Gardening Class Series Marshfield, MO 4/30/2018

Transcription

1 Outline Herbaceous Ornamentals Patrick Byers Horticulture Specialist MU Extension Webster County General thoughts Bulbs and bulblike structures Ornamental grass Groundcovers General Thoughts Selection/Design Depends on the area right plant, right place Sun or shade Moist or dry Maintenance level, low to high Color, texture, and form General Thoughts Bed Preparation Remove perennial weeds that will compete with the planting. Hand removal Cover weeds Chemical treatments Check for proper drainage; to correct poorly drained soils: add organic matter raised beds and berms plant selection General Thoughts Soil Preparation Soil test for nutrient needs Fertilize before planting 1 lb per 100 ft 2 1/4 lb per 100 ft 2 add organic matter 2 3 of compost over the top of the bed Work soil 6 to 8 inches deep to incorporate amendments General Thoughts Planting number of plants Area Ft , , , , , , , ,000 1,

2 General Thoughts Planting Generally in spring after danger of frost Exception: pansies and flowering kale can be planted in early spring or fall Planting time varies with the plant Ex: peonies and bulbs are planted in fall General Thoughts Maintenance Watering drip systems and hand watering is best sprinklers increase disease Mulches few herbicides are labeled for specific species bark, pine needles, shredded leaves 2 4 thick weed barriers aren t very useful General Thoughts Maintenance Dead heading promotes flowering Disbudding promotes large flowers Stake or cage tall plants Fertilization 3 applications of 1/2 to 1 lb N / 1000 ft 2 1 st application in late April / early May 4 6 week intervals water in fertilizer General Thoughts Maintenance After a freeze in the fall: Remove most plant material Grasses and perennials may be left for winter interest Cut these down to ground level prior to growth Winter mulch to prevent frost heaving Lift and store tender perennials and bulbs Division rejuvenation fall or early spring What is an annual? Advantages and Disadvantages? A true annual completes its life cycle in one season. A Midwest annual is a perennial that blooms the first season but cannot survive the winter and is treated as an annual in our climate. Some tropicals are also grown as annuals here. Mistakes are not permanent More expensive in the long run Long season of color Can fill in for perennials and can hide bulbs when foliage begins to die. 2

3 Characteristics Hardy annuals pansies and snapdragons Semi hardy annuals petunia Warm season annuals marigold and zinnia Light levels full sun, part sun/shade, full shade Moisture levels wet, moist, moderate, dry Height and spread, form, texture, color Culture Annual additions of organic matter (compost, green manures) tilled in or, if with perennials, prepare as perennial bed and add compost annually. Remember to fertilize your soil according to soil test results or follow general guidelines (eg. till in 1 2 lbs complete ( ) fertilizer before planting ) Direct seed or buy plants Plant seed according to packet directions and plant plants the same depth as they were growing in the container. Remember 1 2 inches of rain/irrigation per week during the growing season Uses Long season of color in beds and borders For flowers and foliage in beds and borders Containers, screens, groundcovers Filler while perennials and shrubs are newly planted or still small Flowers for cutting Companion planting in vegetable gardens Herbs for culinary or ornamental use Pansy / Viola X wittrockiana Snapdragon / Anthirrhinum majus 3

4 Sweet Allyssum / Lobularia maritima Petunia / Petunia X hybrida Calibrachoa/ Calibrachoa X hybrida Impatiens / Impatiens wallerana New Guinea Impatiens / Impatiens hybrida Ageratum / Ageratum houstoniatum 4

5 Cockscomb / Celosia plumosis Vinca / Catharanthus roseus Wax Begonia / Begonia X semperflorens cultorum Coleus / Coleus X hybridus Geranium (zonal) / Pelargonium X hortorum Dusty miller / Senecio cineraria 5

6 Marigold / Tagetes species Salvia / Salvia splendens Verbena / Verbena species Zinnia / Zinnia elegans Biennials two year cycle vegetative then flowering Foxglove Hollyhock What is a perennial? Roots persist from year to year, and stems and leaves of some may remain, but in most cases the tops die back to the soil each winter in the Midwest. Can be short lived (some Rudbeckia or black eyed Susan) or long lived (peonies). 6

