Black-eyed Susans: an Upper Valley garden favorite!
Not quite sure where to start? Here's some tips from Sean, Helen and the fine gardening team!
The gardens are bursting with color! Our cool spring gave plants and flowers a great start to weather the dry, hot summer we have had so far. Garden maintenance is is high gear right now to keep things looking their best. Some of the things I am doing right now - in my own and in our clients' gardens....
1. Weed, weed, weed! The weeds are growing fast and need to be removed regulary to keep from choking out perennials and annuals.
2. Deadhead and trim back! Cut spent flowers on perennials and annuals to encourage repeat blooms. Trim back early bloomers such as delphinium, campanula and daisies by one-half to one-third. Prune container plants to encourage repeat blooms.
3. Water! Water during dry times, early morning is best, directing water at the base of the plants to avoid moisture on the foliage whicih may promote disease or rot. Deep watering to reach the roots is what the plants need. If you cannot water in the early morning, water in the early evening to give the ground time to soak up the water. Check your container plants daily as containers dry out quickly, and water when soil feels dry.
Weed without mercy for a healthy, beautiful garden.
4. Check and treat for diseases! Powdery mildew is stating to show up Prune and thin plants to promote adequate airflow, and cut down diseased plants and dispose of away from your compost pile. Black spot and rust on roses is also appearing, and spraying with Neem oil can help with disease control.
5. Check for and control garden pests! Japanese beetles have made their arrival in my gardens. I pick them off my plants and drop them in a closed container of soapy water. Japanese beetle traps actually encourage more beetles, so they are not recommended.
To control many garden pests; I use a natural soapy spray on the underside of the plants. Recipe: One tablespoon or less of Seventh Generation Free & Clear Soap per quart of water in a spray bottle. Keep it handy in your garden bag, or purchase an organic insecticidal spray at your local nursery or garden shop.
6. Add bursts of color! Check out your favorite nursery for annuals to plant for a burst of color that will carry you through to early autumn. Adding perennials such as Daylilies, Rudbeckia, and fall bloomers like asters and sedum brighten up your late summer gardens and highlight the show through fall. Don't forget to plan for the addition of spring bulbs, too.
7. Most important, take time to enjoy the natural beauty of your gardens! Take a chair to your garden and sit and truly notice the fragrances, flowers, butterflies, and bees; wander through your gardens without a weed bucket and enjoy the delight, peace and serenity they bring to your life.