13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials
I found out two years ago that this expensive plant is prone to foliar nematodes. I haven't ripped them out, since I do like the brightness they add to shady spots, but I rip off any affected leaves. Maybe it will help, maybe it won't, but it makes me feel better for the moment. :) And Ken is right, you can't rid your garden of them, and many plants are hosts, so I've learned to live with them.
in my z5 ....
it would depend on what fert .. absolutely no time release ... and it should be applied very sparingly ....
i used to collect roses years ago .. got up to 125 .. and fert'ed too heavy .. too late.. and killed about 40 of them once ...
a hyper-fertilized plant.. will go into lush vegetative growth.. at a point in time.. that it should be winding down.. and hardening off to a z5/6 fall/winter ... and when they do not harden off in late fall .. they rot ... rather than go to sleep ....
that said.. a little of this or that.. or a diluted foliar feeding should be a nice pick me up ..
just dont get carried away.. and think more is better .... and you can make up for something left out this summer ...
frankly.. if you have a moderately fertile soil.. you probably need nothing at all ... so dont get carried away .. they are not children.. and will not go 'hungry' ....
ken
stay away from nitrogen.. that is the root of the problem ..
look for a fert with numbers like this: 6-12-12
low nitro with a higher number for root growing ....
its the nitro that will force the fast late lush growth if too much is applied ...
i can get a 50 pound sack for about 15 bucks at the local feed lot store ...
ken
Up here one week of extreme summer heat, I think, suppressed the plants even in shady spots--so despite all the watering I did faithfully, so may plants here failed to bloom normally. I found this Bugbane on sale a week later probably because the garden center was bailing. Anyway, I'll mulch the base and hope for the best. The Snakeroot wants what it wants!
I've grown Cimicifuga racemosa for a long time and love it. It likes a good moist but well drained soil and doesn't care for competition with tree roots, so that could be a problem in front of the yew. There seems to be some confusion between this plant and cultivars of Cimicufuga simplex, which include Hillside Black Beauty, Black Negligee, Brunette, Atropurpurea, Elstead, White Pearl etc. Cimicifuga racemosa is an entirely different native species, earlier blooming, green-leaved and generally more robust. The flowers have a slightly unpleasant smell but nothing to get worked up about. It's a see-thru plant, so will work anywhere in a border, including the front.
Absolutely it has happened. One day, I planted a Zebrina Hollyhock that I had bought that day for eight dollars. The next day, I went out to my garden and couldn't find it! I thought maybe I was looking in the wrong spot but no, I saw a flat to the ground stumpy area that was the remains of the hollyhock.
Since I have many perennials and flowering shrubs I thought it strange that a RABBIT would single out one plant that was wildly tasty and delicious and of course, brand new.
Thankfully, I have not had 2 legged thieves but the four legged and flying do just as much damage.
Thank you wiselaw59! I am pretty sure its an Aster divaricatus... It looks and sounds a lot like this variety:
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/25/index.htm
Its growing and blooming happily in dry shade!
It took me a few tries to find this thread I remember reading years ago.
Siberian Blues Dianthus is definitely mauve and not blue. My Fama Blue Scabiosa is more of a blue/purple, depending on the time of day and how old the bloom is.
Brunnera is a gorgeous light true blue. There is nothing else that I've seen out there like it. Cranesbill Jolly Bee is a bit bluer than Rozanne. I grow both and at times they look exactly alike. I think a lot depends on the heat and the time of year. I bought an annual salvia at a greenhouse this year called Patio Deep Blue and it is a very, very intense blue. I hope they sell it again next year in case I don't get seeds to save from it. Another nice blue salvia is Salvia Black and Blue. It is normally an annual in our zone, but I've had my plant for three years now.
Linda
I have to have Hawaiian Blue Eyes for next year.
Betty
Here is a link that might be useful: Hawaiian Blue Eyes
It is one of my favorite pot plants, both the lovely little blue flowers and the slightly fuzzy, silvery foliage. I have grown it for years, often managing to overwinter it indoors. Unfortunately, mine died last winter and I didn't find any locally this year. I have hopes for next year, but if I can't find it in my neighborhood garden centers, Avant Gardens carries it and I will mail order it.
http://www.avantgardensne.com/catalog/product.cgi/1/70/3809/P1/default/N/0
When I reviewed my list of blue perennials yesterday and didn't find any, there was something about the list I couldn't quite put my finger on. I looked at it again today and it hit me - they're 90% for mostly shade. The full sun ones are all too tall.
Where i live there are many tall fir trees and during winter storms branches get broken off. I sit and watch; smiling as I see all that free stuff falling from the sky. In early spring, I fire up the shredder (electric) and 'harvest' the gift from Father Winter.
The wild grasses here get chopped down before they can set any seed and I mulch the strawberries with the straw.
About 3 years ago a friend was cleaning up their mother's place to sell it and delivered many bags of trimmings which were piled out back. I'm now harvesting piles of brown gold (compost)
I never turn down 'free'
I love fall leaves as mulch. I get plenty where I am and use the leaf blower/vac to shred them. So easy to use and they shred very well too. If I want them really shredded any more I can just dump the leaves out of the bag and resuck them up. The more you do this the finer the leaves.
I use them as mulch, and also use the rest for my compost piles. I don't waste any.
I also don't rake out the leaves come spring. Just leave them in place and let them decompose on the spot.