Getting things together, finally!

We just set up a new email address, farmersgrainok@aol.com, if you need to contact us. You can still contact us at 405-341-3310 or 800-448-3310. We are working on a new web site and going to have a e-newsletter available. We have been a little slow in reaching this point but now have turned the corner. We will continue to blog about important things in gardening and landscaping, wildlife, and other matters pertaining to outdoors, farming and gardening. For those of you how don't know us we have been in business since 1922. Many things have changed around Edmond, OK. As the area has changed so has our business. We still sell traditional livestock feeds, but in are now making our own wild bird feed, pigeon feed, and caged bird feed. We started a garden center in 1960, and are now developing a business in natural, organic products. We carry plants, vegetables, hanging baskets and perennials. We also sell grass seed, field seed, and plot mixes. The Lord willing we will be here to help you with your outdoor needs. Recently we have started a U-Haul dealership, so if you need to move lets us now.

Gold Finch are Coming, Gold Finch are Coming

You may have started seeing gold finch appearing at you door step. These little birds are the ones that turn bright yellow in the spring, then leave and go up north with their pretty color. They do winter over here in Oklahoma, even though they are not as pretty in the winter they are still fun birds to watch. These little bird use a lot of energy flitting around on cold winter days so you need to feed a food that is high in energy. Thistle seed, or Nyjer, is a great source of energy for gold finch. It is high in oil, which supplies them the energy to keep them going. The birds actually shell this seed so it will look like you have alot of seed on the ground, but they are eating it. We also make a goldfinch mix. This mix contains thistle seed, sunflower heart chips, red millet, and yellow finch millet. This feed is also packed full on energy. Now my dad puts on both thistle and goldfinch mix and depending on the year the birds like one better than the other. This year it seems like they perfer the goldfinch mix. We carry thistle in 2#, 5#, 10#, 25# and 50# bags. The goldfinch mix is available in 5#, and 25# bags. As a precaution you don't want to hold over either of these feed from one year to the next, since it is a high oil content feed it can go rancid. You can hold it over if you refrigerate it. Relax and enjoy your birds.

Rodents On the March

I'm sure you are aware of the temperatures starting to cool down. With that the mice will start invading your space. They will move into the garage, your parked vehicles, your storage shed, and even into your house. Now you can put out poisons to control them but be sure to use one that doesn't contain warfrin, they can build up and immunity to this poison and it will not work. What the rodents do is start producing more vitamin K, and this provides the immunity. Also with poisons you have to be careful around children and pets. Poisons are available in throw packs or bar bait. The throw pack in convenient to use indoors because you just pitch them behind things and the mice will eat through the pack and eat the poison. One feeding of the bait will be a lethal dose, mice will take about 3-4 pellets and rats about 10-15 pellets. Bar Baits are good to be used outside under sheds and out building because they are weather resistant. Also with the bars one feeding will be a lethal dose.
You can also use repellents to drive them out of an area. The best one is made by Bonide it contains spearmint oil and peppermint oil. The repellents fill the area with the scent of spearmint, which doesn't smell bad to us but the mice hate it. This product comes in a 4 packet box or a 12 packet box. One packet will treat a normal size room and should last for 30 days.
Get yourselves prepared, stock up know and beat them to the punch. Have your poison or repellent out and ready to work for you.

Fall Is Planting Time; Pansies, Mums, and Perennials

Fall is around the corner and as the seasons change so do the plants. Pansies and Mums have just arrived and looking really good. Pansies are a cool season annual that grow throughout the winter and spring. Unfortunately, it gets to hot in our summers and they burn out. We have them in 4 inch pots and you'll want to plant them about 6-8 inches apart. I prefer mixing the colors but you can plant a solid patch of color. Pansies have a cute little face that really brightens up your gray winter days, how the peck out there head after a snow to say hello. To help the pansies stay healthy use blood meal when you plant. This is a slow release fertilizer that feeds the whole season. Blood Meal is a organic source of nitrogen, which enhances top growth. This will keep the pansies putting on new blooms.
Mums are a perennial plant that is used for fall color. some people put them in just for fall color and then pull them out. Mums will get quite large, we have had them get 24 inches tall and wide. However, they are a little brittle, the stem can break pretty easy. If you want to keep your mums over to bloom for you next fall you will have to pinch the buds throughout the spring and summer. Make you last pinch about the 4th of July and let them set bud to bloom in the fall. Feed mums with bone meal, this will help the set bud and develop a strong root system. During the spring and summer you will have to watch out for insects and fungus disease. These two problems are why some people will pull them out after fall. They also look like dead plants in the winter, this can detract from your landscape.
The final item is that the fall is a good time to plant those perennials you want to get started in you landscape. By planting in the fall the perennial will have all fall, winter, and early spring to get a good root hold, this will also enhance the blooming of these special plants. The main draw back to planting perennials in the fall is that the that the availability may not be real good. That special perennial that you want may not be able to be found. Also if we have a dry winter you will have to water those beloved plants, if you fail to do so they will rest in peace.
So when your summer annuals finally play out come pick up some pansies or mums. Bright you fall days with color that will keep you smiling all winter. If we can answer any of your questions or help you and any way please give us the opportunity, Farmers Grain Co. 102 W. 1st Edmond, OK 73003. Phone number 405-341-3310 or follow us on Twitter @ farmersgrainman. Email is also available @ csuenram@aol.com title it question for Chris.

