13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

There is no need to use RoundUp for larkspur seedlings. They come out/break apart easily,
I do understand the possible need for deep rooted things that won't die to be killed by chemical measures such as RoundUp, but small shallow rooted seedlings do not need it.
Remy

Yes I think larkspur seedlings are very distinct and so you can take them out even when they are small (without waiting for it to really dinstinguish itself from something else you might want).

As for how invasive it is, I tend to like the flowers that reseed, so I'm not yet at the point of feeling like it is invasive. Less buying or planting work for me next year!

Thanks, all. Molanic, I like your idea of âÂÂfluffing upâ the dead leaves. I have such dense mats in there I know the snow crocus are struggling underneath. I pulled one aside today and there were buds growing sideways.

I always thought snow crocus were the first: but I have a large flowered one that starts a week earlier. Maybe thatâÂÂs what you have. The ones I have are named Crocus vernus Twilight, and are a rich purple. When they first bloomed, I surprised to see how large the flowers were, and disappointed, as I thought of crocus as being dainty. But now I really like them: the bright purple really glows, when everything else is still dull brown.

I am two hours straight west of Chicago and have lots of perennials poking through the ground right now. Even the peonies! So, it is easy to see where to walk. I did most cleaning up in the fall but still have to cut the dead stalks from the mums. I left those up hoping the mums would all come back and they did!

They probably survived because we had snow that started in Nov. and never stopped until a few weeks ago. Snow is a wonderful mulch even in the coldest winter.

seedlings do not grow steadily throughout their growth cycle - they grow in fits and starts (Like children).....and can often spend weeks in a minuscule state (lisianthus and browallia are dreadful for remaining minute seemingly forever) while others wait 2-3 weeks then romp away. In general, they will put on a growth spurt when transplanted (although again, they can stand still for a couple of weeks till they get over the transplant shock). Campanulas are also pretty notorious for staying titchy for weeks and weeks then bursting into growth. You have done the hard work (germinating them) so just sit back and let nature run it's course. As long as they are not actually yellowing, damping off, shrivelling, they will be fine - they have an innate growth speed determined by genetics as much as climate and conditions.....I have found that lights and heat have little significant difference in the time it takes for them to 'take off' and grow away......but grow away they will.
6-8 weeks is nothing - I have been waiting on some of mine since autumn, when they easily sprouted and have simply sat, for months, looking tiny (meconops, linum arboreum, eupatorium......while some are just emerging now (echies, primula wilsonii) but when they decide to put on a spurt, be ready for pricking out and potting on. Thinning, if thickly sown, is also a good idea.

Mine are growing at the right rate at this point and I started them late. My problem now is not having my vegetable plot ready to get them out there. It's always something. But the thought I had, was if you have seedlings that you are having to tend to indoors a long time, I'd recommend using a fan of some kind to keep the air moving and reduce any risk of getting any health issues and to make the stems sturdier. It's always made a big difference for me. Not in growth rate, but in helping them stay healthy and get stronger.

And here in zone 6a, we've had a few days to get them outdoors already and I've been moving them in and out. So when I ever get the vegetable plot ready to go, the plants will be ready to go in the ground.

Oh..and who fertilizes their seedlings? I have some fish/seaweed emulsion that I sometimes use. Isn't that worthwhile for a little shot of energy to the plant?

This post was edited by prairiemoon2 on Wed, Apr 9, 14 at 7:25

In your settings you can choose private browsing and also state to not be tracked. I use a Mac but I assume PCs have similar options. You can refuse cookies too, though most sites will not work without sending cookies. I also have my browser set to wipe its history after each session. Too many choices of things to set up.

Is there a "do not track" option for Internet Explorer like I see above for Firefox? I'd rather not delete my browsing history after each time, becasue it does save me time usually.

Congrats! I'm planning on doing some trimming on mine soon.... I'm anxious to see if mine was as lucky as yours but I also just don't want to know ha ha

That's great news, it gives me hope for my own bushes. I cut them back this weekend, but didn't find a bit of green!

I was recently reminded of variegated comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum 'Axminster Gold' by an email from a favorite nursery. It has nice large leaves with a bold cream edge and a rough texture. I haven't grown the variegated type, though I hear it is less aggressive than the all-green plants. If I were to plant this, I think I would plant it in a bottomless container such as a clay chimney tile. Perhaps someone else who has grown it can weigh in on whether it is less spreading, and if a container will actually contain it. My memory was that the spreading was solely via rhizomes, but I am not entirely sure of that.

Nhbabs, I grow Symphytum 'Axminster Gold'. So far, it has been a very well behaved clumper with absolutely no signs of spreading rhizomes. I don't think you would need to contain it in any special way. It is a very pretty and eye-catching plant, and definitely seems to appreciate supplemental feeding with organic nutrients throughout the growing season.

