Greenhouse Garden Center with David Ruf

David Ruf, owner and manager of Greenhouse Garden Center said, "My job here is a little bit of everything. I buy supplies, answer questions, load items for customers - you name it."

He has been with the center full time for 22 years and part time 10 years.

"In 1974, my brother, my parents and I looked for a building and found this one far out of town - out in the sagebrush. Now it is close to the center of town," Ruf laughed.

During his 10 year part-time work interval, Ruf attended Colorado State University to earn a degree in nursery and landscaping, then worked in Colorado and Oregon for a while. He still attends ongoing education and teaches a class for Nevada Certified Nursery Workers.

"My father, Robert Ruf, was a professor at University of Nevada, Reno and taught nursery and landscape management classes. He lost the production grounds and some classes were canceled, so he decided to do what he taught. He found the property and we started. I was just knee-high.

"The business has grown to contain a gift shop with nicer additions for home accessories, a pond, water and plant department, statuary and planters plus containerized trees and shrubs.

"Since it is June, the gardeners should apply slow-release fertilizer, trim flowering shrubs after blooming, protect apples from coddling moths and get rid of aphids, beetles, bores and such by using a liquid, environmental friendly insecticide.

"A person who has a new home should apply a sulfur product to perk up the yard and darken the plants, prune and fertilize for new growth.

"Container gardening has become increasingly popular. Clay pots do not wear well, but other frost-proof containers are now available. There is a jell that holds water which can be added to the soil. It looks like large salt crystals, but expands to be a like a Jell-O cube. The plant roots grow into it. It may be used for vacation times, but must be put into the soil a month before needed. It is possible to grow tomatoes and other vegetables in containers, but don't forget we have strong winds that can blow the plant over. Choose heavy and large pots.

"Another pressing problem for Nevadans is saving ripened fruit from the birds - net the tree. Envelope the entire tree and tie it underneath three weeks before ripening. The gardener can buy colorful tapes to tie to the branches or put inflatable snakes on the branches to scare the birds away."

Greenhouse Garden Center has a schedule of special classes held each month every Saturday. Visit www.greenhousegardencenter.com to see what is going on.

The center has a large staff of experts who will go out to homes and advise on yard design or can work from a photo the customer brings in. They will point out the plants recommended so the customer can see them.

"I've seen it snow every month except August," Ruf smiled and said. "But the gardener must be ready for anything."

For information, call 882-8600.