13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

I think I'm moving into early summer at this point? I don't know. I really need a better selection of perennials, but I keep banking on my roses filling in enough that I won't really need that much.

Just some assorted dianthus for now, and my wisteria, which has decided to bloom like mad.

Lovely blooms!

Wow! Thank you so much, Marlorena! You have taken all the mystery out of it! I think I’ll try it both ways: as one long piece, and a piece cut up into sections.

I ended up just using a shovel to split mine, as in the bull in a china shop method I mentioned on the other thread. They all look great.

I still have more to divide and am definitely going to try cutting the roots into sections like Marlorena. Lots of space to fill. Thanks for the pictures!

Floral_uk, I think your original thesis around "invasive" is an extremely interesting one, but I feel it deserves more than speculation.

From my involvement in gardening, I tend to see gardening in terms of the Little Dutch Boy with his finger in the dyke. But is the sea invading the land or is the dyke invading the sea?

To the latter, I do agree that what I take to be gardens are temporary. As they say "Gardens die with their gardener" or, without knowledgeable and diligent intervention, very soon thereafter.

Entities that sell garden implements and packages of stuff have an interest in "educating" the public about aaaaaaall of the little tasks they're "supposed" to do to "control" plants and the wildlife in their yard. A guy with a Scottish accent is constantly on TV commercials reminding everyone to "feed" their lawn (almost certainly a monoculture of non-native grass, if in the US.) And the Roundup commercial constantly reminds that you're delinquent in your duties if you have a dandelion on your property, or anything growing in a crack in pavement.

Foundation shrubs are the biggest mystery to me. Most people hate to do anything in their yard, but most houses have them, usually meatball or hedge-shaped. When they don't get mangled often enough, then it becomes a "creepy house" where shrubs block most of it, especially the windows.

By cultural in origin, I took that to mean learned behavior, following the cultural norm. I've read a couple books about this, how government and garden associations, the golf/turf industry, has gone to great lengths to influence the attitudes of homeowners and appearance of neighborhoods, at least in the US. Most municipalities have laws about "weeds" growing above a certain height. A front yard full of native wildflowers would likely get attention from an enforcement officer in most incorporated areas. There is a definite attitude and assumption that, through the miracle of products and implements, one *can* (and should) control nature.

In the US, this seems to have started with the first boatload of pilgrims, who cleared native vegetation to have a spot to grow the edibles they knew from the mother land. Then they started chopping down the biggest trees to build things.

I also reserve the term invasive for non-native plants that have gone feral and displace natives.

In my experience when I formerly used shredded wood mulch or now just using shredded leaves, weeds are going to germinate and start growing on top... Regardless of what's below the mulch (soil, plastic, landscape fabric). These are easily pulled or you can use a variety of tools to ruff up the mulch and expose their roots to the air. For me the only weeds that would work their way through the mulch from the existing soil are dandelions. Organic mulches just reduce the weed count and make weeding easier.... But the don't elimate them.

Thanks, everyone. Will just plan on a little weed pulling time after work....will replace a workout that evening :-).
Mxk3 and Diggerdee - I especially like the rake idea, too!

I don't have a problem with seeing the foundation; I just think visually there needs to be something taller, under the windows. I had also thought of a trellis of some kind, not necessarily an obelisk, against the house with something climbing. But I still think I would go with a taller evergreen, for winter interest.

BTW, you mentioned roses - is this a sunny spot? I see the hostas, so just curious. The amount of sun will obviously affect your choice(s).

It faces west, so gets full sun for roughly half the day. There used to be a maple in the front that made it shader at one time, but it had to come down.

