We at Christensen’s Plant and Hardscape Center pride ourselves on quality. Our buyers (we call them 'investors') have built great relationships with our vendors to ensure they are looking out for us. We receive a TON of tree trucks in the spring and fall from many different states to fill our yard for the upcoming season. However, every once in a while, we may be sent something that is subpar and does not meet our expectations. If we can leave it on the truck to send back, we do so. Some of these trucks that come in are one-way trucks that are backhauling something else. Due to this reason, we are not able to send some things back and end up selling them at a heavily discounted price.

Another great way to save you and your customer money is to take advantage of our Biweekly special. Every couple of weeks we run a new special with different items that are in season. You’ll see flyers when you stop into the Plant Center or right here in the Sticks & Stones e-mail.

If you’re looking for deals in the hardscape yard, I recommend checking in a few weeks before our inventory around late June and again around late October.  You never know what you’re going to find, but it just might be exactly what you need.

Your customer service person is the best resource to help you take advantage of these ways to save you money. We’re here to help you get the job done, no matter what.

I’ve noticed over the last several years that it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or Michigan-based Biggby, the lines in the morning are outrageous. No matter how fast your favorite shop can get you through, you’re spending time in a line waiting. As I sat in line for 15 minutes one morning, mindlessly scrolling through social media, I realized that I wasn’t efficiently using my time. And while I don’t have to be hustling all the time, this was a poor choice for me, personally.

Where are the black holes in your day that you lose time? (Which is money, right?) How can you optimize these moments to better use your time? For me, that coffee shop line turned into an investment in fancy loose leaf teas and infusers for home and time to load the dishwasher while that tea is steeping, leading to clean dishes when I get home from work. The satisfaction gained from this very small routine change has led me to look at other areas to streamline.

Now is the time for action! It’s time to implement a plan to streamline or stop losing time. In the case of the tea, I had to invest in the infusers and a teapot and be sure I’m stocked with supplies, such as travel mugs and tea. However, in the case of unwanted gaming, I deleted the app off my phone, so I don’t slip back into the habit.

The most important thing to remember is that if you get off track, you can always start over, go back and recommit to improving your time management. You can always treat yourself to a coffee shop once in a while, but if you realize that it’s become a habit again, go back and reacquaint yourself with new flavors in the tea or coffee section of the grocery store to rekindle your interest in steeping or brewing at home.

So, you’re probably wondering how this applies to Christensen’s, since this is our newsletter. Well, I’m glad you asked. Our Christensen’s App is available for free and can be used to look at availability and prices. It’s a shortcut that can save you a phone call and some time. You can also call, e-mail, or text your order ahead of arrival. When the order is in the system, we can assist you quicker. We know you love seeing our friendly staff at the Plant and Hardscapes Centers, but we can get you moving faster if we know you’re coming. We want to help you optimize your time.

By Rick Lazzell

(This article of Sticks & Stones is best viewed on a desktop)

I look around at all the landscaping out there (of course I do) and most of it seems repetitious, characterless, and unexciting. Have we gotten complacent in our creativity? Are we too concerned about being like the Joneses?

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Even before supply shortages, not a day goes by at Christensen’s Plant Center that requested nursery items (despite our fairly well-stocked and varied yard) are not available. High demand and scarcity in some areas certainly exist but smaller evergreens and woody ornamentals are in fairly good supply. When confronted with an unavailable or low quantity of a given shrub variety we work too hard to supply the exact variety when there are other ways to solve the problem. Especially in the areas of woodies, there are many interchangeable plant varieties.

During our COVID lockdowns, the one thing most people had was lots of time. There was a huge surge in interest in family histories; there were many searches on Ancestory.com and DNA samples sent to testing sites like 23andME. Discovering our past and finding distant relatives helped to fill the gaps in our social lives. The similar traits and DNA that make people a family exist as well in plants. Just as with people, plants have many traits and characteristics that define them and link them into family groups.

For sake of example, I am focusing on parts of the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae). The Korean Spice Bush (Viburnum carlesi) is frequently requested around Mother’s Day. If we run low on this particular plant be assured, that there are a good number of solutions close at hand. Sibling variants, cousinly hybrids, and backcross hybrids are in good supply. What links them all together is the wonderful fragrance of spring after winter’s grasp. The following all offer a possible substitution for the original depending on the application. Larger in form with pinker buds is the well-known V. x juddii; also larger but with many more pink buds and semi-evergreen leaves are V. x burkwoodii and V. x burkwoodii ‘Mohawk.’ A smaller alternative with very large flowers is V. ‘Cayuga.’ These and more offer easy choices without leaving the species.

