by knappvalley | Aug 23, 2010 | Ask Ron |
For late season color in your garden, “Mum’s” the word! Ron Lardie, KV Garden Center Manager and plant expert, has the answer to one of the most frequently asked question: How do I get my “Hardy Mum” to come back up in the spring? Hardy mums are so called because they are bred for northern climates. They are not the “florist” mums which are bred for the flowers alone. However, many people in our area have difficulty getting their mums to come back in the spring after planting them in the fall. There are a few reasons for this. First, mums like a well drained soil enriched with good organic matter. Heavy clay soil can cause slow growth and rotting in the winter. Also, mums don’t like drying winds in the winter time. Plant them where they are protected from the wind, preferably on the south side of a house or garage in full sun. Finally, when you buy mums in full bloom in late summer and fall, chances are they have been grown as fall blooming plants and not as perennials. Mums in nature perenniate by sending off rosettes of new plants from underground stolons. After the original plant flowers and goes to seed, it dies off. The offshoots come back up in the spring. There are other plants that do this: the yucca and the aloe plant are both reborn from offshoots when the original plant has died off. When mums are grown primarily for fall bloom they are started from a rooted stem cutting (that is not mature). Then they are pinched and fed to produce... by knappvalley | Aug 11, 2010 | Featured Plants |
Grasses can often be overlooked when landscaping your yard. Usually we think of grass as the type we mow or what invades our gardens as a weed. However, many varieties of ornamental grasses exist that make wonderful additions to any landscape. They come in many forms- from low growing and spreading, to large clumps with attractive blades. Not only do they peak in the fall with colorful plumes, but they also add year-round interest with their form and texture. In addition to the grass family, many sedges, rushes, and lilies are also grass-like plants that add color and beauty to our gardens. Care and Maintenance: Grasses are generally very low-maintenance. With the popularity of natural and easy-care landscapes on the rise, grasses are one of the top picks for these gardens. They rarely have problems with pests and diseases, and most varieties tolerate drought very well. They can be left tall through the winter to provide interest and movement during the cold months, and sheared back in the spring before the new growth emerges. Most grasses prefer full sun, but some are shade lovers. You can find a grass to grow in any location, hot and dry or wet and swampy. Be sure to investigate what varieties will prosper in your landscape conditions before selecting a plant. Benefits and Uses: Grasses can serve any purpose, from a groundcover for erosion control, to a screen to cover up an unsightly utility (or neighbor!), or as an accent plant. Their forms range from upright, spilling plumes, or low and mounding. Some stay in a mound of only about a foot tall,... by knappvalley | Aug 11, 2010 | Featured Plants |
You have probably noticed the gigantic and gorgeous saucer-sized flowers in front of Knapp Valley Gardens and as you are out and about around town. No they are not UFO’s—they are Hibiscus! Hibiscus are beautiful tropical-looking plants that deliver large, traffic-stopping blooms in late July-early August. Here at Knapp Valley, our Hibiscus plants are a native perennial variety. They should be planted outdoors in full sun, but a bit of shade during the heat of the day will yield bigger flowers. Hibiscus should not be allowed to dry out, especially in hot weather. They prefer deep soil, so organic matter and mulch on top help to maintain a constant moisture level, and good drainage is very important. Feed your hibiscus 2 or 3 times a year with a good all-purpose organic fertilizer. Cut them back in the spring or fall, but the seedheads do provide winter interest in the garden and can be used in dried flower arrangements. Here at Knapp Valley Gardens, our favorite variety of Hibiscus is Blue River II because it is very hardy, reliable and pest resistant. As a bonus, Blue River II will reward you with large, showy pure white blooms year after year! Enjoy exotic flowers in your garden—plant a showy... by knappvalley | Aug 6, 2010 | Featured Plants
If you are looking for a rugged and reliable shrub for your landscape, consider the “Slowmound Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo ‘Slowmound.’) Slowmound Mugo Pine is a dense evergreen shrub with a compact rounded form and emerald green foiliage. It requires little maintenance except for a light pruning of the new growth of the current season. Slowmound Mugo Pine will ultimately grow to be about 3 feet tall, with a spread of about 4 feet, but it is very slow growing, with a lifespan of up to fifty years– so expect your “Slowmound” to stay about 2 feet tall. Plant this shrub in full sunlight. It prefers well-drained soil and dry to average moisture levels. It is able to handle environmental pollution and thrives even in “stressful” conditions. Slowmound Mugo Pine works well in rock gardens, mass plantings, and for general garden use. Here at Knapp Valley Gardens, we have a good selection of this beautiful and hardy evergreen. Now at Knapp Valley Gardens: “Slowmound Mugo Pine” 20%... by knappvalley | Aug 2, 2010 | This Month in the Garden
Summer 2010 has gone by quickly at Knapp Valley Gardens—we always stay busy—despite the heat! August is vacation time for many folks, but it is also time to accomplish some important chores in the garden. Here is a list of tasks for your “to do” list. 1. If you are thinking about doing some fall planting, now is the time to plan the project and decide on what plants to use. 2. Consult bulb catalogs and order your favorite varieties that can be planted this fall. 3. Plan any changes in your perennial plantings. Autumn is a good time for moving and dividing them. 4. Make notes on this season’s garden so that you can get an ideas of what you would like to do (or not) next year. 5. You can sow seeds of cool weather crops like radishes, Swiss chard, kale, carrots and lettuce. 6. Plant late blooming perennials like Helianthus, Heliopsis and Rudbeckia, which provide nice color in the fall landscape. 7. Feed summer annuals and container plants with a good all-purpose fertilizer. 8. Give spring-flowering shrubs their last feeding of the season. 9. Keep harvesting those delicious fruits, vegetables and herbs—enjoy their freshness! 10. Remove faded rose flowers and hips. Feed roses for their final fall flowering and keep watering them during the hot weather. 11. In hot weather, water early in the morning. Otherwise, the water will evaporate before the plants can use it. Also, use a sprinkler that produces large drops of water instead of a fine mist. 12. Continue to dead-head (trim off) spent flowers—and keep weeding! 13. Now is a good...
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