Stunning, unforgettable and bold are a few of the many adjectives that can be used to describe hardy hibiscus. Once you have seen them in bloom, you’ll know it’s worth the extra work it takes to make them
perennial in our challenging climate. In milder climates, these plants are woody shrubs. Here, they die back to the ground each winter and, if protected, re-sprout late the following spring. To protect them during winter, simply cut them back to within a few inches of the ground after a killing frost in fall. In late fall or early winter, just as the ground begins to freeze, cover the crown of the plant with at least 12 inches of shredded leaves or straw. In spring, remove the mulch after the ground thaws. Hardy hibiscus are usually one of the very last plants to start growing again in spring, but your patience should be rewarded with dozens of colorful, plate-size blooms mid to late summer.
Hosta Flowers
What should be done about Hosta blooms? How long do you have to leave them on the plants? Should they be cut off or not? If so, when? There’s really no more mystery to Hosta flowers than to any other
flowering perennial. You don’t even have to let your Hosta bloom.
However, some have flowers that are very attractive and fragrant. The colors range through many shades of purple to white. The flowering
raceme can be very tall and slender with narrow, nodding tubular blooms or short and sturdy, bearing outward-facing flowers a lot like miniature Easter lilies. There is even a double-flowered variety, ‘Aphrodite’.
The bloom times vary from late spring to early fall. If you feel the flowering stalks detract from the beauty of the foliage, don’t hesitate to remove them. Even if you like the bloom, remove the stalks as soon as they finish blooming for good plant grooming and to redirect the energy they would spend forming seed to the leaves and roots. Remember that Hosta blooms make good cut flowers, so you can remove them from the plant as the first few buds open and take
them inside to enjoy.
Organic Mulches
Mulching is a valuable practice in the garden and landscape, especially during the warmest part of the growing season. Organic mulches are those composed of materials that were once living such as shredded bark, wood chips, hay/straw, pine needles or compost. In addition to suppressing weeds, cooling the soil and conserving moisture, organic mulches improve the soil as they break down. To get the most from an organic mulch, the area should first be weeded. Once the area is clean,apply a layer of mulch evenly over the soil, keeping it from direct contact with the stems or trunks of plants. Mulches are conveniently sold in manageable bags that can be quickly moved to where they are needed. If you need help calculating how many bags you will need, just stop by any Bachman’s information desk. If you tell them what size area you need to cover, they can tell you how much material you need for your project.
Dividing Iris and Daylilies
Late July to early August is the ideal time to dig and divide tall bearded iris and daylilies. Because iris borers are a serious problem with bearded iris, it is a good idea to dig and divide them each season. This provides an opportunity to look over the rhizomes and remove any borers and damaged tissue.
They can also be rearranged and replanted for a different display next season. Digging and dividing iris doesn’t adversely affect next season’s bloom. Other types don’t need to be divided unless you are trying to increase the number of plants.
As soon as the daylilies finish this season’s flowering, they can be divided if needed. Daylilies are usually only dug and divided to increase the number of plants. However, a few of the more vigorous varieties such as ‘Stella d’Oro’ need to be divided every few years. Left undivided, vigorous varieties will become crowded and fail to bloom as well as before. Both bearded iris and daylilies should be replanted by mid-August to allow them enough time to re-establish before winter. For more details, pick up a copy of Dividing Perennials, Bearded Iris and Daylilies.
Did you know?
Tomatoes and peppers are two of the newest foods to be cultivated on a large-scale bases around the world.
Tips
Don’t prune oaks and elms now it may spread disease.
Check tomato plants for tomato hornworm. These large green
caterpillars can eat a lot of tomato leaves.
Pick them off as you see them.
Coreopsis, feverfew and sweet alyssum planted in the vegetable
garden will attract beneficial insects, which in turn feast on pests such as aphids and whiteflies.
Upper Midwest Koi Club Presents Second Annual Koi Show Bachman’s Minneapolis, August 1-3 Join us this weekend as we celebrate 100 of the most beautiful koi in the region. Visit bachmans.com for show details and our FREE KOI AND POND SEMINAR schedule. You don’t want to miss this show! FREE ADMISSION
Flowers and gifts from Bachman’s make any day a special one. When you order your flowers or gifts online, you know you’ll be getting a beautiful fresh floral arrangement from a trusted florist known for outstanding floral design, plus quality and service.
If you’re sending flowers or gifts out of town, you can rely on us to choose the best florist from either the FTD or Teleflora nationwide flower network. Florists who can be counted on to deliver the best fresh floral arrangements and gifts, even when doing a same day delivery.
