Have you ever wondered just who and
how a perennial is selected as an award
winner? The most prestigious award for a
perennial in the United States is to be
designated Perennial of the Year by the
Perennial Plant Association. Members of
the PPA are growers, educators and
researchers involved with perennials on a
daily basis. Each year they nominate and
vote for plants they consider long
blooming, low-maintenance and easy to
grow in a wide range of climates. When you buy a plant that has
earned this award, you can be sure it was thoroughly tested and
will grow well for the vast majority of gardeners in the country.
The 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year is Catmint ‘Walkers Low’.
Some past winners include Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’, Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’, Coreopsis v. ‘Moonbeam’, Veronica ‘Sunny Border
Blue’, Astilbe ‘Sprite’, Perovskia (Russian Sage), Penstemon ‘Husker
Red’, Salvia ‘May Night’, Echinacea ‘Magnus’ and Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’. Whether you are new to the world of perennials or an
old pro, these plants can be a valuable addition to your garden.
When to Stop Fertilizing
Fertilizer is beneficial to plants when it’s applied at the proper
rate, as well as the proper time. Many tropical type plants need
fertilizer throughout the year because they never go completely
dormant. Other plants, such as shrubs, evergreens and trees, need
fertilizer only at the time they are actually growing. Fertilizing at
other times is a waste of product, time and money and may actually
stress the plant.
Evergreens can be broken down into two groups for fertilizing.
Evergreen trees, such as pine, spruce and fir, put out new growth
in the spring and stop growing by June. Discontinue fertilizing
these trees by the end of June. Other evergreens, such as juniper
and yew, grow through the middle of the summer and can be
fertilized into mid-July. Do not fertilize any of these plants now.
Most trees and shrubs grow into mid-summer and benefit from
fertilization through mid-July. They’re on the no fertilizer needed
list now. Perennial plants can be fertilized into fall, but in August
and September use a low or no nitrogen fertilizer to enable the
perennials to build root strength going into winter. Continue to
fertilize annuals throughout the growing season. Lawns in our metro
area benefit from two applications of fertilizer–one in September
and one in late October.
Dividing Perennials
Early fall is an excellent time to divide many perennials or just
move them to a new spot in the garden. Many perennials can be
moved or divided in the spring as well, but some should be dug up
only in the fall. In August, iris and daylilies can be moved or divided.
Get this job done before September first so that these plants have
a chance to settle in before winter. Many other perennials can be
divided in early September, too; perennials such as hosta, astilbe
and phlox are a few of the successful candidates for this activity.
If you’re not sure whether a perennial can be divided in the
fall, carefully dig down one side of the plant. If the perennial has
a heavy, coarse root system, chances are it can be successfully
divided in the fall. If the root system is very fine, you would be
better off moving it in the spring. Another guideline says, “if it
blooms in the spring, divide in the fall; if it blooms in the fall,
divide in the spring; if it blooms in mid-summer, divide
either spring or fall.”
Fall-Blooming Asters
More and more gardeners are discovering the unique beauty that
fall-blooming asters bring to the garden with their array of hundreds
of small daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, blue, purple, red and
white. Bachman’s offers asters both as
non-blooming plants in the perennial
section and as fall color plants sold along
side chrysanthemums.
The fall color plants have been pinched
heavily and encouraged to bloom early. While
they are technically hardy varieties, they are
less likely to winter over than plants chosen
from the perennial section.
To maximize their chances to survive the
winter, plant them as early as possible. And be sure to check their
ultimate height before you buy. Some varieties are 6” high in the pot
but will grow to 3’ in the garden next year!
Did You Know?
Bamboo is the world’s tallest grass.
Tips
Right now take some time to walk through your yard and really look
at your lawn to determine if it needs seeding, fertilizer or aerating.
Fall is the very best time to make repairs and strengthen the grass.
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.
