HORTICULTURE COMMITTEE
In liaison with the staff horticulturist, the Horticulture Committee monitors the landscaped areas on campus, suggests ways in which they can be enhanced, and assists in maintaining public gardens.

MEMBERS
Chair: Mary Rodgers;  Secretary: Nancy Shipman; Treasurer: Nancy Connell; Committee Members: Area Representatives for specific cottage areas and apartment buildings (21), Lead Gardeners for the community perennial beds maintained by residents in public areas (7) and all interested residents who attend HC meetings.

In each residential cluster, the Horticulture Committee has a representative who is available to answer your garden questions.

Guidelines for HC Area Representatives:

Qualifications: a love of plants and the desire to help coordinate outdoor plant-related activities in particular residential areas.
Tasks and Responsibilities: availability to attend Horticulture Committee (HC) meetings at 1 pm on the 3rd Thursday of March and September, location TBA,  willingness to orient and inform new area residents regarding HC activities/guidelines; serve as the “go to” person for residents in an assigned area; assess local landscape needs and submit requests for attention to the KCC Horticulturist; coordinate horticulture activities and plans for public areas with area residents, the HC Chairperson and the staff horticulturist; refer residents who need help with their private garden to a list of helpers.

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Special Gardens
Around the campus are a number of community perennial gardens that enhance the beauty of our campus. They are maintained by residents. More volunteers are welcome.

The Gazebo Garden is between two wings of Firbank, and also can be accessed from a gate in PL4.

Penny’s Garden is next to the library and can be seen from the hallway near the café.


The Audland Fountain Garden is between Audland and Firbank West, and includes a patio. It can be accessed from the hallway near Life Enrichment and from the gate leading through an extension of this garden to PL4.

The Ellerslie Garden surrounds Ellerslie House beyond the pond, near PL9.
The Dyer Garden is on Crosslands Drive next to the covered walkway near Dyer.

The map of Special Gardens:Fullscreen Mode

There are two resident-run committees which work with the KCC Grounds Maintenance Department in monitoring the campus plantings. A Horticulture Committee in each community monitors the landscaped (turfed) areas with the KCC Horticulturist, and a Natural Areas Committee in each community monitors the natural areas with the Grounds Supervisor.
• Working with new residents before they move in, the extent of private garden area is negotiated between the new resident and the KCC Horticulturist in one of the following ways: the area is left intact, the area is returned to grass, or the area is expanded to a 4’ – 6’ distance from the building, at the expense of the resident.  Before residents institute any subsequent major changes, the KCC Horticulturist will review the extent and detail of the plan to make sure that neighbors whose views may be affected are in agreement with the proposed expansion of private garden space. Shrubs and perennial plants are encouraged but trees in private garden spaces are not appropriate.
• Cottage residents and those with ground-level apartments are responsible for the planting and maintenance of their private garden space
• All plant trellis installations are to be self-supporting; not attached to wall or siding. Patios may not be painted, have carpet glued to them or have pavers or bricks mortared to them. Any changes to patios must be approved by the Grounds Supervisor.
• Out of consideration for neighbors and the impression made on visitors to our community, the resident is responsible for maintaining the attractive appearance of his or her garden. Excessive, visible weeds or plants in poor or overgrown condition are to be tended to in a reasonable period of time. The resident is also responsible for the appearance of his or her garden area when away for extended periods of time. During the growing season, he/she should arrange for someone to care for his/her private gardens, both front and back. The Horticulture Committee has published a list of possible outside workers willing to assist residents at a cost.
• We recognize that a resident’s ability to maintain a garden may change during his or her lifetime, and encourage residents to consider garden designs which call for modest upkeep. Residents are encouraged to talk to their horticultural area representative or the KCC Horticulturist who can offer advice on low maintenance garden designs.
• If residents desire to have all or part of their garden simplified or turned back to grass, the Grounds Staff can do this for a fee.
• Garden debris should be placed in biodegradable bags to be composted.
• Plastic plant pots and trays should be placed at the left-hand side of the AFSC shed in PL6, to be recycled.
• When a resident moves from one apartment to another, he or she may transplant plant material from the old apartment to the new one, up to the exit date. However, he or she should inform the Grounds Supervisor of what is being done and the ground should be left level.
• Outdoor faucets are intended to be shared between adjacent units.
• Campus plantings beyond the private garden areas are considered common ground, and personal bird-feeders or other private belongings should not be displayed on the turfed areas.
• Other than the above, when an apartment is vacated all plant material should be left in the garden. Any exception must be discussed with and decided by the Grounds Supervisor prior to the apartment being assigned to another person.  In all cases any expense involved must be paid for by the resident or by the person settling his or her estate. All holes must be filled in and left at ground level.
• Programmed mowing of the natural areas is planned to control invasive plants and their edges should not be disturbed by dumping of debris or by the addition of any plants.
• Your Horticulture Committee Area Representative will be glad to help you if you want or need further advice

