PERENNIAL FOCUS

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is one of the longest blooming perennials in the garden, but requires plenty of room to grow, as it is a wide-spreading perennial.

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERENNIAL GARDEN DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE

Now that the catalogs are arriving and we are starting to dream, it’s time to think about the relationship between garden design and the amount of maintenance that will be necessary. I’m trying to cut down on maintenance time because there never seems to be enough. We all know that the most beautifully designed and installed garden can become the garden from hell if not properly maintained.

One of the first considerations is the nature of the perennial you have or wish to use. Is it a clumper, a runner, or a seeder? If it’s a runner, how fast does it run? Epimedium, for instance, is a lovely, drought tolerant groundcover for shady areas. Although rhizomatous, it spreads very slowly. On the other hand, Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’, a tall, stately perennial for the back of the border, will quickly overtake everything in its path.

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association I love many seeders but the most important question is whether the seedlings are easy to pull. This is known as editing. Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ is widely grown because it will grow almost anywhere but the seedlings will inundate a garden. Aquilegia, however, is a moderate seeder and the seedlings are most welcome because the parent plant is often besieged with leaf miner, leaving behind unsightly plants.

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Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Double Purple’

Aster novae-angliae ‘September Ruby’

Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’

Digitalis ferruginea

In order to space plants appropriately, one must also know the habit of the perennial. Is it an upright plant that will not need staking, or is it a flopper that will take up more space than you had imagined. Digitalis has strong stems but Centranthus, if grown in part shade instead of sun, will flop as it leans toward the sun and will also be only 12 inches high instead of 24. (The catalogs never tell you that.)

Although Tracy DiSabato-Aust’s book, The Well-Tended Perennial Garden, was written over 20 years ago, it is still the best guide on this subject. In addition to the specifics for each perennial, the appendices are extremely helpful. They include lists, among others, of Lower Maintenance Perennials, Perennials That May Require Division Every 6-10 Years, and Perennials with Self-Cleaning Flowers.

Perennials such as Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye), Aster novae-angliae, and Cimicifuga (Actaea) make an impact but need virtually no attention. At most, they need to be cut to the ground in early spring if the stalks have not already fallen to the ground. One of my favorite perennials is Baptisia. I love the leguminous foliage, its June bloom, and its green, then black pods that last through the winter. Because it has a deep tap root, it does not take kindly to division or transplanting. Just cut the stalks down in spring.

If a perennial has self-cleaning flowers, no deadheading will be required, a chore that entails time and repetitive motion that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. The hardy Geraniums have self-cleaning flowers, a boon to all gardeners. Most are relatively short so this also means that we don’t have to bend over.

Newly installed gardens often look sparse. Take advantage of annuals to fill the empty spaces. If you use seeding annuals, the garden will benefit from additional color and structure. Also, keep in mind that while there is no such thing as no maintenance, this might be the year you decide to remove a perennial that requires too much maintenance and replace it with one that doesn’t require as much of your time.

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Bobbie’s new book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was published in November 2017 by Timber Press.

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EVENT INFO THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 WINDOWS ON THE RIVER 2000 SYCAMORE ST, CLEVELAND, OH 44113

AGENDA REGISTRATION/COCKTAILS 5:30PM - 6:45PM

DINNER 6:45PM - 7:30PM

PROGRAM 7:45PM - 10:00PM

COST MEMBER: $75 PER PERSON * Includes champagne toast, dinner and awards show. CASH BAR.

MEMBERS ONLY EVENT * Members in attendance may bring non-member guest

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES * Opportunities to sponsor this year’s event are still available and we are always happy to accept the donation of door prizes. For more information, please contact the OLA office at 440.717.0002.

The Landscape Ohio! Awards Program is an annual landscape competition, created by the Ohio Landscape Association, in effort to increase awareness of quality landscaping and how it improves our environment. In conjunction with this program, the OLA hosts a prestigious Awards Gala to recognize our designers, installers, and property owners. LANDSCAPE ENHANCEMENT AWARDS GALA

The 2020 gala will be held in the breathtaking Bridge View Room, at Windows on the River, in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. It is a semi-formal event inclusive of a cocktail hour, dinner buffet and awards presentation. It is also an excellent chance for industry professionals to get dressed up and celebrate the work being done by their teams and their peers.

This year, the OLA is happy to announce that we will be able to offer a limited number of tickets to those who did not enter this year’s competition. This is a great opportunity for those of you who have been contemplating entering, but want to know more about the program, or for those of you just looking to spend an elegant night out with industry leaders and get inspired for spring.

2019 MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS The following companies have provided instructors, equipment and/or training materials to make this course possible:

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2019 CATEGORY SPONSORS Alvord’s Yard & Garden, Bedford Glens Garden Ctr., Belgard Hardscapes, Bigfoot Landscape Supply, Cascade Lighting Inc., Cleveland Magazine, Consumer Builders Supply, Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Great Big Home & Garden Show, Klyn Nurseries Inc., Kurtz Bros., Inc., Lake County Nursery, Premier Plant Solutions, Snow & Ice Management Association, Unilock Ohio Inc., Valley City Supply, Wolf Creek Company

Cancellations made 14 days prior to the event date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds will be issued for cancellations 13 or less prior to the event, no shows, or cancellations on the day of the event. If, for any reason, the event is cancelled, attendees will be notified, and fees refunded in full.

2020 LANDSCAPE OHIO AWARDS DINNER GALA / REGISTRATION CLOSES 03/12/20

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