With a little bit of help from you, Stella d’Oro can be the most prolific daylily you have ever grown. The key to getting the most from these beautiful plants is threefold. First, you’ll need to keep it fertilized during the growing season. That can be easily accomplished with an
application of Bachman’s Garden Food
10-20-10 in early spring and again in early summer. Then, when they are blooming, look them over every 3 or 4 days and remove any flower scape (stiff stems) that has finished blooming (doesn’t have any unopened buds). Those scapes should be cut off as low as possible. The third piece to this puzzle is to keep the plant young and energetic. You do that by dividing it every two or three years so it always has room to grow. Stella d’Oro is such a vigorous grower that when left undivided for very long, it tends to crowd itself out and bloom less. Division is best accomplished with daylilies in early August, so now is the time. And, like all other daylilies, Stella d’Oro performs best when planted in a sunny location with well-drained soil
Clematis Wilt
Clematis wilt is a condition that seems to affect large flowered,
spring-blooming clematis more than other types. The wilt can cause the entire plant to collapse or just one shoot. The plant will be dry, even if the ground is moist. Wilt can hit a healthy plant overnight causing the plant to become limp and eventually brown. Don’t confuse the drying off of the lower leaves in the heat of the summer with wilt. Wilt starts on the
tips and moves down the stem. There are many theories as to what causes the wilt but scientists don’t have an answer. Many suspect a
fungus; others think it maybe animal damage. Still others think it’s genetic related to hybridization of the clematis. Good news is that the clematis rarely dies from the wilt. Studies have shown that clematis, even those taken by wilt, will re-grow from the root (in some cases it’s the following season). Sometimes the clematis will sit out a full season and sprout two years after it was taken out. The secret to getting clematis
to survive an attack is to plant it deeper than it was in the container. Clematis should be 4” to 6” deeper than what they were in the pot. If clematis wilt does take out the top of the plant, mark the soil with a stake and don’t disturb the root. If you feel a fungicide is needed, use Infuse® on the clematis before the problem develops.
Russian Sage
Have you been driving through the neighborhood the last few weeks
seeing tall misty blue spikes in people’s gardens? Well, the plant you’re seeing is commonly called Russian sage. Russian sage is relatively new to our gardens. As the name implies, it is a hardy sage
native to Russia. The plants botanical name can be a mouthful. Perovskia (pe-rof-skee-a) is a tall, semi-woody perennial that can grow up to 4’ tall. Select varieties can bring the height down to 30”.
Perovskia like well-drained soil and are very drought tolerant once established. They prefer no additional water during the summer, so plant Russian sage with other perennial like rudbeckia, Echinacea and prairie grasses. This plant does best in full hot sun, so give it what it likes. Perovskia will bloom July-September. After the first killing frost, cut the plant down to about 12” to 18” above the ground. The woody stems will produce buds for the next year’s growth.
Rust on the Lawn
Have you ever walked through the lawn in late summer/early fall and ended up with orange feet? The problem is a fungus called rust. It can attack all types of grass but perennial ryegrass is most susceptible. Rust appears as an orange powder on the blades of grass when the weather is dry. Rust typically develops on lawns that are growing very slowly. Low nitrogen and low water availability slow turf growth, allowing rust to develop. Warm, cloudy, humid weather followed by hot, sunny weather also favors rust development on lawns. Maintain lawns through sound watering, mowing, and fertilizing. Water early in the day so the grass dries quickly. Increase vigor with Bachman’s fall fertilizer. When rust occurs in late summer, improved growing conditions often get lawns growing more vigorously and the rust fades away. There is a fungicide called Infuse® labeled for rust, however fungicides are rarely suggested on home lawns for rust control.
Focus on cultural practices for a more practical solution.
Tips
Read and carefully follow all label directions on garden products.
Plants don’t need pruning unless there is a good reason to do so.
Some common reasons to prune a plant are:
Branches are too low. Branches overhang sidewalks and driveways.
Branches hang over roofs. Thinning out a fruit tree.
Plants need shaping. Too big. Going after a sculpted look.
Prune only to improve the plant, not just to prune.
Itching to prune something, get your hand on these now:
Weigela, Mockorange, Stephanandra ,Japanese Yews
Watch for powdery and downy mildews as well as rust on garden plants. Spray a fungicide on susceptible plants before the problem gets out of hand.
Look for fungus on:
Monarda, Phlox, Hollyhocks, Scabiosa, Lilac and Roses
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.