Many residents enjoy having help with their gardens. The guidelines for these gardeners follows.

• Garden helpers are responsible for disposing of garden waste in appropriate locations. Garden waste and organic debris can be dumped at the brush dumpster located near the salt shed in the maintenance area. Only waste generated from KCC residence work will be accepted. Empty plastic plant pots & trays should be placed at the left side of the AFSC shed in PL6. We are trying to separate organic waste from trash and plastic. All other trash should be disposed of in the garbage dumpster. No trash or debris should be disposed of in the collection sites located near trash rooms or bus stops. These are for resident use only. DUMPING DEBRIS OF ANY TYPE ALONG THE WOODS’ EDGE IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

Garden helpers should follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidelines in considering use of herbicides or pesticides.

• Garden helpers are prohibited from driving on turf. It damages the grass, compresses the soil and crushes tree roots. We require vehicles to remain parked on the road or in parking lots. In limited circumstances, when the grass is strong and trees are not close, light weight vehicles may be permitted to drive on turf but ONLY with the expressed permission from KCC Grounds. Call Grounds ahead of time to schedule. Garden Helpers will be responsible for the cost of repairs or replacement for any turf, plant or structural damage.

• All work being done for the resident client is to be done within the footprint of residents’ personal garden space only. All grass, plants and trees outside of the defined personal garden area are the property of Kendal ~ Crosslands Communities.

• All material such as rocks, mulch and pavers that are stored in the Maintenance yard and any other storage areas are for the exclusive use of KCC Grounds Department only.

• Hardscaping: patios may not be altered in any way without authorization from the KCC Grounds Department. The use of bricks or concrete anywhere requires prior permission from the Grounds Department.

Call Casey Groff ( Grounds Supervisor &  Staff Horticulturist) at 610-388-5558  with any questions or suggestions.

Area Garden Centers within 30 miles of Crosslands

Nursery/Greenhouse Address in Pennsylvania Phone #  Comments
Brandywine Ace Hardware 1150 Pocopson Rd @ 926, Pocopson  610 793-3080  $$ Abuts Pocopson Post Office - limited stock 
Breezy Ridge Greenhouses 995 Street Rd., Oxford 717-529-5574 $ Closed Sun.  Cash or checks
Chadds Ford Greenhouses 1450 Baltimore Pike,  Chadds Ford  610 459-4795  $$ Excellent for house plants and annuals 
Gateway Garden Center 7277 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE  302 239-4675  $$$ Full Service, Native plants
Groff's Plant Farm 6128 Street Rd., Kirkwood 717-529-3001 $$ Closed Sun. Charge. Huge selection.
Kennett Garden Market  922 W Baltimore Pike,  Kennett Square  610-444-0155  $$ Wide selection, great prices, friendly service 
Lone Pine Greenhouses 2149 Kirkwood Pk, Kirkwood, on Rt.472   $ Closed Sun.  Cash or checks
Maple Shade Greenhouses 451 Maple Shade Rd., Kirkwood 717-529-6001 $ Closed Sun.  Cash or checks
Pratt's Greenhouses 634 Hillendale Road, Avondale  610-268-2084  Reasonable prices 
Redbud Nursery S Providence Rd, Media  610 358-4300  Native plant nursery 
R-P Garden Center 640 Unionville Rd,  Kennett Square  610 444-1116  $$ Closest to Crosslands 
Saginaw Ridge Greenhouse 316 Saginaw Rd., Lincoln University   $ Closed Sun.  Cash or checks
Terrain Garden Center 914 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills  610 459-2400  $$$$ Includes a gift shop and café

Need Help with your Garden?  Below is a list of people known to provide garden services to Crosslands residents, as of September, 2022.  Residents who hire helpers must be sure that the helper is aware of and will follow the Guidelines for Garden Helpers,  shown in the next tab.