7 Advantages and Disadvantages Many years of enjoyment Shorter season of blossom and color, may have bad hair periods Mistakes difficult to change Less expensive in the long run More planning required Characteristics Light levels full sun, part sun/shade, full shade Moisture levels wet, moist, moderate, dry Height and spread, form, texture, color Bloom period General Culture Loam is best soil in general at least 3 inches of organic matter tilled to a depth of 8 inches (4 inches OM per foot of soil depth) Remember to fertilize your soil according to soil test results or follow general guidelines at establishment and apply compost or fertilizer annually afterward. Purchase plants or start seed indoors. Plant seed according to packet directions and. plant plants the same depth as they were growing in the container Remember 1 2 inches of rain/irrigation per week during the growing season In general must be periodically divided or you can divide to obtain more plants. Uses Beds and borders Specialty gardens (bog, rain, rock, wildflower) Cutting Herbs for ornamental and culinary use Groundcovers Containers Herbs for ornamental and culinary use Peony/Paeonia hybrids 7

8 Astilbe / Astilbe hybrid Coneflower / Echinacea purpurea Butterfly Weed / Ascelpias tuberosa Aster / Aster frikartii Oriental Poppy / Papaver orientalis 8

9 Beebalm / Monarda sp. Sedum / Sedum species Euphorbia / Euphorbia species Daylily / Hemerocallis species and hybrids Hosta (Plantain Lily) / Hosta species and hybrids 9

10 What is a bulb or bulblike structure? True Bulbs A bulb is any plant that stores its complete life cycle in an underground storage structure. Geophytes From Greek Meaning Earth Plant Any Plant with a Swollen Storage System Corms Tubers Tuberous Roots Rhizomes 10

11 Bulbs Hardy bulb cycle Bulbs Tender Bulb Cycle Culture Culture Buy high quality (large) bulbs unless you want smaller ones for naturalizing. General rule of thumb, plant the bulb three times as deep as the bulb is wide. Plant spring blooming bulbs in fall and summer (fall) blooming bulbs in spring. Remember 1 2 inches of rain/irrigation per week during the growing season. Make sure the Pointy end Points up!! Culture Spring Flowering Bulbs. There are two fertilizer systems available. The first system utilizes a single fall application at planting time of sulfur coated, slow release complete (9 9 6) fertilizer (Bulb Booster ). This fertilizer should be incorporated into the rooting area at planting time at a rate of one rounded tablespoon per square foot. The second system uses bone meal incorporated in the rooting area at planting time with an application of (1 level tablespoon per square foot) or (1 rounded teaspoon per square foot) in the fall followed by a repeat application of the same fertilizer as soon as the shoots break the ground in the spring. All bulbs should receive annual fall applications of Bulb Booster or a soluble fertilization of or Uses Use in containers outdoors Force for indoor bloom Naturalizing in lawns or under trees Use in beds and borders Flowers for cutting 11

12 Storage of non hardy bulbs Spring Bulbs Tulip / Tulip species and hybrids Handling non hardy bulbs Spring Bulbs Narcissus / Narcissus species and hybrids Spring Bulbs Hyacinth / Hyacinthus orientalis Spring Bulbs Crocus and other spring bulbs Chionodoxa Hyacinthoides Ipheion Galanthus nivalis 12

13 Hardy summer bulbs (rhizomes) Bearded Iris / Iris hybrids Hardy Summer Bulbs (corm) Liatris Blazing Star / Liatris spicata Hardy Summer Bulbs (corm) Prairie Blazing Star / Liatris pycnostachya Grow Native! 13

14 Hardy Summer Bulbs Hybrid (Garden) Lily / Lillium X hybridum Hardy Summer bulbs (corm) Surprise Lily / Lycoris squamagira Hardy Summer (Fall) bulbs (corm) Autumn Crocus/ Crocus autumnale Tender summer bulbs (rhizome) Canna / Canna X generalis Tender Summer Bulbs (tuberous root) Dahlia Tender Summer Bulbs (corm) Gladiolus / Gladiolus X hortulanus 14

