disappointed again

14 years ago

Every year as mid summer hits, my beds look so lame. Every year I swear that I'll put in more annuals because they are the shining stars in all the neighborhood yards.

My lawn has recovered a bit since the last two rains, but

is not lush. My Russ sage is way, way overgrown, as are the geraniums and goosenecks. They have swallowed the poor daylilies alive. Deer have eated all the hosta in the back yard, as well as solomons seal and any lilies.

I'm sure I could whine about plenty more too, just give me time.

That said, My bottlebush buckeye looks great with its huge candles, the one surviving hydrangea 'Endless Summer' looks small, but perfect, with many flowers, the tamarisk

is gorgeous, as usual, the blue junipers and red barberry look great too. I seem to have to rely on shrubs to carry

the garden thru the summer. The only pretty perennials that get my unconditional love are purple conefl. and a rather stocky daisy.

Anyone else have the summer doldrums in the flower beds, and if so, how do you wake yours up? Pondy

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

madisonkathy
14 years ago
I think there's a fine line between "lush" and "overgrown." Every year about this time, my garden gets overgrown! I swear (every year) to pull out all the gooseneck that's taking over anything within 5' of it. Joe Pye has popped up all over. Black eyed susans have covered the perennial geraniums. The asters that I should have pinched back are falling over. The leaves of the ditch lilies are covering the smaller daylilies in front of them. Not to mention...the japanese beetles have invaded the roses, there's powdery mildew on the honeysuckle and bee balm, and the smoke bush has some weird fungus.

Otoh, that's what makes gardening such a challenge and so much fun!
justaguy2
14 years ago
I am experiencing the opposite. I am just now looking at everything and admiring how lush it all is. Feels like I have been waiting forever for this look to occur.

