Hello, I am a fairly new gardener and I am looking for suggestions for some perrenials. In my backyard I get mostly full sun and in my frontyard I have shade. I also would love to plant a lilac in my backyard but I have no idea which is the best variety for scent and one that will do well in my area. Any suggestions would be appreciated. One more question......is there any type of ornamental grasses that do well in shade because most things I have read said they are sun lovers? Thanks.
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[B] /B]
[B]Best of success with your cannas. Come fall, remove the top growth, pot them up or store them bare root. I think I dealt with more details in another posting - you might want to check it out. Otherwise, I'll ensure that I'm available for questions or submit an article concerning cannas come fall.
Now, when you're talking butterfly plant are you thinking buddleia? That's the shrub with [usually] blue flowers. Out here on the Coast, they grow wild along the riverbeds and HUGE in gardens. Most people cut them back hard every spring. My Mom has one I gave her [I didn't have room for this potential monster] over 8 years ago. It's still going strong and is not in a protected spot at all.
However...out your way is a little different. The newer cultivars - the yellows and pinks - aren't usually as hardy as the species. Well-drained soil and a protective winter mulch should add to the longevity
If you'd like to give one a try, I'd suggest you ammend your soil [with barkmulch dug in to aid drainage and moisture retention - it's a case of that gardening oxymoron: moist, well-drained soil] and try a basic version of buddleia. It is a native plant, so coddling shouldn't be necessary - just the occasional deep drink until it's established.
Come winter, prune back the bush to about 2 - 3 feet. Protect with a leaf or other mulch. Springtime, prune back again to about a foot - some people wait until new growth starts to do the second prune. Make sure it's done early so the plant can grow from a stronger base.
Don't ever use pesticides on a buddleia [not even diamataceous earth] as it could harm your intended guests - the flutterbys. The adults eat the nectar from the flowers. If you want to encourage babies, remember that they start out as pesky, munching caterpillars. A good food for them is Asclepias [butterfly weed]. The babies munch on the leaves so don't expect perfection in a naturally functioning garden. Happy Butterflies! [/B]
yes mine is a buddleia with abundant blue flowers...did very well over this last summer...attracted all sorts of things...even a few hummingbirds which surprised me as they usually go for the red flowers...u must bear in mind that this garden of mine is just a year old this summer so all plants are beginners....i NEVER use pesticides (at least not so far) as I prefer to use natural things ( I dig my dandelions out too)...the neighbours just spray everything and it gets my goat...just laziness far as I can see..but there isnt a gardener among them..
I cant fathom anyone not relishing being outside making things grow..I also peppered my flowerbeds with tomato plants last year and kept the neighbourhood well fed...
You mentioned a curly willow?...is that anything like an "arctic willow"? I planted one of those by the pond too but I fear it gets a tad prolific and I will need to divide it maybe this summer...are u familiar with a Mohican Wayfaring Tree?? That was a new one to me but I hadda have it...if I keep buying at this rate...will soon have to move to accommodate all the plantings...love the oxymoron...keep em comin'
I don't know what I'd rather read about - though I know what I would prefer to be seen to read about! With three sons, you may want to shelve the tell-all idea entirely, or use a pseudonym. I can see the cover in my mind's eye: "Wendy - Undug", or perhaps "When the Wild Seed was Sown".
I don't think that catching the grasshopper reference tells as much about my intellect as it does about my age - and yours too! Though "old", at least I am in good company. Sorry to say, however, that my tell-all would put a reader to sleep - I guess I could call it "Insipid Dreams".
I have been to a Walmart garden centre and know exactly what you mean. They had the yellow peony I couldn't afford at Hole's (presumably the equivalent of Minter's) for a great price, but it looked beyond help. I prefer to shop at places owned by local people anyway, so I have no reason to go back to Walmart!
I will be grateful for your help. I have already made notes from some of your advice to others. It is generous of you to share your wisdom. I hope that you are able to build yourself a nice little business, doing what you clearly love. In the mean time, at least your soul is well fed.
Best of success with your cannas. Come fall, remove the top growth, pot them up or store them bare root. I think I dealt with more details in another posting - you might want to check it out. Otherwise, I'll ensure that I'm available for questions or submit an article concerning cannas come fall.
Now, when you're talking butterfly plant are you thinking buddleia? That's the shrub with [usually] blue flowers. Out here on the Coast, they grow wild along the riverbeds and HUGE in gardens. Most people cut them back hard every spring. My Mom has one I gave her [I didn't have room for this potential monster] over 8 years ago. It's still going strong and is not in a protected spot at all.
However...out your way is a little different. The newer cultivars - the yellows and pinks - aren't usually as hardy as the species. Well-drained soil and a protective winter mulch should add to the longevity
If you'd like to give one a try, I'd suggest you ammend your soil [with barkmulch dug in to aid drainage and moisture retention - it's a case of that gardening oxymoron: moist, well-drained soil] and try a basic version of buddleia. It is a native plant, so coddling shouldn't be necessary - just the occasional deep drink until it's established.