The other day I built a bench patio with some extra blocks I needed to store. The marjoram on the opposite side of the walkway had sprawled a bit, and I kept crushing it with blocks and feet. The work was hard, but the scent was nice. :)

Very interesting discussion.... Scent - and the perception on 'good' or 'bad' - certainly seems to be both highly individual and often situational/nostalgic. I love the scent of lilacs and Regal lilies - but mainly outdoors; both can be overwhelming indoors, especially in smaller spaces. But sometimes that powerful scent can be useful! Sixteen years ago I had some major surgery that left me rather befuddled for the first few weeks. I easily got disoriented/lost if I left my hospital room. My MIL knew I liked Regal lilies and sent me a bouquet of flowers that included them - no more getting lost! I could tell which way to go to get to my room by just stopping and sniffing the air for the scent of those lilies! :-) And the mention of manure above triggered nostalgia - but only if the manure in question belongs to horses! The scents when entering a horse barn/stable, especially on a cold day in winter, instantly conjures up the images and sensations from two cozy/comfort situations: myself as a child with my beloved maternal grandfather in the horse barn with two large, friendly draft horses; and myself in my thirties hanging out in the small (10 horse) stable where I kept Nutmeg! (A bit off-topic from gardening but scent covers a large territory!)

That's it. There's little I can't find locally.

I had Tubby Andrews about 10 to 12 years ago. The first couple seasons it stayed small and didn't grow much, but had some nice splashed leaves. After that it reverted mostly to green and eventually I just pitched it as the variegation was gone. I'm not much of a fan of Bergenia so didn't sweat it, but like most variegated plants I should have kept after it better and removed the green portions as soon as I saw them.

Oak trees - or any other plants - do not make soil acidic. Soil acidity is dependent on the underlying soil minerals and the amount of annual rainfall. Plants will only grow in that location because the soil conditions and climate are already to their liking. If you have questions about your soil pH, which can affect nutrient uptake, test - don't assume.

FWIW, lilacs generally never require fertilization. In fact, fertilizers can inhibit good flowering with this shrub.

Sorry, I don't have any advice because I also never fertilize... not even my roses. If the ground they've been planted in is optimum and well prepared, they'll do fine.

raehelen - That may be the problem. There are some online lists of plants which will not tolerate the toxic affects of walnuts, but I couldn't find corydalis listed as one, but I'm sure these lists are not comprehensive.

I did find this however:

"The black walnut stump will still be creating a toxic environment for all plants that are not tolerant of the chemical (juglone) they introduce to the soil. The toxicity extends well past the year of the treeâÂÂs death and if the stump is allowed to remain, the toxin will still be released into the soil from the degrading root system."

Kevin

While it lived I was prepared to live with it -- what else could I do? -- Robinia pseudoacacia is supposed to be toxic as well to other plants, and I was rejoicing because our new Chinese neighbors took theirs down (the birds plant them in the back yards hereabouts) in a frenzy of remodeling. But the big stump is still there -- a few feet from the property line, encased in concrete. I suppose the toxic roots are also still all over my yard. I have been weeding away suckers from the darn thing for years.

I do worry that without lots of greenery we won't have so many birds. Years ago there were many many more different kinds, including indigo buntings and goldfinches. Alas. Thank God for Green-wood Cemetery, a bird elysium not too distant from here. Well, happily the locusts don't affect corydalis -- to bring things back to the thread -- nor dicentra which romps alongside its smaller cousin (I suppose they are relatives they seem to have so many affinities).

Here is a link that might be useful: Green-wood

The bagged stuff is not going to hurt your plants but its to late for it to be any good for the bulbs. Most use a liquid feed for those or nothing at all. Can't answer the rhubarb question as I don't grow food plants.

I bet you could dump the whole bag around the rhubarb and it would only just start to feel happy. Rhubarb loves a rich soil.
I would avoid getting it on the crowns of your plants, but it's for the same reasons I wouldn't just dump dirt on the crowns. Putting it around the plants now is the perfect time, I'm sure they'll like it... And the worms too!

I think it's fine to move them at this point IF the soil is not too wet. If the soil is still quite wet, you could dig them and hold them in pots until the ground is workable. I wouldn't re-plant in soil that is too wet.

Well, no, never too early as long as the ground is not frozen, which it was a week ago. [g]

And it's going to rain tonightâ¦.good point. I think I'm going to have to hold off on digging and moving them. I'm holding bareroot roses, so I don't feel right to wait any more, I'm just going to pot up the roses instead to hold them until the bed is ready for them.

I would have remembered when I saw the rain, but thanks for the reminder ahead of time, mxk3. :-)

This post was edited by prairiemoon2 on Sat, Apr 5, 14 at 2:26