In a second example, we compare the genera Weigela and Diervilla both of the Honeysuckle Family. The Asian genus Weigela florida is everywhere in our landscapes. W. ‘Wine and Roses’ and others began the flood of pink-dominant flowering varieties. A painter’s palette of foliage colors defines this species of Weigelas. The genus Diervilla of eastern North America is a b & b plant (browsing and bumblebees). In its native circumstances, it has been browsed by moose and deer without ill effect and is an obvious favorite of bumblebees with its clusters of yellow, honeysuckle-like flowers. With the advent of the Kodiak series, Diervilla is now an active participant in landscapes still retaining its native status. These honeysuckles were separated by thousands of miles, but both possess unmatched foliage variety and the ability to flush vibrant new growth after a good trim. They have very similar leaf shapes and their phyllotaxis of alternating leaf patterns attest to their being of the same family.

Linnaeus and the Taxonomy of Horticulture give us the guidelines we need to find solutions to shortage problems. A shortage of plants just gives us an opportunity to expand our imagination and use the tools already at hand.

Walking around Christensen’s this spring you may notice a few distinct differences from previous years. You may see our new signs or the new machines at the hardscape center. However, the difference I am talking about is nothing new at all, it is nothing. The most obvious change for many of us is the half-empty field and the lack of towering evergreens waiting in our yard. As our investor for Deciduous, Ornamental, and Evergreen Trees I have been looking across the country for this material and the simple answer is that it just does not exist in many cases.

Arborvitae are experiencing an exceptionally brutal year on the east and west coast. After severe drought hit the west coast last spring and summer fires started burning across Oregon. We were being sent images of entire fields turned brown due to a lack of rain in what is historically one of the wettest regions in the country. Further east in Tennessee certain varieties of arborvitae have been hit by a yet to be identified disease. Paired with the unusually wet spring they have experienced and high demand these plants are not as readily available in large sizes (7-8’) as they once were. We have been buying up as much as we can stock due to the unpredictability of this crop.  Currently, we are overstocked in 4-5-6’ Emerald Green and have placed them on sale, but it’s hard to say what will continue to happen throughout this season with this genus.

Red Flowering Cherokee Dogwood are experiencing a similar issue. These trees are particularly susceptible to damage from excessive water, but also fungus and mold which thrive in wet conditions. Tennessee’s wet spring has resulted in crop failures and a lack of available material.

These droughts and diseases only account for a small part of the shortages, but they do contribute to the problem.  As we’ve mentioned before, the real disease behind the shortage is the pandemic we have all been living through. In addition to the increased desire to landscape, everyone sitting at home also pointed us towards a recession which was combated with a huge drop in interest rates. This created a boom in the housing market. Now demand for plants was not only surging for renovation but also for new housing developments.

This new housing boom is the largest our country has seen since well before the market crashed in 2008. As we mentioned in Eric’s article, Bring On Spring, trees take 5-10 years to size up, and 5-10 years ago we were on the back end of a huge recession. Due to financial difficulties, planting heavily to plan for the next demand surge was not an option. Pulling ahead on smaller and smaller crops starting in 2020 caused size shortages. This “overselling” is most obvious with evergreens, most large sizes are not available because they have all been sold as smaller trees in previous years.

So here we are in 2022, available product on many popular varieties is down to 6’ and 2” trees. As long as demand stays high, and everyone keeps selling, the next year’s available material will be smaller and smaller. And while the economy is slowing down, historically, an increase in fuel prices drives down vacations and increases investments in homes for “staycations.” If fuel costs stay high, we may be looking at yet another season of homeowners pouring financial resources into their landscapes.

Unfortunately, there are no real substitutes for pine, spruce, and arborvitae but there are some options. While larger sizes of popular varieties such as Emerald Green and Green Giant Arborvitae are harder to come by, similar varieties can be easier to find. We have good quantities of Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae available which work great as a narrow evergreen and for screening. If you can substitute smaller sizes, check out the Emerald Green Arborvitae sale (see Sticks & Stones e-mail). Crabapples or Pink Dogwoods work as a bright flowering substitute for red flowering Cherokee Dogwoods. Many growers we have spoken with have learned from this unprecedented situation the industry is in. They are planting as much as they can to try and keep up, but it could be 5 years before we see a full recovery.

We’ll continue to keep scouring our sources to keep you supplied with the best plant material as long as this landscaping boom keeps going.

Spring in the nursery can be quite a magical time of year with the smell of the thawing earth in the air, the buds emerging on branches, green shoots coming from the ground, and Michigan temperatures all over the map! How can one possibly prepare for the everchanging weather patterns when they can range from cold to warm, dry to rain, and the occasional snow/sleet mix all in one day!