Oh right- cardiocrinum envy time rolls around again. Once more, I have to sip the bitter taste of failure (not to mention the green lash of jealousy). Years of waiting though. I am already committed with the bloody martagons and sprengeri...and forgive myself the lack of patience or stamina...and then you post those pics again and I am back to cursing my failure as another year rolls by in indolence and apathy

Camp, do give them a shot it should be easy peasy for you, the var. 'yunnanese' the one with the bronzy new foliage blooms from pups in just a couple of years in fact I had one bloom this year it was separated from the mother bulb only last year. They really aren't that difficult, I think your climate is pretty similar to mine so you shouldn't have a problem. Mine are planted at the base of a mature Robinia tree, no special attention and they are thriving.
Annette

We've had tons of rain, and my echinacea is drooping! It is several years old and very health otherwise. What can I do?

everything that was suggested in the 7 years of answers above ... ken

@floral_uk - yes, it is a buddleia alternifolia. We bought a house 2 years ago with large gardens but head-scratching placements. This beauty is in a back corner of one of the beds that get am sun that turns into shade around noon and then gets late day sun around 5-6 to sunset. When we first moved in and cleared out the 5' tall weeds that had overtaken the beds (the house was vacant for over 3 years), there wasn't a single bloom on this plant. The second year there was one. This year - you can see how many blooms there are now. I read that this can be "sloppy looking" which I can see how that is. I was trying to prune it to be bushier, but I've seen pictures of buddleia alternifolia (fountain butterfly bush) where the branches have a weeping or fountain-like look. That will now be my goal.

Yes - this one will never be bushy. It's natural growth habit is very lax. In fact it might even need a stake to keep the main stems up straight so the 'fountain' can cascade down effectively. Yours appears to be growing back into its natural form now. It can look great planted on top of a retaining wall and allowed to hang down. When not in flower it is a bit drab but still provides a nice foil for other stuff.

catkin, it is in a dappled shade in the spring (with not all of the leaves on for the surrounding trees), but by mid June it definitely experiences lots of shade (maybe too much) through most of the day.

pennlake, has it survived previous winters in your garden? It is for sure a late riser in my area. Don't give up hope!

I always grow them on the allotment anyway, so no problem there. Blimey - you already have flowers? Mine are sitting sulking at less than a foot tall. They look as if they resent being asked to make the effort to climb the netting. I also get my seeds from Kings.

My 'normal' ones are just a bit taller than yours Flora...but have started doing that thickening of the haulms which always signifies a growth spurt...and yes, one tiny Erewhon bloom - while the self-sown ones are romping ahead, easily 5 foot tall with lots of flowers.
I bought a huge tranche from Nickey's nursery when she had a sale on for the Olympics (65p for 30)...still working through the stash...but yes, I also use Kings seeds or, when buying species lathyrus, Roger Parsons or Owl's Acre seeds have been good for me.

Grand rapids area?

Zeeland.

I routinely get some five footers in my patch of ostreiches - that corner has a rather prehistoric look about it. They're really up now, but yellow out and die back in September so I'd probably question a 7' height over the short course of our growing season. Anything's possible, and 4' isn't unreasonable.

Wherefore art thou, Kevin?

Looking good!

How about maybe a wrought iron medallion of some sort centred between the trellis?

I know you want summer color but have have you thought about spring blooms? For color, you could put creeping phlox or candytuft (white) on the corners, and maybe the center too? They are very colorful and can be cut back neatly after bloom.

For fall color I would suggest asters...you could place in back corners.

You coul have all season color :)

My beds are all 36 inches wide or less, and I have plenty of perennials and annuals in them. It really can be done. :)

Perennials I have had in them for 3+ years (counting this year):

Penstemon mexicali

Veronica Sunny Border Blue

Day lilies

Hydrangea Mini Penny

Scabiosa

Foxglove

Gaura lindheirmeri

Salvia Heatwave

Dahlias

Asiatic lilies (they spread but can be moved)

Garden phlox

Columbine

Balloon flower

Coreopsis

Dianthus

Blanketflower

Spiderwort (in shadier conditions)

Newer ones Perennials (1-2 years):

Gladiolus

Shasta Daisy

Penstemon Red Husker

Canterbury Bells

Now, I am not sure how these would work with your sun/shade and the brick wall...but, I have had no issues with these guys in my 24-36 inch wide boxes. It looks like you have a plan, but I wanted to throw these out. :)