughout the area.  According to about.com, these are the top five best-selling Christmas trees in North America:

#1 – Fraser Fir
#2 – Douglas Fir
#3 – Balsam Fir
#4 – Colorado Blue Spruce
#5 – Scotch pine

To better assist you in your selection process, here are two excellent resources:
http://ohiochristmastree.org/
http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/AllAboutTrees/FAQs.aspx

tree-lookinga
Picking out a Christmas tree can be an experience; and for some, it’s a special family tradition.  Before you venture out, don’t be caught without the supplies you may need to get your tree home.  Spend some time online researching your options.  It’s also important that you take measurements before you go, particularly the ceiling height in the room where the tree will be displayed. The trees in the field look smaller when the sky is the ceiling. Be careful not to overbuy.

And here’s to A Charlie Brown Christmas – celebrating 50 years – and his most perfect tree!

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Winter Prep Mulching

Winter mulching differs from spring mulching in that you’re attempting to protect your plants from harsh winter winter-mulchaconditions – freezing, thaws and winds – by actually shielding it from the warmth of the sun.  Steady temperatures help to keep your plants in dormancy and prevent them from triggering new growth during brief warm-ups.

So what can you use to winterize your beds?  Try sticking with loose, insulating materials, like straw, pine needles or shredded leaves, so you can easily rake it aside and remove it come spring.  If your beds don’t freeze until after the holidays, consider using cut pine boughs from your Christmas tree. Snow cover is also a great protector; and even better, requires no effort on your part!

Mulching should take place after the soil has started to harden, which is typically after the first hard frost when temperatures drop below 25°F.  At this point, spread 2-4 inches of mulch around the base of your plants.  Most people don’t make time for this step in the fall.  However, if you’ve recently planted new shrubs, roses, etc. in your beds, consider taking this step until those plantings are more established.

The mulch needs to be removed once all threats of a hard frost are past.  This can be difficult to judge, as we’ve all witnessed an occasional winter storm in April!  Once thawing takes place and you can smell spring in the air (or mud), start raking and removing the mulch so the ground can begin to warm and new growth won’t be inhibited.