Come winter, prune back the bush to about 2 - 3 feet. Protect with a leaf or other mulch. Springtime, prune back again to about a foot - some people wait until new growth starts to do the second prune. Make sure it's done early so the plant can grow from a stronger base.
Don't ever use pesticides on a buddleia [not even diamataceous earth] as it could harm your intended guests - the flutterbys. The adults eat the nectar from the flowers. If you want to encourage babies, remember that they start out as pesky, munching caterpillars. A good food for them is Asclepias [butterfly weed]. The babies munch on the leaves so don't expect perfection in a naturally functioning garden. Happy Butterflies!
Dreamer..I'm glad you get my sense of humour. The slower ones usually give me a blank look, then I proceed to "dumb down". I try very hard not to intimidate when I pull out the Latin - I'm just trying to "share the love"
Thank you for asking...Yes, I'm in the industry. Last year, I started a little home-based business called Wendy's Recycled Gardening. I grow perennials and planted containers - hanging baskets too. I also dabble in gardenart and love to do custom garden design. I'm on a medical disability [but can still dig with the best of them] so my business funding is negligible. Response to my work has been fantastic and very envigorating. I've finally discovered these garden forums and have had a blast helping others find the right plant solutions.
My work experience includes being perennial dept. head for Brian Minter's store [the BEST - my fav job ever] to startng a garden center for our new Wal-mart [HORRIBLE - they treat plants the same way they do laundry soap...employees even worse] I've also spent some years doing nightclub and concert promotion AND done craft fairs for countless years [rather a diverse combo].
During all that I also managed to go through two ex-husbands and raise three beautiful, TALL boys.
I've always contemplated writing a book - it was going to be a "tell-all" about my life on the nightclub circuit. I've since considered my gardening knowledge to be the better contribution to humankind.
I've let it be known to the locals that I dole out free advice if you come to me. If I have to travel, I do charge a fee [still much less than others might]
Keep that golden pen of yours poised - you never know when I may be of need. Thanks muchly for your interest and lets see if I can't help you create your best garden ever.
thanks for your input...I will try the cannas again...this time i will dig them up in the fall...I love them...but the astilbes really annoy me....I watered deeply and they are in shade so it could be the soil...or maybe they just dont like me :( but I am stubborn so will keep at it..by the way...is it true that the butterfly plant is almost an annual? I keep reading that they dont last longer than a few years? Such a shame cause they sure do attract butterflies etc...and its such a pretty plant...but not all THAT cheap to constantly replace
though I have a long way to go before I could snatch the seed from your hand.
Wendy -I hate to risk drying up the hose (golly these gardening puns are fun) but are you working on a plant book perchance? Are you at least employed in the horticultural business? Some people get paid for such invaluable advice!
You have great wit as well as knowledge - can I perhaps write a letter of reference to accompany your application for a job writing the gardening column for your local newspaper? My thumb isn't very green but my pen can be golden!
You're right about Lois Hole's book. I got a magazine-style one years ago and felt it's one of the better ones. Anything from Rodale Press [Organic Gardening Magazine] or Dorsley-Kindersley [spelling?] are super-fantastic.
Organic Gardening broke the story about the poison in pressure-treated wood more than 8 years ago. The rest of the Gardening industry is just starting to catch up now.
The D-K books are like mini encyclopedias - Way cool
White flowering plants in the shade is one way to go. White flowers don't last as long as the others - they fade faster. They're also supposed to be the worst for allergy sufferers too. They do glow so beautifully in the evening though.
I usually concentrate on leaf color and texture in the shade garden. Flowers are an extra treat.
I have to agree with you abt Lois Hole's perrenial book. It is my favorite. It is my gardening bible. I really like lily of the valley but that was what was in our front shade garden when we moved in and it was taking over so we had to dig really deep to get it all out (hopefully anyway--we may see it again this year). I love the look of solomon's seal and would like to try it. It is really pretty. I am waiting until all our snow moves to take a pic of our front garden area to see if all you talented gardeners can help me with the layout of the plants. I am definitely going to plant hostas, ferns, astilbe, and grasses. Although, I don't want it to look too busy so everything just blends together and you don't focus on any plant. Also, for some reason now I am thinking I should only use white flowering plants in a shady area. Any preferences for colour in a shade garden?
Edmonton
OK, Ladies....
Both Solomon's Seal and Lily of the Valley are good choices. Their only drawback is that both if them aren't guaranteed to hang around all season. If conditions are optimum, they'll stay, otherwise they go dormant early.
