The Blogging Nurseryman by Trey Pitsenberger

We are starting to see an increasing number of people using Google and other search engines to find answers for their gardening questions. My concern is that for some it causes indecision, and/or incorrect action. We had a customer come in the other day who wanted to feed his plum tree. He asked for a 10-10-10, or 12-12-12-12 fertilizer as this is what the “experts” had said from his search. We don’t have fertilizer with these numbers, and I don’t know anyone in the area that does. Our 16-16-16 fertilizer wouldn’t work nor would our organic 5-6-4, according to this man’s research. It has to be what the websites he visited said he needed. Yes, I tried to explain that 16-16-16 would be the same as 10-10-10, except you would apply less per instructions. He said that he had spent hours searching for the correct answer and the “real” person (me) was not about to sway his psychic investment in the virtual experts. I wonder if he will ever get his tree fed?

Another customer came in and accused us of infecting the inside of his home with aphids from alleged infected artichoke he bought. Rather than come to the nursery and find out what would have solved his concerns he chose instead to search Google for answers. Apparently the cure was worse than the problem, as he now claims all his indoor seedlings died. Being concerned with customer service we would have given him whatever he needed to solve his problems. Advice or product, we would have given it to him for free. Now we have an angry customer. He does not hold the advice he received from Google search as the cause for his loss, but rather us. This despite the fact that we we’re never consulted on possible cures.

As more and more people look to Google and other search engines for information I am concerned that many are eschewing the advice of local experts, whether online or not. I love the internet and all the information that’s out there. Yet it’s important to realize that sometimes the best answers come from “real” people who actually deal with this stuff on a day to day basis.  The best answers come from consulting both the internet and local experts. The local experts can even be consulted via internet, if they have an online presence. Otherwise you might actually have to “talk” to them. Advice on plum trees or dealing with insect concerns can be different from region to region. Advice from New York may not be applicable to northern California.

My advice to the customer who has interests or concerns is to familiarize your self with the subject via the internet. Don’t let that be the end however. If you are still concerned, or feel you don’t understand what the search has reveled find yourself a trusted local source of advice. Local independent garden center, nursery, Master Gardener, etc. Most have a vested interest in getting you the right advice. Right advice equals happy people equals customer for life. Don’t let yourself get “over Googled.”

Had to laugh when I saw this DIY suggestion at lifehacker.  The Topsy-Turvy craze is spilling over into the ornamental market. The project looks like it could be fun. Recycling old containers into upside down planters. The orchid is a great subject, too.

If you don’t want to tackle the project yourself you could head over to Velocity where they will sell you the completed project, called a Boskke Sky Planter Classic for just $75.

When the world seems “turned upside down” why fight it?

I am not fan of the Topsy-Turvy. Last year I wrote that, “one wonders how many people who planted a tomato in a Topsy-Turvy will do that again? I can’t think of any one item this year (2009)that so perfectly expresses peoples excitement about gardening, and yet tells of their utter lack of knowledge about gardening. This things just don’t work out here where summer time heat gets in the 90’s and 100 degree F range. They dry out much too quickly, yet I have many customers who bought them (not from us). People still love the idea of a gimmick.”

Looks like Target is getting out of the garden center business by late September 2010. According to Grower Talks, Target “is closing it’s remaining garden centers in Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada.” According to spokesperson Jana O’Leary the reason they are closing is “…that the garden centers don’t provide significant value to our guests. Also, it’s no longer a profitable business for us.” In addition, as the two pictures taken at the Folsom Target near here attest, their plant knowledge was lacking. Labeling Scotch Broom as Azalea’s does not help. Why we’re they selling an invasive plant through their stores?

When a chain like Target get’s out of the business the suppliers who hitched their wagon to the chain will suffer.  Altman Plants, headquartered in southern California supplies up to 85% of the plants that Target sold. Ken Altman say’s, “You know, you never want to take a hit like this…” He say’s they are now focusing on “finding other ways to use his production capacity, to save as many jobs as possible for his employees.”

