Comments on: The BOX STORE’S race for spring http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-box-stores-race-for-spring exposing your roots...your personality...and defining the landscape of your life Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:46:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: outdoor depot http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-40 outdoor depot Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:50:37 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-40 [...] events for dramatic outdoor projection of images onto the walls of the National Library and ...The BOX STORE'S race for spring | Garden GruntI had to scrape my jaw off the pavement when I saw Home Depot's spring stock lined up along their [...] [...] events for dramatic outdoor projection of images onto the walls of the National Library and …The BOX STORE'S race for spring | Garden GruntI had to scrape my jaw off the pavement when I saw Home Depot's spring stock lined up along their [...]

]]> By: Katie Ketelsen http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Katie Ketelsen Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:49:24 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-28 Shibaguyz: Thank you for your insight! I do need to clarify that I was just joking about the "rules" comment. I'm really not a fan of rules if they were to be used in the context I mentioned. I am VERY much a fan of educating the public on gardening/landscaping...regardless of where they're shopping (boxstore vs garden center). By this mentality I hope that when they do have an problem in their garden, they'll know who to call. I get very anxious when I see plants lining the store fronts of places like Home Depot in the middle of March. The urge to spout off and explain to as many people as possible that this is wrong, is overwhelming to me. However, I know that I ain't no superwoman. Thanks again for your comment. I checked out your veggie garden and looks like you've honed in on your green thumb quite well. Keep it up! Happy Planting Katie Shibaguyz:
Thank you for your insight! I do need to clarify that I was just joking about the “rules” comment. I’m really not a fan of rules if they were to be used in the context I mentioned.

I am VERY much a fan of educating the public on gardening/landscaping…regardless of where they’re shopping (boxstore vs garden center). By this mentality I hope that when they do have an problem in their garden, they’ll know who to call.

I get very anxious when I see plants lining the store fronts of places like Home Depot in the middle of March. The urge to spout off and explain to as many people as possible that this is wrong, is overwhelming to me. However, I know that I ain’t no superwoman.

Thanks again for your comment. I checked out your veggie garden and looks like you’ve honed in on your green thumb quite well. Keep it up!

Happy Planting
Katie

]]> By: Shibaguyz http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Shibaguyz Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:25:55 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-27 Retail is not, and should not, be held responsible for educating the general public on guidelines for planting. Retail establishments are there to make money. Period. It is about their bottom line. Are we surprised by this? We should not be. If we are, then we are naive. Rather, the responsibility falls on the garden educators among us like the University Extension departments, the Master Gardener associations and garden writers. If the information is readily available, people will follow the guidelines. It's really that simple. Combative language of "rules" and "setting people straight" does nothing for education. Guidelines and education are the key on this topic. Proper guidelines are easy to convey by setting examples of responsible practices ourselves, then writing about those practices in our various venues. Speak to the garden writers at your local news organizations and ask to submit articles, post on your own blogs, volunteer to speak at community centers and to local gardening organizations. Education is the key. In the end, though, nothing is going to stop the itch that rises up in every human at the first sign of a day warm enough to shuck the winter layers and get our hands in the soil. All we can do it hope better judgement prevails after we've done our job of education and providing access to information. Retail is not, and should not, be held responsible for educating the general public on guidelines for planting. Retail establishments are there to make money. Period. It is about their bottom line. Are we surprised by this? We should not be. If we are, then we are naive.

Rather, the responsibility falls on the garden educators among us like the University Extension departments, the Master Gardener associations and garden writers. If the information is readily available, people will follow the guidelines. It’s really that simple.

Combative language of “rules” and “setting people straight” does nothing for education. Guidelines and education are the key on this topic. Proper guidelines are easy to convey by setting examples of responsible practices ourselves, then writing about those practices in our various venues. Speak to the garden writers at your local news organizations and ask to submit articles, post on your own blogs, volunteer to speak at community centers and to local gardening organizations.

Education is the key.

