Maumee Valley Growers

TOLEDO , Ohio , May 21, 2007 - In addition to the obvious "curb appeal" benefits of a beautiful landscape, gardening with a variety of tools can bring many additional rewards.

"There are so many elements you can introduce into your landscape, there are endless possibilities for adding color and texture," said Joe Perlaky of the Maumee Valley Growers. "And today, homeowners are adding all types of other elements to the mix to create a landscape that is truly theirs alone. It's really quite exciting what we can bring to our homes!"

Eighty-three percent of all U.S. households, or an estimated 91 million households, participated in one or more types of do-it-yourself indoor and outdoor lawn and garden activities in 2005, according to the National Gardening Association. Most tend to rely on traditional regional plantings, but others are taking advantage of a longer growing season to incorporate once intolerant plants into their landscapes.

Most growers still rely on the unique nature and makeup of a homeowner's property to determine the best landscaping materials. "We are familiar with all areas of Northwest Ohio," said Lynette Oberhouse of North Branch Nursery, Pemberville , Ohio . "We study the soil of a specific property, and how the sun and wind affect it. It's only then that you begin choosing plants."

New neighborhoods are particularly affected by soil, sun and wind conditions. "The plants that thrive in older neighborhoods that are protected from sun and wind won't perform the same in the clay soil of so many of our newer subdivisions," Oberhouse explained.

But the greatest variety of color and design can come from the addition of annuals to the landscape. "In our area landscapes are generally made up of evergreens, some flowering shrubs and some shrubs with colorful foliage," said Dick Bostdorff of Bostdorff Greenhouse in Bowling Green , Ohio . "Homes may also use a variety of perennials. But the most spectacular color is added with the use of annuals, which come in a palette of colors and bloom all season. In straight lines or curves, groupings or mixed throughout the bed, annuals bring life to any landscape."

Pots are a great alternative for small areas, said Mary Ann Bostdorff. "Containers can be used anywhere - in landscape beds, along walkways, on balconies and on decks and patios," she said. "And they can be moved around the landscape during the season. Annual color is like the jewel of your landscape, and is an inexpensive way to add drama to a home."

The Maumee Valley Growers participating greenhouses and retail operations now offer a wide range of annuals and perennials, including plants native to Northwest Ohio and the Oak Openings. They also have an extensive knowledge of Northwest Ohio planting regions, soil quality and growing conditions, as well as the impact of warmer weather.

The Maumee Valley Growers is an economic cluster of 70 retail and wholesale greenhouses committed to sustaining and growing the Northwest Ohio greenhouse industry. The MVG is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant for the MVG is managed by Michael C. Carroll, Ph.D., director of research of the Bowling Green State University Center for Regional Development, and Neil Reid, Ph.D., director of the Urban Affairs Center at the University of Toledo . Northwest Ohio is in the top five percent of the nation's greenhouse producing regions.

For more information about the MVG, and a list of participating members, visit www.maumeevalleygrowers.com.