The Japanese Beetles have shown up here, but oddly the cucumber beetles have not yet (knock on wood). This year I have a new means of controlling the Japanese beetles that I really enjoy as do my kids. I grab them and slightly crush them, but try to leave them alive, just not able to escape. I then go toss them on a large ant mound that has been building up for years. Within seconds the beetles are swarmed and dragged away. I loves it. ;)
Related Discussions
Ally of my fruit
Q
Comments (20)
Captan is not in itself going to stick peaches in your climate. You need an affective insecticide, even if you believe that such products are the cause of colony collapse. Also, Captan needs to be applied many times and is washed off by rain- but if that was the issue peaches would be rotting from brown rot, although brown rot in early stages causes blossom blight. Carpenter bees seem to be fine pollinators. On my land I have many wild species of pollinators and none works harder in worse conditions than my carpenters. I'm in a much different climate in SE NY, but here the main thing between grapes and harvest is rot. The fungicide for this is in a product called Immunox. A single application before the bunches have even opened their flowers works in my climate. Captan is not nearly as affective. The insecticide you should probably use is made by Spectracide and called Triazide. Make sure it is the one they make that is labeled for fruit trees. Make sure you spray at petal fall and every 10-14 days until pest pressure is gone- probably about 4 sprays there. The fungicide for brown rot is called Monterey Fungus Fighter. You probably should apply that about a month before the peaches ripen. One application might do it, unless your problem is blossom blight- then you will need to spray once just before flowers open. Captan is affective as well when used frequently in wet conditions.
...See More
Why can't I grow Comte de Chambord?
Q
Comments (5)
If you think it's your soil, and you're willing to try again, perhaps this will help. First, don't plant the band directly into your soil -- baby it from Spring in a pot. For potting soil, consider my modified "Mel's Mix" from Square Foot Gardening. The original mix was equal parts peat moss, vermiculite, and compost. I looked at this and broke it down to functional components -- 1/3 nutrient-poor organic base, 1/3 nutrient-poor inorganic base, 1/3 nutrient-rich organic base. My modification was using 2 parts peat moss, 1 part shredded mulch, 2 parts vermiculite, 1 part perlite, 2 parts Bovung dehydrated manure, 1 part used coffee grounds (I don't have any compost working here yet). Into this, I mixed 1 cup Jobe's Organic Knock-Out Rose Plant Food (or whatever organic dry mix you prefer) per 2-gal container. Once you see it starting to put out a good amount of new growth, feed it "weakly, weekly" with half-strength fish emulsion -- with seaweed, if you can find that kind of mix. Make sure the pot doesn't dry out, and keep it where it gets a good amount of sun until the heat of Summer arrives -- then move it to where it gets morning sun and afternoon "bright shade." When the main heat of Summer has passed, get ready to put it in the ground. If you have really bad clay, try to make a hole twice the size of the pot, and set the native soil aside. Make some more of the potting mix, and mix it about 50-50 with the native soil from the hole. Use this to backfill the hole after putting the rose in the ground. You'll have extra soil -- so use this to form a sort of "doughnut" around the newly planted rose to catch extra rain and irrigation. You can level it out with mulch on top -- you'll still have a sort of "pool" around the rose for catching extra water for its first year, being as the mulch will have more air space between the particles than the soil mix below. If you keep doing this sort of thing whenever you plant in the bed (be it for roses, perennials, annuals, etc.), you'll be putting pockets of better-draining soil into the ground, which will break up the clay faster than simply laying materials on top. Also, the vermiculite and perlite is inorganic, so it won't break down over time. It's still good to keep adding organics on top, and I'm noticing that in my bed, it is slowly making its way down into the native soil, but doing this will help a new baby band get going faster. :-) ~Christopher
...See More
Update On New Home Purchase Disappointment
Q
Comments (1)
It looks like Levitt and Sons, LLC word can stand the test of time when it came to my wife and I getting our $500 Travel Reimbursement check only 2 days later than the estimated 30 days! The check was in our PO Box today. I certainly hope that the people that have already moved into their "Seasons at Prince Creek West" homes don't have to wait too much longer for their Clubhouse Center that they were told about in mid 2006. I'll be going back to Murrells Inlet, SC soon, so I'll be sure to peek in to see what progress is being made. Here is a link that might be useful: Can Levitt & Sons Builder's Word Be Trusted?
...See More
Trying to make it this year (layout)
Q
Comments (86)
Rhome: In my imagination the work zones in the kitchen flow from fridge to the island then move from the island to kitchenet, cooking or cleanup. Its more compact that I realized, and I think it will work. The bathroom has a very small closet in the NW corner, but not large enough to sink the fridge into. Mom2lilenj: The windows arrangement will be OK. I can look out the north window while cooking or doing prep at the island or the north counter and keep an eye on who is coming in the house or what stray dog wondered through my flower bed and scattered mulch all over! Grrrrr, does no good to go yell at the dogs. I may have room to put the W/D side by side in the final plan and change the window and counter. Ill work that out with the architect. The laundry room location is good, finally. Thats so cool, moving your kitchen. Isnt it funny how things go back to the place there were supposed to be? Will you still have a porch? You and Seedsilly live in the deep freeze! I only have to get the heater out when the temps get below 0 and we forget to leave the sink cupboard doors open and the water dripping over night. I hope that is remedied somehow in the new kitchen! DH insisted on carpet in the kitchen because the floors were so cold. We are NOT doing that again!! Seedsilly, I became a wanna be gardener about 5 years ago. Spring is so exhilarating when I can finally work the soil without freezing. Once it gets hot outside, and the rain doesnt come, its a chore to water and keep the plants going. Ive been trying native plants for Indiana hoping they will be better adapted to water conditions here. You are lucky to have original rooms in your house with a paint history still on the walls! The additions are often constructed based on need and not design in old houses. Roof lines dont match, plumbing and electrical is pieced together and from a huge range of materials. Well, did you tune the piano and play it? Im sure your weedy yard is nothing of the sort now. Oh, lots of us know about plans and little money! Youll get lots of sympathy here. Changing rooms, moving walls, switching plumbing and replacing windows are all expensive and complicated. But we dream anyway, and once in a while those dreams come true. I havent been on the bathroom forum, but old wall paper is curiously interesting. Ours had naked Roman women draped over each other and leaning on fluted columns. We saved a bit of the old paper just to laugh once in awhile. Good luck on starting construction this summer. You asked about the computer design program Ive used. It is Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer program by Chief Architect. I ordered it from Amazon. The program is one recommended by quite a few people on GW. I have a bookmark that says "This is where I stopped to rest." This looks like a good place to take some time to mull over things and consider materials and the look of the kitchen because the hard drive my kitchen plans were stored on died today. Guess I've been working it too hard :-( Thanks auchmedden, rhome, sarschlos remodeler, bmorepanic, malhgold, raehelen, houseful, saskatchewan girl, mkitchen, Christy, lascatx, mom2lilenj, and seedsilly, for all your help, suggestions, antedotes, and house stories. My kitchen would never have made it without you. Cotehele
...See More
madisonkathy
14 years ago
Eeeeewww. Definitely a guy thing. My kids would love it, too!
janetpetiole
14 years ago
I've had the dullness problem in my garden too. I have been adding daylilies, which keeps the garden looking bright. The coneflowers are having a great year, the balloon flowers just started to open, and the coreopsis got a second wind. A few of the clematis are still blooming, but I need to plant some later blooming varieties of both clematis and daylilies.

I got rid of all the thugs in my garden except for an aggressive daylily which is planted where the shed will be eventually. Getting rid of the thugs makes room for the better plants :)
pondwelr
Original Author
14 years ago
Well Just, you have to tell me the secret of your success.
(I dont need to hear about the JBs...EEugh) Have your filled in with annuals, or relied on your perennials?