I have a mini version of the Solomon's Seal - it's just starting to poke it's head up. the Lily of the Valley is a mid-spring bloomer and POISONOUS - watch out for the kiddies.
The bleeding hearts you mentioned are probably the exima varieties of Dicentra. This is another "ghost" plant that can disappear part way through the season. The Eximas, if grown in deep shade, will keep blooming through the summer. It's smaller than the regular bleeding-hearts and white - but one of my favs.
My only dilemma with shade gardening is that I sometimes forget about some of the real shade workhorses. I could go on almost indefinitely about plants from the darkside.
Keep up the good works, Grasshoppers!!
Schatzi..
That's too bad about those cannas. I'd be reallly surprised if they survive - but you never know. Between their foliage and flowers [and the fact they like wet feet] they are truly something else.Try...Try again.
About those astilbes...They'll take sun, prefer the shade and MUST have sufficient moisture. You want to encourage a good, deep root system.
If you water a little bit every day, the water doesn't go deep enough and just stays near the surface. The plant's roots stay near the surface too - leading to drying out. A better technique is to give long, deep drinks 2 - 3 times a week. Soaker hoses do an excellent job. Today's new irrigation systems are much cheaper and easier to work with.
I too am on a learning curve when it comes to gardening, but I have two other suggestions for your shady garden - Solomon's Seal and Lily of the Valley. Solomon's Seal is a beautiful arc-ing plant with little white bells - I love it. I also love Astilbe and I have a great Rayflower in a shady bed, with leaves the size of dinner plates and a flower spike that is about 6' tall - very impressive if you need some height! Ostrich ferns grow to an impressive size too, if you need a space filler. I love my fern-leaf Bleeding Hearts, too
You should get Lois Holes book on perennials - remember Lois is working in our neck of the woods AND you can go to Hole's and find the plants she refers to in her book!
What do you think of these ideas Wendy? Any comments that would be helpful to both of us learners?
re:canna lilies...oh no!!!! now u have me worried...we had 2 gorgeous cannas around our pond last summer and heard so many different ideas on how to get them ready for winter...my mother in law said to just cut them to the ground and leave them in...well...seemed the easiest idea so thats what I did......sounds like I may have killed them...darn...and they were sooooooo beautiful...never had them before and I was amazed at the colours and how fast and tall they grew...if I did manage to kill em...be sure I will replace them...and u mentioned astilbes...we have had them in our last 2 homes (in the shade) and both times they died while everything else thrived...i watered them often ...maybe they are just not for me...but they are so beautiful but this is getting costly to replace them all the time
It is always nice to hear of someone translating a onetime hobby that was loved into a career. Congratulations on your success!!!!!!!!!
I appreciate your appreciation. As it happens, I do work in the industry. I started as a plant enthusiast [self-taught] then got hooked up with the very talented and knowledgable Brian Minter. Went from a lowly planter to head of the perennial and herb dept. I sorted all the perennials by light requirements, then alphabetically - by Latin. There's a great way to learn you plant names.
I moved on to the Wal-Mart seasonal dept and headed up their garden center. What a mistake that was - they treat plants the same way they do laundry soap... not good.
Last spring I decided to open my own little business. I call it Wendy's Recycled Gardening. I reuse nursery pots [haven't bought a one yet] and get many plants from my own garden. I love being able to spend money on plants and write it off as a business expense.
I also utilize "found" materials in perennial planters and dabble in landscape design and gardenart. I work out of my home and our new local Farmers' Market. Met a whole bunch of like-minded people and we're having a blast.
Thru it all, my favorite thing is to share what I've learned and to spread the love of gardening and appreciation of nature [I'm starting to sound like a public service announcement] Talk to you again soon - I'm not usually allowed near the computer this long [teenage boys]
Wow, thanks. I wish you were my neighbour! I am thinking you must work in the plant or landscape design business. Or maybe just a gardening enthusiast. Your info has been very helpful and I am so glad there are these forums. I will start reading up and watching gardening shows when I can. So far my favorite book has been Lois Hole's perrenial book. It has been easy to read and understand.
This is kind of off the topic, but do you know of any plants that repel carpenter ants? They are in our area and yard and are a bit of a concern. I have read peppermint plant but is there anything else?
Thanks again....................
Triangles are a landscape design basic - what a good way to start. The other great thing about gardening is that doing what you WANT to do is the RIGHT thing to do.
Pick symetry and your place can look like a public showgarden. This is actually more difficult than it looks and not appreciated nowadays.
My personal choice is natural assymetry. Much easier to work and you can make up the rules as you go along.
To give you recommendations of plants, I need to know your site exposure [south, north].
Cimicifuga [bugbane] is a lovely, tall shade and moisture lover. 'Brunette" is the most popular variety and can be pricey. It does make quite a statement with its dark, ferny foliage.
