Category: Seasonal Information
Ornamental Grass Named Perennial of the Year for 2001
The Perennial Plant Association has selected Feather Reed Grass, cultivar Karl Foerster, as the 2001 Perennial Plant of the Year. Feather reed grass is an outstanding plant for the garden and landscape as a specimen plant or in mass plantings. Karl Foerster, in particular, is quite versatile given its compact habit. Known botanically as Calamagrostis x acutiflora, the species feather reed grass grows 4-5 feet tall with feathery plumes appearing in early summer. The cultivar […]
The Mystery of Mistletoe
Most folks think of mistletoe as an excuse for smooching around the holiday, and today, there probably aren’t too many people who have actually seen anything but plastic mistletoe! But, in fact, there is a real plant that is the true mistletoe. Well, actually, several types of mistletoe exist, including American Mistletoe and European Mistletoe. These two are different, but related, species of parasitic shrubs. Both have small, leathery leaves and translucent, white berries. American […]
Wood Ash in the Garden
Wood stoves and fireplaces are great for warming gardeners’ chilly hands and feet, but what are we to do with the resulting ashes? Many gardening books advise throwing these ashes in the garden. Wood ash does have fertilizer value, the amount varying somewhat with the species of wood being used. Generally, wood ash contains less than 10 percent potash, 1 percent phosphate and trace amounts of micro-nutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc. […]
Hibernation for Roses
Most gardeners don’t think about burying their roses, but that’s essentially what they should do to protect them from winter’s extremes. Similar to hibernation in animals, roses and other woody plants go through a dormant (rest) period in the winter. The first step to winterizing roses is to keep them healthy through the growing season. Gardeners should protect roses from insect and disease damage and maintain adequate fertility and moisture. After several killing freezes in […]
Saving Seeds From the Garden
Collecting seeds from garden plants to plant next year may seem like a good way to save money, but you may be in for a surprise. Some seeds can be saved from year to year with good results, particularly the old-fashioned cultivars. But modern hybrid cultivars rarely breed true from collected seed. To get that disease-resistant tomato or frilly double petunia, two or more plants with desirable characteristics were crossbred. The seed from these hybrid […]
Fall Ideal for Planting Trees
Because spring is the time for new growth, most people think of planting trees and shrubs then. But cool temperatures and adequate rainfall make fall a good time to plant as well. The soil may be warmer and less damp than in the spring, and you may have more time to get the job done in fall. Fall-planted stock does demand extra attention. Plants may not have enough time to establish a good root system […]
Growing Trees from Seed
Many trees can be grown from seed that is collected in your own backyard, but you should be prepared for what lies ahead. Plants may not come true from seed, so don’t be too disappointed if the new plants are not what you expected. In addition, many woody plant seeds require special treatment before they can germinate and grow new plants. Many of our modern ornamental and fruit trees must be propagated by means other […]
All America Winners for 2001
Nine new garden plants have been awarded the prestigious honor of being an All America Selection (AAS) for the year 2001. These new cultivars have been judged as superior in their class based on their performance in test gardens all over the country. For the flower garden, the first award winner is Zinnia “Profusion White,” a daisy-like, white zinnia with good resistance to powdery mildew. The sun-loving plants spread 12-24 inches and are loaded with […]
Doing Battle With Weeds
No matter whether the weather is cool or hot, wet or dry, gardeners must do battle with weeds. By definition, a weed is any plant that grows where it is not wanted. Despite having a number of weapons to conduct this battle, the weeds seem to win as least as often as we do! The best weapons for the home garden and landscape include tools, such as the hoe and rototiller. There are quite a […]
Transplanting in Summer Not the Best
Today’s mobile society often lands gardeners in the predicament of moving away from their beloved gardens at a time of year that is less than ideal for transplanting. Devoted gardeners just hate the thought of leaving all of their beautiful flowers behind. Ideally, the time to move most perennials is either spring or early fall. The hot, generally dry weather of summer is about the worst time of year to move any plant. But, sometimes, […]