Who’s next? Walmart? I had heard rumblings that they were considering getting out of the business for the same reasons sited by the Target spokesperson, not profitable. Lowe’s and Home Depot? How long can they bleed their suppliers on cost and returns? How long can the suppliers keep picking up unsold merchandise and replacing it with new stock? If I was a major supplier to these chains I would start thinking about what to do when they finally decide that running a nursery just does not “provide significant value to”… the “guests”.

Here is a video clip of a new vertical wall of greens and flowers at Mario Batali’s restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza in LA. He admits there may not be much harvesting going on. He say’s it’s more of a symbol or “flag” promoting his ideals of “being local, organic, and fresh.”

Frank  of  New York City Garden commented at my last post about a “egg shaped mini-hydroponic vegetable grower-dispenser.” “G.T.G. is a self-contained mini hydroponic greenhouse the size of a vending machine.

Both of these ideas show how much is changing in the world of horticulture. They key to all these innovations are summarized in Mario’s comments about being, “local, organic, and fresh.” It’s a great opportunity for the small businesses out there that deal with the exciting field of horticulture. ” Did I just say, “exciting field of horticulture?” Yup.

Whether you think this idea will take off or not, it’s the first time I have ever seen a mini eco-system in a shower. Here at the Pitsenberger house we have a big Boston fern in our bathroom, but this idea takes bringing the outside in to a new level. 

Over at The Inadvertent Gardener Genie laments “the unscented tomato seedlings of Home Depot.” She left the store, “sheepish and sad for the people who would, no doubt, buy those seedlings. I have no scientific backing for this claim, but it seems to me that if the leaves have no scent, it’s likely the tomatoes will have very little flavor, as well.”

Genie’s first commenter responded that she had, “purchased tomato plants (even heirlooms) at Home Depot many times and they were fantastic once I got them home and planted them. (Plants are plants, I don’t it matters where they are being sold…”

Both Genie and I would disagree with that. Genies response is here.

What’s important to me as a garden center owner is it will be almost impossible to convince a person who say’s “plants are plants it doesn’t matter where they are being sold… ” to shop at my place of business. These people are actually the majority of people who garden. This explains why the box stores have been so successful. We can try and point out the differences, but really the better approach is to focus our attention on people like Genie. Not only will she be more likely to shop at our business, but if anyone is going sway her commenter that not all plants are created equal it’s her.

Reader Marc relates how it’s unwise to plant tomatoes too early anyway. What’s great is how Marc steers us to Baia Nicchia Farm and Nursery. They grow “gourmet tomatoes and more for the Bay Area.” I like their post, “Stick it to the man…” where they extol the virtues of planting at the appropriate time and comment that, ” we have seen large stores in the Bay Area roll out tomatoes around Valentine’s day, which is insane. These stores don’t care about you. They just want you to buy as many tomato plants as possible (some now, and some later when the ones you buy now die). Tomatoes are tropical plants, they don’t belong in anyone’s garden now!”

So while the majority of gardeners are quite content to shop the box stores there is a smaller group of people who think differently. We really don’t need a large advertising budget if we can give them what they want. They will spread the word on their own, one blog post at a time.

Armstrong Nurseries responded to my last post here.  I appreciate their response. Commenter Michael White expresses his feelings, as well as mine concerning how this turned out.

What’s fascinating  are the possibilities inherent in the use of social media by companies that truly want to participate. You can build your business on input from the customer faster than ever before. Both positive and negative feedback if acted on can help business avoid larger problems later. Inviting the customer to provide input via social media opens all sorts of possibilities for collaboration. It is after all the the customer that makes or breaks any business. A customer who feels they have made a positive change in their local business will remember that and spread the word.

