Perennial Care

Here's a novice gardener's basic step-by-step guide to dividing a perennial plant. The baby in the pot will be content "planted" right in the middle, until it's adopted out.s and take a pictures seven times!) If I‘ve made three new five-dollar plants...

Soil must be very well drained, as the stems will rot in consistently wet soil. Reader comment is invited regarding the use of Mexican oregano in cooking.Perhaps Mexican oregano is right for your garden.

Once established, the plants can take almost anything that the climate dishes out except for water-logged soil. Sometimes, though, aphids line up on the slender stems. By the following morning, these flowers will be spent and another group will open a...

Too many plants are available that are capable of adding sparkle, crackle, and pop. Fireworks are plentiful this time of year, but not only in the night sky. Many sparklers, firecrackers, and other aptly named plants are available to add sizzle, pop,...

Simply sprinkle the seed onto prepared ground and pat lightly to ensure contact with the soil, or cover very lightly.One of the delights of growing purple coneflowers is their long bloom period from summer until fall if deadheaded.

From this resemblance comes the common name, ground oak. After it was established I planted it in the landscape in a sunny area with particularly poor soil where it continues to thrive.Gopher apple is an important plant in the ecosystems of the coastal...

These natives of Asia were once only available in shades of orange and yellow, but hybridizers and back-yard breeders have developed a rainbow of colors, in a vast number of shapes and heights.

With a few minutes in the garden, you can have a like-new plant to give to a special friend or exchange for a different garden specimen. When the water has soaked in add a bit more dirt, if needed to level the area, and mulch.

From tropical iris to those needing lots of cold, you can trust there is an iris that will meet the need of the soil, climate, and moisture you can throw at it. They come from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americans, and the Middle East.

If you're an avid Heuchera fan, this book provides information on the history and background of the Heuchera family as well as "extensive listings of the choice listings and hybrids available commercially" [²]Another recently published book written by...

He didn't, deciding to stay in the air-conditioned comfort of the van.Back to the hibiscus at hand. The blossoms, which are dinner plate in size, do not appreciate wind. I gave the lady a few I had in pots out back to take home with her.

For the back of the border, they are second to none! As long as they have steady access to soil moisture, Ligularia will provide you with the ultimate plant for Big, Bold and Beautiful!

There are even double-flowered forms. Most gardeners are familiar with bellflowers from the genus Campanula. Perhaps not all of you are familiar with their close relative, the Chinese bellflower aka balloon flower, of the genus Playtycodon.

If phlox is not presently a part of your garden, now may be a good time to look at garden catalogs and place your order for some of these highly adaptable plants. Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil is preferred.

It is time to dig and divide again. This time all the dark green plants that have emerged will be removed and only the desirable variegated ones replanted. The old ones seem to die down, or perhaps the newly emerging blades hide the dead and dying ones.

Your comments are welcome, but please be aware that authors of previously published articles may not be able to promptly respond to new questions or comments.)The genus is named in honour of Franz Karl Mertens (1764-1831), a professor of botany in Bremen,...

Each cluster may have up to 100 florets, and the stalks may reach up to 6 feet or more tall in some species. Even dried flower heads are attractive and can be used in dried arrangements.The thing is to not let the confusing nomenclature keep you from...

Spicata are 'Foxy Lady', 'Royal Candles', 'Red Fox' and 'White Icicles'Often considered as hybrids are the cultivars 'Sunny Border Blue', 'Pink Damask' and 'Eveline' Popular cultivars of V.

Never take a short cut because, in time, you will have paid twice the blood sweat and tears.Every three years is the golden rule of most iris. The moral – do it right the first time.

Growing perennial seedlings is easier than you may think. Sowing your seeds directly in the desired garden location is the easiest method, but the plants won't bloom until their second season.

I carefully loosen any roots encircling the rootball. There have now been over 100 named varieties introduced since 1901. Place in well-composted soil, and water well until established.The first named Shasta daisy developed by Burbank was ‘Alaska'.

With the recent surge of new cultivars this plant will be with us for many years to come. S-bill, bassinets, Loving Andrews (after Saint Andrews, the Patron Saint of Scotland), Gratia Dei (Grace of God) and OdinThe plant was valued for its blue flowers...

It is a matter of how much you want to spend to start with. While most irises never have this problem, some bearded iris tends to have major issues with bloom out. But if you are planting others, Bearded Iris for example, they will have early season,...

Second best is to buy them mail order after you have seen them in person. Getting the right form and shape of an iris is critical if you want a real show stopper. We have seen the millions and endless millions of online sites with their photos of all...

They point out that it is either anor interfamilial cross, since Verbena and Phlox are in separate families, albeit within the same order, Polemoniales. Thanks to world-renowned horticultural firm, GGG (Unternehmensgruppe Gruenewald), based in Europe,...

Dividing these plants will help keep them from overwhelming their neighbors.Make more plants. Overcrowded perennials often have fewer and/or smaller flowers than their well-spaced and divided counterparts.

Modern classification of the species includes incurved, reflexed, pompon, anemone, spoon, quill and spider types. Such “football” mums feature impressively large incurving blooms and are specially grown by florists for size, shape and color.A member...