IT’S SUMMER, NOW WHAT?

LET'S TALK ABOUT DEADHEADING PERENNIALS (it's all Part of pruning)

(by the way, I tend to use mostly common names but I will make more effort to add the Latin as well... for this newsletter, bear with me while I get the process down first. ... and thanks). YOU'LL NEED A FEW TOOLS: Like hand pruners (secateurs) or hedge pruning shears DEADHEAD: (cutting away dead flowers) Like these: Echinacea (Cone Flowers) Monarda (Bee Balm) Peonies Roses Sedums Yarrow Iris

Remove faded blooms as soon as you see them - Otherwise,the plant puts energy into making seeds instead of blooms.

DAISIES,IRIS,CORAL BELLS, FOAM FLOWER, & HOSTA

Cut back the bloom and stem) they won’t often re-bloom... but tidies the flower bed

DIANTHUS When done blooming, it has a nasty hairdo with dead ends.... chop them back to healthy leaves and many will surprise you with more blooms.

HYDRANGEA,PEONIES or LAVENDER - bloom at a the tips of their stems so cut back down the stem to a healthy set of leaves. Take enough off but still leave the plant or bush attractive... obvious bare spots won’t grow back this season.

ROSES:

cut back down the stem

to a 5 leaflet

and a new bud will be there.

You can also do this with CAMPANULA, ASTER, ECHINACEA, RUDBECKIA, SEDUM and even PENSTEMON. The idea is to control the height of the plant and its bloom

FOR EXAMPLE: In a bed of PHLOX - cut back the front plants short, the middle taller and leave the back. Now the blooms will cascade upward instead of all being at the top.

The growth of the lowest ones will be thick and bushy, hiding the often bare legs of the tallest Phlox.

This works with ANNABELLE HYDRANGEA too.

PENSTEMONS grow tall - and if they are in the front of the border, chop them in half or more and by late June they will still flower, but shorter. Rather like the "Chelsea Chop"...

LAMB'S EARS also benefit from a trimming... tidier as the spent blooms turn brown.

LILIES - just cut off the dead blooms and leave the green leaves

TIDY any plants that throw out random stems, have dead blooms or dying leaves and keep your perennial garden neat so it will bless you with more blooms.

AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE GARDEN "THUGS"?

What does that really mean?

First, the nitty-gritty form the experts.

Let’s find out.

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council says: "Invasive species are plants, animals and micro-organisms found outside their natural range, and whose presence poses a threat to environmental health, the economy or society." (Government of Canada, 2004)

Each country will have its own definition

But let's start with these:

NON-NATIVE - brought in deliberately or accidentally by humans, transport or animals

INVASIVE - not always non-native - takes over easily if we aren’t careful

AGGRESSIVE - all plants, can take over if we let them

VIGOROUS - outgrows pets and small children in a season - ‘nuff said

Here are some unique Terms

Plant Catalogues use with

Ursula Chautems' own interpretations,

- Canadian Gardening Magazine - 2006

TERRITORIAL: fits in well in the Balkans

SLIGHTLY SPREADING: has taken over the Balkans

EASY CARE; FLOWERS ALL SUMMER: plastic

VERY DESIRABLE: costs more than the national debt

RAMBLING ROSE:

- and true to its name,

it rambles...

All kidding aside,

what if you happen to like plants

that might not be native,

or might even be considered invasive

or aggressive?

AJUGA - fiend or friend?

- creates a creeping carpet or mat; spreads quickly with attractive blue flowers

BUT…. it smothers weeds;good for erosion control on slopes and easily controlled.

I planted Ajuga to keep the weeds away under my roses where I can’t always reach… it works for me.

LILY OF THE VALLEY

- likes deep shade; a ground cover or green mulch; keeps weeds from that back corner of my garden; it grows where other flowers may not and even has some medicinal uses when dried.

Besides, it showed up one day, escaping from the neighbour's yard, fondly reminding me of my Mother who loved the small bouquet I pinned to the lapel of her jacket.

The scent of those small perfect white bells by my bed is a sleep inducer of the best kind.

I keep it in my garden for these reasons.

It edges my mostly shade garden under the Black Walnut tree and presents that beautiful pop of lime green, setting off the burgundy HEUCHERA.

It's rather like a little glow, drawing my eye to that part of the garden that can seem so dark.

REMEMBER - ALL PLANTS HAVE A PURPOSE:

- know what you want each plant to do for you while respecting how they want to grow.

Put them where both of you will be happy

and make sure they stay there.

Work with nature and you'll both get what you want.

Bye for now....Lucy and I are off to the garden...

And thanks again for subscribing to my newsletter... I hope you find something that makes you think, or that you can use to give your garden the bliss you deserve.... and never be afraid of the blunders.... they too, have lessons.

Until next month,

Please go out and enjoy your garden, but if it's a rainy day, go back to my HOME page...and see what else is there.

Cauleen

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