If you are anything like me (and you are probably not), I have a vast array of different gloves. My glove needs change throughout the day depending on what job or task I am involved in, so I seem to have an assortment of different gloves on me at all times. Thankfully we sell approximately 20 different varieties... And I think I have 15! A few of my favorites include the Ninja’s for cold weather, H2O waterproof, and the basic blue and grey palm. I also love the long print arm savers that help with prickly projects like roses. The Mudd line is very versatile and carries many options. Including the ‘Soft and Cool’ aloe. Aloe in a glove. Who knew? You can find many different material options as well, from leather to goatskin, bamboo to thermal, etc...

I could certainly continue with rain gear, hats and brim benefits, and multitudes of sunscreen products, however, I need to get back out into the plants! To sum up, the purpose of this article is that no matter what you are doing there is not one specific product that will meet all your needs for all of your jobs. Knowing what works for you and having the basics to meet the demands of the weather conditions you are working in is enough. No matter how many fun and fancy gloves I buy, what works for me are basic blue palm. No matter how many boots I go through, what works for me are basic, waterproof, all temperature, all season, one pair, work boot. Whatever “bibs” I have to add an extra layer of warmth to my already layers of warmth underneath are adequate. So as this new season gets underway, keep dry, warm, cool, layered, covered, and most of all- safe!

Happy Spring

I’m sure that we’ve all heard the saying “I’ll rest when I’m dead” at some point in our lifetime, and most of us have probably said it, as well. With my 50th coming up this year, I still think that I’m nearly indestructible like I was back in my 20s and 30s, so I embarked on quite the adventure this past winter.

I took on 6 jobs from December through April… simultaneously. That statement is no exaggeration, ladies and gentlemen. I worked here at the nursery a bit, plowed/salted, did my side company’s set up, bartended for an independent catering company, bartended a local bowling alley, and help set up a new Mediterranean restaurant which then led to me bartending there on a regular basis.

I do NOT recommend anyone doing this at any given age in anyone’s lifetime. Why do I say this? My body literally ached every day after the first month. Working open to close shifts bartending, which averaged 11 hours a day, only to have to turn around and work 2 more back-to-back open to close shifts. To make things even more interesting, shifts would overlap to where you work 2 jobs in the same day, which were maybe an hour apart from each other, which would lead to a 15-16 hour day. The worst was the triple shift that I feared would happen. I had my shift here in the morning, then jumped immediately to the restaurant from noon to 11 pm, and then left there to go plow. That resulted in a 24+ hour day. I then went home, took a nap (or rather collapsed), returned to the restaurant at noon for my opening shift, then left at 8 pm to go do snow cleanups.

As for me personally, I tend to get 5-6 hours, which seems like it’s not enough at any level. But during the winter season on days where I didn’t have to work a double shift, I’ve been known to sneak in a nap here and there like a toddler. For any of you that have had to run a snowplow for hours and hours at a time, you totally understand!

Other factors that can affect a level of quality sleep include noise in the environment, stress, poor sleep arrangements, drinking too much caffeine a few hours prior, so on and so forth. Follow the link if you would like to learn more about sleep deprivation, which includes even more symptoms and treatments. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/307334

You only have 1 body in your lifetime, so be sure to take care of it!

While I am a new face in Customer Service, I have been a team member of Christensen’s for almost 8 years now. I have worn many hats during my time here. I began my journey with Receiving and Deliveries and then onto Hardscape Yard Operations which then lead to Customer Service. While I was excited about the promotion and eager to start a new position, as with starting anything new, there’s always a learning curve. Along with the changes at work, I started a new hobby, competitive shooting, that taught me many things I could apply to my new position. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned from simultaneously taking on these two new endeavors.

My biggest takeaway has been holding myself accountable in different situations. I’m only as successful as I make myself. While I am on a customer service ‘team’, taking care of customers is a very individualized activity. Like shooting, I personally need to ensure the success of my customers’ visit, just as I ensure the score I receive when in competition. My preparation and attention to detail need to be top-notch each time I go into the yard to pull material. I need to be sure that I have the correct paperwork, the right plants, the healthiest plants and the best substitutions during our current availability challenges.  As I go onto the course for shooting, I know that my preparation will make a difference in my score. Knowing the course, having reloads ready and planned, and being in the right gear all are important factors.

In both activities, speed and precision are key. It won’t make a difference to you, our customer, how fast I was able to load your order if I didn’t get it correct. So, while I strive to get you back to your job site as quickly as possible, I always need to be aware of my precision.