Important thing to remember is that in spring, the huge plants are the last ones to emerge from their winter nap. It can seem as tho they didn't survive but they make up for it in no time.
Watch the gardening shows on TV. Groundforce [from BBC] is excellent - lots of ideas from a true expert. Victory Garden, Gardeners' Journal and Gardening by the Yard. Watch all of them out there and then decide what suits your style. Magazines are a definite must. All the latest info is in them. Check out the Library or swap with friends.
Believe it or not, the recommendations on the plant tags are usually right - but they're talking mature size [1-2 seasons from planting]. Every good gardener will tell you that they move plants around all the time - except in the intense heat of summer.Empty spaces waiting for the perennials to fill in can be planted with annuals - eventually, you won't have any more room for them.
See what the plants look like from all angles - from inside, in the yard and from the street. Keep checking as they grow. I've even moved plants just a few inches and was much happier.
With trees and shrubs, its best to get them in the right spot as early as possible. Don't let that stop you from moving something - just get to it. Potted plants can be planted any time the soil is workable. Its best to move the "woodys" when dormant or early spring. Water well after and supplemental water up to three seasons. Failure to do so causes the most deaths of young trees and shrubs.
I look forward to filling your head with more silly gardening nonsense.
Thanks again! It is nice to have someone to ask for ideas and help. I get so excited about gardening as soon as it gets even close to Spring. It seems the last few years have been trial and error and although I am learning from it I never feel like anything looks exactly beautiful.
I guess a main problem I have every year is the layout. How do you decide the layout for plants? How close do you plant everything? The distance shown on the plant care stakes always seems too far apart. Is symmetry or no symmetry best?
My front shade garden is a distorted triangle shape . Two long sides and one short side. One long side runs against the house under the front picture window, the other long side is curvy and along the grass edge and the short side runs along the walkway and beside the stairs to our front door. Should I plant horizontal like the line of the house or plant diagonal like the front curvy edge goes? If you have any suggestions or can give me any suggestions for a gardening book that explains this simply then I again would be really appreciative.
One more thing(sorry) have you ever planted cimicifuga(snakeroot) and what do you think of it if you have? I remember I wanted to get one last year but didn't.
Thanks and bye for now!!
I have lots more to share - I'm still anewbie at this computer thing. I've just discovered this site and will check it often. Type to you again!!
I'm glad I was of some help. Shade gardening is my favorite [and plants are my life]
Astilbes [false spirea] are a wonderful group. Their main consideration is MOISTURE. they will take any light but need the water. If it should dry out during the season, just cut it right back..look after it and it will send up more new growth. I learned this year [from a professional grower] that hostas can be treated the same way. They get cut back mid-season when the foliage sometimes looks ratty. Before you know it, you have a brand new, beautiful plant.
Thank you very much for your suggestions. I will look up all the plants you suggested. I am really excited about getting our front garden done this spring. I was having trouble deciding what shade plants to choose. I will definitely plant hostas and maybe some ferns but I love the look of grasses and spiky plants and I had no idea about what to choose. We have a fairly small front yard that is three quarters grass and last year we dug out the last quarter and made a curving flower bed. We have one flowering crabapple and the whole front yard is surrounded by 4-1/2 feet high trimmed hedges. We really need some colour. I love your ideas for joe pye weed, purple coneflower and some geraniums (I didn't know there was a perrenial variety). I had recently been reading about astilbe so maybe I will try some of those too for colour. I really appreciate all your help!
Happy Home, new gardener!
Perennials are a great way to have your gardening $ go farther. Investment early on, gives you lots of stuff to divide - and even give away [or trade with new-found garden buddies].
A small, first-year plant [purchased or from seed] will fill out by its second season - many sooner. It'll even become more firmly established than starting with a bigger one.
The most important considerations are cold-hardiness and light requirements. You also want to try to group together plants with the same moisture needs for easy irrigation.
Lucky for you - most hostas, sedums and grasses are OK for your area. You don't want to invest in a plant that you find won't last your winter. You buy annuals if you want to break the bank every year.
A grass for shade: hakenakloa aurea [Japanese grass] A lovely green and golden striped grass that likes moisture and the shade - it turns whiter the more sun it gets. Alot of the carexes do well in the shade - buchananii, comans, frosty curls [I was surprised].
Perennial geraniums are another group to look at. There's one [ger. phaem] that, if it's in complete shade, gets a beautiful big, brown blotch on it's leaves with delicate brown flowers in early spring. It self-seeds, but is easy to control. Echinacea [purple cone flower] and eupatorium [joe pye weed] also do well in a shady situation.
Make sure you choose proper plants for your sunny areas - I've seen more plants fail due to too much sun and not enough moisture.
Ensure that when watering you give long, deep drinks about twice a week [not everyday]. This encourages deep root systems that will survive year to year. With perennials...it's all about the roots.
n/t ---no text.............just a correction