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| [x-posted to the MN Gardening forum]
I planted my "perennial" tulips quite deep last Fall. I am hopeful they will return next year. The leaves of the tulips have finally faded and I realize I need to plant something over top of them to help distract from the fading leaves and add some mid-season interest. I want to use something I already have and can split. My choices are: Bearded Irises, Lady's Mantle, Moonbeam Coreopsis or Yarrow. I guess could also use some Autumn Joy Sedum, but I hadn't planed on splitting any of those yet. My tulip patches are separate from the rest of the garden beds, so it should be something that looks ok as an "island". The biggest patch is only 2' x 4'. I wanted to put the irises in one of the spots, but a friend thought that would not be a good idea over tulips. I think the Lady's Mantle will crowd the tulip leaves before the get a chance to fade naturally. That same friend has some big hostas I could have, but I think they would do the same thing. What do you all think? Thanks, Elleni |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I would not plant anything over the top of the tulips. If the tulips were in clumps though, like little bouquets, you could then plant perennials around them. I really don't even think any annuals would be good planted 'over' them as the annuals would likely need watering throughout the season, more than what nature would bring. I gave BF some cosmos to plant in a small bed around his light pole. I knew he would not water them much, if any after planting and mulching them, so they would have to fend for themselves. He said he hasn't watered them, but then again it has been an unusually wet spring this year. Would plants in pots work for you maybe? Sue
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Here is a link that might be useful: Cosmos Produces Cosmic Beauty
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| Thanks for your reply, Sue. The area I have is just a small circle under a Shepard's hook-- about 3 feet across, probably no bigger than your boyfriend's lamppost "bed". I know that I need something that will do well with little water. The Yarrow I have to spare currently lives in the middle of the lawn and is forced to survive between lawn mowings on water from Mother Nature. I think the Moonbeam Coreopsis would also do alright under those conditions. The Coreopsis is neater, but there is more Yarrow to fill in the space more quickly. |
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| The Coreopsis is neater, but there is more Yarrow to fill in the space more quickly. I have yarrow, and it does spread quickly, but it is from a mass of underground runners. I think you might be putting your 'perennial' tulips at risk, by planting something with such an aggressive root system. How about maybe a shepherds's hook, with a bird feeder hanging from it, and maybe a bird bath,(on the ground) and/ or an angel or a fairy? I like a little whimsy in the garden too, like maybe a concrete Santa, or even pink plastic flamingos. How about a garden banner, which could be changed out with the different seasons/holidays. I'm guessing these areas are maybe 'out front' as opposed to being in 'the back'. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Flag banner
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| Hum, I kind of wondered about the runners. You are probably right... The spot is in the back yard. I'd rather plants than lawn ornaments. How about daylillies? I have several dwarf clumps that could use a new home. |
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| I usually plant an annual over the perennialized tulips in my raised "gravel" bed (soil thinned & mulched with rough gravel). The tulips have returned well for six years now. I use something like portulaca from little 6 packs from my local nursery. They require little water in the summer and are easy to plant into the surface of the soil. |
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| I second the vote for annuals to plant over a bed of tulips. The roots of annuals are usual shallow so don't interfere with the bulbs underneath them. Pick an annual that doesn't require too much watering, although some supplemental watering shouldn't hurt your tulips. If you want to plant perennials in your tulip bed, how about some low growing groundcover type such as Veronica 'Georgia Blue'? or one of the low geraniums such as G. sanguineum 'Elke' (pink) or cantabrigiense 'Westray' (purple-pink)? |
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