Other lessons I’ve picked up include simple things like removing small distractions and focusing on the task at hand. Communication, adaptability, active listening, and the ability to work out any problems that might arise are dominant attributes in forming customer relationships.

It can be easy to become frustrated and discouraged when starting new endeavors. The idea of “new” is scary for many people. Personal and professional accountability can help ease some of those worries. The implementation of these essential qualities greatly assisted to curb some of the difficulties and challenges I found may arise. With my first year in customer service behind me, I can confidently say most of the worries I had were unfounded. I couldn’t have asked for a better year with Christensen's. As I aim my sights at the year ahead, I know that it will be a good year with my strategies ready to go. 

Christensen’s has been around in one form or another for over 90 years. Focusing on the green industry, we’ve been growers, retailers, and now a complete wholesale landscape supplier. Last year you probably noticed our Plant Center was remodeled, this year is the Hardscape Center’s turn! The hardscape yard was added 11 years ago and is an ever-growing part of our company. During the off-season, we considered our floorplan, moved things around, and brought in some new displays. If you haven’t visited us yet, an entirely new layout will greet you as you walk in the door.

It drives me nuts when the grocery store rearranges, and I can’t find the things I need when shopping. However, we spent a lot of time deciding on the intuitive placement of products to help you shop as conveniently as possible. We feel that the new open layout flows naturally and will make your experience in our store more pleasant and efficient.

Our new lighting section includes counter space for fixture demo and a large area for putting together your order.

With the addition of BrickStik Polyurethane Adhesive, we have your vertically stacked endeavors covered. Joining SRW Solvent-Based Adhesive, SRW Rapid-Set Polyurethane Adhesive, and Structure Bond Construction Foam Adhesive, BrickStik is one more sticky solution for your installation tool kit… You can find them all together in our adhesive section.

Perhaps the most striking makeover is to our counter. It has moved to an entirely different area of the store, where our Hardscape staff will be ready to help you with your project. Behind the counter we are displaying our selection of Boar Hog and SRW concrete saw blades, as well as the wildly popular Grabo hand-held vacuum lifter.

Inside isn’t the only place we’ve updated. Outside you will find the fabrics and grids have moved from behind the bulk bins to in front of the Hardscape Center. Speaking of bulk bins… we are thrilled to announce the return of brown hardwood fines!

All the things that you’ve come to expect from the Hardscape Center are still here. And there are even more supplies to make your stop quick and easy. We love the changes… stop by and tell us what you think!

Whether you are going to sod or to seed your next lawn project there are advantages to both. Depending on the job, leveraging your options could give you a competitive advantage with your customers. Here are how the choices stack up.

The biggest advantage that sod has is the instant gratification of a green lawn and immediate erosion control by acting as a blanket to help hold soil in place. Sod has a faster turnaround time for when your customer can use their yard. After about two to three weeks the sod is rooted in and ready for normal lawn traffic. So, for those customers that decided to re-do the whole yard right before the graduation party/outdoor wedding/backyard baby shower, think sod.

The biggest advantage when you choose seed is the initial cost. Both the cost of product and installation start out lower. Having many different choices of blends of seed to make sure that you get the right lawn you are looking for. From Kentucky bluegrass to perennial ryegrass to red fescue, seed allows you to customize your mix to the area you’re planting. Seed can be a boon when you’re working with a discerning homeowner that’s willing to wait a little to get exactly what they want out of their lawn.

Whether you choose to seed or sod, here at Christensen’s we have options for both to make sure you get the right product for your job. When it comes to seed Christensen’s carries three choices for you, sunny mix, shady mix, and fast green mix. If you require a special mix for your job beyond those, we can special order it for you. For those spots that need a little extra care, you can pick up sunny/shady lawn patch.

We also offer several items to make sure that your seed is given the best possible start. Try PennMulch, a mixture that fertilizes, holds in moisture, and holds the seed in place, over top of your seed to speed up germination and fill in quickly. Straw blankets are MDOT approved and help manage erosion, protect seeds from birds and shade the ground to help retain moisture. Talk to a sales rep about EZ Straw, fertilizer, sprinkler towers, and hoses. We stock all of these items to make your lawn and turf endeavors successful.

If sod is your choice, Christensen’s stocks a few pallets of fresh-cut sod in our yard, brought in bi-weekly. However, if you let us know when you are going to be laying the sod we can get as much as you need for your job. Upon ordering, you can pick it up from our yard or, if it meets the quantity minimum, you can have it shipped directly to your job site or yard.

So, whether you are laying sod or spreading seed Christensen’s has you covered.