15 Tender summer bulbs (tuber) Caladium / Caladium X hortulanum Tender summer bulbs (tuber) Tuberous begonia / Begonia X tuberhybrida Tender summer bulbs (tuber) Elephant Ear / Colocasia Ornamental Grasees What is ornamental grass? A member of the grass family that is used as an herbaceous ornamental. Ornamental Grasses Characteristics Can be annual or perennial Cool season (prefer degrees F) or Warm season (prefer degrees F) Growth habits Clump forming Spreading/Running (spread by stolons (above ground) or rhizomes (below ground) so keep in pot and sink or plant in area where it can spread. Light levels mostly full sun but a few are adapted to some shade Moisture levels wet, moist, moderate, dry Height and spread, form, texture, color Ornamental Grasses Culture Prepare as for a perennial or annual bed depending on whether the grass is perennial or annual. Remember to fertilize your soil according to soil test results or follow general guidelines Generally buy plants or sow seed indoors for some. Plant seed according to packet directions and plant plants the same depth as they were growing in the container. Remember 1 2 inches of rain/irrigation per week during the growing season Divide when center begins to die out. Fertilize annually. 15

16 Ornamental Grasses Uses Ornamental Grasses Blue fescue Element in beds and borders adds motion and sound to the garden Winter interest as long as there is no fire hazard involved Containers, screens, groundcovers, specimen plant (focal point) Greenery for cutting Ornamental Grasses Prairie Dropseed / Sporobolus heterolepis Ornamental Grasses Fountain Grass / Pennisetum species Ornamental Grasses Purple Millet / Pennisetum glaucum Ornamental Grass Hardy Pampas Grass / Erianthus ravennae Cortaderia not hardy in Missouri 16

17 Ornamental Grasses Northern Sea Oats / Chasmanthium Ornamental Grass Zebra Grass / Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' Ornamental Grasses Japanese Blood Grass / Imperata cylindrica var. rubra Ornamental Grass Maiden Grass / Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus' What is a Ground Cover? Benefits of Ground covers include a wide range of materials both living and nonliving that blanket the soil. Add beauty to the landscape Prevent soil erosion Improve porosity, air and water exchange Aid in soil fertility Suppress weed growth 17

18 Uses for Steep banks or slopes Shady areas under trees or next to buildings Underplantings in borders and beds Where tree roots grow close to surface Walks and paths Heat relief, cooling effect Wet or dry locations Selecting Right Plant, Right Place Match with your needs Some spread more rapidly Some better for smaller spaces Some can become invasive! Thug Potential Invasive spreads to native areas Aggressive spreads rapidly, hard to control Alternatives to Plants Mulch Rock Grass Ajuga Bugleweed Ajuga reptans Dense cover, smaller areas Space about 1 foot Sun to light shade Aegopodium Bishop's Goutweed Aegopodium podograria Aggressive spreader 6 10 inches White flowers Morning sun to light shade Tends to burn out in summer 18

19 European Wild Ginger Asarum europaeum Full shade Even moisture Shiny green leaves Somewhat evergreen Plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides 8 10 inches Sun to light shade Blue flowers Don t confuse with tropical Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis White flowers in May Aggressive Can be poisonous Morning sun to shade Euonymus Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei Glossy, semi evergreen Strong spreader Shade, some sun Drought tolerant Invasive Strawberries Fragaria spp. Edible Ornamental flowers Even moisture Full sun, light shade English Ivy Hedra helix Glossy green, evergreen Shade tolerant Drought tolerant Invasive? 19

20 Hosta Hosta species Higher maintenance Clump forming, not spreading Mass planting St. John's Wort Hypericum calycinum Sun to part shade Yellow flowering Woody shrub Junipers Junperus species Drought tolerant Easy care Full sun to light shade Lamium Dead Nettle Lamium Partial to full shade Flowering Moist to slightly dry Aggressive 'Hermann's Pride' Liriope Lilyturf Liriope spicata Some spread Some clump Full sun to shade Cut back each spring Pachysandra Japanese Spurge Pachysandra terminalis Full shade Even moisture Prefers acidic soils Good drainage Semi evergreen 'Silvery Sunproof 20

21 Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata Spring color Well drained Full sun to light shade Semi evergreen Sedum Sedum spp. Full sun Hot and dry Many choices Lamb s Ear Stachys lanata Full sun to light shade Even moisture to dry Flowers Creeping Thyme Thymus spp. Steppables Flowers Herb Vinca Periwinkle Any Questions? Vinca minor Classic cover Semi evergreen Blue flowers Morning sun to full shade 21