CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tips, tips and more tips. That's what you've asked for, so that's what you're getting!
Here are a few for the next few months of gardening:
If you really like the groundcover you planted a couple of years ago and want to grow it in other beds, too, don't buy more plants, according to Garden Gate magazine.
"It's extremely easy to divide what you have. Just grab a handful of your existing ones, tear the stems apart a bit and toss them where you'd like the new ones to grow. It does help new plants take off more quickly if you clear the area of other plants and loosen the soil. Once you've placed and watered your 'cuttings,' sprinkle a little mulch over them so they're less likely to dry out before they take root."
This works on periwinkle (Vinca minor) and sedum. I gave some sedum groundcover to my friend Kim years ago, and she just threw it on a bank where it took root. She always laughed about how easy that plant was to grow.
Also from Garden Gate: Late summer to early fall is the best time to divide many perennials like bearded iris. Dividing any perennial in summer heat can take a toll on the plant because of the moisture that's lost through the leaves.
"So before you dig around and lift the plant with a garden fork, whack back the foliage by about half with hedge shears. Then trim each division to six inches with scissors. Sounds extreme, but it makes handling the plants much easier and helps divisions get established in their new homes. Works on bearded iris, daylilies and hostas."
From Budget Backyard Makeovers, here are a few ideas:
Look for freebies. A tree-trimming service might give you wood mulch at no charge.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tips, tips and more tips. That's what you've asked for, so that's what you're getting!
Here are a few for the next few months of gardening:
If you really like the groundcover you planted a couple of years ago and want to grow it in other beds, too, don't buy more plants, according to Garden Gate magazine.
"It's extremely easy to divide what you have. Just grab a handful of your existing ones, tear the stems apart a bit and toss them where you'd like the new ones to grow. It does help new plants take off more quickly if you clear the area of other plants and loosen the soil. Once you've placed and watered your 'cuttings,' sprinkle a little mulch over them so they're less likely to dry out before they take root."
This works on periwinkle (Vinca minor) and sedum. I gave some sedum groundcover to my friend Kim years ago, and she just threw it on a bank where it took root. She always laughed about how easy that plant was to grow.
Also from Garden Gate: Late summer to early fall is the best time to divide many perennials like bearded iris. Dividing any perennial in summer heat can take a toll on the plant because of the moisture that's lost through the leaves.
"So before you dig around and lift the plant with a garden fork, whack back the foliage by about half with hedge shears. Then trim each division to six inches with scissors. Sounds extreme, but it makes handling the plants much easier and helps divisions get established in their new homes. Works on bearded iris, daylilies and hostas."
From Budget Backyard Makeovers, here are a few ideas:
Look for freebies. A tree-trimming service might give you wood mulch at no charge.Before you move to a new home, divide and pot some of your favorite perennials at your old one. If the plants are a bit overgrown, you'll be doing the new owners a favor. Be sure to do this before you sell, or get permission from the new owners if it's already sold!When planting on a hillside, don't dig planting holes. Use half wine barrels with drainage holes drilled in the bottom. Sink them deeply into the slope, fill with a good soil mix. This saves the expense of amending poor soil, helps stabilize the grade and minimizes runoff.You may not need to rent heavy machinery to move rocks around your yard. Slide flat rocks over metal pipes or round fence posts. To move rocks over grass, use a sled or rigid plastic wading pool.When creating new garden beds, surround plants with newspapers and cardboard boxes, then add a layer of mulch. This not only combats weeds but also helps the soil retain moisture -- and adds nutrients to the soil as the materials break down.A natural fertilizer
If you like to garden organically, here's a natural fertilizer idea. Fish have been used as soil fertilizer since the American Indians first began farming the land centuries ago. Fish Rich is an organic liquid plant fertilizer (2-3-2) made from the remains of perch raised and processed at Bell Aquaculture, a fish farm in Indiana. Because the fish are raised in a pristine environment, what's going into the soil is pure and free of anything unnatural -- so it's garden and human safe. In addition to pre-mixed Fish Rich, the company can create custom-blended fertilizer to fit your needs.
It's sustainability in action; what others consider waste, they use as a way to return nutrients to the earth. Visit www.bellaquaculture.com.
And finally, here's a great tip from a Horticulture magazine reader for quick mulching in a mixed border where dormant or newly emerging perennials need protection from smothering mulch or errant wheelbarrow tires.
"I hoard large plastic nursery pots to pop over fragile plant crowns before I mulch, anchoring them with rocks if the weather is windy. One- to five-gallon pots have all proven handy for me."
Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.
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