A Flower for Any Season Spring has sprung and like everyone out there it is our precursor to warm weather and the enjoyment of being outdoors in nature. One of the necessary chores in spring is to clear out all the debris, leaves and dead plant material accumulated from winter. I suggest waiting until spring instead of doing it in the fall so the insects, birds and other critters have shelter for the winter season. Spring is the time to develop a timeline for your garden, steps to take to clear the garden, prepare the soil, gather the plants and proceed with planting, when the weather permits, of course. Note to self: do not plant more than you can maintain. Neglect screams louder than beauty to the eye of a gardener! Our first sign of spring is the emergence of bulbs that were planted last fall, making sure that tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils were buried at the correct depths. The bigger the bulb the deeper it is to be planted. Many times, a bulb does not grow to its full glory because it wasn’t planted at the right depth. Remember that tulips emerge from the ground a little later than crocus, snowdrops, and daffodils. So be patient. Bulbs thrive in cooler temperatures and can make a showing for weeks in your yard and they also will multiply each year, so give them room to spread. The key is to remember where you planted them with a marker because they will die back leaving no trace when the season is over. Once I speak of about bulbs in the spring, I must also talk about the other three seasons. Bulbs for spring are planted in the fall, and annuals and perennials planted in the summer. Annuals could include geraniums and petunias; those plants will not live through Winter in our Zone 6 in Southern Indiana. Annuals give continued color throughout the summer and are especially bountiful in large eye-catching resin flowerpots. Annuals can be wintered-over in their pots in locations that do not freeze, such as a garage or basement. You can add a grow
Article submitted by Sue Wilson of the Gibson County Master Gardeners
light, LED is preferred. Perennials are sometimes better choices and more cost effective in the long run. They will winter over in Zone 6. My two favorites are Daisies and Stella Do’r day lily. The Encore azalea shrub is also a favorite since they bloom in the spring and then again in the summer. Azaleas do cost a little more, but it is worth it. I have grown azalea and rhododendron for 56 years with great success. There is such a long list of plants, shrubs and trees for our perennial landscapes that we could enjoy for the rest of our lives at our home. Many perennials can be divided, preferrable in the spring when they have outgrown their locations. When divided and replanted, maintenance of moisture is very important to help the plant survive. Adding mulch or rock to your landscape can help retain moisture in the plants. Rock in any form makes for a beautiful hardscape in the gardens and repels insects unlike mulch that makes a perfect environment for the pests and has to be replaced because of disintegration from the sun. Cedar mulch would be your best buy, or free mulch; both will disintegrate over time. Fall flowers such as Mums and Asters are in so many glorious colors, when everything is usually struggling from the heat of the summer. For success it is better to plant those flowers in the spring or early summer to help develop their root systems to withstand the harsh winter conditions. Also, if planted early, it is recommended to trim them back until after July 4th. Overall, they like the cooler temperatures and will grow from a two-inch-high plant to a bushel-basket-sized plant. Mums and Asters can be divided a few years after they were planted to share with others or plant elsewhere in your own landscape. They can be shared with your local community gardens, such as Lyles Station Historic School and Museum or Hopkins Park just to name a few. Continued next page
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May 2024
Small Town Living