Shade Grass Time to Plant for Best Results

This is coming into the best time to seed shade grass. Here we think of fescue and rye grass mostly, but your can also use bluegrass. We have about a 6 week window to seed, from about September 15 to October 31. Seeding rate depends on if you are over seeding or putting it down on bare ground. Over seeding it takes 3# per 1000 sq ft of area, on bare ground it takes 6# per 1000 sq ft area. With that being said some people like to seed heavier than this, the new turf type grass actually grow a little different than the older varieties. If you seed them to heavy they will start to shade each other out giving you problems in the summer months. Also planting to heavy can cause you some fungus problems due to the lack of air circulation around the grass plants. You can use a starter fertilizer with the seed if it is an organic like Milorganite, this will not burn your grass or your new seed. However the chemical fertilizers can sometimes kill the germ on the seed, so if you want to use those products wait until the grass seed has germinated and is about 1-2 inches tall before applying. Here is a list of a few varieties of grass that do will in this area: Kentucky 31 Fescue, Crossfire Fescue, Route 66, which is a blend of 4 grasses, Heartland Supreme, which is also a blend of 5 grasses, Creeping Red Fescue, and Perennial Rye Grass. There has been a new development in shade grass in the past couple of years. Now there are fescues that do spread by underground runners, rhizomes. The 2 blends list here have the new spreading fescues in them. Know for a very important point, Do Not Put Down a Pre-Emergent Herbicide prior to seeding your shade grass. Pre-emergents kill the germination of all seed, good or bad. If you have any questions about seeding or re-seeding shade grass please give us a call at 405-341-3310 or come by 102 W. 1st in Edmond, OK

Fall Deer Plot Mix

It is the middle of August and time to start thinking about putting in your fall deer plot. This year we have had some strange weather patterns. We have had more rain than normal in August. With that being said lets get to plot mixes. Many companies made up plot mixes, the one we carry contains; wheat, oats, annual ryegrass, columbian field peas and crimson clover. This mix comes in a 50# bag and will cover one acre of ground. This mix is good because it contains grasses; wheat, oats, and ryegrass, and legumes; field peas and crimson clover. These five seeds are all annuals and have to reseed themselves to come back. The oats and ryegrass will come up quick to give you early cover then the wheat, clover and field peas will come on later to increase the food value of the plot in late fall and winter. That is if the deer don't keep them grazed down. Some folks will also add some alfalfa to the mix as well as some brassica; rape or turnips. We have all these items as well as the individual seeds; wheat, oats, ryegrass, austrain winter peas, and crimson clover. We also carry chicory, brassica, turnips, and alfalfa. Don't forget about trophy rocks or deer blocks to help round out your arsenal. Let us know if we can be of help Farmers Grain Co. 102 W 1st Edmond, OK 73003 or 405-341-3310.

About us!

Farmers Grain Co. was started in 1922 as a grain market and feed store for the local community. Over the years the town of Edmond, OK has grown in area and population. And we have changed with the times. In the 60's we started one of the first lawn and garden shops in town. In the 80's we started making bird feeds for domestic birds and wild birds. Through the years we have since started making pigeon feeds. We are a family owned business that is in the third generation. Currently, we make bird feed under the Mild & Wild label and pigeon feed under the Continental label. We also carry a complete line of lawn and garden products. You can still get your livestock and pet food here as well. We grow some of our own bedding plants, hanging baskets, and perennial plants. We like to say that we are your Four Season lawn and garden solutions store. We are located at 102 W. 1st, just west of downtown Edmond, OK. You can reach us at 405-341-3310 or email us at csuenram@aol.com. Also, follow us on twitter, farmersgrainman. Look for more to come on lawn and garden control. For the last 2 years we have been working on converting our lawn care business to be completely natural, trying to get away from harmful chemicals. Check are progress.