Old-fashioned Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
and its relatives are “spring ephemerals.” Once the
weather gets hot and dry, they turn yellow and
disappear. Don’t be alarmed: this is a natural
process. You can prolong the plant’s beauty by
keeping it moist and by using a compost mulch to
keep the root area cool. It is also best to plant Bleeding Hearts where they will receive light shade once tree leaves appear. Underplanting with balloon flowers, daylilies or hostas will “fill in the hole” in the garden when the bleeding heart finally fades away. Not all bleeding hearts go dormant mid-summer; Ivory
Hearts and King of Hearts are more compact varieties with a
long bloom
season. Bleeding hearts are not the only garden flower that goes dormant.
Many of our spring wildflowers such as Bloodroot and Virginia Bluebells are spring ephemerals too. The showy Oriental poppy is another plant that makes
a show early in the summer only to go dormant mid season. Planting later blooming perennials like phlox and lilies near these plants will help fill the
void and keep your garden in color all season long.
Hummingbird Fun Facts
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the variety
that visits our area each summer. Both sexes
are iridescent green on their back and heads
and have a white underside. Only the male
ruby-throated hummingbird has a bright red
throat. They average about 3.5” in length and
weigh just an eighth of an ounce. The female
builds a tiny nest about the size of a walnut.
Typically, two pea-sized eggs are laid that
hatch in about 12-16 days. Poor mom loses about 20% of her body weight
while incubating and caring for her young before they leave the nest. Being a hummingbird is hard work; their wings beat 40-80 times per second and
their heart rate ranges from 250
beats/minute while resting to 1200
beats/minute while feeding. No wonder they are such active feeders!
To attract them to your garden, include several plants with tubular flowers that bloom over a long period of time. At first, they will be drawn to your garden by bright colors (red and orange). Once there, they will check out all flowers, no matter what color. Their primary food is nectar from flowers. In early spring, before the flowers are blooming, they often drink sap from tree wounds created by woodpeckers. Hummingbirds supplement their diet with insects for protein. There are numerous annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees that attract hummingbirds.
Fuchsias are great because they are one of the hummingbird’s favorite foods. Here are some others to try: nicotiana, four o’clocks, petunia, cardinal climber, salvia, verbena, coral bells, garden phlox, monarda, honeysuckle and trumpet creeper vines, weigela, hawthorn, and crabapples. See our care sheet ‘Attracting Hummingbirds’ for more suggestions.
Summer Lawn Care Basics
Now that summer is here, it is time to ease up on weed control and
fertilizing and just stick to the basics of mowing and watering. Mowing
frequency should slow as our “cool season” grasses respond to summer’s
heat with reduced growth. Set the mower as high as possible.If your lawn is kept about 2.5” to 3.5” high, the grass will be stronger and will naturally choke out weeds. Taller grass blades shade the root zone of the lawn, which keeps it cooler and healthier. Let the grass grow to 3-4” before cutting it back removing no more than 1/3 of the total grass height at any one time. If you come back from vacation and the lawn is way too tall, mow it in stages. Take off 1.5” the first time, and then mow again in a couple days. Doing all the mowing at one time gets the job done but is really tough on your lawn.
Watering is an important lawn care issue most summers, especially when
dry conditions exist. Lawn grasses vary in their ability to tolerate drought. Low-maintenance lawns can generally rely on the water nature provides. High maintenance lawns will need more. If nature doesn’t provide adequate rainfall - at least an inch per week (2 inches for sandy soil) - you will need to water.
Water so that the soil is moistened to a depth of 4-6 inches. Less frequent,
deep waterings encourage strong deep roots that are better able to gather food and water and tolerate drought conditions. In periods of extended drought, it is recommended that even low-maintenance lawns that have gone dormant should be watered lightly every few weeks just to keep the crowns and roots from drying
beyond the point of no return. If rainfall is adequate this summer, supplemental
watering is not necessary. Shut off the sprinkler system
and enjoy saving on your water bill!
Fertilizing and weed control are two lawn maintenance projects that can wait until cooler weather returns. Late August or early September is a good time to put down the first of the two recommended late season fertilizer applications. Our cool season grasses form new roots during the late summer and early fall so naturally, that is when the grass plants need the fertilizer the most. And although it can be hard to tolerate those weeds in the lawn, hot weather is not the time to apply any herbicides. Weed control now should be by pulling or digging the weeds. In the heat, herbicide sprays are likely to volatize and drift to non-target plants in your yard (or the neighbor’s) causing unintended damage. Hold off on herbicide application until late summer and early autumn. Post emergent herbicides are more effective in late season. The weeds will take up more of the herbicide as they are storing food in their roots for next year. Using the herbicide when it works the best is the most cost effective way to control weeds
and puts fewer chemicals into the environment.
Homemade Soap Sprays vs. Insecticidal Soap
It can be tempting to save a few dollars and make your own soap sprays to
control insects in the home garden. But before you do this, understand how soaps work on insects and plants. Soaps wash off the waxy cuticle layer of
soft-bodied pests like aphids and spider mites causing the bugs to dry up and die. Hard-bodied insects like beetles are less likely to be killed by soaps; other insecticides are available to help control their numbers. The leaves of plants
also have a cuticle layer working to protect them. A homemade soap spray will remove the cuticle layer from the leaves and will lead to water loss. Damage may range from browning edges and spots to leaf scorch and leaf drop. Even
the yield from plants such as tomatoes and cucumbers has been reduced and delayed by the use of homemade soap sprays. Horticultural insecticidal soaps are not the same as dish soaps, liquid laundry soaps or detergents. They have been formulated to control insect populations while preserving the cuticle
layer of the leaves and the health of the plant. Because of their low toxicity, insecticidal soaps can be used as needed without fear of build up on the plant or in the soil. While insecticidal soaps are more expensive than dish detergents, they do their job without plant injury when used as directed. Some plants such as impatiens, ferns, palms and succulents can be damaged by insecticidal
soap. Be sure to follow label instructions when using this or any insecticide.
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.
