HORT REPORT MAY 7, 2001
TO DO NOW: Harden off those greenhouse beauties. Put them in a shady, wind-protected site during the day, bring them into the garage at night. Do this for three days or a week, depending upon weather & your own sense of protectiveness. Before planting annuals, cut off their heads, cut off the cottony substance at the base, slice sides of little roots. This helps plants adjust to the real world. Let foliage on spring bulbs die back naturally. This lets bulbs build up energy for next season. After leaves die back, sprinkle high phosphorus fertilizer on the bed. Snap off candles on mugo pines halfway to keep them compact. Dig, divide daylilies & hostas. I use a sharpened, straight-edge shovel for digging between hosta "noses," the same plus a fork, to divide daylilies. Repeat bloom daylilies won't unless they're divided every two years & deadheaded during flowering. On any daylily, reduced bloom is a sure sign dividing is needed. Spring or fall are best, but this can be done anytime.
BAD STUFF: Eastern tent caterpillars tents are unslightly. Clean them out with a stick, let the occupants drop into a container of motor oil or any deadly potion of your choice. Early or late in the day is best. Look for the telltale larvae of gypsy moth -- double lines of blue dots & red dots on the back -- during the time lilacs bloom. Treat when young with B.t. You can also start your gardening day off by sweeping larvae off tree trunks, into that deadly potion, as they head up to feed on leaves early in the morning. Slugs: They're b-a-a-a-c-k, you just won't see their cute little holes in your hosta leaves until later this summer. There are at least 50,000 ways to control these critters. Use the least toxic: Hand picking early in the morning or late at night, beer, wet newspapers, boards, to name a few. Best control is buying hosta with good substance, leaves too tough to appeal to slugs who will then chomp on the tissue-thin leafed varieties.
OH SO SPECIAL: Hosta 'June' has been named Hosta of the Year by the American Hosta Growers Association. This is a beautiful cultivar, a cream & green sport (offshoot) of the all-blue H. 'Halcyon.' In other departments: Rose of Sharon (Hybiscus syriacus) 'Lavender Chiffon,' daylily (Hemerocallis) 'Rosy Returns,' and Canna 'Pink Sunburst,' are recommended by the Mail Order Gardening Association. Detroit News garden writer Nancy Szerlag writes that 'Lavender Chiffon' is "spectacular." She also notes that it's hardy TO Zone 5" (that's us), so be forewarned. The daylily is described as "the first hardy rose pink, ever-blooming (June into October)," with 4 1/2-inch wide blooms on stems sporting nine to 12 buds. Both the Rose of Sharon & daylily are available from Wayside Gardens (800.845.1124) or www.waysidegardens.com. The Canna is three feet tall with bright orange, yellow & green striped foliage topped by vivid bright orange flowers atop five-foot tall stalks all summer. Wow! From VanBourgondien (800.622.9997) or www.dutchbulbs.com.
Onward & Upward!
Linda Meadors
HortChair
Correction:
The description of Canna 'Pink Sunburst' is incorrect. The original description is that of Canna 'Tropicana,' available through Wayside Gardens. 'Pink Sunburst' is indeed pink, not orange. Flowers are soft pink, gladiola-like; foliage is green, red, yellow. Just 28 to 34 inches tall, it blooms July-October. It was available through Van Bourgondien, but is alas, "Sold Out!" I'm checking Bordine's to see if they carry it.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Linda