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Planning Resources for Gardeners Fullscreen Mode

DO NOT ADD THESE PLANTS TO YOUR GARDEN!

The following non-native ornamental plants have become invasive. They crowd out native plants and become impossible to eradicate.
Vines: Japanese or Tartarian Honeysuckle, Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Hops, Oriental Wisteria, Akebia, Virgin’s Bower.
Trees: Autumn Olive, Bradford or Callery Pear, Norway Maple.
Shrubs: Privet, Burning Bush, Japanese Barberry, Butterfly Bush, Japanese Knotweed, Multiflora Rose.
Perennials: Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Iris, Common Daylily, Lesser Celandine, Garlic Mustard.
Ground covers: Vinca major and minor (periwinkle), English Ivy, Euonymous, Lilyturf.

DO PLANT THESE
Examples of some natives: Baptisia, Sporobolis, Amsonia, Agastache, Echinacea, Heuchera, Asclepias tuberosa, certain Aster and Solidago cultivars, Chelone, Coreopsis, Gaura, Gaillardia, Lobelia, Hibiscus, Dicentra, Liatris, Phlox

Desirable Non natives: Lavender ‘Phenomenal’, Iris, Helebore, Caryopteris, Ceratostigma, Delosperma, Perovskia, Nepeta, Salvia, Stachys

 Common Name  Latin Name
 Allium  Alium
 Aster  Aster
 Bee balm  Monarda
Butterfly weed Aesclepias
Catmiint Nepeta
Clove Pink Dianthus
Cornflower Centaurea
False indigo Baptisia
Fleabane Erigeron
Floss flower Ageratum
Globe thistle Echinops
Goldenrod Solidago
Helen’s flower Helenium
Hollyhock Alcea
Lavender Lavendula
Lilac Syringa
Lupine Lupinus
Lychnis Lychnis
Mallow Malva
Milkweed Asclepias
Mint Mentha
Pansy Viola
Phlox Phlox
Privet Ligustrum
Purple coneflower Echinacea
Rock cress Arabis
Sage Salvia
Sea holly Eryngium
Shasta daisy Chrysanthemum
Snapdragon Antirrhinum
Stonecrop Sedum
Sweet alyssum Lobularia
Sweet rocket Hesperis
Tickseed Coreopsis
Zinnia Zinnia

Scroll down to view Deer-resistant Woody Plants, Perennials, Grasses, Plants for Containers, and Berries for Birds, as well as Deer-deterrent Products.

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DEER BROWSE PRODUCTS
# PRODUCT NAME PRIMARY INGREDIENT DIRECTIONS
1 a) Plantskydd* – granules 100% dried blood Sprinkle around plants
Strong odor dissipates quickly
May leave faint pink dots on
white/pale flowers
1 b) Plantskydd – liquid Dried blood and water Do not dilute
(already diluted for use)
2 a) Liquid Fence – liquid Putrescent whole egg solids Shake onto plants.
Good for deer & rabbits garlic, sodium lauryl sulphate
2 b) Liquid Fence – granules As above Spray when dry/monthly
Good for deer and rabbits
3 Tomcat Animal Repellant Sodium lauryl sulphate, Do not dilute
(already diluted for use) peppermint & garlic oil Spray every 2-3 weeks
Smell less unpleasant – use near doors & patios
*used by KCC Grounds
COMMENTS
See more extensive directions on containers
Unpleasant smell at first, suggest being “upwind” when applying.  Smell soon dissipates
All products are harmless to plants and animals
After drying, all products are rain resistant
Deer can become acclimated to a particular repellant over time, so rotate them!

Map of Crosslands with Red Dots for Yard Waste Placement

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