|
Down To Earth
By Gerlind Dubey (05/08/2009)
The Beauty of a Perennial Garden:
Unfolding in Seasons of Blooms and Foliage
Have Your Soil Tested
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany & Cattaraugus Counties is hosting a series of soil testing clinics. Come meet some of the new Master Gardener Trainees who will be there also! May 9th…Allegany Farm and Home Center (Allegany) - 10-2: Master Gardener Charlie Jurenko and new Master Gardener Trainees! May 16… Riverside Sales and Service (Wellsville) - 10-1: Master Gardener Susan Duke and new Master Gardener Trainees! May16… Cuba Feed Mill (Cuba) - 10-2: Master Gardener Charlie Jurenko and new Master Gardener Trainees! May 23… Pleasant Valley Greenhouse and Nursery (Olean) - 11-2: Master Gardener Charlie Jurenko and new Master Gardener Trainees!
pH affects plant growth; most garden crops need a pH between 6.0-7.0. The level of pH also influences nutrient availability and microbial activity.
Bring a proper soil sample of your home garden by scraping away any debris, or mulch and ½ to 1” of the surface layer of soil. Select 8 to 10 spots in the garden and take a slice (core) of soil to the depth of 6 – 8 inches. Try not to handle the soil sample with your hands, use a clean tool or gloved hand. Mix the soil cores together and if the soil is wet allow it to air dry. Remove debris and stone. Save about one cup in a plastic bag or jar and label it with your name and phone number. Bring the sample to the pH Clinic on Saturday for analysis!
Don’t forget the Cattaraugus County Free Mulch and Compost Giveaway on Saturday May 16th Five Points Transfer Station, Mansfield & Farwell Compost Site, Ischua. |
There are gardeners who will plant their gardens entirely with annuals and those who will only use perennials; it’s the combination of the two that incorporates all of the color, texture, size and blooming time options available to our garden zone. Annual plants live their complete life cycle in one year or growing season. Annuals that produce blooms will set seed and possibly grow new plants the next season. The further south you live the more likely that is. If you really want to assure a rebirth of your annuals, harvest and prepare seeds to plant next season.
Many “annuals” available up north are simply tender perennials. They usually benefit greatly from a “head start,” sold in flower or at least well developed in a larger container. Many tender perennials have tropical origins and are now growing in northern summer gardens. The great thing about tender perennials is that there is a choice—they can be lifted and brought indoors for the winter or treated as annuals.
Many gardeners already grow a tender perennial and aren’t aware of it. This plant has unremarkable flowers; we actually grow it for the fruits. Commonly known as the tomato, in the areas where it’s native, it’s a true herbaceous perennial. A hardy perennial plant is one that has a life cycle of more than two years. Perennials need time to grow and mature, this usually takes a season or two, planting annuals around immature perennials fills the gap needed to assure the needed space for perennials growth.
One of the greatest benefits of the perennials is that you buy them once and, for most of them, they return year after year for years and years. This is important to remember when you’re spending $10.00 or more for a potted perennial as it will give you repeat showings and will multiply. The dividends come when you divide your perennials and make more—for free. In no time, that one perennial may cost you as little as a similar six-pack of annuals. Better yet is when you get perennials through plant swaps, or from friends who are dividing theirs. MJ Browns annual free Plant Swap is coming up with Hostas plants on sale at a very reasonable price benefitting Almost Home Animal Sanctuary. Held on the premises of the “Tangled Twigs” shop at corner of Monroe and Elizabeth Streets, the yearly perennial swap brings gardeners from near and far to exchange plants and gardening knowledge.
Two of my favorite perennials came from this plant swap on is a very old fashioned Cranes Bill aka perennial geranium that blooms in bright shades of coral in spring. The other is a black currant bush which has taken four seasons to mature last year there were just a few berries to pick but this year the bush is loaded with strigs of lacey blossoms. This year the bush has also produced several volunteers that will be dug up and planted elsewhere, ensuring blacker currant berries for the future.
GET DOWN AND DIRTY
|
Site Design by DMR Graphics, websites in Western New York