Janet, I have some lovely clematis too. and My purple coneflowers are outstanding. However, they dont even begin
to carry my front or back gardens to 'looking lovely'.

to Mad.Kathy, have you ever tried using cheapo annuals to
provide summer to fall color? If so, what?

I plan to go to Steins Garden Ctr. later today. Just want to see what looks good.
So far, I've always depended on leaf color, which does a good job, but now I want some punch. any success will be
appreciated. My local nursery is out of everything!
Why? Most of us Wisconsites garden well into Oct.

Well, let me know what works for you-all. Pondy
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
14 years ago
It seemed like such a long, cool spring that some plants are only now starting to hit their stride so, I too, am saying "Finally!" Some are still lagging a bit like my melampodium and some petunias, but most are doing well. Justaguy2- I like the JB treatment you use. Educational and entertaining, although I prefer spider webs to ant hills.

tj
lamcon
14 years ago
Our gardens have been hit-or-miss. Our hydrangea and a few annuals got hit by a late spring freeze. The cooler temperatures haven't helped our hybiscus much. Everything else is pretty much where it usually is.

Two things that have done outstanding this year have been our delphinium crop. Just beautiful and starting to flower again. Our grass has also never been better. Perfect summer for the old KBG. A lot of barefoot walking-around here.
justaguy2
14 years ago
Have your filled in with annuals, or relied on your perennials?

I always fill in with annuals. I am a seed starter so it's pretty easy and inexpensive for me to do. Some beds, like the hosta bed have such established, large hostas there isn't much room for any annuals, but others the plants take soooo long to get up to size annuals are a must have for me. I don't mind if they end up getting 'eaten' as the perennials reach their stride.
janetpetiole
14 years ago
""Janet, I have some lovely clematis too. and My purple coneflowers are outstanding. However, they dont even begin to carry my front or back gardens to 'looking lovely'.""

Pondy, that is why I've been filling in with daylilies. There is a great daylily farm in Reedsville Wisconsin, which doesn't open for the season until the daylilies begin blooming. They have prices listed on the website and photos of most of the daylilies they sell, so you can narrow down your search before going if you are so inclined.

I'm not trying to pressure you into going there, but most garden centers and nurseries have a limited selection. There is such a wide range of colors that you can make any bland spot come alive with just one plant. Daylilies are saving my garden from the mid-season doldrums.

Solaris also has liliums, which also offers a wide selection of color, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Solaris Farms
pondwelr
Original Author
14 years ago
Well, I did visit Steins, and (doh!) came home with more
perennials! Three burgundy sedum and one blue/white iris.

I plan to back today and get some re-blooming daylily,
and whatever leftover annuals they have left. Next year, I
will do like JT and start some easy annuals from seed.
My daughter planted nasturtiums seeds about 4 weeks ago, and they are already blooming a firey red.

I love cosmos and nicotianna, zinneas, nierembergia, and some of the beautiful cabbages but havent grown them in years.
Anyway, thanks for the responses. Pondy
macko
14 years ago
I look out and see the holes winter and "other things" have left me, but others only see the lushness. As an artist I realize that visual chaos needs control and vice versa. I give the "wild" looking areas a little goemetry with a pot, a birdbath, brick work or a sperical evergreen such as a mini globe arborvitae. This seems to balance things out for me visually. I also take serenity in knowing that it is all right, I am not the one in control after all...
whaas_5a
14 years ago
A few perrenials that do well in crappy soils for me...I typicaly don't amend...yet these seem to be vigorous.

Purplicious Speedwell, Coreposis Zagreb, Kim's Knee High Coneflower (really any coneflower, but I don't like the 4 footers), any daylily.

Shrubs that did very well for me...

Quickfire Hydrangea, Mohican Viburnum and my Hibiscus' are about to explod with blooms.
cheerpeople
14 years ago
Pondy,
Not trying to steal your thread but I do have color and perhaps some extra lush stuff going on in my designs! Maybe more than you care for. No, I don't have deer foraging in my yard but they are all around us in the corn fields. I am in zone 5 also so perhaps my July album can show you some things that you like. FWIW here's the july album. I named things and put them in the order they bloomed. The Aug album is almost done too.

Here is a link that might be useful: the blooms of july- arrow caption to read captions in full
janetpetiole
14 years ago
Beautiful gardens, Cheer... thanks for sharing.

disappointed again

Comments (14)

madisonkathy

justaguy2

Related Discussions

madisonkathy

janetpetiole

pondwelr
Original Author

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

lamcon

justaguy2

janetpetiole

pondwelr
Original Author

macko

whaas_5a

cheerpeople

janetpetiole

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

disappointed again

Comments (14)

Related Discussions

pondwelrOriginal Author

pondwelrOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

pondwelr
Original Author

pondwelr
Original Author