When you are new to perennial gardening, one
of the frustrating things can be planning and
designing the garden so that there is something
in bloom all through the growing season. The
best way to ease the frustration is to plant
perennials that have a long bloom season and
those that have foliage that remains interesting
all season long. Here are a few perennials that bloom for an extended time
or can be cutback for rebloom: yarrow, coreopsis, Blue Butterfly scabiosa,
reblooming daylilies such as Happy Returns, catmint, gaillardia, hardy
geraniums, and salvia. Some perennials may not have a long bloom season
but their foliage remains attractive and interesting all through the growing
season. Try some of these perennial
favorites are ornamental grasses,
ferns, hostas, Lady’s Mantle, Lamb’s Ears, Coral bells, Artemisia,
Baptisia, and sedums.
Perennials for the Boulevard Garden
It can be tough to keep anything alive and growing on the boulevard except
crabgrass. Soils are generally dry and poor and you have the salt buildup
from the winter. But with a little attention to plant selection and some soil improvement you can transform a tough site into a spot of beauty for you and your community to enjoy. Before you do any digging and planting, call Gopher State One at 1-800-252-1166 and check your city ordinances for any restrictions regarding plant heights, etc. When you are ready to go, mix some compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to add organic matter and improve the moisture holding capacity of the soil. To prevent soil and mulch from washing out into the street, keep the final surface level an inch or two below the curb or sidewalk.
Try some of these proven boulevard performers: armeria, artemisia, yarrow, echinacea, rudbeckia, daylilies, hosta, Asiatic lilies, monarda, catmint,
Russian sage, garden phlox, veronica, lamb’s ears, asters, bearded iris,
liatris, and Autumn Joy and groundcover-type sedums. Many of these
are drought tolerant plant and have the added benefit of being attractive
to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Japanese Tree Lilacs
The last, but certainly not least, of our lilacs is
getting a start on blooming now. The large,
creamy white fragrant flowers will draw
attention to this tree for the next couple weeks.
The Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata, is
one of the best small trees for this area. It is
considered to be the most trouble-free of the
lilacs, making it well suited to urban areas and
parks, boulevards and small spaces. Like all
lilacs, it prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil but is pH adaptable and will tolerate a variety of soil types except one that is excessively wet. The Japanese Tree Lilac grows to 25-30’ in height and 20-25’ in width and is available in tree or clump forms. Other varieties such as ‘Ivory Silk’ and ‘Snow Cap’ have more compact tree
forms. The variety ‘Golden Eclipse’ is a compact grower with dark green leaves with an irregular golden margin. Like our other lilacs, the Japanese tree lilacs prefer full sun for best blooming; prune after blooming to remove the old flower clusters. Most varieties are hardy to Zone 3, making this a good choice for some of the northern areas of the state.
Yum! Hot Buttered Popcorn!!
Here’s an unusual plant that will interest and amaze you, the kids, and the neighbors: Popcorn Cassia (Cassia didymobotrya). This native of East Africa has foliage that smells of hot buttered popcorn when you run your fingers through the leaves. It is a fast grower with long pinnately compound leaves and tall spikes of dark, shiny flower buds that open to showy golden-yellow flowers that smell of peanut butter. It blooms most heavily late summer to fall. Plant in a sunny location and allow plenty of space for this plant; it develops multiple branches as it grows quickly to 6-8 feet in height and width. Water regularly for best results taking care not to overwater. Once established, the popcorn plant can tolerate dry, hot weather. The plant is attractive to bees and butterflies too. Allow the seedpods to dry on the plant, and then break open to collect the seeds. Save and share the seeds with friends and neighbors for next year.
What is Eating My Roses?
Our hybrid and shrub roses are being pestered
now by one of their common pests, the rose
sawfly. There are three species of sawflies
(Roseslugs, Bristly roseslug and curled rose
sawfly) that feed on rose foliage. The adult
sawfly is a small, non-stinging wasp, but it is
the larvae that do the damage. The larvae look
like small green caterpillars and may reach a
length of about ¾”. Rose sawflies feed by
scraping away layers of the leaf producing
damage that is called skeletonization. The remaining layer of the leaf turns clear or brown; the veins are not eaten and appear like a skeleton. Older larvae may chew holes in the leaves as well. Most often, the insect is found on the undersides of the leaves. While they make the bushes look rather bad, they seldom hurt the plants or affect the
blooming. Just prune after blooming and the new foliage and flower buds will emerge to make the damage less visible. If you choose to treat the pests, there are several options available. The simplest thing is to pick them off or squish them or dislodge them with a stream of water. If you prefer a contact insecticide, an insecticidal soap or Bonide ‘Eight’ will do the trick. Avoid spraying the rose flowers since many conventional insecticides are highly toxic to bees. Systemic insecticides will work on the sawfly larvae, but can affect the beneficial insects such as bees that visit roses too.
Garden Tips
• Fertilize container gardens about every two weeks with a
water-soluble fertilizer.
• Keep up with the weeding. Pull the weeds before they flower and set seed.
• Mulch to reduce weed problems.
• Watch for and control black
spot and powdery mildew on roses.
There are several fungicides options available.
• Continue to water especially newly planted landscape plants as needed to
help them become established. Trees can take five years or more before
they become well established.
• It is not too late to do broadleaf weed control for dandelions, etc. Avoid
using these products when temperatures near the mid 80s.
Be sure to read and follow the label instructions.
• Decide on your apple maggot management program. The adult flies
usually begin to emerge about July 1.
• Take houseplants outside and give them a good shower to remove
household dust. Do this in a shady spot so the leaves do not sunburn.
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.