Imagine just a few years ago. The largest nursery chain in California runs an ad in the local paper extolling the virtues of the pesticide Sevin. In the ad they say, “Garden Tip: Do you have bug problems in your garden? Try Sevin Insect Control. It’s OK to use on edibles and is environmentally-friendly.” How would you have responded if you disagreed? Write or call. Even if you got the company to listen it’s doubtful the company would have printed a retraction or printed your feelings. In  the old days the advertisers controlled the message. 

Of course things have changed. Companies want to jump on the social media bandwagon and use it to get their message out.  Twitter is one such medium that many companies are starting to use. The difference these days is the audience can comment back.

Armstrong Nurseries tweeted the other day that the pesticide Sevin was,”OK to use on edibles and is environmentally-friendly.”  When Farmer Fred and myself Tweeted our concerns we we’re directed to this paper. According to the paper Sevin or Carbaryl is not very environmentally friendly. “Direct contact of the skin or eyes with moderate levels of this pesticide can cause burns. Inhalation or ingestion of very large amounts can be toxic to the nervous and respiratory systems resulting in nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and excessive salivation. Other symptoms at high doses include sweating, blurring of vision, incoordination, and convulsions.” The paper continues, “Carbaryl is lethal to many non-target insects, including bees and beneficial insects.”

Since there is no definition of “Environmentally friendly” it’s left to the advertiser and reader to make that distinction.  What does “environmentally friendly” mean? If one of the most toxic insecticides to bees can be called environmentally friendly, where does it end?  We saw this coming a couple of years ago as advertisers of all stripes jumped on the ecological and environmentally safe bandwagon. The terms have lost their meaning.

As more and more advertisers use social media to make claims, it’s up to the users of that social media to speak up when they disagree with those claims. While most advertisers would prefer that those they are advertising at remain silent and do as they are told, others will relish the idea that they now have a forum to discuss these claims. People are searching for the truth and will reward those companies who speak the truth and are not afraid to fess up when they are wrong. We all make mistakes, and these days the price of making those mistakes right are a lot smaller. No more expensive print or TV ads explaining the mistake. Now it’s just a matter of Tweeting, blogging, or Facebooking the response. It’s a win-win for the customer as well as the company.

Another customer of Armstrong Nurseries Tweeted , “Is it o.k. for pet’s, too?” Armstrong Tweeted back, “The powder form can be applied on dogs for flea control. Pets should be kept away from the area when using the liquid form.” Why should pet’s be kept away when using the liquid form? If the product is “environmentally friendly”, why keep pet’s away?

We await Armstrong Nursery’s response…

I have written a few times on the current trend to call everything “environmentally friendly.” The use of the words “eco” and  “environmentally friendly” are used by marketers for everything from a new car, to new clothing. They are buzz words and can be used to describe just about anything we want to sell. It all in how you look at it. Sure, a Prius might be more environmentally friendly than another car, but it’s less environmentally friendly than biking or walking to work. It’s all relative.

Farmer Fred Hoffman alerted me to this Twitter feed from Armstrong Nurseries, the largest independent garden chain in California.  According to the feed, “Garden Tip: Do you have bug problems in your garden? Try Sevin Insect Control. It’s OK to use on edibles and is environmentally-friendly. 1:55 PM Apr 7th via HootSuite.” I suppose a vegetable garden sprayed with Sevin is more environmentally friendly than that same area covered in concrete.

What’s really neat is how people like Fred can catch stuff like this now. No longer are advertisers going to be able to make claims without being called to task. It’s good for the public, and good for business. It’s even good for Armstrong Nurseries, as they now have a forum to tell us about their claim.

I am getting more visitors coming to this site from this Google search Home Depot tomatoes. The playing field is becoming more even between large corporations and the smaller players. The moral is, if you have something to say, say it! You can make a difference.

Home depot is pushing the Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter again this year.  As we discussed last year, these things are not the best choice for our low humidity, hot temperature summers. Never the less they will most likely sell thousands of these things.