In the end, though, nothing is going to stop the itch that rises up in every human at the first sign of a day warm enough to shuck the winter layers and get our hands in the soil. All we can do it hope better judgement prevails after we’ve done our job of education and providing access to information.

]]> By: Katie Ketelsen http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Katie Ketelsen Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:09:09 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-26 Sid! I went to Iowa's Flower Show this weekend. HyVee was selling Azaleas in FULL bloom and little 4" pots of annuals, perennials and herbs! I hope clearly explained to their customers how to care for them. We just got 6" of snow on Saturday! ARGH! Do we need to make a rule? :) Sid! I went to Iowa’s Flower Show this weekend. HyVee was selling Azaleas in FULL bloom and little 4″ pots of annuals, perennials and herbs! I hope clearly explained to their customers how to care for them. We just got 6″ of snow on Saturday! ARGH!

Do we need to make a rule? :)

]]> By: Sid Raisch http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Sid Raisch Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:01:34 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-25 TOMATO PLANTS on sale now (March 21) at Lowe's in Hillsboro Ohio. Big healthy plants in 8" pots in 4 varieties from Bonnie Plant Farm. We're in Zone 5. Even for indoor growing this is really stretching it. TOMATO PLANTS on sale now (March 21) at Lowe’s in Hillsboro Ohio. Big healthy plants in 8″ pots in 4 varieties from Bonnie Plant Farm. We’re in Zone 5. Even for indoor growing this is really stretching it.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-10 uberVU - social comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:18:55 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-10 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by ketelsen: launching my NEW BLOG before I should because I'm HOT about Home Depot"s latest movement. Check it out http://ow.ly/1iKnj what do you think?... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by ketelsen: launching my NEW BLOG before I should because I’m HOT about Home Depot”s latest movement. Check it out http://ow.ly/1iKnj what do you think?…

]]> By: Katie Ketelsen http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Katie Ketelsen Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:07:48 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-7 You're absolutely right Drae! Forgot to mention you can't even get a shovel in the ground. You’re absolutely right Drae! Forgot to mention you can’t even get a shovel in the ground.

]]> By: Drae http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Drae Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:59:33 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-6 All of those baby trees broken and wounded for life...can tell from the pic that they have been pruned wrong. Just in case no one has tried to dig yet I have and the ground is still frozen>:( All of those baby trees broken and wounded for life…can tell from the pic that they have been pruned wrong. Just in case no one has tried to dig yet I have and the ground is still frozen>:(

]]> By: Garden Grunt » Blog Archive » Boycott Home Depot~Take 2 http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Garden Grunt » Blog Archive » Boycott Home Depot~Take 2 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:18:16 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-5 [...] was really hot yesterday about Home Depot’s genius decision to start stocking trees and small shrubs.  I could barely communicate to you the blatant fact [...] [...] was really hot yesterday about Home Depot’s genius decision to start stocking trees and small shrubs.  I could barely communicate to you the blatant fact [...]

]]> By: Katie Ketelsen http://gardengrunt.com/2010/03/12/the-box-stores-race-for-spring/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Katie Ketelsen Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:57:09 +0000 http://gardengrunt.com/?p=21#comment-4 Mr Brown Thumb~thanks for swinging through. I would suspect that a hard frost/freeze is more likely up in Chicagoland? Sara~It's horribly ridiculous. Home Depot, specifically, is trying to brand themselves as the expert this year in the Garden Center world. You'd think they could first start with hardy plants...or labeling them as annuals. HOT UNDER THE COLLAR! Thank you for the read. Mr Brown Thumb~thanks for swinging through. I would suspect that a hard frost/freeze is more likely up in Chicagoland?

Sara~It’s horribly ridiculous. Home Depot, specifically, is trying to brand themselves as the expert this year in the Garden Center world. You’d think they could first start with hardy plants…or labeling them as annuals. HOT UNDER THE COLLAR!

Thank you for the read.

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