Planning a garden that looks
beautiful from May to October is
difficult, but not impossible. You’ll need to select plants that can
contribute for a very long time. Some of the best choices are listed here:
Monarda (Bee Balm)
Hollyhock (Alcea) & the Malvas
Echinacea (Cone Flower)
Achillea (Yarrow)
Salvia (Flowering Sage)
Dendranthema (Shasta Daisy)
Shrub Roses
Hemerocallis (Daylily)*
Dianthus (Pinks)
Sedums–‘Autumn Fire’ & ‘Autumn Joy’
Anemone hybrids*
Asters (begin late July)
Coreopsis
Cimicifuga racemosa*
Eryngium
Eupatorium
Gaillardia
Geranium*
Liatris
Nepeta
Polemonium*
Solidago
*Plants that will grow in dappled light
Coreopsis, a Great Native Plant
Many varieties of easy-to-grow
coreopsis are native prairie plants that thrive in Minnesota perennial gardens. They can tolerate heavy soils and dry weather. Most of them have large, daisy-type flowers in shades of yellow, gold and orange. The variety “Sweet Dreams” has bicolor ray flowers that are circled by a raspberry band that turns pinker with age. Coreopsis “Limerock Ruby” has masses of rose-red flowers that keep
blooming all summer. You’ll need to treat “Limerock Ruby” as an annual in our climate but it’s a great addition to the garden.
Coreopsis varieties range from 15” to 24” tall. The plants
prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Coreopsis blooms from June
to as late as September and makes a great cut flower.
Good Advice
We have had many, many calls about moving peonies now. Please understand that it can be done, but that this is the worst possible time for the plant. If you must transplant, dig the new hole first, take as much of the plant’s root ball as possible and cut off half the foliage before the move. Plant the peonies at exactly the same depth they were at, water well and do not
fertilize. Shade the plants for a month or so to protect them from the hot sun–you can use an old umbrella or plastic deck chair, for example, to shield them. If you do move your peonies now, you may miss several years of bloom. Peonies are best moved in late September or early October, after the first hard freeze in fall.
Planting Container-Grown Trees
A wide variety of deciduous trees are now grown in
containers, making it much easier to plant them throughout the growing season with very little risk to the tree. To plant a container-grown tree, gently remove it from the pot. If there is any resistance when you are trying to take it out, either squeeze the container to loosen it or cut the container away. Once out of the pot, examine the tree’s roots and trim off any that have been injured. If the roots appear to be circling, make several cuts 1/2” deep along the side of the root ball to break the pattern. Then examine the trunk to find the root flare, the spot where the
roots begin to grow outward from the trunk. When planted, the root flare needs to be at or just below ground level for the
optimum health of the tree. After planting, water the tree
thoroughly and apply a 3” to 4” layer of mulch, staying 3” to 4” away from the trunk.
Did You Know?
Avocados are the world’s most nutritious fruit.
Tips
Pruning tomatoes
Removing side shoots from tomatoes results in earlier fruit
ripening but less quantity.
Houseplants
Almost all houseplants will benefit from a summer outdoors. Move houseplant to a shady, sheltered location so they will adjust to the outside. Check moisture levels daily until a
watering routine is established.
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.
